Chapter 4

Why would the council give us this mission? It is way too personal for the two of them. This mission could be compromised, Sterkte thought.

"Is something wrong Master Sterkte?" Zonen asked, staring at her worried face.

"No, I'm just worried about this mission. What we do now can affect the whole galaxy."

"Well, that's depressing. Thanks, now I feel a whole lot better."

"Oh shut up, Zonen", Master Sterkte replied.

"Master Sterkte, instead of talking can you try to move a little quicker. We are wasting a lot of time. This is ridiculous!" Zonen exclaimed raising his voice, his face turning read with angst.

I knew this would happen, Sterkte thought. "Zonen, I understand----"

Master Sterkte was interrupted when a loud ear-piercing scream rang throughout the building. Master Sterkte and Zonen looked around. No one else in the vicinity seemed to hear anything.

"What's going Master", Zonen said while rubbing his temples.

"It's a Force scream. I think I can locate it, come on.

With that Master Sterkte went running. Zonen could not have guessed where, nonetheless he stilled followed. Master Sterkte easily made her way through the crowded halls by utilizing her large body to gently shove the bystanders, which was really necessary considering that all moved when they saw the brick wall. However Zonen had a harder time getting through the limited and congested walkways that made up the Senate building. His Master gained a significant difference ahead of him.
However, Zonen did not worry because he could sense his Master, every turn she took and every being she pushed. He heard the curses of Devarorians and the slurring of Gungans. He knew where she was and followed in perfect sync. However he was getting increasingly annoyed. The beings would not move out of his way. They would stand there ignorant to the fact that they needed him. They did not seem to understand how important he was. He was ready to use the Force and just push these insignificant creatures out of the way. Zonen was going to voice his frustration to his Master when she disappeared.
Her Force radiation vanished. He could no longer sense her and he could barely see her. He continued in the same direction, but felt a feeling of confusion wash over him. As he stopped to survey the area he got hit from behind by what felt like metal. He stumbled slightly, but quickly regained his composure. As Zonen recovered his rage reached his peak looking for the foolish soul. He turned and saw a sight that even startled him. Walking towards an empty hall was a being, unlike one he ever saw. But what really startled him was that the being was strong in the Force, the dark side of the Force.
He followed the being into an empty hallway. Zonen sprinted down the hall gathering the Force around himself. He started to gain on the being when it entered a room and locked the door. Zonen ran to the door, busted it open with the Force, ran in and was prepared to fight.
When he entered the room, nothing was there. The room was devoid of any life forms. It was a small room, for the less wealthy Senators. He looked around and saw that it was simple enough: a bright orange couch on his right side, a file container to his left, and a medium sized blue- green desk in front of him. Judging by the picture on the wall he assumed that this is the room of the Senator from Felucia.
Zonen walked towards the desk then looked at the window behind it, it was open. It was a very nice view from hear. He could see the Jedi Temple in all of its glory. Its five spires still there, surviving hundreds of years. Zonen had never seen the Temple like this before.
It represented the strength of the Jedi. They survived considering the many times they were close to extinction. With the help of the Force, he could see the Jedi High Council departing from a meeting. He felt the despair. Not only are they in pain, but the Force is in pain too.
His attention turned back to his mission, to the desk. He looked at the top of it and saw nothing that would be out of the ordinary. He ran through all of the draws and still nothing. Yet, he could feel a dark presence in the room. He quickly moved to the file cabinet and activated it. It was a flat, floating disk, which contained the files of the Senator. He checked all of the files on his datapad, but none of them were the least bit suspicious, until he got up to the last one. The whole thing was encrypted, yet Zonen was still able to crack it in a matter of seconds. What appeared for his eyes shocked and startled him.
According to the document, the Senator from Felucia was at the Temple at Ios when it was attacked, and was one of the first to escape. He had been there as part of a commission sent by the Senate. His access codes were the same exact ones the Sith used to breach and bomb the Temple.
Zonen put the disk in a pocket in his tunic. He had to show this to the fellow Jedi. This was a startling revelation, but he felt something was wrong. Who was the being that led him here and where had he gone? Why was there no record of the Senator of Felucia's name in his own office? Zonen stood at the center of the room, perplexed. He started to leave the room when he felt a dark energy converging in the room. The energy was dark and disturbing. It tempted him and made him feel weak. He easily recognized it as dark side energy.
He closed his eyes and reached out with the Force. Yet he still could not locate the source of all the dark energy. Finally he gave himself into the power of the Force. He let it consume him, flow through his entire body.
There it is, he thought. The one place he neglected to look, the couch. He walked towards it, unclipped his lightsaber and activated it. He lifted the hilt in the air activating the blade. The yellow blade shimmered in the air. The blade had seen a lot of battles and had never failed him. As he reached the couch he lifted his lightsaber and with one swipe destroyed the couch. From among the debris he saw something. It was definitely metallic. He lifted his hands and the item came to his hands.
As soon as it reached his palm dark energy was baring on his body, crushing his will. He stared at it and instantly realized what it was: a Sith lightsaber.

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Master Evol walked out of the council chambers, along with Kanze.

"Her stealth skills are exceptional, Kanze."

"Indeed, Master Evol. I am interested in seeing how she interacts with the others", Kanze passively said.

"I concur. Just promise to take care of them", Master Evol said with a chuckle.

Both walked through the Temple towards the Med. Center. As the walked in the room they immediately made their way towards the furthermost room. In the room were two tables which held two women.

Master Kanze and Master Evol put the fingers to the temples of Bellezza Solo and Mae Skywalker, respectively. Both Kanze and Evol used the Force to try and restore the conscience of Bellezza and Mae.

"It feels so forced. As if they are trying to keep people out", Evol stated.

"That's because they are."

"Where could that boy have gone", Master Sterkte whispered to herself.
She knew Zonen had fallen behind, but she thought he would still be right on her trail. He could not have lost her trail, unless something had happened to him. She stopped and reached out for her apprentice with the Force. She easily sensed him and made her way towards him. He was significantly behind her and it disturbed her that she did not sense his disappearance sooner. Master Sterkte continued to make her way towards him when she felt a spike in the Force. She felt Zonen was in pain then he suddenly disappeared from the Force. She remembered the location the Force had pointed her towards and started sprinting to it with the aid of the Force, knocking down anyone who came in her way.

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"Laayla, I can't believe you did that. I could tell the council right now", Rende yelled. Rende was scolding Laayla in the safety of her room. "I can't believe you spied on the Jedi Council. They are going to know."
Laayla looked at her friend. "Of course they know, but they do not know it was me nor could they prove it was me, because of course they suspect it was me." Laayla inhaled a deep breath. "Besides they did not say anything of interest, everything I have already heard them say." While saying this she exhaled softly.
"Laayla", Rende said her voice raspy, "I am worried. Many of our fellow students have been taken as apprentices."
"Do not fear. There is a pattern."
"What do you mean."
"They have left us for a reason. Me, you, Guenok, Loki, and Arbmos, the best of the students."
"Me?"
"Never doubt yourself, my friend. You are stronger than you think."
Laayla quickly kept talking before Rende could reply. "Your room is so neat. Don't you get bored in here."
"I rarely spend time in here. It has never bothered me."
" Even so, how can you bare it", Laayla said with a look of disgust on her face.
Rende immediately was on the defensive. "Sorry, not all of us like to live like pigs", she yelled her facing starting to turn red.
Laayla just twirled her lekku. "Whatever. I am so bored. Lets sneak out of the Temple and see the real Coruscant."
"No Laayla. I will not be dragged into another one of your schemes."
"But you know you want to", she replied with a smirk. "You enjoy coming with me on damn foolish idealistic crusades."
Before Rende could reply, Laayla gripped her with a steel grip and led her towards the door. The door opened and Master Kanze stood before them, hands on his waist. "Both of you pack your things and get to the docking pack." He left them with that and strode down the hall.
Rende was dumbfounded. She turned to look at Laayla, but found she was not there. Rende walked into her room, and started to pack, panicking on what lay ahead.
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Centares

What a beautiful day. Everyday here is a beautiful day. It is so disgusting. Yet, I must not get distracted. I must be careful where I align myself. Something is not right here.

Shadows filled the room and yet seemed to draw away from the figure in the room. The figure clad in Mandalorian armor stood before the hologram transmitter, waiting, just waiting. She hated waiting. She took off her helmet and tucked it under her arm. She ran her gloved-cover hand through her purple hair, sighing in frustration. What is taking him so long? Coincidentally the screen flickered on and a dark figure appeared.

"Hello Dral Vern. I must say I am pleased to see it is you, and not that demented skull."
"Facetious, Darth Maliss. Thaed is getting impatient and angry. What took you so long to contact us?" she said, surprisingly with no hint of frustration.
"I didn't see the need to", Darth Maliss simply stated. "But there is no need to worry. Everything is set up and the necessary events are in motion. Tell your Master that now is the time to move out."

"Perfect. I can not wait to leave this planet."

"Please express your thoughts to someone that would care. Like a rock." The transmitter shut down quickly.

Before Dral Vern could say anything the screen went blank. Why me? Dral Vern thought.

She quickly made her way out of the room, the shadows filling in her now vacant space. Looking around she took in her surrounding. The workers milling around, fear written all over there faces. The Sith had been there for only 6 months and had easily taken over the world without anyone noticing. Dral Vern accessed her jetpack through her helmet and lifted off the ground. While soaring through the air she could feel the many eyes staring at her. Eyes filled with disdain.

"Master Thaed I do not trust Maliss", Quyve said with disgust.
"Nor do I", Thaed simply replied.
"Then why do we not just dispose with him after he has accomplished what he is needed to", Quyve said angrily.
"You know why."
"Of course, Master."
Quyve stood there in silence, watching his Master. He trusted Thaed and would do anything he asked. That worried him. He truly respected this man, yet he new he shouldn't. Thaed was a Sith Lord and should not be trusted.

I should be plotting against him, finding a weak spot in him, waiting for the right time. Yet I have no will to. Why do-.

"Quyve is something wrong", Thaed said in a smooth, oily voice.
Quyve immediately ended his thoughts and sealed them, less they be breached. He quickly noticed that his Master and he were now standing in front of the building. The building even disturbed Quyve.

"No, Lord Thaed."
"What were you thinking of, my friend?" Thaed put pressure on the word friend; letting it roll off his tongue.

Quyve knew that he had to lie. Of course his Master would catch it, but he had no choice. He could not show his Master fear.

"This building; the weapon. I must express my concern. We have to handle it with caution. It could backfire if we misuse it."

"I understand your concern". Thaed's voice was becoming sharp and anger was leaking through it. He was expecting more coldness for showing weakness when Dral Vern flew overhead. She landed in front of the duo and quickly proceeded to bow. She stood up, and walked in front of Quyve. He could still see over her, being 7 feet, but the act was no less of an insult.

"My Lord, Maliss has assured me that everything is set up, and that we should start evacuating."

"Very well. Activate the alarm, and make sure the workers get the important stuff." Thaed walked away, stopping before Quyve. "Since, you care so much about the weapon, you can see to its transportation", he said with disgust in his voice, a look of disdain directed towards Quyve.

Dral Vern quickly left and assessed the situation. Friction was obviously being developed between Thaed and Quyve, and Maliss is definitely a threat, one that can not be eliminated. She would have to be patient.