Chapter 3

(Coruscant, Imperial palace, Upper level halls)

Exar reattached his comlink to his belt and began to quickly walk back towards the massive room the Emperor had ordered to be used for this little "party," he had arranged. While in reality Kun knew that this gathering was far less one of celebration, and more of one that was to allow Palpatine to congratulate himself, and show everyone else that he was indeed the all mighty and powerful Emperor.

"Well the old man certainly does love to 'get off' on his power, doesn't he." Exar spoke aloud to himself as he walked along yet another empty marble floored corridor of this massive palace the Emperor called his own home. He had left the room sometime ago; which he assumed was a ballroom refitted to hold this gathering, so he could answer the incoming transmission from Vader in private. Only now that it was over with, he was starting to regret going so far away, but it was batter than having one of the Emperors cronies listening in on his calls he supposed. Especially one with as much importance such as that one.

It took him about three or five minutes to finally reach the force-forsaken room, but when he did he finally had time to really take in the overdone scenery of it. It had an unnecessary fountain directly in the middle of it that was in the formation of a rocky waterfall and it flowed pleasantly with water as was to be expected. There were also pillars that looked to be marble in make, and they lined the entire length of the room, and were spread about unnecessarily for the sheer sake of ornate decoration.

Exar noticed that the walls were covered in paintings, and silent repeating holoimages, the paintings displayed scenes of far off worlds with vast green fields or majestically tall snowcapped mountains. While the holoimages either portrayed Palpatine making a speech and receiving grand applause, or a pitched battle with imperials winning in the end of course. The floor was simple but sparkling white marble that matched the pillars, and there were several rugs spread across the room in strategically placed areas for, again, the sake of looking lavish.

'It's good to be the master of the galaxy I see.' Kun thought as he crossed his arms. 'I think I'll need a decorator when this is all mine.' He smirked at the such an idea.

"Lord Kun, there you are!" The voice of Armand Isard came from Kuns left quickly catching his attention away from the room. The Imperial Intelligence director was wearing a red outfit that was apparently common of the man and of the Intelligence officers. Kun had spoken to him for a short amount of time and tried to gauge where the man 'stood' so to speak. Much to Exars distaste, however, he was an obvious proponent of the Emperor and his power over all the galaxy. 'A common lackey, unable to see past the old mans lifespan.' Kun had thought after meeting with him.

Much to Kuns intrigue however, Armand was approaching him with a woman at his side. Oddly enough she had locks of white hair to the front of what was otherwise all black hair, and on top of that she had one blue eye and another was red. 'Now this should be interesting.'

Kun thought as he nodded towards Armand who continued to approach with the woman at his side.

"Lord Kun I had wanted you to meet someone before you had to answer your call." Armand said politely as he placed his hands behind his back. "This is my daughter, Ysanne Isard. She is an agent with me in Imperial Intelligence. She works under me as a field agent, for now anyways." He said without much pride which caught the immediate interest of Kun.

'Hmm, that explains the white hair thing.' Kun realized as he noticed Armand had similar white hair. Only he had a streak of it that gave him a distinguished older look. She on the other hand had quite a bit of it.

Kun noted that while Armand wore his uniform, she wore a flowing golden dress that hung rather loosely in Kuns mind and exposed quite a bit of skin. But he just shrugged it off as a trivial observation on his part.

"It's a pleasure to meet you milady." Exar greeted as he grabbed and shook her hand gently. She gave him a quizzical look over and then smirked an oddly calculating smirk if Exar had ever seen one before.

"The pleasure is all mine, my lord Kun. I have after all heard of your actions against those who would do our Empire, and our Emperor harm." She returned with a smirk still obvious upon her face. Kun had just met her, and already sensed great darkness, and shrewdness coming from her. 'Now this is indeed interesting.' He thought as a smirk appeared on his face as well.

"I assure you, milady Isard, the story has been exaggerated by now. All I did was work alongside Bail Organa in rounding up all these dissenters into one spot so lord Vader could deliver onto them the fate they have for far too long deserved."

She huffed out a chuckle in return.

"Ah yes, I was quite surprised to learn of the dear senators' actions against 'those' people. From all that I and Imperial Intelligence knew, he was a sympathizer to the very core." She informed Kun with what he thought was a subtly accusatory tone of voice. 'Not quite as gullible I see.' Kun thought as he just kept smirking.

"Well only a select few of us; Imperials I mean, knew of Bail Organas true allegiance. It's no longer a secret of course, so I think I'm safe in saying the information was confined to myself, lord Vader, and the Emperor himself of course. Not even you knew of Organas true affiliation, Armand. Am I correct?" The Intelligence Director looked slightly uncomfortable and cleared his throat.

"No I did not. Not until his majesty recently informed me at least." He said still seeming uncomfortable at saying so in front of his daughter.

Exar held out one of his hand towards Armand. "You see? Not even your father; Imperial Intelligence Director for all the Empire, knew of Organas true allegiance!" With that Ysanne cocked one of her brows and gave her father a sideways look.

"Indeed you're right about that my lord. Interesting indeed." She simply responded. "I however find it odd that I nor my father even heard about you until recently as well. Let's say about five weeks ago or maybe slightly longer than that." She said and then sipped a glass of some sort of red wine Kun only now noticed in one of her hands.

Kun shrugged both his arms in a nonchalant manner.

"To be honest milady I had only recently joined the Empire under our gracious Emperor not too long ago. A short time before you even heard of me I was more of a…fee-spirited enthusiast of politics. At least that's the way I would put it." The dark lord said in his best ever political voice.

To which Ysanne simply nodded with a smile and said, "Ah, I see."

Armand had after his embarrassing response, remained quiet throughout his daughters little exchange with Kun, and when he saw someone in the distance that he recognized he couldn't have excused himself any faster, and departed the pair as they continued on with their conversation.

Now that Kun was left alone with this Ysanne Isard he decided to have a tad bit of fun.

"So with all the questions and observations you've made of and for me do you mind if I make one, milady Isard?" Exar asked the woman who nodded her approval.

"Why would a young woman such as yourself choose to work under her own father in a business that I can imagine is not very forgiving of failures of any kind?" Ysanne waved his question off.

"I chose to work in Imperial Intelligence because I grew up amongst the courts of the Emperor, or rather the Chancellor as he was known at the time, and I even idolized my father in those earlier days when he was 'Director of the Senate Bureau of Intelligence.' He took me with him all the time to deal with his work and I quickly grew a fascination for it all. The intrigue, espionage, even the backstabbing of the courts always seemed more like a game. Then there is the fact that you gather and analyze the smallest of details in a person, or persons' life, and through intelligence it's quite easy to rule over any one or group, or Empire as you so choose, my lord. As such here I now stand. A proud ground agent of Imperial Intelligence. Working to serve, protect, and aid the Emperor in any and all ways possible!" She said, and Kun noted she said Emperor and not the Empire.

"Ah so you idolized your father back then, but how about now? If you don't mind my asking of course?" Exar asked as he leaned himself against a nearby pillar. She in turn slightly shrugged.

"I believe my fathers time has come, and gone. I believe he is becoming more and more obsolete as the years carry on. He is too stuck in the past and the old ways of intelligence gathering and assessment, in a time of ever changing tactics and threats as well." She honestly replied without much emotion being shown whatsoever towards her father.

"So you believe that it is time someone new took his place then? A fresh pair of eyes maybe?" Kun asked, and then he smirked. "Perhaps a fresh pair of blue and red eyes?" Exar tactically quipped to which she only returned a small smile.

"That would not be my decision of course, my lord. Should the opportunity ever arise and if his majesty ever wished it of me I would surely have to do my duty as a loyal Imperial and take the job." She took another sip of wine, and Kun chuckled ever so slightly.

"Ah I see. An opportunist of the more influential aspirations." Kun said, pushing himself off the pillar. "You may yet get your chance someday my dear. You never know what will round the corner and come biting at your ankles like a rabid Nexu on a hunger frenzy." Exar declared and received a cocked brow from her in return.

Exar looked over to his right and caught a glimpse of the Emperor speaking with another man in a grey outfit; standard of the imperials of course. He looked back to Ysanne.

"Forgive me, my dear but I must excuse myself. I have to speak with the Emperor on several small matters concerning the Dubrava incident." He said with a bow. "Oh, and before I go, may I just say one last thing." He declared rather than really asked as he didn't give her time to say yes or no.

"Always know that those who hold power: a council, a man, a political group, perhaps even a father, are always afraid of loosing their power when the challenge or challenger finally arises. One must recognize that in order to ever seize power for themselves they must cast those in their way aside; no matter the ultimate cost. However; remember this as well. Opportunities to disgrace those in power are always available. It's only up to you to find and exploit it, and any other weakness that presents itself. For once those in power seem powerless it is the duty of the truly powerful to take their place."

Kun said in the best cryptic way he could, but knew she understood what he was saying.

She finally cast him a small look of surprise mixed with scorn; that he felt not directed at himself. He responded with another bow and a renewed grin. "Until the next time we meet milady. Please enjoy yourself, and think hard on what exploits are always open for you or anyone as ambitious as you!"

With that he turned on a heel and made for the Emperor; with the distinct feeling of eyes on his back as he went.

For tonight Exar Kun would mingle with people of all kinds of status and power. Something he knew he would have to get used to if he was to one day rule over them all.

(Unknown)

The first thing he noticed was fire was burning all around him. There was the distinct sound of TIE fighters and bombers overhead and speeding past his sight into the great fray beyond him. Beyond where smoke was rising, buildings were crashing and falling, and people were dying, and dying some more.

Screaming was everywhere, and death was all he could "sense," in every one of his senses. He could smell something burning, 'Is it metallic, or rubbery in nature?' he asked himself.

He could taste ash, or at least his mind said made it seem as if he could, or was he simply loosing his mind?

He could hear death, crying, agonizing death, and pleas for help, but he would not help them. For those who cried for it were not his brethren. They were not of his side. Those who died were his enemies and he knew they needed to die.

He saw blood, and bodies littering the ground. Blaster bolts flying, artillery ringing, and ships flying overhead and firing to the ground below in planet shaking waves of energy blasts.

Finally he touched his left hand. How was touching his own hand touching death? It was if considered how much he had done with but this hand alone. Killed hundreds, thousands maybe? Ordered far more than that slaughtered, atomized, snuffed out from existence. He held a saber hilt not his own and cut down man and woman, and even child. Their cries unheard for, and uncared for.

For all things here needed to die and he was here to insure that they all did.

(Alderaan, Aldera Palace)

Viathan jumped up from his seat with a start. His breathing was ragged and hard. His eyes immediately felt heavy once again as they worriedly scanned the room, and he felt a headache begin to pound away in his temples. After he remembered that he was indeed in his masters quarters in Aldera palace he grabbed hi head in pain. "Oh force." Was all he could mutter. As he tried to further gather his bearings on why he jumped.

It came to him, but only in fragmented bits and pieces as he remembered the dream he had just had. Only once before had he experienced one similar, and that was quite awhile ago on back on Coruscant.

'Fighting those damnable rebels must have messed with my head more than I realized.' Viathan explained it away to himself, but knew it didn't account for the one he had on Coruscant when he first met his new master.

He chose not to dwell on it though, and went back to his masters desk; still holding onto his now pounding head. On it he found many reports that he had filled out and signed about his mission results, and operations conducted in Aldera, Terrarium, and Belleasu-a-Lir cities. As well as one that was half finished, and he assumed it was the one he fell asleep on, and for that he chastised himself.

After all he had trained for years to not fall asleep so easily, and to be instantly put into full alertness upon awakening. He sighed and turned off the datapad and decided to complete it on a later date.

Resolving to himself that he wasn't going to get anymore sleep Viathan made for the rooms exit. Upon leaving Viathan was blasted with a ray of "sunshine," and had to hold a hand over his eyes as it only made his headache worse off.

"I must have been out longer than originally thought." He said aloud to himself. Passing the two Massassi guardsmen he nodded in their direction and decided to just walk his headache off and maybe go train for a while to get his mind off things, and well just wake up.

Again passing through the long and ornate halls and corridors of Aldera palace Viathan noted that now that it was midmorning many more Alderaanian officials were walking about and going from one room to the other. He ignored most of them, and the few that cast him sideways looks or glares he merely nodded towards them and quickly caused them to act as if they weren't looking at him.

Imperial officers were also walking the halls with usually two troopers flanking them, and the officers would randomly stop Alderaanian palace workers and force upon them the long and rather annoying identification and processing act. Viathan knew that it wasn't really necessary to do this to the palace workers, but he wasn't about to stop the officer from doing their jobs. After all the Alderaanians needed to be reminded for the time being that the Empire, not Alderaan was the victor here.

Rounding another random corner Viathan found himself face to face with a familiar figure, and immediately became nervous. 'Ah sithspit.' He inwardly cursed as he came upon none other than princess Leia, and she did not look happy in the least when she noticed him.

"Good morning milady." Viathan quickly greeted with a bow. "I'm glad to see you look…err healthy." he inwardly smacked himself. 'You look healthy? Who the kriff says something so stupid?!'

She marched closer to him and crossed her arms as her face seemed already red with anger that Viathan; quite frankly, didn't know what it was directed at, and he didn't know if he wanted to know in the first place.

"Yes good morning to you too 'pacifier.'" She slowly quipped in return. "All morning I've had to hear nothing but how the 'oh Empire did this and the Empire did that!' All across the galaxy people are going absolutely crazy with Imperial pride, and your Empire has done nothing more than kill people to gain that adoration!" She loudly declared in an accusatory tone, and pointed a small finger right in his face to which he did his best to ignore. "Did you know that there are rallies practically partying in the streets of Coruscant, Anaxes, Kuat, and Corulag!? For nothing more than people being killed; no not killed that's too kind a word, they were massacred!" She hotly declared with venom in her voice that Viathan found unusual for a girl only thirteen years of age.

"My princess, I don't know what you want me to say to that." He replied in full honesty. "I told you that I had to put down the rebellion taking place here. Your planet is after all apart of the Galactic Empire whether you like it or not. As for the other events taking place across the galaxy I had nothing to do with them." Viathan replied with as proper a voice that he could muster, as tiredness still gripped his mind. "May I remind you that these rebels were attacking Aldera and nearly killed you and Winter. They were hiding in civilian housing and amongst the civilian population of Crevasse, and had it not been for my ordering the orbital strike protocol being initiated we would perhaps still be knee deep in rebel guerilla attacks on not only my people but yours as well." Viathan retorted without trying to raise his voice.

He didn't have the will to hear the princess screech at him, and he knew she had quite the temper.

"Yes I'm well aware of what you did in Crevasse, and I'm well aware that it caused massive damage to the city's top and first levels. Collateral damage was incurred correct?!" Viathan knew she wasn't really asking as she was more so accusing him.

He sighed deeply. "Yes princess, there was collateral but I can assure you it was not my doing. At least not the majority. Indeed to my knowledge the rebels are greatly responsible for the mass collateral that was incurred at Crevasse. Their unwillingness to surrender and not hide amongst civilians population centers, and market territories is what led to the populace going insane with fear and desperately trying to evacuate!" He replied with slight anger creeping into his voice.

"In fact there were maybe hundreds of rebels still unwilling to surrender in the end and had it not been for your fathers little collaboration with my master I would still be fighting them. The attack on Dubrava ended all this violence here on Alderaan, and as a sign of goodwill I handed all surrendering troops over to Alderaanian authorities!" He ended his tirade with a huff, and only then noticed that the princess wasn't looking at him anymore and instead was looking out an adjacent window of the palace.

Viathan sensed through the force, great pain coming from her and when he cocked his head to the side he saw a tear escape her eye. 'Kriffing hell! I didn't mean to upset her!' He again chastised himself for possibly the third time this morning and rubbed his eyes in tiredness.

"You must forgive me my princess. I did not mean to get so hostile with…." She held up a hand to him before he could finish.

"You didn't upset me. It…it's my father." Viathan didn't understand what she meant at first, but then it dawned upon him that she had only known her father as the man that hated the Empire and all that it stood for. To hear that her father Bail Organa had been an agent of the Emperor must have been world shattering for her.

'I cant tell her otherwise either.' He told himself. If he even let her think that he knew her father to be framed then he would surely bring his masters plans tumbling down. Viathan couldn't have that.

"I cant believe that he did this. I cant believe he lied to me all my life! He never let me in, never let me help fight the damnable Empire, and now I know why! He was nothing more than an imperial dog! A betrayer and a crony of the Emperor! I hate him!" She declared with great anger, as he voice trembled with emotion.

Viathan knew she was a staunch enemy of the Empire, heck the whole galaxy knew Alderaan to be rogue in that regard. So her saying as such wasn't anything new, but her anger, and even rage that was flowing from her. That was new to Viathan.

"Oh, yes I heard about that not too long before the battle was over." Viathan responded as he fiddled with his hands uneasily. "I had not really thought about your reaction to tell you the truth, milady. For what it's worth I am sorry that you had to…'discover,' your fathers allegiance this way." Viathan said and continued to fidget about as he increasingly became more uncomfortable.

"Thank you." She responded still looking downcast. "I shouldn't have blown up on you really. I knew that you were going to do what your 'master,' and job demanded of you. Besides I knew these rebels to be not what I had expected." She finally said as she nonchalantly flicked a tear away hoping Viathan wasn't paying too much attention to her momentary show of weakness. She hated looking or feeling weak.

Viathan tilted his head to a side. "What do you mean princess?"

She shrugged and let out a sigh. "I don't know. I just figured rebels against the Empire to be heroic, and not hide among civilians where it's obvious innocents will die in the crossfire. That's of course not to say I trust the Empire to protect civilians. Quite the opposite actually, but…I did trust you when you said you wanted to limit collateral damage, and I think you stuck to your word as best you possibly could."

She admitted with the faintest of smiles appearing on her face.

Viathan shrugged. "I did as best I could in a rotten situation from the start, milady. My orders from Coruscant were clear, and I indeed did all I could to fulfill that directive. I did however use your father to a good end, I think." Viathan declared and Leia raised an incredulous brow.

"Really, and what is that?"

"Well my masters speech declaring your fathers allegiance did break the fighting spirit of all the rebels left standing, and most surrendered after I broadcasted it over their com channels. I know it's a sad thing to break a mans will to fight, but in return for their surrender I did hand them all over to Alderaanian authorities if you remember my telling you so, and thus limited any further damage by them." Viathan grimaced midway though. "There were of course some who decided surrender wasn't an option for them and, well blasted themselves." He said pointing contorting his hand into the shape of a blaster and shooting his own head, to which she grimaced. "They were mostly the leaders of the uprising we believe." Viathan pointed out and Leia again sighed.

"I guess that is something out of this…this whole massive mess."

Viathan nodded in turn, and felt again uncomfortable at the silence that then fell between the two.

Leia was the one to suddenly break it. "So, when do we begin that training you wanted me to try?" Seemingly out of nowhere she asked and Viathan immediately jumped ever so slightly backwards in surprise.

"You, you mean you still want to do that? I mean I just figured that you wouldn't want to now with all the change you're, uh going through." Viathan explained and she waved him off with an oddly broad smile.

"Well I'm not about to let…him," she spat as she thought of Bail, "ruin my chances at being able to move things with my mind now!" Viathan found it really odd that she suddenly seemed in a better mood, but he couldn't complain really.

"That is if you still want to teach me how of course." She pointed out with a suddenly downcast voice.

He was quick to wave both hands. "No, no of course I still want to, I just didn't think…well I already said that." He said with a ghost of a smile appearing on his face. She smiled in return.

"Great! So when do we start?" She happily asked.

Viathan thought for a moment, and remembered that he had planned on training a bit to get ready for the day ahead.

"Well we can start in just a bit if you would like milady. I see you're uh, not really dressed for physical activities." He pointed out and she cast her eyes down to another one of her long flowing white dresses, and she cast him an annoyed look. "Yeah, yeah I see what you mean." She said swiping away nonexistent specks of dirt from her dress.

"Tell you what my princess; go get into a short sleeved and expendable shirt and some jeans and come meet me at the sparring room one level down; you know the room I speak of?" He asked and she nodded.

"Good, meet me there in say thirty minutes, and I assure you I will get straight to the training I've promised you, okay?" She nodded, but then gave him a perplexed look.

"Wait why does the shirt need to be expendable? I thought you were gonna teach me how to use the force?" He let one chuckle escape him.

"Because milady, we're first going to show you how to hold, use, and fight with a lightsaber!" He excitedly declared as he picked up one of his own hilts and displayed it before her. To which she only slightly grimaced.

"Alright then. I'll meet you in thirty minutes." She said as she passed him and made her way down the hall he had come from.

"You better deliver on your promises Imperial." She called out to him with a lighthearted threat and a smile. To which he waved her off with a smile of his own.

"You better be worth my time, milady." To that she slightly giggled and left his sight, and left him feeling rather odd. 'Shake it off Viathan! Today you make a princess a Sith acolyte! No time for friends in the matter. You don't have, need, or want any friends!' He declared to himself resolutely and turned on his heel and made for an elevator shaft on his floor. A frown now returned to its usual place upon his face.

It was time to prepare for a first time training session, and he would be damned if he was going to screw this up!

(Outside the Bestine System, Imperial Stardestroyer Conquest, Several hours After speech)

"It is settled then!" Nox declared to the roundtable of fellow; now outlawed, Moffs. "We shall take Bestine; by force if nothing else, and then demand of the Emperor return of our statuses our estates, greater pay, and more political say in matters concerning the Empire." Nox reiterated the points. To which all the fellow Moffs nodded. One of the Moffs present was a holoimage as he could not leave his base world and it was the old Moff Laird Gustavu.

"Let us not forget what is to be done should his majesty deny us these simple demands; which if we're honest is likely." Laird pointed out, and Nox nodded in understanding.

"Yes we all must be prepared for that course of action. Should Palpatine be foolish enough to deny us these most simple of demands. We will wage open, and total war upon he, his lackey Darth Vader, that upstart Exar Kun, and all those loyal to him!" All the Moffs there save for Nox and Laird let out a small clap of hands and short audible bursts of approval.

"Let me be clear here gentlemen. What we're about to undertake this day will undo all that we helped build up. There is no turning back from this point on, and let us go forward knowing that what we strive for is a better galaxy. Ruled not by a madman and his genocidal lap hound, but by men of status, of culture, and of ability to rule that both these men have never shown! Let us make this Empire ours, or make a new one altogether! Hail the Moff Alliance!" Nox declared as he pounded a fist into the table and all the Moffs once again cheered.

Nox allowed all those present to leave the meeting room, and those transmitting in via holo to end their transmission before he sat down and re-launched the transmission to Laird.

The old Moffs image soon came into view and he bowed his head forward. "Grand Moff Nox Vellam. I was told to expect your call, but I had not expected to be dragged into that surreal meeting." Laird declared in a polite, but political manner.

Nox nodded. "Many apologies Moff Gustavu, but the others have already heard your name, and I did not want them to believe this was our first communication between one another. It may have smelt wrong to these power hungry fools." Laird lifted one hand into the air.

"True enough. Lord Vader would be please with what you have accomplished I believe Nox. It's a wonder the Emperor has not learned of this plan."

Nox ran one hand through his short brown hair and huffed out his anxiety.

"Yes I grow more and more worried about that fact every hour. This plan has gone by too well, and I assume I have Lord Vader to thank for that." Nox admitted but then shook himself.

"No matter. What's done is done and what's going to happen will happen whether lord Vader or the Emperor wants it to at this point quite frankly/ I don't even think I could call this off now if I wanted."

"As is the way of things Moff Vellam." Laird retorted blandly.

Nox let loose a chuckle. "Indeed it is, but I did not com you to discuss this trivial matter. Lord Vader had informed me that you would be backing us with more troops and influence from your region in the Colonies. As you know we will not have any influence in that region of the galaxy, and you will effectively be cut off from there." Nox intoned.

Laird chuckled a deep chuckle. "You underestimate what has been unfolding here in the Tapani Sector dear Moff Vellam. The Tapani noble houses have all been bribed, and accommodated for and will be bankrolling much of our ventures in time. I have begun negotiations with the 'League of Tapani Freeworlds,' as I have most of my loyal forces stationed there, and we may soon have a multiple of non Imperial combatants at out disposal." Nox smirked.

"Indeed? Well then I see I did not need to trouble you with my anxieties Moff Gustavu." Nox declared with another laugh. "I look forward to making history and attaining unimaginable power with you Moff Gustavu." Nox said.

"As do I Moff Vellam, as do I." Laird retorted and then his image jolted and faded away. Leaving Nox to sit back into his chair and sigh

'This is going to be hell on my nerves.' The time for war was fast approaching.

Spelling errors may be present and I would appreciate any corrections pointed out, but otherwise enjoy this lengthy and wordy chapter. For action is coming up fast my great readers! Thanks again for reading!