Chapter 2 – Not Forgiven
Jaden waited patiently as her pilot landed her Lamdba Class shuttle gently on the surface of Rylis.
'You will stay in the ship and not move an inch until I return, understand?' She glared back at the pilot who nodded as she walked out of the shuttle.
Jaden walked calmly through the destructed city which looked exactly the same as it had the very day she had left or rather the day when that pathetic excuse for a Jedi; Soli, came and apparently "rescued" her and took her to a place of safety.
She walked up to a familiar building in the city which had received quite a lot of damage but was sturdy enough that she could still walk inside. Walking over to a panel on the wall she spent a few moments trying to repair the broken computer before it was finally active again. Slicing through the data she soon found what she was looking for before turning around and walking back out of the building.
Jaden made her way through the deserted city until she reached where the city wall had once stood and began to walk through the forest to her old home on the planet.
It didn't take her long till she reached Jerran's small hut which appeared relatively undamaged. Jaden wasted no time in walking forward up towards the door and using the force to push the door wide open.
Looking inside she knew that this was the place that she needed to take care of if she was ever to leave her past on this planet behind her. Without even bothering to look at any of the items in the house she evenly placed several small bombs around the hut before walking back outside.
As she walked away from the hut she set off the detonators and at the sound of the explosion she grinned to herself, it was done, she had put everything that had happened on this world behind her and now it was time to use the information she had found in the city to finally get her revenge on those who had hurt her so much so many years ago.
-
Over the next week Jaden carefully sought out those who still supported Empire and wanted to bring down the Jedi and it wasn't long before she had begun to build up her army. It seemed as though quite a few people hated this new reign as much as her.
Controlling people who pretty much begged her for some type of ego boosting authority was extremely easy, all she had to do was promise a few people some power and whatever planet, town, city or moon they wanted and they would literally throw themselves at her feet. It was a pathetic display of those people or aliens who were to weak and frightened to do the work themselves and yet they were happy for her and her army to do the work whilst afterwards they would come in a simply take over whilst pledging allegiance to her. Jaden couldn't care less about these people but she knew without followers she had no chance in taking down what remained of the Jedi and the people who followed and believed in them.
These planets Jaden were visiting and redeeming for the New Empire weren't just planets that she was simply picking off randomly it was because she was on the hunt and each of these worlds held more clues to the location of those people she was looking for. Most of the planets she had seized had been large settlements of refugees from the fight against the Empire a year or so ago and so were full of men and women ready to get back into a fight and any fight they didn't care as long as they were paid and Jaden was happy to oblige by giving them whatever those who opposed her had when she disposed of them on the planets.
It took at least another week but finally Jaden found the final piece of the puzzle, she knew exactly where the people she was looking for were. Jaden ordered her small fleet of star destroyers to the planet. She wasn't simply going to get these people she wanted but she was going to make every living creature on that planet pledge themselves to her and her new empire or they would be killed.
-
'We have arrived.' Rallion said walking up beside Jaden who was standing on the bridge looking down at the planet.
'I can sense many lives down there which is excellent because even if most of them are against me and my New Empire killing them will still leave more than enough lowly, cowardly survivors for what I have planned.'
'What do you want us to do Lord Jaden?' He asked.
'Use your men to invade the major city, kill anyone who disobeys you and will not give their allegiance to me and the new empire. Those who surrender round them up in one area and those who in their wisdom decide they want to fight for with my for my New Empire put them elsewhere in the city. If you detect any ships leaving the planet's surface shoot them down and I don't care whether it's a transport vessel, single vessel or even a damn medical ship just kill them I want no one leaving this sector understood?' She looked down at him. 'Tell the pilots to to prepare the ships for our onslaught and ready my shuttle I will be leaving for the surface immediately.'
'Of course.' Rallion said looking after Jaden as she walked off the bridge.
-
When she arrived on the planet's surface she ordered her to pilot to stay inside the ship and kill an civilians who tried to board thinking it was some type of escape vessel.
Walking out of the ship she looked around her at the city which was in a complete state of disarray as her soldiers and clone troopers did what they did best hurting and killing. Jaden ignored the screams of the hundreds around her as they were either dragged away by her soldiers or simply shot down if they tried to run.
In the midst of the panic and chaos one young woman who wasn't looking where she was going bumped straight into Jaden who glared down at her.
'Please help me Jedi.' She said looking down at the lightsaber in Jaden's hand.
'The Jedi are finished you know and I would strongly recommend changing where your loyalties lay…' Jaden lent closer towards the woman. 'I would bow down to you new Sith Lord and my New Empire if you want to live.' Jaden grinned looking down at the wide eyed woman.
'No not after what the Sith did to us before!' She said sternly.
'A Shame.' Jaden said instantly pulling out her saber and cutting the woman down who screamed and fell to the floor causing a lot of the citizens trying to escape to pause and turn in their direction. 'This, this is what you will all suffer if you don't just give up and come with me!' Jaden yelled glaring at all the people around here. 'Only with your help citizens can you help me bring forth a new empire free of Jedi and their mind controlling methods! All you have to do is trust me and follow my orders and you will not only live but live free from under the Jedi or Republic's control!' She watched as a few of the civilians started to consider what she had said but she had no time to deal with these simple minded fools as she had a more important matter to deal with.
Casually stepping over the body of the dead woman in front of her Jaden continued towards a small building. As she neared the building she could feel the presence of the people she was after inside. The anticipation of finally getting her revenge was almost too much for her but she managed to control her excitement at the thought of revenge.
Walking up to the building door she threw it open using her force push before slowly walking inside where she saw a pitiful site, all the people inside appeared to be hiding like cowards! Slowly walking down the middle of the room she could sense the terror coming from every person in the room and it thrilled her but there was only one in this room she was really concerned with terrifying and she could she him huddled in the corner like a frightened animal.
'Oh my dear friend how are we?'
'You…I don't believe it could possibly be you...' Telo said trembling and staring up at Jaden who looked down at him on the floor.
Suddenly she saw movement in the corner of her eye and looked around to see a man trying to run towards the door, Jaden instantly used her force lightning on the man causing him to scream in agony before falling to floor.
'No one is going anywhere!' Jaden yelled. 'You will all be here and watch this man beg for his life for my and your amusement.' Jaden looked down at Telo.
'You, you wouldn't kill me would you? It was all Righter's fault he controlled everything it was him that punished you and Minara and the others it was his business not mine I just did as I was told!'
'Where is he?' Jaden asked menacingly. 'I can sense him nearby...'
'He is in one of the smaller apartment rooms behind me…'
'Excellent.' Jaden grinned…
After only a few moments Jaden easily disposed of Telo and the rest of the pathetic cowards in the room before stepping over Telo's body before walking through the door at the end of the room.
'Where are you my old Master?' Jaden cooed walking down the hallway before coming to stop at a doorway. 'I can sense you, you old fool.' Jaden said throwing the door open and walking inside to see Righter sitting down in a chair looking out the window.
'Just kill me I won't join you Sith!' He spat without turning around.
'I don't stab people in the back, I would much rather you turn around and face me when I stab you.' Jaden said boredly.
'That voice…it couldn't be…' Righter said turning around and looking at Jaden standing in the doorway. 'Jaden…'
'Look at this he actually remembers my name!' Jaden said with a laugh.
'I knew the names of all my slaves…'
'Where are they?!' Jaden said stepping forward. 'I have come to set them free from you worthless scum.'
'Telo didn't tell you…'
'Oh I didn't give him a chance before I killed him and every other coward in that room…and besides I always knew you were the pilot of this little slave trade you ran, you called the shots which means you are responsible for everything I went through!' Jaden said her voice rising as she spoke. 'It was you who treated me as though I was some worthless piece of trash, who treated me and the others so bad and it was you who left my on Rylis which makes you responsible for everything that happened on that planet! If you hadn't left me there then the Empire would never have invaded that cit and they would never have slaughtered everyone their including two important people in my life!'
'I was a slave trader Jaden but I always treated you and the others well! You had accommodation, food and water which was so much more than so many others in the galaxy had at the time. If it wasn't for me Jaden you would be dead! It was I who saved you from those animals that butchered you parents and your people. If it wasn't for me you would have died long ago. Yes I am not proud of having slaves but it provided a better life for me and you…'
'Stop making your pathetic excuses! You're just trying to play the card of how you were really the good guy in all of this but that stupid story won't cut it with me Righter.' She paused. 'Now tell me where are the other slaves are, where is Minara?'
'I no longer own them.'
'What.' Jaden snapped. 'Where are they?!'
'Times were hard and I could no longer afford to look after them or myself. My ship and everything I owned was taken from me not long after we left you on Rylis. I let them go on some planet...I can't even remember it's name and then I made my way here…'
'You let them go without any credits, no possessions or protection and on some hell hole of a planet that you can't even remember!'
'There was nothing I could do I had to look after myself…'
'I came too late to free them…' Jaden muttered to herself before recollecting herself. 'At least this trip wasn't completely wasted because at least finally I can kill you for everything you've done to me.'
'No Jaden listen to me I tried to help you if it wasn't for me you'd be dead!' Righter said his eyes widening as Jaden walked forward towards him.
'I will make sure that you suffer as much as I have for everything you have done to me…' Jaden said in a low voice igniting her lightsaber.
-
Walking out of the building some time later after finally killing the coward Righter Jaden emerged to see her Clone Captain standing there waiting for her.
'This city is in ruins my Lord, those who surrendered are gathered in the city center.'
'What of those who have agreed to help my New Empire?'
'We have separated them elsewhere Lord. What are we to do with them?'
'Get those fools aboard one of the Star Destroyers and give them some blasters, when we attack the Jedi Temple on Yavin 4 we will send them in first to be cannon fodder for the young Jedi's in training and whilst they are busy with those fools you and your troops will then attack from behind and slaughter both them and the Jedi. The disarray it will cause will make it easy to slaughter them all especially if they have no idea who the enemy is and where we're attacking from.'
'What of the people in the city center who surrendered?' The Captain asked.
'I will speak to them.' Jaden said as she and the Captain marched back towards the city center.
When she arrived at the city center Jaden looked at the crowd of people in front of her and was a little disappointed that there wasn't more.
'Now you are the cowards who gave up without a fight but refuse to join my ranks in the New Empire.' She began. 'I am not a monster and I am not going to stand here and let you all be killed. You all will now be my slaves, your beautiful city is so rich in metal's which is something I need and that's where you come in. You all will be in charge of tearing this city down and helping to create and melt down more metal for my armies.' She paused. 'Any who refuse to do this will be killed without question but there are rewards for good work my slaves! Work long and hard and you will be given plenty of food and water and of course the New Empire's protection from the Jedi. Now what more could you want? Nothing? No one wants to say anything? Excellent! Well get to work.' She said with a grin before turning to her Captain. 'If anyone does not follow orders or do as they are told they die.' With that Jaden walked away and back towards her shuttle.
-
When the door to the shuttle opened in the docking bay Jaden looked down to see Rallion standing there waiting for her.
'Where to now Lord?' He asked.
'We will wait here for the moment I want to make sure those men and clones can handle the people on this planet and make sure that anyone who fled the city is found.'
'Of course.' Rallion said and watched as Jaden walked away.
Jaden walked back to her room and once she was inside she quickly closed the door behind her. Once she was inside she put her hands up to her face and started breathing heavily, trying to hold back the tears swelling in her eyes…what had she done? Jaden thought to herself as the feelings of hate, anger and satisfaction of her revenge slowly began to be replaced by feelings of guilt and sadness at what she had just done, had she really just killed nearly an entire city of innocent people and ruthlessly murdered her previous slave masters? Shaking her Jaden quickly tried to snap out her confusion as all these conflicting emotions raced through her head.
'No…this is for the best for everyone!' Jaden said to herself as she spun around and picked up the scepter and fell to her knees. She quickly closed her eyes and begin to absorb the dark energy within the scepter which instantly started to push away those feelings of guilt, fear and remorse and once again her mind became one with the feelings of hate and anger and at how satisfied she was with how she had finally killed Telo and Righter after everything they had done to her.
'You were too late to save me Jaden…' Jaden looked up to see the ghostly figure of Minara standing before here. 'I thought you cared about me.'
'I killed them Minara! I killed Telo and Righter for what they did to you and I.' Jaden said with a smile.
'I'm dead Jaden thanks to you and all you care about is yourself yet again!' Minara said angrily. 'It was always about you wasn't it? I always looked out for you but you never looked out for me did you? And now me and other slaves are dead because you didn't care.'
'I tried to save you! I did all this for you and the others, I'm-I'm sorry I was too late…'
'You know what Jaden I'm glad we left you on that planet and I want you to know I never really cared about you, I just used you to play the sympathy card with our clients to give me more credits.' Minara laughed down at Jaden. 'You're a worthless nobody Jaden how cares about no one but your self! You deserved to be nothing more than a slave!'
'No!' Jaden yelled throwing the scepter away from her and watching as Minara instantly disappeared from in front of her.
Standing up stiffly Jaden looked down at her hands that were shaking but not from fear but from the power she had just absorbed from the scepter, she could feel it running through her veins and through her mind.
Jaden would show Minara that she wasn't worthless, she was going to be a powerful Sith Master who wouldn't care for anybody but herself and controlling her New Empire. She knew if she had no one like Minara or even Jerran and Wyr to tie her down she could do what she wanted and never have to worry about ever disappointing or letting anyone down ever again, she chuckled maybe there was a bright side to them being dead after all. All her chains were now broken she was free from her past life all she had to do now was move on with her plans for the future.