Right after their arrival on Nar Shaddaa, Master Giett knew he was in the right place. Something had altered the planet's presence in the Force. Previously, Nar Shaddaa had been strongly influenced by the dark side of the Force, but now a region of the planet radiated with the light side of the Force. It was as if someone had placed a powerful spotlight in the fog. This change was palpable for any Force user, a beacon in the darkness guiding all towards the same place.
Master Giett initiated the landing approach, and immediately some Starfighter approached them.
"What brings you to Nar Shaddaa? Please state your reason for the visit. Otherwise, we are forced to shoot down your ship," a voice sounded over the comlink. Giett was surprised because there had been no flight control during his previous visits to Nar Shaddaa.
"I am Master Giett of the Jedi Order, and my Padawan, Swan, accompanies me. We are here for business purposes," Giett replied, upon which they were granted permission to land. Carefully, he landed his ship on the planet and disembarked. His Padawan, Swan, followed him, and together they approached a Sullustan who was coming towards them.
"Welcome to Nar Shaddaa. What can I do for the esteemed Jedi? The docking fees are, of course, on me," greeted the Sullustan the two, although his voice indicated he was anything but thrilled to see the Jedi.
"Thank you for the attention. We are here for a different reason than you may think. Your business has not brought us here, but we appreciate the offer," said Master Giett, earning a surprised look from Swan. She had not expected her master to discern the reason for the Sullustan's politeness so quickly.
"Of course. My mistake. Have a pleasant stay on Nar Shaddaa. But be cautious. A conflict between different parties rages on Nar Shaddaa," the Sullustan bid farewell and hurried away, leaving the two Jedi puzzled. They couldn't make sense of his words.
"Don't you find that strange?" Padawan Swan asked her master, who simply nodded. He too was surprised by the Sullustan's remarks. Clearly, something was happening on Nar Shaddaa that needed to be investigated further. It could be much bigger than they had initially assumed.
After leaving the spaceport, they headed towards the mysterious location. Along the way, they had to dodge people rushing through the promenade. Many of them had a frantic look, which was unusual for Nar Shaddaa. Although the planet was known as a smuggler's moon ruled by the Hutts, the overall mood was much darker than usual. Something had thrown the entire moon into turmoil.
On alert, they navigated through the alleys, trying to understand why people were behaving so unusually. As they neared their destination, Master Giett received a warning through the Force. Without hesitation, he grabbed his Padawan and pulled her out of the way. A speeder bike exploded above them, and debris rained down on them. The crowd panicked, and some were hit by the falling debris. Giett and Swan rushed to help the injured, but for some, it was too late. With most of the survivors, they could only provide makeshift aid, hoping they would manage to reach a hospital.
A few minutes later, several armed Nikto appeared and took control of the situation. They questioned all the witnesses and cordoned off the street.
"Master, how could something like this happen?" Swan asked, still shaken. She had never come so close to death. Yes, she had been attacked by wild animals before, but that was by chance in their territory. Here, her death would have been just collateral damage, a triviality to kill someone else.
"Unfortunately, some sentient beings resort to such despicable acts to defeat their enemies. Many criminal gangs do this to exterminate their enemies. If the other gang no longer exists, there is no more fighting," Giett tried to explain the situation.
"Come, my Padawan. There is nothing more we can do here," said Giett, continuing his path. Swan followed him after a moment. She didn't want to be alone in this dangerous place.
After a while, they reached their destination and entered. Immediately, both collapsed and writhed in pain. Visions of the Force overwhelmed them.
Giiett's First Vision - Beginning:
The air was filled with smoke, and the acrid smell of burnt material hung in the air. Explosions rocked the surroundings, and corpses of beings lay scattered on the ground. Many of these beings wielded lightsabers, and as Giiett extended his senses, he could feel the intensity of the battle raging a few hundred meters away. He hurried as fast as he could towards the scene. His throat constricted as he realized who was embroiled in this bloody conflict: Jedi versus Sith. Both sides were supported by soldiers seemingly intent on annihilating the other side completely. This was not a battle between good and evil; it was a slaughter. The Jedi on the battlefield could no longer be described by Giiett as righteous warriors. They were too cruel in their actions. On some of their faces, he could even discern pleasure in killing Sith and soldiers. A Jedi lifted a Sith into the air and crushed him, only to be cut in half by another Sith with a lightsaber. Groups of Sith hurled Force lightning indiscriminately into the crowd, without regard for whom they struck.
Suddenly, Giiett felt a massive surge of power and looked up. On a cliff above the forest stood a man, surrounded by others who fell one by one. As the last of them dropped, the man stretched out his hands, and an even more powerful discharge of power devastated everything in its path.
Giiett's First Vision – End
Bultar Swan's erste Vision - Beginn:
Bultar Swan could hear the loud noises of a battle and cautiously approached the source of the noise. She traversed several stone corridors before reaching a throne room where several individuals were engaged in combat. On one side appeared to be Jedi, as they all wielded lightsabers. Two of the Jedi were human and looked very similar – likely brothers, thought Bultar, but she quickly dismissed the notion, as Jedi were not supposed to have familial ties. The third Jedi was a Twi'lek with gray skin.
The Jedi were fighting against numerous guards, while a woman sat on the throne. The old woman laughed as she witnessed one of the Jedi losing an arm.
"Die. Die, you unworthy ones. None can resist the darkness," she called out, hurling bolts of power at the Jedi.
"Brother," called out the brown-haired Jedi, rushing to the fallen Jedi. Together, they fled the throne room, and Bultar followed the three of them. The guards did not seem to pursue them, and the Jedi managed to find safety for the time being.
"Here, this should help stop the bleeding," said the Twi'lek, producing a medkit. The blonde Jedi appeared to be unconscious, and Bultar could see the concern on the brown-haired Jedi's face.
"We should never have taken on this mission without Master Jeth," murmured the brown-haired Jedi, receiving nods of agreement from the Twi'lek.
"It's too late now. We need to get out of here and help the Beast Riders. Without them, we stand no chance," the Twi'lek reasoned.
Bultar Swan's erste Vision - Ende
Giiett's zweite Vision - Beginn:
Hardly had Giiett processed the first vision when he was drawn into another one. He saw himself leaning against a tank, surrounded by several armed beings. A serious wound adorned his side, and he felt his life slipping away.
"Would you like to know a secret of the Jedi Order?" asked the dying Giiett, and the beings nodded eagerly, wanting to learn more about the Jedi Order.
"We understand the importance of sacrifice and how it can save our comrades," he said, igniting his lightsaber. The blade pierced through the tank, causing an explosion that killed everyone within a ten-meter radius.
Giiett's zweite Vision – Ende
Bultar Swan's zweite Vision - Beginn
Bultar Swan's second vision began immediately after her first, and she quickly found herself in a new reality. It took her a few seconds to orient herself. Before her, two Jedi were fighting, a female Cathar and a brown-haired human. The Cathar had white hair and was aggressively attacking the man.
"Defend yourself properly! You'll never defeat me like this. I'll sooner kill you!" the woman yelled, swinging her lightsaber wildly at the man.
"Calm down, Sylvar. Your anger leads to the dark side of the Force," the man called out, skillfully evading her attacks. He moved smoothly backward, closer to the edge of a cliff.
"Shut up! Finally shut up! I won't let a Sith tell me what to do!" the woman screamed again, launching another attack. The man skillfully dodged, while Bultar observed the scene.
Suddenly, three more people approached the fight. Two of them were human women, each wielding a lightsaber and looking similar. Bultar suspected they were mother and daughter. The third person was a man who seemed to enjoy watching the two Jedi attempt to kill each other. This behavior filled Bultar with disgust, and she focused her gaze on the two women, who anxiously watched the fight and seemed ready to intervene.
"This is utterly insane," exclaimed the older woman, seemingly prepared to draw her lightsaber.
"Don't interfere, Nomi. Qel-Droma must die for his actions. Only then can I serve the Order," explained the Cathar, using the Force to push the two women away. They were taken by surprise and flew back several meters.
"Well done, Sylvar. He must die for what he's done to the Order. Wouldn't you want to become a great Jedi Master? His death will make you immortal," the man cheered, and Bultar could feel anger rising within her like never before in her life.
"Don't give in to the dark side, Sylvar," pleaded Nomi, emanating a bright light. But the anger and hatred Bultar felt seemed to echo within her. How could she suddenly succumb to such dark emotions?
"Don't meddle here," the man shouted, hurling bolts of power at the two women. Sylvar continued to fight against Qel-Droma, seemingly oblivious to the second battle. The Sith had manipulated their senses.
"We don't have to fight, Sylvar," said Qel-Droma, deactivating his lightsaber. Sylvar looked at him and raised her lightsaber for the final strike, but stopped a few inches from his chest.
"Fight. Finally, fight!" the woman cried tearfully, deactivating her lightsaber. She couldn't do it. Sylvar couldn't bring herself to kill the defenseless man.
"What a waste," said the man, sending bolts of power at Qel-Droma and Sylvar. Both activated their lightsabers again and repelled the attacks. Together, they pushed back the Sith before the man landed a lucky hit, impaling Qel-Droma through the chest. He gasped in shock and defiantly used the Force. The Sith fell to the ground, screaming in agony.
"No! You've severed my connection to the Force," cried the man, starting to age. His body grew older and older until he was indistinguishable from an eighty-year-old. Sylvar continued to fight against the Sith but was ultimately overwhelmed.
"What should we do with them?" one of the men asked the now aged man.
"We will alter their memories and take the body as instructed. Our master will be pleased with Qel-Droma's corpse," said the man, and suddenly, everything went dark.
Bultar could see the stars around her and held her breath in shock. She seemed to be floating through space.
"You need not fear. This is still a vision. I sensed that you were witnessing the true death of my beloved, and that's why I decided to speak with you," said a voice behind Bultar, and she quickly turned around. Before her stood the woman she had seen in her last vision. She seemed older, but Bultar could feel the power and wisdom emanating from her.
"Who are you?" asked Bultar, and the woman smiled.
"Can you not guess? I am Nomi Sunrider, former Grand Master of the Jedi Order," said the red-haired woman gently, gesturing. Two chairs and a table appeared. Nomi gestured for Bultar to sit, and she did.
"You are the legendary Grand Master of the Jedi Order? I have read much about you in the holocrons. And that was Ulic Qel-Droma? The fallen Jedi who rediscovered the path of the Light Side?" Bultar asked, receiving a nod from Nomi.
"Yes, he was my second love. Ulic was so strong and sensitive. I loved him deeply. Unfortunately, he succumbed to the Dark Side of the Force, but he found his way back," Nomi replied.
"Why does the archive state that he was killed by a pilot named Hoggon? Those were Sith, weren't they?" Bultar inquired, and Nomi closed her eyes. A tear ran down her face, and Bultar could feel the sorrow she felt.
"They manipulated our memories. It was only after my death that I could learn the truth. Hoggon was a Sith whose connection to the Force was severed by my beloved Ulic. They wanted to make it seem like it was just a random shot that defeated a powerful Jedi," Nomi explained, seeming to gather herself.
For several minutes, the two women stood silently together before Nomi broke the silence.
"I reached out to you for another reason. When I sensed you experiencing that vision, I knew you were my opportunity to relay information to the Order. The Sith are playing a sinister game. They haven't disappeared. The Sith are hiding, and what you experienced here was their first attempt to manipulate the Jedi on a large scale," Nomi explained, shaking Bultar's beliefs.
"How can they not have disappeared? They were destroyed almost a thousand years ago," exclaimed Bultar, shocked, clutching her chest. She couldn't breathe, and it took her a moment to realize she was having a panic attack.
"Take deep breaths. We still have time. The Sith can still be stopped, but the Order must be strong and destroy Sith artifacts once again," Nomi said, calming Bultar.
"No one can destroy powerful Sith artifacts. Many Masters have tried and failed," Bultar objected, remembering her master's warnings.
"The knowledge of those techniques has been lost. If there are still records, they are deeply hidden in the Order's archives. The Order fears the ancient teachings," said Nomi, surprising Bultar with her words.
"I can't believe that. Why would the Order do such a thing?" murmured Bultar, shocked.
"Because it's afraid. Afraid that its members will fall to the Dark Side. To harness the power of the Light Side, one must overcome their inner demons and learn to form bonds with other beings. Through positive emotions and control over one's own darkness, one can generate a wave of the Light Side of the Force. This wave is powerful enough to dispel darkness in an area. Your master and you are currently in an area untouched by the Dark Side of the Force," Nomi explained gently, letting her hand glow with bright light. Bultar didn't know how to respond. She had never met anyone with such incredible power.
"Who used this power?" Bultar asked, and Nomi shook her head.
"That is a question I cannot answer for you. This person used something different from me. This power eludes my understanding. The person did not suppress the Dark Side of the Force but destroyed it in this area. Truly a formidable power," said Nomi, her voice filled with awe.
For several minutes, the two women sat silently, pondering what had been said, before Nomi broke the silence.
"I will show you the steps to learn this ability. It's up to you whether you choose to follow the Order's teachings and not learn this ability or whether you will oppose the darkness. This decision is yours to make."
Bultar Swans' second vision ended.
Exhausted, Zethan landed the ship and immediately went to check on Xaven to see if he had regained consciousness. To his dismay, he found Xaven still unconscious. Zethan opened the airlock of the spacecraft and stepped outside. Several other residents of the space station approached curiously, hoping to find out if the necessary spare parts had arrived or if they needed to look for alternative solutions.
"Can someone please help me? Xaven is injured and needs urgent medical assistance," called out Zethan, pushing the sled with Xaven out of the airlock. Someone immediately came forward and attended to the unconscious Xaven. Two men offered Zethan support in walking, and he was relieved to be back on the space station. At that moment, he vowed never to set foot in the foundry again.
However, Zethan didn't get far before being stopped by the individuals he slightly feared. They were the department heads of the space station.
"Where is Harry, and why is Xaven so badly injured?" asked Mako, who was in charge of the space station's computer systems and droids. By her side was her deputy, Anuli, whose face was marked with concern.
"Leader Potter didn't make it. We encountered a swarm of Mynocks, and his suit got damaged. Since I couldn't save both injured, I chose the one with higher oxygen reserves," confessed Zethan, only to be pressed against the wall by Bigbull.
"Have you gone mad? Have you forgotten the first law here? No one gets left behind," shouted Bigbull, effortlessly lifting the Nautolan into the air. Due to his physiology, the Arkanian could easily lift the considerably lighter Nautolan.
"That's not getting us anywhere. We'll lock him up for now, and then we'll decide how to proceed," said Mako, with a slight disgust on her face as she looked down at Zethan.
Weary but relieved, Eidolon deactivated the hyperdrive of his brand-new GR-45 Medium Transporter and gazed at the small fleet of ships emerging from hyperspace one after another. These were not just the ships his people had stolen on Nar Shaddaa but also an impressive collection of warships he had acquired over the years. Among them were five Kaloth-style battlecruisers, nine Interceptor-class frigates, and a Heavy Munitions Cruiser of the Captor-class. Yet, undoubtedly, the centerpiece of his fleet was the heavy munitions cruiser he had once pilfered from the Trade Federation and extensively upgraded to enhance its firepower.
With this ship, he had the means to launch targeted assaults on the Hutts and make it unmistakably clear that they couldn't cross him with impunity. However, Eidolon knew that he couldn't do much against the powerful Besadii and Desilijic Clans, behind the attacks on him, without relying on a surprise attack. To stand a real chance, he needed to expand his power base. If he managed to eliminate Aruk Besadii Aora and Jabba Desilijic Tiure, the two families would engage in a power struggle for control of the cartel.
After landing his ship in the hangar of the heavy cruiser, Eidolon proceeded to the briefing room. Many of his capos were already present, eager to receive their orders.
"Gentlemen, the time has come. Sooner than expected and with less firepower than hoped for, but we must act united now. Together, we can defeat the Hutts. You may have noticed not all capos are here. The others have already been assigned their missions to attack smaller Hutt bases," Eidolon began his address, and all listened intently. They all yearned for revenge against the Hutts. Not just because Eidolon's organization had been attacked, but because it was personal. Each of them had suffered at the hands of the Hutts or lost family members because of them.
Eidolon had united them all, giving them a new purpose in life: the eradication of the Hutt cartel.
"What happened to the headquarters? I thought the Hutts were still unaware of our plan," remarked Capo Roty, and many other capos nodded in agreement. They knew the headquarters was heavily fortified, and bypassing its defenses posed a significant challenge.
"The Hutts sent infiltrators and then attacked with a large number of mercenaries and tanks," explained Eidolon, as Harkun supplemented the information.
"There was also a prison break at the same time. The prisoners managed to plunder our accounts and steal information. However, we do not know how long they were in our systems or if they have left. They also played into our hands by passing information about Hutt operations to some government agencies and other criminal organizations through our channels."
"Don't we face significant problems? Without our financial resources, we cannot maintain mercenary armies," Capo Roty voiced concern, and Eidolon briefly considered shooting Roty. However, he quickly realized Roty was too valuable to their enterprise. Roty was a master of asymmetric warfare, including hacking attacks, sabotage, and deception. He had been instrumental in capturing the Trade Federation's heavy munitions cruiser. Eidolon currently needed every man he could get.
"Our financial resources are more limited than hoped, but it seems several smaller factions are attacking the Hutts simultaneously. Furthermore, the cartel currently believes the intergalactic banking clan is financing us, which is why they are also attacking the banking clan. This, in turn, has led the banking clan to retaliate against the Hutts," Eidolon shared the information he had received from his spies.
"Then our chances aren't so bleak after all. Nevertheless, we still need to acquire more credits," Roty pondered aloud, and the other capos nodded in agreement.
"Exactly, which is why we will attack some smaller Hutt organizations and loot their assets. This will strengthen the stronger clans, but they will also need time to consolidate their new territories. That could slow down their expansion," explained Harkun, and most capos were convinced by this approach.
Suddenly, the space around Sojourn was filled with an almost overwhelming fleet of HH-87 Starhoppers and M22-T Krayt Cannon Ships. The abrupt presence of these menacing vessels shocked Sojourn's defense fleet. Never before had such a massive attack been launched. Accompanied by a deafening roar, the fighters plunged without hesitation onto the defenseless ships over Sojourn, creating a deadly gap in the defense, allowing the colossal Krayt Cannon Ships to move closer to the moon.
While some of the cannon ships maintained their courses and descended upon the remaining Munificent-class Star Frigates, others ordered to veer away. Their mighty missiles targeted the bridges of the frigates, triggering devastating explosions that crippled these heavy warships before they could launch their own fighter squadrons. The battle began to gradually shift in favor of the defense fleet as the cannon ships reached their true target.
Each of the sixteen mighty cannon ships unleashed their rockets with thunderous booms and radiant energy bursts, targeting two key buildings on Sojourn. The force of the explosions was tremendous, shaking the ground as the towering structures dissolved into huge fireballs. Then, in an unprecedented coordinated action, the cannon ships veered away and engaged their hyperdrive engines to escape into hyperspace. Shortly after, the other ships followed suit, leaving the defense fleet shocked and bewildered.
The devastating missiles had struck the mighty power plants on Sojourn, triggering a chain reaction that made the entire surface of the moon tremble. Devastating explosions erupted all over the once vibrant world, seemingly tearing the moon apart. There was no way out, no chance of escape. The inhabitants of Sojourn, caught amidst this catastrophic destruction, had no chance of survival.
Among the numerous victims of this brutal attack were several high-ranking members of the Intergalactic Banking Clan, including the influential head of Damask Holdings, Hego Damask II. This devastating attack not only destroyed an entire world but also ended the existence of Darth Plagueis, the master of Darth Sidious. With Plagueis's death, all his precious research findings and knowledge of the Force were irretrievably lost. It was a severe blow to the Sith and their plans for galactic domination. The Sith had suffered a loss, but they would continue to strive to implement their plans.
Darth Sidious perused the report presented to him, a furious glint in his yellow Sith eyes. A war raging between the powerful Intergalactic Banking Clan and the dreaded Hutten Cartel had thrown his plans into disarray. In his mind, steeped in sinister calculation, he couldn't fathom how this conflict had erupted seemingly out of nowhere. Neither he nor his master, Darth Plagueis, had perceived any signs of such a war. It was as if the war had emerged from the shadows of the galaxy.
The news reaching him was grim. Several trade fleets of the Banking Clan had been decimated by the Hutts, and members of the Clan had been murdered by ruthless bounty hunters. These attacks had increased pressure on the Senate to take action against the Hutts, but it was still too early. The dissatisfaction of the planets in the Outer Rim needed to be further stoked before the long-awaited war could break out. He had to ascend to Chancellor first to transform the Republic into a mighty Empire according to his plans.
Meanwhile, the Trade Federation continued to build its formidable fleet, and his plan to install Nute Gunray as the head of the Federation was still in the planning phase. He needed more time, and then he also had to carefully consider the assassination of his master. As far as he knew, Plagueis and other representatives of the Banking Clan were on Sojourn. His initial plan involved an alliance between the Black Sun, the Bando Gora terrorist cult, and Gardulla the Hutt conspiring against Darth Plagueis. It was a daring plan, but the Hutts and the Black Sun were already at war, and the cult alone did not have the necessary resources to overcome the defense of Sojourn. They simply lacked the spacecraft. Furthermore, he harbored a burning desire for his master's research documents. These records on the Force could be invaluable to him in his own ascent.
Amidst his grim deliberations, a voice interrupted his train of thought. "Senator? Adjutant Sate Pestage is here," echoed through the intercom of his office in the Senate building. Darth Sidious returned with a seemingly friendly smile on his face, concealing his sinister identity as a Sith Lord. Only a few insiders like Pestage knew of his true nature.
"Apologies for the interruption, Senator Palpatine," said Pestage, respectfully inclining his head to the senator. Pestage had been his adjutant for years, handling the dirty work behind the scenes - just like in this situation.
"What brought you here?" asked Palpatine kindly as Pestage hurriedly took a seat.
"There have been some problems. A fleet of Hutt ships appeared over Sojourn and destroyed the moon. Our efforts to broker an agreement between the Hutts and the Banking Clan have been pushed far away," Pestage reported, passing a datapad with the information.
Palpatine struggled to restrain the dark side within him. His carefully laid plans lay in ruins, and he didn't know how to proceed. "Who are the victims of this attack?" he asked, clenching his fists beneath the desk. He had to control himself. The dark side of the Force seemed to revel in his suffering.
"Among the victims were Hego Damask and many high-ranking members of the Intergalactic Banking Clan. Several senators from other star systems were also present," Pestage listed the casualties of the attack. Palpatine could barely contain himself. Years of planning had been undone, and his thirst for answers remained unquenched.
Something seemed to have damaged the veil of the Force. He could no longer see the future of Nar Shaddaa, and the phenomenon was spreading to other areas of the galaxy. Every vision of the future was blurred, and he could no longer dive into the Force as he was accustomed to.
Palpatine shook his head inwardly. It seemed ridiculous. The veil that the Sith had carefully erected over millennia could not simply be damaged. The veil was carried by the entire galaxy. The midi-chlorians, created specifically for these purposes, could not simply cease to exist. The Sith had successfully convinced the Jedi that a person's potential in the Force depended on the number of midi-chlorians in their body. Every time Palpatine thought about it, he had to laugh sardonically. The number of midi-chlorians only indicated how susceptible a person was to the dark side of the Force. The Jedi had mistaken it for a person's potential and trained particularly susceptible individuals as apprentices.
However, the creation of midi-chlorians could not be attributed to the Sith. They were rediscovered by Freedon Nadd and used by the Sith to strengthen their power. Over the millennia, they had spread throughout the galaxy, amplifying the dark side of the Force. Only a thousand years ago, under Darth Bane, did the construction of the dark veil begin, when the quantity of midi-chlorians in the population was sufficiently high. It was a masterpiece of the Sith, which unfolded before the eyes of the Jedi. The veil not only made the Jedi more susceptible to the dark side but also prevented them from delving deeper into the Force. If they tried, they risked falling to the dark side. Force visions became more difficult, and some Force abilities were banned by the Jedi Council as users often fell to the dark side. Other Force abilities were effectively prevented, such as teleportation or Force shield.
"That's regrettable. Will the Jedi Order's mission fail? Negotiating with the Hutts was the only way to prevent a war," Palpatine asked, grappling inwardly with his own ambitions. On one hand, a swift end to this war would advance his own plans, but on the other hand, he hoped for more deaths among the Jedi. The fewer Jedi Masters survived, the easier it would be to draw the younger Jedi to the dark side. They would become his first Inquisitors before he gradually replaced them with his own servants, who were drawn to his side from childhood.
"The prospects of this mission are slim. According to the information I've received, Jabba Desilijic Tiure and Aruk Besadii Aora will meet on Tatooine," Pestage explained, eliciting a dark smile from Palpatine. A meeting of these two Hutts with the Jedi promised to be highly entertaining. Jabba was a former ally of his master, and he needed to eliminate his influence to take control himself. With his master's public death, he couldn't inherit his contacts in secret. His master's network was no longer available to him, and he had to continue building his own network. It would come at a price, but he could ensure that his allies remained loyal to his cause. Yes, he could work with this development."
A T-6 shuttle, its engines breaking from hyperspace with an exhilarating crackle, continued its graceful course through the infinite reaches of stars and onto Tatooine. On board this iconic vessel were the venerable Jedi Masters Qui-Gon Jinn and Adi Gallia, recognized by their glowing lightsabers, accompanied by their promising Padawans Obi-Wan Kenobi and Siri Tachi. Their mission was of utmost importance - they were tasked with the perilous mission to seek out the infamous Jabba Desilijic Tiure, the powerful Hutt crime lord, and negotiate with him. Objective: to halt the Hutts' attacks on the Banking Clan, one of the most influential economic organizations in the galaxy.
The Republic was in turmoil. The Hutts had unexpectedly and aggressively opposed the Banking Clan, shaking the political landscape. The Hutts typically invested their vast wealth in smuggling and piracy, rarely engaging directly in wars. This departure from the norm was alarming. The Republic was ill-prepared to deal with Hutts' aggressions. Without a fleet, winning a war would be challenging.
A fierce debate erupted in the Galactic Republic Senate. Some senators called for a rearmament of the Republic's forces to defeat the Hutts once and for all. Others preferred a diplomatic solution, while some advocated for dissolving the Banking Clan. Opinions were divided, and citizens' trust in the Senate hit an all-time low.
Unrest spread across the entire space, especially in the Mid Rim and Outer Rim territories. Most worlds affected by this conflict were located here. Planetary defense forces were on heightened alert due to the shocking destruction of Sojourn. If the Hutts could destroy a well-defended moon, they could breach the defenses of entire planets. The grim reality of a threat from the deep shadows of space gripped the galaxy.
The shuttle finally landed at the dusty spaceport of Mos Espa, where the blazing desert sun bathed the surroundings in intense light. All disembarked, except Siri Tachi, who stayed behind to guard the precious ship. Siri sighed softly as she watched the retreat, wishing she could accompany her masters and the others. But duty called, and someone had to guard the ship, a necessary albeit thankless task.
The two Jedi Masters and Obi-Wan navigated skilfully through the bustling streets of Mos Espa. They couldn't help but notice armed men with grim faces patrolling the streets. The atmosphere was tense and oppressive, as if an attack could come at any moment. The Jedi Masters shared this concern, for if negotiations failed, they would have to face these battle-hardened men. They were aware that the odds of survival in such a conflict were minimal.
They quickly resorted to a few speeder bikes to escape the relentless heat. The sun beat down mercilessly, and no one wanted to linger in the scorching heat any longer. Time was of the essence, and they had to reach Jabba Desilijic Tiure's opulent palace as soon as possible. Every lost minute could result in more casualties, something they were determined to prevent at all costs.
After half an hour, they finally raced through the winding streets of Mos Espa and reached the imposing palace of Jabba. It was time to initiate negotiations, and Qui-Gon Jinn was the chosen one to lead the conversation. Adi Gallia, an equally experienced diplomat, stood ready, but the group was aware that Jabba respected women less than men - a challenge they had to face.
Slowly, Harry woke up and looked around. Darkness surrounded him. He couldn't see anything at all.
"You're finally awake," a voice said, and Harry tried to locate the source of the voice, but he couldn't discern it. It seemed to be coming from all sides.
"Where am I? Who are you? What am I doing here?" Harry asked quickly, trying to remember what he had last done. Then it came back to him. He had gone to the foundry with Xaven and Zethan to search for components to repair the space station. They were attacked by mynocks, and Xaven's spacesuit was heavily damaged in the attack. He shared his oxygen with Xaven, and on the way to their ship, he lost consciousness.
"You are between worlds because you are dead," the voice echoed from all sides, and the hairs on Harry's arms stood on end.
"How can I be dead?" Harry denied the possibility that he was dead. How could he be dead if Zethan was still conscious and could simply bring the three of them back to the shuttle?
"Zethan left you at the foundry," the voice said, and Harry's chest tightened. He had been betrayed. At the first opportunity, someone he had saved had turned against him.
"Not a pleasant feeling when allies turn against you?" the voice said, and Harry could hear a contemptuous tone in it. Harry had to agree. Being betrayed was not a pleasant feeling. Ron had let him down several times because he was jealous. Harry forgave Ron each time. That's what good friends did, but they had never really talked about it. It nagged at the back of his mind every time he spoke to Ron after their last big fight. How should he handle Ron so that he wouldn't get upset and jealous again?
"Why are you here? I am dead, so it's over for me," Harry said dejectedly, looking forward to seeing his loved ones again.
"For you, it may be over, but for me, this is the big opportunity," the voice said, and Harry felt a tremendous force trying to crush his body.
"What's happening here? What are you doing?" Harry screamed, trying to resist, but the force was too great. Harry couldn't fight back.
"I am taking what is rightfully mine. You defeated me once, but now I have the upper hand," the voice screamed, increasing the pressure. Harry felt his mind being attacked. He saw his whole life passing before him, from his birth to the present moment. Harry saw everything again and drew new strength from it. He resisted the being attacking his mind, and he succeeded in driving it away.
"Stop resisting. The longer you resist, the more painful it will be for you," the voice screamed, changing tactics. It began to inflict great pain on Harry, and Harry started to scream.
"I won't give up. Never," Harry screamed back in pain and endured the pain. Unconsciously, he called for help and unexpectedly received it. His invisibility cloak materialized and draped itself around his shoulders. An inconspicuous ring appeared on his finger and glowed brightly. The light from the ring illuminated the surroundings and dispelled the darkness. The voice began to scream.
"No. This is not possible. I made sure the objects were far away from you," the voice screamed, and Harry demanded, "Show yourself already."
The ring on his finger pulsed, and a very old woman appeared before him. She had shoulder-length gray hair, and her face was sunken. The darkness disappeared, and Harry could see that the woman seemed to be fighting against a force.
"What have you done?" Harry demanded, and the woman replied in pain, "I ensured that your cloak and the ring were not near you. Only then can I take over your body. Don't force me to continue telling the truth. It hurts so much."
Harry pondered how to relieve the woman's pain. Immediately, the woman stopped writhing, and a chair appeared. The chair reminded him of his hearing at the Ministry of Magic and the memories he had seen in Dumbledore's Pensieve. The chains on the chair rustled and shot towards the woman. She was pulled onto the chair and seemed to be terrified.
"How did you manage to make me take off my ring and cloak? You were never near me. I would have sensed it," Harry asked sternly, awaiting the woman's response. She seemed familiar to him, as if he had met her before. Her answer was incomprehensible to him.
"Can't you imagine it? Young, red-haired, and a nice rear. Does that ring any bells?" the woman asked mockingly, spitting at Harry. He was completely shaken by this revelation.
"She works for you? Who else is against me?" Harry whispered, despair rising within him.
"Well, she didn't work for me willingly. Her body was a very nice hiding place after you drove me out of my old body. Luckily, I had already prepared her body as my next host. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy," the woman explained, and Harry could hear the sadistic tone all too well.
"So, you were that presence in Mika, huh? The one who tried to subdue me in the Cantina? What made you think you'd succeed this time? It didn't work the first time," Harry changed the subject. On one hand, he was relieved that Leila hadn't willingly helped the spirit, but on the other hand, he was worried about her. Being possessed by a foreign entity could be very taxing on the body and mind. The consequences could also be lasting. Harry hoped that wasn't the case.
"This time, I was able to remove that damned ring of yours. I never thought I'd come across such an object. Who would have guessed that a powerful Force user would have an object that could protect him from Force ghosts," the woman said bitterly, once again changing her demeanor. Harry was slowly getting whiplash from the woman's various emotional outbursts.
"What's your name?" Harry asked, shocked by the woman's response.
"I am Darth Zash. When I was alive, I was a powerful Sith sorceress. Unfortunately, I never achieved my ultimate goal," the woman said, regret and bitterness evident in her voice.
"Did you control Leila's body the whole time or just incite her to climb into my bed?" Harry wanted to know after a thought occurred to him.
"Oh, I controlled her young and fertile body. In a way, we both went at it like rabbits and created new life. Did you enjoy it? If you give me a new body, we can do it all over again," Zash tried, bringing a blush to Harry's face. He vividly remembered how Leila played him like a musical instrument. Like in a fever dream, they had made love every day, and if Zash's words were true, then he would unintentionally become a father.
"When you desire my body, why did you lead me to conceive a child with Leila?" Harry asked, struggling to digest the revelation. Becoming a father was a monumental task he was unprepared for, and he couldn't comprehend Zash's motives for this action.
"Can't you figure it out? Since your body would cease to function after two decades, I need a replacement. By then, I might be able to solve the other issues related to possessing a power-sensitive body," Zash explained truthfully, repulsing Harry with her words.
"I never thought any being could disgust me as much as you do. Are you also behind my enslavement?" Harry inquired, bewildered by how he could encounter slave traders within half an hour.
"No, that wasn't me. It might have been another Force ghost. Darth Bane needed assistance to maintain the veil of the dark side of the Force. By using the thought bomb, he could channel a vast amount of power into the veil, but he wasn't strong enough to spread it across the entire galaxy alone. So, he enlisted my help and that of other Sith Force ghosts to connect with the veil. Our greed for our own bodies led us to expand the veil. Naturally, our anger and hatred further strengthened it. As planned by him, most of us destroyed ourselves in our greed, granting him more control over the veil. However, I was clever enough to find a way to possess a few beings. It was challenging at first, but I got better at it. Unfortunately, hosts rarely endure my presence for more than a few years," Darth Zash revealed, confirming Harry's suspicions. His enslavement wasn't as coincidental as he initially thought.
"Were you also responsible for my impulsive actions on Nar Shadaa?" Harry asked, and Zash shook her head.
"That must have been Hoggon. He delights in driving Force-sensitive beings to madness. How you managed to break free from his grip is a mystery to me. Typically, individuals become reckless and attack enemies much more powerful than themselves," Zash explained, confusing Harry with her response.
"How could he play with my mind? I thought I had protected it and would have noticed," Harry questioned, glad he could compel Zash to tell the truth. Then an idea struck him, one he would have dismissed otherwise. If he could force everyone to speak the truth, he could do the same with Voldemort or Dumbledore.
"He doesn't need to enter your mind to fuel your anger and hatred. Your mind seems well-protected, but you have little to no control over your emotions. Something every Jedi or Sith is taught. A person with no control over their emotions is an easy target for the veil. It corrupts the soul and turns individuals into dark creatures. Only when they learn to control or suppress their emotions can a Force user effectively utilize them," Zash explained, giving Harry much to ponder.
Hello everyone. I'm back with another chapter. I find it interesting the emotions the last chapter evoked. So many negative emotions from people. It seems I should stop with the cliffhangers. The curses were really something. What do you think about the consequences of Harry stumbling? The story is already changing. Dark Lords are dead, and the galaxy is at war. Two Jedi now know of the existence of the Sith and will surely pass on this information. Palpatine can no longer predict the movements of the Jedi through Force visions and is thus as blind as the Jedi. We've learned why Harry behaved the way he did, and we're one step closer to discovering the power a wizard like Harry holds in the universe.
