KBTKaiser- The horses were from an 80s cartoon called 'Wildfire'. The rainbow was not. More on that in the next chapter.
Justice
Cathi Gata waited in her bow as the huge man in black armor looked around. No one moved.
"I am awake and I am aware." One of the most recognizable villains in fictional history said slowly. "The Force says that this is real, but this is nothing like anything I have seen. Can you explain?"
"I can." Cathi Gata rose from her bow. "My name is Cathi Gata. I needed someone totally impartial. Someone who has no connection to me or anyone here. Please do not take insult, Lord Vader, but do you know of a theory of multiple dimensions? Multiple universes existing in parallel?"
"I do." The lenses of his helmet seemed to bore into her soul, but that was only an illusion. He wasn't pushing. Not yet. "The math is quite complex."
"So I have heard." Cathi Gata kept her voice calm and respectful and he seemed to relax a little. Just a little. "I have no quarrel with you or your Empire. As I say, I needed someone totally impartial."
"That is not the only reason." The dark armored form looked at the odd congregation in the hallway. The warframe clad Tenno. The robot. The lioness. The Horseman. Then he looked back at Cathi Gata. "You clearly do not lack for power and if this is an alternate reality, then my own power is likely inadequate to free me from here by force."
"I would hardly dare to command the Dark Lord of the Sith." Cathi Gata said carefully. "But I do not suggest such." She shook her head. "Lord Vader, if you wish to leave, no one will dare stop you. I would ask that you hear me out, but I am not stupid enough to make demands."
"This very odd and I am curious." Vader said slowly. "You are not subservient, but you are respectful. Your feeling in the Force is oddly familiar, but..." He paused and chuckled darkly. "I remember that feeling. Bladeborn." He held out a hand to her and she extended her left arm that he took in oddly gentle fingers, turning it so that the Bladeborn energy sigil was visible on her warframe's armor. Now, his voice held respect! "Masterblade no less. How is Nia Korr these days?"
"Still the same." The Tenno did not try to pull her arm free and he nodded to her, releasing her arm. "Still crazy." She muttered as everyone else stared at her and Vader. She lowered her arm slowly.
"That is unlikely to ever change." Darth Vader was amused! "Is she here?"
"Yes." Cathi Gata nodded. "She is involved in what happened. It is a mess and involves multiple realities."
"That cannot be good." Vader said slowly. He looked away for a moment and was clearly thinking hard. When he looked back, Cathi Gata met his helmet eyes lenses calmly. "Why seek my aid?"
"There is much I cannot say." Cathi Gata chose her words with care but knew he would see and sense far more than she let out. His power was incredible, far more than anyone she remembered meeting. She had no chance against him and they both knew it. "What I can say is that the one responsible for the mess is demanding punishment from me. She takes the form of a young human child, but she is not. I knew her long ago and I hurt her very badly. I had no choice, but I did. My honor says that I cannot punish her." Vader nodded slowly. "She won't accept it from anyone else, especially not anyone she has had dealings with before. She will accept it from you if I direct you to punish her."
"Why would you wish for me to do it?" Vader repeated, openly curious now.
"With no disrespect intended, you are frightening even when you wish not to be. Fear is a weapon you wield well." Cathi Gata said quietly and the Sith nodded. "She does not know you, but she knows of you. She is afraid of you, Elizabeth is. She will respect you and if I direct you to punish her, and you do, then she will understand that it will be both efficient and merciless."
"Punishment is given for transgressions." Vader said slowly. "She has?"
"She has." Cathi Gata said softly. "Part to save me from a horrid fate, but other parts for other reasons. She is not sane, but she has cause for most what she does. It may not be a sane cause from our point of view-" She broke off as Vader sighed.
"But there is always another point of view. That likely won't change no matter where you go." The Sith said heavily and Cathi Gata nodded. "Why not simply strike her down? That would seem to be the easiest recourse."
"She is immortal." Cathi Gata said just as heavily and Vader shook his head. Then again, if half of what she knew about him was true, he had dealt with Sith immortals a few times. Rarely did such end well for anyone. "It doesn't work. It has been tried many times."
"So, to stop her, you need to punish her, but you cannot because your honor as a Bladeborn says you cannot." Vader mused and Cathi Gata nodded. "Indeed a tangle."
"When she accepts punishment and it is carried out, she will expire." Cathi Gata said softly. "Until then? She will suffer. I do not blame her for what she did. Few who understand the facts do, but she did transgress. She needs to end and I cannot do it. Your reputation is well deserved, but I also know more than the common folk do. I do not remember all of my time with the Bladeborn. Much of what I had was lost, but I do remember bits. Nia said you had honor."
"Within limits." Vader warned her. "You Bladeborn are far more constrained than I am." Cathi Gata inclined her head in acknowledgment and he chuckled again. "Another reason to ask my aid."
"You won't take any disrespect from anybody." Cathi Gata agreed. "This is going to be a mess and a half. I do not demand. I ask your assistance, Lord Vader. You can see the being as more than a hurting little girl."
"You ask me to harm a child?" Vader's tone hardened. "One who has done nothing to me?"
"She is not a child, Lord Vader." Cathi Gata said sadly. "But yes, that is what I ask. I ask that you punish her at my direction. I do not know what form the punishment she will demand will take. She is not very lucid sometimes. She has great power, but limited control when she rages."
"That is not good." Vader said slowly and Cathi Gata nodded agreement. He looked at the wall for a moment, but she could feel the Force bubbling around him in seething waves. When he looked at her again, the Force was a focused laser aimed at her soul. It was ready to pry into her mind if needed. "I need more information. What happened?" Cathi Gata stared at him and he shook his head. "There are many pieces of this that do not add up. If this is an alternate reality, then I am unlikely to remember this when I return to mine. Also, if I remember the math correctly, then time has little meaning when traveling between such. I can return to where I was milliseconds after I leave. I need to know more. Your quandary has piqued my curiosity. I can do what you ask. Why should I?"
"The truth will make you very angry, Lord Vader." Cathi Gata bowed to him again.
"I am always angry, Masterblade. I am the master of my anger, not its slave." Darth Vader said in a very quiet voice. "What I am not is stupid. If you did not believe that I was the only choice, you would not have summoned me here." Cathi Gata nodded as she rose. The Sith folded his arms and it was clear he would not budge. "Explain. Now."
"As you wish."
Two hours later
The room had been bustling with conversation. That died as Cathi Gata entered with the Dark Lord of the Sith at her side. Fury walked right behind her with the robot and the lioness. All of whom were wary. The Dark Lord wasnot angry. Indeed, he seemed resigned! The oddly assorted trio stopped just inside the door as Cathi Gata and her companion walked to where the young form of Elizabeth sat in the middle of the floor. She had clearly been crying. Empress Eliza sat beside her, face pale as she saw Cathi and who was beside her. She opened her mouth, but closed it. Dozens of forms, some recognizable, some utterly fantastical sat around the huge amphitheater. All of them looked wary. As well they should. Nia Korr stood to one side along with both dragons from before. All of them looked shocked, but then Nia smiled. It was not a nice smile as she nodded to both of the newcomers who ignored her
Cathi Gata walked right up to where the girl sat and shook her head.
"You are demanding punishment from me." Cathi Gata said to the girl in front of her. "I have no right to punish you."
"You do!" Elizabeth started, only to freeze as Darth Vader turned to face her. "Um..."
"You will have your chance to speak." The voice from the black helmet was cold and merciless. "Until then? Be silent." He shook his head and looked at Cathi Gata who bowed hers.
"This is wrong." Cathi Gata said very quietly. "Good and evil do not come into this. You were pushed into what you became. I know by who." The glare she leveled on the female dragon should have rendered the being to ash. "You want an end, I can accept that, but this? No. I cannot accept this. I am not the one to punish you." She looked at Eliza who bowed her head. "How many times, Empress? How many times did I hurt you? Drag you back to your mother, kicking and screaming?"
"I stopped counting." Eliza said very softly.
"I didn't." Cathi Gata said and Eliza's head shot up. "Thirty seven times over a four year period." A gasp swept the room and only the dark form at her side seemed unmoved. "If anyone here deserves punishment, I do. Which is why you want to hurt me, isn't it?" She asked the young Elizabeth who froze.
"I what?" The young Elizabeth asked, then gulped as Darth Vader growled at her. "Apologies, Lord Vader." She said weakly. "But that makes no sense!"
"It does." The Dark Lord turned to the trio of non-Elizas. Nia Korr and the two dragons. "Nia Korr. Grandmaster now, is it?" He asked Nia who nodded. "Still up to your neck in trouble, I see."
"Always, Lord Vader. It is a gift." The green eyed swordmistress replied with a shrug. "I did not expect this, but Catherine has always found unique ways to solve problems. Even for us."
"I would hope that such is not normal even for your insane lot." Vader replied and Nia shook her head. "Good. I hope no one has disrespected you this time?" Was he mocking her? "You made a very gory mess on my Star Destroyer's decks."
"The idiots had it coming. You were better off without them." Nia retorted and Darth Vader laughed! It was as if Death itself was laughing! Not even the Horsemen were so terrifying!
"That they did." Vader turned to Cathi Gata who was looking at him. "Ask her sometime about the price of rudeness." Everyone looked at Nia who shrugged.
"I will." Cathi Gata replied. "Although I can imagine. What little I remember about her says not to disrespect her."
"A very bad idea, true. She may not match my power normally, but only a fool underestimates a Bladeborn, even a supposedly bound and helpless one." The Dark Lord of the Sith knelt down and looked the small girl in the eye. She froze like a deer in headlights. "Why do you hate this warrior so much that you demand she hurt herself to end you?" His voice was almost kind!
"She deserves to have closure." Elizabeth said weakly. "I… I hurt her."
"And?" Vader inquired. There was an odd undercurrent to his tone as he looked around the hall. Anticipation? "Yes, you hurt her. She told me what you did and why. But eventually, you found her. With a bit of help, it seems." He was not as angry. If anything, he was amused! "You know how she feels. She does not wish to harm you. So, why press her to do so? Do you truly hate her that much?"
"I don't hate her at all!" Elizabeth protested "She was the one shining thing in my life! My protector! My only true defender! I don't hate her!"
"Then why?" Vader rose and glared down at the quailing girl. "Why hurt someone who defended you so staunchly? Why make her do it if you don't hate her?" He shook his head. "There is little I do not know about hate, fake child. You cannot hide such from the Force. I feel it within you, growing even now. Hate for her among so many others."
"She has to stop me!" The young Elizabeth cried. "I have tried to stop myself! I can't!"
"Why?" Vader demanded and the very walls of the fortress seemed to shake. "Why does she have to be the one to stop you? Why do you hate her so much?"
"I don't hate her!" Elizabeth was on her feet and more than person gasped as the Dark Lord shook his head.
"A lie." He looked at Cathi Gata who bowed her head. "It is as I believed. She hates you as much as she hates the dragons."
"What?" Empress Eliza stammered.
"Tell them." Vader's tone was quiet, but it seemed to shake the very walls again as the young Elizabeth shook her head savagely. "Or I will make you." There was no threat in his tone, but no mercy either.
"Leave her alone!" A bulky form strode into view. The Hildryn warframe held a Soma Prime rifle aimed at the Dark Lord who did not react. "She is not yours to torment!"
"Funny." Cathi Gata said softly into the sudden silence that fell as everyone stared at the Hildryn. But not the small Elizabeth, she was snarling silently. "Sera doesn't talk, but you do, Helen. And… How did you get here?" She looked at the wardens, both of whom shook their heads. Nia shook hers. "You have been here before."
"Helen?" Empress Eliza paled. "No. I didn't bring you here." She stare at the young version of her who was impassive. "You…. What have you done?"
"She promised to get me my brothers back." Helen said with a growl. "No thanks to our dear mother or you, Aunt Eliza!" She shifted her aim to Eliza, but Cathi Gata was between them now, between the young Elizabeth and Eliza and not coincidentally, blocking the Hildryn's line of fire. Vader moved to stand with her and was between Eliza and the younger her. Also, clearly by plan. His hand was on his lightsaber, but he did not draw it.
"Whatever I have done or not done..." Cathi Gata said slowly. "Shooting her won't help, daughter."
"You do not get to call me that." Helen snapped. "You abandoned us!"
"I didn't remember you. I don't remember you. Is it abandonment if I am not allowed to remember?" Cathi Gata did not ask Helen that! A stir and Sera stepped out of the mass of forms who had risen when Helen had drawn her weapon. The Nova was shaking her head, clearly struggling with herself. "I am truly sorry. Don't fight it, Sera. I know what to do. This does need closure and I have to do it. She took my memories. I wondered why. Now I know." She looked at Vader. "I so wanted you to be wrong, but the evidence all said you were right. You are. This is why I needed someone impartial. To see what I was missing."
"You show more wisdom than most can ever dream, Masterblade." Darth Vader said quietly. "Do you need a weapon?"
"Thank you, but I have my own." Cathi Gata replied and he nodded. Her Glaive like sword appeared in her hand as she turned to face the young Elizabeth who had frozen. "Why?" No one moved but Helen who shifted her position to aim at Eliza. Vader shook his head and made a motion with his free hand. Her weapon flew from her hand to land in his! She tried to draw a pistol, but it flew from her hand and then her polearm flew from her back before she could grasp it. Both of those landed on the floor next to the Dark Lord who shook his head. "Why do you hate me so much? Why turn my children against me? Why?"
"You loved them." The young Elizabeth said in a quiet, dangerous voice. "You didn't love me."
"What? You were my job!" Cathi Gata snapped. "If you remember nothing else, then you have to remember that I did love you! I put up with more crap from you than any of your siblings because I loved you. From what was said, I saved you from the Prison! Why do that if I didn't love you?"
"And then you came out of that horrible place with four little squalling brats." The form in front of her wavered and it was not a human girl. She had golden skin and black hair. "You said and I quote 'I don't care how you were made, you are mine and I love you'. You never said that to me!" Eliza paled at the vehemence in the mad high caste Orokin's voice.
"And people wonder why Sith don't like love." Vader said in a very quiet voice. "It rarely ends well for those with power."
"Protecting you was my duty!" Cathi Gata said sternly. "My job! Whatever my feeling may have been, I had to subsume them for the job. You know this. Or, you did. Now?" She shook her head. "Helen, what happened to your brothers?"
"What do you care?" Helen snapped as several of the varied forms in the room moved to restrain her. From the look of her warframe, its power had been drained somehow but that did not make her defenseless. Far from it.
"Because I bet I know who made Sera swear an oath of silence and I bet it wasn't the wardens." Cathi Gata said as she stepped up to the Orokin form in front of her. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Sera nod and relax. "Was it?" She demanded of the golden skinned Eliza.
"You know nothing!" The Orokin girl's voice taunted her as Cathi Gata drew back her arm. "You will never see them again!"
The Masterblade's sword hissed as it swung.