"Nathrrya now that you have a ship what do you plan to do?" Obi-Wan asked as they walked side by side out of the temple hanger.

"For one go to Tatooine as there's some outstanding business I need to see too. After that, there are some other locations I might visit. I also need sometime away just to think." The Sith replied mindful of what she should say.

After freeing the Twi'lek girl that looked like Vette, Nathrrya planned on going to Vaiken Anchorage to see if anything remained from there her next stop would be Dromund Kaas to recover whatever had been left for her. Last on her list would be the location of the hidden Imperial fleet. There were two other places she might visit but she wasn't sure about those just yet.

"I see." Obi-Wan remarked thoughtfully. You don't fully trust the Council do you? He thought. He couldn't really blame her as no doubt Nathrrya wanted to see what had become of Imperial space without the interference of the Council.

Obi-Wan's comm. beeped the padawan retrieved the device from his belt and was surprised to see an image of Dex appear.

"Obi-Wan, is your girlfriend Nathrrya with you?" the Basalisk asked a wicked grin on his face.

"And you say my humour is bad." Obi-Wan replied he could hear Garen snickering behind him.

"I'm here, Dex." Nathrrya said somehow managing to keep her expression impassive which was no easy feat as the look on Obi-Wan's face almost had her laughing.

"Good could you come by in say half an hour?" Dex asked "I think I've got what you were asking about."

"I'll be there Dex." Nathrrya replied before the Basalisk's image faded out. "I'll see you when I get back Obi-Wan. Let hope the Council don't come looking for me in the meantime." She said rolling her eyes.

"If they do I'll tell them you've gone to Dex's." Obi-Wan replied as he watched Nathrrya walk away.

"So... girlfriend, huh?"

"Oh shut up, Garen."


Darth Sidious was in a rage and currently he had nothing to vent his rage on. Knowing all your carefully planted bugs and trackers would be found was one thing but to watch as each was found and rendered useless was galling beyond words.

It was clear to Sidious that this Darth Avarice must have done something like this before but that didn't explain her extreme familiarity with starship systems even with the assistance of an astromech droid she'd expertly pulled the ship apart one system at a time putting everything back together as she went.

Darth Sidious cursed Darth Avarice in every language he knew.


"Do you have to go mom?" Anakin asked sad at the thought even though he'd known it was a possibility.

"Yes Ani, Tatoonie for all its faults, is home and now that you've been accepted into the Jedi there's not much need for me to stay." Shmi said giving her son a hug. "I'll miss you."

"Anakin, just because your mother is leaving doesn't mean you won't be able to talk to her sometimes." Qui-Gon said "I think we can arrange a long distance comm. call once in awhile." The maverick Jedi knew he'd be breaking quite a few rules but didn't care.

Anakin needed to be handled differently as he'd spent the first nine years of his life with his mother so couldn't be expected to forego all contact with her. Besides if the Council gave him too much trouble he was sure Nathrrya would soon put them in their place. It was strange to think that the Sith was an ally in training the boy that might be the Chosen One. Qui-Gon still found it hard to believe.

"How will you get back home, Shmi?"Obi-Wan asked thoughtfully.

"I thought a commercial transport."

"I might have a better idea." The padawan smiled "Nathrrya now has a ship of her own and I'm sure she wouldn't mind taking you as I know she has some unfinished business on Tatoonie." He said thinking of the Twi'lek salve she intended to free.


Janson 'Face' Falon looked up as Dex ushered his mysterious female friend into the Basalisk's office. Human, red hair, intense blue eyes, athletic and well toned figure not at all ashamed at showing it off but when Face saw the weapons the woman had he was not happy... at all.

"Spast, Dex you could have warned me that your friend was a kriffing Jedi!" the Slicer complained bitterly "It's because of them I'm working for Coruscant Security."

The Basalisk facepalmed as he muttered something uncomplimentary about Face under his breath. The slicer noticed that the woman looked mildly offended for some reason.

"Face you're an excellent slicer, you should be able to work out that Nathrrya here isn't a member of the Jedi." Dex said in a tone that suggested he was trying to explain a fairly simple concept to a child.

It was the slicer's turn to facepalm. "If she were a Jedi she wouldn't need a forged Republic ID." Just what have I gotten myself into? Face wondered. "If you're not a Jedi then what are you?" he asked.

"What I am isn't important." Nathrrya replied folding her arms over her chest. "What is, is why you're so upset with the Jedi?" her tone saying she wanted answers...now.

Please don't do that. Face thought. Because it's really distracting and sexy as hell. Her accent wasn't helping any as the slicer was sure she could read something as dull as the Coruscant Holo directory and he'd find it mesmerising. Dex was right, Nathrrya was dangerous.

"About three months ago I got a job to test the security of some big corporation, nothing out of the ordinary or so it seemed." The slicer explained doing his best not to stare at the red haired beauty. "So I did the job hacked the mainframe with the programs I'd been given and that's when things started to go wrong. One of the programmes would leave a permanent untraceable backdoor in the mainframe."

"What!?" Nathrrya asked in disbelief. "You're a professional slicer and you didn't even test the programmes you were using!? Sounds to me as if the size of the credit chit overwhelmed your logic." Disapproval and disappointment clear in her voice.

Face sighed he wasn't going to try and argue for he knew she was right. "Two weeks after I'd done the job I was to meet my contact to get paid. I'd gotten caught in Coruscant traffic which for once turned out to be a good thing as I hadn't even made to the meeting place and it was swarming with Coruscant Security. Turned out my contact had been wacked but the odd thing was he still had all the credits that he was to have paid me."

Nathrrya looked thoughtful but nodded for the slicer to continue his story.

"About a week after that the bounty hunter that's assumed to have wacked my contact turns up dead." Face said.

"Makes sense, the bounty hunter left a loose end, you. Whoever hired the hunter wasn't happy about that." Nathrrya said considering what it could all mean.

Face shuddered at that. "I haven't told you the best part yet, sweetheart." He got an irritated look of disgust that cleanly said, don't call me sweetheart. "A few weeks later I was arrested by the Jedi because I'd hacked their mainframe and as far as I know the backdoor into their systems is still there."

Nathrrya swore in ancient high Sith for the best part of a minute. "Sidious will be furious when he finds out you're still alive. When he does you'll be very dead very quickly."

"Sidious?" the slicer asked clearly confused and worried.

"Darth Sidious, Dark Lord of the Sith." Nathrrya clarified "Whom you've helped penetrate what was supposed to be one of the most secure mainframes on all Coruscant!" Face paled. "Fortunately I'm trying to stop the bastard. Unfortunately there are two active Sith Lords in the galaxy. Sidious is one the other is me."

The slicer fainted hearing this.

Nathrrya looked at unconscious man then at Dex. "I think I broke him."


The majority of the Jedi Council felt uncertain for they were about to view the holorecording of Jedi historian Master Gnost-Dural, a Kel Dor that had lived during Nathrrya's time. What had shocked the Council more was when Yoda had revealed that he had been visited by the Force sprites of Jedi Masters Casavir Therin and Kira Carsen who had not only told him about Gnost-Dural's recording but had also expressed their displeasure at the current Council's treatment of Nathrrya.

Mace leaned forward and inserted the holodisk into the room's holoprojector. Moments later the holo image of the long dead Jedi historian appeared.

"It is as many of us feared the Jedi and Republic are once again fighting the Sith Empire. This had led me to try and understand what happened at the end of the Great Hyperspace War. What I have discovered worries me greatly." Gnost-Dural said worried "After the defeat of Naga Sadow Supreme Chancellor Pultimo was of the belief that if he could destroy Sith culture then the galaxy would be a safer place."

"It was at this moment that the Republic Chancellor made what might now be considered a mistake: To destroy a culture you have to destroy the people. The Sith no longer posed a threat to the Republic, but Supreme Chancellor Pultimo was unsatisfied." the holo image said. "Jedi and Republic forces were sent to Korriban and other Sith planets to ensure no remnants of the Sith Empire would survive." Dural's holo image looked down and sighed "The death toll would have been horrendous, millions maybe even billions dead on the misguided orders of one man. Part of me is pleased that some Sith managed to flee."

The image looked up a mixture of emotions in his eyes. "Now we are fighting a renewed and much stronger Sith Empire that has one of the best motivations for fighting, revenge. I cannot help but wonder if Supreme Chancellor Pultimo's actions unwittingly planted the seeds to the Republic's demise all those centuries ago. One day historians many generations from now will be able to answer that question." Gnost-Dural's holo image faded from view.

Silence filled the council chamber. The twelve Jedi looked among themselves no one wanted to speak. To do so would make it true even if they knew it to be so. They slowly began to understand Nathrrya's anger and her burden. She was the sole survivor of a civilisation that had flourished almost four millennia ago. Yet she was trying to build a life for herself in galaxy not her own. The council silently vowed they would grant her one desire. They could never replace what she had lost but maybe they could help ease her pain.


"That was fun." Face grumbled as Dex handed him a large glass of Corellian whisky.

"You should feel better after you've had that but take it slow." Dex said sitting down in his office chair. "You did a good job. No one will know that the Republic ID Nathrrya now carries is a forgery."

The slicer snorted "I didn't have much of a choice my life literally depended on it."

"As long as you remember that when dealing with Nathrrya you'll be fine."

Face sighed sipping his drink "I'm really in deep this time."

"We both are." Dex reminded him "I've got your and Nathrrya's back in this, whatever this is."

The slicer nodded as he slowly consumed his drink. Both men sat in silence as they considered their future and their association with a certain red haired, blue eyed Sith Lord.


Almost as soon as Nathrrya stepped foot inside the Jedi Temple she was told the Council wanted to see her. I wonder what they want this time. She thought as she made her way to the Council chamber which by this time was a well trodden path she could walk with her eyes closed. She was looking forward to seeing how much she could tweak the Council's nose once again. The Jedi Council for all its faults was easier to deal with than what the Dark Council had ever been.

The Dark Council or what remained after the war with the Republic was something Nathrrya hadn't thought about in a long time. At the outbreak of hostilities there had been twelve councillors by the end there was only six and that didn't take into account replacements during the war. Darths Mortis, Marr, Vowrawn, Ravage, Nox and Acina along with herself were all that was left of the ruling body of the Empire by end of the war.

Nathrrya grinned as she was often considered by many to be the unofficial seventh Dark Councillor though she never held a seat or oversaw an aspect of the Empire like the others. Her role as the Empire's Wrath was to keep the Sith Order and Imperial High Command in line. If someone made too much of a fuss she was to deal with them by any means necessary. That ranged from simply talking all the way up to silencing the troublemakers. Nathrrya was often the tie breaking vote when the other six became deadlocked. She had kept the Empire together and prevented it from imploding by sheer force of will or so it had seemed.

Nathrrya frowned thinking about Darth Nox even now the woman evoked mixed emotions in her. She had despised Nox in life and wanted nothing more than to murder the woman not least because of the way Nox had treated her supposed daughter and the man who had gotten Nox with child. The only way Quinn would ever sleep with that dark bitch was through the use of Sith sorcery. Part of Nathrrya hoped she was wrong about that as she'd never been able to figure out Nox at all. Baras had been painfully easy to figure out. Nox had been near impossible and Nathrrya suspected it had to do with the darkness the woman seemed to draw around herself like a shield. It was painful to admit but Nathrrya had never known the real Darth Nox and that bothered her.

Even so just the thought of Quinn ever being under some Sith enchantment got Nathrrya angry. Quinn was such a humble and honourable man and loyal to a fault once he gave it. She squashed that memory viciously for she had forgiven Quinn for that long ago. Nathrrya could never bring herself to stoop so low for the sake of a bed partner. She wanted someone who'd willing please her and enjoy it just as much as she would. The thought of having someone as little more than a sex slave was an insult to Nathrrya's womanhood.

Then Ziost happened, that was something Nathrrya didn't really want to think about as it still held too many painful memories. So many lives lost too many people she and Casavir could never save. Nathrrya might have hated Nox with a passion but the fate that had befallen her on Ziost was something she wouldn't wish on anyone. She looked up and saw the Council chamber doors just ahead. Time to clear her mind and see what they wanted.


Nathrrya entered the Jedi Council chamber and knew right away something was different. She looked around and noticed the twelve Jedi were softly talking among themselves. This had to be the first times they'd done so in her presence. There was something else as well less obvious but just as important. There was a feeling of warmth and quiet acceptance of who and what she was. That had never happened before and it sent her mind racing. Just what the kriff was going on? She wondered.

"You wished to speak to me Master Windu?" Nathrrya asked as she stopped in the centre of the room before bowing acknowledging the head of the Council.

Mace leaned forward smiling slightly "Indeed I did Nathrrya there are things the Council and I need answers too and you are the only one that might have those answers." He said as he activated the room's holoprojector. An images of the records of the fate of Marrick Therin appeared.

Slowly a grin spread across Nathrrya's face as she began to chuckle in amusement. "It took you all long enough to make the connection. I haven't hidden it, no reason to."

Mace gave her a look that said please explain.

The Sith's amused grin became a smile. "You have to understand I was the heiress to an ancient and noble house of the Sith Empire the last to hold the title of ancient and noble in fact. Technically I still am the heiress of House Palatine. If the ancestral home and lands still exist then I have the right to claim my position as head of House and my title of Lady Palatine." Lord Palatine-Kenobi has a nice ring to it she thought amused.

"And this is relevant how?" Mace asked with a frown.

"It isn't really not now at any rate." Nathrrya said "Back when the Empire existed it most certainly was relevant. The fact my father had ties to the Jedi and that in the eyes of the Sith it made me a half-Jedi..." she paused looking competitive trying to decide how to communicate just how grave the situation had been. "If the knowledge had become known I would have been killed closely followed by my parents soon all of House Palatine would have been killed. Considering how much political and military power House Palatine possessed as the last ancient and noble House of the Empire it would have been a severe blow. At the least it would have badly crippled the Empire at worst it would have set off a chain of events that would have seen the total destruction of the Sith Empire."

Silence settled over the camber at Nathrrya's words

The Sith made eye contact with each council member as she spoke "The truth that my father was of Jedi linage had to kept secret. I was the product of the marriage between two people who between them had the legacy of the Jedi and the Sith in their veins. I was the result of their love for each other, something I've always been grateful for. It was my biggest fear that I was nothing more than a genetic experiment. Thank the Force that was not the case." Nathrrya took a breath then continued "People died because of my families' greatest secret. Some willingly gave their lives to protect it others died trying to discover it. Now I no longer need to hide my heritage but nor will I advertise it."

"Why would a Sith family go to such lengths to keep you and your fathers origins such a secret?" Master Adi Gallia asked.

Nathrrya smiled a genuine happy smile "The Palatine House motto sums it up best. Family, Allies, Empire. Loyalty to family comes first in all things, to betray family for a Palatine is unthinkable. Family for me was Tara, Vette, Quinn, Jaesa my parents, my cousin and his wife Kira. I would die before betraying any of them." The Sith grinned wondering how long the Council would take to realise the revelation she'd let slip. "Then there were my allies the most notable two were Darth Marr responsible for Defence of the Empire and Darth Vowrawn responsible for Logistics and Production. We may not have agreed on things all the time but always had each other's backs when it mattered. Lastly was the Empire. It was my home and would defend it as such but would never throw my life away doing so..."

Nathrrya was going to say more but her mind had other ideas. A sudden painful realisation tore through her psyche at light speed. It had always been there since she'd been awoken at the back of her mind but she'd been so busy to do anything about it trying to figure out her place in the new galaxy she'd found herself in. Now it would not be denied and had demanded her attention.

Nathrrya sank to her knees before falling forward so she was supported by her forearms. As she raised her head a soul rendering mournful scream tore from her throat that echoed around the Council chamber stunning the Jedi present. Nathrrya then fell on her side before curling up into a fetal position sobbing uncontrollably. Reality had finally caught up. She was the last of her family, last of her allies and last of the empire. Nathrrya started to grieve for the loss of her old life on the floor of the Jedi Council chamber.


Obi-Wan stood in the kitchenette of Nathrrya's room making her a cup of tea, something he hoped she'd appreciate. As he did so he thought of the woman lying on her bed that seemed to be asleep in reality she was unconscious due to extreme exhaustion. Two hours ago he, Qui-Gon and Siri Tachi had all been called to the Council chamber what they found inside shocked them. There on the floor curled up into a ball crying was Nathrrya with Master Adi Gallia at her side trying to calm her down.

Obi-Wan had been further surprised and delighted when Siri's jealousy and distrust seemed to vanish the instant she saw Nathrrya so vulnerable. Siri was initially at her master's side trying to assist her as best she could. After awhile they had gotten Nathrrya coherent enough to stand on her own and with the assistance of both Obi-Wan and Siri with Qui-Gon following at a rather sedate pace behind them had gotten Nathrrya back to her room.

Obi-Wan was brought out of his musings by Nathrrya letting out a pain filled groan.

"What happened?" she asked sounding tired as she tried to work out where she was.

"Grief." The padawan said simply as he brought her the cup of tea he'd finished making placing on her bedside table. "Your grief at the loss of your old life finally caught up to you and overwhelmed you I'm afraid. It wasn't a pretty sight."

Nathrrya sighed "I can imagine." She closed her eyes for a few moments. "I cried didn't I?"

Obi-Wan nodded "Yes. It was distressing to watch. On the bright side you shouldn't have any more problems with Siri." At her questioning look he continued "It seems seeing someone as strong and powerful as you in the state you were in did wonders for curing Siri of her jealousy and distrust."

A faint smile appeared on Nathrrya's lips "Good that's one less thing to worry about."

"Indeed." Obi-Wan said. "The Council wanted to see me once you were awake. I know they still want to talk to you more but it can wait till you've got yourself back together. I think Siri will be along later to check on you. Maybe it's time to make another friend in the order?"

Nathrrya grinned "Oh I do so look forward to opportunity of corrupting another padawan to the dark side." She said playfully.

Obi-Wan chuckled it was good to see some of the Nathrrya he knew make an appearance.

"Then I shall leave you to your scheming, my lord." Without thinking the padawan bent down and kissed Nathrrya on the forehead he turned and left her room before the Sith woman could react.


Obi-Wan exited the Council chamber with what could be best described as a thoughtful scowl on his face. He couldn't quite believe what the Council had ordered him to do. It wasn't the part that he was to face his Trials for Knighthood for he'd been expecting that. No what had Obi-Wan Kenobi upset was that he was to spy on Nathrrya for the Council and all that implied. They hadn't said it like that of course but it had certainly been hinted at quite strongly.

Obi-Wan for the first time in his life felt nothing but disgust and contempt towards the Jedi Council. He had thought they were actually beginning to trust the emetic Sith woman now he wasn't so sure. Something must have happened before Nathrrya had her grief induced breakdown but what? Obi-Wan also thought that the Council wasn't in full agreement over their latest move. That wasn't anything new but it could have some very serious repercussions if Nathrrya were to discover the betrayal as he knew she did not take such things well.

Obi-Wan let out a sigh he would need to mediate on this and decide a course of action before too long. However his gut reaction was his loyalty to Nathrrya which surprised him. He would not knowingly betray her trust. If that meant going against the Council's wishes then so be it.


"You're looking better Nathrrya." Siri said as she took a seat near the Sith woman's bed.

"I am." Nathrrya replied "What do I owe this visit to padawan Tachi? I was under the impression that you didn't like me all that much."

Siri had the decency to look awkward "I have been a bit of an arse haven't I? I guess I just didn't know how to act or react around you yet Obi-Wan seemed so at ease. Am I making sense?" she asked.

Nathrrya nodded "You are. And now?"

"After your emotional breakdown in the council chamber it made me realise you're just as fallible as the rest of us and there isn't anything to fear. So can we start over?" Siri asked hopefully.

"I'd like that Siri." Nathrrya agreed

The padawan smiled "In that case what's got you in such a good mood?"

Nathrrya grinned "Obi-Wan Kenobi is a man of many talents some of them very pleasant."

Siri felt her mouth fall open before she snapped it shut. "What did he do?" she asked at last.

Nathrrya's grin became a smirk "That my dear would be telling and where is the fun in that?" she glanced at the empty tea cup. "And it was more than the cup of tea he made me but it certainly helped."

Siri leaned back thinking about Obi-Wan could have done to have such a positive effect on the Sith woman. Suddenly she snapped her fingers in realisation. "He kissed you didn't he?"

Nathrrya's smile was all the answer Siri needed.

"Where?" The padawan asked at last.

Nathrrya frowned slightly thinking it over before she grinned and indicated her forehead. "It was just what I needed." She admitted.

Siri couldn't help but smirk. He has it bad. The padawan realised. I wonder if he knows. For some reason Siri couldn't explain she found the thought of her friend Obi-Wan having an infatuation with the attractive older Sith woman not nearly as terrifying as it had been. Siri would have to think about it some more.


"You're looking better Nathrrya." Mace Windu greeted as the Sith entered the Council chamber.

"I still have a long way to before a fully heal but I do feel better." Nathrrya said "Now what else did you need to talk to me about?"

Mace activated the holoprojector and two images appeared. One was clearly the symbol of the Sith Empire which Nathrrya easily recognised the other if she had to guess was the current symbol of the Galactic Republic. The similarities between the two the Sith found quite unnerving.

"Okay... the symbol of the Sith Empire and the current symbol of the Galactic Republic?" Nathrrya said as she slowly walked around the two projections. "When did the symbol of the Galactic Republic change? I remember it being a graceful stylised bird motif."

"We believe it was sometime after the Ruusan Reformation." Mace said

Nathrrya looked at the Council sharply but said nothing and went back to studying the two symbols. She didn't speak as she continued to slowly walk around the two projections clearly thinking. Nathrrya suddenly stopped and spun to face the Council.

"Son of a Bantha!" she exclaimed "The situation with Sidious is far more serious than I had thought. It's no coincidence that the Republic symbol has more than a passing resemblance to the Imperial crest. This order of Sith Lords that follow this rule of two have made their end game clear as day and it's been under you very noses for almost a thousand years!" Nathrrya's eyes had turned yellow she was so angry. "Sidious intends to destroy the Jedi Order and recreate the Sith Empire on galactic scale. Well not if I have anything to say about it he won't!"

The Sith turned and stormed out of the Council camber not looking back. Nathrrya had plans to make, places to be and planets to visit. She was done hiding it was time for the galaxy to feel the Empire's Wrath!


Nathrrya was prepping the Indigo Rose for departure as Shmi and R2 were already aboard so the Sith was doing her final walk around before boarding herself.

"Nathrrya, can I speak to you?" Obi-Wan asked as he walked up behind her.

"Come to see me off?" she asked turning to face him.

"In a manner of speaking." The padawan replied "The Council have requested that I accompany you on your travels."

A myriad of emotions passed over the Sith woman's face before she started to rant. "I've got a good mind to tell the Council they can go kriff themselves and to kriff the hell off! They think because I'm half Jedi they can snoop over my shoulder when I'm trying to save the galaxy... again." She pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration.

Obi-Wan blinked "Half Jedi?" he asked bewildered.

"I'll tell you later." Nathrrya replied dismissing the matter. "You being told to come with me... doesn't have anything to do with your Trials, does it?"

Obi-Wan just nodded.

"Of course it would." The Sith let out a defeated sigh. "You can come, as I'll be glad of the company. But on one condition." she said raising a finger to emphasise her point. "There may be planets I visit and things I do that I do not want the Council to know about... yet. Am I clear?"

"Yes, master." the padawan replied with mirth.


A/N: Well this took much longer than I thought it would. Real life and reading far too much Harry Potter fanfic got in the way. Don't ask. Still I think I've manged to get all the loose ends tied up. Nat will now be visiting some of her old stomping grounds which should be fun. Then there will be the time skip to AotC which I'm not sure to do as a separate story or not. Haven't made my mind up about that.

I'd also like to thank everyone who has faved and followed this story. I can't get over how popular it's become. This started out as a somewhat off the wall idea and has grown to have a life all it's own. And we're no where near done. I'm not the fastest of writers but I'll get there in the end.