Chapter 4

Leia sat in her private living quarters meditating. Thanks to her title as a crowned princess she was afforded a private room. Away from her peers which came with some upsides; she was always up in the morning giving her time to meditate. Allowing the universe to refill her ever since she had discovered this new feeling. Leia would recede into her private quarters whenever she could to meditate. Letting this feeling drown her all the time it was addicting. The power it gave her over the world was something she wanted to do more off. As she meditated Leia allowed her mind to push further across the academy. Listening even further to the galaxy around her feeling it shifting and moving through the very fabric of reality. Outside her room she could feel Kanos breathing and feel his agitation. Know that all across the academy Imperial officers and cadets moved with a lazy pace as today was a relaxation day for most. She could feel the full symphony of emotions as the galaxy and even the most putrid ball of evil not too far away.

She pushed further and deeper than she had ever before. Opening her mind to new heights as she struggled against a glooming darkness. It was as if trying to breathe through a heavy cloak placed atop a dark mountain. A new strength was forming inside Leia as she pushed through the veil. Ripping across this veil and opening herself to something even wider than she had before. It was as if her whole life she had been wearing plated armor and for the first time removed it. As a new source of power filled rose inside her to greater heights than it had before. As even more had become available to her as new strands arose for her to explore. Things became far more clear to see. And as she opened her mind to even greater heights pushed further than she had before. Trying as she might to ripe away at the blanket that covered the galaxy. It was swift as it was cold. Leia shifted her head to the side and the right. As something pure evil attacked. Dark clouds emerged as she shifted from pressure placed upon her.

Something dark was attacking her.

Leia fought back pulling in more strength from the galaxy itself trying to defend against this. Pain emerged as she could hear the cold voice of a man. Laughter followed as a cold presence of unremitting evil emerged. Running down her spine and Leia pushed back with what she could muster. Trying to build some sort of shield to defend against the power. "Who are you?" A man's voice asked with a cold calice tone and that broke Leia's resistance. The energy she had accumulated exploded outwards across the galaxy and with that Leia collapsed from exhaustion

X-x

Leia wasn't sure what had happened, all she knew was that everything was different. The feeling of the universe had shifted in a way it wasn't supposed to do. Leia couldn't explain it, but knew deep down. She had done something she wasn't supposed to do. Whatever its effects she had no clue about. Kanos had found Leia spread out on the floor unconscious and he brought her back from sleep. Leia wasn't certain if the events of earlier was a dream or reality, but she pushed it to the side. As she walked through the academy a form of chaos was all around her. Stoomrtroopers, cadets and other Imperial personnel scrambled around. As she walked towards Taskmaster Alerka she got to see a pair of droids squabbling over a terminal. Some light damage could be seen from cracks in the walls and the amount of dorids and crew trying to fix damage. So some form of earthquake or something had hit.

It was a silent trip as Leia sat in thought about various things over her life. Taskmaster Alerka was standing over a broken doorway with a squadron of Stoormtroopers. "We've secured the campus no major damage was found to the structure of the building or any major powerline or pipe. There is some minor damage with the waste system though. I have sent a detachment of techs to begin to scour over it. Most likely it will be a few days before all of the repairs are made to the academy. Other than that we've confirmed the statute of all students: no major deaths, few injuries and everyone besides those selected have been accounted for."

"Very well then commander. Have the academy locked down, all droid memories wiped and send all of the cadets off campus. No one is to enter until all of the damage is done. Commandment Deenlark will be taking it over from here and you will report to him as of now." Alerka said with a calmness to her tone.

"Very well then Taskmaster," with that the stormtrooper turned around and walked away.

"I assume that Princess is safe," Alerka asked as she looked down to a datapad in her hand.

"I found her scrawled on the ground unconscious, but other than that. No injuries from the earthquake."

"Very good. Princess, I hope you are safe. It appears we had a very sudden earthquake across the entire city. Damage and cause is unknown at some unknown point there should be some explanation. Though I would doubt its validity and I hope for your sake you were not responsible for whatever happened. Because if you did there is great evil on the horizon in your future. Nonetheless that's not important. I have managed to score your entire cohort a trip to the planet of Skalos in the Ugemmie system in the mid rim. Lord Vader will be scurrying you to the system. Your next trial awaits you. Now then scurry along I will catch up to you shortly." Leia looked at her bodyguard and he didn't even flinch or move. For once she would like to know what the man was thinking.

Without much more than a confused look on her face Leia followed Alerka's command. And moved to the docking bay where the rest of her cohort was currently boarding a lambda class shuttle. Then Leia felt a cold presence of anger, hatred and fear. It wasn't as powerful as the one from her dreams, but this one felt more…tragic? Sorrowful? Leia wasn't certain on the word she was supposed to use, but quickly darted towards her cohorts. A group of stormtroopers was in the rear and had to delay the lift off so Leia and Kanos could catch up.

X-x

"Lord Vader we have a new threat," Darth Vader looked at the holographic projection of his master. Some hours ago Vader had felt an unprecedented disturbance in the force. A disturbance that had forever shifted the balance of the force. Its consequences had yet to be seen, but Vader knew they would shape the future of the galaxy. "It appears someone, someone powerful. Has attempted to tilt the very direction of the force towards the light side. And nearly succeeded. I was able to intercede and make direct contact, but they fought back. Causing this disturbance in the force it appears in their bid they have failed to overturn the darkside. But they did succeed in tipping the force in a new direction, one in which I am even uncertain about. The consequences have yet to be seen, you must find them."

"I have felt them master," Vader said calmly. "And I believe its source is from Naboo."

"Naboo?" The Emperor asked.

"Even now I can still feel its echoes, but from what and why. But I believe that is where the source is coming from, but I'm dispatching to the Ugemmie system to assist maiden Alma oversee an important exam for princess Organa." Darth Vader said.

"This is unfortunate, dispatch an inquisitor to Naboo to find the trace of this..disturbance. I have a feeling that Naboo is going to be very important going forward."

"As you wish, master," Vader said.

X-x

Leia walked down the hallway of the Imperial Star Destroyer Ravager. Which was Darth Vader's current flagship in charge of the 501st region. She had been given a private tour while her cohort had gathered for a much unwanted information session. The ship was massive and very minimalistic in its design and too large for Leia's taste. A cold presence flowed throughout the ship as she, Kanos and a squad of stormtroopers were given a private tour. Some of the ship was off limits, but it was different from anything she had seen up to this point. The Tantiv IV was more navigable, but millions of people served aboard these warships over the half a decade they had been in service or so. It was a very miserable experience to say the least even compared to the Imperial academy. How could anyone put up with this for 4 years which was a standard contract for military enlistees. "You seem rather displeased at this ship." Kanos committed breaking the silence.

"I wouldn't say displeased Kanos," Leia corrected. "The ship is impressive from its size, to the hardworking crew. To think the Empire could engineer a ship of this size and power is an impressive feat of engineering. What concerns me is the cost of building and maintaining these vessels. How much money is spent constructing, maintaining and supplying these vessels. And how much of that could be spent on other important expenditures-" Leia hadn't been paying attention and had let her guard down when a calm booming voice overcame.

"Perhaps I can offer an alternative view," that's when the rhythmic breathing of a respirator returned.

"Lord Vader, I didn't even see you join us." Leia said as the tall man approached her in his seated black armor. It was 2 years ago was the first time Leia had ran into the man. Her father held a protest on Alderaan and during a conversation with Darth Vader. Leia had wondered in. It was only a brief meeting, but the memory had never disappeared. Then a couple months ago she meant the man again after the announcement of her being forced into the Royal youth program on Coruscant. She had met the man on a handful of occasions, but none of them she could ever forget. "I mean no disrespect, it's an impressive ship. I'm just wondering about the efficiency of such things. Personally I prefer smaller ships with fewer of these and spending the rest on other endeavors."

"An understandable point of view," Vader said dismissing her concern. "And no offense was taken. This point of view has been brought up since their introduction. I assure you the admiralty has waved this concern at every strategy meeting since its introduction. The Imperial Star Destroyer is a rarity in the Empire even with thousands. Is still a very small part of the military and used strategically. On top of that all the money that goes into maintenance helps create jobs that employ people across the galaxy. From the staff to run the Destroyer to the people who have to make, ship and provide the provisions. On top of that these ships fight pirates, disdens groups which more than make up for their associated cost." Leia thought about the man's words for someone as evil as him; he was clearly intelligent. "But alas I didn't come to discuss politics with you."

"Oh?" Leia asked.

"The Emperor has finally figured out what caused you to be enrolled," Vader said, completely changing the subject. Leia looked firmly at the man as they continued down the hallway. "The Emperor was putting together a list of potential students for a new education initiative he was working on. And the officer put in charge of rolling out these…inventions auto enrolled you after a miscommunication. It appears you were not the only one this has happened too."

"So incompetence," Leia said.

"That would be correct," Vader said. "Curious. Very curious indeed. Anyway, take Princess Organa to her quarters. Maiden Alma has already requested it." Vader said to the lead stormtrooper. Leia looked at him, but followed the stormtrooper towards her room. Which was in the living quarters usually only for the highest ranking officers aboard the ship. The room was anything special with everything just being a standard room, but what was most curious. Lying on the bed was a strange object. It was shaped as a pyramid, neatly carved out of some strange material. With a smooth surface it had a few minor indents and a bunch of small divots. Leia moved her finger only to find the top piece of the pyramid moved to the side which shifted another part of the pyramid opened up. Leia sat down on the bed and spent an unknown amount of time fiddling with the pyramid as the more parts she moved or twisted some of them came apart others shifted into different directions.

X-x

Alerka stood there on the bridge of the Ravager when Darth Vader finally returned. From whatever the Sith Lord would due on a day to day basis. One of the most evil beings in the galaxy who Alerka wanted nothing more than to see him vanish into the nether of the force. "I presume that all the preparations I have requested are in place." Vader looked at her, probably attempting to probe her mind for information that he would not get. There was such a way to prevent Jedi or Sith from reading one's mind. It took a special kind of training, but it could be done.

"I assure you everything is ready, but what concerns me is the purpose of this test. What is it for?" Vader asked.

"In time lord Vader in time. It will become obvious what my true intentions are for now we must make posthaste." She responded that the Sith Lord was unhappy, but didn't say anything. Who was he? Alerka wondered if he had to be someone she knew from the past, but who?

X-x

It was a week-long journey from Coruscant to their destination. Leia had completely forgotten where they were going. As she had been distracted by the various tasks she had to perform across the ship's hull. Alerka wouldn't let her rest or relax as she was placed under the command of a stormtrooper commander named Arlo. Commander Arlo was a stern man with a deep sense of duty. Quite like Alerka he had a strict desire to follow the rules and everyone had to follow them. Her training across the ship was simple drills, practice training, simulations, paperwork and meetings. The same thing she was doing in the academy. Leia was currently walking through the bottom floor of the warship near the engine room with Arlo and her bodyguard in the background. "So tell me Commander Arlo, why do you serve the empire?" Leia asked the man who was wearing his helmet on so she couldn't make out his face. It was just the three of them Arlo looked at, but due to his helmet she couldn't tell what his mood was.

She had a feeling of suspension and confusion, but wasn't certain if it was him or Kanos. "I don't understand the question Princess."

"I was forced to join the Imperial youth program due to some incompetent officers in the Empire. My father was a friend of the Emperor and serves as my mother's consort and acts as Aldarrans senator from the Old Republic to now. What I want to know is why someone like you would join? I mean no offense, but you seem like a loyal, honest and talented man. I just want to know you don't have to answer if you don't want to." Leia said.

"It's a job kid," Arlo said firmly. "And it's the best paying job that I could get. I have responsibilities that depend on me to provide. I need a constant paycheck, my homeworld is poor and has nothing, but low paying jobs. Riddled with crime and was ravaged by the Clone Wars. The Empire came in, brought jobs, cleaned up the mess mostly and I enlisted to get the pay. Not the best pay in the galaxy, not for the work I do, but it's better paying than what I'm going to get elsewhere. Trying telling your father in the senate to raise my pay if you want to give back that would do more good than any government handout."

"I'll keep that in mind," Leia said. The three of them made a sharp turn as they counted the patrol route. That's when a ding noise emerged from Leia's comlink which had been given to her upon entering into the academy. It was issued to all cadets to keep in contact with various staff members. With that Leia pressed the button. "LB-43A to bridge crew."

"Princess reports to the mess hall. Taskmaster Alerka is summoning all cadets for a surprise lunch." The voice that came over her comlink.

"Copy that," Leia said. "I'm on my way. It appears my patrol is over. This has been…educational."

"Better get going kid," Arlo said and with that Leia beckoned for Kanos to follow and the two of them departed from him. Something was amiss, but Leia pushed this feeling aside. Letting her rational mind take control of something wrong, a sense of danger was on the horizon. Leia moved to the mess hall where her entire cohort had gathered for a full feast of actual food. Rather than the slop that was typically served and the smell was delicious.

"Well consider this a reward for your hard work over the last couple months. By now over half of your classmates had dropped out of this program. So enjoy your reward." With that Alerka left Leia's stomach rumbled for some real food and pushing the feeling that something was wrong aside she alongside the rest of her classmates dove in.