Hope you're all having a wonderful day this Friday, February 24, 2023. Here's Chapter 15 of my story, and the fourth interim chapter of my Jedi Odyssey IV story. Hope you enjoy, and I hope you all have a blessed afternoon.
2200 Hours, Selona 18th, 59 ABY
Shedu Maad, Jedi Temple
Meditative Gardens
Observing the tranquility of the temple garden's many beauties, from its fish swimming throughout the pools, the birds chirping and flying between the miniature forest, Adari took solace in the beauty of this wondrous but artificial construct, a refuge from the carnage of war and devastation. And she was not the only one to think so, with dozens of apprentices and higher-ranking Jedi partaking in this place's small joys. Whether through meditation by the ponds, conversing with one another, or simply walking through the meadows, the Jedi were making good use of the Hapan's great foliage to revitalize their souls.
But Adari was not simply here to meditate or heal her soul, but to consider the plan Tau laid out to her aboard the Rude Awakening. Saving Edaan was still paramount for her, but she now understood that to defeat the One Sith, she would have to utilize every facet of her abilities and knowledge, even those she learned from the Lost Tribe before her rebellion took shape.
To give the galaxy a chance of defeating Darth Krayt's legions, she would need to work alongside Tau and the rest of the Sith defectors and learn to anticipate and counter the Dread Lord's tactics. To do that, though, Adari would have to brave the darkness she buried within her and pray that the power she once abandoned did not overcome the Keshiri woman.
But before that time came, she would take comfort with her friends and makeshift family while helping the Jedi and their many allies recover and prepare for the next phase of war.
Interrupting her reflections, Adari sensed the familiar presences of Ben Skywalker and Vestara Khai, hand in hand before the human couple sat beside her, with the latter noting, "Taking some time for yourself and enjoying the view?" Appreciatively gazing at the majestic gardens, she agreed, "They are a sight to behold."
"I didn't think you'd be here, Vestara." Adari sadly noted. "I thought you and Ben would be getting reacquainted again after years of hunting each other."
"We have been." Vestara wholeheartedly agreed. "But making love with your partner is hardly the only way to be grateful for them. Sometimes it's the simple things in life that allow you to appreciate those you care for."
Taking over, Ben somberly added, "But right now, we felt you could use a couple of friends by your side, and to take our pledge, if you'll allow it."
"What pledge?" Adari suspiciously questioned.
"To assist you in rescuing Edaan, in any capacity we can help you." Ben answered, gently placing a hand on Adari's shoulder, promising, "Were it not for his selfless love and boundless courage, Ves and I would never have found our way back to each other, and we wouldn't have a chance to rally against Darth Krayt. And that is a debt we both intend to repay in full, starting by helping you and Tau save him from the darkness that is controlling him."
"Whatever you need, however we can help, just ask. We won't let you carry this burden on your own. That's something Edaan helped us remember, and you have as many people to help remind you of that as he did." Vestara finished.
Adari, touched by the kind and loving gesture, wiped her eyes to try and stop the tears from flowing, and sarcastically chuckled, "You two really have terrible timing with getting the truth through your thick skulls."
Sharing a small laugh, Vestara encouraged, "You'd better get some rest. We only have eight days before we set out for Chiss space, and that'll need all of us at our best."
Yawning, Adari reluctantly agreed, rising from her sitting position, and stretched. "Yeah. I guess we all could use some shut-eye."
1300 Hours, Selona 19th, 59 ABY
Medical Wards
Knocking on the door to Korin Aphra's medical room, Phasma waited until 0-0-0 unlocked the door, and greeted the Iteration, "Ah. Mistress Phasma. What can I do for you?"
"I was hoping to check in on Miss Aphra and her father." Phasma politely answered. Having spent two of the last five days recovering from her injuries from Korriban while being debriefed by the Jedi on all she endured and the beacon she implanted in her brother, most people would be eager to leave this hospital. Fortunately for many, the reformed Force User wished to spend her time in the medical ward, aiding the more critically wounded patients recover or find peace before they passed away.
Having spent the last three days tending to the wounded, Phasma recalled how Chelli was watching over her father, another victim of the One Sith's dishonorable tactics and a reminder how the ex-Sith wronged countless souls before seeing the light. But after hearing how Korin had yet to awaken from his coma, even with Jedi assistance, she had an inkling of what was ailing him, and knew she might be the only one that could assist him.
Observing the Parnassos native with keen and unblinking photoreceptors, the black-coated assassin droid acquiesced, "Very well. But I would not stay too long. Mistress Aphra is rather distraught as of now."
Nodding her gratitude, Phasma cautiously passed by 0-0-0 before seeing Chelli tending to her father, along with one of the Temple's apprentice healers changing the IV sacks for the elder Aphra. She also smelt what he thought was worn paper used in ancient tomes and saw a HoloNet transceiver switching between varied channels.
Taking a chair by Chelli, Phasma compassionately asked, "Has he improved at all?"
Glancing at Phasma for a moment, Chelli despondently answered, "No. Whatever Krayt and his sorcerers did to him, they sure did a kriffing good job. None of the healers, their medical droids, or even Triple Zero, can figure out a solution to the problem, and he's not responding to any outside stimuli or Force probes into his mind."
Gazing between Chelli and her father with a sympathetic glance, Phasma felt another pit of sorrow at this plight. Not wanting Chelli to lose her only living parent to the Sith, he cautiously asked the apprentice, "Have the healers diagnosed anything from Doctor Aphra's condition? Is it neurological, Force-imbued, or psychological?"
BT-1 angrily twaddled at Phasma, who calmly countered, "Try to stay calm, Beetee. I'm only trying to help." Turning her attention back to Chelli, she asked, "Did Master Cilghal or Tau detect anything abnormal?"
"No. They're all attending to the more critically injured patients." Jaing disappointingly replied, having entered the room. "And here I thought they'd care about a Sith-brainwashed civilian, historian, and father."
The apprentice, an Omwat teenage woman, sternly glared at the Mandalorian before relenting with a sigh, "I've tried to request additional assistance, but we're stretched nearly to the limit between triaging the patients and prioritizing accordingly for the war."
"Even Tau couldn't figure out the problem, but he didn't have very long, about a couple hours, before the Jedi needed him for more debriefings." The apprentice added, before thoughtfully amending, "Although, he did sense what he called 'a shadow over Doctor Aphra's mind.' I'm sure if given enough time, he might have diagnosed the problem, given his unique connection to both sides of the Force."
"Well, then maybe it's time we take matters into our own hands." Phasma suggested, earning a wary glare from everyone present.
"You have an idea of what's going on?" Chelli cautiously guessed.
"I won't know for certain unless I get a look inside your father's mind." Phasma replied, moving her chair closer to Korin. Apologetically glancing at the apprentice, she added, "It's possible the doctors might have missed something in their examination, and the problem could just use a different approach to solve."
"What kind of approach?" Chelli cautiously asked.
"My brother, back when he was a better man on Parnassos, he used the Force to cloud the minds of predators and raiders that threatened our clan, sometimes rendering them catatonic if he concentrated hard enough." Phasma explained. "And after he joined the Sith, his abilities only grew stronger, but he never abandoned the fundamental core of his technique."
"Then you think you might be able to use that knowledge to wake him up?" The apprentice concluded.
"I won't know unless I try." Phasma warned. "But once I do a few preliminary probes to authenticate my fears, we can contact Master Cilghal and the two of us can work together in dispelling this shroud of darkness."
"Phasma…" Chelli paused before forgoing caution. "Thank you for what you're trying to do."
Contritely smiling, Phasma solemnly acknowledged, "Consider it me starting to repay the debt I everyone for what me and my people did and will do in Krayt's service."
1330 Hours
Operations Planning Center
"Master Skywalker." Zhara politely greeted Luke before addressing the remainder of the attending Jedi Council members. "Where is Grand Master Katarn and Master K'Kruhk? I would feel they both would wish to hear my order's decision on your offer."
"I'm afraid they're both indisposed at the time." Taron Malicos, Zabrak-human hybrid Jedi Master and leader of the Dathomir Jedi Praxeum, simply answered. "K'Kruhk is working with Kyle in trying to save Jaden Korr from his numerous wounds, so they asked us to convey their apologies."
"Understandable." Zhara nodded, before regrettably adding, "Well, you may give them my sympathies, and inform them that the Zeison Sha will not be formally joining your Alliance of Light."
The disappointment and shock between the Jedi were palatable, and Barratk'l, Yuzzem Jedi Council member and the Order's liaison to their friends and contacts in the Outer Rim Worlds, disbelievingly asked, "May we ask why you're remaining neutral in this war? You do realize if you do nothing to combat this evil, then you will be condemned as cowards and self-righteous hypocrites even if we win, correct?"
"I didn't say we were all staying out of the fight." Zhara denied. "I said the Zeison Sha, as in the order itself, will not be taking part in this war. Now, if any of our members wish to proactively defend our own from the Sith and atone for our failures, then that would be an entirely different matter." Shamefully shaking her head, she explained, "Most of the High Councilors are still clinging to ancient grudges and their bloated sense of independence, and they hold a supermajority over the Council."
"Then who will be coming to assist us?" Luke cautiously inquired. "We'll take any aide you can give us."
"Two hundred Guardians and Sentinels each, two thousand members of Yanibar's militia, and my former apprentice as my representative. They all respect Edaan and K'Kruhk for what they did for us, and they are adamant in repaying the debt in full." Zhara answered. "It's not as large a number as I hoped for, but it's all I can do on such short notice. Meanwhile, I will do what I can to convince the others to commit to this endeavor. We will not repeat the spitefulness we displayed during the Yuuzhan Vong War."
"You have done the best you could within the confines of your laws without tearing your society asunder, and that's all we can ask of anyone." Cilghal generously reminded the human. "When do you expect your people to be ready for deployment?"
"By the end of tomorrow. We'll rendezvous at your Temple in the Hapes Cluster if that works." Zhara explained. "Either way, may the Force be with you all in triumphing in this terrible war."
1730 Hours
Chiss Space, Naporar
Expansionary Defense Fleet Headquarters
Throughout the war operations chamber, activity was buzzing with hundreds of Expansionary Defense Force officers scurrying about, each reporting to their superiors on the precarious state of the Ascendancy and its many territories. And overseeing all these scattered battles was the Supreme Admiral himself, with Ja'fosk quickly growing weary of the constant crises erupting across the Chiss-led worlds.
After the disastrous loss of Sunrise and the One Sith's grand heist, public support for the war was teetering on the edge of collapse, with many of the Syndicature calling to negotiate with the Dark Siders in a futile bid to prevent a civil war. But with the Six Ruling Families, the military, and many of their worlds' citizenries supporting the war, such an endeavor would only guarantee the destruction of their ancestral holdings and people.
Ludicrous as it seemed, Ja'fosk envied Ba'Kif and the dozens of inquires the Supreme General and the Aristocras were facing for their brazen actions in condemning the Syndicature in its gross conduct. At least in those hallowed halls, the Chiss's enemies could simply be defused by reason or be detained if they attempted treason. But here, the dangers were tangible and far more insidious than anyone could imagine since the Swarm War a generation ago.
Feeling another migraine come on, Ja'fosk was ready to take charge of the pandemonium before his aide quietly informed him, "Sir, Saganu is wishing to speak with you. He has an urgent report to deliver on the progress of Vurawn's plan."
Silently uttering a thanks to whatever powers existed at the distraction, Ja'fosk nodded and quickly retreated to his private office, where the penitent Aristocra awaited him. Sealing his room to ensure no one overheard this conversation, the Supreme Admiral nodded, "I trust you have good news to report."
"More than you can imagine." Saganu smiled while betraying no warmth. "The Jedi may have come through for us on locating the Rakatan Archipelago. Or at least they located one of Krayt's strongholds."
Weary eyes instantly turning alert, Ja'fosk motioned for Saganu to continue, who activated a holomap, and plugged in a new set of coordinates that zoomed in towards a section of the Chaos, about ten parsecs from Lehon by the Supreme Admiral's estimations. "It seems the Jedi's defeat on Korriban came with a silver lining, for one of the fleeing Sith was implanted with a homing beacon that has triangulated the exact position of him and Krayt's personal warship."
"I'm preparing to inform Alliance Command, and they can send probes to scout the system out." Saganu then paused before adding, "But there is far more news to report, both good and bad."
"Our allies and Vurawn's raids are bearing a greater bounty than we expected. We've already destroyed or captured fifty of the Sith's outposts across the Chaos and captured twenty of their emissaries' supply convoys or scattered fleets."
Handing Ja'fosk a questis, the Supreme Admiral rapidly examined its contents, gravely stopping at one point before asking, "You're sure of this?"
"Not entirely, but it isn't worth dismissing so easily." Saganu elaborated, "From what we've been able to examine and verify from the ships' databases and liberated slaves, it appears the Sith are preparing for another attack on us. And Vurawn's people have narrowed it down to any ten of these worlds."
Pacing around the office, Ja'fosk knew that if the Sith attacked the Chiss now, victory was all but assured for the Dark Siders. Even with the Alliance assisting their fleets in hunting down enemy scouts and proxies while training them to fight as equals, the Sith still had their diverse armies and highly experienced generals at their command. And with the Ascendancy ready to rip itself apart over how to conduct the war and reform itself, one more major push could topple everything.
What the Ascendancy needed now was a way to buy itself time to come together and unite against this massive enemy, and a plan to reform its power structures and its expanded influence. But Ja'fosk knew he could not, nor should he, make the decision on his own.
With Ba'Kif and his confederates occupied by the Syndicature, that only left Ja'fosk and Saganu to reach out to their allies and take counsel from. He already had the beginnings of ideas percolating in his mind, but he needed to be sure this was the right path before proposing it to the Chiss. Thrawn might have allied with many alien factions before in his storied career, but tensions had only grown between the territories since the Chiss expanded its influence across the Chaos.
Turning back to Saganu, Ja'fosk advised him, "I would spend a fair bit of time working on a way to discreetly reach out to the Alliance of Light and Aquilian Republic before the inquiries come after me. I will brief you on what needs to be done if I am unable to facilitate the coming talks."
"If you succeed in this, I will do whatever I can to ensure you are reinstated as Aristocra, for you'll have succeeded in saving the Ascendancy from annihilation or self-destruction." Ja'fosk promised, stunning Saganu silent and allowing him to draft his proposal for the many worlds now under Chiss influence.
0800 Hours, Selona 20th, 59 ABY
Rakatan Archipleago, Tulpaa System
Aboard Ship
Gazing out to the holographic projection of the Black Yard shipyards, the nerve center of the One Sith's naval strength and concealed fortress of the Rakata remnant, Darth Krayt remembered his Jedi teachers' calming exercises as he awaited hid two guests. Before he made his judgement known to all, he needed to ensure he did not let his rage overtake him upon addressing two of his more spirited disciples and allow their infighting to further endanger the Grand Design.
Having been informed by Lord Malleus of Lady Irola's defiance of his direct orders, the Dread Lord knew the Sith marauder was concealing many key details of their joint victory at Sunrise. Interviewing many of the commanders and Irola's top subordinates and several refugee leaders, he realized that one of his oldest adherents had gone too far in enacting their plans and needed to be punished accordingly before any lasting damage was done to his plans.
Sensing the arrival of Malleus and Irola aboard the Sith meditation sphere, Krayt prepared himself for what came next, and acknowledged their approach by turning from the display, and calmly ordered both Sith, "Hand me your lightsabers, both of you."
Malleus, disturbed at the sudden command, confusingly entreated, "My Lord?"
Having taken a puzzled Irola's weapon without protest, Krayt harshly commanded Malleus, "Your lightsaber, Malleus. Give it to me now."
A new sense of fear coursing through him, Malleus reluctantly handed his leader the weapon before having it aimed right at his head. "What have I done to anger you?" He said with a false sense of calm.
"Tell me what happened above Sunrise, without any falsehoods." Krayt tensely commanded the failed Jedi. "Lady Irola's people told a contradictory tale to what you claimed, and they said you were willing to bombard an entire planet's population into annihilation and pin the blame on the Chiss. But thanks to Lady Irola's snap call and initiative, we now have over 11 million new recruits for our armies. Before I pass judgment on both of you, I want to hear from your own lips what went on in the system."
Unable to even mutter a response, Malleus telekinetically ripped his lightsaber staff from Krayt's grip and tried to decapitate Irola, but found his attempt blocked by Krayt and his own two lightsabers.
"And now you've just attempted not just genocide on a vital world, but treason for trying to destroy one of your fellow Sith Lords who is also a better leader than you could ever be." Krayt solemnly stated. "You have betrayed every tenet of the One Sith and endangered the Grand Design one too many times with your bloodlust and inflated sense of self-importance. You cannot be allowed to roam free anymore."
Striking at Malleus with such force and speed, the man who once called himself Telloti Cillmam'n, for all his skill and command over the Dark Side knew he paled in comparison to the Dread Lord himself, a former Jedi Master and great warrior in A'Sharad Hett. Paralyzed with fear and indecision over what he could do, the lesser Sith Lord knew he backed himself into a corner and realized how death was inevitable for him, no matter how this bout concluded.
'So, at last you see the truth, Telloti Cillmam'n.' Ship's telepathic voice echoed through the Taanab native's mind, now seizing up from a mind-splitting headache. 'You are no Sith, merely a petulant child who served as a pawn of greater souls all his life. And now it is time to pay the price for your insolence.'
Barely able to keep himself from doubling over from the agony, Malleus refused to take these insults, or be reminded of his past life as a Jedi who never even made it to the rank of Padawan. Fighting back against the Force-induced mental bombardment, the lower-ranked Sith Lord felt a new sense of fury overtake him and was prepared to unleash all his anger to try and destroy Ship for good. But before he could obliterate his enemies, the distracted Sith felt a gurgle come out of his lips before vomiting up several gulps' worth of blood and, after feeling Irola's fading grip where his now-burst heart once lie, collapsed face first onto the ground.
Just as the cold dark overtook him, Malleus recognized the same presence that had subverted his mind as the one that sabotaged his efforts on Falleen. And this time, the voice was laughing in derision of its victim's impending demise, and the Sith wondered just who this enemy of an entity was.
Staring down at the bloodied corpse of Malleus, Irola panted as the implications of what she just did caught up with her. She had just killed a fellow Sith, even if it was one who was willing to betray their great cause and doom the galaxy all in the name of his own spite.
Krayt, sensing his acolyte's distress, consolingly placed a hand on her shoulder, and urged her, "Do not feel any guilt over what you did. You acted decisively and with fidelity to the Grand Design throughout all your missions, which is far more than what Malleus ever did."
"But your work is far from over. It's only just begun." Krayt enigmatically added. "Since you rescued all those unfortunate souls from the Chiss's dominion, it will be yours and your subordinates' responsibility to prepare them for the fight ahead. I will give you all the resources and instructors you require, but you must have them ready to fight before the Jedi are able to track us here, for they will eventually find us and try to destroy all we've built."
Regaining some control over herself, Irola slowly nodded before cautiously asking, "What do we tell the rest of the Sith about Malleus?"
"The truth. Which is that he tried to betray the One Sith by murdering you, and thereby paid the price for his actions." Krayt bluntly stated. "Now, go and meditate on this after you inform your lieutenants of their new orders. I have a mission for Lady Sorzus and her new charge to prepare for."
"The Jedi's alliance is trying to rally the galaxy and prevent the Ascendancy from collapsing. We need to undermine their bonds of trust between their organizations and buy time for our forces to fully mobilize, and I believe Edaan and his mistress are the best to command this new strategy."
"What of Haplif and his acolytes?" Irola cautiously inquired. "Have they not returned from their reconnaissance mission on the Rhandites?"
"I suspect they have either been captured or killed while trying to escape Tenupe, for I have not heard from them, nor can I sense them at all." Krayt disappointingly explained. "A regrettable loss, but we cannot lose sight of the overall objective."
Bowing in submission to her master's commands, Irola exited Ship by one of his docking tubes, allowing Krayt to contemplate recent events.
While everything was proceeding just as Krayt predicted, there were still several factors and individuals that needed to be monitored closely, two of which troubled him deeply.
According to one of the One Sith's best proxies, Lord Invidious had ordered him to spare one of the three children of Jagged and Jaina Solo Fel and may have allowed the wounded Head of State a chance to recover from the assassination attempt. True, he led the successful assassination of two of the Empire's best pro-Jedi leaders, opening the way for division to infiltrate the government's ranks, but letting a resourceful and powerful enemy leader live was a gross misjudgment at best, and treason at worst.
And the disappearance of Haplif and his disciples, just when they were supposed to report to him on the possible betrayal of the Rhandites, it could not be a coincidence. But without definitive proof, he could not move against Kung'urama'nuruodo without suffering immense casualties and risking the Grand Design itself.
Perhaps it was time for Krayt to personally examine the Sorcerers of Rhand's loyalties and determine whether they were another obstacle for the Dread Lord to eliminate before it grew out of control. And it also might be time to bring Ochi of Bestoon into his inner circle of trust and educate him on the truest nature of the galaxy and what would be needed to stop the return of Abeloth and other like minded monstrosities.
Who knew? Perhaps Ochi might be able to add some insight to the Grand Design Krayt had yet to consider. It was the least he could do for a man whose family had spent decades serving the Sith.
1500 Hours
Outer Rim Territories, Varada Sector
Dyspeth Moon, Kaleth Temple
On this shadow of a location with the darkness kept at bay by a few candle lights of cities that dotted the Outer Rim moon, a reclusive society was going about its everyday lives. For over nine hundred years, the breakaway citizens of the Old Republic lived apart from the galaxy, only to be discovered four centuries after their isolation began by scouts and reluctantly rejoining the galactic community.
But what made this moon unique from others were its defenders in the Disciples of Twilight. Founded by a Force User, a purported exiled Jedi who called herself "Twilight", the Disciples worked to protect the colonists from the many threats that permeated the moon, and by creating new Force techniques and teachings to adapt to their new home. By manipulating light and dark in ways previously unheard of, the Disciples were able to bend light and darkness to conceal themselves from all, could locate enemies that sought to hide from them, and create illusory phantoms around enemies for all manner of diversions.
Eventually spreading to other worlds after their rediscovery by the Old Republic, the Disciples of Twilight sought to protect weaker sentients from the cruelty of the strong, a sort of shadowy justice. But unlike the Jedi of old, they did not take military and political power, only wanted to protect their home and a dozen other worlds that fell under their jurisdiction, forming a loose confederation pledging to defend each other when one came under attack.
While Dyspeth and its allies had not been affected by the wars of recent decades, this latest conflict had finally reached their borders, and it was why the Disciples had, for the last three days, undergone intense deliberations within its oldest headquarters to decide if they should join the Jedi's latest war against the Sith and prepare for the return of Abeloth.
And within this ancient temple, built as both a fortress and library for the moon's population, the talks were nearing their end. Inside Kaleth's hallowed grounds, where the moon's faint glimmers of light bounced off the intricately designed glass mirrors, the Jedi ambassador and the nine elders that led Disciples of Twilight's were concluding the final points of this unprecedented arrangement.
The leader of the Disciples of Twilight, Paul Byzantium, answered on behalf of all his fellow elders, "It seems we are all in agreement. While our order will not take up arms alongside the Jedi and your grand alliance, we are willing to work with you in subtle ways to reunify the galaxy from its scars of war and help provide you with instructions on our more esoteric practices and abilities."
"And I will be dispatching a dozen of our best Seekers of Truth to lead our delegation to Chiss space. We will work with the Alliance of Light's teams in uncovering and uprooting the Ascendancy's corruption before any more lives are lost." Maia Edain, a Jenet elder, pledged to the Jedi Grand Master.
"Good. The Council is quite confident that your investigators will be crucial in aiding all our anti-corruption efforts." Kyle thanked the elders. "We'll send you all the data we've acquired on the Unknown Regions by the day's end."
"Of course." Paul nodded, before ardently warning, "But I need to be fully clear all your allies and followers understand the terms of this arrangement: My order will assist you in humanitarian and investigative measures regarding the abuses of power by the Chiss's power structures. But we will not take direct military action, and if we are ordered to fight against the Sith, then we will withdraw from this crusade. Our time to take up arms against the evils of the galaxy has not yet arrived."
"We'll respect and acknowledge the terms of our alliance." Kyle agreed. "The Council is already preparing to issue all details of this pact to all Alliance commanders, and they will ensure you are kept away from the fighting."
"Good. Then we will prepare our people to depart right away." Maia resolved.
Hope you all enjoyed the fourth interim chapter of this story. Now, it's on to revising chapters five and six before I publish them all. Have a blessed afternoon.
