Chapter 47
Betrayal
Next week I'm officially going to be a University student, looking forward to that but I don't know much about whether my accommodation will have wireless so updates may start to slow for a while, just wanted to apologise ahead for that.
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32 ABY: 2 Years Ago
"You know who I am" the being said as she lounged in an extravagantly decorated armchair made of rich Oak and black leather "And you know why you have found your way here, you are looking for knowledge, for wisdom, to try and completely understand the force, to find a balance in a wounded galaxy"
"That may be" the Jedi replied, standing to the side of the room, his eyes cool and calculating as they surveyed the well decorated chamber hidden deep within an ancient and supposedly long abandoned fortress on the planet of Ziost, once one of the ancient Sith empires throne worlds, now a desolate planet of ancient ruins and massive desserts "And your both right and wrong, I am looking for complete understanding in the force, that's why I have been learning from so many force-orders in the last few years. But if you think that I am going to join you and your order then you are mistaken"
"Oh" the shrouded woman replied "Is that so?"
"Yes" the Jedi replied firmly "From what I have learned your kind has been responsible for many of the major wars in the galaxy, under the rule of one of your own the galaxy lived in fear and terror, forever looking to the skies for a sign of a massive sphere appearing in the orbit of their planet"
"There is a different between us and Sidious" the woman replied "For one thing we are not insane, we are not looking to destroy the galaxy or shape it into our own image, we are simply looking to bring balance to the force"
"Through the blood of the Jedi and so many others" the Jedi responded, his voice carrying no disgust or emotion at the thought, simply stating fact.
"We are hoping to avoid that" she replied as she pushed herself off the chair to her feet "But you know the Jedi as well as you think you know us. They will never accept us or our ideas, you know this is true"
The Jedi didn't respond and the shrouded messenger felt his resolve begin to weaken, hiding a smirk and cloaking her feeling of mirth she reached out a gloved hand towards the Jedi, who hesitated "Let me show you what our plans are Jacen, you can choose to join us or not. It is completely up to you"
Jacen Solo, one of the finest Jedi of the New Jedi Order that the post-Empire galaxy had ever seen hesitated for a few moments longer, his mind torn between the promises and ambitions of this woman and his loyalties to the Jedi Order and his family before he sighed and took her hand.
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34 ABY: Present Day
A squeeze of the trigger and the Dark Eldar warrior was peppered with miniscule white shards of shuriken fire, slicing through his dark mesh armour, his pale skin and right through the bones and organs underneath. Exarch Psicosis smirked beneath his mask, his deathspinner smoking from the burst of fire that it unleashed as the Dark Eldar fell to the ground.
The battle had moved into one of the outer cities of the Craftworld, one of the settlements that could be seen from space through a transparent dome. Seeing through that dome showed that the city was burning. Beautiful buildings and skyscrapers, made by the best of the Bonesingers were in ruins, their once pristine outer shells pocketed and cratered by direct splinter and dark lance fire. In the skies above the city hordes of Dark Eldar Jetbikers duelled with the Siam-Hann's most prestigious and popular guardians, the Wild Rider clans.
Wild Riders were a type of elite warriors that only the Siam-Hann possessed, riding on beautiful and sleek jetbikes, armed with the shuriken cannons of their rides and an assortment of blades and pistols on their armoured forms. They were one of the most feared in all of the Eldar Craftworlds, every warrior who hailed from Siam-Hann had ridden with the Wild Riders for a time and as such all warriors of this Craftworld were part of the clans. Even the Seers, Exarches and the Farseers themselves hailed from a Wild Riders clan. Farseer Stormwind had been a very well known Wild Rider before she took on the path of the witch, earning the nickname of the crimson streak.
The Exarch smirked, his memory may have been erased when he became a warrior of the aspect temples but he remembered one thing, one small detail. The memory of a battlefield on some far off world, a warrior, dressed in swirling red and white armour standing on top of a mound of bodies, holding the banner of Siam-Hann firmly in one hand and a witchblade in the other, long black hair flew in the wind, swirling on the air currants like it had a life of its own, pristine white skin coated crimson with blood, eyes of the darkest red alive with such passion and life that could not be denied. This was Farseer Stormwind before she became a Seer, when she was a Wild Rider of the StormSeekers clan.
He did not know if she had lost that passion and strength when she became a seer but he knew one thing. Whether she had it or not was irrelevant, she was still strong enough to destroy and maim her enemies, no pathetic Dark Eldar Archon had what it took to bring her down. She was the type to look into the eyes of She Who Thirsts and spit on her face. Her pride as a Siam-Hann Farseer demanded no less.
He spun on his heel, his deathspinner cocked and ready and released another volley of white shuriken shards upon a charging Dark Eldar warrior, effectively riddling his armour with tiny holes, killing him on the spot. Immediately three more warriors came at him from behind, using the death of their comrade to their advantage but before they could reach him he vanished in a smog of white static electricity, reappearing above them and releasing another volley from his main weapon, killing two.
The third cart wheeled out of the firing path at the last moment, throwing a pair of daggers in mid-move. Psicosis was able to cover himself with his death spinner, hearing the clanging of metal embedding into metal and the sparking that followed. His weapon was useless know. Throwing it aside he drew a pair of small duelling daggers from one of his belts and deflected a thrust from the same warrior, the two hit the ground, not even stopping to check their footing as they struck and parried each others blades.
He spun around the warrior, using his own weight against him and shoved one of his powerdaggers into his side, allowing fresh blood to flow from the wound, he then completed his spin and using his clean dagger slit his dark kin's throat from ear to ear. His instinct screamed at him to move and he did, just barely missing a spray of splinter fire, he turned and clashed blades with another warrior, an Incubi this time and grunted as the sudden strike made him lose his grip on his last good dagger.
The Incubi then delivered a stiff kick to the Exarches abdomen, sending him skidding backwards before striking with his blade, aiming for the Exarches chest. Before he could complete the manoeuvre a volley of crimson lasfire struck the Incubi, peppering him with crimson bolts and throwing him sideways, dead by the time he hit the floor. A soldier wearing mud caked white armour with a jetpack attached to his back, holding a pair of long barrelled blaster pistols in his hands dived to the ground beside the Exarch, rolling to his feet as he hit the ground and aimed his blasters, peppering another warrior with blaster fire. He didn't know who this man was. He didn't have the feel, the look, the weaponry or the smell of an Eldar. He smelled that this was a human.
Questions started to flow through his mind, why was another human on this Craftworld? How did he get onto the Craftworld? Those questions were muted however as a fresh group of Dark Eldar warriors finished off a squad of guardians and turned to challenge him and his new 'ally'. The two warriors looked at each other and understanding passed between them before they jumped into action, the white armoured soldier aiming his blasters and the Exarch drawing a pair of shuriken pistols.
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Luke Skywalker stood back to back with one of the Eldar Banshees, his lightsabre ignited and his mind fully focused on the possible battle to come. The Banshees were obviously weary of their guests but they obviously recognised the lightsabres that Luke and his Jedi held firmly in their hands.
"Ten of us against twenty of you" Tahiri piped up "Doesn't quite sound fair" This drew a few mocking smiles from the dark kin who weren't wearing their bladed helmets, but Tahiri grinned playfully at the same time and placed a hand behind her back "Would it help if I fought with one hand"
The Dark Eldar screamed angrily at them and charged, their blades held ready to strike. In response the three Jedi walked in front of the group and raising their hands released a blast of force pushes, releasing them from rapid punch movements from their hands, in groups of three the charging Eldar reacted like they were struck by a rancar. Flying backwards and hitting off the far wall, knocking the wind from their lungs.
It took the Eldar Banshees a moment to regain themselves but when they did they screamed bone chilling war cries and charged forward, the Jedi following them with their lightsabres spinning. The Banshees acted like they were trained to, most getting to their targets and quickly killing them with their blades. Within a few moments twenty to ten turned into ten to ten.
Luke ducked just as a barrage of splinter fire shrieked past his ears and created a cluster of miniscule holes in the floor, he crouched and skidded into a spin, his lightsabre deflected splinter fire and in one quick upwards stroke took off the arm of the Dark Eldar firing at him, the warrior screamed in pain before his head flew off of his shoulders thanks to a lightsabre swing.
He saw Tahiri jump beside him and deflect a volley of splinter fire aimed for his back, he then turned, grabbing the young girl and positioning her behind him in time to block a thrown powerblade. The Grand Master and one of his former apprentices ended up back to back, moving around in a circle and deflecting splinter fire from their ranged enemies.
"Would it help if I fought with one hand?" Luke asked as he deflected a trio of rapid splinter rounds.
"It was a spur of the moment thing master" Tahiri replied with a slight grin "I didn't know that they were so short tempered"
"I'll give you this Tahiri" Luke muttered "You at least know how to catch an enemy on the wrong foot"
"I get that from my Yuuzhan Vong half master" Tahiri replied as she tapped the shaping scar on her forehead with her freehand "One of several advantages that came from the forced shaping"
Luke only nodded, knowing that the emotional scars of that time still remained, even if only a little in the young girl and in unison the two spun, each one sidestepping a charging Incubi and dispatching them to whatever they called the netherworld. The battle ended a few minutes later as one of the Banshees towered over the last Dark Eldar and, grabbing him by the hair pulled his head up and slit his throat with her witchblade. Luke and several of his Jedi, except Jacen winced at the act but said nothing.
It was then that Luke felt it, beyond those doors was a dark presence different to that of the Dark Eldar, a presence that he and his Jedi knew very well. There were dark force users beyond those destroyed double doors, Dark Jedi perhaps.
"Master Skywalker" Tahiri said a little urgently as she came towards him.
"I know" Luke replied, his voice tense and serious "I sense them too"
"What are you saying Mon-Keigh" one of the Banshees asked a little pointedly. It was only then that Luke and Tahiri noticed that they were surrounded by the surviving Banshees, their weapons unsheathed but no aggressive moves being made. Jacen however stood unmoving, his arms folded and his eyes scanning the surrounding force.
"There are more than just your dark kin beyond those doors" Luke said steadily, completely unnerved by the liquid steel bladed swords arrayed against them "I sense our own dark kin beyond those doors as well. Your Dark Eldar Lord has a contingent of Dark Jedi with his revenue"
"Impossible" the Banshee replied as she lowered her sword by a tiny fraction "The Dark Eldar are nothing more than raiders, murderers, rapists and incredibly violent to anyone not of their faction. It is highly doubtful that they would make an agreement with an outside group, especially an outside order from a galaxy that they had just entered"
"Maybe" Jacen said, the first time he had spoken since entering the Craftworld "Maybe not, since the birth of the second eye there have been a lot of supernatural occurrences taking place in our galaxy. Goings on including people simply vanishing into thin air, massive space storms and anomalies all over the outer, expansion and mid-rim regions and the revival of proven dead beings. Plenty of Jedi and other people have been resurrected, why not a few Dark Jedi, or even Sith"
Luke could only nod, his mouth set in a thin line. Dark Jedi were one thing, those bearing the title of Sith were a completely different story and a far deadlier force. Jacen and himself he was confident could take any Sith but Tahiri was a different story, she was a competent fighter and force-user but no where near the calibre of confronting a proper Sith Lord, she had never faced one before.
"If our hunch is correct Banshee" Jacen continued a little tauntingly "Your going to need our help, facing a few Incubi is one thing, fighting a Dark Jedi is something a little bit more different"
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Her very eyes were shinning red with warp energy, the ruby red orbs and whites behind them vanishing as she began mumbling ancient incantations laid down millennia ago by her ancient ancestors. The very oxygen surrounding them was catching fire, the flames swirling and bursting forth, an eerie red in colour. The Dark Eldar warriors surrounding her were thrown away as she swung her staff in a sweeping arc, their armoured forms catching fire as they flew through the air.
She spun around, her swinging staff catching a surviving warrior in the head, grinning in the sudden snap, signalling the breaking of her opponent's neck. She then spun around again, seeing the form of the Dark Eldar Lord standing at the other side of the arena, surrounded by a group of six Incubi and another being in the background, its face covered in shadows, its body hidden in a draping cape. Something in the back of Leda's mind was whispering to her, warning her that this person was not one to turn your back on.
The Dark Eldar Lord was as intimidating in appearance as she expected, his mesh armour was similar to that worn by his underlings. Only heavily modified with blade like protrusions sticking out of his shoulder guards and his helmet, a black cape was draped around his shoulders and his right hand was resting on the engraved hilt of his own power-sword, sheathed in a scabbard which was made out of black wraithbone with a mass of white and silver runes of the old language covering it. He was a powerful psyker, the Farseer could feel that and the power from both the Lord and the cloaked being behind him unnerved her.
The Dark Eldar Lord raised his hands and clapped them, the sound resounding through the chambers. On the floor was the still burning body's of thirty Dark Eldar warriors along with the six paralysed forms of her Seer council, four males and two females whom she would trust with her life, who had jumped to her defence and were overrun as a result.
"Impressive Farseer" the Lord said as he stepped forward "I can see why you were named a Farseer of this Craftworld, you have the same passion and pride that made the Siam-Hann what they are today!"
"I am sure your not here to simply talk" Stormwind replied, her voice full of pent up rage and disgust at the person who had lead the mass invasion of her home and the murder of many of those she was tasked to protect "Archon…"
"Darkblade" he introduced, a malicious grin behind his helmet "And you also cut to the chase. Yes I am here to borrow you and your Seer council for a while, but don't worry, I'll be sure to return your bodies once I am finished!"
"And if I refuse?"
"Then we will have to continue by force" the Archon replied uncaringly and with a wave of his hand the black cloaked figure ran forward, its robes trailing it like a black shroud. It jumped high into the air, too high for any normal being to jump and came down upon her. Before the Farseer knew it she heard the sound of a snap-hiss and a two meter long crimson blade of light appeared which flickered and bent like it had a life of its own. The Farseer brought her staff up to protect herself and watched with surprise as the blade wrapped itself around her staff and pulled, sending it flying from her grasp and into the robed figures waiting hand.
It then tossed her staff aside and unleashed a jolt of whitish blue lightning from its gloved fingertips. Leda was just able to bring up her hands and create a barrier in time, the lightning smashed into it with a near deafening bang. The barrier became visible as the lightning was deflected, a crimson red shell. Once the lightning dispersed the Farseer raised her right hand and let loss a volley of warp fire.
The robed being was just able to get its arms up in time, the dark red flames smashed into its arm guards and gauntlets making it fly backwards. It somersaulted in midair and came down in a crouch, skidding backwards several feet by the force of the impact. Its hood flew back, showing the being's features. A pair of feminine emerald eyes starred at her through a black face covering veil and a head wrap, getting to her feet she let the cloak slip away from her shoulders showing a her form covered over by light black armour with white, web-like markings.
"Dark Jedi" Leda muttered beneath her breath, it was the only way to explain it, the completely foreign armour, the lightwhip she held in her hand, the psychic powers which definitely didn't originate from the warp. It had to be a Dark Jedi, only problem was how she ended up with the Dark Eldar.
"I am guessing that I am not the first force-wielder you have come across Farseer" the Dark Jedi said calmly as she circled around the Farseer "I am Lumiya, Dark Lady of the Sith"
"Lumiya" Leda muttered to herself "Yes I have heard of you from Jedi Mara-Jade Skywalker, a former pupil of Darth Vader and later Darth Sidious. You made a name for yourself during the Negai Crisis as the puppet master pulling the strings during the conflict"
"Yes that would be mostly true" Lumiya replied as she snapped the crimson lash, causing a snap which burnt the wraithbone floor "Strange that the little Jedi would give such a fair summary of my dealings"
"That was the edited version" Leda replied as she too started to circle around the Sith Lady, all this taking place near the watchful gaze of the Dark Eldar Lord, who watched the skirmish taking place with interest. Ever since she and her few dozen Dark Jedi appeared on their world they had shown off their powers and psychic abilities, killing the raiding parties sent out after them one after the other. Eventually they made a few treaties with a couple of mid-ranked nobles and lords, gaining protection in exchange for their services. Darkblade was one of the lords and so far, he hadn't regretted it. However he was still willing to kill her at the first sign of betrayal, as strong as she was she was no match for the Incubi arrayed around him.
The Sith lady struck first, swinging with her ignited lightwhip, aiming to take the Farseer's legs away from her with a precise swing. Leda dived forward, missing the lashing light blade by millemetres before landing in a roll and reaching out with her free hand psychically called her staff to her. The pole flew across the room and into her waiting hand just in time to block the whip, the crimson blade once again wrapping around the weapon. The Farseer grinned and pulled with everything that her own personal strength and the warp could supply her, the Sith flew forward and met the pole, which was swung into her abdomen and sending her corkscrewing sideways across the room, before landing in a heap, skidding to a halt.
"What a disappointment" Darkblade muttered before motioning to his six Incubi, they nodded and drawing their power-swords ran forward. Two Dark Jedi appeared behind him, essentially taking the place of his Incubi as they charged towards the Lightling Farseer, who fell into a defensive stance as the Sith Lady flipped back to her feet, snarled and started running towards her again, the crimson whip whirling and twisting above her head.
As the first wave of three Incubi jumped her, they were immediately assailed by a trio of force-pushes which threw them several meters in the air, bouncing painfully of the ground and skidded to a halt. Lumiya and the three remaining Incubi in turn skidded to a halt and turned to see three Jedi and six Banshees charge into the room, lightsabres and witchblades spinning in their hands as they ran.
Besides the sudden situation Lumiya found herself grinning behind her veil, things were indeed going as planned, she was expecting her old flame and now hated foe Luke Skywalker to show up sooner or later. She spun to the Farseer and swung her lightwhip, aiming to wrap it around her waist and cut her in half. Only problem was that she was no longer there, she was flying backwards into the waiting arms of Skywalker who calmly caught her.
"Lumiya" Luke said flatly as he released the Farseer.
"Skywalker" Lumiya snarled as she began to move forward, watching with interest as Luke mirrored her movements and began walking confidently towards her. The very chamber seemed to be brought under the incredible pressure of their two force-presences as they collided, their wish to fight each other after so long clearly palpable in the air.
In the blink of an eye both participants vanished in blurs of motion and reappeared several meters above the ground, crimson red and ice blue blades colliding and sparking. As the two disengaged they vanished again, reappearing on the ground several meters away, their two lightsabre blades colliding again in a hail of sparks. Quickly Lumiya disengaged her lightsabre, somersaulted backwards and raised her gloved hands, releasing several blasts of force lightning upon Luke who weaved his lightsabre expertly, deflecting the lightning blasts into the walls and the floor, leaving charred black marks on the wraithbone.
While the Grand Master of the Jedi Order and the acting Dark Lady of the Sith duelled each other the chamber around them turned into pure chaos as the Incubi screamed war-cries and charged the Banshees and Jedi, who broke into a jog, slowly speeding up until they came into a dead run. Jacen ignited his lightsabre which shone green while Tahiri pulled her belt from around her waist, she then flicked her wrists and the 'belt' went rigid, it wasn't a belt, it was an amphistaff.
The Farseer backed her charging warriors and allies, unleashing a series of warp fireballs into the air which changed direction and dived down towards the Incubi. The elites of the Dark Eldar dived and somersaulted out of the fires path, just missing the volley in time and right into the weapons of the Banshee/Jedi defenders. They growled and brought their own blades down to deflect and block the incoming blades.
From the other side of the chamber the Archon and the two Dark Jedi guards seemed to understand each other and drew their weapons, lightsabres ignited and a Punisher blade came to life as the three warriors charged into the fray, the Archon running at inhuman speeds while the Dark Jedi jumped high into the air, defying the laws of gravity by running across the walls, bypassing the main skirmish and diving towards the Farseer, their lightsabres alight with crimson light.
Grinning behind her helmet the Farseer began to slowly dance and spin, holding the edge of her staff with one hand and tracing the tip into a circle around her. Bright red flames trailed the tip as she moved and as the Dark Jedi fell upon her she released a controlled burst of fire, encompassing them and setting them alight. One took the brunt and fell backwards to the ground, his entire front charred black, making him unrecognisable. The second fell into a roll, hitting the ground on his back and rolling to his feet. He quickly disposed of his smoking black cloak and swung his still ignited blade at Leda.
The last surviving Dark Jedi was definitely a male, a near human of some description. His skin was a greenish-yellow in colour with dark green freckle like tattoos centred around the bridge of his angular nose, his feral eyes were a sickening shade of yellow and his dyed blue lips were set in a snarl of contempt.
The crimson blade was quickly blocked by the Farseers staff, she then reached out with her free hand and called a singing spear to her hand, the ancient and holy weapon began to clank against its restraints, tearing itself free and spinning through the air and into her waiting hand. She then spun, batting away the lightsabre and swinging with the spear, the old weapon was blocked but the Farseer continued to spin, her two weapons spinning in her hands. She was too fast for the Dark Jedi and pierced the tip of her spear through his chest, killing him on the spot.
The Banshees had taken care of the Incubi while she was busy battling the Dark Jedi but their own numbers had fallen from six to three, not by the now dead Incubi but by the heavily armoured form of the Dark Eldar Lord. The Archon stood surrounded by the surviving Banshees and the blonde haired human, parrying strikes from blades and the strange living staff that the Jedi wielded with his own Punisher. Meanwhile the Jedi leader and the Sith Lord were still fighting their intense lightsabre battle, their forms nothing more than blurs as they parried and struck at each other, manoeuvring around each other with somersaults and rolls.
The battle was won, the Archon and his temporary Sith ally were all alone now but something just didn't feel right, this entire scenario had the feel of a trap, or a diversion. Suddenly the Sith known as Lumiya disengaged from Luke Skywalker and somersaulted in midair, landing a full twenty meters away from the battle.
"What are you doing Mon-Keigh" Darkblade shouted angrily as he dodged a witchblade.
"My apologies Archon" Lumiya replied as Luke touched down on the floor "But I must terminate our little agreement"
Before the Archon could muster a reply he imploded. No warnings, no taunts, his armour just seemed to implode around him, he screamed a strangled scream as his own blood oozed out of openings, slow sounds of cracking symbolised his bones and armour shattering under the sudden pressure of gravity. But the attack didn't come from Lumiya, Luke knew that she was incapable of such feats of force-mastery, he turned around to see Jacen standing to the far side of the chamber, his right hand held into a fist and a sadistic smirk on his face.
"Jacen" Tahiri asked horrified by the sudden usage of dark side energies by a man that she had considered a brother had just struck out with. Jacen simply turned and set a gaze of steel upon her before she suddenly flew through the air like a rag doll and collided with a pillar with such force that Luke heard her bones crack. The girl slumped to the ground, still alive but only just.
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33 ABY: 1 Year Ago
Jacen stood on the command deck of what looked like an Imperial-class Star Destroyer. Overlooking a mass of black armoured warships that he recognised as Chaos Cruisers and Battlecruisers, all chasing after a small fleet of Alliance star destroyers and cruisers, standing beside him was Lumiya, decked in her light armour battle-suit.
"There is no need to worry Jacen" Lumiya said as she overlooked the losing battle "This ship has full use of a cloaking device so we won't be seen, and I have about twenty Dark Jedi cloaking this vessel from any of their vile warp sorcerers"
"Why have you brought me here?" Jacen asked mildly as another Star Destroyer, Republic-class silently exploded.
"Simply to point out a fact" Lumiya replied "That the Alliance are losing this war, even with the Imperium's assistance and their precious Jedi leading them it will only be a matter of time. The western expansion region will fall, effectively separating the western Outer and Mid-rims from each other. Bespin, Hoth and so many other important planets will be effectively cut off. It won't stop there. These demons will continue to push forward into the Mid-rim and then the Outer-rim and finally the Core. And you know the old saying"
"He who controls Coruscant controls the Core and he who controls the Core controls the galaxy" Jacen replied with irritation, reciting an old military saying that strategists had used throughout history "I know the old military styles"
"Once Chaos breaks to the core, not if, when they break through" Lumiya pointed out "They will have control of the galaxy; the rest will be a mopping up mission"
"So you think that the Sith will have a better chance at defeating Chaos?"
"I know we will have a better chance at beating them Jacen" Lumiya replied "For all of the Jedi's good traits they do not have the ruthlessness to face Chaos in the open, their rules and the way they live by is what will get them killed"
"The Jedi defeated the Sith dozens of times, they survived the Yuuzhan Vong" Jacen replied, even though Lumiya's statement did make sense.
"Yet all of those times they just managed to pull victory from the jaws of defeat" Lumiya pointed out "That will not work on an enemy like those that come from the galaxy where the Imperium hails from. Even if the Alliance repels the forces of Chaos there will be others. The Necron, Orks, Tyranids, even the likes of the Eldar and the Tau could spin around and stab you in the back. If Chaos doesn't destroy the Alliance then the Imperium eventually will. Either way under the government we are in now this galaxy will soon be facing occupation, and innocent peoples and races be they humans or aliens will be massacred for either not accepting their rule or for simply being what they are…can you live with that, Jacen Solo"
Jacen felt like replying, like mustering some sort of retaliatory response but the words stuck in his throat. Deep down he felt that Lumiya was correct. But would the galaxy be any better off under the rule of the Sith. Lumiya seemed to catch onto his thoughts and sighed.
"A number of wormholes have opened up between the two galaxies, I have been chosen by my master to be the leader of the exploration team" she put a hand on his shoulder "You don't have to answer now, but I will be expecting an answer when we meet again"
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Present Day
"So that is your answer" Lumiya said calmly "You made the right choice Jacen"
"Jacen" Luke asked in shock, his tone radiating sorrow and betrayal "Why?"
"Because the Jedi and the Alliance are not strong enough to weather this approaching storm Uncle" Jacen replied flatly, his eyes suddenly beginning to turn into a shade of yellow "Even if the Alliance defeats Chaos then what, another enemy from the other galaxy will show itself, whether it will be Orks, Necron, Tyranids or even the Imperium itself" he turned to face Luke, his eyes and face set in stone "I am sorry uncle but as it stands the only way to meet the enemies of the other galaxy, the only language that they will understand is that of aggression and destruction"
"Well said Jacen" Lumiya replied "And with that my mission has been completed, there is no longer a need to remain on this accursed vessel"
"You think we will let you go after all of the death and suffering you have helped bring?" one of the Banshees asked vehemently.
"Why yes" Lumiya replied with her voice full of humour "But I tell you what, you and your sisters seem to still have a lot of pent up aggression. You fought bravely against a handful of Incubi and Dark Jedi so here is a parting gift" she snapped her fingers and sixteen crimson coloured lightsabres snapped to life, the eerie light casting a crimson glow on the darkened roof "My parting gift, sixteen Dark Jedi…although I must say I was saving these for the Archon and his Incubi dogs"
Several things happened at that moment, the Dark Jedi fell from the ceiling, the Eldar and remaining Jedi braced themselves for the battle to come, Lumiya and her new apprentice turned their backs and started walking towards the exit where a small honour guard of three black robed Dark Jedi appeared.
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"That fool!!!"
"Father" Leia asked worriedly as Anakin suddenly looked down at the polished black floor, his fists balling up so tightly that they were turning white. Across the channel the High Admiral also looked on, both intrigued and confused. Anakin ignored his daughter's question, the Eldar admirals inquiring glance, the sudden nervousness that seemed to descend upon the bridge like a blanket from its crew, both force-sensitive and force-blind alike.
"That stupid, gullible, idiotic, self-righteous, Sithspawning fool" Anakin growled, his entire form beginning to glow with blue light so bright that it blinded all those who looked upon him, before Leia could ask the question again Anakin Skywalker had vanished from the bridge in a flash of bright light.
At that moment Leia ignored the High Admirals sudden bombardment of questions and channelled all of her psychic talent into the force, checking on her family. Han and Luke were fine, Jaina, Mara and Tahiri were injured but not terribly, Jacen was…dark, he was covered with darkness like it was a slick liquid. She found herself gasping and falling to her knees, her last remaining sons force-signature causing tears to run down her face.
One of the revived Jedi rushed to her side, asking her if she was alright but the princess ignored the mans question. Jacen Solo, her son had turned to the dark side just like Anakin had so long ago. At that moment she understood the former Sith Lords sudden anger.
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A flashing light appeared in the middle of the wraithbone floor, blinding everyone that was within it. Even Lumiya and Jacen who had just reached their honour guard at the end of the chamber turned around to see what the commotion was. Dark Jedi who were diving towards the surviving Jedi and Eldar suddenly stopped in midair as if they hit a steel wall and were likewise thrown aside at near impossible speeds, crashing into the walls, leaving craters in the immaculate wraithbone and slumping lifelessly to the floor, their bones splintered beyond repair.
As the light faded the sound of chillingly heavy breathing could be heard, breathing that chilled Lumiya straight to both the bone and the circuits. She slowly turned to see if she was just imagining it but there he was. The flowing cape, the nightmarish armour, the mask, it was him, it was Lord Vader, except instead of the armour being black it was now an immaculate white.
The thought long dead former Dark Lord of the Sith starred straight at them and even Jacen Solo felt the temperature of the chamber fall by several degrees just by his presence. Maybe it was an effect that he had on the force but everyone, even the Eldar and their precious Farseer seemed to feel it, for they shivered for some reason that eluded them. In this form, this man was death.
"Jacen Solo" Anakin boomed with that same mechanical voice that would make even the most hardened war veterans jump "You may be my grandchild, but know this, if you truly accept the ways of the Sith. If you do anything to my family, our family then I will kill you" Anakin folded his arms across his armoured chest and just stood there, looking to all like an unmovable and foreboding foe "You still have a choice Jacen, you haven't let the darkness rule your life just yet. You can still change your mind, we will still be here. Remember that!"
"Thank you grandfather" Jacen replied, his voice cold and flat "But I have made my choice" and with that himself, Lumiya and the three surviving Dark Jedi simply vanished in a puff of black smog.
A few moments after they vanished a mass of Eldar Dark Reapers and Guardians charged into the chamber, their weapons cocked and ready for a battle. Behind them came the surviving Jedi and Clone troopers, half carrying, half dragging the dead and wounded. Jaina and Mara were among them, accepting the support from the Clones. They too were surrounded by a crowd of Eldar Guardians, their shuriken catapults ready to kill them at the slightest sign.
"Lower your weapons" Leda commanded.
"Farseer" one of the Guardians asked, slightly confused.
"I said lower them" she repeated sternly as she began to walk towards the columns of Eldar troops, the three surviving Banshees flanking her as she walked "Is that any way to treat our guests?" as the Eldar soldiers lowered their weapons they parted for her to approach the group of clones and Jedi, stopping in front of a barely conscious Mara-Jade and putting a comforting hand on her shoulder "I don't think it would be wise to just kick you off our home with the amount of wounded you have, do you?"
There we go, finally I got it finished, and sorry it took so long everybody. As for the comments on Jacen, well ever since I spoiled Sacrifice for myself I've just wanted to rant at him for some time and it felt great to do it. It appears that my little forum is also really starting to kick off, about time!