Falleen
Lajinda Spaceport
Aboard the Rude Awakening
K'Kruhk expected a clamorous uproar from the Assault Pinnace's crew after he shared his knowledge with everyone. Hearing from him of ancient evils far more malevolent than the One Sith about to return, the upcoming efforts to forge a truce with Krayt's forces, he thought many would accuse him of insanity or cowardice and try to throw him out of the ship.
But when he finished his forty-minute debriefing with his friends and crewmates as their breakfast grew cold, no one lashed out in rash anger, everyone instead sat in grim and silent contemplation. Not even the boisterous Robonino argued, recognizing the gravity of the situation.
Instead, Tyria cautiously asked K'Kruhk, "What's our play, then? Finish driving the One Sith off Falleen and send an offer to parley with Krayt?"
"That will depend on General Calrissian's efforts." K'Kruhk answered. "Apparently, he's already working to establish contact with the One Sith and alert them to our mutual enemies."
"And you think a businessman can pull it off." Atai blithely said. "These really are the end times."
"We have more immediate concerns to worry about." Akku firmly reminded everyone while he finished the final scraps on his plate. "Even if Krayt and his people agree to work with us, we still need to finish driving the Sith off world and liberating its populace. And that means we need to tread carefully and avoid excess casualties and collateral damage."
"And what about the boss?" Robonino pointed out after taking a few big gulps of his canteen. "Shouldn't we let him know of this drastic change, given his personal stake in bringing down the One Sith?"
"Adari will take care of that." K'Kruhk answered. "For now, we have our war to fight, and Edaan has his own to finish. And we can't afford to spread word of this before our leaders are ready to go public."
"Then why tell us?" Kix skeptically asked him. "I'm sure this is classified, and if we let something slip, it could cause a complete collapse in morale throughout our entire coalition."
"Because I trust you all, and I believe you have the right to know what we are planning." K'Kruhk kindly answered, placing a firm hand on the Clone Trooper's shoulder before asking Tyria, "Why don't we take the day off from training and do something beneficial for the people? We can start with getting a hot breakfast since this one is completely cold now."
Amusingly smiling, Tyria voiced her agreement, "I think that would be a wonderful idea. We could use a small break from the war and help the port's citizens rebuild their livelihoods."
Within Chiss Space
On Cioral
Inside the House Miurani Estate
"He doesn't suspect you?" The voice cautiously asked Rensalm as the middle-aged researcher finished his data upload to his patron.
"For now, no. Far as Saganu and his cronies know, I'm as clueless as a Mynock in the empty void of space." Rensalm reassured the friend. "Doesn't mean I haven't been giving him the information he hired me to track down. You'll all need to be more careful with your own set of plans for now."
"Don't worry about me for a second. You do what you must for your patron, old friend. Just stay alive until we can get you out."
"Of course. And you make sure all this intel is put to good use, and your missing friends are protecting our people." Rensalm shut off the encrypted channel in his personal commlink to return to his work.
The aristocra, hard as he might, could try to hide his intentions from Rensalm, and arguably did a better job of it than most. But the human had not survived years among the overcautious and hyper-secretive blue skins without figuring out the signs of duplicity among his patrons. And Saganu and every one of his subordinates reeked of it, no matter how hard they tried to hide the stench of betrayal, vice, and paranoia.
With Saganu so dead set on uncovering all the Ascendancy's secrets and denying his people the right of self-determination that he risked everything to hire a man as honest as Rensalm, the offer set off too many warning bells for him. He would have declined right away, were it not for his patrons convincing him of the merits of monitoring a potential enemy's movements from the inside.
Whatever the motive, it was likely that the leader of House Miurani either had an unseen master or allies in trying to subvert the Chiss from within. Either that, or he was letting his traditionalist pride push him further down a path of stagnation and decay while dragging his people down the pit of oblivion with him.
Whatever the ulterior motive, someone had to figure out the suspicious politician's plan and help the Chiss weather through whatever storm its enemies planned to try and bring them down this time. Thanks to the Ascendancy treating him as one of their own for decades, now it was time to finish repaying his debt to his adopted homeland in full. If it claimed his life in the process, well, if he saved more lives than his spying took, he had faith it would all balance out for the best.
Telona 22nd, 59 ABY
Csilla
Cssplar
Within the Defense Fleet Headquarters
Sev'eere'nuruodo heard the same report both the Supreme Admiral and General presented to her and the five other Aristocras, but she still could hardly believe the evidence laid before her: An Ebruchi listening post stationed less than a dozen parsecs from the Ascendnacy's borders before it was destroyed by a mixed force of rogues from the Chiss people's recent expansion of influence. From the remains of the station was a trail of data implicating many Ascendancy officers collaborating with their enemies and their One Sith overseers, and hints for a powerful plot against the government over the next few months.
But the most radical piece of information was the idea the entire Defense Council had proposed, a dangerous proposal Veeren found herself almost wholeheartedly agreeing with, was the plan to expand the overall Chiss navy through instituting a military buildup the Chiss had not committed to since the Dark Nest Crisis. Implementing a draft, constructing dozens of all warship classes, and militarizing the bulk of their infrastructure towards the war effort. These measures could very well save the Ascendancy or lead to its ultimate doom from the traditionalist unrest that would follow the eventual public disclosure.
Perhaps, it was finally time to come clean to the people about the secrets the inner circles of Reformists had done to preserve their independence and integrity. She remembered how, throughout her time in the Ascendancy's Parliament and Aristocracy, the Ruling Families' constant infighting had cost the overall people countless lives and driven many of their most talented survivors into Mitth'raw'nuruodo's Household Phalanx and left the Ascendancy divided over the better path to take to ensure its survival.
But the Chiss had committed many terrible acts over its five-thousand-year-long existence; allying with the Sith Empire of Vitiate's time, to eradicating several species after they tried to destroy them in turn, and last, but not least in her eyes, abusing many of their own citizens for nothing more than the Force-based gifts they were born with, even after they no longer needed to use the children as enhanced navigators.
To think, most Chiss today still believed themselves to be inherently superior to every other species and society beyond their borders.
Yes, perhaps she should have a good discussion on this with the Reformists and their most-trusted allies in this young alliance. It was finally time for her people to get an unforgettable lesson in humility, and what better way than to confront their past sins and get knocked down a few pegs in their inherent superiority complex?
And then there was the information Lando Calrisisan and Silentium had provided her faction on the Olpakans and the True Sith, a terrifying prediction that the solution was one most would never accept. As much as she wanted to see the One Sith destroyed and her people free and prosperous again, she recognized how both outcomes were all but impossible to pass now.
The time had come for painful compromises to be made, the kind that would cost her political career and likely brand her a hypocrite in all but name, but these choices would be necessary to protect her civilization from annihilation. And it would start by reaching out to Saganu and the Isolationists to reach an agreement.
Falleen
Port Nowhere
Within the Main Garrison
Observing the tactical feed from the Alliance's growing number of command posts being established across the planet, Haxim knew the end of this infernal war was all but in sight. Only ten significant pockets of resistance remained in the Axlan Royal Family's control, and the largest cluster of them in the capital city held his tyrannical relatives, their dark puppet masters, and a besieged population of potential hostages.
Despite knowing how the Alliance was keeping a close eye on him and all his activities after preempting the Sith's hand on their prison network, he did not regret the deception, or the punitive measures taken against him over the last few days. Without that evidence being revealed to the public straight away, Falleen's populace might not have summoned the mettle to defy the doomed ruler and seize control of their own destinies.
Let those fearful souls suspect he wanted absolute power after the first democratic election for the new administration began. It would only make his announcement regarding the future of Falleen and the shock plastered over everyone's faces that much sweeter to relish. Not to mention how the added shock value it would give to his collective dunces of a family would be all the better salve for his psychological wounds. They had sought power for so long, to see him follow his vow through to the end and willingly relinquish such a grand position of power.
As for the remaining Sith conversion facilities, he knew how the Jedi and their friends would eventually rescue the children trapped inside them. With the entire free galaxy now on the lookout for any hasty mistakes in their enemy's self-preservation efforts, it would be all but impossible to stay hidden for long, and Falleen would be pouring every resource it could spare to assist with the hunt. It was the least he could do to try and rebuild the damaged bridges he caused with his slighted friends.
Within the Falleen Throne Capital City
Inside the Royal Palace
Aboard Ship
If Malleus had to go through listening to another rant from the "good king" going on about the rapidly decaying defense of the few remaining Royal Family strongholds, then he was prepared to do the Jedi and Haxim's job and help them win their power struggle. Aiding the Dread Lord's plans be damned, Redhan's incessant and desperate rants to save his handful of loyal retainers, and his increasing incompetence in managing his surviving armed forces' retreat were driving the Sith Lord right into the arms of insanity.
With the influx of diverse Alliance forces working to secure the last ten battlefields throughout the planet, and the planetary blockade preventing any Sith ships from making a hasty escape, the war was all but over.
To make matters worse, with the planet's populace now working alongside their provisional governor in Haxim by distributing relief supplies to the most impoverished regions, he had the will and strength of the people to dismantle the monarchy and join the Jedi's confederation, along with whatever galactic government he wished. The Galactic Alliance, Confederation, or the Empire, it hardly mattered to the Sith Lord at this point. What mattered now was how he and his people got out with their backup prize before the window of opportunity fully vanished.
But before he, his fellow surviving Sith, and the few followers they had left could make their ultimate escape from this failure, they had to finish extracting what wealth they could steal from the fractured monarchy and recover what few agents survived the disaster of Port Nowhere and the revolution that followed. Whatever credits and treasures they could steal would be invaluable for bribes, weapons, and every vital commodity needed to survive the coming hunt, let alone carry out Lord Krayt's contingencies and ultimate endgame, even if the Dread Lord would not confide that in him just yet.
Speaking of contingencies, Phobar should have reached out to him on their appropriations. Something of grave importance must have come up if the Columi broke his punctual schedule.
Preparing to call out to his confederate, he found himself caught off-guard when the boarding ramp to the meditation vessel opened to reveal, behind Phobar, a motley group the armored human had given up as dead or captured: Soonpaa Bane, Meeka, and about a dozen of his decimated Crimson Nova bounty hunters, all of them battered and armor full of dents and cracks, missing several weapons, and haggard from what Malleus assumed to be malnutrition.
The blue-skinned Duros, the most able-bodied of the group, brusquely walked over to a rising Malleus, stopping right before the human's helmeted head, and warned, "If it weren't for that helmet and our amended contract, I'd take a shot at you right now for leaving us all for dead."
Fighting the rage at the mercenary's desperate bravado, knowing he would have done worse in the hunters' place, Malleus played along, "What do you guys want? Triple your original pay?"
"We've already worked it out with Phobar, and he'll set us up once we leave this infernal quagmire." Meeka hoarsely interjected. "For now, though, give us plenty of food and meds."
Ignoring his spike of curiosity, Malleus, seeing the opportunity before him, offered, "After you get your rest, how would a few of you like to make a nice little bonus doing our masters one or two more favors? There's little risk involved, and I'll give each of you triple your usual rates when you succeed."
Glaring at Malleus, Soonpaa glanced at his group, and shrugged, "Depends on everything else you can tell us about the job that isn't routine haggling."
Pretending to contemplate the counteroffer, Malleus agreed, "Just report to me on every move the useless but wealthy king makes. Don't interfere with his plans or efforts, but I want to learn every facet you can find of his plans now that his rule is about to come crashing down. Report to me or Lord Phobar about this, and no one else."
Comprehension dawning in his blood-red eyes, Soonpaa flashed a toothy smile, and offered his hand in cooperation, "I think we can do so little for that much of a reward."
"Good." Malleus took the hand and returned the firm grip. "But first, get some food and medical attention. You've all more than earned it. And we can discuss the other task in a day or two while we have a brief reprieve."
"I'll eat and drink to that." Meeka painfully concurred, holding her side, stitched up by bacta patches and literal threading, and covered in splotches of her own blood from her many injuries.
Deep Within the Unknown Regions
Just Outside the Olpaka Hegemony
Aboard the Imperial III-class Star Destroyer Makin's Death
Fyor Rodan had been a passionate and principled man throughout his life; at least, that is what he believed himself to be. Even when his brother gave up his legitimate career in Commenor's military sphere to become an accursed smuggler, Fyor continued his ascension in the New Republic's political realm, reaching heights few dreamed of before the Yuuzhan Vong and Jedi ruined everything.
Those invaders murdered trillions of the galaxy's people, ruined countless worlds, and drove dozens of sentient races to extinction all for their false gods and insane grandeur. And the Jedi, those lawless, unsupervised vigilantes were almost worse. They had no oversight, no restrictions on their power, and the near-complete adulation of the galactic populace despite the many wars their religious order caused.
He would have even become Chief of State of the failing New Republic in the fourth year into the extragalactic war and led the galaxy to victory, were it not for the duplicitous Jedi, their underworld allies, and their puppet of a politician in Cal Omas. Sure, they won the war, but they took everything Fyor had worked so hard to achieve and driven his supporters into a minority in the new government.
Unfortunately for him, the troubles did not end there. After over a decade following his decision to leave the so-called Galactic Alliance behind to live a life of sole allegiance to his homeworld of Commenor, a single Sith Lady had drawn him and his world into her galactic machinations through lies and promises of glory and revenge. It had led to carnage and devastation for his people unseen in generations, even if they won their independence from the Jedi's dominance and exposed their entire order as Sith-in-waiting when Caedus made his true intentions known for the galaxy to behold.
Daala should have been able to finish the job and bring the Jedi into line before eradicating them, but the Lecersen Conspiracy and a whole planet of Sith released from Wild Space had derailed her plans. Not even the demoness of Abeloth could finish them off for good, or fully make them pariahs, not when that accursed spawn of Sidious was able to rebuild much of the Order's reputation with his own two hands. He was even able to become a ladies' magnet along the way, with many of his own people's younger women growing enamored with the Jedi's latest poster boy.
Even if the old leader admired the young man's raw determination and brilliant mind, it did not make up for his blind allegiance to the Jedi, especially after they got his family and countless others killed on Coruscant a decade and a half ago in their interreligious feud.
But the final straw was when the Jedi conned the galaxy in continuing this latest chapter in their endless war with the Sith, their "Alliance of Light." He had to take action to stop their madness, and Daala's offer for him to join the Knights of Olpaka was the only sensible path left open for the planetary leader. Fyor's only regrets were that the entirety of his people could not see sense as he did and that he had to leave the known galaxy behind in such a sorry state. But when the time came, he would return to set things right.
After escaping his pursuers from known space, he and his fleet were forced to undergo nearly a dozen investigations and scans of his fleet to ensure no one had found the secretive Olpakans before they could enter their new home. The aged leader wished he could meet his new allies, but he knew how procedures and security checks were needed to protect them from any group's reprisals.
Unfortunately, much to his great disappointment, his wishes were about to be denied, since the Knights of Olpaka's latest high admiral and councilor had two special missions designed for both him and the most loyal of his fellow Commenori exiles. Since secrecy was currently their best weapon against the Force Users, they needed to build up their forces with highly experienced commanders while tying up the few loose ends left in their command structure.
Still, he was surprised they were calling upon him so soon. Either Daala had pulled some powerful strings to get him this assignment, or she wanted him out of the way so she could take command of his remaining people. Given Daala's vindictive nature, he would keep all options open when dealing with her, but he would prove his loyalty to their shared cause until she could fully convince him of her intentions.
As it was, having to rescue or silence Doctor Stryker Melusar and Commander Gideon Hask, Daala's two high-ranking subordinates in the custody of the Galactic Empire before they cracked, would be tough enough. The world of Bastion, the Empire's most recent capital world, was among the most heavily guarded in the galaxy, but if the plan designed by Olpakan High Command was executed perfectly, it could very well work. And eliminating the Sith agents desiring Melusar and Hask's secrets, including Lanvorak, no less, would be a nice bonus. But this operation was certainly no more suicidal than any of the Jedi's plans and was much more vital to the Olapka Hegemony than any of the Force Users' supposed mercy missions to war-torn worlds of their own making.
However, as much as he would love to stick it to the Empire and its would-be royal Jedi family, that was not the mission he was about to be entrusted with. No, the High Council had special plans for him, and he had been ordered to go to Coruscant immediately to meet up with their agents embedded there.
Once the ex-prime minister was back in enemy territory, he would help his allies take the three of the four final surviving high-ranking members of Lecersen's gambit to become Emperor and make them their own. All the ruined leaders and their inside knowledge of the Galactic Alliance's deepest workings, even if rendered outdated from their long captivity, would prove of great benefit for their own military buildup and outdoing their adversaries in the political realm.
Plus, the promise of revenge against their captors for years of imprisonment and ruination would undoubtedly be a powerful motivator in convincing them to join the Knights. But no matter their personal feelings or desire to be rescued, in no more than three months, disgraced Generals Stavin Thaal and Borath Maddeus, the former heads of the Galactic Alliance Army and Security, respectively, and Senator Haydnat Treen of Kuat, would be free to join the Knights of Olpaka without reservation.
Thanks to their reliable information network in Delta Source, the Knights would soon have all the information they needed to complete this operation. And given the currently diminished and vulnerable state the floundering democracy was in, a few more terrible hits like those the One Sith gave them last month would be enough to finish off the Jedi's puppet government for good. Being able to work in undermining and hopefully delivering the death blow against the so-called Galactic Alliance, nothing would please the old exile more than seeing that dream come to pass.
No matter what it cost him, he swore that he would be the one to deliver the finishing blow on all those that wronged him and the galaxy's countless victims of decadence and corruption.
Vagar Praxut
Eskarrh
Within the Main Garrison
"I trust you now understand the reason for this level of secrecy, and the great trust my associates and I have placed in you, Mid Admiral." Vurawn firmly, but not unsympathetically, concluded to a stunned Fooraki.
Having spent the last ninety minutes listening to the last clone of Thrawn and the Chiss's newest retinue of allies detail the stakes behind this mission, Fooraki suddenly felt his knees ready to go out and slowly sat down to process all this new information: warning him of the spies embedded in his army feeding information to the Ascendancy's enemies and backwards thinking traditionalists, and bringing him into their group of insiders to protect the Chiss people through secrecy and subtle reforms.
"I, I am grateful that you trust me with such knowledge, but I am unsure if I am worthy of such an honor." Fooraki honestly answered.
"I have a feeling we all understand your sentiment, Mid Admiral." Kyp cordially agreed, a sympathetic look in his eyes as he recalled his own appointment to the Galactic Alliance's High Council and Jedi Council after years of being a wild card while the Yuuzhan Vong War reached its height.
"But your Supreme Admiral and General and Vurawn here all believe you could be trusted, and since this is their area of expertise, we all agreed to abide by their judgment. So, obviously you have more to offer than you can see." Jan wisely followed the unofficial pep talk.
"From what I've heard, you've worked hard to atone for your past mistakes and have kept your people alive in a territory where simply being a Chiss is a death sentence." Khedryn complimented the senior Chiss officer. "Besides, we need allies out here while we help expose the Vagaari's operations, and you are the best we have in this frontier."
"Thanks for the mixed vote of confidence." Fooraki sighed before relenting, "If this information you have is accurate, the stakes are this high, and it has the backing of the two commanders of my people's military, then I cannot exactly say no, can I? How could I, with the future of the Chiss on the line here?"
"Tell me what you need, and I'll help you in any way I can." The Mid Admiral resolved to his new allies.
Shedu Maad
Jedi Temple
Within the Medical Wing
"I don't think any of us have ever seen any kind of infliction quite like this." Taselda, former Jedi of the Old Republic, current Theran Listener, and old associate of the Skywalkers, simply surmised their examination of the comatose Luke to the Jedi Grand Master. "It is as if, well, every wound Luke has ever endured has suddenly returned and taken a life of its own inside of him."
"Speak plainly, Taselda. What is our friend suffering from?" Tionne sternly cut off any long-winded medical explanations. With every available member of the Council and their most trusted allies in assembly, whether in physical or holographic form, all called together for whatever news Luke's ensemble of allies had to deliver. Given the worry plastered across every Blackguard, Luka Sene, Dagoyan Masters, Theran Listeners, and scholars and healers belonging to the Church of the Force, it had to be life-threatening.
"Simply put? Master Skywalker has developed at least two dozen small tumors that were born of the dark side, and they're eating away at his strength and spirit. He doesn't have much time left." The lead Blackguard researcher, Nosaurian Makor Geralt, gravely answered, stunning everyone into appalled silence with the heartbreaking revelation.
"What?!" Han horrifically shouted, surprising everyone with how he was taking this better than anyone thought.
Leia, barely able to keep herself composed while holding onto an unseen structure to steady herself, painfully asked, "How did this happen?"
"We cannot ascertain anything for certain, Leia." Cilghal sadly began. "But we can hypothesize that the wounds left behind in his final battle with Abeloth in Beyond Shadows, and the Qreph Brothers in the Chiloon Rift monolith, left behind a sort of virus. A virus that lay dormant in Luke until he was exposed to the storm of Dark Side energy that exploded out of the Master Solusar clone."
"But regardless of how this malignancy came to be, now we need to do everything we can to save him before this darkness claims him." Halsoun, the lead Dagoyan Master of Bardotta, emphatically finished.
"Then you need to get those unholy growths out of him now, before they can do anymore damage to him." Tenel Ka virtually demanded of the assembled Force Users.
"I am afraid that would not work at all, Queen Mother Djo." Iao Sharr, Miraluka and Luka Sene healer, regretfully denied. "First, we must fully isolate and halt these tumors' progress before we can even think of removing them. Not a single trace of this darkness must remain inside Master Skywalker after the procedure, or it will simply grow back all over again, stronger than before, I dare to think."
"Rest assured; we will work as quickly as we can to excise this infection from Master Skywalker. But right now, secrecy is your friend's best defense against any enemy incursions." Sana, the Church of the Force scholar, kindly but firmly promised.
"That means none of you can let anyone know of this revelation until we can finish our work. Not even those closest to you, especially family." Kyle regretfully finished, emphasizing this last part to Han and Leia. "Treat this as a direct order if it makes you feel better. But Master Skywalker's safety hangs in the balance with this secret, so I suggest you tread lightly."
As much as Han wanted to dispute the order, he knew Kyle was right. If any of his relatives or their allies found out about Luke's condition before he was out of danger, then the danger to his brother-in-law would only increase from the risk of the knowledge getting out to the public.
Jaina, Ben, and Allana could be trusted to keep this kind of secret, but if they might let something slip by accident, or one of the defecting Sith proved Han's fears true, or one of their long-implanted agents uncovered the truth warned their superiors, it could incite chaos throughout the Alliance's forces. The Sith would not want to let such an opportunity go to waste, and they might try to make another attack on Shedu Maad to decimate the Jedi and eradicate the Order's founder and any defenders in their way.
Han also knew how, if his daughter, nephew, or granddaughter knew how close Luke was treading towards death, then any of them might very well be distracted enough to make a costly, or even fatal, mistake on the battlefield. For the time being, secrecy was everyone's best chance of survival.
Sighing out his anger, Han relented, "Fine. We'll do it your way for now." He then warned Kyle, "But you had better tell us the moment Luke's in the clear and we can tell our family of his state. They deserve to know as soon as possible."
"I can fully agree to that." Kyle emphatically agreed. "You'd best get going. If our daredevil of an ex-prince and ally is left to his own devices, then who knows what other maniacal schemes he has planned to finish unseating his corrupt family."
"All right. Keep us posted on Luke's progress." Leia warned Kyle before the Solos disconnected.
The Grand Master, ever a bastion of calm and focus, turned to the Hapan Queen Mother, "I'm not authorized to order you to do anything, but may I ask a favor of you?"
"Speak, Grand Master Katarn." Tenel Ka regally allowed. Underneath the surface, Kyle knew how Tenel's cold indifference was a shield to hide her worry over such a dear mentor and friend.
"If you or any of your Duchas have a medical specialist or two that you can vouch for their discretion and have vast experience in removing cancerous tumors, then might I ask you to send them here to help our Force scholars."
"There might be a handful that meet your specifications. I will reach out immediately and see if anyone can provide you with their expertise." Tenel Ka agreed.
"Thank you." Kyle gratefully acknowledged before the Queen Mother ended her feed, and Kyle turned to the assembled healers, "I have many matters to attend to, so I'll leave you to start your work. Let me or Knight Jaden Korr know if you need anything. Master Cilghal will know how to contact either of us through our personal channels to avoid any needless delays."
"We will keep that under heavy advisement." Makor promised before Kyle moved to depart the medical wing, hoping against hope that they could save one of the greatest heroes and Jedi to ever grace the galaxy.
If they could not cure his affliction, well, no one here did not even want to consider that possibility, so each of the diverse scholars and healers would have to go at this task with all the energy, knowledge, and drive they possessed. They could do nothing less to save a life in honor of the oaths they all took when they became medical practitioners.
Korriban
Within the Valley of the Dark Lords
The Edaan-Iteration marveled at the beauty of Korriban, at least as majestic the dark and scarred ancient Sith world and historical goldmine could ever be. Remembering everything his genetic source learnt of the world through ancient records in their Jedi Archives, and hearing from his deceased masters how treacherous the Outer Rim world could be paled in comparison to seeing it firsthand. True, countless dangers permeated the world, but the mystery of such discovery drew countless curious souls in and would undoubtedly draw in many more over the millennia.
Perhaps the Yuuzhan Vong's bioforming could breathe new life into this world and tame the darkness saturating its very core. On the other hand, shaping this world might instead give birth to a wide variety of abominations surpassing the young man's worst imaginings, with the latter idea being a more likely scenario.
Wondering what this world looked like before the dark side took hold over the planet, and the Rakatan's devastation after their Infinite Empire failed to conquer the Sith species, the clone asked himself what might have happened to the Sith people if they had taken such a different path in life.
So much betrayal between families, societies, and planets; pointless wars over their arrogance and delusions of godhood shattered when the Rakata and Anzati shattered their ancient isolation; and perpetuating dozens of wars against the Jedi, even if they did nothing to stop the Old Republic's terrible retribution at the end of the Great Hyperspace War.
He wondered if there would ever be an end to the fighting, to the destruction that gave rise to countless monsters on both sides. Or were the Jedi and Sith truly meant to fight forever, all to keep some demented kind of balance the Force demanded to keep unimaginable horrors like Abeloth away from the quadrillions of innocents out there. It was a question the original Edaan asked a lot rising through the Jedi Order's ranks and under Grand Master Katarn, and it was one the Iteration believed one worth solving.
Tau Koda, a Force Hound that led dozens of conquests for the Rakata, murdering millions of souls, believed balance and coexistence with all beings was possible, so perhaps it was time to take a page from his ancient playbook after he joined the Je'daii Order and married his future wife.
Tau. That word, in a culture and people that had been lost to the sands of time, meant "soul", and it was the one word that the warrior had clung to with all his might, and helped draw him out of the Dark and into Balance when Shae Koda reached out to him.
Tau Palpatine. The clone- No! Tau, he reminded himself, thought it had a nice ring to it. It would be a secret to all but himself, and perhaps Chelli and Lona when he judged either woman worthy of his full trust. The youngest Aphra might have a bit of a crazy streak, but she had a stout heart, thirst for knowledge, and restless spirit that rivaled his own.
On the topic of restless spirits, he could sense a powerful presence, one radiating light side energy, that existed out beyond the Valley of the Dark Lords, in an area where its tombs were long destroyed as a result from an old Imperial superweapon destroyed by Rebel Alliance saboteurs. But who the agents were, no Sith would say, whether they were in the dark as he was, or keeping it a secret at their master's orders, it was a mystery to Tau. Not even his implanted memories could provide a clue to this problem.
Could this lost soul be a Jedi or Force Adept that was a part of this infiltration team, who's spirit could not find rest after so long? Or was it another presence, one unaccounted for through the endless annals of history? Either way, this disturbance bore investigation at some point, if only to get a little more time to himself.
He made a note to mention this to Lona the moment he could privately speak with her again. Or maybe even Korin, given his encyclopedic knowledge of Jedi and dozens of other Force cultures through his decades of research. One of them might be able to help him unravel this mystery, whether willingly or through duplicity, it hardly mattered to Tau right now.
And to recall one final mystery, he wondered why the young Tuk'ata pup was so keen on following him. The heavily scarred, blue-skinned, and one-foot-long hound that was supposed to guard Korriban's countless treasures from intruders had seemed to take a liking to Tau. To add further surprise, the young hound had blue eyes instead of the natural red, indicating how the beast was devoid of its natural dark allegiance.
It seemed that like his genetic source, he was a natural draw for all sorts of misfits, drawing a smile to Tau's face as he petted the animal's head. Now, all that remained for today's meditation would be to find a name for the Sith war beast, before Tau's overseer, watching over him from a respectable distance, made him return to the citadel. Figuring out how his young friend came to exist would be solved another day.
The longer he remained in that underground fortress, the more he became repulsed by the One Sith and their servants. They committed countless crimes against life itself, and many believed themselves to be superior because of power, wealth, knowledge, a person's origins, or countless other characteristics that anyone could attain through hard work and determination. It almost made him want to teach them an unforgettable lesson in humility and honor, even if he did not want to outright join the Jedi.
How could he, when he was born from dark experiments out of Edaan Palpatine's stolen tissues and memories, and the clone had his own questions that he believed the Jedi alone could not answer? They often created the dark enemies they so dreaded through inaction, hubris, or hypocrisy, and Tau wanted nothing to do with that.
Still, it might not hurt to keep a good association with them when that time comes. If he helped the Sith fall, it would not do well to be without any allies in an ever-changing galaxy.
But to do that, he would have to ingratiate himself within the dark side order as carefully and efficiently as he could, all without making the same mistakes, or face the same tragedies and traumas that Ulic Qel-Droma and Quinlan Vos made in their efforts to infiltrate and undermine the Sith organizations of their eras.
One problem at a time. Tau calmly reminded himself. It would not do him good to carry all the burdens the galaxy held on his shoulders alone, unless he wanted to end up as single-minded and bitter as Edaan became over his drive to save Vestara from her own darkness. For now, he just wanted to sit here a little while longer and contemplate the Force's endless mysteries.
Two Days Later
Telona 24th, 59 ABY
Dathomir
Jedi Praxeum
Aboard the New Dawn
"Can't sleep?" Adari knowingly asked, feeling her husband's anxiety pour through their bond and turning to see him staring into the dark ceiling above. "Too scared for your final set of trials in three days?"
"Well, more like my endorphin levels are still high from all your accursed tests. I still feel like I can run a marathon." Edaan deflected, before reluctantly conceding, "But really, am I that obvious?"
"Only to those that know you almost as well as I do, love." Adari promised, understanding Edaan's plight. "Which is quite a long list of people, actually."
"At least I know there are plenty of friends and loved ones I can depend on to keep me honest in this crazy galaxy." Edaan lightly acknowledged.
Being pushed to his absolute physical limits in the trials Adari, Artoo, and Taron had devised for him left him virtually drained for what was about to begin at high noon, three days from tonight. Having to fend off dozens of attacks from all manner of trained beasts without killing them, traverse every type of obstacle course imaginable on a jungle world like Dathomir could provide, even facing off against the best of Taron's current crop of students, it was easy to say that Edaan had been thrown right into a warzone.
The worst part of all of this was how this nightmarish evaluation was not how Edaan endured it all without his lightsaber to test his versatility in combat, but how it was done to refine Edaan's ultimate tests to truly challenge his spirit and try to help him exorcize the darkness etched onto his very being. Whether it was a face-off against Master Malicos himself, or another of his kriffing potions that started this whole agonizing mess, it sent shivers up Edaan's spine just thinking about this insanity.
Luckily, through his wife's gentle ministrations and intimate brush on his mind, he slowly calmed himself down, reminded of the lessons Master Solusar and his loved ones tried to drill into his head as an Initiate. Thinking about what might come to pass was too often a path leading into fear, indecision, and self-doubt, being a path that had unconsciously dominated his spirit for too long.
All that truly mattered in life was how one faced what came before them, and if they could do so without losing the light in their souls or renouncing one's beliefs or principles. And soon enough, he would see if he could live up to his own revelations.
But until that time came, he would simply take comfort in the simple pleasures of life and enjoy his brief respite alongside his soulmate. And if the Sith made their move soon, which was evident from the briefing Master Ti instructed the Jedi on two days ago, then the Palpatine duo would do their part to help their friends fend off this would-be invasion.
And with Darth Krayt about to enter the fight himself, the planet would need all the help it could get in staying free until help arrived. This world had resisted countless orders of Sith, Imperial warlords, and the Yuuzhan Vong's armies over the decades, so dealing with another batch of supposed conquerors should not be a stretch for the Dathomirians and their many allies from across the galaxy.
Hopefully those problems would wait until the couple could finish getting a little more rest and Edaan could complete his tests. However, there was one thing Edaan still had to do before finish recuperating.
"Adari? I need to thank you while I still have the time."
"For what?" She curiously asked, wondering what she did right in was essentially torturing her beloved.
"Just… being you." Edaan peacefully said, an unspoken understanding passing between the two through their deeply powerful and intimate bond.
Just then, something different flashed across Adari's eyes, a hint of regret that contradicted her relaxed face. To most they wouldn't recognize the look, but those that knew her and the works of a haunted mind, it was blatantly obvious to them all. And the gaze, whatever it meant, it set Edaan on edge.
Rubbing circles across Adari's exposed shoulder blade, he asked, "What's wrong?"
Opening her mouth, but nothing coming out, she shamefully spoke through their Force bond, I'm so sorry, Edaan. There… there's something I haven't told you.
"Whatever it is, it can't be that bad." Edaan tried.
"It is." Adari brokenly whispered. "Grand Master Katarn, he… he told me of something coming, something more terrible than Krayt and his Sith, and it… I'm just so scared." Tears breaking through her emotional dam, she confessed, "Abeloth, Daala, the power pulling the strings behind both, it's all so frightening!"
Wrapping her arms around Edaan as she wept, she flooded his mind with every vivid detail of Kyle's warnings: How Lando Calrissian traveled into the Unknown Regions to learn of the horrors lurking within, of Daala joining up with a Force-hating society bent on waging war on all civilization, and another Sith empire- a True Sith Empire, manipulating both Jedi and false Sith for millennia to destroy all life. Suddenly, all the horrors he experienced and sensed from his premonitions and dreams came so much clearer, and they terrified him greater than Abeloth ever did.
But the most startling pieces of information were how the retired war veteran was spearheading an effort to halt hostilities between the Alliance of Light and One Sith. And Edaan, as disgusted as he was by the underhanded move, he understood the necessity of it all. If this True Sith Empire and all its pawns, willing or unwilling, were prepared to explode out of the Unknown Regions to devour the galaxy with each of their cancerous ideologies, then a united front was the only way to prevent this apocalypse.
Suddenly vividly awake, Edaan, after sending waves of reassurance and comfort to his beloved, gently moved them both up to a sitting position, and he let her sit on her own before suggesting, "I think we need to get dressed and have a nice, long talk with our hosts."
Wild Space
Near Esfandia
Aboard the Lady Luck
"Father, we're getting a transmission from the Horuset System." Chance alerted Lando. Taking a few steadying breaths before continuing, he anxiously added, "The signal emanates from beneath Korriban's surface, and the caller claims to be one of Darth Krayt's top lieutenants, one Darth Invidious."
Nearly dropping his cup of caf, Lando gingerly put it down before cautiously asking Chance, "Can you record the call?"
"You can't seriously be considering…!" Chance tried before seeing the determined look in his father's eyes, and desperately argued, "Whoever this Sith is, they'll kill you!"
"He does that, and he'll have the entire Silentium and our new friends bearing down on him and his allies." Lando patiently reminded his son. "No, I think they have some type of proposal in mind, and I want to hear it." Typing commands on his console, he ordered Chance, "Get Vuffi and the rest of our friends in on this call. I think the best performance of my lifetime deserves a better audience."
Calling upon Vuffi Raa and the Aquilian and Chiss admirals and explaining their unique opportunity, Lando quickly received their affirmation to go forward. Taking a moment to present a front of total confidence, he opened a communications line with the Pius Dea warship. And seeing the tattooed arkanian Sith Lord, his pale white eyes contrasting with his sickly purple veins, it filled him with a terrible anxiety he was walking right into a trap.
But before he could try and back out, the Sith cordially greeted Lando, "On behalf of Lord Krayt and the One Sith, I thank you for agreeing to talk with me, General Calrissian. I also wish to thank you for the information you provided us on our order's traitors."
Feeling a knot in his anxious gut loosen at the unspoken introduction, Lando calmly acknowledged, "Then you are Darth Invidious. I see you decided to break from the next arranged meeting."
"Humble apologies, but I needed me to speak with you on several key matters. Consider it my way of thanking you for helping the One Sith remove the Nihil Retreat's hidden agents." Invidious politely answered. "But I wish to offer you more than gratitude for this generous gift."
"In the interest of facilitating talks with the Alliance of Light's leadership and One Sith on forging a pact against the True Sith Empire, Abeloth, and their vassals," Invidious professionally began, the offer stunning all into total silence before he continued, "I will divulge key parts of my order's more destructive strategies to mitigate losses on both sides."
"Do you really expect us to believe these claims solely based upon your word, Sith?" The Aquilian admiral suspiciously warned Invidious.
"You're free to doubt or not act on my knowledge all you want, but the offer is genuine." Invidious shrugged before he typed on a computer console, "Consider the data I'm sending you a show of good faith. I think our operations on Batuu, Falleen, Mandalorian Space, and Dathomir will be something you want to know about. And rescuing those poor kids from my people's captivity across the Horuset system will be a bonus."
"Corroborate with Grand Master Katarn and whoever you feel is best to verify this information if you feel it necessary, but you need to act swiftly. My master is on the hunt for Jedi Edaan Palpatine on Dathomir, and you must move quickly to save your people and potential assets. And my hunt for the Yuuzhan Vong's adopted homeworld would be tragic if you did nothing to respond before I reached Zonama Sekot first."
Holding a hand towards Chance to stop him from making any hasty remarks, Lando weighed the options in his mind. Right now, the Jedi and One Sith were entrenched in brutal warfare across the galaxy, and the three worlds and one galactic sector were crucial battlefields for each order, never mind the dark siders' hunt for Zonama Sekot.
The intelligence Invidious was offering was too valid to be a trap for Alliance of Light at this vital juncture, but Lando wouldn't let his eagerness show. He hadn't been a great entrepreneur and investor to easily let his guard down before any of his competitors and enemies. By handing the Calrissians the chance to give their friends the advantage against the One Sith, Invidious signed his own death warrant.
But this wasn't going to be a war unlike any the galaxy had faced in eons, and thanks to the Silentium eavesdropping across all known space, Lando knew more of both sides' plans than virtually all. And what he learned was how they were so consumed with fighting each other, by the time they realized the danger of the Nihil Retreat and their followers, it would be too late to stop their real enemy. Someone had to facilitate talks between the Jedi and One Sith before time ran out, and the elder Calrissian was the only one in the position to do it.
Seeing the determined glint in Lando's eyes, Vuffi beat him to it by informing Invidious, "We shall make the necessary arrangements with the Jedi and the rest of the galactic leadership. But you need to ensure the casualties from your current efforts are minimized and the collateral damage is kept low. Otherwise, I fear the possibility of a ceasefire will be all but impossible."
His aged face confirming his relief, Invidious earnestly swore, "I will do what I can, and so will Lord Krayt once I bring him on board. We'll get on it right away." Fumbling over his words for a bit, he emphatically vowed, "Thank you, all of you, for listening."
"You realize, though, that Krayt and the rest of the Sith will likely kill you for this pact?" Lando warned his Sith contact.
"No, he won't. For Liara will soon inform Dician on all you told her about the Nihil Retreat, and who gave her this information. And I know how to contact Lord Krayt before he launches his attack on the Jedi's temples on Dathomir." Invidious calmly contradicted. "And as brutal as Krayt is, he is an excellent pragmatist."
"Then allow me to give you a peace offering for your Dread Lord." Vuffi offered. "I am transmitting a list of the races and cultures that have fully allied with the Nihil Retreat, and you can take measures to expunge a few more traitors from your ranks. I believe the information on the Ssi-Ruuk and Vagaari double-dealing with the Rhandites will be an adequate tidbit for now."
Veins bulging and fists clenching in anger, Invidious silently nodded in appreciation before he disconnected the communication.
The moment the call concluded, Chance warned his father, "You know how Krayt and his people, even if they agree to ally with us, they'll still-"
"I know." Lando solemnly agreed. "And we'll be ready when they try to double-cross us afterwards. But right now, we need to put all our focus on ending this war and prepare to fight the True Sith and Olpakan Hegemony."
Gripping Chance's shoulders tightly, Lando acknowledged, "You did well, son. I'm so proud of you."
Touched by his father's rare display of affection, he silently and gratefully nodded before the Chiss admiral interrupted, "I will send word to the Supreme Admiral and General. They will do their best to mitigate the repercussions of this bargain."
"And I will do the same for the High Council. But I expect them to support your deal for now." The Aquilian admiral commented. Glancing at his Chiss counterpart, he added, "We really don't have a choice in this one, I'm ashamed to say."
"We hardly do when it comes to the fate of the galaxy and future of our loved ones." Lando sadly mused. He knew that just about everyone back home would try to kill him for the agreement he just helped forge, and he wouldn't blame them. But when the alternative was utter annihilation or enslavement, painful and difficult compromises had to be made, and he somehow knew everyone he cared about would one day understand, even if they might never agree with or condone the choice he made.
Banishing such defeatist thoughts from his mind, Lando knew he still had much to do before he could return home. And he could start by informing Grand Master Katarn on the fleeting opportunity he had to save the One Sith's captive kids and the chance to undo four areas of their scheming.
(November 22, 2024, Addendum.) Good afternoon, everyone! How are you all doing on this cool Friday? I'm good, as I have the day off from work, and will be working on Chapter 47 of this story in a little while. But I figured I'd publish a couple more chapters for my story today, since I've evaluated them a bit and feel they're the best they can be. I hope you all will be ready for plenty of surprises and dark twists throughout the work, because I have a lot of insanity planned for the remainder of my saga. If you think the Jedi and One Sith preparing to enter talks is crazy, just wait to see what else I have in store. Well, I'd best get these pieces published before I forget. May the Lord be with all in these dark times, and Long Live the Expanded Universe!