Fate of the Force

by lordtrayus

The death of Jacen Solo and the last war was a disaster. A new force has undone what happened in LotF and given the galaxy a fighting chance against a great evil. By doing so however, the galaxy becomes even more perilous than it was before as the rising power of the dark side and the Sith threatens to snuff out the light of the Jedi, and of the galaxy once and for all...AU

17. Episode II: Chapter 11

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars

Fate of the Force

She threw herself into an alleyway to avoid the latest item he had hurled against her in her continuing attempts to try and capture the latest young Jedi affected by the Force psychosis. Cilghal had been carrying out a simply routine examination of Avinoam Arelis when he too had flipped out, stabbing Cilghal with her own syringe and trapping poor Tekli in a medical closet. Seeing this, Klin-Fa Gi had attempted to stop him, however, by firing a jet of Force lightning at her, which she had been totally unprepared for, he had managed to elude her, resulting in this chase through Coruscant.

"You won't take me back to your master, I'll find them, I'll find all of them!" Avinoam yelled, springing up to the walkway above and making another dash for it.

"Why must people I chase always make this difficult?" she hissed, leaping up and catching sight of Avinoam at the end of the concourse and throwing herself after him.

"Klin-Fa, it's Tekli. I have Master Cilghal stabilised, Nelani let me out of the closet. One of our trackers was still on him when he left the medical ward." She reported, and Klin-Fa dodged around a family of Ithorians, refusing to lose sight of her quarry.

"An actual tracking device?" she asked, catching up with Avinoam as he looked around, terrified, for his next move.

"No, a monitor to take his blood pressure and electrolyte levels. His heart rate is considerably increased over all the other victims, and his blood pressure is approaching dangerous levels, he's angry and terrified, which is never a good combination." She warned, and Klin-Fa nodded.

"Never a good combination. Keep in touch." She said, and the wild, black haired Jedi, having tired of this game, used the Force to increase her speed, darting through the crowds despite their noises of indignation and finally caught up to Avinoam, who was standing in the middle of a junction looking petrified.

"Avinoam, calm down. I'll take you back to the temple and we can make you better." She said.

Well they couldn't make him better but at least he wouldn't be able to hurt anyone by accident.

Avinoam turned to look at her in terror, his hand dropping to his lightsaber and she tensed up, fearful of what he would do next.

"How did you do it? Where is everyone? I can hear them all calling me but I can't see them, you're all copies! What are you?" he demanded, and she sighed.

"A friend. Please, calm down and come with me." She said, aware that she was attracting a lot of stares she could seriously do without.

"No, you're all wrong. I won't do it." He said skittishly, and she raised her hand to the people who were approaching from either side to try and help, keeping them at bay.

"Avinoam, you're not well. Please, come with me." She said, but his mind, driven mad and warped by fear, meant that her words were meaningless.

"Never copy! You're trying to keep me from them! Where are they? I'll kill you!" he yelled, lighting his aqua coloured lightsaber and leaping towards her.

In a single movement, Klin-Fa had withdrawn both her golden lightsaber and her yellow shoto, blocking his mad attack and forcing him backwards. Avinoam gave a grunt and came at her again, but all she did was block his attack once more. Their battle continued, Avinoam, increasingly crazy and desperate, slamming at her defences and with her simply fending them off, trying to get through to him with her words and her mind.

"Avinoam, reach into the Force, I'm trying to help you, please, stop this." She said, though she was beginning to suspect her efforts were futile.

"No, I won't! You're all in this together, I'll stop you!" he said, coming at her once again and this time she attacked back, her two shining blades unleashing a swirling sunlight tapestry of light that pushed him back to where he had begun. She then blocked a final swing and nicked his hand, making him drop his lightsaber with a yell, and she pointed both blades at his neck.

"Now, stay this madness! We'll get you right back to the temple, back to safety." She said, barely registering Tekli as she reported that she had sent a speeder to her location.

Avinoam grinned.

"I don't think so, I won't be taken by you. And if I'm going down, I'll take all of you with me!" he snarled, and Klin-Fa just raised her hands to Force push people out of the vicinity when he exploded.

Released Force energy blasted across the area, making people scream with horror and fright as Avinoam, having gathered all the power within himself, used it to detonate his body in a swirling nexus of energy. Klin-Fa was sent flying backwards, crashing heavily into the wall of the concourse as the Force explosion receded back into a swirl of energy before vanishing completely.

She sat up, dazed from the explosion. As far as she knew, no one had ever committed suicide in such a way with the Force before. Screams were echoing in her ears as she tried to clear her senses, and she forced herself to look at the black mark where Avinoam had once been before, in an attempt to take out as many copies as possible, he had blown himself up. Force powered suicide bombers was the last thing anyone needed.

She could barely hear Tekli urgently squeaking in her ear to find out what had happened and as her mind cleared and the impact of her failure hit her, she felt something else weigh her down. Clearing her senses, she heard the forlorn cries of others and looked around, and finally truly saw what had happened.

His explosion may have incinerated his body, but the powerful shockwave had caused more damage. As she looked around, she heard the cries of despair, as the three bodies, either killed by the blast or by their heavy landing were surrounded by the families they had just left behind.

"I failed..." Klin-Fa whispered in shock, sagging to her knees in defeat as Tekli pressed her for details.

And as the police sirens sounded, she was sure she heard a wicked and unnatural laugh unlike any she had ever heard before echoing across the Force.

XX

The Senate was in an uproar, and Releqy's head was seriously killing her as the emergency session entered its fourth hour, and it seemed that there was still no end in sight. This entire thing was just turning into one major headache.

"This attack simply proves what I have always said, the Jedi cannot be relied upon to protect the Alliance. Today, a great tragedy has marked Coruscant in which a young Jedi decided to commit suicide, which is tragic enough, however it was made all the more tragic by the deaths of three innocent civilians in the process! And do you know what the worst part is my friends? A fellow Jedi had him at her mercy and she did nothing and simply allowed him to do what he did! I must question not only the Jedi's ability, but also their desire to protect the Alliance if they allow their own to take their lives and the lives of others without any attempt to stop them!" Senator Haydnat Treen, the Senator from Kuat proclaimed, to wide applause from the rest of the Senators in her usual faction, and a good number in the faction that supported Releqy too, to her great dismay.

"As I have already said Senator, the accident down in Coco Town was a tragic accident! The Force psychosis that has been affecting these young Jedi gripped Jedi Arelis and in his paranoia he committed suicide rather than allow himself to be taken by those he thought would hurt him. As I understand from our commissioner of police, Tan Divo, who has assigned his best prefect, Lon Shevu to the case, there was nothing Jedi Ga could have done. She thought she had beaten Jedi Arelis and was just as surprised as anyone when he killed himself, and if it hadn't been for her quick thinking a lot more could have been killed." Releqy responded, and Fost Bramsin, the Senator for Coruscant and occasional ally of both Treen and Releqy, depending on his mood and what he'd had for breakfast that day, entered the fray.

"A young Jedi affected by a Force illness who has now killed himself and endangered the lives of the citizens we have been elected to protect on our capital world? Why was he not under quarantine, why have we not sealed the temple in an effort to stop this Force 'madness' before it escalates any further? You may have hidden the actions of Jedi Natua Wan and Sothais Saar well, but one within our esteemed company was nearly killed when Jedi Minker went insane too." And Releqy cursed and leaned down to whisper to Wynn.

"How the hell did he find that out?" she asked as she waxed lyrical, knowing she had a minute before he came back to the point.

"I've no idea Chief Ak'la, but I'll set up an inquiry to find out. Mind you, with the number of people who saw them, it was always going to be difficult to hide, especially when your office was affected." He whispered and she turned back just in time to hear the tail end, and one of the most important bits, of Bramsin's speech.

"The Jedi must act now, or we must act for them before any more lives are lost? Must we not Senator Wuul?" Bramsin declared, turning to the Sullustan who got to his podium.

Inwardly, Releqy was cursing. Bramsin was apparently on Treen's side today. She had thought she had gotten away with Natua and Soathais' mental breaks but apparently not. And now, with his little tirade he had now roped Senator Wuul into the mess, and had basically manipulated him into a position where he would need to stand against the one he usually supported in the Senate, which was Releqy. Damn that man.

"The Jedi assure me they have the situation well in hand Senator Bramsin. As you know I have a close friendship with Master Katarn of the Council, and he has told me they are taking all necessary steps to cure these poor young Jedi before the crisis further escalates." He rebutted elegantly, and Nav Ekhat of Murkhana, one of the few who actually voted with the facts rather than the factions, looked questioningly at Wuul.

"Well in hand? Senator, a Jedi suicide bomber, for let's be realistic that's what he was, has just killed three innocent people and could potentially have killed many more, and you think the Jedi have the situation well in hand?" he asked incredulously, and Releqy resisted the urge to groan.

"The Jedi and the Chief of State are meeting this afternoon in order to discuss further actions that we may take to try to end this plague affecting the Jedi." Wynn said, from his seat beside Releqy, which seemed to make Ekhat retreat slightly.

"That is only a stop gap solution though is it not? Sadly we still do not know the real cause of this illness among the Jedi." Nab H'aas, the Bith Senator who was part of Releqy's faction, stated sadly.

"And yet we continue to allow them into places they should not be!" Treen claimed, to much applause, once again receiving some from Releqy's faction.

"Such as Senator?" Releqy asked coolly, and Treen smiled.

"We entrust the Jedi to enforce our will, to protect our citizens. We give them dangerous missions, diplomatic missions...I can only imagine what might happen should we follow your most recent suggestion that we send the Jedi to help the liberated slave worlds transition into the Alliance. What if an episode struck them then? It could destabilise the entire process." She said, and Releqy had a bad feeling Treen was getting to where she had been aiming all day.

"The Jedi assure me..." Releqy began, but she was cut off by Zalk't, the Vratix Senator for Thyferra, cutting across her.

"The Jedi assure you? Surely not, since Master Skywalker seems to have vanished, he is the Grand Master is he not?" he asked, and she narrowed her eyes.

"Indeed he is, but the Council is leading perfectly well in his absence." She said, and he looked at her sceptically.

"Truly? As they did in the Swarm War while my planet was put to torch by the Killiks and their membrosia addicted co-conspirators?" he demanded, and Releqy had to admit, it was a good point, a dirty point, but a good one.

"As I was saying, the Council has the situation well in hand, and Master Solusar is keeping me informed of all developments." Releqy said coolly.

"The point still remains Chief Ak'la, that the Jedi, super powered beings who serve us only because they feel it is their duty to do so, are now posing an active threat to society. This plague could easily spread through the entire Order for all we know, and nothing is being done! I only speak out of concern for the Jedi," Treen said, which Ak'a highly doubted, "I would not wish to have to fight an insane Jedi Order. After all, I remember the night of Operation Knightfall, and Flame Night, Senator Danu and I watched the entire thing when I was his assistant, and I have no wish to see a repeat of such an occurrence, but if the Jedi take up arms against us, as today's victim did, whether it be willingly or not, then we will need to act in order to protect our citizens."

"What are you suggesting Senator Treen?" Moog Ulur, the Senator for Rodia asked, a tinge of excitement in his voice, and Releqy exchanged a dark look with Wynn, whatever she had been after she had been building up to this moment for the entire session, hence why her supporters were now looking so damn smug.

"It is clear that Chief Ak'la will not listen to the wishes of the majority of the Senate," she said, with a condescending smile in Releqy's direction, making the Caamasi narrow her eyes angrily, "and will push ahead with her desire to involve the Jedi in the widening conflict with the pirates, conflict resolution, the rumours of the return of the Yuuzhan Vong and the overseeing of the new planets accession to the Alliance. A courageous decision Chief Ak'la. But if that is your wish, I propose a new policy.

I propose that the Jedi be treated as potentially dangerous. As a result of this action, Jedi out in the field representing the interests of the Alliance must now be accompanied by an impartial observer, a security detail and a trained psychologist. After all, we never know when this psychosis of theirs will strike and we cannot allow them to jeopardise the Alliance in any way. Furthermore, I propose that the Jedi be forced to adopt an open door policy, allowing impartial Alliance observers into their temple to observe their actions and security measures, with the aim of reporting back to the public to make them well informed of their movements which at times can be seen as very dubious and not entirely in our best interests. These observers of life within the temple will highlight any potential trouble spots and allow us to adjust accordingly. In addition, I move that the Jedi Council be forced to report to a select committee, who will approve or disapprove of any mission or task they may choose to undertake, and they will report directly to said committee on all matters. Finally, I also move that every Jedi be assigned an impartial observer, regardless if they are on a mission or not, to expand public awareness and governmental awareness of those we entrust our safety to." Treen concluded with a flourish, and for a second the entire chamber was silent.

And then the cheers and applause from Treen's faction started. Releqy was stunned, what she was proposing would basically make her what Palpatine had been in the final days of the Old Republic, the ultimate authority over the Jedi. She was trying to enslave the Jedi to the will of the Alliance, and judging by the looks of the crowd, there was a good chance she might be able to pass it.

Senators on her side such as Triebakk were on their feet, yelling abuse across the room as Releqy rolled her eyes, and Wynn seized the initiative, slamming his hammer several times to restore order.

"Thank you for that novel approach to the problem Senator Treen. However, as we have other matters to discuss, I suggest we move the vote on your rather controversial new measures to the end of the session." Relequ said and the Senator from Kuat bowed her head, the old woman grinning maliciously, but the Caamasi refused to be cowed and simply looked right back at her, her expression stony.

"Indeed we should. And firstly we must examine the accession of new worlds to the Alliance. While it is wonderful that slavery is now on its way out, it is causing us more problems than it is solving. We are overstretched, as our recent loss of Mygeeto has shown," Senator Charr of Corellia said, indicating the now empty platform which had once belonged to the Mygeetan Senator, "and our diplomatic department cannot cope. And, as said in our last discussion, due to the lack of diplomats and civil servants Chief Ak'la now wishes to use Jedi, who's problems of late are common knowledge, to help bring the newly liberated worlds into the Alliance. Would it not be advisable to scale back the new admissions? Our economy is in a crisis, our forces are stretched very thin, civil wars are springing up all over the galaxy and we simply don't have the manpower to bring all these new planets into the Alliance, and to add to the chaos Chief Ak'la wishes to use the Jedi for this purpose? I put it to you Chief Ak'la that you are rushing on the new planets in order to draw attention from your other failings." He said rudely and outrage broke out among her supporters, and a few of Treen's looked less than impressed as well.

"Out of order!" Padnel Ovin yelled, and Wynn once more banged his gavel for silence.

"Order!" he yelled, calming down the bickering Senators.

Releqy glowered at Charr, who didn't look remotely abashed by his character assassination.

"As I'm sure I have informed you Senator Charr, the slaver Nazarn represents a very real threat to those worlds that formerly supported slavery. In order to protect the denizens of each of the new planets from the trepidations of the slavers, we have unfortunately had to accelerate our usual procedure for admissions. However, once upon a time, before this august body became weighed down in the swamp of bureaucracy, all that was required for membership was an earnest request, a democratic government and potential benefits for the Alliance. Think of the accession of new planets as a renaissance back to those simpler times Senator." Releqy boldly responded, to approving applause from around the room.

"Just one little point of order Chief Ak'la, you claim the quick accession of the new planets is to over them protection from the slaver Nazarn. Ignoring your illegal actions at Orvax," Bramsin said, and she knew full well that by mentioning Orvax he was making sure it wasn't ignored, "isn't it a rather needless exercise? After all, according to our information Nazarn is currently in one of the galactic arms, locked in a conflict with Admiral Daala is he not?"

"For the moment he is, but he could easily return, Admiral Daala is struggling to contain him. And while Nazarn may be the most powerful slaver in the galaxy, he is by no means the only one. What if other slave groups should follow the lead of the T'Surr and invade the planets that have overthrown slavery? The result could be disastrous." Releqy said, making the old man back down slightly.

"The main problem is that we're overstretched and I'm afraid Chief Ak'la you cannot deny that." Ta'laam Ranth, the Antarian Senator said in his slow doleful voice, and she had to admit, he was right about that at least.

"We are incredibly overstretched. The diplomatic department has never had to deal with this many accessions at once before, the civil service is paralysed and the banks are trying to repair the already damaged economy and have to keep factoring the influx of around thirty new worlds every day on the overall Alliance economy, not to mention Mygeeto leaving and the effects it could have if it starts something more. While I understand the desire for rapidity, the way the diplomatic department is going about it isn't helping, and we are running out of diplomatic teams to go to each planet to oversee the transition. The Jedi are also overstretched, and they aren't the only ones. The First Fleet is deployed throughout the Core to help keep the peace, the Second Fleet is on hand to assist Queen Mother Tenel Ka should the situation in Hapes escalate and that is currently tying up our entire fleet. The Third Fleet is currently keeping the pirates at bay, holding off a resurgent Vong threat and will also need to deal with the Mandalorians before too long. The Fourth Fleet is currently patrolling the Corellian sector to make sure they don't try to use the current chaos to act up again. The Fifth Fleet is assisting the now expanded Empire to defend itself against increasing Vong raids, while the Sixth Fleet is overseeing the sustenance of our infrastructure which has been taking several hits recently along with responding to the appeals of potential member planets. The Seventh Fleet is protecting the shipyards at Kuat, while the Eight protects Fondor and the Ninth protects Coruscant. Meanwhile the Tenth is maintaining the blockade around T'Surr. All of our forces are overstretched and we're incredibly thinly spread out across the galaxy, we are making ourselves vulnerable." Nensu Kaatik reported grimly, and Releqy sighed. Trust the Chagrian to know everything inside out.

They were spread out, and vulnerable, and they had enemies and crises and problems coming out of their ears. And it showed no signs of letting up, in fact it was only going to get worse before it got any better.

"Hence my request to the Jedi for additional support. However, Orvax is nearly complete and Ryloth has adapted so with any luck we might soon start to see a reprieve. Our military has the situation well in hand, and with the help of Admiral Pellaeon, we will hopefully soon have the Vong run to ground. So, it has been a long session, so if we could adjourn?" Releqy asked, hoping to get away with it, but Treen may be old but she wasn't stupid.

"What of my proposal Chief Ak'la?" she asked sweetly and the Caamasi seethed inside.

"Very well. Let us begin the votes." She said, and as they all clambered to find their voting tablets, Releqy leaned down to whisper to Wynn.

"Tell the Council I want to see them after this meeting. I'm going to have some bad news for them." She said grimly, then returned to administer the vote.

XX

The newshour was finished, another successful show had been done, and during it Perre had given three major reports. One was on the success of the anti slavery campaign, encouraging the actions of Freedom Flight and their associates as the various planets across the galaxy started to topple the establishment of slavery. Secondly he had led an interview on the impact the secession of Mygeeto could have on the Alliance and the Empire at large. And finally, he had focused on the situation of the Jedi, their changing role and the impact of the new laws that had only been announced an hour ago. All through it, Perre had never wavered, believing the Jedi were essential to a peaceful galaxy and praised them as heroes and valiant defenders of civilisation.

And now he sat on his red leather couch, enjoying a last drink before he left the darkened studio and went home. And it was then that the large Chevin became aware that he was not alone.

"Jorm?" he asked, but got no reply, and he was just about to call for security when a young woman appeared from the shadows, her eyes narrowed.

"Perre Needmo I presume?" she asked, and Perre nodded hesitantly, his eyes drawn to the lightsaber on her waist.

"Indeed. What can I do for you master Jedi?" he asked, and she smirked.

"What you can do for me is stop that nonsense you are reporting. Your praise of the Jedi. You see, it doesn't fit in with my superior's plans." She said, and he looked at her incredulously.

Was she some sort of rogue Jedi, out to damage the Order? He moved for his security buzzer, beside him on the couch but with a twitch of her hand she sent it flying away into the corner of the room and the large Chevin was beginning to get scared, his heart was racing as he attempted to get up, to try and force her away with his bulk.

But curiously he could not move.

"Don't try and go anywhere. The lies you spread must come to an end, ugly one. And the lies about the Jedi, they will be the first to go. But don't worry, we'll still give your viewers what they want, the truth. It'll just be our version of it." She purred, clenching her hand, and he began to feel his heart accelerate to dangerous levels.

This woman was no Jedi. And she intended to use his show, his name, to boost her own agenda and launch an anti-Jedi campaign. He had to do something, warn someone...but his heart was hammering too fast, he couldnt see straight, what was she doing to him?

"Goodbye Perre Needmo. And don't worry, once we take over the galaxy, we'll wipe out your entire disgusting species too." She vowed and his heart began to flatline, and with a quiet guttural sigh, Perre Needmo, celebrated journalist, died a quiet death.

Kayala Fei, a Sith Saber from the Lost Tribe, smiled as the ugly Chevin died. And with such a quiet little thing, the campaign against the Jedi had begun. Lord Vol would be pleased. Soon, using the popularity of the late Needmo, and the fact that the Tribe had bought many outlets of media, such as this news station, they would begin to direct their shadow war against the Jedi.

This was just the first step. Smiling, Kayala headed to inform her superiors. The war had begun.

XX

"I managed to block three of the four provisos she put in place, however I couldn't beat the last one. Any Jedi now out in the field representing Alliance interests must now be accompanied by a security detail and a psychologist, who will report back on their findings and if there are any concerns the Jedi will be taken in for further study by our analysts." Releqy explained in her office to the four Council members who had answered her summons.

"I'm sure you did your best Chief Ak'la. The problem is, Treen knows full well there are concerns about the Jedi within the Republic, and she's using our current problems with the psychosis as a spring board for her anti-Jedi sentiment." Tresina said darkly, sipping her brandy as she did so.

"What does she have against the Jedi anyway?" Kyp asked curiously and Wynn, standing behind Releqy, was the one who answered.

"At the moment, quite a lot. Sixty years ago she was one of their greatest supporters." He said, smiling humourlessly, and Tionne looked at him in confusion.

"That would have been around the time of the purge wouldn't it?" she asked, and Releqy nodded.

"That's exactly the point Master Solusar. Before the start of the Clone Wars, Kuat was wealthy yes. However, with the Jedi gone there was no one to curb vast military spending, and of course the Emperor placed the orders for all his Star Destroyers there, which of course made people like Treen very rich. Now of course the Jedi are back and act as a restraint upon the government, so she isn't making as much money and we aren't spending as much anyway because the Jedi help us to keep the peace, so there's no need for as large a war machine and hence no need for vast military spending, so she loses out." She explained and Kenth scowled.

"And now she's beginning to build up on anti-Jedi sentiment." He said, and Releqy nodded, her expression guarded.

"Indeed she is. Which is what worries me to be honest. She passed that law all too easily, and far too many people on my side supported the amendment when they ought not to have. The Jedi's popularity is waning, and forces are rising against you within the Senate. Be wary my friends." She warned, and Tionne nodded.

"We will be Chief Ak'la. Will this new law affect those already out in the field?" she asked, and Releqy shook her head.

"No, the law came into effect after their departure. Admiral Bwua'tu also informs me that the new law will not affect those on military missions, such as those assisting Admiral Limpan with the Vong and pirates, he cites security concerns, where we all know he just wants to screw over Treen." She said, and Kenth looked at her.

"And what of the Council, are we to be subject to this law?" he asked, and she fixed him with a cold glare.

"You're a Jedi are you not? So yes. I might not like the law but I will see it upheld. If you leave after tomorrow morning you will be subject to the same laws." She said, and he wisely went quiet.

"If I may Chief Ak'la what's to stop the Jedi just ignoring the order?" Wynn asked, and Releqy turned to face the Council beadily.

"Because I'm sure our friends here will uphold the law no matter what, even if they disagree. Isnt that right Master Solusar?" she asked and Tionne nodded.

"Yes Chief Ak'la, of course. Anything to keep the peace with Treen." She said and Releqy nodded.

"Good. You will of course send as many missions out as possible tonight?" she asked hopefully, and Tresina nodded.

"Obviously. I have a mission I must see to, and Kyle wishes to investigate something. What are the policies on personal trips?" she asked curiously and Releqy shrugged.

"They're unobserved for now, so Kyle ought to be fine even if he leaves in the morning. So, you lot will continue trying to defuse the civil wars appearing all over the place, coordinating the accession of the new planets to the Alliance and helping track down Collonzas. Correct?" she asked, and they nodded.

"Correct. And now Chief Ak'la, I must be off, so if you'll excuse me." Tresina said, and the others all rose too.

Releqy nodded.

"Quite right, escape while you can. Good luck on your mission Master Lobi. I will see you all later. Good night." She said, and with that the four Jedi turned to leave the office.

"Oh, one last thing, be wary of how you appear in public. Treen is getting her ammunition from the psychosis and general discontent in the public, the last thing we need is to give her more ammunition." She advised as the Jedi left.

"We still haven't told her." Tionne said quietly as they left her office.

"Master Skywalker told us not to, and it isn't an Alliance matter, it's a Jedi matter. We keep it to ourselves." Kenth hissed, but Tresina and Kyp didn't look so convinced.

"I don't know Kenth, I don't like keeping stuff from Chief Ak'la, she is on our side. And considering Treen seems to be out for our blood, we kind of need her to stay on side." Tresina reasoned, and Tione frowned.

"And what is more if she should find out we were keeping information from her, she may not help us. And even worse, if Treen finds out we were keeping information from her, it will give her a lot of firepower we could do without her having her hands on." She said, but Kenth shook his head.

"No, we will follow our instructions, we weren't to inform Chief Ak'la of our diminishing ability to use the Force, and that's that. Master Skywalker's orders were clear. In his absence we must run the Order as he wanted it run." He said firmly, and though they looked worried, Tionne and Tresina nodded reluctantly.

Behind them, Kyp scowled. He'd always argued that this was the problem with the Council, they didn't have the guts to do anything themselves. If Luke was away, by and large they preferred just to maintain the status quo. However, as recent events were showing, that often wasn't in their best interests. He could only hope that their decision to stick to the plan didn't bite them in the behind.

And to ensure that it didn't, perhaps he ought to have a chat with other Council members. Just to be safe.

XX

The world of Blaudu Sextus was the most recent world to have freed the slaves. The owners of the Octusi, who had them working down the mines and treated them fairly well, they just didn't respect galactic employment laws, had had virtually no choice. Freedom Flight agitators had inflamed the local population, causing complete havoc as the Octusi had stopped working until they were made free. Fearful of total economic collapse, their superiors had given in and now the Octusi were free to vote, were no longer constrained by their masters, and had a say and s voice in the government, despite only being semi-sentient. As soon as they were free they had requested that Blaudu Sextus join the Alliance, which is what had brought the Parabola, a Zebulon frigate from the Sixth Fleet to the orbit of the planet. Madhi looked up as the ship passed over the sun, a tiny but noticeable speck as it circled over the capital once again, while their agent on the ground, a Jedi no less, negotiated their entry into the Alliance.

"Madhi?" Shohta asked, and she frowned.

"It's nothing Shohta, just wondering what the hell is going on in the heads of the Alliance military. You realise the entire Sixth Fleet is spread out across the galaxy, making first contact with the planets that now want to join the Alliance?" she asked and he nodded.

"Yeah, it doesn't make sense to me either. But now this is the thirty seventh world that's had a major change of policy in regards to slavery in the past month, I reckon we're winning the war, slowly but surely." He said, and while she smiled, she wasn't quite so convinced.

They had made great progress, that was for sure, there certainly no denying that slavery was beginning a long, drawn out and economically painful death, at least to those who were the masters. To the slavers, it was beginning a death they had sought all their lives, and the start of a new life where they could be free and start anew. And progress had certainly been made. Ryloth, Orvax (the political backlash in the Senate aside), Malastare, Vinsoth, Tatooine, Klatooine, Qaras, and now Blaudu Sextus, they were all very well and good. Freedom Flight was continuing its actions, and it seemed like Xilxash was the next planet to begin a slave revolt, as all of the slave owners were very rapidly abandoning the planet in light of an increasingly violent and incensed slave class. They had made amazing progress. Indeed, planets such as B'Nish and Herdessa also seemed to be moving to a new, fairer society where oppression would be ended.

But there were still major problems in the campaign against slavery. Slaving hubs such as Thalassia, Pavilion and Ereesus still existed, and, though very sporadically, in the core itself, Kidiet Olgo being the prime example. The Thalassians, T'Surr and Zygerrians were prime examples of culture's whose entire existence was based around slavery and they would endure as long as possible.

But the largest problems were the two main forces of slavery in the galaxy. Slavers, a horrible breed by nature, wouldn't stop until they had no place left to sell and even then they would still try and struggle on. The Corporate Sector, lawless Outer Rim planets and of course Hutt Space were all still profitable markets, despite the embargo upon Alliance/Imperial/Hapan trading in Hutt space. Slavery had also recently taken on a champion in the form of Nazarn, and it had reached the ears of the wider galaxy that he was still fighting for slavery in the galactic arms, despite interference from Admiral Daala.

The biggest problem however remained the Hutts. While they persisted with slavery, there would never be a true victory. The Treaty of Vontor, though collapsing, still held many species in thrall to the Hutts, though the Klatoonians were beginning to protest all over Hutt space, actively fighting their masters and starting rebel movements. Planets in Hutt space were beginning to question their masters, and the seeds were being sown, albeit very slowly. But Freedom Flight and the Klatoonian resistance was struggling, and they were getting nowhere fast. And slavery remained implacable in Hutt space. And until the practice was ended in its homeland, there could be no eradicating it across the galaxy.

Madhi had tried to help, and had made her report, earning her the highest viewings the channel had ever seen and earning her a nomination for a Pulsar Prize. But there was still little progress.

As Madhi and Shohta continued to think on slavery, inside the capital building a dozen or so feet away, Barratk'l, the Jedi assigned to direct Blaudu Sextus' entry into the Alliance, suppressed a groan. This mission was seriously trying her patience, and as a fairly patient woman at the best of times, combined with her Jedi training, that took a lot to do. The Octusi, being semi-sentient, were actually the least of her worries. Their leader, a fairly enlightened fellow, knew what he wanted and made it quite clear, and the terrified owners largely agreed.

Except for one.

His name was Anyul. He wasn't even from Blaudu Sextus, he had been hired by the terrified former slave owners to represent their interests. And now he was determined to stop the change and wanted to put the Octusi back in the mines where he felt they belonged.

"Why should we allow them to do this? These ignorant savages have been riled up by Freedom Flight, this isn't what they truly want. So, as this isn't their true thought, they can go back to the mines where they belong and stop this nonsense. If not, then we can always take measures to stop their protests." He said nastily, and Barratk'l narrowed her eyes.

"May I ask what your problem is? The Octusi are a harmless species who simply want better rights for themselves, which they have earned after centuries of dedicated service. Who are you to tell them they shouldn't have it? The ruling council has agreed, they've applied for membership to the Alliance, all that remains now is to finish the process. Why are you so determined to stop them?" she asked suspiciously, and he gave her a cold smile.

"I was hired to represent the interests of the mining colonies and the Octusi are no longer in those best interests. They have directly undermined the status quo and have brought industry on this world to a standstill. I have been placed here to bring this world back to the way it was before the Octusi started to get ideas above their station. I am here to restore things back to the way they were, and that means putting the Octusi back in their place." He said smugly, and she glowered at him this guy was really straining her Jedi patience.

"Unfortunately that isn't possible. The race has already been run, the promises have been made." She said, and he smirked.

"That's why we hired them." He said arrogantly, nodding towards the door, and she saw a group of men, all of them rather large, dressed in black armour and holding heavy assault rifles.

"Mercenaries?" she demanded in alarm, and several of the board members got to their feet.

"This has gone on far enough we only hired you to secure our interests, not suppress the Octusi." The leader of the board exclaimed incredulously, eyeing the mercs in alarm.

Barratk'l was beginning to get a very bad feeling about this, and she wasn't liking it one bit.

"You hired me to put things back to normal, the Octusi are refusing. Now we will put them back by threat of force and if that doesn't work, well the blasters do more than look threatening." He purred and Barratk'l could feel the dark side rising. The board members had indeed not wanted this to happen, and the Octusi were looking around in fear.

"We have already had several of the ringleaders sent back to the mines. Now, tell their leader to call off this nonsense or else things might get ugly."

"Now see here Anyul, this has gone on far enough! What are you trying to do, start a full scale rebellion? We've allowed them what they wanted, take it away now and they will retaliate. Send these mercs home!" the governor yelled frantically, as he as well as Barratk'l could feel that the Octusi were getting angrier and angrier, and the leader was beginning to give off the sense that he wished to cause harm to Anyul (a feeling she could sympathise with).

And then it suddenly clicked, and everything became clear. Causing a revolt was exactly what he wanted. She had no idea why but the hiring of the mercs, bringing them to the meeting, his general demeanour...he intended to cause a revolt. But if that was the case, who was the target, the unionists or the Octusi?

"That's exactly what he wants to do. The only thing I can't figure is why." She said, her hand going to her lightsaber, and Anyul smiled menacingly.

"Gentlemen, you have your orders!" he said with callous excitement and Barratk'l turned to all present, Force pushing those standing to the floor while yelling to the others.

"Down!" she yelled, her cyan blade igniting to block bolts from the mercs as they opened fire with their heavy blasters.

Anyul backed away from the mercs as laser fire filled the room but the Yuzzem Jedi was already on the move, deflecting one shot into the face of a merc before twirling through the air and slicing through two of them. The remaining three backed away, focusing all their firepower on her but her skill was too great, the deflected shots taking them in the gut or chest as she advanced towards Anyul, who didn't seem remotely bothered about the danger he was now in.

"What do you seek to gain from igniting a conflict here?" she asked suspiciously, and Anyul grinned mockingly.

"Haven't you figured it out yet Jedi?" he sneered, and she reached into the Force, trying to figure out his aims, why he was doing this because it didn't make sense. Why would anyone want to cause a conflict on a slave world?

Of course.

An all out armed conflict between masters and former slaves would reduce a lot of the momentum of the slavery movement, slowing the entire process up. As they had applied for Alliance protection it would also mean the Alliance would have to get involved, involving them and most likely the Jedi in a drawn out civil war. It would also reduce the legitimacy of the Octusi claim, and the impact upon the world's economy would also be considerable, which would soon have an effect throughout the sector as well.

"You planned to derail the entire process here, spread a conflict that would weaken the Alliance and the anti-slavery lobby. But...the dark side, I thought it was the threat from the mercs, but it isn't just that." She said in realisation.

However she realised she had to hurry this up. Outside there were sounds of blaster fire, it sounded like there were other mercs who even now could be precipitating a full blown conflict between the Octusi and their former masters.

"No it isn't Jedi." He said in cold contempt, and reached around the back of his belt, and it suddenly all fit together, and Barratk'l's cyan blade blocked his red one before it took her head off.

"A Dark Jedi!" the union leader exclaimed in shock, peering out from the protective shelter of his Octusi opposite.

"No. Sith." Barratk'l whispered in shock, but his grin let her know she was right.

The Sith then broke off the saber lock, slashing at her face. The large Yuzzem back pedalled, turning to block a lunge on his part before swiping at him with her claws outstretched. The Sith hissed in annoyance, barely avoiding the blow but his effort had left him at a disadvantage that the Jedi immediately exploited, her blade hammering down on his defences. The Sith blocked the attack time and time again, however, relentless as she was he couldn't fend off Barratk'l. She pressed him out of the office, their blades sending sparks flying from the walls as she forced him out into the street.

And it was out there that she saw how much he had overplayed his hand. Both unionist and Octusi forces, despite taking severe losses by the looks of the numbers of bodies on the ground, were joining forces to fend off the attacking mercanaries. Over in the corner, the reporter Madhi Vaandt was recording the scenes, but as soon as her Chevin companion saw the duel going on she immediately changed to record that.

Anyul snarled, flipping away from Barratk'l, casting lightning at her as he did so. She quickly raised her saber to block the attack before grabbing disturbed rubble and throwing it at her opponent in a cascade. With him busy evading the attack she cleared the entire square in one leap before landing deftly, her blade slicing straight up for his head. Anyul was already on the move, batting the blade away deftly before renewing his offensive, snarling as he did so, lunging here and their, blocking and feinting as he tried to defeat the Jedi. Jumping up to a small wall, she swung down to try and cleave her opponent in two, but instead he flipped over her head, landing deftly and stabbing upwards, ready to plunge his blade into her back. Barratk'l threw herself forward, turning and slashing upwards with her saber, knocking him off balance. She then slashed with her claws, ripping open his face, making the Sith cry out in pain. She then slashed down his chest and as he reeled from her attack, she leaned forward and stabbed through his chest, her blade punching right through his heart. The Sith gave a weak groan as he looked up at her in disbelief, blood running from above his eye as his body crumpled to the wall, the battle over.

She then turned to the reporting team, and threw her lightsaber. Madhi screamed and leapt to the floor, resulting in the Barada behind her screeching in pain as the ignited saber cut through his chest, dropping him to the ground. Madhi looked at him and Barratk'l in shock before hesitantly making her way over to the Jedi, eyeing the blaster the Barada had been wielding warily.

"Thank you master Jedi, did you just save my life?" she asked in shock and Barratk'l nodded.

"Indeed I did. He was about to shoot you." She said in disdain as GA security, sent down from the ship in orbit, arrived in the square, the commanding officer coming towards her.

"Master Jedi, what's the situation?" he asked and she pointed to the capital building.

"I don't think the two parties ought to come to blows anymore, I seem to have dealt with the problem, all that remains is hunting down the last of the mercs before they can carry out Anyul's plan." She said and he saluted smartly and ran towards the capital building.

"That was amazing." Madhi said, pointing to Anyul's body and she nodded appreciatively, but her face was clouded.

"Yes but it shouldn't have been necessary. Tell you what, I'll offer you a deal. If you let me use your ship's comm, I'll give you an interview." She said and Madhi grinned.

"Yeah that would be brilliant." She said cheerfully and the Yuzzem led the Devaronian over to the fallen Barada, her eyes narrowed.

The Barada didn't have long to live, however she didn't have long to interrogate him. Fortunately she didn't need him alive all that long to tell her what she needed to know.

"Why did you try to kill this woman?" she asked and he answered her in a raspy voice.

"The Hutt Council didn't like her report on Hutt slaving practices. Zonnos ordered her dead." He answered and Madhi looked aghast as the Barada, his last life spent, expired before them.

"I'll kill Ackmena!" Madhi vowed and Barratk'l looked at her in surprise.

"You know Ackmena?" she asked and Madhi's face changed, her expression becoming one of realisation.

"You're one of the Jedi in-"

"Finish that sentence and I'll hit you with my lightsaber." Barratk'l hissed, looking around nervously.

"Maybe we should carry this on back on my ship." Madhi said, and the Jedi nodded.

"Lead on good lady."

XX

"A Sith Lord?" Kyp demanded in shock as she finished her report to the holographic Council, but Barratk'l shook her head.

"I don't think so, if he was a proper Sith Lord I wouldn't be here. My guess is that he was either an apprentice or some form of Sith Knight." She reasoned, and Tionne frowned.

"The Sith haven't used knights since the end of the New Sith Wars, Darth Bane changed the Sith so there wouldn't be a need for them anymore." She explained, and Barratk'l shrugged.

"That's what he seemed like."

"Are you sure he wasn't just some Dark Jedi pretending?" Kenth asked and Barratk'l shrugged.

"He didn't deny being a Sith and his dedication and fighting skills, he's had serious training. And besides, to be a Dark Jedi wouldn't we know about him?" she asked and Kenth frowned.

"Most likely, however I don't believe he can be a Sith. We'd have felt them." He said stubbornly, and Octa clicked her tongue in disappointment.

"Not necessarily. The old Order didn't know the Sith had returned until it was too late. And with our powers suffering the way they have been, the Sith could easily have returned without us knowing." She reasoned, and Cilghal looked musingly off into space.

"A return of the Sith could help explain the current chaos within the Alliance, they could be exploiting it for their own ends." She said, and Kam nodded.

"Exactly. Barratk'l, send the body back to Coruscant, Cilghal can examine it, see if she can't find anything else that might be helpful. Until we know more though, we shouldn't let the knowledge that there is a potential Sith threat out, even to Chief Ak'la. We need to investigate this further. Barratk'l, tell no one that you think it was a Sith who attacked you." He ordered and she frowned.

"That might be difficult. He confronted me in the peacemaking session so all the leaders know or at least suspect, and Madhi Vaandt was here, she filmed me fighting him." She said, and Tresina, not actually on Coruscant like the rest of the Council, frowned thoughtfully.

"Actually that might work to our advantage, it might get Treen off our tail for a bit. Ask her if she would do an interview with you, you know, spin it 'brave Jedi saves nascent liberal movement from evil Dark Jedi', that sort of thing." She encouraged, and Barratk'l nodded.

"I already promised her an interview in exchange for this call, I felt I had to report in immediately. I'll also try and get her to my next destination, I can't use the Parabola, that's staying here to assist the locals in their investigation of the mercs. As she's covering the slave revolts, I figure I can ask her to give me a lift." She said, and the Council nodded.

"Very well. So you'll continue with the slave revolts?" Kyle asked and she nodded.

"If there's no disagreement." She said, and there were none so the Council flickered out.

On the bridge, Madhi was preparing the ship for lift off when Barratk'l joined her.

"Thank you for your assistance. I wonder if I might impose on you further?" she asked, and the Devaronian looked at her curiously.

"I came out on the frigate in orbit and as that will be staying here I find myself in need of a ship. Could I trouble you for a lift?" she asked and Madhi nodded hesitantly.

"Well of course, provided it's not too out of the way, we're heading to Xilxash." She said and the Yuzzem grinned.

"Which happens to be where I'm heading too, I think we have much the same aims my friend." She said and Madhi smiled and indicated for the Jedi to sit down.

"I've asked Ackmena, she's delighted we're working together. Not so delighted with the tongue lashing I gave her, the report was her idea and now the Hutts are trying to assassinate me." She said, and Barratk'l looked at her musingly.

"Well it seems to me that we're in a unique position here. You are travelling the worlds related to the slavery crisis or the equality crisis or both in order to cover the stories they present you with. As a Jedi and a member of Freedom Flight, I also need to go to such worlds to help ensure a peaceful resolution and to protect the interests of the newly liberated underclasses. You also have a Hutt death mark against you, and I am a fairly useful friend to have in such a situation. So..." she began and Shohta nodded eagerly.

"Makes sense to me. We give her a ride, we get first hand information and get to go to all the hot spots, along with exclusive interviews with a Jedi on the ground. She can also help protect you from any more Hutt assassination attempts." He explained and Madhi grinned.

"Seems like a win win from where I'm standing. Isn't there an Alliance presence on Xilxash already?" she asked and Barratk'l nodded.

"Yes, but they have asked for Jedi arbitration and with the Senate's 'inspired' new idea to babysit all Jedi in the field with a security team it'll take too long for anyone else to get there. If we leave now you can get your story and I can do my bit." She said and Madhi nodded.

"Sounds good, but won't the Senate get their pants in a twist if you don't get a minder?" she asked and Barratk'l grinned grimly.

"They can't do anything, I was already out in the field when it came into effect and I don't intend to return home for a while. Besides, being part of Freedom Flight my mission is also personal which means they can't mind me then either. And just in case I do go nuts I will put my saber in your safe when we are travelling." She said, and Madhi smiled.

"Well in that case it's good to have you aboard Master Barratk'l. Let's get out of here. Oh and Ackmena wanted me to ask if you know anyone who might be willing to take a more, violent, approach to the war on slavery?" she asked, and Barratk'l and Shohta looked at her curiously.

"She intends to use Force against the Hutts?" Shohta asked and Madhi shrugged, though she suspected that was her eventual aim.

"Perhaps. An anti-slavery private army, a good idea but in some ways a bad one. Perhaps we should discuss it at length once we're in lightspeed. And," the Yuzzem said with a smile, "I believe I owe you an interview?"

Madhi smiled as she sent the Shooting Star straight for space, having a Jedi on board could make for the biggest stories of her career.

XX

"A report from Saber Khai, he is continuing his pursuit of the Skywalkers." Lady Rhea informed Vol over the holocomm, and he nodded.

"Excellent. I intend to take a personal interest myself, we leave within the hour. And our plans, do they move apace?" he asked, and she nodded, a dark smile on her face.

"Yes my lord. We have taken over several news stations and media outlets, and are beginning to spread anti-Jedi sentiment. We've discovered enclaves on several worlds, including Ossus, Dathomir and Corellia, any of which we could feasibly attack if that is your wish. We've also begun raids on Alliance depots, and have been hiring mercenaries to spread dissent and chaos throughout the Alliance. We've also been assassinating officers so our forces can assume their position. We're also influencing the anti-slavery campaign, trying to incite violence on as many worlds as possible, which we're doing along with encouraging civil war on the planets already at loggerheads. Very soon the Alliance will fall apart under its own steam." She reported and Vol smiled.

"Excellent, I knew you would all implement my plans brilliantly. Yet you seem troubled." He said, and Rhea scowled.

"Saber Anyul overplayed his hand. Blaudu Sextus remains at peace, the mercs we hired are dead, and what is more the Jedi are now aware of us, one killed him." She grumbled, but Vol didn't look too concerned.

"For now all they can do is guess. And it is only one planet, not important. Relay the order to continue to all agents. Lord Taalon is to lead operations here at Korriban while I hunt for the Skywalkers. I am eager to test myself against Skywalker and Lumiya. Also, Lord Yur is investigating the possibility of a new home for us, Korriban is too crowded. I want you to give him every support, understood?" he asked, and she nodded.

"As you desire Lord Vol, it shall be done." She said and the holo flickered out.

Sending the all clear signal, Vol smiled as the Crimson Oath, his flagship, a blood red Victory class Star Destroyer departed Korriban. Too long had the Tribe been in the shadows. Now it was their time. The Jedi, the One Sith, the Rule of Two, all would fall to the glory of the Tribe. They, not the others, would rule the galaxy.

And he, not Lumiya, not Krayt and not Vongerella, would be the Dark Lord of the Sith.

And it was time he proved himself worthy of that station: by killing Luke Skywalker.

XX

AlGray, on the bridge of the Kendall, grimaced as she saw the long cooled wreckage. She had told Ducha Myar not to trust that intelligence. She had received a tip off that Tenel Ka was moving Allana on board another Battle Dragon so she would be safe in a fortress on Rainboh. However, AlGray, knowing Tenel Ka wouldn't allow Allana out of her sight had warned her that it was clearly a false trail, and as a result Myar's faction, consisting of four Battle Dragons, twelve support ships and seven Nova cruisers had either been wiped out or taken by the Royalist faction. It also meant that AlGray was down a vital supporter and had had to work even harder to prevent the Knot Hole worlds from either being taken or defecting from the Heritage Council. They had however been unsuccessful and the various families in the Knot Holes, taking their lead from Ducha Pylor, Ducha of Chosper and Protector of Telkur Station, had appealed to Tenel Ka and had been let in, significantly damaging the separatist war movement and confirming their renewed alliance to Tenel Ka less than two hours ago.

And this was the second loss they had sustained this week. An attack on Orelon, designed to be a quick strike mission, had been undone by the superior Royalist intelligence, resulting in the loss of four more Battle Dragons and numerous support ships as they made their escape. It had not been a good week. AlGray fumed as she looked out of the viewport at the damage that had been done. She had always known that the civil war would be a messy business, but she was losing ships from her side quicker than she was replenishing them and if she intended to carry out she and Galney's plan, she had to up her game.

She turned to face her holoviewer, contacting Galney. At the moment the numbers were still roughly equal in the terms of the conflict, but that could change at any time. What was more, which all of the Hapan worlds were rich, Tenel Ka, by virtue of the fact that she controlled the vast majority of the interior along with the most planets (including Gallinore, Rainboh and Hapes itself) controlled all of the most wealthy worlds in the cluster, which meant that eventually Tenel Ka would be able to outspend them all. On top of that, the queen had Alliance support, which was something AlGray simply didn't have.

Galney scowled as her face materialised in the viewscreen, glaring at her.

"Are you trying to expose me? If the Royalists intercept this transmission, everything will fall apart!" she hissed and AlGray scowled.

"I'm aware of that. But we've taken heavy losses already and what's more, we won't be able to beat her Alliance support, how are we meant to make any progress against the Royalists?" she asked and Galney made a gesture that was obviously meant to calm her down, not that it had much effect.

"I'm aware we have taken losses, and before you ask my acting now won't do you much good, we must wait until the time is right before I reveal myself and turn on the queen. Now, the Knot Holes are of little threat, their contributions are fairly minimal to the Royalist faction." She said, and AlGray glared at her.

"Maybe to Tenel Ka but to us they weren't, and now we've lost their capabilities! This was your plan Galney, but I'm the one taking all the risks." She seethed, disgruntled and Galney rolled her eyes.

"Are you quite finished? Calm down, this isn't the end it's barely the beginning. Now listen to me. We can't do anything until we achieve a genuine victory against the Royalists, put ourselves on the map. And we need to do it soon, otherwise your rebellion will peter out and Hapes will remain unchanged. The problem is, we cannot triumph against the Royalists until we remove the support of the Alliance. It is the Alliance protection that gives Tenel Ka the initiative, take that away and several loyalties will be up for grabs once again. And if we can do that, we also serve our purposes by putting ourselves on the map and proving that we can hurt the Royalists." She explained, and AlGray nodded, she had figured out as much for herself.

"Yes but how do we do it?" she asked irritably, and Galney smiled maliciously.

"We remove her Alliance friends from the equation. We expand!" she hissed, and AlGray smiled.

"And if we take one of their worlds, even if it is our side..."

"It will also impact upon Tenel Ka's relationship with them and the Senate will vote to remove all aid from her. Either way it's a win for us, and we will also have the benefits Vena will bring to the table. Either way, the Alliance will officially dissociate itself with the war in order to avoid being dragged in to our conflict, and Tenel Ka will be vulnerable. And a vulnerable queen means uneasy duchas and uneasy duchas mean we can replace our losses. So, avoid all conflicts with the Royalists for now and prepare to move on Vena." She said, and AlGray nodded.

"What of the Alliance forces?"

"Deal with them. Vena wants to leave the Alliance, but due to Collonzas' attack they can't because as a result elements of the Second Fleet were parked in orbit, and they're also there to make sure we behave ourselves. So if we attack their fleet..."

"The Alliance won't have a choice, they'll need to back off for fear of actually starting a war with us, we take Vena and undermine Tenel Ka. I'll get right on it." She said cheerfully, and Galney favoured her with a final glower.

"And do not contact me again!" she warned before her holo flickered out.

AlGray ignored her, thinking. The Heritage Council, due to it being her idea, was mostly in support of her aims, which had always included expansion. Why should Hapes remain static when the rest of the major powers were continually changing? She had been forced to put it on the backburner, mainly due to the influence of less extreme Duchas as Pylor being on the Council, but now with her gone, her extremists carried the majority.

It was time for Hapes to make a name for itself, gone were the days of isolation and idleness and being called to fight the Alliance's wars. Now was Hapes turn to take its place on the galactic stage.

And she was the director.

Smiling, she headed for the bridge.

XX

"The information is good?" Director Kalenda asked and Tenel Ka, sitting on her throne on the Dragon Queen, nodded grimly.

"Yes. The separatists are preparing a major military strike and our intelligence indicates that they could very well intend to strike outside of the sector. We have identified one of their staging areas and as soon as we finish here I will lead an attack on the staging area to try and stop them. But, as it was Vena AlGray mentioned when she initially split from my authority..."

"You figured Vena could very well be in danger. But it would be suicide to attack Vena, Admiral Klauskin is there with the majority of the Second Fleet." She said, and Tenel Ka waved her hand dismissively.

"Perhaps not. Our intelligence points to Klauskin investigating us by putting his ships within the Transitory Mists. Which is espionage." Tenel Ka said gravely and Kalenda frowned.

"I assure you Queen Mother he isn't meant to be doing that. If he's spread his fleet out and AlGray attacks the result could be catastrophic." She said and Tenel Ka nodded.

"I'm well aware of that. And if the news we have is true and he is spying on us my situation will become all the more tenuous and give some genuine firepower to the separatists which I can't risk at the moment, I just won over a few worlds I don't want to lose more. So, either restrain him if you please or remove him before he makes me situation any more untenable than it is already, believe me, it doesn't need any help." She said, and Kalenda nodded.

"Admiral Niathal just returned, I'll get her to have words. Chief Ak'la has informed me that she authorised Admiral Bwua'tu to dispatch a task force to help you. It should be there within two days." She reported and Tenel Ka nodded.

"Tell her I'm grateful. With your forces and my own supporters, my attack on their staging area could hopefully break the rebellion, at least that's what I hope. And if Klauskin is withdrawn in order to fully protect Vena, then between the lot of us we can hopefully smash this rebellion before it goes any further. That's the plan anyway. And the Lorell Raiders have disappeared again, which is a great help, which means once we deal with AlGray this chaos should come to an end." She said, the relief hinting in her voice and Kalenda smiled.

"I hope so your majesty. All the best. Good hunting." She said, and the link to Coruscant flickered out.

Tenel Ka's smile of farewell devolved into a frown. Klauskin was being very foolish, risking his fleet in an active theatre of war, especially with what they were fighting about. And she couldn't help but feel she was being set up. The staging area, there was something about it...

"Admiral Espara, signal the fleet. Set a course for the separatists staging area!" she ordered.

She could only hope the bad feeling she had would pass when she got there.

XX

"Prakith, Ziost and now Thule, you know Lumiya, if we survive all this, we're going to drag you to a light side world." Leia grumbled as they made their way away from where they had landed the ship.

Thule, like Prakith, also had a fairly substantial population, however their cities were on the other side of the planet, away from the savannahs that were perpetually bombarded by lightning storms. However, that of course was where they currently were, and while the lightning had died down, the winds certainly hadn't.

"I might even let you. Could someone else take her? My arms may be metal but the shoulder part still gets tired." The Sith grumbled, and Jacen, grinning, relieved her of her burden.

Due to Alema not having enough of a set of limbs in order to balance herself, she was at risk of being blown away by the severe winds, as they had discovered when she had been blown back into the ship as soon as they left. Refusing to allow her to stay behind, Han had insisted that as her guardian Lumiya could drag the Dark Jedi around with her in some horrible mimicry of having a pet. Alema, surprisingly, had been fairly open to this suggestion and was now plodding along cheerfully, her walker anchoring her to the ground every time the wind picked up.

Another rumble of thunder echoed over the plains just as the temple they were seeking came into sight. The sheer wind was getting worse, and rocks were starting to come lose.

"Maybe we should look for some shelter, before this wind gets any worse!" Jaina yelled, bracing herself against the wind, while Luke and Mara held onto Jacen before he and Alema flew up into the air.

"Agreed! Most nasty place." K'kruhk said, and Ben looked at him curiously.

"Did you fight here in the Clone Wars?" he asked, and K'kruhk shook his head.

"No, I was leading an army to Teyr at the time, I wasn't part of the mission. Anakin was, as was Obi Wan, Luminara Unduli and Master Windu. I shall explain more when we get to safety." He assured him, clapping Ben on the shoulder, and Vestara pointed down the slope they now had to tackle.

"There's a warren or something down there, we can hide in there till this wind dies down a bit!" she cried, being knocked back a few paces before leading the way down, and the group eagerly made their way into the warren, which, due to the formation of rocks outside, was relatively sheltered from the extreme wind.

"That's better, now I can hear myself think." K'kruhk said as they all sat down, Leia sending a message to Han on the Falcon, currently in orbit to avoid the dangerous weather, that they were safe for now.

Jacen was surprised when Ben sat down beside him. Ever since Vestara had come aboard the two had always sat with each other, and had talked with each other, effectively forming their own mini group to the dismay of his parents. However, now Jacen came to think of it, he hadn't said a word to her since they'd arrived here, which was odd to say the least.

"Not that I'm complaining, but did you and Ves argue about something? Only you're sitting with me again and you two have been practically joined at the hip since she arrived." He said, and Ben scowled.

"No we didn't." He said curtly but firmly, and Jacen could see the conflicting emotions on his face.

"Ben what's wrong?" Jacen asked curiously, but Ben simply turned away, leaving his master very put out.

Lumiya, of course, noticed this and winked at Vestara who grinned as she sat down with her master.

"Where are we headed anyway? And more importantly can we avoid any more run ins with long dead Sith, that would be nice." Mara said, lighting a glow rod.

K'kruhk gestured to Lumiya, signifying she should take this question (Luke thought the two of them just liked telling stories, but wouldn't admit it to either or them).

"A Sith temple, in the ruins of the former capital, Hurom. The capital changed to Kessia after the New Sith Wars, leaving Hurom as an abandoned ruin. Of course Kessia is now abandoned too. The temple was built during the Great Sith War for dark side acolytes, ones with proficiency in sorcery and other such powers. However, the place was largely abandoned following the Great Sith War, the Republic armies, under the command of a young Lonna Vash, forced the Sith off the planet, leading to its abandonment. Following the end of the war, Darth Sion stayed here for a while, finding Massassi who had turned the place into a sort of memorial tomb for the Sith who fell in the battle here. He stayed here for some time, learning more about his condition before moving on. This place continued to exist as a memorial, though none of the Sith the Massassi honoured were particularly powerful, so by all rights we shouldn't encounter any spirits. Thule continued to exist, being incorporated into Revan's empire. Hurom fell apart in the time in between, making Kessia the new capital. The temple stood tall but the city fell into disrepair and died out. When Kaan came along, the temple once more became an academy for mystics and sorcerers, but once again the Jedi forced them off the world when they battled them towards Ruusan and ever since this part of Thule has been abandoned."

It was then that K'kruhk took over the tale.

"Quite so. The new capital, Kessia, was the site of the final battle of the Dark Reaper Crisis during the Clone Wars. The city was levelled during the battle, but even Master Yoda and Windu didn't dare head into the temple. The Sith here may not be powerful enough to have left an imprint, however the fallout from having an academy filled with dark side mystics and from the battle with the Dark Reaper, which is where it was defeated in the Great Sith War as well as the Clone Wars has left a dark echo on this world. And it is the mystics who may be able to help us, apparently they performed all sorts of twisted experiments, communions with the dark side and Sith spirits, all sorts of weird stuff. Perhaps they divined something about Abeloth in their sessions. And what is more, part of the Force Harvester is buried here, and the temple ought to have records on it. If we can find them, perhaps they can help explain Abeloth and the extent of her powers." He mused hopefully.

After a while, the storm died down slightly and they continued their trek to the ancient temple, a looming edifice set among a host of long shattered ruins. As the group progressed through, they were all on edge. The dark side was thick here, and they couldn't help but feel that once again they were being watched. The shadows in the ruins were playing tricks on their mind, and walking through them was slightly creepy. Eventually, they managed to enter the temple, once more earning themselves a relief from the cutting wind, and they shut the door behind them, locking them in the large, stale Sith temple.

"Alright, if we're going to be attacked can we get it out the way now, save messing about later?" Jaina asked hopefully, lighting a glow rod.

Ben looked around the place suspiciously.

"How come so much has happened on Thule, at least three battle in three big wars, and this place is still standing?" he asked, and Luke frowned, the kid did raise a good point.

"So people trying to save the galaxy can loot it for information? Come on." Mara said, leading the way, until Alema scarpered in front, delighted to be let off her lead.

"Like having your own pet kath hound." Lumiya muttered to Jacen and he sniggered.

The dark side was thick within the temple, and the deserted corridors were very eerie.

"Master, why are some bits of the ground lighter than others?" Vestara asked curiously, but it was Jaina who answered.

"That'll be where the bodies were." She said, and Vestara went quiet.

She did however look at Ben, who, as Lumiya had predicted, had been aloof with her all day. And she had been quiet, other than sending hurt and confused looks (not that she was, well, confused at least) in his direction. But as time went on, she realised she actually quite liked having him to talk to, a fact she was sure wasn't lost on her master.

"Ah, this looks promising." K'kruhk said, finding the door to the archives and shoving it open.

A few bones, most likely left over from the evacuation in the New Sith wars, littered the floor, and the brighter patches of floor made it clear that a massacre had happened here, especially when their lights threw the bloodstains on the floor and ceiling into sharp relief.

"Who do you reckon massacred who here?" Jacen asked curiously, crouching down to inspect it.

"The Sith must have ambushed the Jedi sent after them. Lured them in here and then killed them." Luke mused, also inspecting the floor, and Lumiya glared at him.

"Your side isn't guilty of massacres either Skywalker, the Jedi are just as bad." She told him tartly and he gave her a smug grin.

"The Bassadro incident was an accident."

"And Yavin? The Jedi's little wall of light effectively led the Massassi to genocide at the end of the Great Sith War." she said just as smugly, and her grin widened when his smile faltered.

"Besides, Jedi weren't the only troops in the Army of Light, there were many who were just normal joe blogs soldiers who would happily kill a roomful of defenceless Sith." K'kruhk said, as he and Jaina examined the shelves.

Ben rolled his eyes, making Jacen grin. Ben was clearly getting fed up of the constant squabble between the avatars of the two sides of the Force. While Jacen himself enjoyed it (he was only human and seeing his uncle lose a few rounds after everything was slightly gratifying, and Lumiya's retorts made it all the more fun) it was clearly affecting Ben, irritating him to the extreme. Throughout his apprenticeship Jacen had made clear that the Jedi way wasn't the only way, but it seemed as if Luke couldn't grasp that at all.

"Force Harvester!" Leia cried in victory from where she and Alema were investigating the bookcases, the books perfectly preserved in the stale environment.

As the others plodded down to what she had found, Vestara felt a slight draught, stopping her short. She approached the bookcase, still feeling the wisp of air.

"Hey Ben?" she asked hesitantly, and he turned, eyes hard, to face her.

Lumiya's words were working perfectly.

"What?" he asked sullenly and she looked at him curiously.

"Have I done something to upset you? You haven't said a word to me all day." She asked, making her voice sound slightly sad and affecting a slight pout.

Ben scowled, but he did feel slightly bad for making her feel bad, so he softened his voice when he replied to her.

"No, what have you found?" he asked, and she pointed to the bookcase.

"There's a draught coming from behind here. A secret room perhaps." She said and he moved closer to her in order to investigate.

Out of the corner of her eye, Lumiya saw this and smiled. Vestara truly was a pro.

Vestara began casting aside books, determined to get through the bookcase to discover what lay beyond and after some slight hesitation, Ben joined in. She then gave a cry of victory as she found two levers, set in a small alcove behind the bookcase.

"What do you reckon?" Ben asked curiously, and she frowned.

"Could mean anything." She replied, reaching to pull the lever.

"What have you pair found?" Jaina asked, and Vestara pointed.

"I think there's another room behind this bookcase, and I think this lever opens it. Why would there be a secret chamber off the library?" she asked and K'kruhk chuckled.

"A lifetime teaching adolescent Padawans has left me with no illusions about the answer to that question." He laughed, and Mara glared, the last thing she needed was him giving Ben ideas.

"A secret room. Well we've got everything we needed, let's find out what's in there." Leia said.

"Pull the lever Vestara!" Lumiya ordered, and Vestara promptly pulled the left hand lever. An instant later, the tile beneath Lumiya suddenly vanished and with a whimper, Lumiya plummeted out of sight, screaming as she went.

"Wrong leveeer!" she wailed as she fell, and the others all burst out laughing as they heard a splash far below them.

"Oops." Vestara said sheepishly as Luke and Ben laughed at Lumiya's misfortune, as the very wet and bedraggled Sith leapt out from the trap, gasping with cold and dripping wet.

"Why would they even have that lever? What a stupid place to put a trapdoor!" she cursed, opening the hatches on her metallic limbs and allowing the water she had just collected to stream out of her.

She then became aware of everyone laughing her (Vestara trying not to to her credit) and glared.

"One of these days...and Vestara, a word to the wise, laughing at your master is not a good career prospect." She hissed, wringing water out of her veil while Vestara struggled to maintain a straight face.

Realising the others weren't going to stop laughing at her until she gave them something else to fixate on, she decided they had waited around here long enough. And if she accidentally dropped one of the others down the trapdoor, well that would just be too bad.

"Get out of my way." She growled at Vestara, shoving past her apprentice and pulling the other lever.

The bookcase then slid from view, revealing the small room beyond, and curiously, Jacen led the way into the small room.

"Um K'kruhk? I think this might be the break we've been looking for." He said, pointing to the wall in reverence, and the Whiphid shoved Alema and Leia out of the way as he made for the room.

"A simple 'excuse me' would have sufficed." Leia grumbled, nodding with Alema who shared her look of indignation.

"You're right my boy, this could indeed be a turning point." K'kruhk said breathlessly as he looked around the small room.

Emblazoned on the wall was the figure of a woman, however rather than arms and legs it seemed as if she had spider legs coming from where her hands ought to be. Her eyes were made out of eerily glowing rubies, and emblazoned behind the image was a swirling black spiral, ringed with orange, clearly meant to be the Maw.

"Is that meant to be Abeloth?" Lumiya asked in shock and K'kruhk nodded slowly.

"I believe so." He said, and they all crammed into the small room.

"Look, figurines, carvings, paintings, all of them marked different things. 'The Stranded Soul', 'The Demon of the Dark', 'The Sacrifice', 'The Goddess of the Many Mouths', 'The Goddess of the Maw', 'The Abyssal Mouth', 'The Devourer', 'The Destroyer', 'The Servant', 'The Mistress', 'The Matron', 'The Bringer of Chaos', 'The Harbinger', 'The Shadow Lady' and... 'The End'." Jaina said nervously, reading the various inscriptions around the bases of the various depictions of her around the walls.

"These Sith knew about Abeloth? Impossible. How come no one found out about this before then, or found out about her?" Leia asked, looking at a scroll detailing what the Maw was, and it rightly said that it was a prison.

"Maybe they were the ones who were slaughtered? Maybe they intended to tell someone but then the Army of Light showed up and wiped them out before they could tell anyone?" Ben theorised, looking with morbid interest at some bloodied whips and knives, perfectly preserved in the small room.

"What do you reckon these are?" he asked Vestara, who, suppressing a genuine smile due to him talking to her again, approached and she frowned thoughtfully.

"Tools of self flagellation I expect. From the looks of this place, it was made as some sort of shrine to her, like a goddess would be. I expect that they prayed to her, made her their god, and if they failed her, they would punish themselves for it." She said, poking at a barbed whip experimentally.

Leia frowned as she picked up a large ledger, opening it. To her disappointment not a lot had been written in it, it was only basically an introduction. But, since it was in basic, she could read it, and her eyes began to widen in shock as she realised what she was reading.

"'For the first time, we surrendered ourselves completely to the will of the Force. For all these years, we have been shackled to our mortal coil, but the approach of the Jedi has encouraged us to take risks. We cannot escape Thule. They have blockaded all routes from the planet. We will die here, so what did we have to lose?

We together joined our minds, and cast ourselves free of our body. It was then that we felt her. A woman, beautiful yet terrifying, reached out to us across the mists of the Force. She claimed to be imprisoned, she wanted us to free her. We don't know how long we were there. She told us her tale, how she was imprisoned by those she had loved, then abandoned, sealed away from that which she loved. We wanted to help her. She was beyond shadows, but we had to help her. She told us what to do, to love her, praise her, spread news of her to make her strong, and if they didn't believe, we had to punish them, and ourselves should we falter. We made a promise and, to keep it, we returned to our mortal bodies.

We began collating everything we knew on the Goddess. We wrote down all she had told us, her tale, and to honour her we drew her, sculpted her, all to show our love for the Stranded Soul in the Maw. And every time we communed with her, we felt her get more powerful, happier, better, all due to our love. Her power was rising, she was beginning to reach from the shadows to touch the minds and hearts of her faithful retainers. She adored what we had done, the beautiful pictures and sculptures we had done of her, and she praised us. However, she illustrated her displeasure. One of us had faltered in his beliefs, and she sensed it. A dark tentacle appeared from the shadows, grabbed him, and dragged his screaming body into nothingness, and when we later returned to our bodies, all that was left was dust. We vowed to keep serving her, working to free her.

We have served her loyally and faithfully, but she says she cannot help us against the Jedi. They are only hours away. We intend to go beyond shadows one last time, to see our goddess before the end. We leave this record in the hopes that someone will discover about our dark and beautiful lady, and one day free her from her prison.'"

The entire group looked at each other nervously as Leia finished the account in the ledger, and it was Luke who found his voice first.

"Now we're getting somewhere. We're taking it all." He said, and K'kruhk nodded.

"I agree, any information about her can only aid us. Though I believe we can leave the tools for mutilation and the pictures, the information however is essential. Let us take it, and quickly, being in a room dedicated to something as powerful and evil as Abeloth is giving me the collywobbles." He said, casting furtive glances around and with that they began collecting the things in the rooms.

"Interesting that Vestara found this place." Mara said musingly to Jacen and he looked at his aunt curiously.

"How do you mean?" he asked, picking up another likely looking document.

"Well we need help, and she happened to find it, its like the Force is moving us towards Abeloth. Maybe that means it wants us to be doing this." She mused, and Jacen nodded conceding the point.

"Maybe, because if not, it wants us exterminated which I reckon is also a possibility." He said, and she scowled at him, continuing to pack up the room.

After they had finished, they moved with their gains towards the door, when Luke suddenly stopped, and as he was leading the group it brought them all to an abrupt halt.

"Hey, what's the big idea?" Alema demanded angrily, and Luke held up a hand, quieting her.

"We're not alone here." He said grimly, and rather than question the others all spread out with their senses.

"I hate it when he's right." Mara groaned, feeling the presences beneath them.

"Could it be the Massassi?" Jaina asked hopefully, but Jacen shook his head.

"Sorry sis, they're too advanced to be the Massassi, whoever they are, they're fully sentient. And powerful in the dark side." He said, and Leia looked back down the corridor from whence they had came.

"They aren't following us, it's like they're just standing around outside, but they're not even at the door that would mean we would have to go through them, they're at the back. And focused on something, something big and important." She said, and Alema looked at Lumiya, her head cocked curiously.

"Could they be Sith?" the Dark Jedi asked, and Lumiya nodded slowly.

"You might be right, they could very well be Sith. Vestara, can you sense anything about them?" she asked, and the Sith girl shook her head.

"No master, if they are actually Sith, I don't think they're any of the Tribe, which means they must belong to Darth Krayt." She spat in disgust, and Luke looked at Mara, who nodded warily. They had to investigate. If they were indeed Sith, their presence on Thule couldn't mean anything good, but what would Krayt's Sith be doing here in an abandoned temple?

"The Force Harvester!" K'kruhk cried in realisation, and Jacen looked at him in bemusement.

"You reckon that's what they're after? Two things, one, surely it's in pieces and two, surely the Jedi wouldn't be stupid enough to bury a piece of it right outside the door to a Sith temple?" he asked, and K'kruhk pondered, then shrugged.

"As to the first, they might not need it in one piece. Remember the Force Harvester is ancient, thousands of years old. If Krayt even gets a part of it, he could very well adapt it. A part might be all he needs to discover what he needs to know. And as to the second, I'll be the first to admit that brains weren't the Order's strong suit during the Clone Wars. Particularly on the Council." He mused, and Lumiya hissed between her teeth.

"That's his little game. If the usurper gets his hands on the Force Harvester, he will be unstoppable." She said, and Jaina looked at her sceptically.

"A bit dramatic isn't it?" she asked, and Lumiya gave her an icy look.

"Oh? Him having a weapon that can suck the living Force out of an enemy? Think about it." She snarled, and Jaina went pale as she considered the implications, if Krayt got his hands on a weapon like that he could destroy the Jedi with ease.

"We need to stop him." She said, and Luke smiled grimly.

"Agreed. Alema, stay here and guard the stuff we've collected." He ordered and the Twi'lek pouted.

"I want to bring balance." She said, and K'kruhk clapped her on her shoulder.

"Well, balance your lightsaber in your hand. That'll keep you occupied." He said, and flinched away from her when she fixed him with a lethal glare.

"Come on, we need to stop them. Stay put Alema, we'll contact you when we're done." Leia said, and Alema swore at her in Huttese as the group split off from her, leaving her where she was.

Descending through the dark fortress, they could feel the rising excitement of the newcomers, and they hurried their pace, the dark side getting thicker as they moved through the temple.

"You ok?" Ben asked, and Vestara nodded.

"Eager, that's all. Time for some payback." She hisser, her saber already in hand, but before Ben could say anything, Lumiya held up a hand.

"Revenge is good when it suits your purposes, but do not take revenge just for revenge's sake. That will allow your enemy to exploit you." She warned, and Vestara looked at her curiously.

"Does that mean I can't enjoy killing these pretenders?" she demanded and Lumiya smiled.

"Of course not child, just don't enjoy it because of what happened to Kesh, enjoy it because they deserve it." She purred, and Luke rolled his eyes as they moved towards the door to the temple.

"You really think they want the Force Harvester?" Leia asked, and K'kruhk nodded.

"It would be the logical thing to assume since they aren't actually in the temple. Either way, we're about to find out." He said, as Jaina edged open the door, catching them all with a gust of brutal wind. Shoving the door back and opening it when it subsided, they saw a large atmospheric dome, shimmering out in the promenade before the ruined temple. Within the dome was an Assault Transport, the sort mass produced as small capital ships by the Empire at the height of the war, and before them were several excavation droids, digging up what appeared to be some sort of metallic cradle.

"Is that it?" Mara asked, and K'kruhk nodded.

"Yes. Time is of the essence." He said, and with that he led the group towards the shield, barrelling through into the protective bubble.

"Lady Oracle, we have visitors." A Sith dressed in a black cloak with only his white eyes showing said in contempt, and the Bothan who seemed to be in charge turned to meet them, grinning as she did so.

"Darth Oracle." Lumiya said in contemptuous greeting, and the Bothan's smile widened into a predatory grin.

"Lumiya, fancy seeing you here." She purred as the rest of the Sith surrounded her, ignoring the chittering droids behind them.

"Please Oracle, you knew we were going to come here before we did. Which begs the question what are you doing here?" she asked and the Arkanian Sith beside her looked at her snootily.

"None of your business, pretender." She spat in dismissal, and Lumiya gnashed her teeth in anger.

"We aren't the pretenders you are." Vestara retorted angrily, and the Muun behind the other Sith chuckled darkly.

"We are the true Sith, Lumiya is the broken relic of a bygone age. We are the future of the Sith." He boasted, and Mara looked at them, obviously unimpressed.

"You lot? Really?" she asked, sounding slightly disappointed, and the Nuknog Sith looked most affronted.

"Shall we kill them Lady Oracle?" he asked eagerly, but Oracle held us a hand, shaking her head.

"Certainly not, Lumiya asked us a question. We are furthering Lord Krayt's will." The Bothan said, and Lumiya snorted derisively.

"I doubt that, after all, Krayt doesn't have a will, or a brain for that matter. He just uses mine, Vongerella's and Vol's, and tries to pass it off as his own." She said, and the entire group of Sith suddenly became incensed, all of their hands dropping to their sabers.

"She must pay for that!" the Weequay Sith spat, and the Devaronian beside the Arkanian growled, his pointed teeth showing.

"You dare dismiss Lord Krayt when you travel with Jedi scum?" he demanded furiously, and Luke grinned humourlessly.

"Through no choice of our own believe me. Now, shall we do this or not? I'm bored. And if you're really so good, you might provide us some sport...but from what Lumiya tells us you're not much trouble at all." Luke said arrogantly, making the others and Lumiya in particular grin in delight as the rankled Sith got even angrier.

"Lady Oracle?" the Neimodian asked angrily, and the Bothan nodded.

"Very well Darth Vitiosus. Kill them all!" Oracle ordered, gesturing to the droids to send them to the ship with the Harvester.

And with that the group of Sith ignited their lightsabers, leaping towards their opponents angrily, crimson light covering them all.

The group was already on the move, moving to intercept their opponents. K'kruhk tried to pass to get to the droids that were escorting the dead insect looking chunk of the Harvester to the ship, however, the various duels now proceeding disrupted his progress and the Muun had taken up a guard position.

Jaina tackled Oracle, at least she tried to. The Bothan had already moved out of the way, and her saber was in a position to block her before Jaina had even made her move. The elegant Bothan then released herself upon Jaina, performing several different twirls and slashes as she came at Jaina, her power obvious. Jaina barely blocked the last swing before flipping further up the mound of dirt they had entered from. She then cast a rock at the Sith, but the Sith had already reached out a hand and crushed the projectile before it could threaten her.

"Alright how is she doing that?" she demanded, and Lumiya, cracking her whip at the Arkanian Darth Scientia, gave her an irritable look.

"She's an oracle, she knows what you're going to do before you do it, what do you expect?" she asked in disdain, and Jaina blushed slightly as Lumiya resumed her attack against Scientia.

White Eyes was powerful, there was no disputing that as the cloaked Sith battered at Luke's defences. Luke however was more than equal, taking the attacks in good stead, allowing the Sith to think he was winning while he got him into a position that he could use to kill him.

Jacen parried a blow from Darth Pharma, shoving the Devaronian away from the others as his green blade was continually blocked by the Sith's red one. He was alright, but not that great. Pharma snarled in annoyance as they duelled, the Jedi clearly the stronger of the two of them. Behind him Vestara was battling the belligerent Nuknog Darth Vervex and was clearly overwhelming him with her superior technique, and Ben, while struggling slightly, was more than equal to the Givin Darth Gracillo. Leia and Mara were battling the Neimodian and the Weequay, called Vitiosus and Luxuriae respectively, the two of them clearly a match for the powerful Sith.

Oracle blocked yet another swing, making Jaina even more irritated battling this Sith was quickly becoming a pain in the ass. Oracle laughed mockingly as Jaina tried once again to attack her, but the Jedi had no chance of killing her, she knew every move she could possibly make before she made it.

Ahead, K'kruhk and the Muun Darth Fabula were currently engaged in a battle of wills and minds, Fabula casting dark side apparitions at the aged Jedi. K'kruhk however had great focus, drawing on the light side of the Force even on that dark world, easily obliterating his dark side attacks. Fabula was clearly getting frustrated, and began casting lightning alternately while maintaining his current attacks. K'kruhk's saber intercepted many of the attacks, his mind pressing against Fabula's.

Lumiya cackled as Scientia, who only wielded a shoto was pushed back, the Arkanian getting ever more desperate. Seeing a chance to finally change this duel in their favour, she sent Jacen a flash through the Force and prepared to strike. She then coiled her whip around her head, cracking it at Scientia, cleaving into her stomach with one of her tendrils. While the Arkanian screeched in pain and fell to the ground, her scream was enough to distract the Devaronian, and Jacen slammed his hilt into his opponent's chin. Stumbling, Pharma brought his saber around to protect himself but it was far too late as Jacen twirled on the spot, reversed his blade and performed a vicious uppercut right through Pharma's face.

"Apprentice!" Scientia screamed as he fell to the floor, already dead, and she gestured, making Jacen cough vigorously as she started to block his lungs.

"Jacen!" Leia yelled worriedly, but she needn't have worried as Lumiya swung her whip down, about to end the life of the Sith scientist when Scientia unleashed a Force scream, sending the Dark Lord stumbling back. Dragging herself wearily to her feet, Scientia blasted lightning at both Jacen and Lumiya as she hobbled for the ship, where the droids had nearly taken the Harvester too.

Seeing Scientia move by them, K'kruhk tried to direct the next attack at her, but Fabula was too wise for that, and he followed her example, giving off a scream that sent K'kruhk plodding back. Seeing Lumiya and Jacen recover and run after the Arkanian, K'kruhk then created a powerful sphere of light, surrounding the Sith despite his attempts to blast it apart with his apparitions.

"You cannot triumph against me Jedi, I have studied the archives far too long for that!" he boasted, creating a coiled serpent of darkness that he set on K'kruhk.

The Whiphid remained unfazed, creating a powerful beam of light with the Force that he threw right at the Muun's mind's eye. As Fabula tried to shake off the effects, his control slipped and throwing his saber like a small knife, it formed an arc of light through the air and plunged right into the Muun's chest, dropping him like a stone to the ground with a grunt.

Oracle hissed in annoyance as she saw her comrades fall, realising that if she didn't escape soon, she would soon be overwhelmed. Time to get out of here.

"A diverting entertainment my fine Jedi, but I don't like playing with the kiddie's league, come back when you've grown up." She sneered, stabbing right for Jaina's heart.

Jaina flipped away to avoid the attack, but then realised it was a ruse as Oracle made for the assault transport, which Scientia had reached and was now defending the ramp of with YVH droids. Oracle leapt past these droids, smirking as the last excavation droid finished pushing the Harvester into the hold.

Lumiya, Jacen and now K'kruhk were pinned down by the heavy artillery arcs of the droids, and unable to move forward. Luke and the others were pushing the others back towards the ship, which was now floating on repulsors.

White Eyes, otherwise known as Darth Stibinos, blocked a potentially lethal attack from the Grand Master. Locking their sabers, the Sith grunted, shoving back at the Grand Master. Luke reeled back a little, his blade still coming in to decapitate Stibinos. Stibinos growled, Force pushing Luke slightly and as the Jedi stumbled, Stibinos sacrificed a chance to wound the Jedi for a chance to escape, flipping into the air and landing behind the protective droids.

Leia blocked a final swing before she twirled, kicking the Neimodian in the chin, and then swinging her saber in a wide arc that took the head off of Darth Vitiosus' shoulders. Leia then moved forward to assist the others in trying to stop the ship, but it was fully powered, and now its mini lasers were active, the green bolts pounding at the ground, forcing her to backtrack before she was killed. Mara used the attack to her benefit, sending the dislodged shards of dried earth in a storm towards Luxuriae, and as he yelped, she stepped forward and smartly cleaved the Weequay in two.

Gracillo, the Givin, kicked Ben in the chest and followed up with a Force push, sending Ben tumbling into the dirt. The Givin then used an ascension cable, slinging himself into the ship's hold away from harm. As Ben recovered, Vestara, straining to force Bervex out of the saber lock, cast a small web of lightning at the Nuknog. Yelping as the light blinded him, she shoved his saber out of the way and stabbed him right through the throat. As Bervex dropped, she looked to the sky to see Oracle standing in the hold. Laughing mockingly, the Sith gave them a cheerful wave as the transport headed for space, bearing a piece of the Force Harvester along with it.

"Uh oh, that's not good." Jaina said as the ship vanished into thin air, leaving the group standing among the bodies of the dead Sith watching where the Sith ship had disappeared.

XX

"Master?" Vestara asked in the hold an hour later.

All the things had been stored, K'kruhk was already researching, and while Luke, Leia and Mara discussed the disturbing implications of the One Sith now being truly active in the galaxy, Lumiya had been pondering about Lord Vol.

Thugs though they were, the One Sith were strong thugs, and Vol was in a prime location to help her eliminate the vermin that dared to call themselves Sith. The galaxy was growing darker (partly why Luke and the others were basically in crisis talks), and the divisions between the Sith meant that the gathering dark could be used against them as much as it could be used in their favour. And regardless, she would have to deal with Krayt eventually anyway, a fact made all the more difficult now he had the Force Harvester.

The Jedi's light was going out of the galaxy, and Krayt now had the weapon to make it work. But he also had the power to destroy the Rule of Two and the Tribe and even Vongerella should the need arise, which didn't suit her plans at all. While the three main powers, herself, Krayt and Vongerella, had coexisted (bitterly though it may have been) the last few years, it did work because theoretically, none of them had the power to exterminate the others, Lumiya and Vongerella's fleets protecting them from Krayt all this time, and because he had been planning his own slow rise to power (not that he got far as he spent most of it in stasis).

Yes, perhaps it was time to consult with Lord Vol. Just to be on the safe side.

"You did well today my apprentice. In all areas." Lumiya said proudly and Vestara grinned, and followed her master to where the others were researching.

XX

Once again, they had arrived too late. While there was an imprint, a significant imprint in the dark side, it was clear that the Millennium Falcon was long since gone, as was the ship Oracle had taken here to salvage the remains of the Force Harvester.

And Khai was not happy.

For he could feel his daughter more clearly now. And he could feel the rising corruption within her, the loyalty to Lumiya, to the one who had destroyed their world in her spite.

And most disgusting of all, she could feel the rising feelings she had for the Jedi boy. He could feel them, slowly coming to light, starting as nothing more than a base attraction, primarily to suit the ends of herself and Lumiya. But now the silly girl was actually beginning to fall for the boy.

She was his daughter, he could feel it.

And he wouldn't have it.

"Proceed after them as before. We need to hurry. The witch Lumiya is turning my daughter into her play thing, and the Jedi boy is getting to her. We need to move quickly, lest she be lost to us completely." He said, and Sazat looked at him curiously.

"And if she is?" he asked hesitantly, and Khai glared.

"Then, we take steps. Whatever it takes." He said ominously as the ship once more leapt after their prey.

XX

The pirates had been attacking hard and fast. Devaron, Teyr, Kiffu and Ghorman had all been subject to raids, hitting convoys, space stations and orbital facilities, all as part of Collonzas' master plan, which the Wraiths hadn't been able to figure out until it was too late. By the time they got the location of where the true strike would fall, there was no way to alert anyone in power as to where they were going, not without exposing themselves.

And so it was that they came to Thyferra.

The Governor had dropped out of lightspeed first, right on top of an outbound bacta convoy. Using armed hyperspace tugs, the entire convoy had been captured within minutes, the THDC not even getting its fighters in the air before they were finished. And as the fighters had arrived, backed up by the small but powerful fleet of Carrack cruisers, combined with an Alliance Assault Frigate that was there to make sure the Vratix didn't act up, that was when the rest of the task force had arrived, once again forcing the Wraiths into battle against their own side.

The battle had been hard and fast, the fight unnecessarily brutal as the Wraiths and their pirate 'allies' wiped out or captured most of the THDC. While the Wraiths kept casualties to a minimum, in order to keep their cover they had been forced to shoot down a few pilots, and also help in the runs on the Carrack cruisers and the Assault frigates.

There were days being in Intelligence truly sucked.

The battle had always been won before the defences had gotten into gear. The humiliating defeat just made the devastation complete. Three of the five Carracks were destroyed, the other two had been captured by Collonzas' men, their crews vented to space. The same had been true of the Assault frigate, and any fighter that they had captured. With the battle done, the pirates had descended on Thyferra en masse, stealing as much bacta as they could get their hands on and destroying the rest. And then, as quickly as they came, they went.

The Alliance, predictably, did its nut. With civil wars happening across the galaxy, the last thing they needed was a bacta shortage, which was what they now had. The Thyferrans were outraged, demanding a full out cruiser in order to protect them, and also insisting an Alliance escort for all their convoys, which would further stretch thin the Alliance. Furthermore, with the price of bacta suddenly through the roof, the economy began to spiral out of control, weakening the value of the credit, causing economic turmoil across the galaxy.

Collonzas laughed as his assembled leaders watched the news reports from their raid on Thyferra, drink flowing freely. Lumiya had already sent a message of approval, as had Wyyrlok. The pirates were all happy, massive profits were being made as they sold bacta on at extortionate prices and fear of the united pirate fleet was spreading throughout the galaxy as the various planets feared what would happen next.

"You see boys, all it takes is a little patience, a little planning, and in one swift stroke, you can bugger up the government completely all in one easy lesson! So, three cheers and beers for my good friends!" he crowed triumphantly, toasting them as Veklanna kissed him seductively, the pirates cheering and toasting their visionary leader who for the first time since the Stark Hyperspace War had put pirates back on the map, making the galaxy as a whole fear them once again.

At his seat, Face, dressed as General Kargin, sipped his drink, falsely cheering and smiling while the pirates celebrated. They were failing in their mission. Collonzas was good, very good, and now that he had proven himself and made a name for himself, he was going to be even harder to stop.

In one strike, Collonzas had virtually destabilised the entire galaxy, along with making the civil wars that much worse, which would further weaken the Alliance, which was now economically weak on top of it all. Director Kalenda and Admiral Niathal wouldn't be happy, not happy at all. They had to up their game, they were failing, Collonzas was gaining more and more support from other pirate groups and he was getting bolder.

And they were still no nearer to stopping him.

So, Face drank his beer as the pirates congratulated each other, his gaze never leaving Collonzas as he and Veklanna made out, wondering just how far they would have to go to stop him, or how far he would force them to go before they stopped him for good.

Being in intelligence sucked.

XX

Copero had once been the headquarters of the Mitth Family. That was of course until the Vong had appeared from nowhere and had nuked the damn place out of existence, slaughtering its inhabitants with ease. However, due to being a busy shipyard, many more ships had been in orbit around the planet when the Vong had arrived. Though the Pain of Loss was only equivalent in power to a Lancer cruiser, their surprise attack, and their disgusting nuking of the planet, had allowed them to catch the defences off guard, and their ships had been rendered completely useless by the ship. The ships had been deactivated and when the Kor Chokk cruiser, the Embrace of Darkness had arrived they had dragged the deactivated and damaged ships into the shipyard, and with the help of their Vaagari allies, who were now pillaging the ships and trying to adapt them for their own uses, while keeping the terrified civilians and former military crews prisoner as slave labour. As dozens of civilian ships had been impounded, the Vaagari, who had mainly taken over the job of keeping the peace at Copero and were now only backed up by one of the Vong's new Vua'Spar Interdictors, had no lacking of victims to torture, rape and abuse.

And that was the situation that Ar'alani intended to solve.

She and her commanders had been studying the specs of their fleet, and all of the intelligence reports Wynssa had been bringing them in order to find out just what they were capable of, and now they finally had what they needed in order to launch the attack.

"Five Vaagari Star Destroyers are in charge of defensive operations around the shipyards. In addition, the Vong interdictor, which we believe to be a recent build since it wasn't involved in the initial attack, is also on station. It is our belief that the Vong are there to keep an eye on their allies as much as they are their victims." Wreth said, pointing to the holograms of the various enemy ships.

"Since Copero was a planet dependent upon its shipyard, when the attack went off, many civilian and partially finished military ships were trapped in orbit with no way out. The Vong rounded up all the ships, including the defensive military ships, and crammed them all into the shipyard, apparently as a gift to appease the Vaagari, who as you all know want to get their hands on our technology. In the spirit of this endeavour, they have kindly repaired all the ships, even the civilian ones, within the shipyard, but they still haven't found out how to adapt what they've learned, if indeed they have learned anything, to more practical applications, otherwise they'd have abandoned the place by now. With the Vaagari more interested in trying to utilise our technology, they haven't realised that they have now placed themselves in great jeopardy." Fel elaborated, and Ar'alani took over.

"Indeed they have. According to our calculations, we currently have thirteen military ships docked within the station, six of which are Star Destroyers and the rest various support craft. There are also around two dozen civilian ships docked on the shipyard, and most importantly round about eleven thousand of our kinsmen trapped in the claws of the Vaagari. Obviously, this is an opportunity we cannot miss, and we cannot in good conscience leave our people at the hands of our most brutal enemies any longer than they already have." She explained, and a pilot put up his hand.

"Do we think the slaves will revolt when we begin the attack?" he asked, and Ka'yn nodded.

"We believe so, they haven't been imprisoned long enough to have robbed them of their will to fight, at least that's what we believe but of course we have no way of being sure. However we are proceeding under the assumption that they will help." He said, and he once again gestured to the Admiral to take over the actual mission part of the briefing.

"In conference with Aristocra Formbi," Ar'alani said, nodding to the Aristocra, who nodded back, "we have placed the highest priority on this mission. As a result, most of our military forces will be taken up by this mission. We will leave the Skygust and the Matadorian behind to offer basic protection to the fleet, however, the rest will all be coming with us. Captains of said ships, needless to say, the civilian ships are your first priority. Should you be attacked, waste no time, get your charges out. The fleet will be going to red alert for the duration of this mission. All ships remaining behind will keep their hyperdrive spooled up and their hands on the lever so that they can go at a second's notice.

Now, the plan.

The Fell Defender will drop out of lightspeed at their periphery and start using our long range turbolasers. That ought to get their attention. While their forces respond, our starfighters will launch and escort our assault transports onto the shipyards, before facing off the Vaagari fighters and any coralskippers that may be there. Once on board, Captain Fel will have two objectives. The first will be to free the slaves and get them to their ships, the military ships of course being the most vital due to our situation. He will also take control of the shipyard defences, and turn them on the interdictor so that our forces can jump away.

While the Fell Defender crew achieves that aim, at the same time the Night Crawler will emerge on the opposite side of the installation and perform the same thing. The remaining three ships will then arrive in formation with the two Destroyers, allowing us to engage the Vaagari ships while our fighters tackle theirs. By that time, Fel will have command of the shipyard and the first of the ships will have joined us in the battle. As that occurs, the Olympian will then arrive and deploy the last of the fighters in order to help end the battle. The civilian ships on the station will start jumping out as soon as we have taken out the interdictor, and we will stay on station until all ships are away. Once all civilian ships are away, if we are outmatched, we flee, if not, we finish them. Any questions?" she asked, tapping her stick to the floor for emphasis.

One pilot stuck up her hand.

"Ma'am, what if the Vaagari decide to blow up the ships rather than let us take them back?" she asked, and Ka'yn answered this one.

"We believe that their desire to have our ships as their own will prevent them from doing just that. What is more, we also believe that the captives within the shipyards will also see that they don't do it." He explained, and another pilot put up his hand.

"What if the Vong return to reinforce the Vaagari?"

"We believe that the Vong are less concerned with us than they were initially, our recon patrols have only seen Vaagari forces other than a few stationary ships." Wreth said, and with that the pilots seemed satisfied, nodding eagerly.

"Obviously, this mission could mean the continued survival of the Chiss. We cannot fail. We go in five hours. Prepare yourselves, good hunting." Ar'alani said, dismissing them all, and as the pilots traipsed out, Soontir leaned in close to her.

"Yeah, but the Vong ships we've seen, none of them were involved in the initial attack. If the Vong had them then, why not use them?" he asked, and she looked at him stonily.

"You think the same as I then, that the Vong have built a shipyard somewhere?" she asked and he nodded.

"It would make sense, now they can carry on without anyone being any the wiser." He said grimly, and she nodded, just as Formbi walked up beside them.

"Well I propose we make that our first priority after this mission. Speaking of which Admiral, would you mind if I tagged along on the Fell Defender? I wish to know what's going on as it happens." He said, and Fel and Ar'alani exchanged shocked glances. Formbi was still just as cool in his treatment of Ar'alani as she was of him, and now he was willing to put himself in harm's way and under her jurisdiction? Everyone knew how frosty their relationship was, it was the worst kept secret in the fleet. Perhaps he was trying to build bridges.

"Very well, but if I give you an instruction, you must follow it Aristocra." She said sternly and he nodded.

"I accept your terms." He said stoutly, and she nodded.

"Well let us get underway, we have a battle to prepare for." She said, heading for the bridge.

XX

Shawnkyr's Clawcraft sped into battle, lasers firing as they gave the shuttles covering fire. A report dinged in the crewpit, signalling that the Night Crawler was in position and also launching fighters. Turbolaser fire erupted from the two Star Destroyers, hitting the oncoming Vaagari cruisers while the transports, under the protection of the fighters, ducked and weaved through space on their way to the shipyard. The Creepstalker then arrived, blazing in close and backing up the fighters as they battled the Vaagari ships. The Sandstorm and Tornado then erupted from lightspeed, adding their own fighters to the brawl as they joined their respective Star Destroyers.

Ar'alani braced herself as another blast from the oncoming Vaagari cruisers rocked her starship. As predicted there were five ships, however one of them was a heavy cruiser, which was sitting tucked in with the Vong interdictor, firing long range missiles at the two Star Destroyers while the smaller cruisers bore down on them, turbolasers pounding away at their shields.

"Captain Fel reports he is on board Admiral!" Doshi yelled as another blast illuminated the bridge.

"Excellent. Time to get our hands dirty. Full ahead, shields front, power to weapons, let's make some noise." Ar'alani said, and the crew hurried to carry out her orders.

The Tornado was firing everything it had at the oncoming Vaagari cruisers, but combined with the Star Destroyer's turbolasers, the weaker ships (which usually triumphed by swarming their opponents) were already received severe damage. Their fighter support had largely been broken, and the Chiss forces had them on the run, chasing them away from the ships docked in the shipyard.

The heavy Vaagari cruiser, seeing the trouble its smaller charges was having, blazed away from the interdictor, of course choosing to focus on the Fell Defender.

"Take evasive action!" Ar'alani barked as the ship started launching heavy rockets towards them, exploding and rocking the ship.

One Vaagari cruiser died as a salvo from the Tornado punched through the main fuselage, venting the crew into space. The smaller ship then turned to deal with the other cruiser, its stern already aflame as the Fell Defender headed right for the heavy cruiser, turbolasers pounding away at the superior ship.

"Admiral, the Night Crawler is requesting orders, they have defeated their cruisers and want to know if you want their help here or to protect the ships?" Doshi relayed, however Ar'alani was saved from answering as a rocket exploded right above the bridge, shaking the entire ship. Ar'alani screeched as she fell to the ground, her stick rolling into the crewpit as several consoles exploded, showering them all in sparks.

The noise echoing in her ears, Ar'alani tried to get to her feet, but without her stick she wasn't having much success. The entire room was spinning, alarms were blaring, the ship was shuddering from another impact, she could dimly hear cries of pain, but she could do nothing.

"Come along Admiral, this isn't the time to be lying around on the job." Formbi scolded, and she mustered the strength to glare at him. She received only a grim smile in response, and she took his accepted hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet as another impact shuddered into the hull.

Steadying her as the ship rocked once again, Formbi accepted her stick from a crewman and passed it to her, and she nodded thankfully, steadying herself before another blast hit.

"Are you alright?" he asked, and when she nodded he immediately ran into the crew pit to attend to a wounded crewman.

Taken aback by his helpfulness, she turned to see Wreth helping Doshi out from under a metal plate.

"Status report." She said as Doshi, to Wreth's surprise, leapt back into his chair.

"Captain Fel has reached the command centre, and the slaves are behind him. He's had them split into two, some of them are following him and the other troops, the rest are manning the ships, the first ones should be with us in minutes. The Night Crawler has engaged the heavy cruiser and has left the Sandstorm to assist in stopping the interdictor. The Tornado is providing covering fire for us." Doshi reported as a last rocket blew outside the viewport, once more rocking the ship.

"Get this man to the infirmary." Formbi ordered, as the orderlies carted off a wounded technician and Formbi promptly took his seat, making Ar'alani smile.

"Mr Formbi, how do we stand after the attack?" she asked, and he peered at the readouts.

"Slight damage to engine three, shields are just coming back up, superficial damage across the ship, several sensors have gone blind and we lost a turbolaser emplacement." He reported and Ar'alani smiled at Fel, who had recovered from the attack, leaving the man looking flabbergasted

Energy weapons then started lancing out from the shipyards, pummelling both the heavy cruiser and the interdictor above it. As the shipyards opened up with all of their weapons, the Olympian finally arrived, Clawcraft swirling into battle as they joined the fight, helping Shawnkyr and her fighters deal with the last of the Vaagari ships.

The two Star Destroyers were blasting away at the heavy cruiser, but the ship was still far from defeated despite some of the fighters now helping and the power of the shipyard. And it was then that a heavy turbolaser blast impacted right on the heavy cruisers stern and Ar'alani, looking out of the viewport, beamed at the sight she saw, all the military ships departing the shipyard, their weapons pounding at the remaining enemy ships.

"Admiral Ar'alani, this is Commander Myndic of the Star Destroyer Poison Chalice. Thanks for the save, we are at your command." He said, and Ar'alani smiled.

"You are most welcome Commander. Let's finish things here!" she ordered and she could hear the cheers from the liberated ship's crews over the comm as the combined Chiss fleet, now being flooded with packed civilian ships, made short work of the remaining Vaagari/Vong forces.

The battle over, the various civilian ships were being escorted to join the rest of the fleet. The Vaagari had all been killed and as far as they knew, no one had escaped. Various crews were now dismantling anything and everything of use in the shipyards. They may have gotten the people off, but to allow it to be used again, perhaps this time just to build Vaagari ships, would be foolhardy, hence they were stripping it bare before they destroyed the entire facility.

"What will we do now?" Fel asked curiously as they watched another civilian ship shoot to lightspeed.

The battle had gained them six fully armed and operational Star Destroyers, one carrier, two corvettes and four patrol frigates, all of them fully outfitted and crewed, giving them exactly what they needed, a much needed boost in morale. They had also freed several thousand Chiss captives and were now harbouring them within the fleet, which meant their people were a step further away from extinction.

"Well the Vaagari and the Vong will be out for revenge. We've humiliated them here, proven that we're not down and out yet, and they'll want to disabuse us of that notion as soon as possible. Even with the new ships, we won't be able to hold off a combined offensive by both species for long." Wreth warned darkly.

Myndic then chimed in from his ship, having been listening to the conversation over the comm.

"Whatever you want admiral, just give us the word." He said, and she acknowledged the sentiment.

"We will now proceed with our original plan. We will begin escorting the various civilian ships to the Redoubt. Now that we have the firepower we need to maintain an offensive defence, that is what we will do. We will use a rotation, some military ships escort ships to the Redoubt, drop them off and come back to us, where we will be protecting the rest of the fleet, and so on and so forth." She said, and Formbi nodded.

"Makes sense to me, however, there is one flaw Admiral. The Vong have undoubtedly parked their worldship right at the entrance to the Redoubt, it'll be impossible to get through, the fleet even before the attack would struggle to defeat it." He reasoned and she nodded.

"Quite right, which is why we'll be using the back door. Also, I intend to send one of the Star Destroyers in with them, to give a status update to anyone in power within the Redoubt and tell them of our plans." She said, and Ka'yn, from his own ship, interjected.

"When do we continue to?" he asked, and she smiled grimly.

"Until we've rescued as many as we can and blown up as many as we can." She responded darkly.

"And we hit them hard, let them know we're not going down without a fight." Go'Vari, also attending over the comm, added.

"Exactly. We will make them rue the day they dared attack us like they did. We will take the fight to them and make them suffer. While trying to get word to the outside galaxy anyway." Ar'alani amended, and they nodded as the various ships signed off.

As they all went about their assigned tasks, Ar'alani turned to Formbi and placed a hand on his wrist to stop him leaving.

"Will you be leaving with the first convoy Aristocra?" she asked and he gave her a small smile.

"I think not Admiral, after all, it is a gradual process you're proposing, the civilians will still need administration." He said and she nodded, a slight smile on her face.

"Very good. Thank you, for your efforts earlier. They were most appreciated. We could do a lot worse." She said kindly, holding out her hand, and smiling slightly, he shook it.

"As could I. Perhaps we can be friends Admiral." He said, and she nodded.

"Perhaps we can." She said musingly, and he gave her a sharp salute, which she returned before both of them went their separate ways, smiling.

XX

The holo flickered, and once again K'kruhk feared for the life of his friend before she returned to the view, scowling as she did so.

"She's getting more and more powerful. Calrissian has stopped all mining processes, and he's hired scientists from all over the joint to try and figure out what's happening to his planet. Needless to say, they're baffled." She said grimly, and K'kruhk looked at her worriedly.

"How long can you hold out?" he asked, and she hesitated as the planet rocked beneath her again.

"I've no idea. Her Force powers are growing K'kruhk, she's lashing out more and more. However much she might have exhausted herself attacking you on Ziost, she's now back in business and nastier than ever. I can feel her power growing, she's destabilising everything in the system, the Maw itself, the Force and the planet. K'kruhk, I don't know how much longer I can hold her, and I don't see very many options. Either I hold my ground and hope you get here in time, summon reinforcements or leave Kessel to its fate. Calrissian will have to evacuate eventually anyway, even he isn't that much in love with the profit motive." She said tersely, and the Whiphid nodded.

"We are making progress in discovering more about her and her capabilities. One of the scrolls we took from Thule before our little run in with the Sith," he began, but T'ra interrupted him.

"Speaking of which, have you alerted the Council yet?" she queried and he shook his head.

"No, and Luke hasn't alerted his one either. Or the government." He said, and T'ra scowled at him.

"K'kruhk, they need to know! It doesn't do us much good to deal with Abeloth if the Sith come along and stab us in the back. Tell them, and get Luke to tell his lot too." She scolded and he scowled back.

"I will, as soon as we deal with issues on Thule. And Luke will at least need to deal with his Council, one of his Jedi encountered a Sith on Blaudu Sextus, so he needs to address his Council at the very least. However we are trying to avoid causing a panic, and announcing the return of the Sith will cause that."

"A panic be damned, they need to be prepared. What were you saying about Thule?" she asked, her tone grumpy, and K'kruhk pushed on before she found anything else to nag him about.

"One of the scrolls mentioned the ancient art of draining the life from something, which is one of her primary weapons according to what we know. As a result, we are heading to Katarr, to the mausoleum of Darth Nihilus to see what we can discover." He informed her, and she nodded.

"Seems logical I suppose."

Her gaze was then distracted, and a second later she turned back to k'kruhk, her face ashen.

"K'kruhk, she just wrecked half a mountain, she caused a landslide that destroyed a miles high mountain, and then an earthquake to finish it off. She's getting finer control over the earthquakes she's been causing too, she's trying to isolate me so she can kill me. Please hurry, I'm afraid I won't last much longer!" T'ra urged, and he nodded kindly.

"We will be on our way to you soon, hold out a little longer. We need to know more before we confront her, but as soon as we get it, we will be there." He vowed and she looked at him fondly.

"I know you will old friend. But if you could get your finger out and hurry up, I'd be most appreciative." She said, and he nodded.

"We will. May the Force be with you."

"And you."

XX

"You know, I'm not asking much just somewhere that doesn't have a lot of Sith local history, that would be good." Han grumbled after they made planetfall on Katarr.

The group had easily found the mausoleum, and for a change hadn't given themselves an incredibly long walk to get to it. Unlike the other words however, there was nothing. At least Thule had still had a bit of life about it. Katarr was completely dead.

"What happened here?" Leia asked, looking around as they moved towards the mausoleum.

"During the First Jedi Purge, the Jedi, determined to see the threat that stalked them, came here, hoping to use the native Miraluka's power of vision to boost their own in order to perceive the threat. However, Atris, one of the Council, sought to lure the Sith out, believing a much reduced Order could defeat the threat, and leaked the information. Darth Nihilus arrived, landed on the planet, and as soon as he opened his mouth, everything died. All life in the planet was sucked out of existence, consumed to feed his power. The Jedi Council, the Miraluka, several other Jedi, none of them had any chance against him. He sucked the planet bone dry, killing sentient, flora and fauna. The very life was eradicated. It's been as you see it today, like this, for the better part of four thousand years. No life. No sound. No water. No wind. No weather. It's just a dead rock with an atmosphere, with abandoned cities all over it, all in the same condition they were when he arrived. Nothing has changed because nothing exists to change it. This place makes all the other worlds we've visited look like beach resorts." K'kruhk told her, once more going back into full storyteller mode.

Vestara looked around. Nothing moved. Their footsteps echoed across the planet as they skirted the edge of the empty city, as K'kruhk said, was still in perfect condition. Other than the planet looking like it had been covered in grey. There was no colour, aside from themselves. No wind, they were lucky to have air. Even the sun didn't shine like it ought to, the entire place was dead, just as he'd said.

It was then that Ben asked the question she'd been about to ask, but whether because he'd felt her curiosity through their bond she didn't know.

"I don't get it. If this Nihilus dude wiped out all life, why would they build a mausoleum for him here?" he asked curiously.

"It wasn't the Miraluka who built it, it was supporters of the Sith. After the death of Nihilus at Telos and the loss at Malachor, a Sith ship came here, intending to honour their dead master. They blamed the infighting between Traya and Sion for their lot, and argued that it was Traya who had destroyed them, so, loyal to their master to the last, they built the mausoleum and simply faded into nothingness." K'kruhk explained as they started ascending the ramp to the mausoleum.

"Master, does that technique still exist?" Vestara asked, and Lumiya took note of the tone of slight alarm in her voice, she saw the futility of such powers.

"In the same way as Nihilus used, no. After the Second Great Galactic War and the death of the Sith Emperor, the ability in that guise largely died out. Lord Sidious used the ability to a certain extent on Byss after his return, but it didn't work in the same way, he couldn't feed on them all at once, he fed of them over a long period of time, which is why most inhabitants of Byss were dark side fanatics, either that or lobotomised morons. The ability to use the technique as a weapon largely died out, there were rumours of it during the New Sith Wars of course, but if any records on how to use the power to the same extent as Nihilus did they would have been collected by Darth Bane. And if he did so, Darth Gravid most likely destroyed it when he went ga-ga." She explained and Jacen, grinning, looked at Lumiya curiously.

"A Sith Lord went ga-ga? Was he part of the Rule of Two? That would make it even worse." He said, and Lumiya nodded.

"And it did. He had a similar approach to myself, arguing that a Sith need not be an insane, galaxy conquering, mass murdering, megalomaniacal lunatic to be effective. However, while I believe compassion does have a place in the Sith teachings, he believed the Sith would be better off if they followed the light side. As he was one half of the Rule of Two, this was very serious, especially when the nutter started trying to destroy all the Sith lore he had. His Twi'lek apprentice, Darth Gean, took exception to this and killed him, though the battle maimed her considerably."

Alema's eyes suddenly misted over as she looked into space.

"She's my favourite Sith." She said, and Lumiya looked most perturbed.

"What about me?" she demanded petulantly while the others all grinned.

Alema shrugged.

"You're alright I suppose, but you're not a maimed Twi'lek, doing her part for the Balance." She said wistfully, and Lumiya glowered at her.

"No, but I am a maimed Sith, doing my part for the dark side you cheeky dancing bug slut lunatic." She grumbled under her breath, and when Ben and Vestara caught each other's eye they had to look away before they started laughing, which the others were already failing in their effort not to do.

Ignoring them, Lumiya glared at Alema.

"I better be your favourite out of the current claimants." She said tartly, and Alema nodded absently, and Jacen grinned.

"I don't know, I'm kind of liking this Krayt dude." He said cheerfully, and Leia, struggling to keep a straight face, stood between her son and the furious Sith Lord who looked like she wanted to rip his head off.

"Can we hurry this up before my son's mouth gets him into trouble? See I just got him back and I don't want to lose him to a pissed off Sith Lord with popularity issues." She said, and Lumiya gnashed her teeth in irritation.

K'kruhk, chuckling along with Luke, examined the door, and found how to open it. A set of two levers was on the door. What was it with the ancient Sith and levers?

"Ah, a lever, this looks promising." He said, and then heard a rustle. Turning, he discovered Lumiya standing on the raised wall, looking at the ground untrustingly.

"Doesn't hurt to be safe. Pull the lever K'kruhk!" she ordered, and he did so.

A large urn then fell from above, trapping Luke beneath it with a yelp of alarm.

"Yes! There is justice in the universe!" Lumiya crowed while cackling along with the others.

Within the urn, Luke sighed in irritation.

"Other lever maybe?" he asked in exasperation, and he used the Force to shatter the urn as K'kruhk opened the door to the tomb.

The tomb was basically a long raised walkway, ending in another door. As they entered the building, Han drew his blaster nervously and put a hand on K'kruhk's shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.

"Hey I thought you said this place was long abandoned?" he asked, and he nodded.

"Should be."

"Then how do you explain them?" Han asked, pointing.

Jaina raised her lit lightsaber to illuminate the room, then jumped back onto her aunt's foot in shock. There were people standing there, perfectly still, flanking the walkway as if they were an Imperial honour guard.

"Impossible..." K'kruhk whispered to himself as Mara soothed her foot.

Peering at one of them, he found them to be a little short for a human, much the same size Jaina was, standing perfectly still, their faces covered by a small circular breath mask and large wide goggles.

"How can they still be here after all this time?" Leia asked in shock, peering at one.

"They must have become anchored to his place when the end came, without Nihilus around they would just have seized up, he was essentially the puppet master." Lumiya explained as she and Vestara examined one.

Jacen quickly grabbed Ben's wrist as they stood by the one they were investigating.

"Don't' touch anything." He intoned and Ben grinned sheepishly and lowered his hands.

"This place is creepy, can we go?" Jaina asked, and K'kruhk nodded.

"They don't seem to be bothering anyone. Come." He said, beckoning them deeper into the mausoleum.

"You boys just keep your hands where I can see them." Han said warningly, and Leia rolled her eyes.

"Dear, they're four thousand year old Sith puppets, they can't hear you." She chided slightly, and he looked at them untrustingly.

"You don't know." He protested as they moved further in, Ben obediently keeping close to his cousin while Vestara stuck to her master, who was leading Alema, who wanted to touch the long dead minions, along by her remaining lekku.

Going through the next door (without a lever, it opened by shoving it) they entered into an antechamber. An open heavy door ahead of them seemed to lead to a shrine room, as a large statue of Nihilus had been constructed within. The other two led off to other areas.

"Split up?" Mara asked, and K'kruhk nodded.

"May as well. Bring back any and all that you find, we can sort through it later." He said, and Vestara raised an eyebrow.

"What if it's worthless?" she asked, and Lumiya smiled greedily at her.

"Then some stuffy old twit in a museum will always pay for it." She advised her, and Vestara grinned, before taking hold of Alema before she tried to wander off again.

"So, the Skywalker clan, Vestara and I will head in this direction, you lot take the other." K'kruhk said, oblivious to the dirty looks Luke and Mara were giving him. Jacen and Jaina grinned slightly and headed off with their parents, Lumiya and Alema bringing up the rear.

K'kruhk placed a hand on Vestara's shoulder as they walked, interrupting her and Ben's conversation about creepy things on Kesh, drawing her aside. Mara looked back curiously, and seeing that he was dealing with Ben's resident crush, she shoved Ben gently in front of her and moved to whisper in his ear.

"Yes Master K'kruhk?" she asked cautiously, not entirely sure what was going on here.

"I just wanted to see how you're settling in, and how you were coping with Kesh." He said kindly, placing his hand around her shoulder and leading her gently, but contrary to what she believed were her wishes, she didn't shove him off, it felt strange, like she had always imagined a grandfather or an uncle.

"I'm alright I suppose. Lumiya's made me feel welcome, and Ben is..." she said, leading off, and K'kruhk chuckled.

"I'm sure he is. Though my dear, I must advise caution." He said, and she glared at him.

"Meaning what?" she asked belligerently, and he held up a finger to stem the flow of hostility coming from her.

"Meaning that I can sense your rising feelings for him. You and Ben are connected, in ways even the best of us don't understand. That is influencing you to a significant degree. As is the fact that you both genuinely like each other and find each other attractive. I have no wish to see either of you hurt." He said kindly, and Vestara was a little taken aback.

While she was angry he was trying to interfere, she also felt that he did genuinely seem to care about her. How strange.

"What do you mean?" she asked hesitantly, and he sighed.

"My dear, believe me, I wish for nothing more than you and Ben to be free to do whatever you damn well please, it's obvious you care about each other. My concern is, you two are not the only ones interested in you two, what is the term all the young ones use nowadays, oh yes, hooking up."

She said nothing and didn't look at him, which he took as leave to continue.

"I'm sure I don't need to tell you that your master is most likely very keen on you getting together. And she isn't the only one. Among our little clan, there are those among us that are as determined to see you together as others are to see you apart." He explained and she turned to glare at him.

"Lumiya is my master, she's taken me in and has been looking after me. But she has nothing to do with me and Ben." She snapped, and K'kruhk held his hands up in surrender.

"I meant no disrespect to your master child. In fact I've nothing but respect for the way she took you in. I just want you to be careful my dear, I'm rather fond of you and don't want to see you getting hurt. Lumiya may be your master now, but she is still a Sith with an agenda, and I can't help but fear that she'll use you like she uses everyone else." He said, and she grinned wickedly.

"I would think less of her if she didn't. She's Sith." She said and trotted to catch up with the others, leaving K'kruhk chuckling and watching the girl musingly as she headed after Ben.

"Mom..." Ben said in exasperation, and she looked at him patiently.

"Sweetheart, I know I'm being a nag. But she's dangerous, especially to you." Mara said in exasperation and Ben scowled.

"Lumiya's dangerous to all of us, so is Alema, why is Vestara any different?" he demanded, and Mara looked at him consolingly.

"Because she's bound to you. You weren't talking to her for a while, and I thought..."

"Thought what? That it would be great because I wasn't talking to her for a while?" he asked sullenly, and Mara sighed in exasperation.

"Ben, she's a Sith, and you can be sure Lumiya has noticed the way you two keep checking each other out. She's dangerous, I don't want you getting your heart broken, or worse." She explained irritably and Ben rolled his eyes.

"Is this really about me getting hurt because she's a Sith, or because she's a girl?" he asked, and rather than answer, Mara looked thoughtful.

"Hmm, good question." She admitted and he grinned in spite of himself.

"Mom, can't you just trust me? I'll admit it, I like Vestara. That what you wanted to hear? Mom, I know she's a Sith, I know she'll likely gut me as soon as look at me, and I also know Lumiya is just as interested in us being together as you are." He said, and Mara scowled this time.

"I'm not interested in the same way she is." She said in a dignified voice.

"No, but you are interested. Mom, I've never even fancied a girl before, can't you just leave me alone? You know, trust me to do the right thing?" he asked hopefully and he looked so earnest that despite her best intentions, she sighed.

"Alright. I'm only trying to protect you, but I can see you're set on this. So promise me two things ok?" she asked, and Ben nodded patiently.

"Course."

"First, just be careful. I get that you like her, and she's your first crush, but don't forget who and what she is. I don't want you getting hurt." She said, stroking his cheek fondly and he grinned.,

"I will mom, I promise." He said, and she hugged him to her.

"And second, promise me this. No sex without safe sex." She whispered in his ear and he pulled back, scandalised.

"Mom!" he exclaimed in shock and she shrugged.

"Hey, I'm not ready to be a grandma, that's Leia's job. But if it blows up on you, don't come crying to me." She said tartly, but her resolve melted a second later when Ben hugged her again.

"Thanks mom. Now let's go, I want to get off this creepy world." He said, and he edged ahead, leaving Mara to deal with an amused Luke.

"He's right. He's a teenager darling, a teenager who is now bound to an attractive girl who is the complete polar opposite of him. Of course he fancies her, he'd be mad not to. She's pretty, the same age as he is, powerful like he is, she gets what his life is like and being with her would undoubtedly piss her off, which only adds to her allure. We don't have to like it. And yeah, I wouldn't put it past Lumiya to manipulate it for her own ends. But through everything, him being our son, Jacen's cousin, a Jedi apprentice, I reckon we've overlooked something very important." He said sagely, and she looked at him curiously.

"Which is?"

"He's a teenager." He said simply, and she smiled a little.

"I suppose. I'm still convinced he likes her only to annoy us." She said, and Luke grinned with maddening superiority.

"Oh? And your master would be delighted with who you married?" he asked and she grinned ruefully.

"Point. But what if he gets hurt?" she asked, and he smiled slightly.

"Mara, it's part of growing up. He's a teenager, he's going to experience heartbreak at some time or other, we both did." He said, and she arced an eyebrow at him.

"Who says I did?" she demanded and Luke grinned.

"Lumiya told me about you and one Moff Kadir. Little crush was it?" he teased and she seethed.

"I'll kill that big mouthed Sith witch. Alright I admit it, we'd dated a few times and I kind of liked him, and then he went and betrayed the Emperor so was killed, and left me heartbroken. And then, because I hadn't known he was involved in a coup the Emperor punished me. Happy now?" she asked and he leaned his forehead against hers, smiling.

"Exactly. I had Callista, Mary and a couple of others. It's part of growing up, he's bound to get burned a few times. And when it happens, he'll need his mom around to help put things right." He said soothingly, and she smiled.

"Alright. I'll hang fire. But I swear, she breaks my kid's heart, I'll break her legs." She growled menacingly, and Luke chuckled.

"You know, Han is right. Both Ben and Jacen really are mommy's boys." He said, laughing and she winked.

"Hey, least I'll get a nice retirement home with Leia, they'll just stick you and Han on a ship to somewhere and leave you there." She said smugly, making Luke laugh more, but then he looked at her worriedly.

"They wouldn't really do that would they?" he asked nervously and she laughed.

Ten minutes later, both parties met again in the junction room, carrying various scrolls and tomes.

"It's as much as we could carry. Let's get out of here, we can look at them on the ship." Leia said, leading them into the corridor.

"Um, K'kruhk?" Jaina asked nervously, stopping suddenly.

"Yes Jaina?"

"When we went in, those guy's eyes were dull weren't they?" she asked nervously, and he nodded.

"Yes why?"

"Then how come they're suddenly glowing red?" she asked in alarm and the group looked up in shock as the minions who had been standing stock still all turned to face them as one, their eyes glowing a sinister red, force pikes being activated.

"See! I told you we couldnt trust the creepy zombie Sith dudes!" Han grumbled, reading his blaster but Jacen shook his head, standing in front of his father.

"Dad, no." He said, and Han glared.

"Hey, I may be getting on..."

"It isn't that. These guys are Sith assassins." He said, as if that should mean something to his irate father.

"So?"

"So they feed on Force sensitives, and if I was a betting woman I'd say it was us raiding the place that woke them. Keep back and protect the scrolls, help from afar if you can but sorry Solo, up close you'll just get in the way." Lumiya said, cracking her whip into existence.

The others all lit their lightsabers, and Han, still grumbling, edged back with the information they had collected while the others formed a wall across the room, facing the thirty or so Sith assassins.

"Be careful, especially you two." Vestara said to Jacen and Luke, and Luke smiled slightly.

"Is that concern I hear in your voice Vestara?" he asked jestingly and she gave him a cool smile.

"Yes, but not for you. According to one of the scrolls I read in there, these assassins feed off the Force, like their master did, which perhaps explains how they are still alive after four millennia. The stronger their prey is, the stronger they are. So I'd rather you didn't die so they didn't kill me." She said brightly, earning her an indulgent smile from Lumiya as Luke scowled.

The assassins then vanished from view, shimmering from existence.

"Stealth generators? That's not fair!" Jaina protested, and Jacen hushed his sister, using their twin bond to try and locate the first assassin. The group clustered together, but then Jacen, his senses heightened, caught a flicker, and gathering his strength, lashed outwards with the Force.

The Sith assassins made a gurgling cry as they were blown over the room, away from the group, allowing the Jedi and Sith forces to make their move. Luke spiralled into the air, landing in front of two of them and slicing them in half with a single blow. Mara blocked the swing of a force pike, falling back as the assassin advanced on her relentlessly, force pike going for her head. She blocked the swing, twirling away from the attack before hacking upwards with her saber behind her, ripping through his chest. Vestara wasted no time, catching two of them with Force lightning, and while she immobilised them Ben finished them off. He then caught two in a Force push, allowing Vestara to kill them too. Lumiya's whip forced three back at once the bizarre weapon confounding the assassins as they tried to get in close to kill her, and while Lumiya held them off, Alema used her dart gun to kill two, before letting Lumiya whip the other one to pieces. Leia blocked a stealthy attack of one before kicking at another, wincing as a force pike came too close. K'kruhk blocked an attack of his own, facing off against four assassins at once, who, along with all the other ones, all vanished.

"Nobody move." Luke ordered as the group clustered together, waiting for the assassins to make their next move.

Han was looking around the place, desperate for any sign of movement. However it was clear that they had learned their lesson, not giving anything away this time. There was then a flicker as an assassin appeared behind Jacen and Luke, and before Han could alert either of them, he gestured, and an orange light blazed from the two of them into him, making them drop to the floor crying out in pain as they collapsed.

"Not good." Jaina said as the rest of the assassins then emerged from their stealth fields and once again tackled them.

"There's something different here!" Jaina cried, blocking a potentially deadly strike with the very edge of her saber.

"I warned you, now they're all sharing their power! They have some of Jacen and Luke's power!" Vestara cried, yelping in alarm as one assassin nearly cleaved her in two.

There was then a loud grating noise as several doors opened in the walls and yet more assassins, their eyes glowing menacingly, emerged from them, readying their own weapons as the assassin who had drained Luke and Jacen discarded his force pike and raised his hands. Two lightsabers then flew out of one of the alcoves, landing in his hands and flooding them all in red light as he ignited them.

"We're outnumbered here!" Lumiya cried, crushing one assassin with the Force while she decapitated two more, the battle raging all around them.

"Luke, move!" Mara urged, cutting down two assassins as they tried to kill her husband, but now she wss struggling, and she was trying to protect him while protecting herself too, and it was going to get them both killed.

"I'll be fine...take my saber." Luke whispered, his voice tired and groggy as he leaned against the wall.

"Protect him." Mara ordered Han as she took her husbands saber and engaged the increasingly dangerous assassins.

Ben was by Jacen's side, looking at him worriedly.

"Ben, focus. Look out!" Jacen cried, his tired eyes widening in alarm as the leader, the one with the lightsabers, trid to take Ben's head off.

Ben was already on the move, flipping into the air and summoning Jacen's blade to his other hand. Landing, mirroring his mother with a blue and green saber in hand, the two Skywalkers still standing launched themselves at the assassins while the others tried their hardest to fend the enemy off.

Jaina kicked one assassin in the chest and then cut another in two, before being beset by three at a time. Alema was there in the next instant, her blade cutting through one of the assassins and one of her darts taking out another. The two then charged a throng of assassins, who once again vanished, dancing around them sinisterly before repearring and trying to skewer them. Vestara cast lightning at a group that was hassling K'kruhk, giving the Whiphid a brief respite which enabled him to cut down another assassin. He nodded at Vestara, who then went pale as another group emerged from the alcoves.

"Beginning to think his retainer crew was rather large when they came here to honour Nihilus!" Lumiya hissed, nodding thankfully to Han as he had just shot an assassin with a bead on her in the head.

Her whip cleaved another assassin into pieces, but that was when the new batch arrived in earnest, adding themselves to the throng.

"They're too powerful!" Leia cried, blocking several attacks at once and managing to cut through one's chest.

"Where are they all coming from, how are they still alive?" Han demanded, shooting at two who were trying to get to him, Luke and Jacen.

The leader then bored of trying to attack Jaina, flipping towards the fallen Jedi and gathering the Force to him, prepared to finish his food source.

"Stop him!" K'kruhk yelled as he landed on an assassin that nearly killed Alema.

The one with the sabers swung his weapons, only to find them intercepted by a blue and green saber.

"Get away from them." Ben hissed angrily, shoving him back.

The two of them then went at it, the juiced up assassin hammering at Ben's defence. However, with him distracted, the other assassins were in more danger, as Mara and Lumiya, exchanging significant looks, joined forces, the two of them forming an impenetrable offence and defence, one of them taking one role and then switching when the other had a shot. Vestara used K'kruhk as a boost, leaping into the air and coming down on top of a further assassin, and after dispatching him she blasted another away with Force lightning. Jaina then grunted in shock as another assassin, this one revealing a single red blade from a holster on his back, fixed her with a beam and drained her too, dropping her to the ground.

"Not my daughter you son of a bitch!" Leia snarled as he moved to cleave his weakened victim's head off. Leia blocked the swing and then began to engage him in a vicious duel.

Alema was twirling erratically through the air, cutting down several more Sith all by herself, however she was now beset by a large group who were pushing at her, trapping her against the wall.

"Alema..." a tired Jaina moaned, and tried to figure out how she could help the Dark Jedi.

Ben slammed his blades into the leader's, forcing him off balance, and then an idea came to him.

"Jaina!" he yelled, blocking and springing backwards as the assassin leader nearly killed him once again.

K'kruhk then gave a Force cry, sending his and Alema's attackers staggering and allowing him to make short work of his own attackers, but they were still vastly outnumbered, and Alema was struggling, Leia and Ben were too focused on their own duels and Luke, Jacen and Jaina were out, and despite his best intentions, Han just wasn't shooting many people.

"What?" Jaina gasped wearily, and he sent her a Force flash into her mind, and a small smile came to her face.

Ben initiated a saber lock, the assassin growling as he started to hammer away at Ben's defences, pushing him back towards his fallen father and cousin, where Han was now being surrounded by assassins, pushing forward to end his and his charge's lives. Ben ducked out of the way of another blow before throwing Jacen's saber and then his own in a tight arc, taking down four of the throng that was trying to kill his family members, and he caught them in his hands and blocked another attack by the assassin leader just in time.

"Ben!" Luke exclaimed weakly, but Jacen, leaning his head against the wall, grinned.

"He's got a plan." He assured his uncle, as Ben shoved the assassin away.

Jaina, gathering what remained of her strength, flung her saber through the air, using the Force to guide its movements. The assassin leader had to turn to block it, and it was then that Ben struck, taking advantage of his distraction by cutting one arm off before stabbing both sabers into his neck and slicing outwards, sending his head to the ground.

"Impressive." Luke admitted and Jacen grinned.

"He learned from the best."

Ben then landed in the middle of an attacking throng, taking down a couple that were crowding Vestara and she grinned.

"You suit two sabers." She said playfully and he grinned at her as the two pushed forward together.

Lumiya took down another and hissed, they were soon going to be overwhelmed, as another group of meant to be long dead assassins, another wielding lightsabers, entered the fray from the alcoves.

"Where the hell are they coming from?" Mara demanded angrily, blocking a vicious murder attempt while Lumiya crushed her attacker.

Jacen hissed as he saw the others close to being overwhelmed, even though his mother had just killed the one threatening his sister.

"Alright, new plan. Artoo!" he gasped into the comm, and he received a whistle in return.

"Get here now!" he ordered and the droid whistled triumphantly.

The group of defenders were being forced back by the sheer number of assassins. Forming a shield around Jaina, who Han had dragged over to the others, Jacen and Luke, the group was running out of room to manoeuvre as the assassins pressed their attack.

A blast then blew apart several assassins, distracting the others as they turned to see what had attacked them.

The Falcon was floating outside the mausoleum, its lower cannon blasting away at the assassins. And that was their cue to leave.

"Good work Artoo, take the ship up!" Jacen ordered and the droid beeped happily.

"Take that Sith dogs! Oh my, I don't know what came over me, why did I say that?" Threepio asked in shock as Artoo tittered in amusement.

The ship flew a bit further up, and the group moved. Alema grabbed Jaina in a Force grip and threw the now unconscious girl through the air and up onto the ramp of the ship. The Twi'lek then slashed down two more assassins, putting on a burst of speed and making for the exit. Several assassins pursued, and K'kruhk moved, creating a Force wave that blew several off their feet with a yelp. He gestured at their collected materials, and with a burst of concentration, brought it to a fairly gentle stop on the ship. He then cut down two more attackers before hoisting Luke over his shoulder, while Lumiya did the same with Jacen, grumbling as she did so as she turned off her whip.

"Force pushes now!" Mara yelled and as one they released their power, scattering the recovering assassins and making a break for it. Leia jumped onto the ship first, and K'kruhk threw Luke, still slightly awake, to her and she caught him and lowered him into the ship. Mara then jumped up and helped guide in Jacen as Lumiya, Vestara and Ben turned to face the oncoming mass of incensed assassins.

"Time to go I think." K'kruhk said, leaping to safety.

"Couldnt agree more." Lumiya said, making her own escape.

"Wait." Ben said, and Vestara, their bond telling her what he planned, nodded as he threw both sabers. Giving them a burst of speed with the Force as he guided them, the sabers cleaved a massive chunk of rock from the entrance, slamming down on some assassins. Ben indicated for Vestara to go first, and as she leapt to the safety of the ship, he caught his sabers and followed suit, landing catlike in the hold.

"Gun it Artoo!" he yelled, and the ramp clicked shut, and with a final burst of speed the Falcon shot for space, leaving the deadly assassins of Katarr far behind as they made for safety.

XX

"I'm afraid we missed them again Saber Khai." Dredity reported, and Khai snarled in frustration.

"Her corruption is getting worse, I can sense it, her loyalty to Lumiya, her feelings for the Jedi brat! This is intolerable! We need to find her." He snarled, and Sazat nodded.

"Of course my lord, but we don't know where they're going." He pointed out, and Khai, gnashing his teeth, closed his eyes as he tried to divine their eventual location.

And then, to his great surprise, it seemed as if something moved a blinker from his visions, as suddenly he could see it as clear as day. Laughing, he didn't notice the cackle that echoed in the back of the darkness as he opened his eyes.

"Check our records for places covered with graves that have any tie to the dark side in any way." He ordered, and Dredity did so, examining the archives.

"None, but hang on, this looks promising. A moon of Bogden, a planet in the Inner Rim, by the name of Kohlma is the site of thousands of graves, the origin of which are unknown, and according to a Jedi survey the place is steeped in the dark side." She reported and Khai grinned in a predatory manner.

"That's it, that's where they are going. Set a course for the Bogden system! They won't escape me this time. And then, Vestara will either see sense...or I'll kill her." He vowed as the Schism jumped once again.

XX

Once safely in hyperspace on the way away from Katarr, Luke, Jacen and Jaina had been ordered to bed to recover their strength. During that time, K'kruhk had split off the others to try and discover anything that might relate to or indicate what Abeloth was, but they had found nothing.

"The thing is, those assassins nearly killed Luke and the others, and she will be much more powerful, we need a way to counteract that power." Lumiya said as she and Alema studied one of the Kesh holocrons to see if it had anything of use.

"Loathe though I am to admit it, she's right, we need more information." Mara said, but K'kruhk didn't look convinced.

"T'ra is barely holding on as it is, we're running out of time and I don't want to condemn her to death if it can be avoided." He said, looking at another scroll fruitlessly.

"We won't condemn her K'kruhk, but unless we get more information we're condemning the entire galaxy." Leia said kindly and he growled.

"Well we haven't got any to find!" he snapped in frustration, but he then felt Luke behind him, spreading his irritatingly calm aura through the room.

"It'll be fine K'kruhk. We'll get there in time." He said, sitting down beside Han, who looked at him questioningly.

"You ok kid?" he asked and Luke nodded.

"Yeah, still a little pooped but my powers have recovered. I never want that to happen again." He said, but before the others could say anything they were disturbed by a sleepy looking Jacen and Jaina entering the room.

"Look on the bright side, you got to see how awesomely I've been training your son's saber skills." Jacen said brightly.

K'kruhk cleared his throat nonchalantly.

"With a little help from K'kruhk of course." Jacen said, bowing his head and K'kruhk cracked a small smile in appreciation.

"Yeah, no denying the kid was pretty good against that assassin dude. Just like you were princess." Han said before Leia got stroppy and she smiled.

"Alright, so if we need more information, where do we get it?" Mara asked, and Alema pointed to the scroll she was reading.

"This place? It's meant to have a large library stored under it that might help, and it's a cold world so it ought to be well preserved." She reasoned and Lumiya read it, a flicker of fear passing across her face as she did so.

"Lumiya?" Jaina asked and the Sith looked right at K'kruhk.

"It's Odacer-Faustin." She said weakly and K'kruhk's eyes widened, but before they could elaborate Ben and Vestara charged in, looking triumphant.

"We've got it." Vestara said breathlessly, and Mara looked most displeaded.

"You better not have!" she snapped and Ben rolled his eyes.

"Not that!" he cried in exasperation, making Vestara look at him curiously.

"Got what?" Jaina asked, and Ben grinned.

"What Abeloth is." He said, and the two began to explain.

"We were looking at one of the scrolls from Thule, another document explaining the origins of their goddess. However, it turned out to be a passage on the Celestials, the ones who built the galaxy, and we found more on them, and combined them with the Sith's accounts of Abeloth." Vestara began.

"The Celestials were a great and powerful race, immensely strong in the Force, acting like the ancient Jedi, in balance with it, not adhering to either side. However, one Celestial wasn't like the others. There was a family of Celestials, who had profound ideas on the Force, that it belonged divided rather than united. There were four of them, a Father, a Mother, a Son and a Daughter. The Son fell to the dark side, as the Daughter kept to the light. The Celestials were taken aback by this, but allowed it, after all, Mother and Father apparently kept them behaving. There was a problem though." Ben continued, and Vestara once more took over.

"They were a powerful and fairly well off family, and they had a Servant to clean and keep their home, a travelling Tho Yor, functioning. Servant however, envied them. She had always wanted Father for her own, and believed that Son and Daughter ought to have been her children. She convinced herself that Father loved her. In order for them to be together, Servant manipulated Son and Daughter into fighting each other. While they fought and the parents were distracted, Servant attempted to kill Mother. She was repulsed, but Servant used her considerable powers to blast Mother into the way of a blast between Son and Daughter, and she was killed. Father then condemned her, as did Son and Daughter, as she had forced them to kill their Mother. Servant was shocked that Father didn't automatically love her once his wife was killed. She believed he had fallen in love with her, and that he would be pleased that they would be together."

Ben grinned darkly.

"Only he wasn't. He, Son and Daughter used their powers to imprison the considerable powers of Servant and brought her before the Celestials. Shocked that one of their species could act like that, her actions nearly ripped apart their consortium. Their council decided to take action immediately. Realising they couldn't build and lead the galaxy if they could fall prey to such petty emotions as jealousy, they decided to purify themselves so they could give the galaxy the leadership it needed. And due to her actions, Servant would have to be destroyed. It was then that Father had the idea; they would make Servant the very personification of everything they believed to be wrong. She would be punished eternally, made to become as ugly on the outside as she was inside. And so, in some bizarre Force ritual, the Celestials cleansed themselves of everything we now consider to be the dark side, funnelling it into Servant."

"They then realised their mistake. In their quest for purity, they drained themselves of the emotions that meant they could confront Servant. Servant, filled with an entire species worth of dark side emotions, thoughts and feelings (other than Son's, he was determined to prove himself right so kept his power), was now much more powerful than any of the other Celestials. Fearful of this thing they had created, the Celestials combined the last of their strength and imprisoned her in a wall of light, and then shunted her to Father's Tho Yor where they could keep an eye on her and taunt her as she was powerless to escape. Desperate to keep Servant, or the Sacrifice as she was now known, under control, the Celestials had the Killiks create Centerpoint and at Daughter's recommendation, created the Maw, all designed to keep the Sacrifice entombed so she could never again threaten the galaxy. Kicking and screaming, the Sacrifice was abandoned on a planet in the Maw, with the theory that the Maw and Centerpoint would keep her trapped for eternity, while Father and his family were banished for allowing all this to happen in the first place." Vestara continued.

Ben then picked up the story once more.

"Unfortunately it didn't work like that. From her prison, she realised she now had greater power in the dark side than anything else. Unable to use it before, she now had access to the dark emotions of the galaxy now that she was free of Father. Determined to get revenge on the ones who had wronged her, she began to drain the galaxy of it's dark side energy. Everything bad, even someone like Ves blasting Force lightning, creates a tiny drop in the Force, a drop she's been feeding off of for millennia. Every bad event, every death, fight, war, all of it caused chaos and pain for her to feed on, caused darkness to sustain her. Every time she fed it was like takeout, every dark event being drained by her for over a million years, increasing her already significant power day by day for over a million years." Ben finished his part of the story, and Vestara finished it off.

"And of course there have been periods that she nearly escaped, wars that fed her massive appetite, wars that were stopped at the very last minute. And so she has persisted for over a million years, planning her revenge on the ones who wronged her, and is out to prove to Father that she is loved and not despised like he said she was. She believes herself to be a beautiful goddess, who has been sucking the darkness out of the galaxy so that when she finally escapes she can proclaim herself a goddess and nothing will stop her. And considering this century..." she began.

"Along with other periods, such as the First Schism, the Great Sith War and its aftermath and the New Sith Wars, has been one of the bloodiest in galactic history." K'kruhk exclaimed in realisation.

"Not to mention it took out Centerpoint, meaning Sinkhole is now trying to keep her on the planet with insufficient power all by itself." Han added.

"All of which means a galaxy that served her dinner piece by piece is now suddenly an all you can eat buffet, and she has nothing to stop her gorging on us all. She now has the power, either through her draining all the evil, chaos and pain in the galaxy for millions of years or through Centerpoint being destroyed, to finally break free of her prison and attack the galaxy. What do you think?" Ben asked, as he and Vestara handed round the documents they had read to form their opinion.

"It all makes sense. Scary sense." Jacen said, his face ashen.

"A most elaborate theory. You believe Abeloth was the Servant, the Sacrifice?" K'kruhk asked, and Vestara nodded irritably.

"We thought we made that clear. Yes, we think that, and then, the Celestials stuck everything bad into her, and stuck her on a rock in the middle of nowhere where she has been able to feed off millennia worth of bad news as a result of her actions. And now, with nothing to stop her extending her influence, her power's grown inexorably. And now she's nearly free." Vestara said, and the entire room was quiet.

"These scrolls back up what they're saying unfortunately. There are a few leaps of faith but from Abeloth's account of her past to the Sith along with their own research into her corroborate the story. Ben and Vestara's theory makes the most sense we have ever heard about Abeloth. The story makes sense, the theory is sound. And the pieces finally all fit." K'kruhk said breathlessly, and Mara raised a hand to stop him before he prattled any further.

"Alright. So, to recap...according to the records taken by the Sith on Thule and by Abeloth's own account, backed up by the other sources we have, we now finally know what Abeloth is." She said, and Ben looked at her, slightly put out.

"What, you don't think we're right?" he whined, and she nodded.

"No. I do think you're right, and so does the Force, I can feel it. You're right about all of this sweetie. You pair's theory has finally identified her for us." She said, and Han looked grimly at them all.

"Yeah. And if all of what you reckoned is true, we aren't just dealing with some nasty Force powered monster with an ego problem." He said, and the room was silent as he finished his terrible warning, his breath hitching as the terrible truth was finally admitted.

"We're dealing with the dark side itself. Abeloth is literally the dark side incarnate."

Hello again! Told you you'd be getting a bumper update, and this chapter truly is a bumper.

Now, while I have been very vocal about my dislike of what they made Abeloth in the end, thinking about it, it was actually quite a good idea overall, I was just opposed to it because I was mad at Clone Wars.

So, things are bad. The psychosis is starting to take victims, political intrigues are afoot on Coruscant, the Tribe are making their moves in the galaxy, infighting among the Sith is growing, Collonzas has finally struck, as has Aralani, the Jedi are being restrained and Khai is hot on the heels of his daughter, as the One Sith are also entering the fray now as the galaxy hurtles further out of control. And to top it all off, we have finally found what Abeloth is. Im surprised Ben and Vestara could tear themselves away from each other long enough to figure it out.

Right, this will be updated tomorrow with the next entry crawl as we have just reached the end of episode two of our saga! Which means, in terms of length (not measured by words but by sections) we are now a third of the way through Fate of the Force!

So, I will update tomorrow, but please please please review, I will be very grateful so please review and I hope to hear from you soon!