Disclaimer
All characters appearing in the Star Wars saga are copyright Lucas Arts and the Walt Disney Cooperation. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are not authorized by the copyright holder.
All original characters are the property of Celgress.
Special thanks to fellow author J. Hellscythe for the use of his OC Rainah.
Star Wars AU The Triumph of Darth Plagueis: Episode Thirty-Four – A New Hope Interlude IV: There is Always Hope
By
Celgress
0 BBY
Imperial Center
Darth Plagueis looked down sternly from his throne. Yellow eyes glowed brightly as he submersed himself deeply in the dark side pulling it over his mind as if it were a comfortable blanket. How he had missed his unseen champion these past few years. Confident in himself once more Plagueis spoke to his disloyal underlings.
"What do you three have to say in your defense?" His voice rumbled it's timber low and threatening.
"Betrayal is the way of the Sith." Darth Vader said without hesitation. Beside him Darth Cyrin and General Grievous said nothing.
"Indeed it is, if you had provided any other answered you and your co-conspirators would be dead right now Lord Vader. I'd have struck you three down where you stand." Plagueis said.
"I know." Vader said feeling the old Muun's restored power through the Force. It scorched the very soul like heat from a dark star. Vader didn't doubt for an instant Plagueis could make good on his threat if he so choose, or at least come close.
"I hereby grant you three what many desire but few will ever possess a second chance, use it wisely. Pray I don't reconsider my options." Plagueis said. "All has recently been revealed to me by the dark side itself. Soon eternal Sith rule shall be achieved. First however we must destroy what remains of the Jedi Order, forever ending their legacy. I must seek your full cooperation in this endeavour should it hope to succeed."
"Why should we help you?" Cyrin said.
"Cyrin," Vader cautioned.
"No," Cyrin snapped. "You promised us restoration of our physical forms. I cannot continue in this fashion much longer, hating what I see in the mirror detesting myself. If you truly care about as you've claimed in the past please help us."
"The dark side has restored my lost power. Serve it faithfully until the Jedi have been eradicated it shall restore your broken bodies, of this I have no doubt." Plagueis delivered his statement with such conviction neither Vader nor Cyrin doubted the sincerity of his words.
"How long before we are restored if we follow this path the dark side has laid out before us master?" Vader said.
"Five years, perhaps less," Plagueis said, Cyrin groaned but said nothing. "It is but a short span of time in the grand scheme of things my children.
"What of me master. I care not for physical restoration." Grievous said. "In fact I've grown to prefer my current state over my original form."
Vader snorted barely hiding his disgust with Grievous. "Abomination," Vader thought but dared not voice his opinion at such a crucial junction.
"What do you desire General?" Plagueis asked.
"Retirement then return to my home world on Kalee and personal dominion over the sector of space in which it resides." Grievous said.
"Once our Empire is secure Kalee's sector is yours to do with as you wish General." Plagueis said.
"Thank you master," Grievous said with a bow.
"Soon our ultimate weapon the Death Star will be operational, we must plan our strategy." Plagueis said.
"Of course, what is your bidding my master?" Vader said dropping to one knee in clear submission to the Supreme Dark Lord, Grievous and Cyrin emulating his gesture.
Plagueis smiled all was as it should be. All was proceeding according to Plagueis' design. His many decades of toile continued to pay off.
Behind his mask Vader also smiled thinking what a pitiful fool his 'master' had become. Plagueis was so easily fooled these days deceiving him lacked any challenge. Soon Cyrin and Vader would rule the galaxy, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop them. Once Plagueis had been dealt with Vader and Cyrin would eliminate the last remaining vestige of the old Sith regime, Grievious. With their fellow cyborg gone they would be undisputed rulers of both the Empire and the Sith Order then they'd restore their lost physical glory. None would dare challenge them. All was proceeding according to Vader's design. His near two decades of toile would soon pay off.
Nar Shaddaa two standard works later, night
"Have fun Fett." An imperial officer accompanied by a small group of storm troopers sneered tossing a scantily clad human female in front of Fett's bed.
Boba Fett clad in a simple black sweat suit type outfit was stretched out on the cot his armor stacked neatly in the nearest corner. "Why is my rest being disturbed captain?" The Sith assassin sighed.
"She was caught attempting to insight rebellion amongst the populace." The imperial officer accused.
"A dancing girl," Fett said quirking an eyebrow skeptically. "Poor wretch what harm could she possibly cause? Are the storm troopers truly necessary captain?"
"She is more than she appears I assure you sir." The imperial officer said. "We found this concealed on her person." The imperial officer snapped his fingers a storm trooper passed him a deactivated lightsaber.
"Hmmm, I assume that explains her force suppression collar?" Fett said noting the electronic collar encircling the poor girl's neck.
"We've also taken the precaution of injecting her with force suppression drugs sir." The imperial officer said proudly.
"I see you've also roughed her up some." Fett said frowning as he visually examined the girl's multiple bruises and small cuts.
"She resisted arrest sir. Several droids and storm troopers were destroyed during the altercation." The imperial office said defensively.
"Storm troopers are primarily clones and droids are tools, both can be easily replaced. The prisoner could have been crippled or even killed before a successful interrogation was conducted." Fett said. Unlike many of his fellow imperials the Sith didn't derive perverse pleasure from torturing captives.
"Sir she was…" The imperial officer protested.
"Leave," Fett commanded firmly.
"But sir…" The imperial officer again started.
"Leave, and I want her weapon." Fett said holding out his hand. With a quick bow of his head the imperial officer handed Fett the lightsaber hilt. "That will be all."
"Yes sir," The imperial officer said departing with the storm troopers.
"I'm sorry they harmed you." Fett said sincerely. The young woman looked up at him with bright blue eyes her swollen by still recognisable face framed by tussled brown hair. "I know you. We've face each in combat, twice." Katooni scurried away across the floor fast as her sore body would take her. "Fear not Jedi I won't hurt you. Injuring helpless prisoners under one's care is immoral."
"Yeah so is sexual assaulting prisoners under one's care, remember that." Katooni said eyeing the pajama wearing Fett apprehensively.
"I would never." Fett said highly offended by Katooni's suggestion.
"I hope you're a being who keeps his word." Katooni said.
"I am, honor is everything." Fett said.
"Sith know nothing of honor." Katooni said propping herself up in the furthest corner the small room offered from Fett's bed.
"Spoken like a typical Jedi, your masters would be proud." Fett scoffed.
"Better a Jedi Knight than a Sith Assassin any day. At least we Jedi are loyal to each other." Katooni shot back.
"Which breeds the weakness that decimated your Order Jedi," Fett said. "We Sith are self-reliant."
"Sith treachery decimated our Order, I was there." Katooni said
"I was also there." Fett said. "We'd have been wiped out if we hadn't wiped you old first it was survival of the fittest."
"You overcame us by deception, not prowess." Katooni said.
"What is your name Jedi Knight?" Fett said.
"Katooni," Katooni said. "Why do you ask?"
"I'm Boba Fett. Tell me Katooni do you respect General Grievous?" Fett asked.
"Of course not he's mass murderer." Katooni said unbidden memories of her childhood friends' fates came folding back to her.
"What about Emperor Plagueis, Vader or Cyrin? Surely you must admit their collective and individual accomplishments are impressive." Fett said.
"They are monsters." Katooni said firmly holding her position. "Do you respect Master Yoda?"
"I do, in spite of his blindness of our Grand Plan he has an understanding of the Force second only to Emperor Plagueis' own." Fett explained. Katooni winced at mention of the Force. Seeing her evident discomfort Fett felt an odd connection with his enemy. "If it means anything I don't approve of how you've been treated. The collar was more than sufficient to lessen your Force connection. I remember life without Force sensitivity being cut off from the Force must be, most disconcerting."
"I don't want or need your pity Sith." Katooni said.
"My pity may very well be the only thing saving your life Jedi." Fett said.
The door slid open before Boba Fett and Katooni could continue their debate. In strode the local garrison commander a Bith with a rather bad attitude flanked by six storm troopers and as many B1 battle droids. In his long fingers was a clipboard.
"Oh Force tell me why my rest must be continually interrupted this evening." Fett said.
"I've come to take the Jedi prisoner sir" The Bith commander said.
Glancing over at Katooni, Fett noted the terrified look on her face. Making a snap decision Fett announced. "I'll be taking the Jedi prisoner with me when I depart for the Despayre System tomorrow."
"My orders are very clear sir the Jedi prisoner….." The Bith commander said.
"Are you questioning my authority commander?" Fett said leaping off his cot. "If so it is most unwise."
"Of course not sir," The Bith commander said backing down immediately.
"Get out," Fett ordered. The Bith commander and his troops were doing just that when Fett issued another command. "Have the prisoner sent appropriate clothing. I find her current state of undress, distasteful."
"At once sir," The Bith commander said before quickly leaving.
"Thank you," Katooni said hesitantly.
"Don't thank me I only did what I would for any fallen warrior." Fett said laying back down. "Be warned attempt escape my good will may evaporate."
"Noted," Katooni said watching Fett intently. Knowing if she tried to flee things in her current state things would likely only get worse. Deciding to bide her time Katooni drifted off into an uneasy sleep.
Hidden Rebel Base three days later
"Siri this won't help matters." Obi-wan warned.
"I don't care Obi-wan she's our daughter." Siri said packing a travel bag. "I can't stand by while she could be in mortal danger."
"Katooni is a resourceful young woman, she'll be fine." Obi-wan said. "Trust in the will of the Force my dear."
"I wish I had your faith Obi-wan. I truly do." Siri said.
"Where she needs to be young Katooni is, foreseen so I have. Moving quickly now events are," Yoda said hobbling into Obi-wan and Siri's quarters. "Correct Obi-wan be trust in the Force we must."
"Master Yoda I, I, I love Katooni as if she were my own biological child. What if your impressions are wrong?" Siri said stopping her packing.
"Trust in the Force we must." Yoda reiterated. "Play important roles we all are. Allow young Katooni to play her role we should. See her again soon we shall, certain I am."
"Besides we have no idea where the Imperials have taken her." Obi-wan said.
"Yes we do." Lando said appearing with Leia, Han and Chewbacca. "I've done a lot of digging. Called in pretty much every favor I had left in the Empire. Katooni is being sent to the new super space station near Despayre."
"Intriguing coincidence," Obi-wan said stroking his greying beard. The unidentified super space station near Despayre, mentioned in the mysterious colossal expenditure reports Luke and Mara had retrieved from Muunilinst last month, was precisely where their next scheduled reconnaissance mission would be taking them.
"The will of the Force this truly be." Yoda said. "Closing the circle of destiny is."
"Thank you Lando." Siri said hugging the gambler.
"Shucks ma'am it was nothing." Lando said slightly embarrassed. "Besides I like Katooni she has a lot of spunk. I'd hate to see her get hurt." Having released her grip on Lando Siri started crying.
"We won't let anything happen to Katooni, right Han, Chewie?" Leia said.
"Right," Han said with conviction Chewie voiced his agreement. "Her safety is guaranteed."
Elsewhere Mara and Luke spared in an empty chamber hewed from the former mining asteroid the Jedi had adapted for training. Luke's Djem So clashed with Mara's Vaapad. Twin whirling cyclones of green and purple ricocheted off each other. Luke's surrogate sister and youngest member of the Jedi clan five year old daughter of Obi-wan and Siri Rainah clapped at the unfolding spectacle while the largest of her droid guardians fretted.
"How violent, cover your eyes young mistress Rainah." C-3PO said. R2-D2 beeped noisily. "R2 I'm not being an old fuss bucket. Furthermore I resent your allegation."
"Let me see 3PO." Rainah whined ducking her head away from C-3PO's hands.
"Good match," Mara said pulling Luke up from the ground where her last flurry had sent him.
"You win, this time." Luke grinned.
"We're even by my count Skyboy." Mara grinned.
"How's your leg?" Luke said he and Mara deactivating their lightsabers.
"Better, still sore," Mara said.
"Maybe you should sit this one out Red." Luke said concerned. "Stay back with the munchkin and droids."
"Hey," Rainah said.
"No way I'm sitting on the sidelines while you put yourself in danger." Mara said.
"You all must go, even the child and the droids." Said a masculine voice as the chamber filled with eerie blue and red light.
"Qui-Gon Jinn," Luke whispered recognizing the blue hued phantom right away.
"Like in our shared dream," Mara added in shock.
"He's right." The red hued phantom of Darth Zannah said. "A watershed moment approaches."
"Wait I'll get the others." Luke offered.
"There is no time." Qui-Gon Jinn said. "Tell them what we have said."
"The beginning of the end has arrived." Darth Zannah said.
"The Force cries out in pain. Balance must soon be restored or forever be lost." Qui-Gon Jinn said.
"Passion does not directly equal evil. True evil, unrestrained destructiveness, requires the purpose of malice." Darth Zannah said.
"Remember redemption is always possible, it is never too late to change one's path. Hope is the most precious of and thus most powerful of all impulses." Qui-Gon Jinn said.
"Not all emotions are destructive. Pure, unselfish love can give one power beyond measure in certain instances power enough to change the future." Darth Zannah. "We and the others will be watching." Quickly as they appeared Darth Zannah and Qui-Gon Jinn blinked out of existence.
"What others," Luke called out but it was too late.
"Now what do we do Skyboy?" Mara asked.
"We tell the others I guess." Luke shrugged.
To Be Continued