Chapter Fourteen
Arriving to Research in the Parmel System didn't have the excitement that Arden Lyn thought it would have for her or Hoar. Despite its reputation as an incredible place for technological advancement and brilliant mechanical engineering, it just didn't catch their eyes as much as they had wanted it to. "Alright everybody, my father's going to meet us in the hangar and Arden, he'd like to speak with you alone," Paris said upon getting them out of lightspeed. The man's got merit to want to speak with me after the way our first conversation ended, I'll give him that much Arden thought quietly.
Hoar looked like he was suspicious of that and Arden truly didn't blame him all that much for it. "Listen Hoar: admirable as your suspicion is, it won't help us establish an alliance that can topple the Emperor. Go hang out with Paris and have him show you what the Zaarin family intends to use against the Empire while you wait for me to finish business with him," Arden told him. "Yes Mistress but if you need some skull breaking to be done, let me know," the Tusken replied menacingly.
Arden nodded her acceptance of that request and asked Paris to show him around to which the young man agreed. To the surprise of both Arden and her Tusken companion, there were two battalions of troops likely from a militia independent of the Empire flanking each of their sides. Demetrius was in the center, waiting for Arden who came at the frontmost of the trio to reach him immediately. Meanwhile, Paris escorted Hoar away with troops following the two of them on each side just like his father's escort.
"Arden Lyn, it is great to have you here in the Research at long last," Demetrius said immediately. "Dispense with the formalities and tell me whether or not you know about the statement I made in Bunduki concerning my defection," Arden replied with equal speed. "Of course, my son had hacked into the communication transmissions of the Imperials involved. He caught a memo to Dark Jedi Yun concerning you attacking stormtroopers and Palawa disciples alike and told me," he explained.
Paris has more talent than I give that prettyboy for having, perhaps there is merit in the Force choosing to have my path intertwine with his yet Arden thought silently. "Then I don't suppose you realize that by speaking with me, you're committing high treason against the Emperor? Unless, of course, you're intending to defect as well there is no reason for this conversation to even happen," she said aloud. "You've a sharp and feisty mind, just like the last time we met back on Imperial Center: yes I intend to defect as well and have brought you here with good reason.
"I need someone who can take on the Emperor and capture him (if possible) though killing him is not entirely out of the question if necessary," he explained. "You want me to fight the Emperor and either capture or kill him. Can't say that I'm anything short of disappointed that you would call upon me to fight that battle for you, Demetrius," she replied. "But you are the only one who is even remotely capable: I don't have the Force and neither does my son but you've defected from the Empire like us!" he exclaimed.
"I defected because the Emperor chose not to fulfill the bargain we agreed on and even admitted he wouldn't have the power to follow through with it anyway. My anger at the fact that he would even make it in the first place was unparalleled and I defected accordingly," she said. "Indeed our reasons for defection are different but the desire remains the same. I want to rule the galaxy in their place and you want revenge against the Emperor, it works out beautifully," he stated.
"You won't give up until you get your way, will you?" she asked. "I don't have to rely on you entirely, there are plenty of Jedi eager to do away with the Emperor if given the chance. You could be left out of the loop as far as a chance at revenge is concerned," he answered menacingly. "Do not try to use blackmail on me, little man!" she hissed as she grabbed his neck with her mechanical arm.
Thrusting him against a wall whilst strangulating him, she made sure that he knew better than to blackmail her like that again. Troops gathered to try and stop her but he ordered them off for whatever strange reason he had for doing it. "Perhaps I was too hasty in my words, let me go and I will propose a better offer for you," he requested with surprising calmness in his voice. "Let's hear it," she said after letting go.
"I can offer you and Hoar lifetime benefits, no taxation of any kind for as long as you live. Hoar can spend his days drinking Korriban fire whiskey like water after a good hunt. You can spend your days in peace with him or by yourself if you decide to release him from any debts he may owe you. However, the best part is that is so simple to obtain: capture or kill the Emperor and it will all be yours along with lifetime protection from the Empire's loyalist forces," he explained.
"Lifetime protection given by you and your son? You can barely protect yourselves, what makes you think you can protect me? On top of that, do you really think it's as simple as kill the Emperor and all the galaxy will be yours? Even if I succeed, Vader will just rise up to take his place and destroy you in the process or if not him, someone else.
"Anyone in the chain of command pertaining of Force-sensitives will be eager to make a grab and some Grand Admiral might give it a shot as well. I could very easily see you falling to Vice Admiral Thrawn and he's not even as high on the chain as you are now. It never ends Zaarin unless the galaxy is destroyed in the process and all life is lost forevermore in this Force-forsaken universe!" she replied. "Then I guess that means you aren't with us?" he asked.
Do I really have a choice but to join this pathetic little mongrel who's hungry for power and has a son that's just as eager? she asked herself silently. "I will but for a price: if I kill Palpatine, I must be allowed to take over his rule in order to insure that the chain I mentioned doesn't begin. Better that the galaxy know the face behind the hands that killed him than the man who helped them there. Trust me on this, I was the leader of a growing empire myself once and it crumbled around me in almost the same fashion I spoke of after my husband (its leader) fell to Jedi blades," she answered aloud.
Demetrius looked disappointed in this revelation but she told herself that she shouldn't have expected anything else from him. Sighing, she could tell that he was stuck in a dilemma: if he accepted her terms, he would never be the heir to the Empire he wished to be. If he didn't, not only was he out one rogue Force-sensitive but if he succeeded without her, it would be only some time before he fell. Which was the lesser of two evils?... that was the question to be asked now rather than "could it be done?".
"Perhaps when he is no more, we can do a joint-rulership. I would be the military and economical face of our new operations and you would dictate the rest," he suggested rather suddenly. Hm, I can't handle everything by myself and he does have more experience in those areas then me she observed quietly. "Keep that thought until after we win but for now, I will join you-I hardly have any other choice anyway," she said aloud.
"I'm glad you have agreed and you are wise to suggest that we hold onto that thought for later. Our concentration should be on the here and now where it belongs at any rate," he agreed with a nod. "Excellent, show me to my quarters please. I would like some time to meditate on our next course of action against the Emperor," she requested.
"As you wish, Arden. I will arrange for a separate chamber for Hoar as well unless you'd rather have him near you," he said. "No, give him his own place to stay. He will be needing it during his time of adjustment to a new lifestyle," she said. "As you wish, milady," he replied with a bow.
"Here are some of the latest designs that my father has engineered for the upcoming coup. Before his decision to defect and overthrow the Emperor, he was one of the most brilliant designers of military weapons ever," Paris said. "Enough, enough, I only need to know whether or not they have been field-tested and can hold against the Emperor's forces," Hoar replied. "Well of course they have been tested for effectiveness and they have passed a hundred percent," Paris stated proudly.
"Good, is there anymore I need to be toured in or can I just go to the sparring chambers you got and work on my form? Arden told me to always be ready to use my martial arts against an enemy and I'd hate to be rusted in battle," Hoar asked. "Of course, if you'll follow me this way then I'll be glad to show you where the chambers," Paris answered. The two of them initially walked in silence for a little bit but when they arrived at the sparring chambers, Paris was the first to speak up.
"Is Arden Lyn as much a hardcase as she appears to be or does she get better when you get to know her?" he asked. "She gets better with time but remember that she has had a lot on her plate. After all, she was first placed into a twenty-five thousand-year-long hibernation by Jedi. She was revived during the Clone Wars to an alien galaxy that had long forgotten her and her people forever.
"Then she placed herself into yet another hibernation to save herself from freezing to death in her escape pod in the Void of the Universe when her forces were destroyed. Fifteen years, that hibernation lasted before she awaken to watch her first apprentice be cut down by enemies. Finally, her hibernating days came to an end when she meditated for six months as grief for all that she had lost," Hoar replied. "Damn, that is truly hard and did she have anyone else that she loved during that time- another man, I mean?" Paris continued.
"One though he was slain by Jedi shortly before her first hibernation as she stood helplessly and watched it happen," Hoar admitted. "Now I feel almost ashamed that I want to get to know her better with such a history under her belt," Paris stated. "Trust me, it's nothing to be ashamed of as you think it is now," Hoar replied. "You really believe that, Hoar?" Paris inquired.
"Of course, I have been with her almost longer than any of her other students and I have seen her evolve from a confused, unknowing child of the past to the great woman you see now. There is much to her that I think you'll like when she grows to love you as you love her now," Hoar explained. Paris looked at him in surprise and Hoar admitted that he knew Paris was falling for Arden Lyn even if she didn't. "But don't worry, I'll let you tell her for yourself," he added before turning his attention to the sparring equipment he wanted to use.
Paris thought about that, wondering how a Tusken Raider who must surely be his own unique species understand the feelings of a human better than the human did himself. But he decided to find a way to take his mind off it as fast as possible and asked Hoar if he could train him in his martial arts. "Terras Kasi is not suited for everyone nor is my variant of it but I think you have the physical material for a start, at least," Hoar said. Then he ordered Paris to come close by and watch his movements carefully as he wouldn't be repeating them.
Paris did just that and soon got a hang of some of the sequences that Hoar showed him in his application of Terras Kasi's Variant of the Snake. "It is called this because it is more based on speed and agility as well as having the fluidity of a snake while the Variant of the Rancor is based on strength. You have the build of a man of agility though you are surprisingly strong nonetheless so I guess it wouldn't hurt to show you the basics of the Variant of the Rancor if you wish," Hoar explained. "You really think that I could master the two styles?" Paris asked.
"I don't know about mastering as it takes years to get one down right but if you commit your time to it, I don't see why you wouldn't become very skilled," Hoar answered. Paris smiled and asked Hoar to show him the basics of the Variant of the Rancor and that was just what the Tusken Raider did. The boy became very natural with the Variant of the Rancor though Hoar could immediately see that he was more at home with the Variant of the Snake like Hoar himself was. A little more sparring and the two then had their fill of the martial arts known as Terras Kasi, their bellies aching for food soon after.
Five and a half months later...
"It would seem as though Admiral Harkov is turning on us, Lord Vader. As if that wasn't bad enough, he is joining the Rebels for their struggle against our Empire!" Palpatine seethed. "I will deal with him immediately, milord," Vader vowed. I disposed of Prince Xizor with relative ease, this should be no problem at all the Sith apprentice thought silently.
"You have already captured him and intend to destroy his fleet once you have dealt with him, I take it?" Palpatine asked. "Yes Master, all traces of his defection will be wiped cleaned from the galaxy before this is over," Vader answered. "It could be some time before his remaining ships are found again, are you willing to postpone your search for Skywalker until then?" Palpatine inquired. Vader hadn't thought about that happening although he should have guessed that it would happen soon.
His obsession for the young boy now revealed to be his son had taken an especially great height after their duel on Bespin's Cloud City. There was no way that Luke would be allowed to escape the clutches of the Emperor and his ability to ensnare while Vader was hunting him. For now Luke, you are free from my ever-searching eyes but do not relish this freedom for too long Vader thought. "Yes Master, Admiral Harkov is a greater threat at the moment than the Jedi who assists the Rebel Alliance in its efforts to overthrow us," he said aloud to his Master.
"So many battles, so many victories and yet I am worried about the defeats that have come along. I really truly wish this rebellion would be destroyed now and that there was no reason for Admirals to make their defection. But I guess I can't help that now, can I?" Palpatine asked rhetorically. "I wouldn't know Master, I am not the Emperor who rules over dozens of star systems with an iron fist," Vader answered politely.
"Your time will come and you will know the responsibilities I have as well as I do now. But while you are hunting the remnants of Harkov's fleet, see what you can do about Arden Lyn. It's been six months since she disappeared from our sight, attacking the priest of Bunduki in the process of that. I've grown fearful that she may have found someone with the might to put up a good show for us all," Palpatine requested.
"As you wish, Master," Vader replied with a bow before leaving to deal with Admiral Harkov's forces. The Admiral himself had been brave and defiant in the face of his death but no match for Vader's Force Choke like many before him that had also braved the Dark Lord's fury and failed. However, he couldn't help but wonder what his Master had meant when he stated that Vader's time to rule would come. Was the old man finally on his last straws?
Vader thought about this and then remembered the way of the Sith and how the strong must always suppress the weak. Was Vader's time to suppress Palpatine and snuff his life out coming? Would he at last receive the revenge he had long awaited for the death of his beloved Padme all those years ago? It was food for thought that began to excite Vader almost as much as the thrill of chasing down young Skywalker himself.
"You know Paris, ever since we became friends I have to admit that I misjudged you on many things. And I misjudged you very badly, I might add," Arden said to her new lover. "Women have a way of doing that around me quite a lot, you're not the first. But I have to admit that I misjudged you as well and probably more badly than ever you could hope to misjudge me," Paris replied.
Since meeting, the two of them became excellent friends in a matter of two months and both formed attraction for one another one month after. So comfortable had Arden become with Paris-and vice versa- that Arden had even destroyed her wedding ring from Xendor and made love to Paris. Awakening from such session of sex, Arden had to admit that it was rejuvenating to finally be a young woman and not a hardened warrior of the Force for once in a great long time. With Paris, she felt like the universe melted away and she could be what she was when given a chance to relax.
However, she sensed that her ability to relax was closing and that she would soon need to become the hardened warrior once more. Demetrius had told them that it was only a matter of time before his insurrection against the Emperor began. The implications of that were simple: Arden and Paris could be permanently separated during the battles to follow. They might have the possibility of never being able to see each other again at least until it was over and might not be a family before then.
"Paris, we will have to separate very soon and you know what? I want Hoar to accompany you wherever you go so that if Vader or an Emperor's Hand show up, you have better defenses with you. Against someone like one of those two perils, your troops would be no match and I want the guarantee that there is someone there who can hold their own against them even if it isn't me," she explained. "I understand my love, I've become accustomed to having Hoar follow me around anyway," he stated.
"Good, I'll go inform him that I want him near you immediately," she said. Before he could object, she placed a nightgown over her naked body and marched to Hoar's room for a chat. Knocking on his door, she was glad to hear him tell her to come in rather than have to walk to the sparring room. True that he was still practicing his martial arts but he was working on the more subtle intricacies of Terras Kasi when she arrived to speak to him.
"Hoar, you still feel bound to me by the life-debt you owe me?" she asked. "Of course I'm bound to you in that honorable way, why wouldn't I be?" he replied. "Good but I didn't come to release you from it, I came to ask you if you would be willing to accept a way to pay it fully. I have something I want you to do once Demetrius' insurrection against the Emperor begins," she said.
"Sure, just say the word and I'll do it," he stated. "I want you to stay with Paris wherever he goes, volunteer your life for him as you would for me. If we fail to capture or kill the Emperor, I'd rather be on the run or dead knowing that you are protecting my love then knowing he's vulnerable to Vader. Or for that matter, an Emperor's Hand sent to deal with him in Vader's place," she explained.
Hoar paused from his exercises, clearly this was something heavy and he would need to think about it a great deal though he needed to answer her sooner rather than later. I hope I haven't crossed the limit with what I can ask of him, Tuskens aren't exactly great when they're angry she thought. "Paris Zaarin is a friend of mine just as he is your lover, I would fight with him even if I am no longer bound by honor to serve you," Hoar answered at last. "Thank you, thank you so much for everything; you are a dear friend, Hoar," she said, hugging him soon after saying that.
"I am a warrior of Tatooine, I'm supposed to keep up all the bonds I develop for they are what strengthen my resolve more than anything else," he told her as he wrapped his arms around her as well. "Demetrius says we'll be moving against the Emperor and his forces very soon, it's a matter of figuring out how to at least incapacitate Lord Vader if he can't be eliminated entirely," she stated. "In that case, I shall wait for your signal to join Paris for the battles he will go on in the meantime," he replied. "We have had many great adventures Hoar, may any entrance to the afterlife be honorable for you," she said.
"If it's necessary that I do that, I could care less the smoothness of the entrance so long as I fight honorably," he said. "You should care, you deserve a reprieve from the wounds of the past," she told him. "Trust me, you need that more than I do considering your long lifespan," he retorted. She laughed and embraced him once more before going back to her own room where Paris awaited.