Hey, everyone! How are you all doing on this cool night of Thursday, January 26, 2023? I'm well, as I took a few days off to plan the outline for the next several chapters, which will set up Part 2 of this story and help flesh out other elements of the overall saga. Oh, and I finished Shadow of the Sith, and it was a decent novel. Not as good as most Legends books, but it was entertaining enough and gave me a bit of insight into cults and how to better describe a scene. If only it could stand on its own instead of being tied to the Sequel Trilogy. In other news, I'm now reading a book on diplomatic relations between the United States and Israel under the previous president, and how they improved so drastically because of the right people in charge and a sharp change in policy. I know many of you aren't fond of the 45th President, and there's at least a few legitimate reasons not to like him, but I have the right to stand by my beliefs, and they don't impact my storytelling. Well, other than in a few subtle ways. Besides, I just want to understand more of the people who worked under him and learn more about my noble country and how I can make it the best I can. And from what I've read on David Friedman and his efforts as former ambassador to Israel, he sounds like a great man and staunch defender of truth, justice, and liberty. Well, in other news, I should have this chapter done in a few days, and then it's on to Chapter 12. I hope to hear from you all in the next few chapters, as I've got a few new eyes looking over them and they'll hopefully have plenty of constructive advice to give that'll take my writing to the next level. Anyway, I hope you all have a blessed night, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
1900 Hours, Selona 14th, 59 ABY
Horuset System
Aboard the Rude Awakening
Within the Jedi-owned strike cruiser, its crew felt the diminishing by the death of one of their own, and the pall of despair by fall of the man who brought them all together in the first place. When everyone heard from the Jedi of how Edaan, brainwashed and enhanced by the One Sith, murdered Robonino and crippled Jaden, it broke something within each crew member and friend that left them despondent and heartbroken over the war's turn for the worse.
Tau, in his shame over being unable to save his brother, sequestered himself in the engine room, desperate to avoid anyone while he performed maintenance on the ship's propulsion systems and make himself useful to those that mourned Edaan's descent into darkness. But in his grieving, his fear for the fallen Jedi Knight and his darkening plight, it kept him from truly focusing on his work. So great was his anger, his self-loathing, and regret, he would have let out a Force-generated and agonizing scream before he heard two people enter the chambers.
Restraining himself just enough to prevent an outburst, Tau harshly barked out, "I thought I asked to be left alone!" Turning to see who was disturbing him, the Iteration realized he was speaking to Tyria Sarkin-Tainer, the appointed leader of this crew and long serving Jedi Knight and a founding member of Wraith Squadron. And the other individual was Akku, one of Edaan's most trusted friends and an Anzati who chose the Mandalorian way of life over his people's culture. Quickly apologizing, he said, "I'm sorry, Master Jedi, Captain Seii. I… I thought you were someone else."
"Why did you come here, Tau?" Tyria curiously began. "What made you come aboard this ship, when you knew everyone was suffering over what happened to Edaan and everyone else?"
Sighing, Tau politely warned, "If this is your attempt at a counseling session, you ought to be attending to Adari instead. She'll need your guidance more than I ever could."
"Shara and Lona are seeing to her needs." Akku explained. "But right now, you look like you could use a fair bit of wisdom yourself."
"We all heard from you and Chelli of how you rebelled against the Sith, and how you set the stage to save Edaan from the Sith. But your problem was that you were too hasty in trying to get him back from his captivity." Akku elaborated.
Eyes blazing with an irate fury, Tau rose to his feet, fists clenched and teeth gritting, he angrily demanded, "And how was I 'too hasty?' In case you forgot already, because of me underestimating Sorzus and the Sith, your Patrolian friend is dead, Jaden's probably right behind him, and Edaan is going to decimate the Alliance on behalf of our common foe. Forget me being 'hasty,' I was a complete di'kut. I should've done things differently, but it's too late now. Now, I don't know how we're ever going to get him back."
"So, are you just going to give up?" Tyria challenged. "After one defeat, you're going to call it quits and leave the galaxy to face eternal darkness, and surrender your brother to the Sith?"
"No!" Tau snapped, before sighing, "I promised to save Edaan, and I want to keep my vow. But I just don't know how to do it. Even if we can get close enough to reach Edaan, Adari and I will need to say the code phrase in front of him, and there's no guarantee it'll work, not with the Sith undoubtedly tightening their hold over him. And I doubt Mrs. Palpatine will be willing to work with me after the disaster I just put everyone through."
"You'll just have to take it one step at a time, like any other mission or battle." Akku instructed the clone. "Only this time, you'll have to play the long game and wait for the right opportunity. You can't afford to be reckless this time around."
'The long game.' Tau silently repeated, remembering something from his implanted memories and studies from Darth Krayt's fallen citadel. Countless Sith Orders worked from the shadows to undermine the Jedi from within and without, and perhaps he could take a page from their strategy to use their tactics against them.
Rubbing a hand over his tiny stubble of a beard, he began to formulate a plan to strike back at the Sith and save Edaan. If he could not liberate his mind and soul all at once, then he would have to give his brother the tools he needed to stage his own reawakening.
But for this new approach to work, he'd need Adari's help, and he would have to make a few calls to various Force Orders and some of Edaan's friends to see if this gambit could use at least a bit of refinement. Unlike his last harebrained scheme, he would seek out other points of view and see what he could learn from them.
Humbly thanking both leaders, Tau sheepishly chuckled, "I guess I owe you both big time for your well-timed words. I promise I'll pay you back somehow."
"We'll hold you to that, someday." Akku humorously warned.
"But first, I'll need access to the ship's holocomm relay, and your most encrypted line to make a few calls." Tau requested. "For what I might have in the works, we can't afford to let the enemy learn of this, but I need to be sure the plan's possible."
1200 Hours, Selona 15th, 59 ABY
Inner Rim, Thrysus System
Thrysus Orbit
Within the Sun Guard Orbital Garrison Theron
Hovering thousands of kilometers above the planet that the Sun Guard called home, the five-kilometer wide and tall hexagonal structure, the first and largest of an expanding network of thirty currently operating space stations, serving as an orbital defense and mobile headquarters for the reformed militia in its defense of Thrysus and its neighboring systems, was operating at peak efficiency for three thousand of the army's greatest defenders.
And deep within its corridors, in the ore of this nerve center of operations where the army conducted drills, analyzed the system's defenses, and assessed potential recruits and possible missions across the galactic region, a classified meeting was underway, one that would once again tie the Sun Guard's fate to that of the rest of the galaxy if both sides could make an accord.
Garbed in the ceremonial armor of the Supreme Sun Guardian, the leader of the feared mercenary army known as the Sun Guard calmly listened as the former Grand Master of the Jedi Order laid out his case before him. Explaining how the One Sith, the latest incarnation of the Dark Side order that once subverted the entire organization to eventually serve the Banite Sith, had gained several decisive advantages over the Alliance of Light and how they needed assistance to turn this war around.
By taking over Edaan Palpatine's mind, one of the Jedi Order's best knights, along with recruiting eleven million refugees and the military remnants the Chiss Ascendancy's many rivals while drawing this war into the treacherous Unknown Regions, the Alliance would now need nothing short of a miracle to win. That assessment was only made more apparent when Master Luke Skywalker disclosed how Darth Krayt and his acolytes had uncovered a remnant of both the ancient Rakatan species, the Esh-Kha commandos, with both their military prowess aligned with the Dark Siders.
After Luke finished detailing the situation, the aged Sun Guard noted, "I can see that you Jedi still can't finish, or even handle, your own wars on your own, can't you?"
"You know this war is far more than a simple religious feud." Luke patiently reminded Thull. "Darth Krayt and his order took advantage of the last few decades' chaos to jumpstart their campaign, and they've learned from all of our mistakes and sins, distant and recent, to push the galaxy to the edge of annihilation. If we don't stand together now, then we'll all fall separately, and only end up fueling an even greater evil's return."
"You speak of Abeloth, yes?" Thull deduced. "I'm fully aware of her power and the danger she represents, Master Skywalker, thanks to the information you've provided us in your years of a quasi-retirement. And your personal intelligence network has given us a significant edge in protecting our neighboring regions of space from all manner of threats, so I do owe you a rather large debt."
"And besides, the thought of repaying the Sith for their manipulation and discarding of the original Sun Guard would hold much appeal for much of my order."
"There's one more matter you ought to be aware of that might impact your decision, Thull." Luke warned. "We believe the Sith are searching for Zonama Sekot to try and corrupt the world and its population into a Dark Side foundry and army."
All ease vanished from Thull's demeanor, and he dreadfully whispered, "How?" Remembering how the Sun Guard barely managed to hold the Yuuzhan Vong at bay and keep their system safe, the army had hoped to see and hear the last of the extragalactic invaders after they were exiled into the Unknown Regions to atone for their atrocities. To now hear claims to the contrary, it terrified the aged Echani to the core of his being.
Luke, sensing his contact's disbelief, truthfully explained, "The Sith have had their agents and proxies in the Unknown Regions scouting out the unexplored regions around where the living world once resided, and is extending the search to find its new home. And as for how they intend to corrupt the planet, we believe they are going to use prototype bioweapons designed to amplify a person's connection to the Dark Side of the Force. From there, they'll use the weapons to twist the world and its inhabitants into an unstoppable army of Sith marauders."
"We learnt all of this from the efforts of our allies in the Unknown Regions, and from several high-ranking defectors in the One Sith's ranks that validate what we've already learnt."
"I'm sending all relevant data to you now, but we're running out of time. Your people will have to decide quickly on whether to help us, before the Sith can complete their plans." Luke warned Thull.
"I believe you." Thull promised. "You wouldn't make up such an absurd lie and twisting an entire planet to serve the Dark Side sounds exactly like something the Sith would do."
Coming to a decision, Thull vowed, "I will speak with my people and prepare to send you an advance detachment of our best fighters to assist your efforts. And I will personally lead these first few platoons for when we journey into the galaxy's final frontier to save all of creation."
"That isn't-" Luke tried to intervene, but Thull wouldn't have any of it.
"You expect me to let my soldiers do all the fighting, after all you just confided in me? You must be growing senile in your old age." Thull amusingly noted. "I will ensure that you and the Alliance are given all the aid I can muster while ensuring our system is adequately protected from enemy incursions."
1600 Hours
Coruscant, Senate District
Galactic Alliance Navy Command Complex
Deep within the nerve center for the Galactic Alliance Defense Fleet's command structure, Kajin Bar Yimmon, subconsciously wrung his hands while examining each of the five Joint Chiefs and the Jedi and Alliance of Light representatives, all in attendance either in person or via hologram. Each of the admirals and generals who led the GA's brave defenders, they all shared the Chief of State and Jedi's dread at each of their bitter defeats at Korriban and above the Chiss-occupied planet of Sunrise, along with the Sith's brutal and brazen assassination attempt on the Imperial's leadership on Bastion.
With the One Sith's armies revitalized with millions of new recruits and about to be commanded by a corrupted Edaan and an untold number of other cybernetic Sith fighters, everyone undoubtedly knew the Sith held the clear advantage in this war. And with Fyor Rodan and his network of conspirators in the well-hidden Knights of Olpaka still embedded Coruscant and trying to break out three of the GA's worst traitors, none of the Joint Chiefs would be able to deliver their full strength to the war where it would be decided.
Which was why this emergency conference was well underway, with the holograms of Tionne Solusar, Kirney Slane, Taryn Zel, and Desha Dorvan attending at the Chief of State's request to best coordinate the Galactic Alliance's next move and assist the Alliance of Light.
Gazing out at the cityscape, observing the countless airborne vehicles flying at a fair distance from the military headquarters, Kajin, broke into the conversation by questioning Tionne, "Are you certain you can maintain a vigil over your old temple with only ten other Jedi under your command? With the Sith Shrine and its influence fully unlocked, I'm sure many wicked minds will want to take advantage of all its energies and untold long buried secrets. And if Grand Master Katarn and most of your fighters return to Shedu Maad before shipping out to Chiss Space, we will be hard-pressed to keep the peace and take out Rodan's band of criminals."
"Are you all right, Sir?" Desha concernedly asked the Chief of State. "Master Solusar and Director Slane already went over this detail. The remaining Jedi will be supplemented by half of the present Blackguard and Jensaarai in keeping the shrine's energies contained, while the Rogues' Gallery and the Hapan detachment will work alongside us in hunting down and apprehending Rodan and his collaborators."
"Hmm?" Kajin grunted before the memory resurfaced, and wearily acknowledged, "Ah, yes. Forgive me, but these last few days- no, these last few months and years- they've taken a terrible toll on me in many ways. Rather like you all, I imagine."
Tionne, now worried for the normally calm and composed Cerean politician, deduced, "You're worried about the people you swore to protect, aren't you? If the Sith can twist souls as noble and stalwart as Edaan to serve their twisted plans, what can it say about the rest of the populace."
Glancing at the Jedi Council member with a mournful nod, Kajin added, "It's more than that. I gave up everything to help my people and the galaxy prosper after one devastating war after another, and now all our efforts are coming undone from all sides, both within and without. If we lose this war, or if we even win, I fear the Galactic Alliance will not be strong enough to weather the next crisis. "
"Sir." Nek sympathetically spoke. "We all understand how you feel. But you cannot think to shoulder the entire burden of this war on your shoulders. Saving the galaxy is not your responsibility. Your job is to lead and guide the Galactic Alliance while upholding its founding principles and protecting its citizens. And you cannot falter now in your role, not when so many are looking to you as a pillar of strength."
Sighing, Kajin ruefully considered if this was how so many other leaders felt after decades of selfless service to the galaxy, and why they willingly stepped down to lead their own lives and help others in smaller ways. After giving so much to protect the people he loved so dearly, he somehow knew the time to follow in the galaxy's greatest leaders and heroic figures was growing near. But that time had not yet arrived, not when the galaxy depended on decisive leadership and individuals with great integrity to carry them through these dark times.
Opening one eye towards Nek, Kajin amusingly noted, "If that's your idea of an inspirational speech meant to reinvigorate me, it'll need a lot of work."
Turning to the rest of the Joint Chiefs, Kajin ordered Garik, "General Loran, I'll want you to deliver to me a list of ten possible worlds to relocate the prisoners from Grungeon Block by the end of next week. We need to move the Olpakans' quarry out of their reach before they try a direct attack."
Glancing to Judder, he added, "General Page, I need you to work with Admiral Darklighter and bolster the Mothma prison until we can move our traitors offworld. And we need to see if we can spare any resources and soldiers for the war in the Unknown Regions. But until then, we'll just have to count on the people we already have out there to hold the line."
"Perhaps I could be of assistance, Sir." Kirney suggested to Kajin. "I've been working with Commander Zel and her husband, and we might have figured out a way to lure Rodan and his cohorts out of hiding and get the public on our side and more involved in this war."
Eyeing the director of the Rogues' Gallery intelligence division, Kajin advised the aged human, "If you have a plan, I'll hear it out. Whether you can convince me of such a strategy's merits will be another matter altogether."
0900 Hours, Selona 16th, 59 ABY
Hyperspace, On Route to Shedu Maad
Aboard the Rude Awakening
Staring out into the mesmerizing sight of stars moving past the ship as it traveled faster than the speed of light, Vua could not bring himself to move an inch, even as his bloodshot eyes tore themselves away to moisten them again behind his eyelids. No matter how many times he tried to convince himself otherwise, he somehow knew Edaan was lost to his friends and loved ones for good, even if they were able to strip away the darkness and allow his true self to reemerge. The guilt alone over what he did would drive him mad and convince him the only way he could atone was to give his life to stop Darth Krayt and the One Sith.
Everyone couldn't believe what Tau told them, how Edaan murdered Robonino with such obvious joy, and shot Jaden in the back to cripple him, it went against every principle and precept of loyalty the original Palpatine offspring held sacred. The Sith-created Iteration was so distraught by what he saw beneath Korriban, he had sequestered himself in the engine room to wallow in his failures the moment the ship entered hyperspace, leaving Adari and the rest of the Rude Awakening's crew to process all they learnt.
Vua did not know why Tyria, Akku, and K'Kruhk allowed the clone aboard when all he did was remind everyone of the loss of their beloved friend, but the Yuuzhan Vong Extolled knew he wanted nothing to do with him. All he could focus on now was how much sleep he needed after staring into space and going without food for nearly forty-eight hours, and he felt the fatigue from the last mission finally catch up with him.
Hearing his stomach rumble with enough strength to intimidate a full-grown rancor, Vua was hoping he didn't run into Tau when grabbing a bite to eat and retiring to his and Akku's shared cabin. Shuffling along to the mess hall, he was disheartened to see everyone quietly conversing with each other while enjoying their food, with Tau trying to utter reassurances and other empty promises to try and save Edaan after his tremendous failure the first time around. He even saw a forlorn and depressed Adari attending, with Shara and Lona sitting by her to try and lift her spirits and maintain her fragile composure.
The only people not in attendance were K'Kruhk, Kix, and Jarael, who must still be attending to Jaden along with the ship's medical droids in a desperate effort to keep the Jedi Knight alive.
Glaring at the clone with the same hateful intensity he once held towards all forms of machinery, Vua scathingly asked Tau, "What are you doing up here? Shouldn't you be plotting your next scheme or helping Master K'Kruhk and the others keep Jaden alive?"
"Vua, that's enough." Atai sternly advised his friend. "Tau did everything he could to protect Edaan, and we still have a chance to save him from the Sith. We're not going to give up on him, no matter what. He's our friend, and we don't turn our backs on any of our friends."
Weary eyes blazing with a near-murderous intensity, Vua snarled, "You think I want to give up on Edaan? After all he did for me, for all of us?! Of course not! But Tau's great gambit and Robonino's pleas both failed completely, and Edaan cut a bloody swath through our ranks while nearly blasting Jaden's head off. Unless he can snap out of this trance on his own, then I'm afraid we're out of options. That's just the way it is!"
"I understand how you feel. We all do." Akku solemnly agreed, shooting down the hateful glares aimed at Vua before walking up to the former gladiator and placing a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "It's not that you want to give up on Edaan, but you don't know how to reach him, correct? You feel a helplessness in losing a friend and loved one that you haven't felt in years, and you now want to lash out at everyone and everything around you."
"We've all felt that same despair throughout our lives, and we've all conquered those demons in one way or another many times before." Tyria added. "And now it's time to face that fear once again, but now you have a family to help you, for that is what this crew is for everyone here."
"A crazy and dysfunctional one, maybe." Shara casually added, earning a few chuckles and warm smiles from everyone. "But we're going to look out for each other, and make sure we don't lose anyone else while saving the man who brought us all together and gave us everything we could ever need."
"How can we do that?" Vua despairingly cried. "Even if we could get near Edaan, he's protected by the entire One Sith and their armadas, kept out of arms' reach by Krayt's top disciples, and hidden away in the galactic fringes. And there's no guarantee your passphrase will even set him free from his conditioning."
"That's why we're going to play the long game and free Edaan's mind, one piece of his mind at a time." Tau resolutely answered. "While you were lost in space, we all came up with a new and foolproof plan to save my brother."
"And what makes this strategy of yours 'foolproof', Tau?" Vua skeptically asked. Turning towards Adari, he reminded her, "Even if he is telling the truth, you can't afford to endanger yourself anymore, not with your child growing in your womb and the Sith after you. Right now, the best move for you is to stay away from the war and keep the both of you safe."
"I can't abandon the fight." Adari ardently denied. "I might not be able to work on the front lines for much longer, but I won't let those I love do all the hard work in this war. There are plenty of other ways I can contribute to the war effort. And my husband needs me, and I'm essential to saving his soul. Besides, we never said we'd be trying to reach Edaan through conventional means."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Vua doubted.
"It means Adari and Tau are going to work to reach Edaan through the Force." K'Kruhk elaborated, surprising everyone with his return. But with the way he carried himself, with the weary stare and his heavy footsteps, everyone could guess the news he had to deliver wasn't good.
"How's Jaden?" Tau anxiously asked. "Will he make it?"
Mournfully shaking his head, K'Kruhk answered, "The blast on his spine, coupled with the internal battering and Force Lightning he suffered back on Korriban, they all took too much of a toll on his body to heal. I'm afraid he doesn't have much time left before his nervous system shuts down."
"How long?" Tyria closed her eyes, distraught over losing another friend as a casualty of war. No matter how long she had fought the good fight, losing a comrade or friend always broke her heart a little more.
"A week, two at the very most." K'Kruhk replied. "Kix is informing everyone close to Jaden of the situation, and they'll get their chance to say their goodbyes before he passes on. Jarael is going to do everything she can to prolong his life, but it won't be easy."
A pall of silence carried over the hall, and Tyria offered, "I'd best go and let Kyle know immediately. He'll want to be there for Jaden before it's too late."
"And we'd best speed along our arrival." Tau recommended, prepared to open a Force wormhole for the Rude Awakening and Ark Angel, since both Jaden and the Aphra patriarch would require advanced medical care right away. K'Kruhk, knowingly glancing at Tau, nodded at his unspoken plan before the Iteration hurried to the comm chamber to alert Shedu Maad of their dying patient.
Well, I'd say this is a good place to end the first of eight or so interlude chapters for this story. What did you all think, as it only took me a few days to write, and it helps start set up the second half of Jedi Odyssey IV? I hope it was believable enough, but I'm sure I'll get plenty of helpful advice from my beta readers and revamp this work quite a bit. And speaking of Beta Readers, I recently heard from another Star Wars fanfiction writer who was interested in helping me improve my stories. His name's Colo Kid, and I hope we can work together well, along with my other two Beta Readers. I know I might seem crazy, but actually, I'm extremely insecure and desperate to make my works the best they can be, so I need to learn as much as I can before I go any further in publishing my works. So, how are you all doing on this cool Sunday of January 29, 2023? I'm well, as I'll go walking with my mother in a few hours, and then I'll probably go back and revise my Robonino Interlude a bit, as there's a bit of work I can do in order to improve the plot and better flesh out Edaan and the battle scenes. Oh, and I'll read more of my book on US-Israel relations, and I know I'll enjoy it a lot. And since I have Monday off from work, I'll have more me time, which'll be nice. I'd best get off now, and get this chapter examined after a bit. May the Lord be with us all in these dark times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
