[16 BBY]

[Meditation Gardens, House of Wisdom, Personal Deck of Moff Daron Stormcrow, Imperial Navy Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Imperial Navy 1st Frontier Fleet, in hyperspace, Nothoiin Corridor, Outer Rim Territories]

Barriss Offee knew she'd find Aayla within the meditation gardens, because that was where the rogue Master seemed to like going to calm herself. The twi'lek Jedi was meditating quietly near the pool, the air serene and calm despite the artificial nature of the ship…or maybe it was the true reflection of things. Daron always a way with such things Bariss thought with a faint smile as she approached the other Jedi, and one she now sought out for advice. Because things were confusing, and while she felt she had made her decision…Barriss wanted to know what others would say, what impacts it would have.

"Oh, hey Barriss" Aayla greeted hands resting on her knees where she sat in a mediation pose "Come, join me!"

"Thank you, I've...things on my mind"

"Good things I imagine" the twi'lek said with amusement "Because you do not seem to be concerned or upset by some subject as was the case with the younglings"

She nodded "They are…improving I think, but, no, it is not to do with them"

The younglings that had been rescued from those monsters that served the Sith…

Well, Barriss had been angered by seeing it, and it was hard to deal with them, especially at first, but they were, slowly, oh so slowly, establishing trust with them. Seeing to their health had been one of her tasks, along with her studies, and she worried about them. But, for now, there was a plan, or the outline of one, and that gave Barriss some modicum of hope that the younglings would have some measure of a happy life, or happy moments in their life. So, she could relax about that a moment, but now Daron had Daron, followed by Ventress being Ventress, and that had Barriss trying to figure how to deal with the changed galaxy once again.

Aayla merely gave a bemused look of curiosity "Hmm, then what is the good news?"

Barriss opened her mouth, long explanation ready to go…

Closed her mouth as it didn't come out. Frowned. Sighed…

"I…am to marry"

"Oh" Aayla replied with a smile "That's good"

Barriss gave a glaring pout back "I am breaking the Code!"

"Yes…several Jedi have of late. I may too if events keep moving as they are in the galaxy" the other Jedi answered with a thoughtful look on her face "It is also worth noting that we are a starship with Nightsister, a former Sith Apprentice, and now darksider younglings. I'm sure you will be forgiven such a breach"

Aayla chuckled as Barriss glared at her still "Barriss….Knight Offee, I had expected this sooner"

"Really?"

"Yes" the twi'lek grinned back, then gave a smile "Showing you off at the fancy parties, the negotiations…you understand?"

All Barriss could do at that was give an amused snort, shaking her head "I….okay, but, that's not why he…"

She waved her hand side to side "It was very awkward…the, talk…question?"

"Oh, so you asked…"

"No!" Barriss huffed back at the teasing "He did, but…he was very worried about…offending? Because he really wanted to be clear it was because of…me…not because politics, and…"

Aayla nodded "Political marriages are happening right now. It's probably a door you want closed…just saying, and, as a Jedi, it would serve to bring greater peace and stability to the galaxy. I'm sure Rahm Kota will be very supportive, and even the rest of our merry band on Solem, Naboo, and Eriadu. But, well, congratulations?"

"Asajj Ventress suggested I do so, yes" Barriss stated, shaking her head, frowning "She also suggested a political marriage herself"

Aayla blinked, the frowned "Ah"

"Yes" Barriss agreed with a sigh "She is….supportive of me and Daron, it unnerves me that she is supportive of our relationship"

"Would…you rather she be opposed? Combative?"

Barriss shook head "No, but her reasoning to why I should have approached Daron are so….not…what I understand…you know…to be…ahh!"

Aayla gave a chuckle "Congratulations, the crazy darksider is on your side Barriss. You have done better than most of the Jedi Order for centuries somehow, by accident even!"

Barriss chuckled a little at that "Somehow…but, yes, I just…need to talk I think about those things beyond my own wants. Having Asajj tell me it's for the Greater Good is disconcerting to say the least. Or listen to other suggestions she has"

"One can imagine" her friend agreed sagely, nodding her head, lekku moving in a graceful manner "So…will there be party?"

She gave Aayla an annoyed, but partly amused, look at that "We are talking about ceremony Aayla, which is why I am seeking your help. Daron is…going to be busy with Moff duties he says for the next few days, so I…would hear what you would suggest about telling Master Luminara and the rest of the Order upon our reaching Daron's homeworld?"

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[16 BBY]

[Executive Security Solutions Site Beta, Hoth, Hoth System, Anoat Sector, Greater Javin Region, Outer Rim Territories]

It had been a long time since I'd returned here, I thought entering through the heavy blast doors, flanked by Asajj and Celeste, along with a dozen of my personal guard, both organic and droid. The facility even still bore the name of ESS, just as the other secret bases on Hoth did, the defence droids within at attention as we passed into the facility proper. Site Beta, the Prison, operated mostly by droid, but was monitored from Site Alpha most of a continent away, just as Site Delta, the Laboratory, was, though that had not been in use since Celeste had been there.

My fellow, though now former, Director of the ESS Board, Jacques Bloodstar was up in orbit currently, aboard his rebuilt Sith Corsair-class Battleship, doing what he'd been doing most of the past year – standing guard over our secret base. Former secret base anyway, as I had briefed Emperor Tarkin on it, along with Moff Tenant, as the chances of Hoth remaining hidden into the future were low in my team's estimation. That and we'd need the experienced staff we'd assembled at Site Alpha for my colony, along with deploying boltholes in the Sector I now officially controlled.

We would still be allowed the salvage rights and mining rights to the frozen iceball, but now, or at least soon, Hoth would serve as a location of the Imperial Inquisition. A prison to be exact - this facility I had created and had proven to contain Force Users, along with Site Delta where we established systems to deal with dangerous Force artefacts. It was a small price to pay really, and it made me useful, which was important, while reminding my overlord that independent action was not beyond me and mine either. Of course, the fact that the new Empire required this facility, potentially soon, had also played a role in my decision-making process. So, now here we were, armed and armoured for an angry krayt dragon as the Warden droids opened up the next doors to the statis cells.

There were only two prisoners here, for now, and, officially, the Boss on Eriadu wanted them gone. Though, like myself, there were practical reasons to doing that, and I had potential uses for them….even if it was to serve as target practice for Asajj. Because, well, neither of the prisoners were an immediate threat to me, us, or the Empire as a whole because Count Dooku was dead, the rest of the Acolytes that had served the Count of Serenno were dead or in hiding themselves. If they fled back to the Confederacy, they were likely to get killed, or just cause chaos. Which was fine by me, and by Emperor Tarkin, and Moff Tenant, though I was allowed to make my own offers and test things out first. In the end these were a rare resource, even if Celeste was being….Celeste and simply wanting to kill them outright.

But, for now, our possible Inquisitor, was deferring to me in not killing them outright as the statis capsules they were stored in were opened after the three-step authentication required to do so. When dealing with Force Users it was always best to be careful after all, and the stasis cells were opened as medical droids watched for any health issues. Sure, I'd beaten both Saato and Kadrien Sey before, as had Asajj, but this was also a negotiation from a position of strength as the two, naked, shivering Dark Acolytes were helped out by the droids into warm robes and boots wed brought. That was an actual security feature as there no clothing on the base, and Hoth was a frozen death world even while wearing heavy winter gear. So, we waited, Asajj and Celeste on either side of me, along with guards, Aaron and Abigail in combat ready mode.

"Greetings" I said taking off my helmet as the duo's minds cleared as they truly awakened, the droids stepping out of the way as the two Acolytes faced us "Acolyte Saato, Acolyte Sey. I am sorry to say that events have moved on since our last meeting. I am Moff Daron Stormcrow now, of the United Federal Empire, and these are my subordinates, Jedi Knight Morne, and…of course you know Asajj, now Lady of Rattatak, and my loyal vassal"

Saato was breathing hard, hands on her knees, studtying us, studying her surroundings, and clearly noticing lack of options. The former Jedi Kadrien Sey, a Zabrak female, had recovered faster, though seemed more intent on growling at us "What…what are you babbling?"

"Time has passed Kadrien" Asajj said, though with bemusement rather than hatred or cruelty. These two, who she had nearly killed three years ago when the came for her, and who she'd hated then…were beneath her now, and Asajj was in control of her emotions. Not they in control of her "The war, at least between the Separatists and the Republic, is over"

I watched her pause, then give an amused smirk "You'll be happy to hear your side…won. Partly. Though, bad news, Darth Tyranus is dead, he…"

He smugly gestured at me "…chopped his head off and stuck it on a pike. You can see it on the holo-net. But, lucky for you, you get freed from the frozen stasis!"

Saato had stood up straight, noting they were unarmed…but we very much were armed and battle ready, hand reaching the former Jedi's arm to cut off an outburst it looked to be, before the Dathomiri woman looked at us careful "That sounds….improbable. Our mission…"

"All of this will be easily checkable" I pointed out calmly "So much has changed, from the Jedi Order being broken, to the Supreme Chancellor being a Sith Lord, another Sith Lord taking over Mon Cala…many, many, strange and terrifying things. Why are we telling this to you? Because the war, that war at least, is over now, and we are willing to let you go. I wouldn't advice that, considering the change in leadership within the Confederacy, but that you can do if you so wish. Though we have our own offers to make I might add"

"So, we can, just..." Saato looked at us warily "…leave?"

"Walk out of here unescorted? No, because you'll freeze death within less than an hour" I stated blandly, giving as much of a shrug as my Mandalorian style armour allowed "But we will escort you to my flagship, allow you to study the recent events…and then let you fly off in a shuttle in several days"

Acolyte Sey, indicating poor emotional control, sneered at us, at Asajj "And Ventress will just…let us leave? After we tried to kill her?"

"Failed to kill me, you failed to kill me if I recall the correct wording" Asajj said back with amusement "Which was…years ago to my point of view. Lots of people try or want to kill me. Celeste here wants to kill me. You two just…aren't worth worrying over"

Celeste sighed "I do not want to kill you Ventress, the galaxy would just be a vastly better place if I was allowed to"

"Ladies" I reminded them politely where we were and what we were doing "You are not murdering each other, that's an order, now, let us explain the situation in a bit more detail to the two former acolytes of the dearly departed Count Dooku…"

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