POV: Jericho

I sipped my beer at the bar on some smuggler's station. The place wasn't all that fancy or good but it got the job done in every way. Couldn't really complain when its one job was to provide provisions to smugglers to get them to the next spot in their journey. Helped that it was a great spot to meet informants or exchange information.

Especially this station. Arcterin station was a rather famous neutral ground for all pirates and smugglers. A fact that I made possible when I founded the place some 1000 years ago or so. It changed hands a few times of course in that time but the Neutrality always remained. If someone looked to change that they didn't last long. Either from me or pirates and smugglers who couldn't afford to lose the neutrality.

As for what I was doing there at the moment I had just met with someone who wanted some information. Some Jedi schmuck who wanted some information on a pirate ring that had been attacking core worlds. I gave the Jedi enough to make his own deductions and actions but nothing further. It would take the Jedi a few more years to do anything with the information.

Since the Reformation Jedi have been terrible and bound by the Senate to do anything. By the time they did anything with the information those pirates will have already set the stage for what I needed in the future. Smuggling lines that could be used for the war in a couple hundred years. Or whenever the new Sith decide to make their moves.

These new Sith were almost as bad as the Jedi. I will grant them the fact that they are smarter than their older counterparts. More cunning and patient, their plan was solid but I didn't like them. Too soft, not hard enough for when the Jedi do eventually push back. They'll fail without a good enough force of Sith at their call.

The Rule of Bane was good for individual power but it lost too much information for the Sith. Made them almost unwilling to fight and couldn't rise to the occasion as the Force challenged them. Say what you will about the Sith the Force constantly challenged them to become stronger and better. The Rule of Bane didn't allow that development. Although stronger on an individual level in the Force then many Sith they would never reach the heights of true Sith Lords. Never getting there without answering the calls of challenge from the Force.

"I always said that you needed to stop brooding. It doesn't look good on you," I smiled at the voice before I turned around. Jedi Master Fay stood there behind me with a smile on her face. A kind and warming smile, it's been a century since I saw it.

Fay was one of the few Jedi who still followed the Force and not the Senate. Got her on my unofficial list of people I always left alone. She could have been better if she ever deigned to use a lightsaber but she got a pass. At least she gave a shit about the Balance of the Force and the galaxy as a whole besides just what the Senate represents.

Been around most of the galaxy at this point in her life, 500 years about. Did good work wherever she went keeping the peace and settling arguments to save lives. First time I met her we were on opposite sides of a negotiating table. First time in a long time I felt outclassed in anything. Even without the Force she was a supremely good negotiator.

She had been able to completely undermine me and get the two sides to agree to a treaty of peace when I had been subtly pushing for war. My side had been the more militant one and were rapidly expanding in their area of space through conquest both subtle and not. Fay put a complete stop to that. That made her firmly as someone to respect in my mind. Never could get her into my bed either.

"How have you been Fay?" I smiled at her patting the open seat next to me. She kept her smile up as she took the spot and ordered a drink for herself.

"As good as can be… Saw your work on Anaxes," a small frown marrying her face for a moment as she spoke. Anaxes had been a recent development. A lot of the Trade companies were vying for it with how close it was to the core of the Republic. I got the Trade Federation and the Techno Union to fight it out to see who would control it. Knowing the Jedi or someone would eventually mediate everything.

Left a bitter taste in both respective organizations when they settled to share the planet with the other. Not only for the lives lost on both sides but for the money it cost and the cut it would have on them not to have a monopoly on the planet. Which would make them bitter enough to create specialized soldiers for sabotage or outright warfare. Both would lead to them creating armies to command.

Those armies would lead to the two organizations to become bold in their actions. Which will lead to them becoming greedy. When they become greedy they will push the lines they abide by to the point of breaking until they finally do break. Then the breaking increases across the entire republic because of their greed and armies and we have war. A good and big one.

"I do what I can to keep the balance," I sent a small smile to her and she just shook her head.

"If anything, the dark side has gotten stronger. Not exactly balance Jericho," she admonished.

"Balance is needed and a strong Dark Side is needed for a strong Light Side. Just the way the galaxy works."

"You mean War? That is not the way to balance," I actually agreed with her there.

"No, it's not. The true way never works though. You've heard my story on what happened the last time we tried."

"Summeria," I nodded my head. "I found it by the way," my head snapped to her with wide eyes.

"How is it?" I hadn't visited since Jericho shot me out of there on my ship. The memory of failure too powerful for me to even consider visiting.

"Beautiful… I see why it was chosen as the place for what you attempted. A place of learning and curiosity, of advancement and beauty… of hope… The planet felt… sad but with hope for the future."

"Sounds like Jericho's spirit lives on there then. Wonder if he's passed on or became one with the force?"

"I do not know. If he still has not passed on he did not show himself to me. Though I do have a question about Summeria," I motioned with my hand silently telling her to ask away. "Do you think the Order c-"

"You bring the Order as it is now anywhere near Summeria and I will make sure your temple burns within the decade, future plans be damned," Fay didn't even look disappointed at my sharp denial of her question. She looked like she had fully expected it but I had asked the question on the hope she was wrong.

"I had to ask. There is so much that the galaxy could learn still there, it truly was ahead of its time," she spoke almost wistful.

"What the galaxy could have learned there they already caught up to. The Jedi and Sith could still learn from it though but neither are deserving of that honor."

"I hope to be around when you find someone who you believe to be deserving," she meant it too. Not just in the way that she would be there but in that I would actually find someone worthy enough. Hell if I know if that'll ever happen.

If the current sad shadows of the Order's stay as they are it'll be several more millenia before they can even match some of the information still left at Summeria. Oh, the secrets that place holds; unfathomable. Jericho made sure only the advanced stuff was available top side. The groundbreaking stuff that hasn't even been theorized thousands of years later and information like how to build the star forge was buried deep underneath the city and only I could open the vault.

The only reason Revan ever got his hands on the star forge plans was honest curiosity. He had a decent plan and I wanted to see if he could pull it off. Of course he would've needed to be challenged along the way but I did want to see how he would fare. Guy was one of the few I would've liked to be at the head of everything when the Vong eventually get here. So when I had hope for the galaxy again everything had to go completely sideways. Revan being put down in history as a tragic figure who never really got a good hand in his life. Along with being super powerful.

"How's the galaxy going outside of my eyes though Fay?" I couldn't see everything no matter how much I made it seem like I could. Though Fay would usually fill me in on things outside of my informants. If she knowingly helped me or not was something I knew or cared too, she hadn't given me bad information yet.

"Corruption in small areas, budding wars that you're influencing, nepotism in the outer rim and the Ascendency is poking around again," haven't heard from the Ascendency in a good bit. Should check up on them.

"They still as high strung as ever?"

"You've married like ten of them? Shouldn't you know the answer to that already," Fay gave a soft chuckle as she spoke.

"That's a yes then," she snorted at my words and giggled as I remembered why I liked it when Fay visited me. She was a lightweight and a rather entertaining drunk. Especially when she didn't have the Force to help her filter the alcohol.

The rest of the night we spent catching up outside of anything having to do with the Force or what I was doing around the galaxy. Also, with lots and lots of drinking. To the point Fay eventually got up on the bar counter and started dancing for everyone. She got quite a few free drinks out of that and I had to work overtime to make sure no video's of her dancing made it to the net. Not only for her reputation but also because my face would definitely be in those videos and I didn't want her getting any grief from the Council. Hacks had a 20 foot pole up their ass now instead of the 10 foot one from before the Reformation.

Eventually the night wound down and I returned to my ship with Fay in tow. I didn't know where her ship was and wasn't bothered to find it to drop her off. So instead she got tossed on my couch and I got to sleep in my own bed.

Waking up the next morning Fay was gone but that was fine with me. Her stays never lasted long and she was a busy woman. Things happened all the time like this whenever she visited. Now for my next step I think visiting the Ascendency would be a good start. Sending a message through my communicator to them I got my ship spooled up. They responded as I had gotten clearance to leave the dock and told me they would be waiting at the usual coordinates. Chiss are always prepared even though it's been about a thousand years since I visited them.

"Unidentified Vessel. You are within Chiss airspace. State your purpose," I heard a definitely feminine voice announce over my comms. I was honestly a bit miffed they took so long to contact me. I had been flying straight at their base for well over several hours now and had been doing it slowly to give them plenty of warning I was coming. There should've been an escort on my wings by now.

"You know damn well who I am Sintry'uito'pak," long ass name for just a controller of flight plans and such things but it would definitely get the message across that I was familiar with them before I began flashing my IFF. Basically the signal for my ship identifying who I am. Though I was greeted with complete silence over the radio even as I continued my pace.

There was no response for a good ten minutes before my radar picked up two signatures coming towards me at a leisurely pace. Strike force ships who planted themselves on my wings and I smiled. About damn time. They didn't say anything over the Comm and just sent me a flight plan to follow. I did so without complaint even though they were definitely making me go the long way. Not that it bothered me that much. The Ascendency and I hadn't talked face to face in a while even if I had been continually sending them information, what was a couple more minutes.

Following the flight plan I eventually found my way into the hangar of their frankly massive space base and parked in the middle of the hanger. There was a large procession of Chiss soldiers outside my ship which was surprising but meh, I'd seen bigger. Not like there was an actual problem with that regardless of the situation.

Getting out of my ship every soldier in the hangar went to attention and an Admiral walked down the makeshift walkway the soldiers had made by lining up on either end. He stopped in front of me and saluted, which was really fucking surpring. Regardless I saluted the man back and he outstretched his hand to me. I, of course, took it.

"It's a pleasure to meet the Watcher. My name is Admiral Nart'ehuok'eno."

"Can I call you Nart?" I asked interrupting him before he could say anything.

"Of course sir. If you would follow me, The Chiss Council would like to have a word. They are already waiting on call within the conference room," I nodded my head and gestured for him to lead the way. I had to assume that his formality and respect had to be from being a lower class of Admiral. That or he was still new to the role. Regardless, I followed the man.

We went through winding hallways on the way to wherever this conference room was. Gaining no less than 10 guards on the way who fell in behind us at certain points. The way they did so had my paranoia tickling the back of my mind but they wouldn't do anything. Or at least they shouldn't. Still, I had my ax's and my lightsabers on me along with an assortment or blasters. All hidden except for my two axes held proudly on each of my legs.

Entering the room the Admiral closed the door behind the both of us leaving the guards outside. In front of me was a long table and a screen on the far wall. The admiral taking a seat off to the side of the table so I took the head. Facing directly at the screen. A screen with high ranking members of the Chiss. My informants weren't what they had been in the Ascendency but I knew all the names on the screen. Though I gave the four all nicknames since their names were so long.

There was Nate who was militaristic but efficient in a way only Chiss could be. He was an excellent commander and from the reports I had received had been the one to deal with a pack of Star-weirds with ruthless efficiency not a full year ago. Those… things were highly fucking dangerous and had been known to kill full fledged Sith Lords and Jedi Masters. To kill a whole pack of them without losing a ship spoke to his ability very well.

Then Shira. Their economic savant who's made roads in the Outer Rim without anyone being the wiser. Selling equipment and other things for a decently cheap price while never letting them know exactly what company she belonged to and always gaining a profit. That's not to mention that the Chiss economy was in a practical golden age because of her. I didn't really understand economics even after this long but she did and she was a true master of it.

Then Frankie and Sam. Both on the far older side but had seen their fair share of conflicts and had even fought the most recent Vong incursion about 70 years ago. I had gotten the information that they were about to be attacked from one of my deep space systems. Only put out there because of the Vong despite their extremely expensive nature. The Chiss I had originally worked with helped foot the bill actually but I was the only one who had the codes and information from them. Regardless, as soon as I got the ping of information I notified the Chiss and they took care of the ships.

The fight was costly as it always was when the Vong were involved but the Chiss came out far more on top then they had the previous three attacks. They had a resounding victory with only the loss of three ships and a total decimation of the Vong ships. Lining being that most of the surviving Chiss ships had heavy damage and some had been boarded but they still survived. Winning with most of their people intact.

"Watcher," Frankie and Sam both greeted me with a nod of their heads. Both Nate and Shira doing the same but without saying anything.

"Councilors. Is everything good? I admit my contacts within the Chiss are not what they had once been," they all nodded again at my words.

"That we understand and wish to rectify today," If I wasn't curious before I sure as hell was now. This was interesting.

"And how, pray tell, do you wish to do that?" I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms but that was just to get one of my hands under my coat and grab one of my hidden blasters. I liked the Chiss but I wasn't new to being betrayed by long term allies. Everything must come to an end after all.

"More information. More informants. From you of the outside galaxy and in turn you get access to the few spies and information gatherers we have in the galaxy. Along with the schematics we have discovered from the Vong," I already had the schematics thanks to the people inside the Chiss I had but everything else sounded like a good deal.

"What's the catch?" I had to ask. The deal was good, just a little too good.

"A favor to be owed to us in the future. Nothing too crazy but there will be a time when we call and you must answer," not a terrible deal all things considered. Though it would depend on what they would ask for but who knows at this point.

"Deal. Though I do have to ask why the change to the deal. Not that the change is drastic but out of place it has me questioning your motives at the very least," Shira looked insulted at my words but Nate, Frankie and Sam took my question at face value and accepted it.

"Times are getting… interesting. With the advent of your plan soon to be in the making and the Vong increasing their activity. Their incursions being more frequent in the last few hundred years we are finding it prudent to share more information than before," Nate answered my question. That was a fair answer.

"And the favor?"

"A guarantee if you will," answered Sam. "A way to know that when our hour of need beckons you will answer with you and not a proxy. You are one of the few to take on a group of Vong alone and win after all," I conceded the point.

That event happened about two thousand years ago ish. I was visiting the Chiss Ascendency when my deep space system caught the invasion. I decided to stay and help along with gathering information on the Vong. I spent the time on one of the Chiss command ships but it was still boarded by the Vong. The group of apparently elite Vong troops killed their way through the ship until they reached the bridge where I was with the usual command staff.

I honestly thought the whole thing was going to be my end so I thought I'd give the Chiss commander some time to get a plan together. So I went outside of the blast doors to the bridge and sat and waited for the vong with my whole arsenal with me. They saw me waiting and did not fire, deciding that if I was willing to face them alone then I was a worthy warrior.

They spoke those words to me, surprisingly, in basic speech. A feat that I did not think that they would be able to produce since they had so little knowledge of our galaxy and were obviously trying to invade. A fact that still makes my skin crawl at the implication that they had their own spies. Wherever those spies were I had yet to find them and that alone was infuriating enough.

Regardless I fought all seven of the eight Vong in a straight fight to start seven verse one. I had to pull out all the stops with my ax's, lightsabers, blasters, slugthrowers, and the few explosives I had. I hadn't had a fight like that since I defended the weapon from the Jedi that gave me my immortality. I wish the fight could be called a dance but in reality it wasn't. The fight was a brawl in the purest of forms.

We fought with a savagery so intense I don't really think it could ever be measured unless some pompous motherfucker was there to do so. It was the fight of my life and was easily the most exhilarating I had in a vastly long time. Still, the fight ended with me killing all seven of the ones that attacked me. The leader had hung back the whole time and just watched the fight. I still remember their words.

"You are a warrior worthy of God's death. Why do you fight for these people? They are below you?" Quiet the ego boost I'm not gonna lie.

"Because this galaxy is mine and I will die to protect it. Nothing will change that," was my answer to his question.

"Admirable. Let the Gods decide our fate today," he pulled out a sword from his hip, took a stance and then took off at me. While I will admit he was better than the rest of the seven soldiers, the difference wasn't so substantial that he was hard to deal with. The fight barely lasted a minute before it ended when my ax bit into his neck. Blood clogged his throat as he stared up at me with a smile on his face. Giving me a miniscule nod as he did so in some way acknowledging my actions as a warrior.

Shaking my head from the memories I looked back at the councilors and gave the barest of nods to them before standing. Nodding to the admiral I left the room and made my way back to my ship. Entering my ship I was surprised to see a Chiss woman standing there in the middle of the ship. Pulling my blaster on instinct she raised her hands in surrender.

"My name is Voci'obuosh'rana. I've been assigned to be with you for the foreseeable future," taking a good long look at her she was indeed a beautiful woman. As almost all Chiss were. Navy blue skin with piercing red eyes. An angular and sharp face that made her a sort of a regal beauty. Not a blemish on her. With the way she held herself though she was someone who had seen battle. Always ready, never off guard.

"Why," all that said the Chiss knew I was weak to a pretty face and wasn't about to trust her explicitly.

"To learn from you as best as I can. You are the Watcher afterall. There's no end to what you could possibly teach me," she was right there at the very least. I could teach people practically everything within the galaxy. Some definitely better than others but I was still a damn good teacher. Summeria taught me that.

"Then you will learn from me. What I say goes, no deviations. Do I make myself clear Rana," I wasn't about to use her whole name so she better get used to that name.

"Yes sir," we spent close to 60 years together and though she did learn an incredible amount she but never returned to the Ascendency. She became my wife after 10ish years working together and we had a pair of beautiful twins. Both times one was a boy and one was a girl. They all returned to the Ascendency eventually around the age of 30 for them. All eventually reaching the position of admiral and two of them, both boys, reaching the rank of Councillor. Each of them fought in the next Vong conflict when they were in their 50s. Only one of them dying but she did so when killing off the remaing Vong forces with a suicide attack.

I was a proud father of every single one of them… One of my sons being the Great Great Great Grandfather of one of the greatest tacticians in all of Chiss history. Thrawn.