Author's Notes
This was ready a few days ago but I felt that considering what happens in this chapter it would be nice to put it on May The Fourth Be With You day. So please enjoy and on this day, send a hundred letters to the Mouse to demand that Kathleen Kenday be fired and Jaon Favro be put in charge of Star Wars.
May The Fourth Be With You
"Vette, you don't need to worry."
"YOU LOOK LIKE A FUCKING SCARECROW!" Vette shouted at me through the holo-comm. I flinched a bit at that and yeah… I was a bit more on the skinny side. Going six months without food with only using the Light Side to keep myself alive certainly trimmed me down a bit. "Don't tell me to not worry when I haven't heard from you in six months and now that I do you look like this!"
"I promise that this will all be fixed in a month, two tops." I try to reassure her but I doubt I'll get anywhere. What I need however is for her to not come back to Terra. I don't know if those goobs on my ship are trustworthy enough to be told about Terra. "I'm alive and on my way back to Harrenhal where I'll be safe and able to recover."
"So let me get this straight. You sent your soul into the Force and some Goddess of the Force trapped you in her kingdom of make believe and nearly enslaved your mind." Vette groaned as she repeated back what I had explained to her of what happened. I made a small sound of uncomfortable confirmation and I don't think she took it well. "Fuck damn I love you but you so dumb."
"I love you too and we have long established that I can be extremely dumb at times." I replied back but she snorted knowing that I was just trying to placate her. "How are you in tracking down that Holocron. It's really important." The secret Sith Army of Revan was vital for my Order. It would make up the bulk of the rank and file Sith. As those I was training here would form the new Rule of Three command structure, the Secret Army of Revan would be inducted later once I'm sure I have enough of my own follows to… convince… those unfrozen that they should be following me. As all those Sith while Followers of Revan were frozen before Naraiz's time. They have no idea who I am or if I'm really the best chance to enact our master's view of the Force. However, if I have a viable Rule of Three set up, all those in the Secret Army of Revan will be far more likely to join my new order as new inductees. Thus bringing my new Order on a much better playing field with the numbers the Jedi are currently showing.
"We found it two months ago… or at least I think it's the one you want. We can't exactly bring it to a Jedi to open it and I know you don't want the boys here to know about Terra so I couldn't bring it to Rathari." She explained and I could tell she was calming down a bit. But I knew that it was a momentary calm, she was still very concerned and pissed at me. Hopefully she now however wouldn't be making a sudden trip back here. "For the most part we've been doing other treasure hunts, Cipher has been given us jobs as well. Dalla's getting a rather big head since we haven't heard from you in a long time."
"But you have him handled I'm sure." That got a smile out of her.
"Don't do that, I'm still PO'ed at you." She said before giving a deep breath and rolling her shoulders. "But hearing you talk like that tells me your doing better than I thought."
"I promise that I didn't start seriously moving until the Doctor Droid said I could. I'm not dying, just very weak right now." That was a understatement. I was no longer sealing my power, my body simply couldn't hold it in anymore. My reserves were on empty and it would take far longer than two months to get back to my peak. This was set back, a massive one. Both with this and the Abeloth incident I nearly got killed or worse because I was so sure of something as stupid as plot armor. I was arrogant. "Vette, I'm sorry I made you worry. I promise that I'm going to start taking this all more seriously."
"I just don't want you dying… again." She chuckled with a sad smile and I agreed. With that we said our goodbyes and I put away my holo-communicator. I looked up and could see the lights of Harrenhal as I flew in the dropship. It was the dead of night and I honestly gave zero fucks about if I'm seen by some farmer out drunk in his fields. The dropship lands a fair distance from the perimeter of the city, I step off and begin my walk home as the dropship flies off to do whatever it is does when not in use. I'm irritated, I'm using a fucking walking stick because I still can't hold up my body all on my own. It takes me a good hour before I reach the makeshift wall that has been built as the city walls were still being built.
"Halt, who goes there!" One of the guards at the gate shout as I approach. I soon walk into the light of the torches and the guards relax as they see me, however not for the reason they should. "We need not any beggars in this city, get… find some other fief to suck dry."
"You truly are Harrenhal's finest. Shooing away leapers and the like, my how honorable and brave you are." I say with a dry and unamused tone. This however seems to have upset them and now they frown and reach for their weapons. Instead I wave my free hand and their swords are pulled from their belts onto the ground. "Pierce really does need to beat some manners into you lot."
"My… my lord? Is that you?" One of the other guards gulps as they put two and two together.
"Darth Nagash, what has happened to you?" They now say with genuine concern in their voices. There would be a great many of lords whose guards would love nothing more than to find them weakened and alone at night. It does my pride and soul good to hear them so worried over their lord.
"Nothing a few good feasts and a great deal of training can't fix. Now… it has been a long day and I wish to return to my own bed for a change." I say as I start walking forward and the guards immediately make way while also sending a rider into the city to tell that their lord had returned. Due to the fact I had been seen up at Castle Black, Rathari wouldn't have thought to pose as me until it was too late and rumors already were circling about my missing status. Thankfully it seems the King has not declared a new lord of Harrenhal or anything like that during that time.
Even though it was the middle of the night, my return was met with great celebration. As I walked down the streets, people came out and cheered for me, many proclaimed that they always knew I would return, others wished for my good health. It was… humbling to be treated like this. Naraiz was never given this treatment, he was feared more than anything else, and respected by some of his peers. This… this is what all leaders should strive for. To serve your people so well, that they greet you with jubilation when you return. That people you do not know personally, cheer and cry at the sight of you.
By the time I had made it to the castle, it had already turned into a parade in the middle of the night. And by the end of it I was starting to feel bad, I made all these people worry. Well, from now on I need to act far more carefully. Even once I regain my strength I won't make the same mistakes. As I walked through the gates of the keep I was meet with a assembly of the Acolytes, Seekers, and all the castle staff. I spotted in the gathered servants a familiar pair of faces both of whom were on the verge of crying.
"It seems I may have underestimated the considerable task I had set out to accomplish when I rode beyond the Wall." I said to the assembled crowd, as well to the massed mob of people behind me. On my flight down, I had thought about my story I would tell people. I couldn't tell them the truth because… duh. I had thought about blaming it on the White Walkers but I'm pretty sure I would be laughed at outside my lands. But… I could still invoke the same response as that story would have. "As many of you know, the Faith of the Seven for centuries stole away children born of the Force. That was why none were capable users before I arrived. But that had not been the case beyond the Wall, I wished what the Force Users among the Wildlings were like. To see if there was anything we could learn from each other."
I knew that thanks to the influx of Essosi in my lands, tolerance for others was very high here. Thanks to the blending of cultures, the people of Harrenhal were far more accepting of the idea that the Wildling weren't just brutish savages. I mean… most were but not all. The crowds looked to be eating it up, seeing me as a wise leader looking for more friends and knowledge to bring back to improve the lives of his people. Or something like that.
"I learned a great many things. I witnessed men inhabit the bodies of animals, others speak to the trees and command them to uproot and move, and some could even command ice to do as they pleased." I painted a picture of tribalistic wise men and the Wildling Skinchangers. But it was that last one that I would use to stoke the fears and maybe turn a bit more support for the Night's Watch. "It was among these Princes of Night that I was captured. I traveled to the Lands of Always Winter, I saw great spires of ice and roving bands of half frozen men. They brought me to their masters, the Princes of the Night… those that could use the Force to give themselves the power of a blizzard. At first they were cordial, they treated me as equal. But then they sprung their trap. It was then I saw who they really were, spiteful and bitter men jealous of our summers. They held me captive in their frozen dungeons, starved me but they would not break me!"
They cheered out in conjoined rapture, I was really selling this. News would spread, unavoidably it would be twisted and romanticized a bit but that's how legends are made. The hopeful out come of this would be fear of these Princes of the Night. A threat that felt scarier to the nobles of Westeros than the Wildlings. And far more tangible than the White Walkers. It might inspire some to venture up to the Wall and take the Black in the hopes of becoming a legend for slaying one of these evil ice wizards. In any case its sure to increase support for the Night's Watch. And so even if the name is wrong, the Wall will still be better prepared against any foe.
"I escaped, and eventually with the help of those I met along the way returned to the south. I have been traveling back as wandering leaper as penance for my folly. But now I have returned, and I promise that your loyalty to me will not go unrewarded. But for right now… I'd very much like a hot bath and a good night's sleep." I joked and people laughed. There was some more speaking with people more one on one, me speaking to groups of Acolytes and Seekers, but eventually I was let inside my keep where it was soon just me and those I trusted.
"How much of that was bullshit?" Pierce asked as he closed the doors to my chambers behind him. Now it was just myself, Quinn, and Fay. Melisandre I had seen in the crowds of the commoners, likely she was working her magic as we spoke. I had given Qyburn orders to send out ravens telling of my return so he was working on that. Rathari I hadn't seen at all, I assume he was out of the city for the time being. As for Lyarra and Joanna, they were no doubt on their way here but for right I needed to speak plainly.
"All of it." I answered as I placed Midwan and Saarai on their place above the fireplace. Both of the Tsân were sleeping, I had put them in a hibernation state as precaution. I had so little power in me that I didn't want to test out what effect they would have on me in this state. Would they drain the last bit of my power? Would they wither and die because I couldn't sustain them anymore? Those were very unlikely scenarios but not impossible. I then looked to Fay who raised an eyebrow. "You're not going to like what I have to say."
"I'm a big girl, I can handle it." She huffed and I smirked as I knew that while Fay was certainly a very strong woman… she did have her buttons. She loved her freedom as strange as that sounds for someone so in tuned to the Light.
"I'm ninety percent sure that you were manipulated into coming here." I said and she glared at me, yeah… she didn't like the idea someone was pulling her strings. "Turns out, there's a Force deity capable of creating Force Visions. I'm pretty sure this happened to me a few times, and also damn sure it happened to you to bring you here."
"What are you talking about." She said incredulously. I then began to tell the three of them everything I had learned. About the Ones, the true nature of this world, and what it could mean for the rest of the galaxy. Pierce just kinda… went through phases of not knowing what fuck I was talking about to grim panic. Quinn on the other hand took it like and champ and other than asking a tactical or strategic question here or there soaked it all in. Fay just… let it all hit her. The Ones were a myth to the Jedi, and long forgotten legend that had been buried by history. She claimed that she knew Jedi and Sith history better than most but I bet even her dismissed the Ones as fact. But I made too much sense, I had too many facts, and it all connected all too well. "If this Maiden get off world… the Jedi are done for. They would turn into something beyond horrible. No person in the galaxy would feel as if they lived lives of their choosing. The Jedi would demand absolute control over everything justifying they had the divine right."
"Precisely." I say as after a long pause from my story she finally came to terms with the gravity of this situation. "For right now go with the story that I gave out there. This stays between us, we don't have the resources to try and track down either the Crone or the Smith. As for the Warrior I'd rather not poke that." The others nodded their heads in agreement. Maybe at some point I'll find that cave and try and take The Wrathful from there but considering what that blade is I doubt I could. "And as for the Maiden…"
"She does seem to be the largest threat to our operations. While the Warrior poses the greatest potential threat and the Crone the most active, the Maiden is close to our base and has already attacked you." Quinn summed up and I was really happy with his ability to take all this Force nonsense and distil it down to a practical analysis. Separating the mystic from the raw facts of reality was a needed trait in a officer that dealt with the Sith. "You say that she is locked beneath-"
"Master/Naraiz!" Quinn was interrupted by the sound of both Lyarra and Joanna knocking on the door and calling out for me. Fay gave me a dirty look and I guess she didn't approve of the two Force-Slaves. Hey, no kink shaming.
"To answer your question Quinn, the only known way to kill a One is with the Dagger, a weapon made for that. And right now we don't have access to it. Now if you'll excuse me." I said motioning for them all to leave my chambers. Fay scoffed and immediately went for the door while Pierce and Quinn gave me a salute. Fay opened the door and both Lyarra and Joanna rushed inside, allowing the Jedi to leave with both a huff and blush on her face. The two former noble ladies were stopped in their tracks by Pierce however.
"Whoa, hold up you two. He's not feeling his best right now so best go easy on him." Pierce warned as he let the two women go and I felt like they considered me invalid. I could take care of myself thank you very much. Oh wait… both have mutant hybrid strength… yeah… they'd crush my spine. Pierce and Quinn then left me and the women all alone in my chambers. They then, carefully and without back breaking strength, came to my side and embraced my frail body.
"I swear I didn't mean to keep you two waiting." I joylessly chuckled as I held them as tight as I could with how weak my body was. The hug didn't drag on and we walked to my bedroom, silently enjoying our reunion.
"He's been like that for past three days." Mysa said as she and other stared at Darth Nagash at the high table eating like an absolute glutton. They were all gathered together in the Hall of a Hundred Hearths, four long tables were stretched longways down the hall with a two separately raised tables at the back of the hall for the teachers and Darth Nagash's council. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were always served here for the Acolytes and it was normal for the upper levels of the staff to also eat here as well.
"I mean… he does have to put some meat on his body again." One of the other Acolytes said and many nodded in agreement. The sight of the Grand Master of the Sith in such a frail state was unnerving to say the least.
"Lucky he gets to eat all that food and not have to worry about getting fat." Miana complained as she had to watch her diet all the time. Ever since she turned fourteen she hadn't been able to eat as she used to, now she had to work out in the training yard extra if she want even a small sweat.
"I keep telling you that you a few extra curves are fine." Mysa whispered back to her best friend and as of lately a little extra more. The boys that sat around them looked to each other but said nothing, knowing damn well that it was safer to keep their mouths shut. "But what I'm more interested is what is he eating. I've heard that Darth Nagash has been ordering the kitchen to make really strange food, stuff they've never even heard of."
"Really? I mean we get all kinds of stuff. Food from all over the Seven Kingdoms and Essos." Benjen said excitedly as this was very true, they had been exposed to a great many different kinds of foods. Far more than most in Westeros ever would be on a daily basis. The idea of even more types of food was starting to sound ridiculous.
"Food's not the only thing that Darth Nagash has been devouring." Howland Reed pointed out with a keen eye and the upper command of the North/Dorne Alliance all looked to see Darth Nagash obviously flirting with the server that had been attending to him. Both Mysa and Miana smirked as they along with Howland were some of the few older Acolytes that noticed this sort of thing. They had also been the few that had begun getting lessons in more adult things.
"Isn't he betrothed to one of the Tullys?" Mors Toland asked with a bit of a scandalous chuckle. The group laughed along with them, one of the better things the Acolytes found was that they all tended to share the same sense of humor. They often joked that if it wasn't for the fact they were so far away, the North and Dorne would get along rather famously. The North's crude but no nonsense humor played will with the sultry wit of the Dornish.
"Yeah but my father said everyone at King's Landing nearly shit their pants when Darth Nagash learned about it." Lucas Blackmont said as his father was one of the nobles that had been their on that day. The man himself had profusely claimed that he was unfazed by the Sith's thinly veiled rage but that would be a lie if anyone asked anyone else. "He said that everyone was sure that the King was about to burst into flames with how Darth Nagash was looking at him."
"Doesn't change the fact he is still betrothed to someone and is still acting like that." Jarman growled as he and his table of friends and allies were having a very similar conversation as their Northern and Dornish peers. All around Jarman was the various Acolytes that wished to uphold the ideals of knights despite the fact The Faith was still to this day condemning their order. They treasured honor and chivalry above all else.
"It's Lysa Tully right? Isn't she still a child… that doesn't seem right." Edmund Waxley pointed out and this did give several of the Acolytes pause. They looked up at Darth Nagash eating more than his weight in food while being served by two pretty serving girls and couldn't help but draw comparison to those lords they all knew and found disgusting. Know they knew their leader wasn't like those lords but… it still made them feel uncomfortable to know that such a young girl was engaged to him.
"I'm sure that once he takes his vows he'll stop." Jarman said wanting to end this topic and instead refocused on a well worn topic but one that always would come up again. He looked across the hall and saw Victarion and his gang enjoying themselves. Their most hated foe, the Grayjoy had taken all those that were fated to be nothing more than thugs and turned them into a functioning crew to be feared. They were loud, brutish, and utterly shameless. "At least the Dornish have some class." Jarman thought as he watched one of the older boys eye a Essosi servant girl.
What was about to happen was quite common and many of the teachers had given up on trying to curb this behavior. The servants meanwhile all had the same look when they had to serve that table, one of resigned acceptance. The only one that still discouraged their behavior was Instructor Fay but the Grayjoy gang just started doing their thing when she wasn't around. Jarman watched as one of the thugs smirked and reached out to the servant… only to fly back on to the floor and spill his plate of food all over himself.
"Who did that!?" The brute roared gaining the attention of the entire hall. Jarman looked over to Victarion who was sitting a little further down the table from the bulk of his grunts, with the more… dangerous elements of his gang. The Grayjoy just rolled his eyes with a small snarl but his attention was taken back to Nira who was telling him to ignore the little flies. Those two had gotten very close over the last several months. "I know it was one of you! Come on, speak up and take your beating like a man!"
"Sit down Handsy-Harrison or I'll do a lot worse then flip you back." The brute paled when he realized that it was Darth Nagash that was speaking down to him. Everyone looked up at the high table to see their Grand Master staring down from his central seat… with one of his serving girls in his lap. "You see this… I can do this because unlike you I know how to treat a lady. Don't go reaching for what you don't have permission to reach for. I know I've been gone for a long time and many of you are starting to get to that annoying teenage period in your life but don't think that because you are all a bunch of magic kickass wizard monks in training that you can go and become little shitheads." With that Darth Nagash went back to his meal and the attentions of the busty serving girl in his lap.
"Uhh… that just happened." The acolyte to Jarman's side said and slowly but surely people went back to what they were doing. All expect the Grayjoy gang who all quietly ate their meals and tried to avoid the watchful eyes of their Grand Master.
Rathari knocked on the door to his lord's bedchamber. He had returned from his trip to Valyria to see on the progress of Talzin's work. The ancient Sith respected the witch to a degree, but vastly appreciated her usefulness and knowledge in her duty to Darth Nagash. He had been informed of Naraiz's return as he stepped onto the docks of King's Landing.
The news of the Sith Lord's return was being talked about nonstop. As far as Rathari could tell the common folk were split between gossiping all day excitedly about the nature of the Sith's disappearance and return and those standing beside the Faith of the Seven and their stance on the Sith. Rathari was a decent spy master and was capable of gathering the opinions of the masses quickly enough, popular favor was leaning toward curious excitement. That was the mood in King's Landing, but as he travelled closer to Harrenhal the fervor spiked considerably. News of the Lord of the Sith venturing beyond the Wall and meeting strange and wild Force Users become the focus of every talk and song in a tavern or marketplace. Always ending a tale of Darth Nagash traveling to the Land of Always Winter and treating with frozen princes who ultimately betrayed and tricked him. And for several months he had survived in their icy dungeons before escaping and retuning south by riding a giant eagle or with a pack of dire wolves… the stories had begun to muddy quickly.
Rathari eventually returned to Harrenhal and met back up with Quinn, who pulled the Sith aside and gave him the truth of the matter. That their emperor had instead been trapped in a battle of wills with a myth, a One of the Force. Rathari was not a expert in mythos of the Ones but heard of them during his time among the True Followers. He was even more surprised to hear of the fact The Smith had been sealed under Valyria and his and his fellows' arrival on world had been orchestrated to free the being. With the knowledge of what happened he wished to see his lord personally to touch base.
He could hear music and the sounds of physical effort behind the door, now this could mean that Darth Nagash was once again copulating with his various lovers but according to Quinn Naraiz was more interested in training than sex at the moment. So taking that in mind he decided to take a gamble and just open the door and enter.
"My lord I have… returned." Rathari said as he entered, thankfully not on a mess of limbs and bodies on the floor. Instead he found Darth Nagash doing upside down crunches with only a training sash to protect what little modesty he had.
"Oh Rathari… you're… back. Water!" Naraiz yelled and next to him Saarai moved over a tube connected to a large barrel of water. On his other side was Lyarra Stark holding a basket of strips of jerky. Then on the nearby couch was Naraiz's other Tsân and Joanna Lannister just watching Naraiz workout.
"I see you're very busy." Rathari said while making no sign he was leaving any time soon.
"It's been one month since I've came back and I'll finally getting abs back. I'd say that's progress." He said with a cheeky grin and all the women in the room minus Saarai nodded in agreement. Saarai meanwhile just held her normal mask of motionless dedication but with a light dusting of red on her cheeks. "I am going to miss eating like a Hutt, but I don't really want to bulk. I like myself lean and mean."
"Whatever you say my lord." Rathari said as he walked past the scene in the living area and sat down on one of the chairs near the fireplace. "How far are you from your peek?"
"Considerably." Naraiz said as he finished one more rep and then dropped down from the bar he obviously had set up for exercising. Rathari for a moment considered what other Sith would have done at hearing that. Nearly all would immediately take this as a opportunity to displace their superior. Rathari was not like most Sith, he was smart enough to know that killing Naraiz would net him power like it would have in the Empire but also unlike so many others he was loyal to ideals rather than just personal gain. The goals and dreams that Naraiz represented were what Rathari struggled to achieve. That was what allowed him to… deal with the eccentricities his lord had. "Physically my body is getting there. I could probably begin my sealing regiment again. But I'd like to be sure so I don't more damage with any overloud."
"Hmm."
"Spit it out Rathari."
"Am just curious as to why you didn't leave this world and spend a few weeks in a Bacta Tank to fix your body. It would have been more effective and taken far less time." Rathari questioned and didn't get a answer. "Perhaps, it is because you didn't wish to leave the world so close to your child's due date?" Rathari knew what he was asking and the dead silence that followed told him what he needed to know about how those in the room felt about it.
"Everyone but Rathari leave the room." Naraiz said in a tone of voice that was giving a order and not giving a suggestion. Rathari could sense unease and even anger from the two mortals. The Tsân as usually weren't even registering. But soon enough the two Sith Lords were alone, the sound of the chamber door closing behind the former noble women signaling this. The Tsân were of course still with them in some sense but it was obvious that Naraiz did not wish to hear their input going forward. "Am I to assume that you went against my request to leave Jaesa alone like I expected?"
"Yes." Rathari said not surprised in the slightest that his actions were still all apart of his Lord's designs. Said Lord returned to view now dressed in a simple Sith robe and sat across from Rathari, a data-slate in hand.
"How's our girl holding up?" He asked casually as he begun working on something on the data-slate. While before Rathari had not been the least shocked now he was quite surprised at Naraiz's attitude shift toward Jaesa. "Don't give me that, you should expect that a man that went through what I did to have a new outlook on certain things. And even before I had calmed down. I have accepted the state of limbo me and Jaesa are in, and we will only escape said limbo once I have answers. But I won't have them until I speak with Jaesa, something I won't force on her until either she comes to me or the child is born."
"She seems to be in as much indecision as you. The first time I saw her, we spoke and I was able to gage her emotional state as guilty and in a mindset of self-conflict. The other times I observed her it seemed as if she also resigned herself to the wait and eventual climax of this period between you two." What really irritated Rathari at times was just what had been the catalyst that started all this. He hadn't been able to learn just what came between master and apprentice. He didn't care initially but now it vexed him simply because of how hard it was to find out. "From what I have seen, her due date is nearing. This will all end soon enough… and it's about fucking time."
"Gasp… he swears!" Rathari groaned as his lord chuckled at his own break in patients. "Jaesa will return with the child, and our plans for the Empire shall continue on as planned. Vette did good work finding the way to Revan's Secret Army, ensuring that we will have the numbers to match the Jedi." Rathari took a sigh of relief as they finally were back onto topic more comfortable.
"Even if we gain the allegiance of Revan's Loyalists, we will still be out numbered three to one if you are correct in their numbers." The Jedi had grown considerably, numbering in a little over fifty thousand. That was a big jump since the days of their time when the Jedi tended to wane around ten thousand. Back then the Sith outnumbered the Jedi due to the fact the Sith practiced Force User lineages, encouraging those gifted in the Force to procreate and create more potential Sith. Now this was tempered by the rate of attrition within the Sith Order, a fact that if it had been lessened would likely have seen the Sith over run the Jedi on pure numbers.
But now the tables have turned. The Jedi numbered in mighty armies, some formations in the Republic army were entirely made up of Jedi. And not only that but they were all battle tested warriors, most of them having fought in some sort of conflict. Meanwhile the Sith that they were training were first generation and would number in the dozens rather hundreds let alone thousands. How they would fair against the veteran Jedi legion would not be easy. Rathari had to assume that Darth Nagash planned on making sure his Sith would equipped with powers that would set them far above a average Force User. The Tsân and the Force Blades were already a power that could put a front line Sith on par with a Jedi Master should they be clever enough and their Force Blade's ability be used correctly.
"Which is why we will need to divide those numbers." Darth Nagash said as he tapped a few programs on his data-slate which soon projected two icons between the Sith Lords. One was of a older and more classic Jedi symbol of the Jedi Council. The other was a modern and mix of a Republic badge of office and token Jedi iconography. "The Counselor and Guardian factions are at each other's throats. On one side you have the majority of the Jedi Council and many of the older Knights that are practically Masters themselves. Then you have the vast majority of the Knights and those hawkish Masters with much closer ties to the military. Both sides are only doing what they think is best for both the Force and the Republic, and both are being manipulated by Rule of Two Sith."
"How do you propose we divide them." At this Darth Nagash shrugged and Rathari sighed, but he supposed that was a fair reaction. It was far too early to be considering details of moves like that. Maybe once they had more of themselves to operate as agents among the Jedi they could consider large scale moves. "Right now our greatest asset is the fact no one in the galaxy knows we exist in a serious capacity."
"There's my alter ego Ulysses that's made some face to both the Jedi and Sith, but I highly fucking doubt they can link a Kaasen Treasure Hunter to a growing resurgent Empire." He chuckled and Rathari agreed. This world was hidden from all, and in that safety they could train a new generation of Sith, plot and plan in safety, and hide away should the worst come. "The Jedi aside, the Republic and any other opposition we face will be more than Force Users."
"The Star Forges at Lehon System and the Infinity Engine on Trogan, those are what will ensure we have the navel and armies needed correct?" He asked knowing that they would be hard pressed to keep the building of a fleet and army secret with how the Republic was.
The allocation of resources needed to build ships would be watched, and the training of men or building of large numbers of droids couldn't be hidden for very long. It was all about the Republic noticing a lot of resources going into former Imperial sectors which would raise many red flags. And due to the position of the Terran System, it wouldn't be seen much better as it was directly north of the Corporate Sector, a series of systems directly controlled by the Mega-Corps of the Galaxy which was under heavy observation by the Republic Military. However, both the Star Forges of Lehon and the grown Infinity Engine circumvented this problem.
"The Star Forges will create a fleet that will match the Republic's. And once we take our space back and get Imperial dockyards up and running, the Star Forges will be set to making ships of such a scale they will utterly annihilate the Republic navy." Rathari watched as Naraiz smirked as he flicked up outlines of ship designs. First was various Star Destroyers that would act as ships-of-the-line, Rathari was extra interested in the assault carrier, The Venator Class. But then the holo-gram shifted and he was shown the Super Star Destroyers. Then flicked again.
"Eclipse Class? This size… its monstrous." The Sith Lord did not know if such sizes were possible. The Eternal Empire was able to field giants but even this was pushing it. But then Darth Nagash smirk widened and the image changed again. "The Imperator."
"The Empire flagship, a Super Dreadnaught." He said with one last grin before closing out the images.
"My Lord… is it wise to dedicate such resources? You have spoken before on your distaste for super weapons. They are costly and are far often destroyed before they can be used fully." The conversation was very clear in his mind. They had been discussing some of the failing of the old Empire. And part of it was that the Dark Council was obsessed at times with making Super Weapons and the then the Republic came in a destroyed the project before it could be used. The Gauntlet was a good example of this. The Eclipse Class at least made sense as their scale while extreme was still feasible with the Star Forges. But what he had just seen was beyond even that.
"I looking beyond just our fight with the Republic. The Unknown Regions, terrors from our past, beyond our galaxy. Just as I must become strong enough to protect the galaxy from threats like the rogue Ones, we must have a military capable of fighting threats that could be apocalyptic." He said with this look in his eyes like he had something specific in mind. Rathari was about to ask him what he meant but thought better, there would come a time and place if this ever occurred. So he decided to move over to the other half of their plans.
"And the Infinity Engine, with it we shall create a secret Droid Army to match the Republic." Rather than confirm this, Rathari was surprised to see Naraiz shake his head.
"Droids may be deployed as auxiliaries but I'll not have our forces be mechanical. Droids are good when used by a competent hand, and while we will have fine officers once we have the Imperials on our side… I still wish to put my faith in the strength of soldiers." He said as he tapped a few files up between them. A hierarchy of military ranks and formations was shown to Rathari and at the top it was marked, Imperial Clone Legions. It was organized into twenty legions of varying sizes over a larger pool. "Clones, a base of rank and file soldiers arranged int regiments each specializing in a type of combat. Light infantry, armored infantry, tanks, artillery, so on and so on. Above them are the Legions, these will be the elites. The Legions will all be cultivated in fires of hardship and trained to the point of breaking. Given the best armor and weapons we can gift them. The Republic has their super soldier, we'll have ours."
"This was why you were interested in the Kaminoans, but they were wiped out… and how does the Infinity Engine play into this?" It was ambitious project and certainly one that had Rathari interested. Clones raised from birth to be perfect soldiers were certainly a way to go about it, choosing quality of troop to numbers. Rathari knew that the initial phases of the war they would play defensively after a hard blitz. Clones would be suited for this, taking and holding territory instead of costly assaults. Give themselves time to dig in and plan out another expansion.
"They were the best, and I hope that at least some of their work isn't totally lost." He said bitterly and Rathari could tell this was a important facet of his overall plans. Personally Rathari didn't see what was the big deal, cloning while a rare science was practiced widely enough where they might be able to find a promising arrest with the craft in the galaxy. Unless the Republic was actively hunting them down… which in all likelihood they were. "If I can find some of their tech, we can replicate it with the Infinity Engine. I plan on created prefabricated Cloning Labs and placing them on select worlds. Harsh Worlds, ones that will instill certain traits and values in each of the Legions, meanwhile the wider army regiments will be trained on Imperial Worlds, given the iron will of pure imperial discipline. The Infinity Engine will also produce automated factories that will create all the arms and armor we need." With that the holo-gram closed out and Naraiz put away the data-slate.
"There will also be a great deal of governmental restructuring once we take control over the Imperial Sector." Naraiz groaned and slumped into his chair at hearing that.
"Don't remind me, I've spent too much time on this shit to think about it more. I have some chicken scratch notes on how we'll do it but I don't want to think about that right now." He groaned as he raked a palm over his face. Rathari watched as Naraiz pulled himself up and began doing some stretches. "I'd much rather have us do some sparing."
"Oh, not worried I might kill you and supplant you as Emperor?" Rathari joked as he stood up as well.
"If you do then it's on you to make sure those brats downstairs live through puberty."
"You didn't need to let me stay." Jaesa grumbled as she waddled into the Forel household. She was getting very annoyed with her limited mobility. But even more annoyed at the fact the local gangs had decided that since she nearing the end of her pregnancy that they could take this as the final chance to get rid of her forever.
"Considering that they tried to burn down an entire block to kill you I think otherwise." Fiola chipped as he carried in the large trunk that had been filled with golden goodies but now was considerably lighter than when it arrived in the city. Jaesa was not good at managing her finances. She never bothered exchanging her gold into currency and had simply been bartering the gold itself the entire time she had been in Braavos. She now suspected that had been a big reason why the gangs were so intent on killing her and taking her shit.
"And you don't think they'll follow me here to your home?" Jaesa asked as she sat down, her feet killing her. It was degrading to her that the very body that had been in fights with countless enemies and never faltered was now cracking under something that normal women handled just fine. Tirysa had told her that it was also perfectly normal for her to feel this as not all women took to pregnancy perfectly but she ignored the more experienced woman.
"The gangs don't come to this part of the city. You chose poorly on where to live, we're closer to the Sealord's palace. The guards actually patrol here at night." Fiola explained, Jaesa wasn't convinced and would be expecting Macha to be getting well fed these next few nights. The only thing they were right on was that the gangs wouldn't try to burn the place down, that would draw too much attention.
"I'm sure that you will be perfectly fine Jaesa. All the stress of staying safe isn't good for the baby, just let us handle that." Tirysa said as she closed the door behind her. Their home was located on one of the costal islands of Braavos, where many of the merchants lived as it had better access to the docks. Her husband while not a wealthy merchant, was a successful transporter of people across the Narrow Sea, having gained a good reputation for safe travels between Essos and the Sunset Kingdoms. As such they had a decently sized townhouse.
This also wasn't the first time that they hosted a pregnant woman. Syrio was a smart and curious boy and would vanish out the door and later return in time for dinner. This gave Tirysa time to help those that needed it, she worked as a midwife and a healer to some of the less fortunate of Braavos. She on several occasions had invited homeless women into her home as they approached the arrival of their child. So this was little different other than the fact this woman was magical, could summon a demon out of the air, and was being hunted by several gangs for vengeance and a promise of large amounts of gold.
"Oh I believe that my crew is calling for their glorious captain…" Fiola nervously said as he attempted to leave only to be stopped by his wife. She was in no way going to allow him to leave her all alone with a moody Jaesa. He also was the primary reason why she was in their lives though she also had guilt in that as well.
"You don't have to do this, I know when I'm not wanted." Jaesa said as she forced herself to stand and start back for the door, this time both of the Forel parents and even Syrio.
"I will not let you out of this house until you have that child in your arms." Tirysa wasn't about to let the past six months go to waste. Six months of trying to help a troubled woman accept what she had done and accept that she was ready for this child. That latter part had been easier said than done, while it was true that Jaesa wanted the child Tirysa knew better and knew the signs of guilt. It had taken many talks to help Jaesa understand that just because the circumstances of the child's creation was less than perfect, didn't mean there was no hope. Tirysa also bore a few new scars when Jaesa lashed out during this talks. "We are here for you, and you are ready for this."
"Yeah, but now I'm just making it hell of a lot harder for you all just by being here!" Jaesa shouted and one of the plates on the dinning table broke. Both Syrio and his father huddled behind the woman of the house as she was the only effective shield they had at the moment. "Get out of my way, I'm not going to put anymore bullshit on this kid's head. Even if it has to be born in a alley, I'm sick and tired of feeling sorry for myself because of it!"
"You have nothing to feel sorry for. Let's just get you to…"
"I'm leaving! You can't-" Jaesa suddenly fell to her knees and had a hand on her large belly. Tirysa's eyes widened as she saw this happen, then even more as she saw a pool form under the pregnant woman. "G-get… out of… of the way." Jaesa struggled to say as she tried to crawl forward even though her water had just broken.
"Not a chance! Syrio, go get the healers! Fiola, go tell the guards that there might be some trouble tonight!" Tirysa barked out and her boys did as they were told and rushed out the door. She meanwhile helped Jaesa back up and forced her to start walking back. They had a room already set for this exact situation, they hadn't expected it to be used on the first night but better prepared and then not. "You're going to be okay, I promise. I've delivered a dozen healthy babies and you won't be any different."
"I… I need him. I need him here." Tirysa heard in a broken whisper. She still didn't know much about the father, Jaesa had always avoid that topic any time Tirysa tried to broch it. But she dearly hoped that some god was listening and somehow deliver him here.
"Are you sure it's safe for us to be here?" Fay asked as we stood in the Godswood, in front of the Heart Tree. I was know back to an acceptable body composition, maybe even a bit fitter than before the whole ordeal. I had been getting a bit lax on my diet and exercise. But thankfully now that had been rectified. Now all that was left was for me to start the long process of sealing away power bit by bit. The process was essentially me storing away a large amount of power in the Force, then condensing it in my soul and forcing my body to sustain that pressure until I acclimated then do the same thing over and over again until I once again reach my peek. Naraiz had hit a bit of wall at one point and his growth effectively stopped with this method. However this occurred after his duel with the Eternal Emperor. And I had extended this limit further when I achieved both the manifestation of my Tsân and achieved their second released state.
"It's not like these things are conduits for direct power, they are more outlet pipes. Plus this specific Weirwood tree is tainted by the Dark powers of the Dance of Dragons." I explained as I ran a hand over the various stab marks in the tree, each one still bleeding with feint memory of that duel. The Targaryen bloodline was once a potent Force lineage but now it was spoiled rotten, but for their members to be able to create the Iron Throne and do lasting curses like this without proper knowledge of the Force was amazing.
"I have found no issue in my time before the trees." Rathari said, it was just the three of us. In the days since his returned I have spared with him several times to gage my progress. I can accurately say I am at least at the same point of power Naraiz was at when he was made a Sith Lord. That being said I still felt restless, for myriad of reasons. "Exactly why have we been called here my lord?"
"I want touch base on the state of the acolytes." I said knowing that we would be completely alone here. The only other possible ears that would be hearing this conversation was the Three Eyed Raven but that was a given anywhere. "Talzin is currently creating the Sith Crucibles, which is in my opinion a much better name than the Trials thank you Rathari."
"Your welcome my lord." Rathari said giving a small bow. He had been the one to come up with the name. It was very in lien with his ideals and it fit for what they were.
"At the moment our eldest are in their early teens, we will be restricting the Crucibles to those that have reached eighteen years and even then we will have a written test and a scored sparing match they will have to pass first." That being said, there will be two groups of acolytes. Those I give a shit about and those that I don't. In other words, those who will be staying vs those that will be leaving.
By our snooping and knowledge of the acolytes, a majority of the low born are intending to stay. And thankfully most of the high born that I have my eye on are in that crowd as well. They will be taking the true Crucibles meanwhile the rest will just be thrown into the Valyrian wilds for a few days, collected by Nightsisters after darting them, then returned back to Westeros with a pat on the head and some little ceremony to say they are Sith… yeah right. Those that will be staying will take their Crucibles, and then be inducted into the Rule of Three. Further training and a gradual exposure of the true plan will then commence.
"That will give us four more years, plenty of time to help the acolytes along." Fay said as she thought hard on this topic. It was so nice to see her come into her role. I guess she sensed my smugness as she looked up from her thoughts and lightly glared at me. "And what is so funny?"
"Oh nothing… you've just really settled in as all." I pointed out and she blushed a bit and huffed. She did that a lot and it was quite adorable. I then glanced at Rathari and hoped he also enjoyed the sight but nope. Asexual bastard… how my ships ever pan out if the characters don't do as I want them to. "Regardless, by our estimates the two sects will be…" I stopped talking as I felt something in the Force.
"My lord… is something the matter?" Rathari spoke but I barely heard him. I was too busy focusing on a beacon in the Force. This blinding light that felt so familiar but I didn't recognize it.
"Hey, is it happening again? Is she sucking you in?" I could vaguely hear Fay's voice but I didn't listen. There was something I needed to do but wasn't sure I could do it. I hadn't attempted this yet but I knew it could be done. So with the beacon in the Force as my guide and using all what little stored power I had in my body, along with anything I could steal from the surrounding area… I cracked open a rift in space and walked through. The first thing I heard was a baby's cry.
I then fell to my side, falling on a wall as my body caught up with the extreme taxation I had just put on it. Force Teleportation was no joke. I had no training in it and I just used it to travel way too far for my experience with it. I breathed heavily as I tried to pull myself up and not fall onto the floor. I'm sure that the day lost was due to my inexperience with the power, or maybe it was because of my overall depleted state. Someone shouted at me and by instinct I held out a hand and began gripping their throat with the Force. Then my vision and mind cleared a bit and I looked around.
The room I was in had several women in it, all wearing white and violet robes. The woman that I had in a Force Choke was different, I let her down now that I could think clearly. The others all looked at me with fear and panic, the woman I had attacked just glared at me with protective defiance in her eyes. None of them mattered as I finally laid eyes on what I had been brought here for.
"Jaesa." I whispered as I saw her on a bed, a child in her arms only partially cleaned from being birthed.
"Who are you?! How did you get in here!" The lead woman shouted at me and immediately my eyes turned glowing yellow as I glared at her. This was a reunion long awaited and I wasn't about to let some nobody ruin it.
"Don't… don't kill her." I heard Jaesa's voice, it was strained but still strong. So I didn't kill her, I simply waved my hand and pushed all these women out of the way. "Thank you." She said with a kind and grateful smile, a rare sight form her and one that had meaning.
"I'm assuming that you have had to put up with her for some time now. It takes a lot for her to get close enough to actually care about another's wellbeing like this." I say as I stand next to her and grasp her free hand. She clutches it and that one act makes me feel more at ease than anything else. I look back to the rest of the room, the weaker ones had already fled meanwhile the one that Jaesa cared about was still here. "Thank you, it means a lot to me… and sorry."
"You must be the father… honestly I was still half expecting it to be true and it to actually be Tywin Lannister."
"Wait what?"
"Not now Tirysa." Jaesa said with a annoyed groan and the woman just chuckled.
"Apology accepted, I've been dealing with Jaesa nearly killing me enough to not take offence. As crazy as that sounds." Oh… I like her. But that can be for later. She thankfully took the hint and gave one last meaningful look to Jaesa and left the room. We said nothing, I pulled a chair over and just sat next to her and the baby.
"It's a girl." Jaesa said as she held the baby close to her chest. It was already sleeping, I have no idea how given it was just brought into this world and then there was the screaming… attempted murder. "She kept screaming, the second she was out it was crying even when they gave her to me."
"Gave her." I said knowing full well that Jaesa likely forced them to give her over the second they would.
"Shut up." Jaesa said quickly and it felt good for the two of us. Things were feeling normal again. "But then you appeared out of nowhere and she stopped. Must know her daddy is here to keep her safe."
"Right, anything in particular?"
"Maybe a few gangers that think I'm sitting on a mountain of gold."
"I'm not even going to ask what you've been up to." We didn't say anything else. I just sat next to her bed as she continued to rock the child as she slept. It was a whole other side to Jaesa, or better yet I'm pretty sure it was like the old Jaesa. The one that existed before Naraiz. And on the note of Old Naraiz, I felt the question needed to be asked. I didn't want to ask it but I felt a little entitled to knowing just what happened given how Jaesa left. "Just… tell me how much of it was a act."
"All of it was and wasn't." She said, the motherly smile not leaving her lips as she stared down at our daughter. "I meant every word I ever said when we reunited back in the North. Just… sometimes I wasn't talking to you you." She finished sheepishly and with obvious guilt in her voice. "I had decided to go along for the ride, enjoy your compony and act the part I needed to. All in order to get what I really wanted, the last piece of the old you I could get.
"Both in one Soul, my mind, his body." I said knowing that's what I told Jaesa. I felt her hand tighten around mine and I looked back up. She was looking at me with the most sure look on her face I had ever seen.
"That time in the baths… it wasn't what I had planned. It felt real. More real than any time I had with him. That's why I ran, because it scared me, that I could actually be feeling something for you and not the old you. That the act I was putting on wasn't an act at all." She explained before pausing. The silence in the air was deathly still before Jaesa moved to pass over our child to me. I tentatively let go of her hand and took the small baby out of her arm and into my own. "This is our child. Our child."
"Yes, she is." I nodded my head as I held the fidgeting baby in my hands. The feeling of losing contact with the warmth of her mother was strange and new, but she didn't cry. She wrapped tiny fingers around one of mine and just continued to breathe in and out. "So… just like that."
"I'm sure later we can… work out the details." She joked and while I knew what she really meant by that, I was going to make damn sure that Jaesa and me were going to be speaking with Vette as a impromptu therapy session. "I never decided on a name by the way. Any ideas?"
"Heh… a few. I tried to keep myself from picking anything too stupid." I knew myself reasonably well enough to know I have a habit of giving things stupid names. But I hopefully gave this plenty of thought I came down to something that my daughter could… learn to love. I also found it quite ironic given my position and its meaning.
"So… don't keep me in suspense I've had enough of that." Her voice was starting to get weary. I could tell she needed some rest soon. "What is it?"
"Pandora."
Author's Notes
So here we have it. Jasea and Naraiz's daughter has been born. I'm pretty sure that I already said that it would be a girl a few chapters ago. As for the name, I really tried hard not to do something too memey. But in the end I had to do something at least half meme. Pandora is a name I like for a few reasons, one... it can be shortened to Dora which is always nice for nicknames. Two, it does have some relavent meaning to future plots, now that doesn't mean she'll be unleashing the End Times on the galaxy but... she'll be causing a few things. And Three... it just is a good name in my opinion.
So please leave a Review and tell me what you think about this. Next chapter Naraiz and Jaesa will return to Harrenhal, Naraiz will go back to the stars to find Revan's Secret Army, then we will finally do the Kamino Cloners arc. Yay.
Reviews
Gabe2000 - not too far off from what's going to happen honestly
Starlord Master - Becuase why would I not?
Kalvernus - Next chapter
Reads too Much - Sorry to say that not much happened in the six months. A lot of what's going on is on a relative auto-pilot, not much is happening in the galaxy and in Westeros Naraiz's position is pretty secure. As for the House of the Undying, nothing. It was essentially a mystical drill that the Crone tricked the Warlocks into building and then power up using the life force of the surronding ecosystem, thus the Red Wastes.
Guest 1 - I don't care to leave a response but have to so they other Guest can tell which response is which.
Guest 2 - The thing is, no one but the Children were supposed to live on this world so if the humans hadn't come around then everything would still be functioning as it should. Just like with the Maw, the Ones made a pretty good jail its just when someone came and messed with it did it break. Naraiz doesn't actually have a plan for them at the moment mainly because he doesn't know how to deal with them, he's just going for containment right now. Naraiz will be limiting the creation of Tsân to only those that have reached Master level in the new Sith Order. I'm not sure if I'm going to inculde the Kro Var yet, I coudl easily say the Jedi found them and blasted them to dust but... I'm not sure yet.