Total and utter silence settled over the Jedi Council chamber at Nathrrya's latest revelation. The Jedi were simply too stunned to react. The Sith took the opportunity to study each member of the Council but she mainly focused on Mace Windu and Yoda as they were the ones she had the most interaction with.
Mace Windu, head of the Council looked as stern and grave as ever. He should have known that any Council meeting where Nathrrya was involved would not go smoothly. Mace studied the Sith woman through half closed eyes. He had concluded that Nathrrya was often blunt, to the point and said what was on her mind, even if you didn't want to hear it. He actually found this refreshing though it made dealing with her no easier. Her willingness to train Master Dooku in the Dark Side was testament to that. The debate the Council would have about it wasn't going to be pleasant.
Yoda, Grand Master of the Jedi Order looked to be deep in thought, his ears had drooped which they always seemed to do whenever he heard some worrying news. For all of Yoda's eight hundred years of wisdom and experience he still could not fathom the Sith woman's actions. Nathrrya could have simply said nothing about the ancient Sith temple but instead she chose to tell them, why? They would learn soon enough. It was as if Nathrrya thrived on confounding the Council and by extension the Jedi as often as she could. She had already shattered the Council's perceptions on what a Sith was supposed to be, how a Sith was supposed to act. The ancient master knew she was far from done.
As for the remaining ten members of the Council, they were all in various stages of shock and surprise. One master seemed more conflicted than most, Saesee Tiin reviled dark siders. For that reason alone Nathrrya wanted to thumb her nose at him, just because she could. The Sith was somewhat surprised that he hadn't attacked her outright. Nathrrya's eyes settled on one of the alien members of the Council, Yarael Poof. His near constant attempts to get past her metal shields was annoying in the extreme. He wasn't the only Council member to try but he was the most persistent. The Sith knew her mental shields were good but she couldn't help but wonder if their increased strength and resilience was another after effect of having the Force Spirit of the Sith Emperor in her head for over three millennia. What other gifts had Volkrion left her with that she didn't know about? Nathrrya didn't want to dwell on that.
Now that she thought about it Nathrrya had seen more non human species in the past month than she had during the entirety of her previous life. This wasn't that surprising given the nature of the Sith Empire, its size, location and the fact that the Empire and Republic were at war. The Sith also suspected that most of the alien species she's seen since being awoken hadn't yet been discovered.
"How is that possible?" Mace Windu asked leaning forward in his seat and bringing the Sith out of her musings.
Nathrrya looked thoughtful as she spoke "I can tell you or... I can show you."
"Show us?" Plo Koon asked confused.
"I can project my memories of what I saw and experienced while I was within the Sith Temple. However trying to do this for so many could be too much of strain for me." Nathrrya explained.
"Assist Master Windu and I will." Yoda said calmly.
"I am grateful Master Yoda." The Sith replied as she sat cross legged on the floor in the centre of the Council camber before she fell into a meditative trance.
The Jedi Council soon found themselves stood in what was clearly the hallway of a Sith Empire vessel if the Imperial banners were any indication. Ahead of them they could see a pair of large blast doors and stood before them was Nathrrya.
"Welcome to my mindscape." The Sith said "This is the main hallway of a Harrower-class dreadnaught and behind me are the blast doors that would lead to the bridge but in this case they lead to what I want to show you. The Sith temple that lies beneath the Jedi Temple."
"How is this so realistic?" Mace asked as he looked around.
"I've been aboard Harrowers on numerous occasions, even been in command of them a few times. This is actually modelled after the flagship of my home worlds defence fleet. A vessel I was very familiar with. To me the Accuser was the finest ship in the Imperial Navy." Nathrrya explained with a fond smile.
None of the Council could miss the wistfulness in the woman's voice or the fact that she'd commanded warships. She also hadn't mentioned the name of her home world. Nathrrya turned to face the blast doors and with a wave of her hand they began to open. Behind her the Jedi Council watched in fascination and horror as the architecture of the ancient Sith temple was revealed.
Nathrrya trailed her hand along the wall as she looked around slowly taking in the ancient architecture which was unmistakingly Sith in origin. "I've only seen architecture like this once before and that was the Dark Temple on Dromund Kaas..." she said to herself "Which was at least a thousand years old when I braved its depths looking for the Ravager for Darth Fat Arse."
The Sith woman felt another presence manifest near her as she turned she saw the ghostly form of Valkorion appear "You've found the Jedi's dark little secret. Impressive isn't it?" he asked looking around "One of the earliest Sith temples in all the galaxy and the fools above have no idea it's here."
"The Jedi must have known this temple is here otherwise they wouldn't have built theirs on top of it." Nathrrya pointed out.
Valkorion chuckled "Indeed. It was the ancient Jedi that first built the structure that encases this one in the flawed belief that the presence of light side would keep the dark side contained. It worked for a time but as generations passed the knowledge that there was ever a Sith temple here faded and with it the power to keep the darkness contained. It has slowly been working its way upwards for millennia the Jedi above are so used to the darkness that taints their temple, they do not even notice it." He smiled "But you did and here we are. It would make the perfect place to rebuild the Sith Order. Getting direct access will be a challenge."
Nathrrya looked upwards, Valkorion wasn't wrong for there had to be tens of meters of duracrete above their heads and as for finding the main entrance...
"Sidious knows about this place, doesn't he?" she asked
Valkorion nodded "Yes, he may know of its existence, but you are far better placed to take advantage of this. You will have to convince the Jedi, but you always had the ability to get others to see things to your advantage."
Nathrrya snorted "I can't see the Jedi allowing me to rebuild the Sith Order but this would be the perfect place."
"You will convince them." Valkorion seemed so certain. "Even they will see the irony."
Nathrrya nodded "Perhaps... but Sidious needs to be dealt with first." She said thoughtfully turning to face her former emperor. "This temple dates from the Great Hyperspace War doesn't it?"
"Indeed. It's hard to believe but the Sith did occupy Coruscant for a time." Valkorion replied. "And we both know how that war ended."
"The Sith Genocide." Nathrrya stated grimly. "I am the last of the Sith Order, of House Palatine and I will not let the Sith die with me."
The Jedi Council were in shock yet again, this seemed to be a constant theme where Nathrrya was concerned. They exchanged worried looks among themselves wondering if Nathrrya really did intend to re establish the Sith Order. What had concerned them more was what she had said about a Sith Genocide. That could not be correct, not mean what it implied could it?
By this time Nathrrya was stood once again waiting for the questions and accusations to start. However nothing happened as the Jedi looked... shaken. The Sith briefly cracked a smile but there was nothing to smile about. If her remark about the Sith Genocide got the Jedi to actually stop and think then all for the better.
"What do you mean by Sith Genocide?" Saesee Tiin asked at last. He may hate dark siders with a passion but the implication of the word genocide made him uneasy.
If Tiin were honest with himself he had to admit he was slowly warming to the Sith woman. Nathrrya might be a Sith Lord but she had made himself and the rest of the Council realise that just because she was trained in the ways of the Sith and the Dark Side it did not mean she was evil. Tiin wasn't naive enough to think that Nathrrya hadn't done some unpleasant things in her past and if he asked she likely wouldn't deny it.
Nathrrya's expression darkened considerably. "I can't say I'm surprised that you don't know. I have to remind myself that I'm three millennia in the future. Records get lost, destroyed. The ancient Jedi may have even buried what they had done out of shame." Her tone grim "At the end of the Great Hyperspace War, the Sith Empire was in tatters with no military to speak of."
The Sith began to pace. "Supreme Chancellor Pultimo ordered the invasion of all Sith controlled worlds. Pultimo had the misguided belief that if he could destroy Sith culture then the galaxy would be a safer place." She turned to face the Council as her eyes slowly went from blue to Sith yellow. The passion and anger in her voice were also noticeable. "But to destroy a culture... you have to destroy the people. One man's order almost saw the total annihilation of the Empire's population regardless of species for every man, woman and child the Republic and Jedi forces found no matter if they had been active in the war or not were slaughtered."
Nathrrya closed her eyes and took several deep breaths trying to calm herself when she opened them again they were their normal blue. "The survivors fled deep into uncharted space, my ancestors among them. Eventually they settled on the old Sith colony world of Dromund Kaas. The Republic wouldn't hear from the Empire for over one thousand five hundred years before we returned to take back what was rightfully ours."
The Sith woman let out a weary sigh. "Now... I'm all that remains. I'll be dammed if I let the Sith die with me." She gave the Council a hard, calculating stare "The Sith and Jedi Orders have been separate for too long and while they could never be one we could be allies. Something for you to think about while I hunt down Sidious."
Without waiting to be dismissed Nathrrya turned on her heal and left the Council chamber. Silence followed in her wake.
"The symbol of the Sith Empire is almost that of the Galactic Republic." Mace whispered horrified at the realisation. The rest of the Council shifted uncomfortably in their seats unsure of what to make of the unwelcome revelation.
Nathrrya walked the halls of the Jedi Temple deep in thought. Had she done the right thing, done enough? She felt she had. Would the Council actually stop and think about what she'd said, had tried to say? Only the Force knew the answer to that. She didn't want to be the last of the Sith Order for the rest of her life. It was lonely enough as it was. Discovering the Sith Temple had given her hope, hope that once Sidious was dealt with that she might build a life for herself in the galaxy she now called home.
Nathrrya knew she wasn't the last of the Sith Order, there was also Tara imprisoned on the world of Belsavis. Nathrrya's heart clenched thinking about the girl who had been like a daughter in all but blood. She wanted to go to Belsavis and see if there was anything she could do for Tara but Nathrrya was wise enough to know that if Sidious so much as got a whiff of what was on Belsavis then things wouldn't end well. As much as it pained her Tara was best off being left where she was. Nathrrya was the only living person who knew that Tara was on Belsavis and she'd go to her grave before she'd tell anyone of her friends final resting place. The sound of her name being called drew the Sith out of her thoughts.
"Nathrrya, are you alright?" Cin Drallig asked with concern.
"I'm fine, just a lot on my mind is all." Nathrrya replied noticing that the Battlemaster wasn't alone for there was a Corellian Jedi master with him. "You needed me for something?"
"Are you expecting a ship to be delivered from Naboo?" Cin wanted to know.
Nathrrya's eyes lit up, a genuine smile appearing on her face "I am as it happens. Captain Panaka contacted me not long ago saying they'd found what they believed to be Sidious' apprentices ship on Naboo and as I was the one who killed him the Queen wanted me to have it." She grinned "I'm sure Sidious would have been livid when he found out."
"I see. Mystery solved it would seem." The Jedi Battlemaster said thoughtfully. "By the time we get to the Temple hanger it should have landed."
"Wouldn't have this Sidious tried to claim the ship?" Nejaa Halcyon asked.
"He may have intended to but in doing so could have incurred some very unwanted and awkward questions as to why his public persona wanted with a suspected Sith vessel." Nathrrya explained as the three made their way through the temple. "I told the Queen and Panaka that the apprentice was lying in wait then Panaka's men find a ship hidden near Theed, it didn't take the Captain long to connect the dots."
"Now you have possession of said ship." Nejaa observed dryly.
"Yes." Nathrrya replied. "Tell me what's a Corellian Jedi Master doing here on Coruscant?"
"Can we believe what Nathrrya showed us?" Eeth Koth asked "Was it real or some form of Sith trickery and who was the man she spoke with?"
"Good point you raise." Yoda replied "Real it was no deception that I sensed."
"How can you be so sure Master Yoda?" Ki-Adi-Mundi asked "She has lied to us about being Sith."
Yoda looked disappointed "Lied to us Nathrrya has not."
"But..." Mundi began.
"We assumed that she was an Old Republic Jedi." Mace said "Nathrrya let us keep our assumptions which we were the victim of. That is hardly lying. Don't forget she did reveal the truth when the opportunity presented itself." That was something the dark skinned master would remember for a long time.
"If what we saw was real then there is a Sith Temple below us." Adi Gallia said "What of the Sith Genocide Nathrrya spoke of was that true or a lie?"
"It is the truth as Nathrrya knows it." Saesee Tiin spoke up "Should we discount what she said? No but we also need to try and corroborate it somehow. There might be something in the Archives but it will be no easy task to find."
"Wise suggestion you make." Yoda said "Mediate on this I shall."
"What of the similarity between the symbols of the Sith Empire and Galactic Republic?" Plo Koon asked worried.
"That is something we will have to ask Nathrrya about, see what she has to say on the matter." Mace replied. "She is the most knowledgeable in matters concerning the Sith."
"So the Green Council sent you here to see what all the fuss was about?" Nathrrya asked as she, Nejaa Halcyon and Cin Drallig entered the temple hanger.
"Pretty much." Nejaa replied with a smirk "You haven't disappointed. With what you've told me and what information I'll get from the High Council it should keep the Green Council on Corellia happy." He paused a moment "Do you think you'll visit Corellia in the future?"
Nathrrya chuckled at the irony of the Jedi Master's words "Eventually. I did help the Empire capture Corellia after all. Not that we were able to hold it for long."
"Why would the Empire want to capture Corellia?" Cin asked genuinely curious.
"I thought that would be obvious." Nathrrya replied "Not only is Corellia a core world but it is a major centre for starship production. The loss of Corellia would have been a blow to the Republic not only from a morale standpoint but it also would have hampered the Republic Navy's ability to replenish its losses." The Sith shrugged "Given that the Empire couldn't successfully hold Corellia once it had been captured it made little difference."
Before either Jedi Master could ask her anything more the trio's attention was taken by the arrival of a most intriguing craft. It was about twenty-six meters in length with a bulbous cockpit/engine section at its rear with extra cooling fins protruding from the sides and it also seemed to possess a substantial amount of firepower for a ship its size.
Nathrrya grinned "Gentlemen may I present to you the Indigo Rose it's not my Fury but Force I'm glad to have a ship again."
"Indigo Rose?" Cin asked amused by the name.
"What can I say?" Nathrrya smirked. "I like purple and flowers... Oh and chocolate, can't forget chocolate."
"Can't argue with that logic." Nejaa admitted with a chuckle.
Nathrrya wrinkled her nose. "Now I'm going to have to sweep the Indigo Rose for all the bugs and trackers that Sidious no doubt has on it." She said as she watched Ric Ollie and R2-D2 descend the boarding ramp.
Grandmaster Yoda sat mediating in his private chambers seeking guidance from the Force about what the Council had leaned. Slowly the diminutive master became aware that he was not alone as he could feel the presence of two other beings. Yoda opened his eyes which widened in surprise for sat before him were two force ghosts, a man and a woman who were Old Republic Jedi going by the robes they wore.
"Greetings, Grandmaster Yoda. I am Master Casavir Therin and this is my former padawan Master Kira Carsen." The Hero of Tython said introducing himself and his wife.
"Related to Nathrrya you are." Yoda stated. "Cousin you are."
Casavir smiled "Yes and as Nat's cousin I'd really appreciate it if your High Council would stop giving her such a hard time. She's trying to help and all your council can do is second guess her. Something I know she doesn't like. I may not agree with her methods but I've never been able to argue with the results."
Yoda blinked... had he just been reprimanded by a Force Sprit?
Kira tried not to laugh at the comical expression on the Grandmaster's face "That's not why we're here tough guy." She said giggling.
"I know but you've wanted to give the council hell." Casavir replied slightly amused. Kira looked guilty but unrepentant. "We're here because of the Sith Genocide. It came as a shock to our Jedi Order when the historian Master Gnost-Dural found evidence of it. It explained some reasons for the war we were then fighting." The Hero of Tython explained "In the Archives you should find Master Gnost-Dural's holorecording about it. That should be more than enough proof for your council."
Yoda nodded as he turned his gaze to Kira. "Rumour there was Sith you were."
"Even dead I can't shake that can I?" Kira grumbled "We never did find out who started it."
"No but Master Kaedan seemed the most likely after all he did try and have you imprisoned, like another Council tried with my cousin." Casavir said unhappy about what had almost happened to Nathrrya.
"Imprisoned?" Yoda asked confused.
"That rumour about me being Sith... there's some truth to it." Kira admitted "I fled Korriban when I was ten and was eventually taken in by the Jedi, the rest is history." She said keeping the details to herself. There were only a few people who knew her true story. Of those there was only one alive and Nathrrya would never tell.
Obi-Wan along with his friends, Garen Muln and Quinlan Vos entered the temple hanger coming to a halt as they saw a ship they didn't recognise. The ship seemed to have most of its external service and maintenance hatches open. On the top of one of the wings there was a familiar blue and white astromech droid but what made Obi-Wan smile was the pair of green leather clad legs he could see. Nathrrya's head, arms and most of her upper body had disappeared into an open hatch.
"What the hell?" Garen asked surprised.
"Haven't you seen anyone doing ship maintenance before?" Obi-Wan said grinning.
Before Garen or Quinlan could reply Nathrrya extracted herself from the maintenance hatch she'd been working in.
"Found you." She said to small object held in her hand "Artoo how many does that make so far?" the droid beeped a response "Really, that many? Sidious seems more paranoid that what Baras ever was." She then tossed the object over the side of the wing and it joined a small pile of seemingly random ship parts on the floor of the hanger.
"What is she doing?" Quinlan wondered.
"Stripping her ship of tracking and listening devices, left over when it belonged to Sidious' apprentice." Cin Darlling informed them.
"Her ship?" Garen asked shocked.
"A gift from the Queen of Naboo." Obi-Wan told them smiling "Nathrrya mentioned it to me when I took her to Dex's the other day."
"And how did that go?" Garen wanted to know "You'd think the two of you had gone on a date with the way Siri was carrying on. Fortunately Bant and Shylar managed to talk sense into her."
Kenobi coughed lightly to cover his surprise. "It went well enough. I'll have you know it was just two friends out for a meal, nothing more."
"You consider yourself friends with Nathrrya?" Quinlan asked. He remembered seeing her and Master Jinn at a distance when he was on Tatooine undercover. The Force had given him no indication that anything had been amiss which was why he hadn't approached his fellow Jedi.
Obi-Wan frowned as he thought about his answer then he smiled nodding. "Yes I consider myself and Nathrrya to be friends."
Mace Windu and Yoda had been in the Archives for hours it seemed but they had at last found the holorecording Yoda had been told to find. Master Gnost-Dural's accounting of the Sith Genocide had made for grim viewing and both masters were still trying to processes it all. What was clear was that what Nathrrya had told them was the truth. They would have to show this to the rest of the Council.
"I still cannot believe that the Republic and Jedi did that." Mace said as they turned to leave.
Whatever reply Yoda may have made never passed his lips as both masters saw Chief Librarian, Jocasta Nu approach them.
"Master Windu, Master Yoda I have been more successful that I dared hope as I've manage to trace the Therin family back many generations." She said handing the head of the Council a data pad "It's this entry here that I think you will mind the most interesting."
Mace and Yoda read through the information that Master Nu had highlighted. It concerned Nathrrya's father Marrick Therin. The records stated he'd been posted to Axxila as a senior investigator in the Republic's Justice Service but the world had been annexed by the Sith Empire, from that point on he seemed to have vanished.
The two senior Jedi looked at one another considering what this meant.
"Half Jedi Nathrrya is." Yoda said at last. The idea was frightening.
A/N: The symbols of the TOR era Sith Empire and prequel era Galactic Republic are remarkably similar so I get to have a bit of fun as to why. :) The Jedi Council should really have figured out Nathrrya's odd parentage by now but apparently not. :D
