Good evening, everyone! How are you all doing on this warm night of Monday, June 12, 2023? I'm well, if a bit tired from my shift at my internship today, but I'll work through it for a while to begin this chapter. And I have another shift tomorrow afternoon, followed by a shift at my bookstore the next day, so I'd best get started in a little bit. But first, I figured I'd let you all know I finished my Mike Pompeo book yesterday and have begun reading a book on seeking joy through Christ in all aspects of life, even when it seems insane to do so. It was recommended and given to me by my Great Uncle back in St. Louis, and I can now get to it. And afterwards, I'm going to reread a bunch of Star Wars books, and then mix it up every now and then. Well, with all that out of the way, I'd best get started on the chapter. May the Lord be with us all in these difficult times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
Telona 1st, 59 ABY
Naporar, Expansionary Defense Fleet's Headquarters
"The proposed target?" Ja'fosk asked Vurawn. With the Empire of the Hand Supreme Commander, along with Wedge and Jan from each of their respective factions and architects of their gigantic gambit, laying out their plan to cripple the One Sith's fighting strength, the Supreme Admiral intuitively grasped how the coming days and weeks would decide the fate of not only the Chiss Ascendancy, but all the Chaos and the rest of the galaxy.
And with the Alliance of Light preparing to scour the Rakatan Archipelago and Nihil Retreat to gauge the One Sith's strength before launching their invasions of both enemy-allied territories, they needed to thin the enemy's numbers wherever and however they could. If the three leaders' plan to recreate Ebaq Nine worked, then both of Krayt's vital strongholds might very well be vulnerable to liberation and the Sith would be forced on the defensive in this war. But to do that, they needed a sufficient lure to reel their enemies in, and Ja'fosk could only think of about three worlds in the Chiss Ascendancy to force the Sith's hand so late into this war. A terrible risk, but great dangers demand even greater gambles to prevent the worst from coming to pass.
To Ja'fosk's regret, his theory was correct when the holoprojector changed its image from the Sith fleets protecting the Rakatan worlds to the Ascendancy's most sacred world: Csilla, birthplace of the Chiss people and its culture and government. Beating him to it, Vurawn agreed, "An unforgiveable risk, yes. We'll both likely be hanged for endangering the Ascendancy in such a manner, even if we triumph. But we cannot afford to drag out this war any further. To put in more colloquial terms worthy of an outsider gambler, we need to bluff our hand and force our enemy into risking too much in one wager."
"And how do you propose we fool the Sith into committing to such a gargantuan undertaking?" Ja'fosk demanded. "Krayt isn't a warmongering and bloodthirsty religious fanatic like Tsavong Lah. He and his followers won't be goaded into a battle before he's ready."
"Because Krayt has his eyes fixed on another target right now." Wedge answered. "Our few scouts we've been able to embed near the Rakatan Archipelago, and they've reported that the Retribution and a sizeable fleet left for what we believe to be the Nihil Retreat."
"Why?" Ja'fosk questioned. "What could Krayt need there now when they're readying themselves for their final push against us?"
"Our only two pieces of information that we've determined is that the Rhandites are under attack by an unidentified foe, and rumors of betrayal against them by someone high up in the Sorcerers' ranks." Jan explained. "We don't know by whom or why, but whatever force that's attacking the Nihil Retreat has forced its denizens to begin a mass evacuation. Or accelerate it ahead of schedule while the traitors make their move."
"In short, this will likely be the only chance we have to uproot the Sith's advantage while securing our own survival." Vurawn gravely summed up. "Does that mean it will be a tremendous chance and endangering everyone in the Sith's path of conquest? Yes, but we none of us can see another way to end this war without losing a battle of attrition. That's just how dire our situation truly is."
Ja'fosk scrutinized all three of the commanders, seeing no deception or exaggeration in their words or gaze at their dire assessment. And remembering all the reports coming in from all over the Ascendancy, its vassal territories, and its many new allies, the advantage in this war was held almost exclusively by the One Sith. With their superior numbers, ships, and the esoteric secrets Krayt and his followers uncovered across their odysseys bolstering their forces, conventional methods would be all but useless against this power.
Everything that had been underway at this point, from the One Sith's diversionary work across the galaxy with its countless proxies and brushfire conflicts they'd installed and stoked for the past fifteen years, their armament program, the recruitment or kidnapping of countless Force Sensitives, and the skirmishes they had conducted up until now, it was mere dress rehearsal for the real war that was about ready to commence. And Csilla was the first true marker on the Sith's road to galactic domination unless desperate measures were taken to stop them here and now.
Closing his eyes to steady himself for what he would say next, Ja'fosk took several calming breaths before opening his eyes and asking, "How many among our powers know enough details of the plan to pose a security risk?"
Doing a brief recollection, Wedge truthfully answered, "No more than thirty people, and they're already possessing top-level clearance, handpicked by the three of us for operational security and to ensure our plan succeeds."
Nodding, the Supreme Admiral further questioned, "How long do you need to lay your trap? And what do you need from me?"
"Then, we can assume you are committed to this endeavor?" Jan hopefully asked, with Ja'fosk flashing her a deadpanned look that conveyed no warmth at the rhetorical question, only cold determination. "For starters, we'll need your help to lay just enough credible bait for the Sith and help our agents already on the ground track down their agents so we can use them to our full advantage. It'll take us a few weeks at most to finish setting the trap."
"Done." Ja'fosk agreed. "I'll put you in touch with my handpicked people and they'll help you disseminate your rumors."
"There's something else." Wedge added. "We know of the Rhandite infiltrator that's penetrated Csaplar, and we need to protect your center of government and our assets that are trying to gauge the Sith's full capabilities and locate Zonama Sekot. But to do that, we need to be sure that they can't be eavesdropped on by any Force Users."
"We need permission to covertly install ysalamiri within the planet's secondary archives. Enough to ensure they can't be attacked through any Force-based means. Captains Terrik Horn and Karrde's people already have a few hundred in the system for this sort of instance, but we'll need your clearance to ensure no difficulties arise from the long process of installing them aboard your facilities."
"Obviously, we can't place them throughout Csaplar if we hope to capture the spy, but we have other ways of incapacitating powerful Force Users." Jan quickly added.
Rubbing a hand to his chin to consider his options, Ja'fosk compromised, "I'll meet you halfway on that one. Bring your lizards to the planet, just outside the library and I'll ensure no one aside from the Supreme General and Admrial Krets'shawnkyr'nuruodo, along with both their handpicked aides know of your peoples' arrival. I doubt they'd survive very long out in the blizzard cold, and we've made a few modern improvements to the Expansionary Library since the last time outsiders entered its corridors."
Telona 3rd, 59 ABY
Csilla, Csaplar
Even as he silently observed the enemy on the hunt, watching the Jedi and their allies hunt for his Shi'ido servant and futilely try to protect the capital city of this isolationist and oligarchical society, Tor Valum had to admire the resilience and tenacity of them all. Creating a massive coalition of such a diverse array of fighters and leaders, all in the promise of defending their ways of life and excising the Sith's insidious influence, it sounded like something out of an old children's tale, or the alliance that brought down his masters before the galaxy's true history faded into legend and myth.
In all honesty, such a grand alliance reminded the Grysk sage of the Celestials and their masters when they united against Abeloth and her kin eons ago. And that was why this confederation had to fail before it could coalesce into a true threat to his master and the Bringer of Chaos's plans. But to fully revive Abeloth and wage war against the galaxy, she needed an army to command, one unlike any the galaxy had seen since ages long past, and a powerful vessel to house her unstoppable spirit. And while she was dead set on capturing Edaan Palpatine for that purpose, Tor was considering whether Tau Palpatine would be a better candidate, and that was yet another reason why he was spying on the reprogrammed Iteration.
Through his ancient and immense connection to the Force, Tor could subtly touch the minds of the Chiss and learn all they knew of theirs' and the Alliance's hunt for Malla. Thanks to their new ally's information and giving the Jedi the means to pinpoint the Rhandite assassin's location, they were slowly moving everything into position for the ambush to capture or eliminate their quarry while ensuring minimal collateral damage.
Establishing a grid cordon while tracking the Shi'ido's movements and undoing all of Malla's acts of sabotage - well, aside from the few Tor was quick enough to shroud from several inspectors' weak-willed minds – the Jedi were almost ready to spring their trap and eliminate a potential thorn in their side. And leading the charge would be Tau, if the advice the clone had given the Chiss and how he refined their approach was any indication. If nothing else, it would give Tor the perfect opportunity to test both Malla and Tau while commencing his true mission.
Finishing the last of the Chiss-made beverages Tor had swiped from an unaware civilian, he knew that the observances he made would be pivotal in forging his mistress's final strategy, and he was both impressed and concerned by what he was seeing. Despite knowing the Alliance of Light couldn't locate him through the Force, and how they were so focused on hunting down Malla, he knew that he would have trouble facing them all in a direct fight. Against avowed warriors and leaders like Vestara Khai, Phasma, Soldier Tirall, Tau Palpatine, Tyria Sarkin-Tainer, and Ben Skywalker, he knew the odds were at least evenly stacked against both parties. And that didn't account for the Mandalorians and the rest of the rabble accompanying them. Even if those enemies couldn't use the Force, even the smallest of gnats could leave a terrible mark, maybe even kill him, if he underestimated any of them.
And speaking of gnats, Tor momentarily wondered what the rest of the Alliance's strike teams were up to outside the Chiss capital city, if they were even inside the locus of power. For some reason, he couldn't read the minds of the Aphras or their escort, and he despised loose ends in any mission. From what few gleanings he could gather from their guards, the former Sith collaborators were conducting a mission of their own for the Jedi, but he could only guess at its importance, and the Alliance was planning a major operation against the Sith, with terrible stakes and risks for the oligarchical meritocracy.
What could the Alliance of Light's agents be up to so far away from the future center of action? Could they be preparing for the scouring of the Rakatan Archipelago or Nihil Retreat, or the hunt for Zonama Sekot? Or, Gods forbid, searching for clues on Exegol and penetrating the Red Honeycomb Zone and its ancient remnants of past civilizations? Well, perhaps he could take a brief detour after destroying the traitor and spread a little more fear across the once-impenetrable fortress world. And ensuring the war between Jedi and Sith escalated even further would only benefit the Servants of Chaos and their mistress, weakening both factions to a point when they would easily fall at Abeloth's hands.
But all this didn't mean Tor couldn't complete his assassination and instill a little fear into the Jedi's ranks all while testing Tau's true abilities and the depths of his resolve. Still, he first had to be ready to eliminate Roland and leave no direct evidence of his involvement when the moment was just right. When the moment came, he would be as swift as the wind, but also as vicious and destructive as a supernova when facing off against all that stood in the way of his target. It would be brutal carnage, an occasion he hadn't been involved with in millennia. This would be a good change from the typical routine of today's failing age, and a perfect harbinger of the coming war that would destroy and remake everything in honor of what once was.
Telona 4th, 59 ABY
Nihil Retreat, Kobo System Outskirts
Abord the Retribution
Personally reviewing the information his deep space probes had gathered from the few scouting runs they could accomplish, Krayt realized the situation was far worse out here than what he first suspected. Seeing the scans of dozens, perhaps hundreds, of unidentified warships attacking the Rhandites' home territory, he knew that whoever this enemy was, they were no friend of the One Sith by how they obliterated virtually all the probes they were able to discover. And it was apparent they were equipped with immensely powerful technology since they were making short work of their opponents with weaponry and defensive systems stronger than any the Dread Lord had seen or heard of. Not even his best scientists had reached the pinnacle of high-tech creating that this new foe had, and it troubled the Sith leader even more.
Already striking at least fifteen worlds and wiping out the Sorcerers' fleets that guarded each planet, such an act easily amounted to an act of war against both the Sith and Rhandites. And the fact that they were unleashing a blistering orbital bombardment on every military installation they could reach before moving on made it clear that this was a terror run of surgical strikes meant to destabilize the region and knock out a key opponent before moving to conquer it.
But what was puzzling to the Dread Lord was how the unknown fleets were working to capture what convoys of fleeing they could take and were also sending ground transports and strike cruisers down to the planets' capitals for purposes he could not determine. Clearly, there was more to this campaign than was obvious, and Krayt needed to learn what it was before this brief chance slipped away. It was fortunate that he knew the best way to uncover the truth and was taking measures to accelerate this hunt.
Reaching out through the Dark Side of the Force, allowing his consciousness to leave his body behind to scour the Perann Nebula for the truth, he traveled from world after world, immersing himself in the silken whispers in how the Rhandites utilized the Force and hearing their conversations among its terrified Sorcerers. And what he learnt only enraged him and filled him with the fiery conviction to bring his traitors to justice all the quicker, all while figuring out who the Knights of Olpaka were and what their objective was with striking such an ancient and dangerous group of worlds and a Force Order.
Hearing how Kung'urama'nuruodo had personally ordered this evacuation, before the unknown enemy had attacked, it was all the confirmation Krayt needed of the Chiss Grand Sorcerer's duplicity. But he had never heard of the Rhandites' ultimate destination of Exegol, aside from the glimpses he received of the Red Honeycomb Zone, an impenetrable nebula that either killed everyone who tried to enter or drove them mad and left them hollow shells.
What could Kung'urama'nuruodo and his legions want all the way out there in that lost sector of the Unknown Regions? Krayt needed more information, which meant going into the darkest den of his onetime ally while the opportunity was still ripe and the traitors were sufficiently distracted.
But before he could proceed to the cradle of Rhandite civilization, Krayt felt his servants call to him through his tether to his body. Knowing how his acolytes would not disturb him unless they had crucial information, he returned to his corporeal form right away. Slowly rising to his two feet after allowing the medical droids to remove the IV units from his veins, the One Sith founder briskly walked to back to the command center, swearing if the interruption was not vital, he would dole out a fitting punishment on everyone who intruded on his work.
And when he reentered the command bridge, Krayt was not disappointed when his Nikardun commander, handpicked by Yiv, dutifully reported, "We intercepted and captured a convoy of Rhandite transports fleeing the system not an hour ago. We've sent boarding parties to search the ships, but the convoy's leader, a Sorcerer, is wishing to speak with you. She claims to have crucial information for you on Kung'urama'nuruodo's plans, and on who is attacking her people."
"And what were her terms for this divulgence, Garo?" Krayt suspiciously probed. If one of Kung'urama'nuruodo's disciples was betraying him, it could only either be a ruse, or the situation out here was far more dire than he realized.
Garo gulped before answering. "Protection from her fellow Sorcerers and the Knights of Olpaka, and Abeloth after she returns with her new army to wage war on the galaxy."
If the dead silence was any indication from the founding Sith Lord, the bridge knew these next few moments would determine if everyone lived or perished from that news. But the next batch of words were ones the Nikardun commander scarcely believed, hearing Krayt softly speak, "I'll go directly to the woman and hear her claims."
"Sir?" Garo weakly questioned. "We can bring her aboard here and question-"
"I don't want the run the risk of word spreading throughout the rest of the One Sith and our auxiliaries just yet, or letting our enemies know of this possible bombshell. And the danger to the fleet will be far greater if this is a deception on the captive's part." Krayt sternly interrupted. "But if Abeloth is set to return… it will require us to rethink our entire strategy, and certainly determine the fate of the entire galaxy."
Two things were certain, though. Out here, if the defector's intel was good, then Krayt would need to eliminate as much of the Rhandite chain of command he could before leaving the Nihil Retreat, followed by destroying Kung'urama'nuruodo and cutting the venomous head off this treacherous snake after learning all he could of Abeloth's plans. Afterwards, though, if her revival was truly at hand, then he would need to discuss an immediate ceasefire with the Jedi and their Alliance of Light. Against the power of the Bringer of Chaos, the Sith's plans for conquest could wait a while longer. And if this new player in the Olpakans could be convinced to cooperate the Sith, it would be prudent to find out all they could of them before matters came to a head.
Besides, no one ever said the One Sith couldn't, or wouldn't, use this emerging opportunity to its full advantage, should both Light and Dark come together for the survival of all things. Even if the Rule of Two was no longer needed, all of Darth Bane's best teachings of prudence and patience still applied to all Sith. And somehow, Krayt knew that those principles, and all else he learned in his many decades as Tusken Raider and warlord, Jedi, and Sith, would be vital to reshaping the galaxy when his order claimed it for themselves.
Deep Within the Unknown Regions
Aboard the Bestoon Legacy
Having been cooped up within his ship with three Sith for twelve hours while waiting for their hunter to locate Lord Krayt's prize, Ochi figured he'd make himself useful and draft a progress report for the Dread Lord and his top disciples. After eleven days of periodic hyperspace jumps and tracking the fabled world of Zonama Sekot, the Vahla assassin and his guests were getting restless as they closed in on their target. With Darth Invidious receiving regular intelligence drops from his agents, it was clear that everyone was gearing up for a major engagement to take complete control of this war, even while the Dread Lord was investigating a possible betrayal from within his allies' ranks.
With all this in mind, everyone was on edge if the war demanded their task force to contribute to its cause. Composed of only two warships, ten gunships, and twenty Sith working under Ochi and his handlers, their group needed to find their quarry sooner rather than later, not if they hoped to retain their security detail. He didn't relish the probability of traversing the Unknown Regions all in his small gunship.
But either way, while Ochi could work well with two of the Sith on his prized ship, with Snoke and Invidous decent enough company, the final two members of his crew was probably the most unnerving of all Sith he ever worked with. The first was a Sith Lady who called herself Vongrella, the only Yuuzhan Vong Sith to ever exist, she had served Lord Krayt with such distinction, strength, and cunning that she was among the Dread Lord's most trusted advisors. Working with him since her people were defeated by the Galactic Alliance, she nearly exposed the One Sith before when her work in corrupting Daye Azur-Jamin and capturing Kyle Katarn led to a great manhunt that forced her underground after being presumed dead. Since then, she had primarily worked behind the scenes for the Sith, using her knowledge of her people and her connections to the underworld and the Dark Side to advance the Grand Design.
And then there was Darth Vua, a bioengineered creation at the height of the Yuuzhan Vong Empire before its fall to the Galactic Alliance, the Jedi hunter was especially unsettling for the natural-born being. Created from Force Sensitive tissue and long held by the One Sith as a conduit of information on his creators, the Slayer-turned-Sith was a reluctant crewmate, especially since Vua was the pilot who failed to infect Zonama Sekot with the sample of Alpha Red at the fall of his people's empire. The only reason he agreed to help was not out of loyalty to Lord Krayt or the Grand Design, but to see his betrothed after three decades of exile on the world he loathed more than any other. But even he could see how the threat of Abeloth required sacrifices from all, and he admitted that the delicious irony of turning his people and such a powerful world against their captors and masters would be a fitting final nail in the Jedi's coffin.
And after six hyperspace jumps to search for Zonama Sekot, taking them deeper into the Unknown Regions than virtually any had gone before, Ochi was prepared to review the One Sith's compiled data on the hunt for the sentient planet to see if they missed anything before Vua, sitting in the copilot's chair, swiftly typed a series of equations into the ship's computer. Making sure the forcibly converted Slayer was in his right mind, the Vahla assassin prepared to call for assistance, only for the giant of a creation calmly explained, "I found it."
Eyeing Vua with a scrutinizing glare, Ochi, knowing what he was referring to from his conflicted expression, changed his question, "Did you connect with Sekot?" Receiving a tired nod, he sighed, "Well, we're committed now."
"The planet, it's leading me to where it wants us to meet. But our escort, they have to stay on their ships unless Sekot wishes otherwise." Vua explained. "But now we can make it to the planet in less than two weeks." Speaking before Ochi could utter a protest, he elaborated, "The planet moved into the heart of a nebula to protect itself and Yuuzhan Vong from anyone's reprisals, but we can navigate it safely with Sekot's guidance."
"Let's just hope Sekot will listen to us when we arrive." Ochi noted. Remembering with perfect clarity the orders Lord Krayt gave him and his three Sith, the Vahla assassin was honored to be trusted with such a crucial task for the Grand Design. Having been commanded to convince the pacifistic world of Zonama Sekot and its population of Yuuzhan Vong and the rest of its immigrant species, it was a gargantuan task most would shy away from with ease. But knowing how Abeloth was nearly revived and was preparing to enslave the galaxy, it made the mission before the four warriors seem miniscule by comparison. And to free his people from their enthrallment to the Bringer of Chaos, he would go to Chaos itself to save them.
But there was another reason he sought the living world; one he could only share with Invidious right now. And if he was able to make it to Zonama Sekot in time, then he might get the answers they both sought and find a way to prepare for the apocalyptic times that were coming for the galaxy. To prepare for Abeloth's kin and fight their remaining creations, everyone would need knowledge and teachings that transcended the gap between the simple duality of the Force in the Light and Dark. And right now, the living world both sides were hunting for represented the best hope of reconciliation between the two ancient orders and creating a better one from the remains of both.
Banishing his musings from his mind before anyone detected them, Ochi ordered Vua, "Plug in the coordinates to the navicomputer, but don't activate the hyperdrive until I get to revise and send my report to Lord Krayt. Best to let him know that you've pinpointed our quarry in case anything happens to us."
"A wise plan." Vua nodded, before warning, "Just don't take too long. The sooner we get moving, the sooner we can get this task over with."
'And the sooner you can be back with your beloved Shaper.' Ochi mentally jested, not that he'd ever say that to Vua's face and risk angering the temperamental Yuuzhan Vong creation and endangering his life and everyone else aboard his prized vessel.
Csilla, 20 Kilometers East of Cssplar
Just Outside the Secondary Expeditionary Library
Aboard the Wild Karrde
Rubbing her eyes before taking another sip of her cup of caf, Chelli knew she had just about reached her limit of researching and staring at screens for the day. And judging from the weary sighs she heard from her teammates in the information kingpin's library, everyone else was similarly exhausted from their efforts.
Having spent the past four days scouring the Chiss Asecndancy's library for any new insights into the Nihil Retreat and Rakatan Archipelago, all while corroborating their information from the Ark Angel's data Chelli and her team managed to pilfer from the One Sith's Korriban archives, the Alliance of Light was uncovering so many crucial secrets from both enemy territories. From discovering several key hyperspace routes throughout Rhandite and Rakata Space, identifying dozens of the key leaders of both wicked powers, and countless other clues on how to overthrow their dark overlords, Chelli was having a field day in learning how to destroy those who ruined her family's lives.
And it certainly helped how the Alliance and Chiss were pouring a garrison's worth of resources and people into this endeavor. Of course, when the task force was also assigned to identify and track the One Sith's remaining Chiss spies and collaborators while also searching for Zonama Sekot, it was only natural the Ascendancy would take these tasks with the utmost seriousness. Working alongside such legends like the Wraiths, Shada Karrde, and so many well-known Jedi and their friends, it was a dream come true for a young woman like Chelli when she had lived a completely sheltered life up until the last few weeks.
Going back to think of her family, Chelli hadn't heard from or checked up on her father in the last eight hours. Force only knew how he was faring considering this daunting task while recovering from his Sith brainwashing. Before she retired for the night, she would do well to check up on him and see how his efforts were progressing and make sure he was taking proper care of himself. All his earnest desires in atoning for his past work for Darth Krayt would be futile if he worked himself to death.
Turning to BT-1 from his plug-in port, Chelli asked the murderous Sith-programmed astromech, "Have you heard anything from Doctor Aphra?" Hearing the droid warble his response, she disappointingly sighed, "Should've guessed he'd be there."
Glancing to her teammate, she informed Myri, "I'll see you back tomorrow morning. You good finishing up here for tonight?"
"I'll be just fine." The younger daughter of Wedge Antilles kindly assured Chelli. "Just go check up on your dad and make sure you both get plenty of sleep."
Nodding her gratitude, Chelli logged out of her computer and brusquely donned her winter garb, bundling up in the appropriate layers and requisitioning a speeder bike to rush into the Expansionary Library's secondary facility, where her father was desperately working to redeem himself and avenge her mother's death.
After riding a half-mile to the library's aboveground entrance and showing her clearance codes to the guards, Chelli was ushered into the archives where she marveled yet again at this architectural wonder and vast trove of information. Even with the recent fortress of the Ascendancy's methodically organized and vast collection of astrological objects and the history of the Expansionary Defense Force, all arranged both in paper and digital format for a reader's convenience, the simple but elegant design of Chiss and Imperial-inspired architecture was nearly a labyrinth of a building to navigate for newcomers. Which was why she was wise enough to ask a guide to escort her to Korin, who had fallen asleep by a desk and surrounded by dozens of notes and datapads.
Turnign her head towards the security guard, Chelli quietly asked, "Don't suppose you have anything to keep him up for an hour or so to get him back to the ship?"
"I'll need at least twenty minutes to get one with the correct dosage. Make sure to organize all his items before you leave." The guard warned, leaving Chelli to help the library aides put away all the books and datapads Korin borrowed before he snapped right up, his eyes bloodshot and betraying his exhaustion.
"Wha-… What happened?" Korin tiredly yawned. Seeing his daughter tending to him, he gasped, "Chelli? How long was I out?"
"A little over half an hour." Chelli noted. "You fell asleep over your work, and I came over to bring you back to the Wild Karrde to get some real rest. You're no good to anyone anywhere if you work yourself to death."
Sighing, Korin resentfully muttered, "Seems I can't do anything right, no matter if it's from your mother or you. I guess I've been destined as a failure ever since I fell under the Sith's sway."
Tired of hearing her father's self-loathing and dysregulated behavior, Chelli did something she could never imagine herself doing a year ago: she slapped Korin right on both his cheeks, causing him to yelp before he rose from his seat, and the young woman gripped him by his collar.
"All right, Dad. I want you to listen well, because I'm not going to repeat myself at all, and you need to hear this." Chelli tensely began. "I've had it with you tearing yourself down and blaming yourself for everything that's gone wrong in our lives. It's not what my mother would've wanted, and it's not what I need from you."
"The Sith played you, just as they did with Mandalore the Ultimate to get a powerful servant and countless others over the millennia, and you can't undo the past." Chelli harshly added, before softening her voice, "But now we have a chance to make a brighter future for all the Sith's victims and make the best use of our skills for the greater good, just as Mom would have wanted of us."
Placing a comforting hand on Korin's shoulder, Chelli kindly continuing, "I know you're hurting from all that's happened, and you miss Mom more than anything in the galaxy. Sithspawn, I saw her give her life to guarantee my escape from Korriban, so I know just as well what you're going through, and we'll probably bear that burden for the rest of our lives. But we can't let that pain determine our paths for the rest of our lives. All you can do now, all anyone can do, is decide what you'll do with the rest of your life and what kind of man you want to be."
Glancing at his daughter full of regret and pride, Korin mused, "You make it sound so easy, Boop." He quickly flashed a smile and continued, "But right now, you remind me so much of your me and your mother."
"You've got your mother's fire, and my old idealism." Korin admitted, blinking his eyes to brush away the tiredness before continuing, "Before you were born and I got your mother out of her old life as an assassin, Lona always assisted me in helping everyone we could reach in all sorts of recovery programs. Whether it was through official Reconstruction projects the GA was hosting, community service, and holding self-defense and history seminars, we always tried to help people rebuild their lives after the Yuuzhan Vong and Swarm Wars."
"She really sounds like she was a one-of-a-kind gem in this mad but beautiful galaxy." Chelli agreed, remembering her own memories of Lona and the stories she told of herself, whether it was from her humanitarian or assassin work, and how she never gave any ground to any of her rivals and always did what she believed in and enjoyed. She always made a strong impression on everyone she met, whether for good or ill.
"Yes. That she was." Korin agreed. "I'm sure that if she saw you here right now, helping the Jedi and free powers fight the Sith with all her talents and intellect, she'd be even more proud of you."
"And she'd also be proud of you, knowing that you're working to do good after all that you were put through over the years." Chelli reminded Korin before hugging him and pecking him on the cheek. "Come on. Let's go back and get some sleep before the morning rolls around. I've got a feeling we'll be hip-deep in work tomorrow."
"Is that your intuition, or have you heard something of importance?" Korin guessed.
"A touch of one and a splash of the other that's classified." Chelli enigmatically acknowledged, just as the guard came back with the stimulant, only to be politely declined before the father-daughter duo secured the former's notes, donned their thermal suits, and exited the library, quickly making their way to their current residence to retire from the bitter cold in warmer and safer lodgings. But through it all, the young woman yearned to tell her father the truth, even if she knew better than to blab on top-secret information while a critical operation was underway.
If the few rumors Chelli heard coming out from Csaplar were true, then the Alliance was about to make a terrific gamble, and they'd need every advantage and morsel of secrecy they could find for this plan to work. And the young Aphra woman would be honored to do her small part to destroy the order that devastated her family.
Well, I'd say this is a good place to end the chapter! I know it was a shift from the previous single plot of the previous chapter, and it might be a bit much to keep track of, but I need to resume working on converging my various subplots together into two or three larger storylines. And soon enough, the stakes will rise to even greater heights, and it'll be magnificent. So, how are you all dong on this warm morning of Saturday, June 17, 2023? I'm well, if a bit tired from staying up late last night while playing video games. And I've been watching Boruto: Naruto Next Generations through its latest DVD English dub release. It's quite remarkable. Oh, and I'll be reading some Star Wars books starting today, as I finished my Christian joy book yesterday, and it was amazing. I need to start applying its knowledge and wisdom right away. Well, I suppose I'd best get this chapter published soon. I hope you all have a blessed day, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!
