Chapter 6

Rye and Ephraim were in a senate meeting in the Galactic Senate building to discuss some urgencies which were mainly the stormtrooper army. They were going to wait to bring up the subject of the sith. They brought Brett along for some evidence.

"We have plenty of reason to believe that someone has secretly been developing an army to raise against the Republic." Rye said, projecting his voice loud and clear.

"An army?" Lieutenant Governor Calista Calfan asked, in disbelief .

"Yes," Rye said as Ephraim brought Brett up into view before continuing, "The fugitive used Brett, here, the son of my brother, to start the new stormtrooper army." Rye finished, raising his voice so the senate could hear his emphasis. The senate stirred up.

"ORDER!" Calista shouted, quickly quieting the senate down.

"Earlier today, I received a notification of a power surge coming from Kamino. I sent my Jedi team to investigate, and they found the army in production. But they stopped the production before their numbers grew too large." Rye said.

"Did your team take care of the remaining troops?" Corellian Senator Garm Bel Iblis piped up.

"From what they told me, yes." Rye replied.

"It sounds as if you don't completely know." A Yuuzhan Vong called out.

"If you'd like further details, you'll have to talk to my team. In the meantime, I'd like to request some of the Republic army to accompany my team so that they may deal with this matter swiftly." Rye said.

"As inclined as I am to comply, I need to fully know what I might be getting the Republic into, before we take action. Also, you'll need to receive approval from the emperor. For now, I'll send you with a team to Kamino to investigate further." Calista replied.

"Understood."

Rye, Ephraim, and Brett were met out in the hall by Garm. "Master Jedi!" He called, getting their attention. "What exactly is it that your team is getting into?"

Rye looked at Ephraim, who gave him a nod, before answering. "We've been on a quest to either confirm or deny the rumors that the sith exist."

"We believe it may have been a sith who started the army production." Ephraim said.

"Sith?" Garm exclaimed, very surprised.

"Yes." Rye said with a slightly lowered voice.

"What have you found out?" Garm asked with some concern and curiosity.

Rye motioned for him to come closer so he wouldn't draw too much attention. "They exist, and they are out there." He whispered. Gram pulled back and stroked his chin

"This news will turn some heads if it gets into the public." He said.

"It won't settle well for me and my team if it gets into the public. The Republic will restrain us from our job and take matters into their own hands. The sith will easily outmaneuver them and the Republic will once again be gone." Rye said, still keeping his voice down.

"Well you have my support." Garm said.

"That's good to know. What kind of support are you offering?"

"Corellia has some of the greatest militia in the galaxy, we'd be honored to help."

"I'll see about it after the investigation, senator." Rye said, before he, Ephraim, and Brett walked off.

Exar was taking some private time, meditating and wondering how long it would take for Heceowa's spell to dissipate if it hadn't already. He pondered these thoughts for a while, then got an idea. Clearing his mind, he focused and contacted Heceowa through the force.

'Heceowa.'

'Well well well-'

'Don't use an overused line. That's old. I just need to know how long your spell lasts.'

'Well wouldn't you like to know?'

'I don't have time for sarcasm. Tell me how long it lasts.'

'Glad to know your personality is still intact, even after all these years being a Jedi.'

'Heceowa Cometfire, I will personally fly across the galaxy and destroy your will to live if you don't shut your pie hole and-'

'I get the picture. And don't worry, the spell will be gone shortly.'

'I certainly hope so.'

Exar was snapped out of his state of mind as Jo entered the room. "Hey, Erickson's calling us... you look like you're thinking about a girl."

"Huh? Wha-NO! What do you want?" Exar asked, frustrated, making Jo laugh.

"Erickson's calling us to the meeting room for a mission briefing." Jo said.

"I'm coming." Exar replied. He got up and followed Joe to the meeting room. Aang and Erickson were present.

"What's going on?" Exar asked.

"Rye is going on an investigation with some government officials. He left me in charge of this place and told me to tell you guys that you need to finish your original mission. From what Exar has told me, I will request you guys need to head, first, to Tatooine to find out more." Erickson said.

"Um, we already found out that the sith are alive, we need to find out what to do about it." Aang said.

"I know, and we are. You three are going to find this sith and defeat him." Erickson said.

"Yes sir." Aang said, grinning. He and Joe walked off.

"Exar, that's still your team, you need to go with them." Erickson said.

"We won't make it back alive, if we do make it back, we'll be in pieces. We can't beat him." Exar said, hoping to get his point through.

"I sense so much fear in you. You have little faith in your teammates. I know you can defeat him." Erickson said with confidence.

"Optimism won't help."

"You've heard the saying, 'optimism is the faith that leads to achievement'? Nothing can be done without hope and confidence."

"I guess. There is no try, so, I guess we'll fail."

"No. No guessing. Only knowing. You will, or you won't." Erickson said. Exar just nodded and left.

"I know you can do it." Erickson said, quietly. Then he pulled up his comlink and contacted Rye.

"Ok Rye, I'm joining you. I'll be there soon." He said.

"Good." Rye replied.

Exar, Aang, and Joe had just finished refueling their Tantive shuttle, and loaded ammunition into the guns, and were fully prepared for their mission. They entered the shuttle and took off. The trio strapped onto their seats before Exar activated the hyperdrive.

"Coordinates set for Tatooine." Exar said, and they sped off into the stars.

Erickson met Rye with a team of investigators, lead by Calista, by the Galactic Senate building. The team was loading supplies onto their refurbished Tantive Shuttle.

"Brother, I'm glad you could make it. What is our team doing?" Rye asked, starting to get worried.

"Don't worry. They're doing what you told me to tell them to do." Erickson replied with a wink.

"That is good. Thank you for not forgetting." Rye said in complete relief.

"Oh goodness no. Not after that incident." Erickson said with a laugh.

"Anyway, where are they exactly?" Rye asked.

"I don't really know. They're probably still in hyperspace right now. They're going to Tatooine to find out more-" Erickson leaned in close so he could whisper, "about the sith."

"Good, you remembered the details. And I must say I'm impressed with your leadership skills if you were able to convince them to leave the base with no one else attending it. And how did you convince Exar to go on this trip?"

"I will tell you about that later, but now it looks like you're needed." Erickson said, noticing a group of soldiers approaching.

"Master Jedi, we are ready." The leader of the troops said.

"Good." Rye replied. He turned to Erickson and said, "Let's go."

They turned and boarded the shuttle.

"Glad you could make it." Calista said.

"You and me both." Rye said. "Let's get this started."