Twenty four hours later Padmé and Travien were curled into each other on her bed. The last few days had been trying for them and they needed the extra sleep after Travien had joined Padmé in her meditation. He had actually found the whole process to be rather relaxing and wondered, not for the first time, if Padmé was in fact corrupting him and turning him a dark grey instead of the just plain dark that he had been most of his life. He wasn't comfortable with being different; he knew that his personality was wildly fluctuating lately. He had entered that stasis pod as an unmitigated bastard with few or no redeeming features whatsoever. Now he was on a ship with Jedi, who were still alive, working with a fourteen year old girl to save a planet full of pacifists. This was not the work of a dark sided conqueror who wanted to rule the galaxy. What really concerned him was that he didn't care. He had Padmé so the galaxy could wait, not to mention his willingness to share power. He shook his head as he woke up, trying to ignore the twinges in his limbs where he had slept awkwardly. A knock at the door caught his attention and he reached out with the Force to find out who it was. Unfortunately it was Captain Panaka so there would be no telepathic communication.
He carefully untangled himself from Padmé and walked over to the door, careful to block her half naked form from view. He triggered the door causing it to open and was stood directly in front of a scowling Panaka,
"Captain Ollie has asked me to inform you that we are about to drop out of hyperspace. He said that you will need to be there."
Travien nodded, "Ah, thank you Captain. I'll wake her majesty and we will be with you soon, okay?" he said. Panaka nodded and walked away without trying to get a better look inside the room. Travien shut the door and grinned, they would be there soon and he could see his brother. Okay, having a droid for a brother was an unusual quirk in a family but considering some of the 'quirks' that other Sith Lords had Travien felt he was getting off light. Besides, they were both Revan's children, technically. He snickered to himself, or should that be technologically?
Travien shook his head free of thoughts and moved over to where Padmé was lying on the bed. He sat down beside her and kissed her forehead,
"Wake up sweetheart." He whispered, "It's time to go." Padmé rolled over and groaned for a second before placing a pillow over her head. Travien just laughed and removed the pillow, "We're here, sweetheart. You get to see my home away from home in its full glory." He said happily. Padmé opened her eyes and looked at him,
"I hate waking up." She mumbled,
"Don't we all," laughed Travien, "Come on, it's not everyday that you get to see a thirty thousand year old space station wake up, that's got to be worth it, right?" Padmé nodded slightly and got up from the bed. She staggered over to the wardrobe and began putting on some clothes, mostly similar to the robes that the Handmaidens wore. Travien was wearing something that he had gotten the Handmaidens to make secretly for him; it was a set of pure black Jedi robes, more commonly referred to as Sith robes. They walked out of the room and headed to the cockpit where the Jedi were already waiting for them.
Qui-Gon bowed, "Your majesty. I was unaware that we were taking a detour. I thought that we were several days away from Naboo." He stated, puzzled.
Padmé glared at Travien briefly who stood behind the Captain with an unconcerned expression on his face.
"As was I, Master Jedi. Travien has decided that we are ill equipped for our current venture and saw fit to divert our course." She said with a slight bite to her tone. Travien remained stationary, although there was a slight smile on his face as Ric looked up, "We're about to drop out of Hyperspace."
Travien nodded and turned to the Jedi and Padmé, "Brace yourselves." They looked at him confused until they saw the blue of Hyperspace fade into real space and felt the Dark Side of the Force wash over them. Travien took a deep breath and turned back to Ric,
"You see the star?" he pointed to the star,
Ric nodded nervously, "Yeah, I see it? Where do you want me to head?"
"When we get closer to the star you'll see what looks like a controlled solar flare, head towards it, our destination will become more apparent."
Captain Ollie nodded and made the necessary adjustments, "I thought it was just Jedi who did the mystical thing." He said cheekily.
Travien grinned, "I'm just maintaining the suspense. You'll see it soon enough though."
They had been flying for a few minutes towards the star as Anakin and the two Force-Sensitive handmaidens rushed in followed by Shmi,
"What is that?!" asked Sabé.
The others looked to a smiling Travien who opened his mouth but was interrupted by a cry from Ric Ollie,
"By the Gods! Is that a space station?!" he cried. Travien turned to the window to see that the Forge was coming into view. The Force was getting darker as it was wont to do around his home. He just grinned and embraced it, taking deep breaths,
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to my home away from home." Everyone turned their attention to him as his blind eyes gleamed, "Welcome to the Star Forge." He said dramatically. He leaned over and activated the short range communications,
"Are you there, brother?" he asked,
The others waited patiently until another voice came out of the speakers. It was one that sounded distinctly mechanical,
"Statement: Yes little brother, I am here. You are seven minutes and fifteen seconds late."
Travien grinned, "This ship was designed for luxury, not speed. I'll build a better one at another time. Can you direct us to the nearest hangar bay, I have no intention of running a marathon to get to you."
Ric looked up, "We're receiving co-ordinates." He looked out of the window at the looming pace station, "How big is that thing?" he whispered,
Travien smiled, "Almost three times the size of Naboo. Every single part of it serves a purpose."
The others looked at it in awe and Travien grinned, this was his birthplace, where he had grown up, this was his home. He smiled at the others, "Come on, we'll be landing in a moment or two, let's get to the loading bay."
They nodded and moved away, following Travien as he sauntered through the ship. The Jedi were looking remarkably pale as the ship drew closer to the Star Forge and they looked genuinely sick as they entered the hangar. The Dark Side was strong on the Forge, Travien admitted that, but he wasn't feeling any different. They felt the thump of the ship landing and the ramp began to lower. Travien led them out once the ramp was down and walked out of the ship quickly,
"Come on, we have little time." He said to the others who followed him, albeit reluctantly,
Travien walked out of the hangar and through the corridors of the Forge while the others looked around. The entire station seemed dark, as in there was little light, until they reach a central ring of corridors that had wide open windows leading to a huge central column. Padmé watched as Travien placed his hand sadly on the window,
"When I was a kid, about six or seven, I would come here to watch the ships go by. You could see hundreds of ships be they fighters, transports or warships, all being built here. Every single one of them gleamed. Not one would go to waste; they all had a purpose and a reason. It was an incredible sight to watch. This was where they built the Infinite Fleets." He said wistfully. Travien shook his head, "Anyway, enough sentimentality, we're here for a reason." Padmé walked up to him and wrapped his arm around her waist as she leaned in to him. Travien smiled and led them to an elevator. After taking a series of elevators they finally came to a large observation room. The large windows allowed for a beautiful view of the surrounding system and planets. The new arrivals noticed a tall red droid standing there apparently waiting for them. They shivered as the droid turned to them and displayed gleaming red eyes.
"Statement: Greetings Lord Shan. Are you ready to begin your conquest?" it asked with what sounded like anticipation in its voice.
Travien shook his head, "Not yet HK. I have several things I need done first. How much progress have you made?"
The glow from the red eyes diminished in apparent disappointment, "Bored statement: There are several hundred of the construction droids that you ordered waiting for orders along with the agricultural droids. I have had the station working at prime capacity and you are now in possession of two hundred HK-51 assassin droids, Master. I took the liberty of updating their programming with both assassination and combat protocols."
Travien chuckled, "Fantastic work HK, slight problem. We don't have room for two hundred droids." He thought for a moment, "Okay, here's what we'll do. The guards can raid the armoury and take whatever will fit into the ship along with twenty of the HK-51 droids. HK here can work with the remainder to optimize them. I have plans for them. Other than that, I need the construction droids that have already been built, along with the agricultural droids to head to Rakata Prime and see what land can be developed. Have them level whatever they need to other than the Temple, I want that repaired." He said thoughtfully.
Travien nodded, "Can you have two of the other droids come up here?"
HK-47 nodded and moved over to a console. It had not been there originally but Travien had installed a lot of changes once the war had ended for when he would return, renovating the Forge had been one of them. The droid turned back to Travien as two dark black droids that were clearly HK models walked in,
"Droids," both Assassin droids looked up at him, "Take my guests to the armoury to find whatever they need. Make sure they have access to all levels of small arms and armour. I expect them to come to no harm, including the Jedi." The silvery droids nodded and turned to the others,
"Statement: Please follow us, guests of the Master." With that the droids led the main group away, leaving only Padmé and Travien with HK-47,
"Anticipatory Statement: Is there something else you require master?" asked HK-47,
Travien nodded, "The Trade Federation currently possesses superior numbers to us but my primary concern is currently Naboo. I need you to begin building military vessels and droids. Use the HK-51 designs, re-label them BD-01's and have them function as battle droids. We can use the old sentinel droids for guard duty but an HK model is an obviously superior design. By the end of the month I need a force capable of defending a planet against superior numbers. Hook up to the database onboard the royal cruiser, which will show you what is needed. I've updated the schematics of the Interdictor, the Centurion and the interceptor. Modern technology combined with Rakatan technology should give us a major advantage over the Nemoidians."
HK nodded, "Pleased Statement: You seem to have thought this out well Master."
Travien shook his head, "We're not conquering the Republic yet HK. Not until they give us a reason. I gave my word that I would wait. What I want you to do is locate world that can be used for natural resources like farming. Find planets that are uninhabited, to far from the Core Worlds to be of interest to the Republic. Fortify them and begin working to make them useful. From there I have my own plans but that is what I need you to do."
HK jut stood there "Reluctant agreement: As you wish master." Padmé couldn't believe it but the droid actually managed to sigh,
"I have one more job for you, one I think you will enjoy." HK perked up, "I made a promise to a Nemoidian before I left Naboo. I assume you know what a seismic charge is?" asked Travien. HK-47 nodded slowly, "Good. Take three to Cato Nemoidia and dispose of them suitably; I understand that the population is densely packed which should provide you ample choice in distributing them in a politically appropriate manner. I know your programming and I'm giving you free reign. There is only one Caveat. You. Must. Not. Be. Seen."
Even without moving facial features Padmé could see the droid grin and was horrified at what she was listening to,
"Joyous Statement: Oh thank you Master. I look forward to…"
Travien cut him off, "I do not need to know HK. I am ordering you to perform a standard disposal of semi-mass destructive weaponry. I leave the method to your discretion; kindly do not inform me of what you are planning. Please attempt to wait until I and Padmé are highly visible to the public."
Padmé just tugged on his arm, "Travien, you can't be serious! You're talking about mass murder!" she cried,
He shook his head, "No, I'm not. I'm talking about weapon's disposal. HK is sentient; Padmé and I have left this task in his hands. Whatever happens from this point on is none of my business." He said calmly. Padmé just gaped at him for a moment. This was not the man that she had fallen in love with. She had to do something.
Travien spoke up, "HK, head to the armoury. The Naboo guards aren't used to heavy armour so show them to the crates that father's soldiers used to use. See if you can find the red elite armour, it won't show up like a beacon in the sun. I need to have a private word with Padmé for a moment."
"Wary Statement: As you wish Master. I will return when you summon me." He said and the droid left swiftly. Traven walked up the stairs and looked out of the windows to the Rakatan system.
"Go on, you're itching to say something." He said calmly,
"What are you doing?!" she cried, "Advocating mass murder, building armies? I thought you made me a promise?! Did that mean nothing to you?!" she shouted.
Travien sighed, "Let's get rid of the first misconception. Yes, I'm building an army. Do you want to know why?" Padmé nodded slowly, "Alright, I'll tell you. In this galaxy there are hundreds of thousands of homeless people. These people struggle to get food, jobs even shelter. They often have families."
Padmé shook her head, "What does this have to do with your army?"
Travien smiled, "I intend to give these people food, shelter and jobs. I will build schools so that they can educate their children. I intend to find worlds that the Republic isn't interested in, worlds like Manaan and Korriban and Dantooine. I intend to breathe life into those worlds, to settle people there, giving them things to do and to work for. The reason for the army is to protect those worlds from groups like the Trade Federation and pirates. There are hundreds of worlds out there like Tatooine that could benefit from that, worlds that don't have the protection of the Republic."
Padmé nodded slowly, "Fine, so the army you can explain. I don't like it but even I can see the reason for that. What about Cato Nemoidia? What about the lives that will be lost there?"
Travien sighed and leaned against the railing, his back to the windows, "Before I met you I had absolutely no redeeming features, do you know that? I was a Sith Lord in every sense of the term. I trusted no-one and I gave no-one any form of power over me. Six months ago mercy and compassion were completely foreign concepts to me. Six months ago I would have killed that slaver on Tatooine instantly and taken what I needed." He looked at Padmé, "Then five months ago I met you. They say power is an aphrodisiac, well it's true." Padmé started to tear up and draw away, "No, let me finish, I know you're drawing the wrong conclusions." She nodded, "Well I was attracted to you. You sat there, you were younger than me but the support your people gave you would have had them raising an army if you mumbled the suggestion in your sleep. I saw in you everything that I wasn't. You were powerful, loved and popular." He sighed, "Then I got to know you. You are powerful, loved and popular still but that is no longer important to me."
"You're changing me. I would never have held back my anger before this, now I'm actually letting go of it. For the first time in my life I don't feel rage at something, it's an incredible feeling. And then I did something that I never thought I would be able to do. I fell in love. I'm no longer interested in ruling the galaxy for the sake of ruling the galaxy. If I am to come to power I want to do so in order to transform it into your idea of the prefect galaxy. I think I am becoming the Sith that my parent's always wanted me to be."
He nodded to himself, "But you want to know, why Cato Nemoidia. I want justice for Naboo. I know that Gunray will buy his way out of trouble. There will be no punishment, no justice for the people who are at this moment dying because of that slime's greed. I will give them justice. The galaxy will see that there is someone to fight for them even when the Senate will not."
Padmé shook her head, "Travien, it's not right. You can't just go around attacking people because they attack you. You have to stop this!"
He jumped away from the railing, "Don't you understand?! I saw from the moment I left stasis that Naboo had no military! I knew that it was vulnerable! I should have started building ships and droids immediately. This station turned out two hundred assassin droids on light construction in twenty four hours, despite the thousands of construction and agricultural droids its building. The people dying on Naboo now are entirely my fault! This is all I can do; I never knew guilt until I woke up but this goddamn conscience you've given me is tearing me apart! This is all I can do, but goddamn it they will not go unpunished! I will not leave justice in the hands of the man who likely sent them there in the first place!" he cried.
Padmé looked at him in shock. She rarely looked into his memories for fear of seeing things she wouldn't be able to deal with. She had always equated being a Sith with doing things that were at the very least distasteful but this was a shock to her system. Travien had never really been this open with his feelings and she began to understand some of what he meant by changing. As she said on Tatooine, he had the capability of being a monster and that she loved him anyway, now she was coming face to face with the monster and had no idea what to do.
Travien just leaned against a bulkhead and slid down. He placed his head in his hands,
"See, I told you. The Dark Side isn't pretty. I don't blame you for not wanting to be around me any more." Padmé sighed and sat down beside him,
"I never have understood what the Dark Side really means. I wanted to understand, but I guess it's something you have to experience. Maybe one day after this you can show me. I won't abandon you because of this. I don't agree with this, I hate the fact that you feel it has to be done. I'm scared that Naboo is going to be caught between two warring Sith Lords both who want to claim it."
Travien nodded, "And you're scared of me." He said finally,
Padmé sighed, "Yes, I am. You wield an incredible amount of power, both within the Force and within the galaxy. You control what must be the single most powerful artefact in existence and even now I am bending to your will, not because you are more powerful or because I'm afraid of you but because I love you."
He sighed, "I don't want you to bend to my will. I always thought that I would bend to yours. I just want you to be happy, to achieve that I need Naboo to be safe. People won't attack if they think that the price is so high. I'm sorry." He whispered. She hugged him and kissed his temple,
"I am not going to approve this attack on Cato Nemoidia. I never will. If another attack of its kind ever occurs again outside of direct conflict, precipitated by the aggressor, I will not remain silent. This time, well there is nothing I can do. There will be no evidence of your involvement here, will there?" He shook his head.
Padmé sighed, "Come on, we have to go and find the others. With any luck the ship will have been refuelled by now, I saw one or two of the pilots beginning the process when we arrived. Let's get up." Travien leaned heavily on Padmé as they got up, baring his soul had somewhat exhausted him and for the first time since they met Padmé saw the blind teenager underneath the façade of the powerful Sith Lord. He stood and straightened himself up, letting go of his lapse in front of Padmé. Travien had come to a decision about himself. He was Sith, that would never change. He had been born a Sith, he would grow old a Sith and die a Sith. He had been forever marked by the Dark Side, but he realized that his past had been surrendered to the Dark Side. He nodded to himself,
Padmé frowned, "Travien, what is it."
He drew himself up, "I have espoused the beliefs of my parents, showing others what a true Sith should be. It's time I practice what I preach. A true Sith doesn't have to be Dark, they don't have to be evil. It's time to become what my parents wanted me to be." He nodded again, "I refuse to be just another Sith in a long line of ruthless dictators." Padmé smiled, her boyfriend had apparently come to a decision about who he was.
He turned to Padmé and smiled, lowering all of his mental barriers for the first time in his life, "Let's go find the others. They will undoubtedly try and grab everything." She chuckled and they walked out of the room, both of them standing proud as they stepped into the elevator. They walked into the armoury that was a level below the observation room and saw that Panaka was indeed trying to decide what to take.
He gestured to the Jedi, "It doesn't matter if it's Sith armour, we can still use it! It's just that damn droid not letting us take the best armour!"
Travien coughed and they all turned around, "HK, where are the elite Sith armours?" he asked,
"Irritated Statement: As I tried to explain to this meatbag, master. The elite armour units are in the crates at the side of the room." HK gestured to a series of crates lined up near the door. Travien nodded, "What of blasters and grenades?" The droid pointed to another crate just beside the first group. Travien nodded,
"Captain, your men are not trained to handle the heavy armour. The elite Sith armour is mostly red so it won't show your position as much as the polished silver version. As I said the red armour is the elite armour, that's not just a colour scheme."
Panaka nodded unhappily and Travien motioned to the two black HK-51 droids that were standing in the doorway, "Get another eighteen droids together and move this to the cruiser in hangar bay five. I want all of the weapons and armour loaded. Wait by the ship for us to return, dismissed." The HK droids picked up a crate each and left the room. Travien walked up to a panel in the wall that looked like any other and pushed it inwards. It popped out and swung open, revealing a small hidden space that contained a series of boxes. Travien pulled out three of the boxes and closed the panel again. He turned around and faced the group,
"These boxes contain lightsaber crystals. They were something collected by my family through their travels." He looked at the Jedi, "You're welcome to see if there is anything in here that you can use."
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan just looked shocked and Travien grinned. He turned to HK, "Once we leave the system you are to re-activate the disruption field. Place HK-51 guards throughout the Temple. You have your orders brother."
HK-47 nodded, "Statement: Yes master. Good Luck with the foolish Nemoidians. I wish I could join you."
Travien nodded, "I wish you could join us as well, but your skills are better used elsewhere." He looked to the rest of the group, "Let's get moving, Naboo won't liberate itself, will it?" The rest of the group nodded and headed back to the hangar bay. It was not a very long journey but it was quiet. Everyone noticed that something had changed within Travien and no-one was entirely willing to comment on it. They arrived at the ship and Travien stood looking at the cruiser speculatively. Padmé walked up beside him,
"What is it Travien?" she asked,
Travien hummed speculatively for a moment, "What do you think Theed Palace Space Vessel Engineering would say to having a new venue?" he asked,
Padmé frowned, "Why?"
He shrugged, "Because that ship needs to be redesigned but it doesn't really cost me anything to do it. I figure they could spend their time on design and research while building the ships here. Besides, it needs guns, lots of guns."
She laughed quietly, "No, I think that they are quite happy where they are, alright?" Travien actually pouted, no-one could ever remember that expression on his face!
He sorted himself out quickly having noticed the shock around him, "Shame, means I have to design my own ship. Ah well. Let's go people." He marched up the ramp to the ship and marched down again quickly, "HK droids, follow me." He marched back up the ramp and the black droids followed having already loaded the cargo onto the ship. The others followed him up the ship and into the cockpit. He smiled at Ric Ollie as he arrived,
"Ric, you know the way to Naboo from here?" he asked,
The pilot nodded, "Sure thing sir. We ready to go?" Traven nodded, "That we are. Let's get out of here." Ric nodded and the ship was soon lifting off from the hangar bay. Travien looked out of the front just before they left and smiled, no-one else spotted the rust coloured protocol droid looking at the ship as they left. He sent a silent 'see you later' to the droid and the station through the Force, still uncertain as to whether they would hear it. There was a brief rumble, like a small pulse through the Force and the other Force users panicked for a moment,
"What was that?" asked Kenobi wildly
Travien just smiled, "That was the Forge saying 'see you later'." They looked at him with wide eyes. He turned around to them and grinned, "Let's get to work, shall we? We have a lot to do." They removed themselves from the cockpit