[17 BBY]
['Jedi Academy', Mon Cala/Dac, Mon Calamari System, Calamari Sector, The Slice, Outer Rim Territories]
Shaak Ti smiled gently as the Twi'lek youngling, Yol'rewa, managed to telekinetically move the blocks into a colourful little structure. The youngling was delighted by her achievement, and Shaak Ti praised her for doing so, showing gentle encouragement for the values of precise and subtle use of the Force over more brute force methods. She made time to see all the younglings, there were only just under two dozen after all, individually, for their own private little lessons, as well as for Shaak Ti to see that they were…well, safe and happy. These were dark times, and this a prison as much as a sanctuary, but it did not mean she could shirk her duty either.
Her 'Temple' or 'Academy' as it was referred to on official, or what counted as official at least, documentation had been a former park, or some sort of exotic nature reserve used during some Galactic Fair or some such to simulate the environment of some other world. The surface world rather than the aquatic one that dominated Mon Cala, a place where Mon Calamari and Quarren could see 'other worlds' without ever leaving their homeworld. Shaak Ti was faintly amused at that, once she'd gotten over the annoyance, that that Sith sleemo had put them in a former 'Resort District' with accommodation based near a former 'Pleasure Resort'.
The amusing part was that…it was shallow, but it did have warmth in the Force of such small joys lingering upon the structures and within the plant life. She had to find such amusement and joy in these things as it was her trap, her prison, one partly made of bars she had created with her own hands. After all Jedi Master Shaak Ti could simply…walk out and leave, whenever she so desired. Her period of service to Darth Imperious was, in theory, over now. He had said so after all…
'To go where? To abandon all my younglings? To just be hunted?' was Shaak Ti's thoughts on that as the youngling got up and raced away, for now it was 'play time' as it were, and her friends awaited. What she'd eked out here, amidst the Dark Side's champions, the fall of the Republic, and Order Sixty-Six was worthwhile…and that was Kallig's trap. She could leave. Any time she wished. She'd just have to leave all this behind, to the Sith's mercies, and publicly destroy what reputation her actions had rebuilt for the Jedi in this segment of The Slice.
The was the insidious part of the chains her captor had placed upon her. Here Shaak Ti could make a difference to the galaxy. Here Shaak Ti had made a difference, for the better at that. She sat upon his ridiculously named Dark Council, she read reports marked Top Secret, and she negotiated as a Jedi Master would have before…everything fell apart. It made her uneasy, let alone the fact she knew she could not defeat Darth Imperious one on one, nor with those few had come to her here. Maris Brood was now truly a Jedi Knight, in both strength and mind, but that had only after she had gone through the same nightmarish training Shaak Ti had suffered at the hands of Lord Kallig…
'Let alone Maris's anger being a vulnerability' Shaak Ti knew rising up as her meeting called, and she must depart this sanctuary for harder tasks than teaching younglings. The Zabrak Padawan turned Knight was a talented, and compassionate, young Jedi, but she hated what had happened to the Republic, and instead was angry at the Jedi Order itself for failing as it did. She clearly did not blame Shaak Ti from their talks, but without direction Maris was vulnerable to the silver tongued Sith even at the best of times. Even as talented as the girl was…just like the handful of padawans here, even Padawans Jukassa and Marr, she was outmatched, and knew that.
It was the problem of being the only Jedi Master here, and those training under her….being in training, and would continue to be in training for many more years. Even those with 'experience' that were arriving…were Agri Corp and had been deemed unsuited as padawans for valid reasons as Master Yoda would view it. Beyond that she was actively competing for the very souls of her younglings, initiates, and would be padawans with not only the presence of Darth Imperious but also those he was gathering. Such the so-called Sorcerers of Tund, led by Archmagis Goror in this case…
'Never forget he plays me against them as a threat too' she told herself on that subject waving at the younglings as they engaged their play. Her younglings…and those that were as likely to have been the future prospects of the Sorcerer who did not wish to be here the same as she, but also wanted to be here for the other reasons Shaak Ti laboured. As he made her struggle, so the Sith made his would be allies from Tund struggle, and as like any other Darksiders they might appear wishing to either learn, or, worse, teach. In that regards she outmatched the Sorcerers as while there three of them, and one of her, and they were flashy at times…their basic knowledge lagged far behind that of the Jedi. Beyond perhaps some talent at using the Force for illusions, and certain alchemies that Shaak Ti found…uncomfortable.
"Lady Ti" her guards greeted as she exited the 'Temple' grounds, her shuttle awaiting at the airlock dock here in the depths "Your shuttle has been prepared as instructed"
She gave a smile back to the Quarren marine "Thank you Captain R'loyc, lead the way. I shall not keep the others waiting. Knight Brood has remained behind to teach as planned"
The Mon Calamari and Quarren in the uniform of the 'Alliance' as it were simply gave nods, and parted, allowing her to board the shuttle where a secure lockbox awaited, opening once she confirmed her biometrics and Force pressure on it. It was an 'Alliance' for now, even if much of it was 'Sith Empire' uniform from millennia past if one knew what they were looking at. But there was little she could object too there, beyond minor changes, as this region of space was only holding out against the Confederacy due the actions of said Sith, the Mon Calamari Royal Fleet, and the Hutts support. All she could was spent the hour or so journey down into the depths preparing her notes and catching up with all the holo-news and intelligence reports prepared for her perusal. Time though seemed to breeze by before she was exiting the shuttle into the Royal Palace and being brought towards the 'Council Chambers' as it were. Where her captors of sorts, and allies when framed another way, awaited.
"Ah, Master Ti, your arrival is, as aways, most welcome" King Lee Char greeted her, a genuine greeting, filled with warmth as she arrived, the great strategic and tactical displays active, the King's handful of military aides waiting commands nearby "I trust your trip was pleasant, and uneventful"
She gave a polite, shallow, bow "It was indeed your Majesty, and it is perhaps good news we have for once?"
"Oh, it very much is my fair Lady Ti" came another voice, the Force a swirl around him, again frustrating in that she had not manage to notice him till he had arrived "It seems the message of peace, friendship, and love has finally gotten into the hearts of our Confederate friends! Why, it only took them losing a few fleets to get that burning passion for peace into their hearts!"
"Master Kallig" she greeted politely "In Galactic Standard if you please?"
"Shush! I much prefer my flowery way of saying that our neighbours kriffed up royally at Naboo and really would prefer not to press their luck with us after yet another Mundo Codru, or have wars on all their borders"
She paused, letting King Lee Char reply, answering it for her "They have sent coded messages to their…diplomats. They are now actual diplomats instead of simply wasting our time and seeking to ferret out secrets"
The Sith came up to them, nodding cheerily, waving at the galaxy map "Yes, yes, peace and friendship was born in their hearts when their fleets ran into the meatgrinder of a force with competent Jedi and someone….someones?...wielding a battle meditation"
Darth Imperious clapped his hands together in amusement "Why! They means we've been elevated from nasty bugs and pirates that must be crushed when the victorious fleets come home to…a bunch of pirates and rebels they'd like to bribe to go away and not be distracting them from other matters"
"It is an opportunity for peace" the Mon Calamari King said seriously, looking to the displays "One we need, urgently"
"Why…yes, but on our terms" the Sith hummed "Peace is a lie after all, but…a nice, lengthy, period of not being invaded and hunted would be good with proper treaties and such. The future is in motion, and, now, we shall seize it both hands!"
'Peace would be good, but…' she thought, nodding "The…Hutts?"
"Are, as they are wont to be, willing to broker any deal between two warring parties! They are such….neutral arbiters of peace and stability after all!" the Sith, who the Hutts were supporting, indirectly and unofficially of course, said with continued amusement. He paused, looking serious a moment "And they would very much like to have safe trade zones on their borders that are not consumed by war. They are taking steps to ensure security as they see it"
Shaak Ti nodded idly "Beldorian"
"Yes, he is….strong, or at least will be" the Sith stated "Since the old boy is getting the best medical treatments the Hutt Council can afford! The Power of Science! I always loved that…but, well, yes, that one. I'm not sure what he is, but…yes, they got the super slug and the strippers. We'd best put out the recruitment brochure…"
He grinned idiotically "Why I've even got quite the speech! Copied it, but, eh, Mal had words for the Republic and greedy megacorps…but, yes, we shall aim for ending our war and establishing order and sanity throughout these territories we protect"
'I am dreading this already' was her own thoughts on whatever madness he was going start shouting at the holo-vids, but, peace…that was worth the chance "You intend to…"
"No, I think it is best that you do the negotiating part" the Sith replied cheerfully "That is what you do…Jedi I mean…talk about peace and all that. Sith and Peace Conferences…well, I've had my toasty assassin fun times already. I much more prefer the victory party afterwards with all the drink and scantily clad ladies and parades…"
Shaak Ti gave him a hard look, attempting to judge matters, while King Lee Char gave a slow nod "That might best, yes. Considering Artgal's former allegiances, and your own…personality quirks Lord Kallig. Master Ti might be the best face to put forward for many of our members…"
The invisible chains seemed to grow heavier as she agreed.
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