"So, you've seen the Jedi Temple from the outside. Now what do you make of the inside?" Nathrrya walked beside an excited, wide-eyed boy.
"It's so huge!" Anakin cried, still in awe at what he was looking at. All around him Jedi masters with their Padawan were scurrying about, while others were training smaller groups of younglings in the various small training rooms off the main hall. Nathrrya enjoyed the boy's enthusiasm.
"You've worn the Jedi robes after all," Mace Windu stated by way of greeting. Nathrrya's brows rose on seeing the Council master. She didn't know his rank when she first met the dark-skinned man, but Qui-Gon had informed her that Master Windu was the head of the Jedi Council while Master Yoda was the Grand Master of the Jedi Order.
"You sound surprised, Master Windu," she replied with a slight smile.
Windu smirked and put his hands behind his back. "You strike me as usually being very individualistic, Nathrrya." he said by way of explanation.
The Sith inclined her head slightly. "You'd be right. I hate to conform, always have. But I also know the value of being able to blend in and go unnoticed."
Qui-Gon chuckled. "You didn't do that on Tatooine."
Nathrrya grinned "I didn't need to."
Master Windu raised his eyebrows. "I see. Well, it's good to see you've all returned safely from Naboo." He turned his attention to Qui-Gon. "It looks to me you picked up some more strays." He pointedly looked at Anakin and Shmi. "I assume there will be an explanation forthcoming?"
"There will be, but before the Council. It's something best not discussed in the open."
Master Windu nodded his understanding and turned his attention back to Nathrrya. "As I'm sure Master Jinn has told you, we have arranged living quarters for you and the Skywalkers within the guest wing. Padawan Tachi will show you the way. Once you've settled in, I would like you to come to the Council chambers. Since you were part of the mission to Naboo, it's requested you're present for the debriefing."
The Sith nodded. "So, the Council doesn't trust me, I take it?" She really wasn't surprised.
"It's not so much that we don't trust you as we know almost nothing about you. You are a mystery in more ways than one Nathrrya." He looked to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. "Please come to the Council chambers as soon as you can." With that, he turned and left them.
"I can't believe the Jedi are allowing us to stay in their temple," Shmi said to Nathrrya. The two women watched as Anakin explored the apartment that he and his mother would be sharing during their stay. Nathrrya had been given her own apartment next to them.
Nathrrya chuckled at Shmi's observation. "I'm sure they have their reasons." She put a neutral look on her face and turned to the woman. "You're planning to return to Tatooine, aren't you?"
"How…?"
Nathrrya smiled. "Contrary to popular belief, Force users can't read minds at least not without physical contact, but we can pick up on feelings and thoughts if they're strong enough we can get a good idea about what they could be about."
Shmi nodded. "I think I'll go back eventually. For all its faults it's still home, but I want to see Anakin accepted first."
"That may not happen, Shmi," the Sith said. "I argued this with Master Jinn, but as far as the Council is concerned, Anakin is too old."
"Is that why you said you would train Anakin if necessary?"
"I'll tell you what I told him: I would train Anakin in discipline and control. He will learn nothing of my chosen path from me because it's not for everyone." Nathrrya had taken on a serious tone. "I'm hoping we won't have to resort to those measures, but I fear that the threat of that possibility might be enough to get the Council off their collective backsides." She looked at her chrono and sighed. "I have to get going. That meeting might be done before I get there, but before I do I'm getting out of these blasted robes."
"You don't like Jedi clothing, do you?" There was a slight tint of amusement in her voice. Nathrrya scowled.
"Would you want to wear this all the bloody time? I mean, sure it's functional but it's not the least bit flattering. And I'm a show-off with a preference for revealing tops and leather jackets." She was feeling a little facetious. "I am woman - hear me roar!"
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, stood on either side of Nathrrya, who was dressed in her usual revealing outfit, complete with blaster within the Jedi Council chambers. The sunlight coming through the floor-to-ceiling windows gave the room a welcoming glow.
"The Trade Federation tried to assassinate the three of you? That is disturbing." Mace Windu said clearly worried by what the Council had been told so far. "I take it this is how you acquired the blaster you now carry?" he asked Nathrrya, eyeing the weapon with some distain.
"Yes, it's come in handy." The Sith replied with a smirk as it was clear the Council were uncomfortable with the idea of a 'Jedi' carrying something so common as a blaster. "But what I found more concerning was that Qui-Gon and I encountered a Sith on Tatooine when we were about to leave."
"A Sith Lord?" Mace queried not liking the idea one bit.
Nathrrya just managed to hold in the snort of derision at that comment. She was fast losing patience with having to hide her identity as it really wasn't her style. Though she knew it was for her own wellbeing, she didn't have to like it.
Master Ki-Adi-Mundi spoke. "Impossible! The Sith haven't been seen for a millennium."
"Nothing is impossible; I'd say I'm living proof of that." Nathrrya shot back. "The Sith that attacked us was a male Zabrak," she said.
"Always two there are, one master, one apprentice." Yoda stated.
"Which did you face?" Mace asked.
"I believe him to be the apprentice of the mysterious Sith Lord who goes by the name of Darth Sidious."
"Darth Sidious... Granted the Force knowledge of his name?" Yoda asked.
"Correct Master Yoda." Nathrrya replied.
Master Windu rubbed his chin in thought as he considered what Nathrrya had said. "The attack was with purpose, that much is clear. It would seem the Naboo queen is the target."
"With the Naboo queen you stay, Qui-Gon, Nathrrya," Yoda said. "Protect her you shall. May the Force be with you."
Obi-Wan and Nathrrya bowed to the council and turned to leave, but they saw that Qui-Gon was still standing there respectfully. The two other Force users glanced at one another and fell into comfortable silence as they waited.
"Master Qui-Gon, more to say have you?"
"With your permission, Master. I have encountered a vergence in the Force."
"A vergence, you say?" Curiosity had coloured Yoda's voice.
"Located around a person?" Master Windu asked, leaning forward again.
Nathrrya could see this taking longer than it needed to and stepped forward. "The boy that came with us, Anakin Skywalker. Qui-Gon and I believe him to be the Chosen One from Jedi prophecy." Obi-Wan smirked at the usual blunt and to-the-point attitude of the Sith woman.
"That information is not exactly common knowledge," Mace said at last. "How did you come about it?"
Nathrrya looked thoughtful as she considered how to answer; she didn't need to lie in the slightest as to how she knew about the prophecy of the Chosen One. It was more a case of how much she wanted to reveal about herself. "On one of the few rare occasions I got to visit my cousin, who was a Jedi Knight. He told me about the prophecy of the Chosen One, and we spent great lengths discussing it. However, we never did come to a definitive conclusion." The wishful look on her face indicated to the council that she was remembering something of deep significant value and meaning to her.
"Do you have proof of your cousin being a Jedi Knight?" Mace asked a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"What do you think?" she shot back, a little exasperated at the question. "I know where there should be proof, but I don't know if your Jedi Archives go back far enough. The best I can give you is to search for a Jedi Master named Casavir Therin. He was known as the Hero of Tython. His first apprentice was a padawan named Kira Carsen."
Yoda sensed she was thinking of events of great importance. "Powerful emotions you have. Calm you must be." He glanced at Mace and the other Masters and nodded. "The archives we must consult. Verify this revelation we shall."
No one missed the indigent expression that passed over Nathrrya's face however it was gone just as quickly. The Sith said nothing for Nathrrya knew if she spoke what was on her mind she might say something she'd regret.
Yoda turned his attention to Master Jinn. "Wish the boy to be tested you do. Trained as a Jedi you request for him, Master Qui-Gon?"
"Finding him was the will of the Force… I have no doubt of that." The council saw Nathrrya roll her eyes at the remark.
"Bring him before us, then," Master Windu stated, the ghost of a smile on his lips. He wasn't going to admit out loud that seeing Nathrrya roll her eyes wasn't amusing.
"Tested he shall be," Yoda added. This time Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Nathrrya all bowed then turned to leave the Council chamber.
"Nathrrya I've been meaning to ask you about the... incident on Tatooine." Qui-Gon asked as he and Obi-Wan walked along side their Sith guest through the halls of the Jedi Temple.
"Incident? Why do I find that ominous?" Obi-Wan observed.
Nathrrya regarded the older Jedi a moment or two before she answered, "You're talking about when I almost lost it when I saw that young Twi'lek girl?"
Qui-Gon nodded "Yes. It obviously disturbed you greatly. I just wanted to make certain you're alright."
The Sith genuinely smiled at that. "I'm fine, I've had time to process the shock. It also turns out that Watto isn't as useless as I first thought. He actually might prove quite useful."
"Watto?" both Jedi asked surprised. Obi-Wan had heard all about the blue Toydarian getting on Nathrrya's sith side. "I thought you'd killed him." Qui-Gon admitted.
The woman grinned "No, though I was sorely tempted. He was nursing quite a headache by the time I was done however. Watto owes me his life and to repay that debt he's going to keep an eye on that Twi'lek girl for me. He knew who I was talking about when I mentioned her." Nathrrya looked thoughtful "Watto then actually surprised me by saying that if he can, he'll see about acquiring the girl. He'll still need help with his shop now that he doesn't have Anakin and Shmi, till as such time as I can return to Tatooine and free the girl."
"So, you do intend to free her." Qui-Gon said not at all surprised. "If I may ask, why?"
"Simple she looks too much like Vette for me not to do anything, it would also play on my mind if I did nothing." Nathrrya replied.
Qui-Gon didn't know how to react to that. "I see. Shall we visit the Jedi Archives and see if we can find any trace of your cousin?"
Nathrrya nodded, a genuine smile gracing her lips. "I'd like that very much."
Nathrrya did her best not to gape when she, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan entered the Jedi Archives as the room was simply huge. It was sixty meters in length if not more and eight meters wide, was two stories in height and full of books, texts and data pads. There were also busts of long dead Jedi Masters lining the walls. The Sith simply hadn't seen anything quite like it before. Even the efforts of the sphere of ancient knowledge paled in comparison to what she was seeing. It made her wonder how much Sith knowledge had been gained, lost then gained again over the millennia as unlike the Jedi who had their collective archive, the Sith did not.
Unlike the Jedi who shared their knowledge the Sith craved and converted it. Nathrrya had started to build a fair collection of her own Sith artefacts and knowledge not that it made any difference now as that had been lost long ago. Perhaps it was just as well she never got around to starting her own holocron, the thought that such a thing could be in Sidious' hands made her skin crawl.
"There's something I don't understand about this mess with Naboo and the Trade Federation, why hasn't the Republic military intervened? Now that I think of it I haven't seen any warships in orbit. Where's the Coruscant defence fleet?" Nathrrya asked Qui-Gon. The absence of a defence fleet bothered the Sith more than she wanted to admit as back in her time both Coruscant and Dromund Kaas were two of the most heavily defended planets in the galaxy. The lack of any capital ships in orbit was... unnerving to say the least.
"The Republic hasn't had s standing military since the end of the Ruusan wars almost a thousand years ago." Obi-Wan said.
Nathrrya did her best not to facepalm as she surely wanted to "Living Force save me, who's laser-brained idea was it to disband the military?" she let out a heavy sigh "I really need to catch-up on my galactic history." The Sith looked at Qui-Gon "And I thought your Council was bad, I gladly take it back, your politicians are worse!"
The Jedi master smiled slightly "I can sympathise as I often wonder how they get anything done."
"If I may suggest, master why don't I assist Nathrrya in learning what has happened in past three and a half millennia while you can search for anything on her Jedi cousin, you have higher level access than I do after all." Obi-Wan suggested.
Qui-Gon stroked his beard in thought "That's not a bad suggestion Obi-Wan. Nathrrya do you have any objections?"
The Sith shook her head. "No, it's a good a plan as any."
"Nathrrya why didn't you mention about what we saw in orbit?' Obi-Wan asked as he led her to another part of the Archives.
"It would have lead to some very awkward questions as to how I knew such a thing. My origins would have come to light and with all due respect to your council, that wouldn't have ended well for me." Nathrrya explained.
Obi-Wan nodded his understanding even so, he had a slight frown marring his features.
The Sith placed a hand on the padawan's shoulder making him turn to look at her. "Obi-Wan, what do you honestly think the Council will do once they know?"
The young man thought for a few moments before letting out a sigh. "Most likely imprison you." It was a rather depressing thought if he were honest with himself.
Nathrrya said softly "If I'm lucky, however I fear their reaction might be permanently hazardous to my health."
Obi-Wan's eyes widened as the realisation dawned on him. Would the Council really execute Nathrrya for simply being trained in the ways of the Dark Side? It seemed to go against everything he had ever been taught. Admittedly his only real exposure to the Dark Side had been to do with Qui-Gon's fallen padawan. Until now...
"You can understand why I'm being cautious where my origins are concerned. But sooner or later your Council will have to know and I'm not really looking forward to that conversation." Nathrrya admitted uncertainty clear in her voice.
"I can understand." Obi-Wan said as he took a breath to steady his racing heart. If the Council did try and kill Nathrrya, he could only guess at what might happen. One thing he did know with certainty, was that Nathrrya would not go down without a fight. "Let's see about getting you caught up on galactic history, shall we?"
"Found anything Qui-Gon?" Nathrrya asked as she and Obi-Wan joined the Jedi master at the computer terminal he was working at, several hours later.
"I believe so. It's fortunate you've arrived actually as you're the only one who can confirm what I've found." Qui-Gon replied turning slightly. "Shall I read aloud what I've discovered?" he asked Nathrrya, who nodded.
"Master Casavir Therin would be the last Jedi trained by Master Orgas Din who was killed by Darth Angril for the death of his son by Knight Casavir in the ruins of the Jedi temple on Coruscant." Qui-Gon looked over his shoulder with a frown "Ruins?"
Nathrrya nodded a little sadly "Yes the Jedi Temple was pretty much levelled when the Sith occupied Coruscant, a little before my time but it was something Darth Fat Arse wouldn't stop crowing about." She seemed to be lost in a memory "Cas took me there once, it was just him, Kira and I. We were the only living things in the ruins that day. You could still feel the tragedy that had taken place even more than a decade after the event."
"Darth Fat Arse?" Obi-Wan asked despite himself.
"My former master, Darth Baras." Nathrrya said with venom. "If you ever saw a holo of him you'd instantly understand why I gave him such an unflattering nickname." She grinned "I called him it to his face right before I ended his miserable life in front of the Dark Council. It was most... satisfying. I even remember Darth Marr chuckling as Baras gasped his last."
The two Jedi were somewhat unnerved by Nathrrya's ease of discussing the killing of another person. Qui-Gon then realised what Nathrrya had said "How could you have visited the ruined temple?"
Nathrrya's smile seemed to light up the area around them. "I managed to arrive on Coruscant disguised as a Jedi. It was Cas's birthday and I wanted to surprise him, and I did so most satisfactorily. That's when he took me to the temple ruins."
"I understand, Nathrrya." Qui-Gon said. "It says here that eventually Knight Casavir went on to slay the Sith Emperor on Drummand Kaas." Again, he looked over his shoulder.
"Yes, that's true. I was very proud of my cousin when I heard the news. Something I had to keep to myself obviously. Sadly, he only weakened the Emperor but did kill his mortal body. The galaxy, sadly, hadn't seen the last of him." Nathrrya frowned as unpleasant memories of Ziost filtered through her mind.
"It also says here something about a joint Republic and Imperial operation on Yavin 4 to stop Revan? That can't be right, can it? Revan was the prodigal Knight. No one knows what really happened to him after he vanished." Qui-Gon said.
Nathrrya folded her arms over her chest "No that's correct we did indeed fight Revan or rather part of him. The part that refused to become one with the Force." She paused "If you wish Master Jinn, at a later time, I will relate what I know of Revan's fate after he went missing. It is not a happy tale but it would eventually end on Yavin 4 after my cousin and I defeated him along with our allies. He at last found peace and became one with the force as he should have done."
"I would like that Nathrrya thank you." Qui-Gon replied. "However there seems to have been a very persistent rumour about Master Kira Carsen, well two actually. One that she was a former Sith and second, she and Master Casavir were, how to put this … More attached than they should have been?"
Nathrrya chuckled "So Kira made Master, did she? I bet Council meetings weren't boring with her around. As for Kira being a former Sith, it's true to some extent as she ran away from Korriban when she was very young and she was eventually taken in by the Jedi." She wasn't going to mention that Kira was a Child of the Emperor. "As for them being more attached than they should have been that was no rumour as I know they were married. I envied them." she noticed the stunned expressions of the two Jedi "I wonder if they had any children?"
As Nathrrya walked into her room in the guest wing of the temple, she was massaging her forehead. She was nursing quite a headache after spending several hours catching up on the several thousand years of galactic history she'd slept through.
She fell into the couch and tried to relax, closing her eyes as she tried to make sense of what she'd learned. Perhaps the biggest thing had been the end of the Ruusan Wars which had seen the near destruction of the Sith, again. If there had to be group in the all galactic history that didn't learn from it, it had to be the Sith. No matter what form the Sith took, they always made the same mistakes which resulted in their ultimate demise. However, two Sith had survived, Darth Bane and Darth Zannah who followed Bane's Rule of Two, no more than two Sith an any one time, one master, one apprentice; one to embody the power of the Dark Side, the other to crave it.
Nathrrya supposed it was an effective way to deal with all the in-fighting that often took place. It would also explain why Sidious was so strong in the Dark Side, facing the man would not be easy and could end in her death which was something she could accept as she'd 'lived' far too long as it was. What really made her want to scream at the top of her lungs was the Ruusan Reformation. What the Republic had done to its self was beyond stupid in her opinion. No standing military and turning the Jedi into little more than a monastic order. At least the Jedi of her time were warrior monks, which was more than could be said for the current generation. Not that she'd underestimate the Jedi's lightsabre skills; that kind of thinking got you killed. No wonder the Sith had been having a fine old time the past thousand years, biding their time in the shadows.
The door to Nathrrya's quarters chimed. She sat up straighter on the couch before she used the Force to open the door, something she suspected the Jedi wouldn't approve of.
In the now open-door way stood Anakin Skywalker a slightly concerned expression on his young face. He carefully walked in and the door closed behind him. "Are you alright Nathrrya? I don't know how to explain it but I felt as if you were stressed about something."
The Sith's eyebrows rose in surprise at this then she frowned considering something. "I've been catching up on my galactic history and some of it I found... troubling. The time I now find myself in is starting to make a little more sense to me." Nathrrya said to the boy as she studied him through the Force. What she saw was a very wispy, thin bond between them. How and why had it formed she couldn't say but spontaneous Force bonds such as this weren't unheard of. Unsurprisingly, she could see one to Anakin's mother which was very thick and strong and another one to Padme which was much more developed that the one he had to her. Nathrrya also saw two that would have gone to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan but these had never fully formed.
If anything, this confused Nathrrya even more as why would a being of pure Light form a bond with one that used the Dark? It made no sense to the Sith whatsoever.
"Anakin the reason you could tell what I was feeling is there is a very weak bond between us. We're close enough and my emotions strong enough that you picked up on them. If I had been in another part of the Temple you wouldn't have known anything." Nathrrya explained carefully.
The boy nodded his eyes wide with surprise but he seemed to understand "It is dangerous?" he asked.
Nathrrya rubbed her chin in thought as she considered her answer "I'd imagine that some more traditional minded Jedi would consider such a bond extremely dangerous. I am a Sith, a Dark Side user so for me to have a Force bond of any kind with one as young and as strong in the Force as you are would terrify them."
By this time Anakin had made himself comfortable next to Nathrrya on the couch. The boy nodded his understanding "You mean they'd be worried you could teach me to be a Sith like you?" he asked unafraid.
Nathrrya smiled sadly "Yes something like that Ani. They'd worry that I would corrupt or turn you to the Dark. Something I have no desire to do. I don't believe that's your path Anakin." Not yet at least, she thought, keeping her musings shielded from the boy. But if you really are the Chosen One then you may have to know the Dark but only once you're anchored in the Light.
Again, Anakin nodded "So is the bond permanent?" he asked with curiosity.
Nathrrya shook her head "No, not yet. It's very weak, there's a chance it might break on its own like the ones you tried to form with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan though they may have subconsciously blocked the attempt as the two of them already have a training bond with each other." She looked Anakin in the eyes "Or if you wanted me to I could break it, here and now. The choice is yours."
Anakin had to think about that. "Who else do I have a bond with?"
"You have one with your mother, no real surprise there. You had some with your friends on Tatooine and even the blue nerf-twerp Watto oddly enough. But they've become strained and broken due to distance. There's the tentative one with me and lastly there's the one you have with one of the queen's handmaidens Padme." Nathrrya smiled mischievously "So do you want to go see your girlfriend?"
Anakin looked like he'd swallowed something bitter. "Oh gross! She is not my girlfriend." The boy cried even though he kind of liked the idea.
Nathrrya laughed "You say that now young man. I bet if I asked you that in another ten years or so I'd get a very different answer." She said ruffling the boy's hair.
Anakin just glared at the woman as he didn't like his hair being played with. "I don't like that." he grumbled. "As for this force bond thingy, I feel as if I should keep It." he looked up hopefully "Is that a good thing?"
"That's something I can't answer Anakin, only you know what feels right and what doesn't. But I will say this, it sounds to me as if the Force itself is giving you guidance on the matter. The Force can be a powerful ally to those who wish to heed its call."
Anakin nodded perhaps not fully understanding. "Is that why you're helping the Jedi? As I thought Sith and Jedi don't get along so well. You did stop that other Sith from attacking us."
Nathrrya looked thoughtful as she tried to answer the boy's question "I might call myself Sith as I've been known as such all my adult life but here and now I think more of myself as just a Force-user who has command of the Dark Side. As I said on the Queen's ship when I was freed from my carbonite prison I was very ill and while I recovered the Force granted me visions of what might come to pass. Its meaning is clear to me. The Force wanted me to aid the Jedi to try and prevent what I had seen. I am in a time that is not my own, nothing I knew exists. The Force gave me guidance when I needed it and it continues to do so. I will heed its call as long as I am able."
She smiled "I was friends with a Jedi Knight from my time and he once told me in jest that if the Jedi Order accepted Dark Side users then I'd make Jedi Knight no problem. Unlike most Sith I tended to use my abilities for good rather than evil ends." She looked over at Anakin. "But unlike the Jedi I won't shy away from killing someone if I think they deserve it. I remember a mission on the world of Alderaan and my master's contact was the most pathetic excuse for a noble I'd ever met; Duke Kendoh was his name. He tried to use me for his own personal gain which really started to annoy me. After my mission was complete my master contacted me and gave me permission to deal with Kendoh as I saw fit. For the man had attempted to slander me. It was the last mistake he ever made, for I struck him down with my lightsabre."
Anakin frowned "Isn't that kind of evil?" he asked.
"Perhaps, some would say so. I saw it more as doing Alderaan a favour and on a world wracked with civil war one minor noble's death wasn't of much consequence." Nathrrya replied "Now shall we go and see Padme? I need to see the queen as well."
Anakin smiled and nodded his head.
A/N Last chapter for the year, don't expect anything until sometime in the New Year. Happy Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate at this time of year :)
