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 and the writing of her scenes.
Star Wars AU The Triumph of Darth Plagueis: Episode Thirty-Eight – A New Hope Part One: Into the Dragon's Den Part III of III
By
Celgress
0 BBY
Yavin Four, night
On the lush, green surface of Yavin Four a small group stood around Yoda's funerary pyre. Each member of the New Jedi Order, except young Rainah who hung back with R2-D2, C-3PO, Han, Chewie and a surprisingly somber Lando Calrissian, solemnly lit a section of the pyre with their torch. As the most senior remaining Jedi it was Obi-wan's duty to preside over Yoda's memorial service. Watching the flames lick hungrily at Yoda's shrouded corpse Obi-wan's mind drifted back more than thirty to his beloved master Qui-Gon Jinn's own Jedi farewell ceremony on Naboo. In turn he then recalled his master's dying wish before being slain by Darth Maul, that he look after and train young Anakin Skywalker in ways of the Jedi. He'd failed in his promise that much had been clear for nineteen years now. Not only had his first padawan fallen to the Dark Side but also his padawan's own padawan. If it were possible Obi-wan would vow never to assist in the instructor of another student, however the diminished number of Jedi granted him no such luxury.
An hour later Obi-wan, Siri and the other adult Jedi along with Boba Fett out of his armor and the Chiss force sensitive Sev'rance Tann sat at a large circular table. Boba Fett was being rather protective of Katooni, who was slowly recovering from her ordeal on the Death Star, sitting close as physically possible to her. Observing them carefully Obi-wan was unsure how he felt about the former Sith assassin's relationship with his surrogate daughter and second padawan.
"First piece of business our Order requires a new Grandmaster following the unexpected passing of former Grandmaster Yoda." Siri said from her position beside Obi-wan her voice low, reverent.
"I nominate father. Um I mean Obi-wan." Leia said excitedly raising her hand. She had barely waited for Siri to finish speaking.
"I second Leia's nomination." Mara said raising her own hand.
"Wait," Obi-wan said cutting off Luke and Katooni's incoming agreement. "I must respectfully decline."
"Why," Leia asked clearly disappointed by Obi-wan's decision.
"Your mother would be a much better choice. There are certain things, factors in my past which preclude my effectively leading our Order."
"Vader and Cyrin," Katooni said knowingly.
"Yes," Obi-wan said. "I was Vader's direct instructor as he was later Cyrin's. My teachings doomed Vader. A doom he passed onto Cyrin. I cannot chance a reoccurrence."
"What about us, we're all fine." Mara pointed out glancing at Katooni, Luke & Leia.
"True," Luke said.
"Maybe so, but you had other influences such as Siri and Yoda." Obi-wan pointed out.
"May I speak?" Sev'rance Tann asked.
"Go ahead," Siri said.
"No one is responsible for another's fall to the Dark Side. Vader and Cyrin joined of their own accord. I did likewise when I sought out Dooku's tutelage during the Clone Wars, which I soon regretted." The female Chiss said.
"May I speak?" Bobs Fett asked following Sev'rance Tann's lead.
"By all means do," Obi-wan said.
"Darkness is inside everyone and so is light. We each must choose which we will follow. Sometimes a single spark can penetrate the deepest night." Boba Fett said gently squeezing Katooni's hand. "What happened to Vader and Cyrin was their doing and that of Plagueis. I doubt anyone could have prevented it."
"Perhaps," Obi-wan conceded. "But dare we, dare I take that chance?"
"We'll take that chance together." Siri said reassuringly making eye contact with her husband.
"It would seem I have been outvoted." Obi-wan half-heartedly sighed. "Very well I humbly accept your nomination of leadership but only if Siri is my second in command." Everyone readily voiced their assent.
"Next order of business skilled force users Sev'rance Tann and Boba Fett seek membership in our Order. Are there any objections?" Siri said. With none forthcoming the New Jedi Order grew by two members.
"Sev'rance Tann we grant you the level of Jedi Master and you Boba Fett the level of Jedi Knight. A word of caution," Obi-wan said after surveying two pads that continue bois & stats on each applicant and before the meeting formally adjourned. "Boba Fett, Sev'rance Tann please be mindful of how you each henceforth use the Dark Side of the Force. While passion is allowed within our Order outright cruelty is not. I hope I've made myself clear on this point?" Boba Fett and Sev'rance Tann nodded. "Good, meeting dismissed."
Siri met Obi-wan's gaze once the others had departed and they were alone. "We need to discuss what Rainah did following Yoda's death on the Death Star."
"I was afraid you'd say that." Obi-wan said genuinely dreading this conversation since arriving on Yavin Four earlier that day. "Perhaps it was merely a onetime occurrence dear. I'm fairly certain it is nothing we should be overly concerned with."
"Obi-wan our daughter's eyes were yellow, yellow. You know what that signifies, don't deny it." Siri said.
"Rainah's five years old and saw a being who was akin to a grandfather brutally killed in front of her Siri. Her eyes turning yellow don't signify anything." Obi-wan said not wishing to confront how serious the situation truly was.
"Ah but they do for there is more to it than either of you are aware," stated Darth Zannah as her red glow enveloped the area.
Obi-Wan sighed deeply before asking "What is it you find so interesting about our family? Why can't you leave us alone Sith shade? Haven't we suffered enough without your constant, intervention?"
Ignoring Obi-wan's cross words Zannah strode towards them before stopping directly between the seated couple. "Discover your true heritage my child, know thyself, learn the truth which has remained hidden far too long." she whispered soothingly in Siri's ear. "Fear not the truth my child. Through the truth your shackles are broken."
Siri's eyes briefly glazed over. Coming out of whatever trance she'd been in Siri shook her head several times as if trying to fight off a terrifying vision. Winching in pain Siri uttered one word which greatly troubled her husband, "No."
"Yes, you now know what I am to you," the Dark Lady said to the conflicted female Jedi Master. "Now I want to hear you say it out loud."
"Leave," Obi-wan shouted losing his temper. "You're hurting her!"
"Patience Jedi, all shall soon be revealed." Zannah said holding up a hand. "Tell him Siri let your husband know the truth of us."
Siri struggled to form the words before saying in a shuddered breathe, "Family."
"Very good," replied Zannah, "You no longer deny your heritage."
"Heritage, preposterous," Obi-Wan scoffed getting out of his seat and pulling Siri up with him.
"Dare not mock me Jedi I am Siri's ancestor, and therefore Rainah's too.
"If it is truth, how did you hide something like that?" asked Kenobi.
"The Sith were able to hide from the Jedi for close to a thousand years and you only found out because Plagueis wanted you to know," explained Zannah, "I thinks it's fair to say that I am more than capable of keeping a few secrets from both the Jedi and the Sith." Zannah continued. "When I slew Darth Bane I was already pregnant with his seed, although neither of us knew so at the time. Fearful that any rival dark side users or future apprentice I might take would kill our offspring, who proved exceptionally strong in the Force, I hid the child a son where no dark side adept would dare seek him amongst the Jedi. In spite of becoming a legendary Jedi Master I made certain my son secretly passed on his genes, as I have done which each successive member of my line. I have thus watched over my descendants for close to a millennium and shall continue to do so until the end of time."
"I will never let you train my five year daughter as a Sith, family relationship or not." Obi-wan said walking towards the door pulling Siri along behind him.
"She speaks the truth Obi-wan." A familiar voice said as a blue light appeared condensing into a humanoid form in front of Obi-wan.
"Master Qui-Gon, is it really you?" Obi-wan said at the smiling, bearded phantom.
"It is, I have returned." Qui-Gon Jinn said warmly. "I sincerely wish there was another choice but alas there is none my old padawan. If young Rainah is to reach her full potential in the Force she must be instructed in the way of passion, of the Sith. Instruction neither you nor Siri can provide her."
"I can't believe what I'm hearing." Obi-wan said. "Master how can I allow such a thing after what happened to Anakin and Ahsoka?"
"Plagueis turned Anakin and Ahsoka into tools not true apprentices who would take assume the Sith Mantel upon his death." Zannah explained. "Plagueis' master Darth Tenebrous perverted everything Bane and I accomplished. Tenebrous' ultimate aim was not restoration of the Sith Order to at least parity with the Jedi Orderif not supremacy rather his mission, which became an obsession, was his own continued existence. Seeking immortality he sought of an acceptable vessel for his essence rather than a student. Furthermore Tenebrous broke the role of two taking on a secret apprentice as insurance in case Plagueis proved an unworthy vessel. Much Sith knowledge died with Tenebrous once Plagueis assassinated him, the chain of transmission was broken. Plagueis' stunted learning caused him to seek power through unnatural manipulation of the Force rather than harnessing it."
"Forty years ago Plagueis along with his first apprentice Darth Sidious, in the long truth the long deceased senator Palpatine of Naboo, conducted a forbidden ritual which tipped the Force out of balance and into their own favor." Qui-Gon Jinn said.
Suddenly something clicked in Obi-wan's mind. "The prophesy 'he who shall restore balance to the Force'."
"Actually that is misreading the proper reading is 'they who shall restore balance to the Force'." Qui-Gon Jinn said smiling. "Everyone involved in this has a vital part to play, for good or ill."
"But my daughter she is yet a babe in arms. Is there no other way master?" Obi-wan pleaded.
Qui-Gon Jinn shook his head sadly. "There is no other way. It is the will of the Force. We must obey it's dictates, all of us even me."
"You won't hurt her, or turn her into a raging dark side lunatic?" Siri said looking into Zannah face with damp eyes.
"Never," Zannah fiercely vowed.
"Very well, if there is no other way," Obi-wan said after he and Siri looked long and hard into each other's eyes.
"We consent." Siri said choking back tears.
"Others will soon come to your aid, both Jedi and Sith spirits including Grandmaster Yoda." Qui-Gon Jinn said he and Zannah slowly fading away. "We wish you luck Jedi masters Obi-wan and Siri evil times lie ahead, be strong. Remember when things appear bleakest there is always hope."
"Wait what 'evil times'?" Obi-wan called but the spirits had already departed. Zannah's final words rang in the Jedi's ears. – "Underestimate the guile of Darth Plagueis be swept into oblivion."
Darth Star, one standard solar week later
"My tech crews announce repairs have been completed. The hyperdrive complex is once again operational." Admiral Wilhuff Tarkin said smugly standing on the freshly restored Main Bridge. "Tell me Lord Vader is there anything else my people can do for you? Perhaps fix your entertainment units or food dispensers before we depart?"
With great difficulty Darth Vader restrained his desire to force choke the life out of Tarkin. Vader had never cared for Tarkin his unvanished arrogance grated on Vader's nerves. If only there was some way Vader could terminate Tarkin without Darth Plagueis learning Tarkin had died by Vader's actions. Even light years away, back at Imperial Center along with General Grievous and the other departed Sith, Plagueis' specter loomed large.
"No that will be all Admiral Tarkin." Vader said gritting his teeth behind his fearsome mask.
"Farewell Lord Vader, Lady Cyrin." Tarkin said giving a curt bow before leaving the bridge.
"You shouldn't let him get to you." Cyrin advised laying her mechanical hand on Vader's shoulder. "He wants a reaction."
"I know." Vader said turning around to face Cyrin taking her gloved hands in his own. "With you by my side anything is possible, regardless of Tarkin's or any others' manipulations."
"Uh Lord Vader, Lady Cyring I er hate to interrupt but…" An Imperial officer a female Rodian said nervously.
"What is it!?" Vader demanded whirling around. "Can't you see we are clearly busy!?"
"Uh yes sir, ah and ma'am however our intelligence has located the Rebel staging area. You both asked to be informed at once when it was founded, remember?" The Rodian squeaked obviously terrified of the cyborg Sith's possible reaction to her words.
"Where is it?" Cyrin asked forcefully.
"Yavin Four ma'am," The Rodian informed them.
"Excellent," Vader said his hands clenching into fists. "Set course for the Yavin system immediately. Once in range of Yavin Four I believe a demonstration of our super laser is in order. Don't you agree Cyrin?"
"I most defiantly do." Cyrin said her electronically enhanced voiced lacked with malice.
"What are you waiting for officer?" Vader snapped at the petrified Rodian. "Carry out my order at once!"
"Yes sir, right away sir." The Rodian said scrambling away.
"At last we can personally end this insignificant rebellion." Vader said.
"Once we do we'll be one step close to our restoration." Cyrin said joyously.
Yavin Four, several hours later
"Our latest intelligence report indicates the Death Star battle station is once more fully funcational and is currently on it's way here, eta is 0600 hours tomorrow." General Ackbar, one of the few Mon Calamaris who had survived the brutal Imperial rape of his home world, said to the assembled Rebel meeting. "Luckily examination by our engineering experts of plans secured by our brave Jedi knights has uncovered a fundamental structural weakness in the Death Star's super structure." A large three dimensional hologram of the Death Star appeared next to Ackbar who carefully pointed out a thermal vent. "The shaft of this thermal exhaust vent leads directly to the Battle Station's reactor complex. If we could drop a single or better yet a series of proton torpedoes down it our analysis shows it would trigger a chain reaction which should destroy the entire Death Star in under one standard solar minute."
"You heard General Ackbar folks." General Dodonna, a human commander, said standing next to Ackbar and Mitth'raw'nuruodo or "Thrawn" as he was known to most sentient entities. "We'll need three squadrons of X-Wing fighters. This mission is strictly volunteer only, signup sheets will be passed around at the conclusion of this conference. We depart at 0400 hours tomorrow."
"My remaining battle ships will escort the fighters to their target and provide cover fire as needed." Thrawn said.
"This is an important nay a vital mission people. We must destroy this battle station before it can be used by the Empire to crush all resistance." Dodonna said. "We need everybody who can fly an X-Wing out there tomorrow morning."
Near Yavin System, 0550 hours
"Remind me why we're out here again?" Leia said over her com unit piloting her X-Wing towards the approaching Death Star.
"Because running through that trench and hitting a tiny exhausted port is best left to Jedi." Mara said playfully over her com.
"Here it comes, stay sharp everyone." Sev'rance Tann said over her com.
"I wish Katooni and Fett were here." Luke said over his com.
"So do I Shy Boy, but Katooni is in no condition yet for a stressful mission like this." Mara said.
Space in front of the three X-Wing squadrons shimmer and out popped the Death Star. Almost instantly the massive structure opened fired. Thrawn's fleet then fell out of hyperspace behind the fighters tearing into the Death Star.
"Its' now or never," Han Solo said from the Millennium Falcon containing himself, Chewie and Lando.
Death Star
"We've been ambushed by a Rebel fleet, including three squads of X-Wings." The Rodian officer informed Vader & Cyrin.
"Deploy buzz droids against the nearest X-Wings, and scramble TIE fighters to intercept the remainder." Vader commanded. "Cyrin you are with me. Lieutenant you have the bridge until our return." Vader said to the Rodian.
"Yes sir, I'll make you both proud." The Rodian said assuming command.
"See that you do, or else." Cyrin said. The Rodian chattered noisily before calming herself.
Space
"What in Sith Hell," Luke asked over his com as his neighboring X-Wing was stripped apart by a swarm of metallic spiders.
"Great, they've got buzz droids," Sev'rance Tann grumbled over her com. "Take evasive action, don't let the buzz droids make contact with your hulls they are deadly little buggers not to mention fast."
In spite of Sev'rance Tann's warning over one third of the X-Wings were taken apart by the swarms of buzz droids in under five minutes. Next came dozens of TIE fighters. Another third of the X-Wings were eliminated. Two TIE fighters with oddly shaped wings were doing most of the killing. Whoever was piloting those crafts were excellent dogfighters.
"Trench sighted dead ahead," Mara said over her com. Leia winched wishing Mara hadn't used the word "dead."
Leia, Mara and Luke with Luke in the lead were chased through the trench by the two misshapen TIE Fighters. "Someone get these two off our tails." Mara, who was bringing up the rear, said concern creeping into her typically brave voice.
"We've got them." Sev'rance Tann said she and several other X-Wings firing lasers into the two TIE fighters' rears, doing minor damage.
His target looming ahead Luke dropped a torpedo down the shaft then pulled up and away followed by Leia and Mara doing the same for good measure. All other fighters along with the large fleet of ships followed suite. Less than thirty seconds later the Death Star exploded with all hands lost, except the TIE fighter pilots including Vader and Cyrin in their oddly winged vessels. Realizing they were now outnumbered the Imperials performed a coordinated jump into hyperspace upon Vader's direct order.
Yavin Four, the following day
Everyone involved in the daring mission that resulted in the Death Star's destruction was honored at an elaborate awards ceremony presided over by the trio of ecstatic generals; Thrawn, Ackbar and Dodonna. The Jedi whose skills had proven vital were singled out for special honors. In this jubilant atmosphere none save Obi-wan and Siri suspected what terrible trials loomed ahead.
Imperial Center
"Gone, how can my Death Star simply be gone?" Darth Plagueis questioned the kneeling miniature holograms of Vader and Cyrin.
"I freely admit it's loss was, unexpected my master." Vader said picking his words with extreme caution.
"There was no way we could have foreseen such an implausible turn of events master." Cyrin said in her and Vader's defense.
"Away with you, I must think." Plagueis said deactivating his holographic projection unit. Rising off his throne Plagueis called to General Grievous who had stood off in the shadows stoically watching. "I want these Rebels hunted down and exterminated General."
"Thy will be done master." Grievous said with a bow at his waist. "I assume I should start with the cell near Yavin?"
"I don't care." Plagueis said waving one of his long hands dismissively.
"I don't understand." Grievous said confessed confused by Plagueis' comment.
"I want the Rebels purge all of them scattered throughout my Empire gone. Eradicate every last one of them General wherever they may be, leave no stone unturned in your search. These ungrateful, vile traitors must be stamped out if our glorious Order is to survive and prosper." Plagueis ordered,
"What of the Chiss Ascendancy involvement with our Rebels master?" Grievous asked.
"Worry not General they will pay dearly for their part in this outrage perpetrated against us, in time. Implement my orders end this infuriating rebellion by any means necessary. Be as brutal as you like General." Plagueis said leaving the throne room.
"At once master," Grievous said. If he could still smile he would have. Grievous enjoyed few things more than war slaughter however was one of his other pursuits. Feeling happier than he had in decades Grievous practically danced out of the throne room.
To Be Continued