Dark Mirror

[The Doctor]

To skip this insanely long intro and go right to the story, scroll down past the tildes (~).

 

Since my RP on this didn't make it off the ground, I've decided to turn it into a fanfic. This story takes place in a parallel universe, in which Humans are facist, war-oriented race, bent on galactic conquest. The Jedi Order follow the path of the Dark Side, while they enslave the followers of the light, known as the Malatan (Mal-u-ton), which means "slave race". The Rodians and Twi-Leks are both extinct, hunted down by the humans for sport.

 

There are, however, some humans who disagree with the ideals of the Empire. This group, known as the Kuva'bach, are in danger of being wiped out by the Empire. There are barely 300 of them left, only about a dozen of which are capable of using the Force. They have fled to the relative safety of Russan, capital of the Empire's greatest enemy, the Mandalore Confederation. The Mandalorians are a cooperative instead of an army, and spend there efforts on Exploration instead of conquest.

 

In this universe, many of the events that Star Wars fans are familiar with are different. These differences vary in degree. For example, the Hyperscape war is far different from what we know it as. In this universe, Hyperspace travel was discovered by a race now known only as the Obra'Cy, which is the ancient basic word for Voyagers. The Obra'Cy refused to share their technology with the lesser developed human race, who declared war. Along with their Ithorain allies, they wiped out the Obra'Cy and stole the technology for themselves. The Hyperspace war is named so because it was a war over hyperspace technology.

 

Also, the Jedi Civil war was slightly different. It occured at about the same time, and still involved Revan. However, Revan was a young Jedi (remember, the Jedi are evil in this universe, but are not referred to as the Sith) who rebelled againt the Order and led a small army of freedom fighters against their Imperial slavers. The Order banished them, and they eventually sought refuge with the Confederation. Revan and his followers were labelled as the "Malatan", which means "slave race" in ancient basic.

 

The Mandalorian Confederation does not have a Mandalore the same way the clans of the true universe do. Mandalore is instead the name given to the leader of the Mandalorian council, the governing body of the Confederation. The current Mandalore is Canderous Ordo.

 

The Jedi Order is also organized idfferently. They operate under a single leader, known as the Mauj. The current Mauj is Dorak. His apprentice, the Del-Mauj, whose name will be introduced later. The Jedi Order are also slaves of the Empire, but do not consider themselves so - they willingly submit to their slavery.

 

There are other differences, but these are the main ones. The others will be discovered during the story. Since it is not relevant to the story, anything that takes place later than the KotOR era will not be explained at all unless I decide to do a mirror version of the Star Wars movies.

 

Please note that the Sith never existed in this universe. They are still called the Jedi Order, not the Sith Order. Their philosophy is different as well, as you will discover.

 

Please leave feedback, as this is my first real fan fic. Hope you like the theme song, too!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Prologue

Mauj Dorak sat in his chamber, meditating. The Jedi code flowed through his mind.

 

Hope is Death.....

Faith is Pain.....

Compassion is Suffering.....

Love is hate.....

Light is a Lie.....

 

He felt the words flow through his body, as if they were the very blood in his veins. His mind pulsated with there guidance, their wisdom. He could hear them speaking to him. He let them take dominion over his senses. He could see his people, those who served the almighty Empire. He shuddered as the image of Emperor Sorvad flashed through his mind, but after a moment it was gone.

He felt a stab of pain through his chest. He sensed Him. Sahri. The Final One. The One who would destroy the Empire.......

He could not let that happen. He reached out with the Force, willing the words to guide him again.

 

Hope is Death.....

Faith is Pain.....

Compassion is Suffering.....

Love is hate.....

Light is a Lie.....

 

The words were slipping away. He could feel his strength ebbing away with the effort of listening to them. He was forced to awaken, his senses flooding with reality. The dark stone chamber was filled with a faint red light, that reflected off his bald head. Then little bit of hair he had left was a dark grey, as were his eyes. He lifted a black gloved hand to his face. He felt the old scar his master had given him as a child. Hate flooded through him, threatening to take control - but no. He had to maintain control. His emotions would only distract him from his true goal. The destruction of the Sahri. The Final One.

He closed his eyes again, and repeated the words out loud.

 

Hope is Death.....

Faith is Pain.....

Compassion is Suffering.....

Love is hate.....

Light is a Lie.....

[The Doctor]

Chapter One

 

Cullah clung to his chair for dear life as the ship shook violently under Imperial attack. A console behind him exploded showering the ground with sparks. The poor soldier manining the station was thrown across the room, dead before he hit the floor.

"Report!" he barked as loud as he could.

"Deflector shields are depolarized! The hull on C deck is collpasing! Weapons are offline!"

"Evacuate C deck before the hull breaches! Rerout weapons power to the shields!"

"It's too late!" the ship rocked again as C deck depreassuized, leading dozens of Mandalore Officers to their death. The few lights that were still on went red.

"Captain, we're being boarded by Imperial troops!"

Cullah cursed himself. "Computer, freeze simulation!"

Everything stopped. The sounds, the movement - all of it stopped at Cullah's command. "What went wrong?"

"Microfractures. Again."

Cullah rubbed his eyes, realizing how tired he was. "We'll work it out in the morning. Get to bed, Drax. That's an order," he added, as the young soldier began to protest.

"Yes sir."

Cullah watched him leave, then sat down in the isomorphic captain's chair. Weeks of desogning, months of building, and they couldn't solve the microfracture problem with this new ship design. They had tried everything: inverted hyperdrive fields, tachyon particles... everything Cullah could think of.

He sighed heavily. "Computer, terminate simulation."

The battered bridge melted out of existance, leaving a room with black walls, floor, and ceiling. He walked towards the doorway that had, in the simulation, led ot the turboshaft, but now lead out of the isogrid.

Cullah ran into a young man with black eyes, eyes that seemed to be able to see through you.

"My apologies, Amol."

"That's alright, Captain, I was actually hoping to run into you. In a manner of speaking."

"Is there a problem?" he asked, hearing the tone of the young man's voice.

"Yes sir, I'm afraid there is. It's about Denara."

"Denara?" Cullah asked. Surprised to hear Amol mention his daughter. "What is it?"

"She's been rather... distant, of late. Even with me."

"Ah, yes. I'm not surprised..." he said, recognizing that he had to come clean with his young protege.

"Amol, there's something I need to tell you. I told Denara a few nights ago. She hasn't spoken to me since....." Amol stared at him, wondering what was coming. "I'm taking command of the Betasis when she leaves for Courucant."

"What?!" Amol screamed, suddenly foegetting that everyone else in the base was asleep. "What the hell are you thinking?!"

"Damnit Amol, I.... I need you to calm down and listen." he looked more tired than Amol had ever seen him. "I can't just sit here anymore. I need to do something. The Betasis' mission will get me out of here; let me do something for the Confederation. I knew Denara wouldn't understand, but I was sure you would. After all they've done to you... they killed your parents, Amol! Don't-"

"And I don't want them to kill you, too! You're like a father to me, Cullah! And you want to go on a suicide mission to the heart of Imperial space? I won't let you-"

"It's too late, Amol! The choice has been made!" he sighed again. He was touched by Amol's words. "I wasn't planning on telling you until the night before I left, but-"

"Well have they assigned a launch date?" Amol interrutpted.

"I leave in two days."

"Two days!? But-"

"No, Amol!" he said, and Amol fell silent immediately. "I want you to promise me something." he said, his voice grave. "If the worst should happen......" he stopped, not sure how to say what he wanted to say. "Look after Denara for me. Keep her safe."

Amol was filled with anger and resentment, but those emotions evaporated at the tone of Cullah's voice, the seriousness with which he asked.

"I will. I promise."

"Thanks you. Goodnight, Amol."

"Goodnight."

 

* * * * *

 

Mauj Dorak jerked out of meditation at the sound of his Del's voice.

"Master, you summoned me?" she asked, her voice calm and even.

"Yes. Take a seat," he said, indicating the space on the floor in front of him. She sat, casting her features into sharp relief. Her shoulder length brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and her skin was a pasty white. Her pale blue eyes scanned her Master's face, looking for some sign of what he was thinking. She saw nothing. Dorak seemed to know what she was thinking.

"You still have much to learn, Bastila. You do not shield your thoughts. Your Imperial Masters will expoit that."

"Yes, Master," Bastila muttered.

"Now, to business. Last night, during meditation, I sensed him again. The Sahri."

Bastila stared at her master, fear in her eyes. "If the Empire should fall..."

"Then the Malatan would destroy us." finished Dorak. "That is why I summoned you here."

"You have a plan?"

"Yes. Though it is..... dangerous."

"I have never known you to run away from danger, Master." Bastila said, smiling slightly.

"Be that as it may, I still believe we should act slowly. If Sorvad discovers my plan, he will surely execute me, as well as imprison you."

"What is your plan?"

"The Emperor does not consider the Sahri a truth, an certainly not a threat. He believes that he is nothing more than an illusion - a myth created by us for our 'own nefarious purposes'."

"Then he is a fool!" Bastila blurted out.

"Control, my young Del, control. Your emotions make you strong, but they can be exploited by the Empire if they are revealed. You must control them."

"I apologise, Master. It's just that-"

"Do not apologise, child. You are correct. He is a fool." Dorak stood, Bastila doing the same. "He sees nothing but his Empire. They do not have the benefit of our, shall I say, 'unique' abilities of perception. It is not to be unexpected."

"What can we do to convince him of the Sahri's importance?"

Dorak was silent for a moment. "Nothing."

"Nothing?! Then wh-"

"We must.... deal with his ignorance."

"You mean-"

"Yes. He must be removed, or the Empire will fall. That cannot happen."

"Of course not, Master. How do you propose to eliminate the Emperor, though? He has followers, those who will-"

"Betray him, for a price. You forget that I too have 'followers', Bastila. And much more powerful ones than Sorvad."

"I apologise, Master. I should not have been so ignorant."

"It is forgiven." Dorak walked to the far end of the chamber, facing away from Bastila. "You must shield this conversation from your memories, my pupil. If Sordav should discover this..."

"I understand."

"Good. You are dismissed."

Bastila bowed, then turned and walked silently out of the room, leaving Dorak alone with his thoughts.

[The Doctor]

Chapter Two

 

Denara lay in her bed, trying to sleep. Her mind kept wandering to her father's mission, and the Betasis. The door chimed. She ignored it, pretending to be asleep. She didn't want to talk to anyone. It chimed again. She picked up her pillow, jamming it over her head to block the sound. It was no good - she still heard the third chime.

"Go away," she whined.

A voice borke over the speaker. "It's me, Denara. He told me."

Sighing, Denara got out of bed, grabbed the robe was draped over her desk chair, and walked to the door. She keyed the lights on when she reached to door, then unlocked the door.

"It's open." she said, walking back towards her bed. The door opened silently, and Amol stepped through it. He looked tired. "What is it, Amol? I was trying to sleep."

"Look, your father told me about the Betasis."

"Great." she said, not really listening.

"Don't give me that," he said irratibly. "I'm worried about him too, you know."

"I know, I'm sorry, I... I've been having a hard time with this, that's all, I..." she paused. "My mother died when I was a child, and.... I don't want to lose my father, too," she said, her eyes brimming with tears. Amol moved towards her, wrapping his arm around her consolingly.

"I don't want to lose him, Amol." she said, tears ouring down her face. "Ever since my mother died, he's...." her voice trailed off.

"I know. Neither do I."

They sat there for a while. Suddenly, the lights running along the ceiling of the room went red, and klaxons began to sound throughout the room. A voice broke over the comm system - it was Cullah.

"All fighters report to your ships. We have incoming Imperial ships."

Amol and Denara both stood up, their fatigue forgotten in the rush of adrenaline. They burst into the fighter bay, and ran towards there fighter, the Omega Dawn. Strapping into the pilot's seat, Amol began the pre-flight systems check, going through it faster than was normally recommended.

Behind him, Denara had already powered up the primary systems, and was ready for take off.

"All systems are operational and running at full capacity," she said over the din of the bay.

"Acknowledged. Beginning ignition sequence." Amol flicked a umber of switches in front of him, and the Omega Dawn's engined lit up, the cockpit shell sealing. After checking all systems again, Amol lifted off, bursting through the hangar bay doors like an al'hayat at a yelt mouse.

 

* * * * *

 

Swerving around a tight pack of Imperial fighters, Amol did a vertical loop as Denara opened fire on them from above, hitting one dead on, it's debris destroying the two next to it.

"Nice shot, Denara!"

"Thanks!"

They fought as a single mind, there every movement sychronized. Amol dropped suddenly, fighting to remain conscious against the gravitational stress, as Denara opened fire on another group of Imperial fighters. She made another exact hit, sending the other ships careening away to avoid the shrapnel.

Denara amlost lost consciounous as Amol sent the ship spiriling downward. She swung the laser cannons around, and targeted a lone Imperial fighter. She never saw the ship coming from starboard. It opened fire, cracking the durasteel cockpit, and taking out the engines. Denara struggled against unconsciounous again, this time due to the deep cut on her forehead.

"Amol, are you alright?"

"Ya, I think so. The engines are down, though! We're losing speed."

"Can you reinitialize?"

"The coils are fused together! I can't repair them in space!"

"Maybe we have enough momentum to make it back to base?"

"I'll try. Hold on, this may be a rough trip!"

He was right. The fighter rocked as it entered the atmosphere of Russan. An Imperial fighter was following them.

"Denara-"

"I see him!" She swung the cannon around again and fired. She nicked his engines, sending it spiriling - towards them. She fired again, but it was too clse. The explosion sent the Omega Dawn carrening off to port.

"We've been knocked off course!" Amol cried.

"Really? I hadn't noticed!" she responded jokingly.

"We're headed for the mountains! Brace for impact!"

She grabbed hold of the sides of her chair, her knuckles going white under her gloves.

The last thing she saw was the durasteel cockpit shell shatter to pieces, and the harsh mountain range approaching.

[JasraLantill]

Very intriguing plot concept! And well written--already I feel sympathetic with Amol and Cullah and Denara. (Think she might give Bastila a run for her money.) I'm hooked! Keep up the good work!

[The Doctor]

Thanks, Jasra. I'm going to try to do a chapter a day, but I doubt that'll happen. It might be a lot less often, but I will finish this one. I promise.

[Alkonium]

This should be quite interesting. I'd like to see how this turns out, and the very different sides of good and evil in the story.

[The Doctor]

I've added a new alien species to this universe. They are known as the Monorhans, and although they look intimidating, they are pacifists. They are near extinction, another victim of Human bloodlust, just like the now extinct Rodians and Twi-Leks. The Monorhans refuse to fight with the Empire, and do not have enough weapons and ships to fight against them. They are a slave race to the Empire, usually found on large capital ships and flag ships.

 

Chapter Three

 

Emperor Sorvad sat in his chair, facing the large window opposite the rooms only door. He examined the Monorhan skull in his hand, the broad cheekbones angling back sharply. He crushed the skull into a powder, just as the door opened behind him.

"My apologies, your excellence. I bring news from Russan."

Sorvad threw the destroyed Monorhan skull to the ground, then turned his chair to face the new arrival. He was Monorhan, his blue skin shining slightly in the light from the outside moon, which was the only source of light in the room.

The Monorhan took this as permission to continue. "The fleet was forced to retreat, master. The Intelligence reports we received were..... misleading."

Sorvad smiled. Only Kaytok, his most loyal servant, could speak to him of failure without a look of terror on his face.

"Bring Admiral Onasi to me."

Kaytok left the room, his right hand balled into a fist and placed just below his left shoulder bone. He bowed while saluting, then turned around and left the room.

 

* * * * *

 

Carth stood at the front of the bride, staring out the large window. A young ensign stood behind him, shaking in fear. "Retreat, ensign?" he asked quietly.

"Y...Yes sir." he stammered.

"The Emperor does not like it when his fleet retreats, ensign!" he yelled, turning around.

"Sir, our intelligence reports stated that they only had a dozen fighters, with a handful of capital ships. Not enough ships were sent to-"

"ARE YOU SAYING THIS WAS MY FAULT, ENSIGN?!?"

A look of utter terror crossed the ensign's face. "No, No sir, not at all. You could never.. It was intelligence reports, sir. YOu were basing your decisions on faulty information..." he stopped, realizing how his words sounded to the Admiral.

Carth took a few steps forward, until his face was only inches from the ensign's. "You're brave, ensign, to argue with me." he said in a deathly whisper. "Luckily for you, bravery is a prized trait to the Empire." he backed away a step. "Now get out of my site."

The ensign didn't have to be told twice. He turned around and almost ran back to his post, running into someone on his way. "Sor-" he began, then noticed it was a Monorhan. He pushed the alien out of the way, then continued to his station.

Kaytok stared at the ensign as he left, then turned to address Onasi. "Admiral."

Carth turned around again, the golden war badges attaches to his black uniform glinting in the dark lighting of the bridge.

"What do you want, Monorhan?"

"His Excellency demands your presence in his chamber, Master." said Kaytok.

Carth sighed. "Very well," he said, then made for the turboshaft. Kaytok grabbed him by the arm.

"I am to take you there, sir."

Carth grabbed the hand hand, flipped it behind it's owner's back, and pulled the dagger at his belt out of it's sheath and to the alien's throat. "Touch me again, Monorhan, and I'll tear out your throat."

"Understood, Admiral." siad Kaytok, trying not to move, lest the dagger pierce his jugular.

Carth released him, pushing him forward as he did so. He turned for the turboshaft again, Kaytok following close behind.

 

* * * * *

 

Carth stepped throug the Emperor's chamber door, his eyes quickly adjusting to the relatively dim light of the Emperor's room. He walked towards the tall chair at the head of the room, which was facing away from him.

"You demanded my presence, your excellence?" he said, saluting and bowing just as Kaytok had earlier. He felt a strange sensation of forboading at what was to come.

"Yes. Kaytok, leave us."

Kaytok left the room, leaving Onasi and the Emperor alone.

Sorvad was silent for a moment. "Retreat, Admiral?"

Carth struggled to maitain his military control in the face of his fear. "Yes, my Lord. The intelligence we received was, shall I say, misleading. It-"

"You cannot rely on intellignece reports, Admiral." barked Sorvad.

"Yes sir, I... I apologise."

"You are forgiven, Admiral. You simply based your decision on the information provided by incompetence."

Carth gritted his teeth together in anger.

"Lieutenant Delk, is it?"

"Yes, my Lord." said Carth, in answer to both the asked question and the implied order.

Carth pulled a com link from his belt. "Onasi to Lieutenant Delk. Report ot the Emperor's chamber. Immidiately!"

 

* * * * *

 

Delk pulled his dagger out of the operatives stomach. "That is the price for failure."

His comlink beeped, and Admiral Onasi's voice broke through.

"Onasi to Lieutenant Delk. Report ot the Emperor's chamber. Immidiately!"

Drelk nodded to the ensign standing guard at the door. "Clean this up," he said, walking past the dead man and moving towards the door.

 

When he entered the Emperor's chamber, he saw that Admiral Onasi was standing next to the Emperor's chair, both of them facing out the large window at the moon outside.

Onasi turned around, but the Emperor remained facing the window.

"Your intelligence reports resulted in the deaths of almost 150 Imperial troops, Lieutenant, not to mention their ships," barked Carth.

"The operative has been dealt with, Admiral."

The Emperor was much quieter - a sign of just how furious he was. "Now all that remains is for you to be 'dealt with'."

Delk began shaking. "My Lord, I beg you: Forgive me. It won't happen again, I-"

"KAYTOK!"

A blue arm came out of nowhere, a long dagger shining in it's hand. The knife dug into Delk's neck, piercing his spine. He fell to the ground, blood pouring from his head.

"That is the price of failure."

[JasraLantill]

Oooh! Interesting to see Carth as a baddie! And so ruthless at that! Good work so far. Keep it up!

[The Doctor]

It an alternate universe. Carth has to be a bad guy. It just fits

[The Doctor]

Long Chapter:

 

Chapter Four

 

"Sir, the Imperial ships are forming a standard retreat pattern."

"Let them go," said Cullah, who had been commanding the battle from base.

"Sir, I'm picking up a distress beacon - it's from the Omega Dawn."

Cullah turned around sharply. "What's happened to it? Where are they?"

"I don't know sir, I've lost contact. Some sort of explosion."

"What?" asked Cullah, stunned. No, they couldn't be-

"The debris is Imperial, not ours. It wasn't them."

"Well what was their last known location?"

"Coordinates 2247, bearing 558.23. But they entered the ionishere just before the explosion; we have no way of knowing how their course was affected."

"Damn. Assemble a search party. I want them found!"

"Yes sir,"

 

* * * * *

 

He hurt. His arms hurt, his head hurt, even his earlobes hurt. Amol pulled himself out of the reckage, barely able to fight down the wave of nausea that threatened to engulf him.

He heard noise from behind him, and saw the Denara was waking up, too. She had a long, deep cut from her forehead to her chin, and part of her hair was charred. He assumed that he looked no better.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I-" she coughed hard, the smoke from the burning ship attacking her lungs. "I think so. What about you?"

"Fine. Just fine," he responded, rubbing his temple. He felt his hand grow warm, and pulled it away from his head to see it red and wet. He grimaced, pulling himself to his feet. He walked over to Denara, and helped her stand.

"Where are we?" she asked.

He pulled a small rectangular device from his belt, opened it, and scanned the display. "I can't get a clear reading. There's to much electromagnetic interference."

"Great."

Amol turned to inspect the damage done to the Omega Dawn. "It doesn't look too bad. We can fix her up back at base."

But Denara wasn'[t listening. "Amol, I think there's something watching us."

"What?" he asked absently. Then he sensed it. A non-sentient presence about to attack. He pulled a long, cylindrical device from his belt, and activated it. With a loud snap/hiss, a bright green blade emerged from the tip, which he swung around with the speed of a Haltek Wolf. He saw it. A large, hairy quadriped had emerged from behind the rocks, and was slowly making their way towards the crashed ship.

"Amol...."

"It's alright, stay close."

The animal moved forward, it's long teeth exposed as it growled at the bright light held by the intruder. It moved with a grace that marked a skilled al-hayat female.

"It's cubs must be somewhere nearby," he said quietly.

"What do we do?"

"It's ok," he said, lowering his lightsaber.

"What are you doing?!"

"We have to convince it that we aren't a threat. Just follow my lead."

He lifted his hands slowly into the air, his lightsaber somehow returned to it's place on his belt. Denara mimiced him, feeling very exposed without the calming light of the powerful blade.

The feline predator titled it's head slightly, confused. "Stay here." said Amol, as he slowly began to walk towards it. Even more slowly, he reached out his right hand towards the creaure, which simpoly stared at him. Amol touched it's face, his hands positioned so that his thumb was at it's chin, his forfinger just below it's eye, and his other fingers along it's forhead. His lips began to move, but she couldn't hear what he was saying. After a moment, it stopped growling, it's claws retracting as it closed it's mouth. It gave Amol one more suspicious glare, then turned away and walked off.

Denara exhaled, not realizing that she had been holding her breath. Amol watched the creature go, then walked back towards her. She stared at him.

"What did you just do?"

"I talked to it," he said simply.

She just stared at him.

"Come on, it'll be dark soon. We should set up camp."

She didn't way anything. She stared at him, her mouth slightly open.

 

* * * * *

 

Carth dropped down from the destroyed buidling, landing in a crouching position. He raised his Greth-tel up into the air, using the curved weapon to block an attack from a large, boar-like alien. He smacked it in the face with the length of the blade, then sliced through it's throat. He then turned around, ducking only just un time to avoid an attack from an identical alien. He drilled the hilt of the sword into it's stomach, knocking the wind out of it. He cracked it's skull open with another sharp blow, then kicked it away. His comlink beeped.

"What do you want?" he barked, angry at being disturbed.

"Sir, you're needed on the bridge."

"I'll be right there," he said. He turned off the comlink, then threw it to the side. "Computer, terminate program."

Everything in the room dissapeared - except for the now dead aliens."

 

Carth walked onto the bridge, his face shining with sweat. "This better be good, ensign," he said threatiningly.

"Sir, we're picking up some strange readings from the Jedi ship, the Relat."

"So?"

"Sir, I-"

But he never got to finish the sentence. His console exploded, sending Carth flying to the ground, the poor ensign certainly dying a most painful death.

"Report!" barked Carth, getting to his feet.

A lieutenant moved to the damaged sensor console, pushing the dead ensign's body out of the way as if it were a doll. "Hull breach on deck 22, section 6-alpha!"

Dark, cruel klaxons began to sound, filling the whole ship.

"Intruder alert! Deck 22!"

"Dispatch a containment team! Tell them I want one of them alive!"

"I can't! The comm relays running threw deck 22 have been completely destroyed! The system is down!"

"Then depressurize the entire deck! Get them off my ship!!"

"Sir, we have intruder's on decks 7, 6, 5, and 4."

"Seal of deck three! I don't care what you have to do, keep them off this deck!"

"Sir, secondary command processors are down! We can't activate containment fields!"

"Then draw your weapons! We'll fight them hand to hand!"

The door to the bridge exploded open, and a dozen red beams of light ignited, folowed by just as many large men carrying lightsabers.

"What the hell are you doing, JEdi scum? Get off my bloody ship!"

One of the Jedi turned to him, lifting up a gloved hand. Before the choke could take hold, Carth swung the Greth-tel that had been attached to his back at the man, who fell to the ground in a pool of his own blood.

"Long live the Empire!" he cried, as the rest of the bridge crew followed suit and began attacking the Jedi.

 

* * * * *

 

Dorak walked up to the door to the Emperor's chamber door, lifting his hand. The door exploded inwards. He stepped throught the opening, and saw that Sorvad was sitting in his chair, looking somewhat ammused.

"Welcome, Mauj."

"Greetings, your excellency," he responded.

"May I ask why you have blown a hole in my ship, Dorak?"

"You know why I am here. Even one as weak in the Force as you should have sensed it."

"Weak, am I? Perhaps I shall show you just how weak I am!"

Sordav jumped ten feet into the air from a sitting position, drawing a dark red lightsaber as he landed. Dorak drew his own, swinging it around in a large arch to block the attack. He countered with one of his own, a shart upper cut follwed by a series of strikes from random angles. Sorvad blocked them all easily, slowly moving back towards his chair. Dorak jumped through the air above the Emperor, swining downwards as he did so. Sordav barely blocked the attack. He pivoted around to face attack from the new direction. He swung down and to the left, Dorak deflecting the attack, then pushing back with enough strength to push over a Krayt Dragon. They fought for what seemed like hours, evenly matched, always countering the other's attacks with one of his own. Dorak reflected another attack, then pushed with all his might to break the saberlock. He took a few steps backwards, then began to walk in circles around his enemy.

"Surrender, Sorvad. If I don't kill you now, the Sahri will later, and I will take your place then. It is inevitable."

"You are weak, old man. You cannot stop me. No one can. And once I destroy you, I will see to it that the Jedi are wiped from the face of the galaxy!"

Dorak plunged towards him, twirling his lightsaber above his head, screaming in anger. He brought then lightsaber down at the Emperor's head. He was blocked, then pushed backwards. He was forced to jump into the air to dodge the counter attack.

"You see? You are a foolish being, Dorak."

"You are the fool. You cannot learn the power of the Force without a proper master. You will destroy yourself."

Sorvad ignored him, swinging his lightsaber around again. They fought for another ten minutes, neither one giving the other any ground. Finally, Dorak swung up and right, knocking the lightsaber from Sorvad's hand. He then dug his lightsaber into Sordav's chest. Sordav grunted, blood coming out in dolops from his mouth. Dorak kicked him away, deactivating his lightsaber. The Emperor fell to the ground at the feet of his killer.

[JasraLantill]

Long chapter? It didn't seem long with all the wonderful action scenes. Looking forward to the next chapter. (Hanging on the edge of my seat, in fact!) Well done!

[The Doctor]

Well, you're in luck: I got rid of the minor writers block I had developed Now, there is a small part of this chapter that is taken right out of Star Trek: Voyager, but it fits into the story.

 

Chapter Five

 

Carth swung his Greth-tel down on to the skull of another Jedi, then ducked as a lightsaber came slicing at his face. He took out his attacker's knees, driving the blade into the Jedi's throat as he fell. Covered on blood, Carth looked around the bridge. It was littered with bodies, both Imperial and Jedi. As the last Jedi fell to the ground dead, he ran towards the turboshaft. The Emperor needed protection.

 

Carth burst into the Emperor's chambers, only to see a tall, bald Jedi standing over the body of Sorvad.

"NOOOO!!!!!" he cried. The Jedi turned suddenly, igniting his lightsaber.

"I suggest you drop yout weapon, Admiral," he said, gesturing at the Greth-tel in Carth's hands.

"I swear Jedi, I will not rest until you have drowned in your own blood!"

He threw the dagger at his side at the Jedi, who held out a hand and caught it.

"You cannot kill me, Admiral," he said calmly, throwing the dagger to the side.

"Then I will die trying!"

"If you kill me, the Empire will collapse! Is that what you want?"

"The Empire will live forever! You are the one who will bring down the Empire!"

"NO!" hollored Dorak. "No, Admiral. I have killed the Emperor to save the Empire. I do not want to see it collapse any mroe than you do."

"Then why kill the Emperor?"

"because he is a fool! He refuses to acknowledge the danger of the Sahri, the Final One!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" yelled Carth, confused. This was news to him.

"I was afraid that he had not told you. It is time you knew of the danger of this Final One," said Dorak. "Come closer."

Carth didn't want to get any closer to the man who had killed the Emperor, but he seemed drawn to him. Before he knew what he was doing, he was standing in front of Dorak, whose hand was on his face. He could barely hear the words coming from his barely moving lips.

"Akuchimoya. We are far from the sacred palce of our ancestors; far from the bones of our people. Show this man the one whom he should fear, and give him the answers he seeks."

Carth's mind was flooded with images and colours. He saw a man in black robes, the Imperial crest, a sword driven through a sun, on his chest. A flash. He saw an Imperial Warship explode in a ball of flames. Flash. Mandalorian soldiers were boarding the ship, their colour coded uniforms the only colour in the image. Flash.

He was looking at Dorak, his eyes wide in fear. Dorak looked into his eyes, his gaze unflinching. Carth screamd in pain, and Dorak released him. Carth stumbled back, hos hands on his face.

"Now you see what is to come, Admiral. The Sahri. The Final One. He will destroy the Empire!"

Carth fel to his knees at Dorak's feet.

"What must we do to stop this from happening?"

Dorak looked down at him. "Join me, Admiral, Together, we will destroy the Sahri, and expand the Empire throughout the galaxy!"

Carth was panting, the pain of the vision not forgotten.

"Yes.... your excellency."

 

* * * * *

 

Denara shivered, moving closer to the fire. She was tired, she was hungry, and she wanted to go home. Looking ninto the fire, she asked Amol the question she had been burning to ask for years.

"Amol, how were you trained in the Force? I mean, you were a slave, I know that, but...." she trailed off, not wanting to make him angry.

Amol sighed. These memories were painful. "I was trained by an undercover Malatan operative. His name was Vrook. He blew his cover and gave his life so that I could escape." he didn't want to go on, but Denara was looking at him intently.

"Well, you know that when I was 6 years old, the Empire attacked my homeworld," he said, trying to take as long as he could to stay away from the topic she wanted to discuss.

"I was captured by the Imperial troops that invaded what was left of the planet. I was taken to the Triallan maines, where I was forced to drag shipments of ore through kilometer long tunnels. Vrook was there to. He was undercover - he was my guard. He trained me in the ways of the Force, saying that I had some kind of destiny." he paused. "He was like a father to me: I barely knew my real father before he was killed. But, they killed Vrook, too. He was killed in the escape that he was told to plan, so that some Rebel commander could escape - I think he died in the attempt. I was 16. I watched as the guards shot a hole in his chest. I barely escaped myself."

He fell silent. "I swore to avenge him. I swore to kill the man who murdered the closets thing to a father I've ever had."

Denara sat there, not knowing what to say. "I'm sorry," was all she could manage.

"It's in the past now."

Neither of them said another word the rest of the night.

[The Doctor]

Another relatively long chapter.

 

Chapter Six

 

Dorak stood at the head of the Emperor's chambers - his chambers. The doors opened, and Bastila walked through them, her pasty white skin reflecting the dim light of the blue star outside the window.

"You summoned me, Mauj?"

Dorak was silent for a moment. "Yes, my Del. I have sensed Him again."

"The Sahri?" she asked in horror.

"Yes. When I melded with Admiral Onasi, the range of my perception was hightened. I know where He is."

"Then we must send the fleet at once! He must be destroyed!"

"Unfortunately, Sorvad has just attempted to do so, unknowingly, of course."

"You mean Russan?"

"Yes. He is definately on Russan. And He is not alone. There is another with him. She is just as important."

"How, my Lord? Is she another Malatan?"

"No. But He will protect her at all costs, Bastila. We must use her to get to Him."

"I understand, my Lord."

"Do not kill either of them, Bastila. They are both is needed alive. She is just as dangerous as Him."

"Yes, Mauj."

"Go. In the name of the Empire."

Bastila saluted Dorak, the bowed herself from the room.

 

* * * * *

 

The Ebon Hawk glided across the landscape of Russan, it's black Imperial markings glingting in the morning sun. The sensors picked up two human life signs. Bastila came about, looking for a place to land. She saw a small plateau, just large enough for her to land. She brought the ship down, hooking her lightsaber to her belt. With a gentle rocking, the Hawk touched down, it's primary systems going into lockout mode.

"Computer, activate the security grid."

a harsh male voice responded.

"Acknoweldged."

The lights in the cockpit all went red.

 

Disembarking from the Ebon Hawk, Bastila raised a set of electrobinoculars to her eyes. She scanned the landscape, looking for any sign of the humans she had detected. There they were. She was too far away to see which one was the Sahri, and which was his companion, but they were definately there, and they were moving quickly. She walked back into the Hawk. The sound of a speeder bike filled the plateau. Bastila flew out of the garage bay on a black speeder, the docking hatch colsing as she left.

 

* * * * *

 

Amol stopped dead.

"Denara, we have to start running!"

Denara looked up. She saw it, too. A small ship with Imperial markings had landed only a few kilometers away.

They ran. They ran as fast as they could, adrenaline pumping through their vains.

 

* * * * *

 

Bastila flew across the landscape at 150 kph, her hair flying unruly behind her. The cool air invigorated her after months of being cooped up on a space ship.

She was gaining on the fast. Moving to the left to avoid a large outcrop of rocks, she increased speed to 200 kph. The engine whined, but she wouldn't stop. She was coming up to them fast. She unclipped her lightsaber from her belt, and prepared to jump.

 

* * * * *

 

The whine of a speeder bike engine met Amol's ears.

"Get down!" he called to Denara, who promptly dropped to the ground where she stood. A figure in a black Imperial Commander's uniform jumped off, igniting a lightsaber as he flipped through the air. No. She.

Amol ignited his own lightsaber, the green blade humming loudly. It met the red blade of the Jedi, filling the valley with a loud hissing sound. He brought his lightsaber down and around, blocking another attack from the woman. He pushed her away, sending her flipping through the air. She landed about 5 meters away.

"Mauj Dorak was right: you are powerful, Sahri. But you cannot defeat me!"

Amol, confused, blocked another attack as the woman came flying through the air at him. She attacked quickly. Amol was barely able to block them all, let alone get an attack of his own in. He blocked another series of attacks, then pulled his lightsaber down slightly, locking their sabers together. She triedpulling away, but he wouldn't let her. Her muscles screaming in protest, Bastila managed to push him back, breaking the saber lock, and once again creating a 5 meter space between them.

"Who are you?" he asked. "What do you want from me?"

Amol was forced to swing his lightsaber to the right, blocking her attack. He then swung it to the left and circled it up, trying to clip her saber arm. She blocked it, but only just. He tried again, this time aiming to hit her elbow. She had to twist around, but she blocked that as well.

 

Bastila blocked two attacks on her saber arm, then pushed back. She swung her lightsaber in a fast arch, in an effort to push him back. He took a step backwards. Then another.

 

Amol was forced to take a step backwards as the Jedi swun her lightsaber in fast archs aimed at his face. He stepped back again. He blocked her one more time, then kicked out with his leg. He hooked it around her shun, then pulled back. She fell to the ground at his feet, his lightsaber grazing her arm. He then pointed it at her chest.

"Who are you?" he asked her.

"She grunted in anger, her face livid.

"Who are you?" he asked agian, more forcefully.

"I am Del-Bastila Shan, pupil of Emperor Dorak."

"Dorak? What are you talking about?" he asked - the Emperor was named Sorvad, as far as he knew.

"There has been a change, Sahri. The Empire is now ruled by Mauj Dorak. The Jedi are in control now, and we will destroy you, Final One."

Amol was confused again. "What is Sahri? What do you mean by 'Final One'?"

Shan kicked out with her foot, hitting him hard in the chest. He doubled over, gasping for breath. Bastila jumped to her feet. She ran off - he was in to much pain to see where. He was gasping for air; she must have craked a few of his ribs. He distantly heard someone call his name, but he couldn't respond. He fell to the ground, clutching his broken ribs.

 

Denara watched as the woman kicked Amol in the ribs. She called out to him, but he didn't hear her. The Jedi did. She ran towards her, her lightsaber drawn. Denara pulled out her blaster, but never got off a single shot - the barrel was sliced off, and she was pulled to her feet, screaming Amol's name.

 

~Now I'll leave you hanging there for a few hours before continuing with the next chapter.

[The Doctor]

Chapter Seven

 

Denara struggled against her captor, but couldn't escape. The woman smacked her hard, and she almost fainted. Her head was spinning - the Jedi had hit her right where she had smacked her head during the crash. She vomitted, then everything went black.

 

Amol stood up slowly, shaking his head. She had Denara. The Jedi had Denara.

Adrenaline pushed the pain out of his mind, as he ran at impossible speed after the speeder bike. It was getting too far ahead - he couldn't catch up. He slowed down, falling to his knees. the last thing he remembered was his lightsaber falling to the ground with a dull thud, and the grassy plain rushing up towards him.

 

* * * * *

 

Bastila hit the struggling woman hard on the head. She went limp almost instantly. No longer having to control her prisoner, she accelerated to a gut wrenching 250kph. The Sahri fell behind quickly. Spotting the Ebon Hawk up ahead, Bastila began to decelerate, lest she crash into the opposite end of the garage bay. SHe rushed up the docking ramp, which had opened upon her approach. She dismounted the speeder, draggin the unconscious woman behind her. She threw the hostage into the small brig, just between the engine room and the battle room.

"Computer, activate containment field."

The harsh male voice spoke in acknowledgement, followed by a sharp click and a deep buzzing sound eminating from the field. "Begin ignition sequence."

The engines kickind into life, and the lights along the cieling went white, the computer having recognized her voice and deactivating the lockout mode. Bastila entered the cockpit, the lights on the consoles having returned to their normal blue, green, and white colours. She sat in the pilot seat. "Initiate launch sequence."

"Launch sequence initiated. Awaiting final command."

"Go." Bastila said irratibly - how she hated these damn computers.

The Ebon Hawk lifted off, creating small whirlwinds in it's wake.

 

Denara awoke to the sound of engines. She opened her eyes, her vision blurry. She sat up, rubbing her head.

"Stupid woman," she said out loud, not knowing whether she was reffering to Bastila or herself. How could she let herself be taken by this Jedi? Her training should have prevented that - her commanding officers would be ashamed of her if they could see her now.

"Especially Kelborn," she said out loud. She looked around the brig, studying in particular the containment field generators. They were not standard Imperial design, so she couldn't reliably tinker her way out. She dug into her pockets anyway, searching for her field kit - only to find that her pockets had been emptied. She swore, looking around the cell. She needed something to manipulate the circuits. Something long, thin, and non-conductable. She reached into her hair in sudden inspiration, pulling out her hair clip. She pulled the metal pin out, her long blonde hair cascading down her back. She put the rest of the clip in her pokcet, then, using the metal pin, pryed the primary circuit board out of it's place. She began tinkering with the wires, but they were a completely different system than she had ever seen before. Even she couldn't figure out which wire did what. A shadow fell over her, and she looked up. The Jedi had returned, and was smiling at her cruely.

"You might want to partition the flow regulation control circuits before you try cutting the power. You wouldn't want to burn off that pretty little face of yours."

Denara stood up, staring right into the woman's eyes. "I'll remember that. Where are you taking me?"

"Oh, you're going to help us capture your little friend."

"Amol? What do you want with him?"

"He is a threat to the Empire." was all the answer she got.

Denara was already getting frustrated. "Why me? You could have taken him if you wanted to. I don't believe you."

"He is far to powerful to be taken prisoner in the way you have been. No, you are bait. He will come for you."

"No he won't!" Denara cried. "He's smarter than that! He'll know this is a trap!"

"He will be too blinded by his feelings for you to to anything buy rescue you," Bastila said darkly. "Even if he does see it for what it is, he will still come."

"You're wrong," Denara said, trying to believe it herself. Her worries must have shown on her face - or the Jedi was reading her mind. Judging by the dark smile palying across Bastila's face, the latter was true.

"I hear everything you think, small creature. He will come, and you know it."

Denara stared into thise cold blue eyes, denying it with every fiber of her being - but knowing all along that it was true.

 

* * * * *

 

Amol stirred, his breathing slow - an regulated. His eyes shot open, his heart rate doubling. He realized that he was in a kolto tank. He couldn't make out faces or uniforms of the doctor's monitoring him, but could tell from the symbol on the wall that it was a Mandaloian Base. His heart rate returned to normal, and he felt the soothing heat of the kolto tank seep into his wounds, speeding the healing process. He breathed deeply through the oxygen mask, the combination of kolto and pure oxygen calming him beyond imagining.

 

He felt himself rising, and soon his head breached the surface of the liquid health restorative. He shook the kolto out of his eyes, as a doctor came towards him.

"Careful there, young man," he said, smiling. "The kolto has no doubt left you weaker than usual. Your strength will return momentarily.

"Thank you," he said, as the mask was removed from his face. The peacful cam was subsiding, and was tossed to the side as his memory rushed back.

"Denara!" he called, trying to stand. But his legs woudn't hold his weight, and he collapsed to the floor, his knees smashing against the metal floor.

Cullah came up to him, a look of deepest concern on his face.

"Amol, are you alright? What's happened?"

"Denara... taken. A Jedi calling herself..." he struggled to remember the name.

"Shan. Bastila Shan."

Cullah straightened. A young man in an ensigns uniform approached, holding a data pad in his hand.

"Captain, we've detected an Imperial ship in the system. It's a small craft, registration number 75983. Records indicate that it's the ISS Ebon Hawk."

"Send a squadron of fighters! That ship has my daughter on board!"

"Aye sir." he said, turning around and leaving the med bay. Amol stood, fighting the urge to fall over and sleep.

"Where is the Omega Dawn?"

Cullah shook his head. "You're not going anywhere, Amol. You're staying here so Doctor Pell can monitor your condition."

"No," argued Amol. "No, I have to go after her. It's my fault. Besides, if your troops manage to board her ship, they'll need my help."

"They'll do fine on their own," said Cullah.

"Not against a Del-Mauj, Cullah. I have to help them."

Cullah didn't like it, but Amol was right. Even his most skilled troops coudn't stand agains a Jedi, let alone the Del-Mauj herself. "Alright," he conceded. "But be careful. The Omega Dawn is in docking bay 3."

"Thanks you," Amol said. He took the clother the doctor handed him. He out them on, then ran as fast as he could to the docking bay.

 

* * * * *

 

Carth walked onto the bridge, his Greth-tel held in his hand. He tossed it to a lieutenant, who barely caught it by the handle.

He took his position at the head of the bridge, staring out at the blue star, which the natives of the system had dubed the 'Blue Eye', he thought of the vision that Dorak had showed him. Captain Fitlar came up to him.

"Admiral? What has happened? The Jedi have-"

"The Jedi are here under my protection, Captain," he said menacingly.

"I understand that Admiral, but-"

"But what, Captain?"

Filtar fell silent for a moment, then pressed on. "Sir, they have taken over the ship. They are-"

"They are acting in the best interests of the Empire, Captain," said Carth, even more menacingly. "We need the Jedi. There is a threat that Sordav had not forseen. He died for his ignorance."

This was more than Filtar could take. "What?! THe Emperor is dead? How.." it dawned on him. "Sir, have you clai-"

"NO CAPTAIN!" yelled Carth. "Mauj Dorak has taken Sorvad's place."

Filtar stood there, dumbfounded. "Sir, I-"

"I tire of this, Captain. Return to your position." he looked at the unmoving Filtar. "NOW!" he hollored.

Filtar saluted, then turned and walk to the command module.

[The Doctor]

Chapter Eight

 

Amol lept into the cockpit of the Omega Dawn, closing the cockpit seal behind him. Without going through the preflight sequence, he ignited the engines and took off faster than was recommended in a docking bay. He was the first one out of he bay, travelling as fast as the small fighter would go. He searched the on-board database for all knowledge the Confederation had on the EBon Hawk. There wasn't much; only a few schematics. He pulled up the most detailed one he could find. There were no blind spots large enough to hide the Omega Dawn. He swore. There had to be a way onto that ship. There had to be.

He hailed the base.

"Omega Dawn to base. Are we to far away to use the transporter?"

Cullah came over the channel. "It's to dangerous, Amol. It's not designed to handle life forms as complex as a human."

"Transport me over to that ship!"

"It's not safe, Amol."

"I don't care! If you don't transport me to that ship then your daughter will die!"

There was a silence. Amol knew he had gone too far, but he didn't care/

"Cullah, please."

There was silence for another moment. "How do you plan to get off that ship once you've-"

"I'll worry about that when I need to. Right now, all I want to do is save Denara! transport now!"

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, Amol felt a tingling in his spine, and he was surrounded by a purplish shimmer. He felt his body being taken apart piece by piece, molecule by molecule. The Omega Dawn, now on autopilot, dissolved in front of him, replaced by the dark interior of an Imperial ship. He heard klaxons around him, but he ignored them. He was in what looked like a storage bay. Taking his lightsaber off of his belt, he readied himself for another battle with that Jedi woman, walking towards logic told him the cockpit would be. He had to face the Jedi first, or Denara would just be in more danger. He turned left out of the cckpit, and followed the hallway around a curve, finding himself in a large open room with an isomorphic projector in the center. He heard a woman's voice speaking to the computer - it wasn't Denara. He walked slowly towards the cockpit, shielding his mind from detection. With any luck, the Jedi wouldn't hear him until he was right behind her.

A deep male voice startled him. "Intruder detected."

After a moment, the Jedi came around the corner, her lightsaber drawn.

"So, you followed. Much sooner than I expected, but not an unwelcome development."

"Where's Denara?" he asked harshly.

"Your lady friend? She's quite safe. For the moment." a small smile formed on her lips.

"Release her to me now, Jedi scum!" He ignited his lightsaber.

"Don't be a fool. A battle here would destory this ship, and kill your precious 'Denara'. No, you will surrender, give me your weapon, and join her in confinement."

Amol raised his lightsaber, pointing it at her chest. "I don't think so," he said simply. "You will give me your weapon, and the you're the one going into confinement."

"You really think you have an advantage? With a single command, I can fill your friends cell with denebian nerve gas, killing her within seconds," her smile grew wider and crueler. "You don't have a choice, Sahri. Surrender."

Amol knew she was right. He wanted to end this now - just lunge forward and impale her on his lightsaber. But she would have enough time to signal the computer to kill Denara. He couldn't let that happen. Slowly, he lowered his lightsaber, then deactivated it. He threw it to the ground at his feet.

She pointed her lightsaber at his face. "Move," she commanded.

Amol turned around, walking slowly towards the brig. There was Denara, the gash on her head a faint green. Bastila lowered the forcefield, pushed him in, and activated it again. Amol bent down and checked Denara's pulse. It was steady, and she was breathing normally. He closed his eyes, his hand just above the wound on her head, and will the Force to wrap itself around her wound. It cleared up slightlly, the green fading to the dark red of dried blood.

 

Denara felt a stinging pain in the cut on her head and opened her eyes. Someone was crouching over her, their hand only inches from her forehead. She felt a gentle tingling on her head, as the wound closed up. The hand moved away, and she got a clear view of his face. It was Amol.

She sat up, throwing her arms around him. She breathed in his scent, feeling his strong arms wrap around her. They broke apart, his hand still around her waist.

"Where are we? What's-" she noticed that the forcefield was active, and her heart plunged into her stomach. "They have you, too," she said dully.

"Yeah. It's ok though, we're going to get out of her."

"Amol, you should have let her take me," she said. "She was using me to get to you."

"I know. But I don't care. I wasn't going to let the Empire send you to some mining colony for the rest of your life."

She sighed, turning away from him. Tears began to well up in her eyes. She wiped them away, trying to hide them from him.

It didn't work. He reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, it's ok. It's not your-"

"Don't say it's not my fault, because it is!"

"How is it your fault that I care about you?"

She pulled away from him, tears pouring down her face. She didn't say anything.

"Denara, we're going to get out of this, ok? I promise."

She couldn't stop crying. She turned back to him, throwing herself into his arms.

After about ten minutes, the ship rocked a few times, then lurched forward, the engine whining sharply.

"We've entered hyperspace."

 

* * * * *

 

Bastila sat in the cockpit, her mind dwelling on the man who had risked his life to save that useless woman. She gritted her teeth. There was once a man who had done that for her. He was died for his foolishness, and his followers had been forced to flee from the wrath of the Empire.

How could this man bring down the Empire? He was no older than her, and he was a fool. She heard the woman crying, and could only assume that the weak excuse for a man was comforting her. Any real man would let her cry. Hell, no real woman would cry like that. Crying was a sign of weakness.

The Ebon Hawk rocked sharply as the fighters pursuing her caught up. She executed evasive maneuvers, calculating the hyperspace jump back to her Master's ship.

The nav station behind her exploded, sending pieces of metal in all directions. She pushed one of a course for the back of her head, then returned to her calculations. She punched in the numbers the computer fed her, then pulled the black lever in front of her. The Hawk lurched forward, and the stars shifted into starlines, the into the dark, blotted tunnel that was hyperspace.

 

* * * * *

 

Lashowe lay in the Admiral's bed, waiting for him to get home. She hated having to submit to that foul beast of a man, but she didn't have a choice. He had been considerably quicker to anger than normal since that Jedi, Dorak, had claimed the Imperial throne. Word travelled fast, especially when it concerned a new Emperor. She rolled over on her side. I hate these nights, she thought, as the door opened and Carth walked into the room.

 

Carth stood in his quarters, staring at his reflection in the mirror. He examined the scar running down his left cheek, and the old plasma burn injusy on his left arm. He put his hands under the tap, which released a stream of ice cold water. He threw it in his face. He couldn't get the images Dorak had shown him out of his head. He dryed his face with a dark, somewhat moldy smelling cloth. He threw it to the bathroom floor, then walked towards his bed. Lashowe lay there, rolling over as he sat on the bed, his back to her.

"What is it?" she asked.

How he hated nosy concubines. "Nothing," he snapped.

She wasn't detered that easily. "It's Dorak, isn't it? He's done something to you."

Carth stood up, turning on her. "He's opened my eyes. Now I see how foolish Sorvad really is - was."

"What are you talking about? How is a Jedi Emperor going to help us in any way? Their an inferior form of life, Carth."

He ignored the use of his first name - normally he would have hit her for it, but he let it go for now. "You don't give the Jedi wnough credit. Their... mutations... have given them abilities we could only dream of! Imagine being able to kill someone with a single thought. The Confederation would fall to us in a matter of days! I can't explain how, but I know that Dorak is acting in the best interests of the Empire."

"What did he do to you? This isn't like you."

"He showed me the Empire's true enemy. It's not the Rebels, or even the Confederation. It's one man. One man could take down the entire Empire. Dorak and his Jedi have the power to stop that from happening."

Lashowe sat up and crawled towards him, grabbing his hand and pulling him onto the bed. She wrapped her arms around him from behind, kissing his back.

"I hate answering to a Jedi, but I don't have a choice. Defying him would be treason."

"Well, if you're going to commit treason..." Lashowe started carefully. "Why not go all the way?"

Carth turned his head slightly. "What do you mean?"

She smiled, putting her head on his shoulder. "Maybe we don't need a Jedi Emperor for very long. Once the threat to the Empire is eliminated, you could..." she kissed his ear. "Take matters into your own hands, as it were."

Carth grabbed her arm, which had been massaging his neck, and turned around to face her. "Kill Dorak?"

"Why not? He's not Emperor material," she said with a smile. "Imagine it: Emperor Carth Onasi."

These words stirred something in his soul. He inhaled slowly. "Emperor?"

"Yes. You could rule the galaxy. Unopposed. Let Dorak have his fun chasing some stupid rebel. He won't be watching you."

"Yes," he said slowly. "I could rule the galaxy."

Lashowe smiled, kissing his neck. "The Confederation wouldn't stand a chance againt you. Your excellency."

Carth looked at her intently. "I knew I kept you around for a reason," he said.

Lashowe smiled, then lay down on the bed, Carth laying on top of her.

[JasraLantill]

And the plot thickens!! And what an evil Carth. Just Ee-ville! I love it.

 

And the music is just perfect!

[The Doctor]

The plot will thicken considerably, I promise!

[The Doctor]

Chapter Nine

 

Dorak stared at the white dwarf star outside the window, which was glowing with a faint blue light. The bright light, tinted to a safe level by the transparasteel window, seemed to hypnotize him. He stared into it's depths, his thoughts straying to his childhood. He cringed as he remembered the beatings. Hate rose up insode him, threatening to engulf him. He hated his father, and his lowlife mother was worse - at least his father wasn't a filthy halfbreed like her. He despised the alien DNA pumping in his blood. He turned from the window, the chair tipping over, even though he didn't touch it. He felt the Force rolling through him in his rage. He stopped, trying to regain control. He couldn't let his emotions control him. He forced himself to remember his teachings. His Master had been just as bad as his father, but again, at least he had been human. He smiled in satisfaction as he remembered the day he had killed his master. The thought of that achievment filled him with pride, crushing the hate that had filled him. The comlink beeped.

"Admiral Onasi, please report to the docking bay."

Dorak pushed down the emotions that were consuming him, and stepped out of the room. Bastila had returned.

 

* * * * *

 

Carth rolled off of Lashowe, panting. The comlink beeped.

"Admiral Onasi, please report to the docking bay."

He grunted, then sat up, pulling on his uniform. Lashowe watched him get dressed.

"You aren't going to turn me in for treason, are you?" she asked him jokingly.

He smiled. "Of course not. Why would I want to get rid of such a wonderful consort?"

She smiled. He kissed her, then stood and left the room.

 

* * * * *

 

Bastila keyed the com panel, opening a frequency to the flag ship.

"Ebon Hawk to Endar Spire. Do you copy?"

A female voice responded. "Ebon Hawk, we are receiving your transmission. Stand by for docking clearence."

Bastila waited for three heartbeats before responding. "Is there a problem?" she asked.

"No ma'am, you are cleared for docking."

Bastila guided the ship into the docking bay, landing it smoothly in section A. She signaled for prisoner assistance, then waited for the acknowlegment. When it came, she stood, locked out the computer, and left the cockpit.

 

* * * * *

 

Amol stood as the ship rocked gently again.

"We've landed," he said. "Stand up, we don't want to give them any reason to get mad."

Denara stood, standing close beside Amol. She was terrified, but would never let him know.

Three men in black uniforms carrying large blaster rifles approached the brig, two taking up positions on each side of the cell, the third, who, judging by the number of glod bars on his collar, was the leader, stood at the end of the hall, waiting for Bastila. They heard his voice.

"Admiral Onasi wants them taken to cell block 3. He want's to interrogate the male personally."

"Very well," said Bastila. She walked to the control panel, keyed the release conbination, and stood back as the force field vanished. The soldiers aimed their weapons at them, their trigger fingers ready.

"Put your hands on your head, rebel scum," the leader said, pointing his rifle at Denara's face. She raised her hands slowly, then placed them behind her head. They were lead down the hall to the docking ramp.

 

* * * * *

 

Carth stood at the bottom of the docking ramp. There were armed guards around the room. Three of them walked up the ramo to assist Bastila with her prisoners. Dorak walked up behind him.

"Can you feel him, Admiral? The Sahri. We have him!"

"I can feel it," said Carth, amazed. "I can sense him. The power he holds."

"Everyone on the ship can feel him. That is how powerful he is, Admiral. Now do you see how foolish Sorvad truely was?"

"Yes," hissed Carth, anger towards the late Emperor rising in his chest. For the first time since it had happened, Carth was glad that Dorak was now Emperor - for now. He quickly buried this thought.

 

* * * * *

 

Amol stepped off the ramp. He saw a number of soldiers flanking a man whose face had been burned into his memory since he had joined the resistance - Admiral Carth Onasi. A Jedi stood beside him. Amol recognized him too, but he couldn't place him. He was from the southern continents of Korriban, judging by the dark colour of his skin. He was bald except for a little bit of hair along the side of his head. The hair he did have was grey, as were his eyes. He had a scar over his right eye. The guards stopped them in front of Onasi and the Jedi.

"Greetings, Sahri," said the Jedi, his voice cold and gravelly. "I have waited a long time to meet you."

Onasi stepped forward. "Bow to the Emperor, Rebel dogs!" The guards kicked Amol in the back of the knee, forcing him to the ground. Denara fell beside him, gasping in pain.

"Let her go, Jedi," said Amol, looking straight at the Jedi. "It's me you want. I'm the Malatan."

"YOU WILL ADDRESS HIM AS 'YOUR EXCELLENCY!" yelled Carth, pulling his dagger from his belt and slicing it across Amol's cheek.

"Stand down, Admiral," said the Jedi calmly. "No. She will stay with you. I would hate to seperate such... close friends," he continued, looking Amol right in the eye, a cruel smile forming on his dry looking lips.

"Commander, take them to cell block three," ordered the Admiral.

"Yes sir."

Amol was pulled to his feet. He felt the business end of the guards blaster rifle in his back, and walked in the direction he was guided.

 

* * * * *

 

He tentatively reached out his hand, palm flat and facing outwards. He pulled it back sharply as the air buzzed and crackled, sending a sharp pain down his arm.

"This is more powerful forcefield than the one on the Ebon Hawk," said Amol, walking towards the bench and sitting next to Denara. "We'll never be able to break it down without tools."

"That Jedi took my kit before you came on board," said Denara dully. The doors to the brig opened, and Onasi entered, flanked by two Imperial soldiers in full armour.

Elite Warriors? Amol thought. They must really be scared of me.

"Lower the forcefield," ordered Carth. One of the soldiers walked over to the trminal, the other raising his weapon and aiming it at Amol and Denara. Amol stood, walking to the edge of the forcefield. He knew what was coming.

The forcefield dropped, and they were both pulled out of their cells.

[The Doctor]

First off, I've finished Chapter Nine. You should read the rest of it first.

 

Chapter Ten

 

Amol screamed as the hilt of Onasi's curved sword hit him hard in the chest, cracking his ribs. He tried to brace himself for the next, but it came too quickly - this time in the face.

"This would be much more productive," he said thickly, blood coming from his mout. "If you happened to be asking me questions. That's the whole idea behind an intero-"

he groaned as the sword hit him again in the chest.

"You're really starting to piss me off, you know that?" hissed Onasi, only inches from his face. He kicked him in the stomach, then hit him in the face with the hilt of the sword again. He passed the sword to one of the guards, reared back, and punched him hard in the jaw.

"Now," he said, massaging his knuckles. "You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I start breaking bones."

"Foget it, Admiral. I'm not answering any of your questions. You can do whatever you want to me."

Onasi punched him in the jaw again. "Where is the Betasis?" he demanded.

"I don't know what you're talking about," lied Amol.

"Allow me to refresh your memory," said Carth, throwing another fist at his face. "The Imperial cruiser that went missing in the Yavin Badlands. Where is it?"

Amol said nothing for a moment. "I forget. I think we lost it."

Carth growled, kicking him in the stomach. "I won't tolerate that for much longer!"

"And I thank you for putting up with me so far."

Carth cracked his knuckles, but didn't attack. "You're strong willed, rebel. But I will break you."

"Not before you break your wrist. Learn to punch like a man."

Carth took his Greth-tel again and slashed it across bare chest, leaving a bloody gash.

"You can't take this forever, Malatan."

"I can try."

Carth turned around, throwing the Greth-tel back to the soldier. "Yes," he growled. "Yes, I suppose you can."

He snapped his fingers, and the door opened. Two more guards entered the room, pushing Denara through before them. She fell to the ground, the guards pointing their weapons at her. Her

"If you refuse to answer my questions, she will suffer."

Amol stared at Denara. She stared right back at him, a fierce look in her eye.

"Don't do it, Amol," she said darkly. "Don't answer him!"

Carth kicked her in the side of the head. "Shut up, woman! You will speak only when spoken to!"

Denara struggled to stay concious for what felt like the hundredth time in a matter of hours. She was getting quite good at it.

Carth turned to Amol. "Now, where is the Betasis?"

Amol continued to stare at Denara, who lay on the floor, barely concious. Amol's two basic instincts waged a war inside his mind: his desire to protect Denara, and his refusal to aid the Empire in any way. He had to protect her. He had to.

"I'm waiting!" snarled Carth.

I'm sorry, Denara.... he thought. "It's.... it's in the Dyboli system," he said.

Carth smiled darkly. "You think you can lie to me?" he whispered. "We searched the Dyboli system!"

"Then I was lied to," said Amol.

Carth made sto strike him again, but a harsh voice stopped him. "He's telling the truth, Admiral."

Dorak had walked into the room. "I sense no deception from him," he continued. "He is telling the truth - or, what he believes to be the truth."

Amol was again struck by the familiarity of the voice, the recognition of his face. He knew this old Jedi, but he didn't know how.....

Dorak looked at him. "Besides, he would not lie when the life of the woman he loves is in danger," he said.

 

Denara's head snapped up. "What are you talking about?" she asked. Carth struck her again. "I WILL NOT WARN YOU AGAIN, FEMALE!" She fell back to the deck, holding her head. Carth turned to Amol. "What is the Confederation planning on doing with the Betasis?"

Amol didn't want to answer, but he had to. "They're.... studying Imperial technology - trying to find a weakness in your ships."

Carth laughed triumphantly. "They won't find any!"

"That doesn't mean they can't try," spat Amol.

"They will fail! They will fall to the Empire!"

"They will find a weakness, Admiral. Trust me," Amol said, laughing. "Even you can't stop them!"

Carth swung his fist again. Amol felt his nose begin to bleed as well as his lip. The comlink beeped, and a voice came over the ship's speakers as klaxons filled the ship.

"Admiral Onasi and Lord Dorak, please report to the bridge. We are under attack!"

[The Doctor]

~Cameo coming up! Just a heads up! Sorry to her fans, but she's only a minor character in this part of the story! Stay tuned for the (POSSIBLE) sequel!

 

Chapter Eleven

 

Carth and Dorak both left the room at a run, leaving Denara on the floor and Amol trapped. The guards approached Denara, ready to pull her up and throw her against the wall, where she couldn't escape without going past them.

A purple shimmer appeared behind them, and six Mandalorian Marines opened fire at the guards, sending the falling to the ground. Denara looked at them, stunned.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" the leader, a Major, asked her.

"Yes, I'm fine," she said, trying to stand up. She fell to the floor again as a sharp pain went up her back. One of the marines knelt down beside her with a medical scanner.

"She's got a few broken ribs, and she's taken a few hits to the spine by the Force knows what kind of Imperial weapons."

"This one's got it worse," said another, who was examining Amol. "He's got a few broken ribs - one of them has pierced his left lung. He has multiple broken bones, and a solid concusion. I'm reading massive internal bleeding. He need immidiate surgery."

"Let's get them back to the ship," said the Major.

"How did you-" Denara began, but the Major stopped her.

"We don't have much time. Any minute now, Onasi and Dorak will find out that there is no attack, and they'll come running back here. We'll explain back on the ship."

He helped her up, then activated his comlink.

"Major Hayes to the Brightwing, we've got them. Eight for transport."

The door opened again, and a dozen Imperial troops entered the room, their weapons firing. One of the marines fell to the ground, but a second later, all of them vanished in a swirl of purple light.

 

* * * * *

 

Carth stepped onto the bridge, pushing a lieutenant out of his way.

"Report Captain!" he barked.

The Captain looked at him curiously. "All systems are normal, Admiral."

"What about the attack, Captain?"

"Attack, sir? There is no-"

"Sir, weapons fire. Deck 8, section 6," interupted the operations officer. "Security teams have been dispatched."

"THE PRISONER! Ensign, scan for Confederation ships. NOW!"

The ops officer turned back to his console. "I'm not reading any- hold on. I'm reading a light cruiser coordinates 663 mark 9."

"Weapons! Spacial torpedos, full spread! Fire when ready!"

 

* * * * *

 

Cullah held on tightly to his chair as the Brightwing took three torpedos to the port engine.

"Transporter room to bridge, we've got them!"

"Helm, get us out of here, maximum speed," ordered Cullah. "Go to hyperspace as soon as we're out of the Endar Spire's gravity well."

"Aye sir. Firing engines."

The Brightwing shook again as another volly of Imperial torpedos struck it's hull. The coolant vents running in the cieling ruptured, spewing coolant all over the place.

"Report!" barked Cullah, trying to make himself heard over the din of the coolant pipe.

"We've lost secondary systems! Deflector shield are down to 64 percent!"

"Helm, how soon can you get us out of here?"

"Give me one more minute." she responded impatiently.

"You're doing fine, Mission. Just keep us steady."

"Aye sir. Plotting hyperspace course. We'll reach hyperspace in five.... four.... three.... two.... one...."

Nothing happened. Cullah looked at Mission.

"Give or take," she said. The Brightwing lurched forward slightly as the stars outside stretched into starlines, then became the blotted tunnel of hyperspace.

 

* * * * *

 

Carth stared at where the Mandalorian ship had been a few seconds ago. The bridge was deathly quiet. He turned to the Captain, who had been trying as hard as he could to prevent their escape.

"Captain. My ready room. Now. Commander, you have the bridge," he snapped at the first officer, who saluted before taking a seat in the captain's chair. My chair, now he thought to himself. He didn't know if it was a good thing or not....

[The Doctor]

Chapter Twelve

 

Denara lay on the bed in the Brightwing's medical bay. She let the doctor's scan her without complaint, something she had never done before - she hated doctors. She even let them pump her full of drugs for the pain.

 

She looked over at Amol's bed. His eyes were closed, and an oxygen mask had been secured around his face.

"Why isn't he in a kolto tank?" she asked the doctor standing over her.

"This ship isn't equipped with one," she said darkly. "It's meant to be a short range science vessel - it's not designed for any kind of mission that warrants one."

"Then why send it to rescue us?"

"It's the fastest ship that was available," she said. "Now you need to rest. He'll be alright, don't worry."

She tried sitting up, but the doctor pushed her gently back down. "I mean it, Denara," she said sternly. "Your father would have my head on a plate if I let you get up."

"What's his condition?"

"He fine, Denara. We're on a course for Telos - it has one of the most advnaced medical laboratories in the Confederation."

Denara was still worred, but she let it go - there was nothing she could do. The doctor injected her with another greenish drug.

"Thank you, Celia," she muttered, her eyes drifting shut.

 

Every bone in his body ached. He inhaled deeply, then coughed - he wasn't expecting pure oxygen. He opened his eyes, and saw the tip of an oxygen mask over his nose. He looked around the room. The doctor was standing by another bed, presumably Denara's. He tried to speak, but couldn't get his voice to work. He tried sitting up, but stopped as a wave of nasuea hit him. He managed a groan of pain, catching the doctor's attention. She cam over to his bed, checking the readings on the console.

"It's alright, you're safe now. I'm doctor Grales. You're onboard a Confederation ship."

Amol struggled to make himself heard through the mask. "Denara....."

"She's here. She resting. SHe wasn;t to badly injured," she said consolingly. "You, on the other hand, are in bad shape. You have six broken ribs, and you've lost a lot of blood. I've stopped the internal bleeding, and I've repared most of the cosmetic damage. But your left lung was pierced by one of the broken ribs, and I can't repair that kind of damage. You'll have to stay here until your other lung can adapt and pick up the slack."

Amol tried to understand what she was saying, but his brain wasn't operating well enough to distinguish one word from the next. He tried to speak again, but all that came out was a gasp of pain as he accidentaly shifted his weight onto one of his broken ribs.

"Just lie still. Neither of you are in any danger anymore. Just try to relax - we'll be arriving at Telos in a few hours. They can do more for you there than I can."

Amol tried to stay awake, but he couldn't. His eyes drifted shut, and he fainted.

 

* * * * *

 

Commander Kalton stood as Admiral Onasi returned to the bridge. He had blood on his shoes, and his greth-tel was not in it's holst on his back. He looked at a soldier standing outside the ready room, the gestured violently towards the ready room. The soldier left to clean up the Admiral's mess.

"Captain. Extrapolate their course. I want that ship found, no excuses!"

Kalton saluted. "Yes sir thank you Admiral!"

He turned to the operations officer. Time to show the Admiral what I can do.... he thought. "Ensign! You heard him! Find that ship!"

[The Doctor]

^ Sorry for the short chapter. I had writers block. I'm working on getting it out of the way, but it's harder than it sounds.

 

Chapter Thirteen

 

Bastila watched as the Republic ship dissapeared from their scanners. She looked over at Onasi. His jaw was cleched, and he was staring into space, almost exactly where the ship had been seconds before. She watched as he lead the Captain into his ready room. She hated to think about how the Captain would die.....

She turned and left the bridge, entering the turboshaft. "Deck 7, crew quarters," she said sharply. The pod began moving. After a moment, it opened, and she stepped into the familiar hallway that led to her quarters. She reached her doorway, keyed the lock, and entered.

God, I need a shower, she though to herself. She walked into the bathroom, removing her uniform. She turned on the water, waiting for it to reach the right twmperature, and stepped in. She revelled in the warm water cleansing every scrap of filth out of her skin.

After almost twenty minutes, she turned off the water, grabbing a clean towel from the rack. She dried off, walking to her bed. She put on her nightgown, then stared out the viewport at the white dwarf they were in opbit of.

She jumped as the door chimed. "Come," she said, adjusting the night gown so that it covered her better.

The door opened, and Admiral Onasi stood in the doorway. "Is this a bad time?" he asked, smiling, as he noticed the nightgown she was wearing.

"As a matter of fact..." she responded. Oh, how she hated that man....

"Come one, it's nothing I haven't seen before," he said, stepping in, the door closing behind him. She picked up her robe, throwing it on.

Carth laughed. "Give me a break," he said, ripping it off of her and pulling her towards him."Remove your arm, or I will remove it for you!" she yelled, grabbing his wrist.

He laughed, not letting go of her. "You know, you're almost as bad as Lashowe."

"Don't compare me to your pet female!" she spat.

"But you are my pet female," he said. "Sorry," he said, seeing the look on her face. "Dorak's pet female."

She yearned to pull her lightsaber on him and slice into his throat - but she didn't dare. Admiral Onasi had friends in high places.

"Tell me," he said carefully. "Are you loyal to the Empire?"

Bastila stared at him. "Of course I am," she said.

"And does that mean you give your loyalty to the Emperor, or Commanders who serve him?"

Where is he going with this? she asker herself. Out loud, she said "What do you mean?"

Carth laughed. "I'm just saying... perhaps.... perhaps you should consider where your loyalties lie..." he reached up and stroked her cheek. "Dorak may not be Emperor for very long."

Bastila swatted the hand away. "Fiesty, aren't you?" he said. "Just how I like them..."

She reached out her hand, and her lightsaber came flying to her. She held the hilt at his throat, and placed her finger on the activation switch.

"Give me one good reason, Onasi," she said bitterly. "And I swear I'll rip out your throat and feed it to you."

Carth just looked at her, a small smile on his lips. "Go ahead," he tautned. "Kill me. You'll only be killing yourself."

She didn;t move. He took advantage of her moment of indecision, grabbing her hand and forcing the lightsaber to fall to the ground. He twisted her hand behind her back as he had with Kaytok, and once again pulled his long dagger from it's sheith on his belt. "Think about it, Jedi," he hissed into her ear. "Dorak may not be around for much longer."

He ran the knife gently across her shoulder, leaving a shallow cut. He turned her around, kissed her, and threw her to the floor. He turned around, kicking her lightsaber across the floor, and left the room without looking at her again.

 

* * * * *

 

Bastila stood and walked to the mirror in the bathroom. She examined the cut on her shoulder. She spat on the floor, trying to rid the feeling of his kiss from her mouth. She activated the sink and washed the cut. She took a small cylindrical device from the drawer and ran it over the wound. It closed up almost instantly, leaving only a faint scar along her shoulder and neck. She replaced the device in the drawer, then returned to the bedroom. She pulled her lightsaber out from underneath the bed, and placed it on her nightstand. She moved to the door, and locked it with a heavy excryption code, just in case Onasi decided to pay her another visit.

She toyed with the idea of going to Dorak and telling him about what Onasi had said - he would certainly want to know. But something held her back. She couldn't explain it, even to herself, but she knew it had to stay between her and Carth.

But oh, how she loathed that man. She regretted ever letting him touch her. Her thoughts strayed to Him..... Revan....

She mentally shook herself. Stop! she ordered herself. He was weak. He deserved his fate.

But did he? She moved to the window, once again staring into the depths of the white dwarf. According to the database, the inhabitants of the thirs planet, the only sentients in the system, reffered to it as the Blue Eye.

What a beautiful star.

The thought came unbidden into her mind. She shook her head again, trying to remain in control. But she couldn't. She kept thinking about her time with Revan.... she remembered Mission, the mouthy little Twi'Lek who she had hated like a daughter.... the Cathar female - the one she had killed, forcing away the man she had loved...

she fought back tears. I can't give in to my emotions, she told herself. Love is hate. How true those words seemes to her. She had killed another woman for the man she loved, but that action had made him hate her more than andything in the galaxy....

She couldn't hold it in any more. She fell onto the bed, her face buried in her pillow, tears puring freely.

 

* * * * *

 

Carth walked down the hallway away from Bastila's room. He needed her help. He had tried to come up with a way to do it without her, but he couldn't. No matter what he did, he was going to need her. How to get her to cooperate when she despised him so much?

"Deck 3, officer quarters," he said. The pod began to move up. It stopped, the doors opening. He walked down the hallway, trying to formulate a plan to gain her trust...

He entered his room to find Lashowe asleep. He walked past the bed and straight to the window, looking at what the crew now refferred to as the Blue Eye. He heard movement behind him, and moved his hand slowly towards his dagger.

"It's ok, it's me," said Lashowe groggily. He turned to ee her now sitting up in the bed, yawning at him. "What is it?" she asked.

He didn't answer right away. "It's Bastila," he said shortly.

"What about her?" asked Lashowe. "I though you were going to kill her along with Dorak?"

"I can't," he said birtterly. "I wish I could, but I need her help. I can't kill a Jedi without the help of another."

Lashowe looked at him curiously. "Why not let this prisoner of your kill him> He's a Jedi, isn't?"

"A Malatan, but close enough," said Carth. "I can't do that either. He's escaped."

"What?!" said Lashowe, untangling herself from the bedsheets. "How?!"

"I don't know," he said sourly. "They managed to hack into the communications system, and-"

"Who?"

"Don't interrupt me!" he yelled. "A Confederate ship, who else?"

"I'm sorry, your excellency."

He laughed. "You certainly know how to gain favour, don't you?"

"I certainly do," she said flirtasiously. "Come to bed."

Carth turned away from her and walked to the other end of the room. "How the hell," he said. "Am I going to do this?"

Lashowe sighed. There was no way to distract him from this. "I don't know," she said.

He unsheithed his dagger and threw it at the wall in anger. It dug into the wall almost four inches deep. He walked over to it and pulled it out easily. It hit him That's what he needed to do.

"What?" asked Lashowe eagerly, seeing the change of his expression. "What is it?"

"The Sahri. I can get him to help me!"

Lashowe rolled her eyes. Didn't I just suggest the same thing? Luckily for her, Carth didn't see it. "What do you mean?"

"He wishes to destroy the Empire. Why not let him? if he kills Dorak, as he is destined to do, Bastila will seek vengence! She will destroy him, and submit to the new Emperor!"

"Whoever that may be," said Lashowe cautsiously.

Carth inhaled deeply. "Can you feel it, my rih-hara-tan?" he said. "The galaxy will be mine!"

[JasraLantill]

It will be interesting to see how Bastila eventually decides to deal with evil Carth. I imagine that whatever she has in mind, it won't be pleasant. Good chapter!

[The Doctor]

This chapter takes place three weeks after the previous. The Endar Spire has left the area of space containing the 'Blue Eye' in the region of space known as the Deltic Expanse. It has stooped in orbit of a planet known as Cartalia.

 

Chapter Fourteen

 

Bastila walked across the surface of Metibelis III, her cloak up over her head. She looked around quickly to see if she had been followed, then entered a ratty looking building with a large sign over it reading "Wounded Yelt".

She opened the door, and the smell of stale alcohol nearly knocked her over. She pushed on - oh, how she needed a decent drink.

"Hey baby," said a man at a table near the door. "How about you an-"

"No," she said fermly.

"Come on. You-"

She waved her hand, reaching out with the Force. "You don't want anything to do with me," she said.

"Ahh, you're not worth my time," he said, turning around and returning to his drink.

Bastila proceeded to the bar. The bartender didn't seem to notice her. She knocker on the bar, and he loked up, startled. "What the he- Oh, what can I do for you, little lady?"

"Give me a Tarkalian Brandy," she said. "No. Make it a double."

The bartender pulled a dusty looking bottle from inder the bar, and an equally dusty glass.

"For a lady like you, that's 15 credits."

She handed over 20 credits, then turned her attention to her drink, the bartender turning his back to her.

A small little man in a dirty cloak walked up to her and spoke so quietly that she wasn't even sure at first that he was speaking to her.

"I have information that might interest your Imperial master."

She didn't look at him, but looking at her drink. "What make you think I have Imperial masters?"

"Any broad wearing a cloak like that on this planet is a Jedi," he said. "You want to blend in, dress as a prostitute. You'll actually get less attention."

"I'll remember that," she said. "Now go away."

He laughed quietly. "I think you'll want to hear this. Admiral Onasi would... appreciate it... if you could bring this to his attention..."

"Admiral Onasi," she said bitterly. "Appreciates me enough."

"I see. Well... then perhaps I should take my business... elsewhere."

"You do that," she said.

He didn't move. "Are you sure you don't want to know this?"

This guy won't give up! she thought to herself. "Alright, if it will get you to leave, then tell me."

The bartender brought a dark green drink to the man - he must have been a regular. "Have you ever heard," he began. "Of the Deltic Expanse?"

Bastila rooled her eyes. "No," she said sarcastically. "Everyone's heard of the Deltic Expanse, worm."

"Then you know about the odd... singularities?"

"Of course I do," she spat. It sounded like he was wasting her time.

"Then you'll know of the ship disapperarences?"

She rolled her eyes. "You expect Admiral Onasi to be impressed with the fact that I can state common knowledge?"

He laughed. "Alright, point taken. But... there are some.... events.... that are not common knowledge. Events that-"

"Are you done yet?" asked Bastila.

"Alright. I'll get straight to the point," he said. "There are more than ship disapperaences. There are also apperances. Most of them are destroyed by the singularities, but not before-"

"The Imperial Science directorate has determined that those are nothing more than sensor ghosts."

"The Empire is wrong!" he said, louder than the rest of their conversation had been. "I have seen one with my own eyes."

"Really..." said Bastila skeptically. "Let me guess. You want to sell it to me?"

"No," he said, as if he were insulted. "I do not actually posses the ship. But I can show you how to get to it."

"For a price, of course."

He blushed sligtly. "Nothing that the Empire cannot afford."

"Alright, I'll humour you," she said, looking at him for the first time. "Name your price for this... information."

He looked her right in the eye for a moment. "10 000 000."

Bastila laughed. "The Empire is not a charity. You will not get that much simply for imformation that may or may not be true."

"I give you my word that it is true!"

"And how much is your word worth to us? Who are you, anyway?"

"My apologies. I am known as Sgale."

"Well, 'Sgale'. I'm Bas-"

"Bastila Shan, Del of first Mauj Dorak." he finished for her.

"So you know me," she said, arching an eyebrow.

"Everybody knows you," he said with a peevish grin.

"I would feel better about this," she said. "If you could give me some kind of proof."

"You know," he responded. "I was hoping you'd ask."

 

* * * * *

 

Carth walked into the briefing room. "This'd better be good, Shan. I-" he stopped, seeing the small, dirty little man sitting in the chair, Bastila standing behind him.

"Admiral Onasi. This is Sgale. He has some... information... that he beliefs you might want to hear."

Carth eyed the little man. "I don't have a lot of time, runt," he said. "Make this quick. I'm not in a good mood."

What else is new? Bastila thought to herself.

"Well?!" barked Carth, as he sat at the other end of the table.

"Well Admiral, I assume you know a great deal about the Deltic Expanse?"

Carth looked at Bastila. She knew what he was thinking.

Is this a joke?

"I do," he said, restraining himself from throwing his dagger at the little worm.

"As you know, there are numerous anomolies affecting that particular area of space, do to the influence of what the natives of the system have so lovingly dubbed the 'Blue Eye'." He stood, walking over to the computer terminal on the wall and punching in a few commands.

"The 'Blue Eye' is a white dwarf star, emitting intense radiogenic particles, which-"

"I have an education in basic particle theory, mr Sgale!" spat Carth.

"Of course, Admiral," he said apologetically. He punched a few more commands into the console. "Do you know what this is?"

He pointed to the screen at a small body of rock and metal ores. Carth was barely able to keep himself from jumiong across the table and ripping the man's eyes out and replacing them with his genitles.

"You are trying my patience, mr. Sgale..." he said warningly.

Sgale punched in another few commands, and the view of the asteroid expanded, filling the screen. A large fissure could be seen, in which appeared to be....

"Is that an Imperial ship?" asked Onasi, squinting.

"No. But it is... human."

Carth couldn't control himself. "ALL HUMAN SHIPS ARE IMPERIAL SHIPS!"

"Not this one," said Sgale simply.

"Admiral, he is correct," interrupted Bastila. "The ship does conform to Imperial construction protocols, but it is not an Imperial ship."

"How is that poss-" he stopped. He understood.

"The Rebellion."

"Nope," said Sgale. "It's built by a group known as the Galactic Republic."

Carth's hands balled into fists. "There is no such thing as the 'Galactic Republic'."

"No, there is not."

Carth stood, throwing his dagger across the table. Sgale caught it with remarkable skill, then placed it gently on the table. "I understand your position, Admiral," he said. "The reason you have never heard of the Galactic Republic," he explained. "Is because it is not from this reality."

Nobody said anything for a long few seconds. "What?" said Onasi, breaking the silence.

"It is not from this reality," repeated Sgale. "I believe," he said, pulling up a map of the Deltic Expanse, the Blue Eye at it's center. "That the anomolies in the Expanse... are tears... in the fabric of space-time."

"How did it get here?"

"I believe," he repeated. "That these tears in space time are tunnels. Tunnels to another dimension. A mirror dimension. That would explain not only the strange ship disappearences, but what ms. Shan has told me are 'nothing more than sensor ghosts'."

Carth stared at the map. It fit. It all fit. As he stared at the calculations in front of him, he noticed something.

"What class ship is it? I don't recognize it. If it's from a... mirror universe...."

Sgale smiled. "I was hoping you would ask me that," he said. He pulled up another set of numbers and calculations. "These are the results of the carbon dating tests I was able to perform before I was... removed... from the nebula."

Carth studied the numbers. "That's not possible," he said. "The resulting figure is negative."

"Exactly," said Sgale.

"So you mean to tell me..." he said slowly. "That... this vessel... is from the future?"

"Yes, Admiral. To be precise.... almost over four thousand years in the future."

Carth stared at the ship on the display. Imagine what I could accomplish with technology that advanced! I could take over the empire in a day with a single ship!

His face remained neutral. "How much will this information cost the Empire, mr. Sgale?"

Sgale smiled.

 

* * * * *

 

His face remained neutral, but she knew what was going on in his head. Bastila saluted the Admiral, leaving him to... negotiate... with Sgale. She knew what he was thinking. With a ship like that, he could take over the galaxy within a matter of days. And he knew it.

Bastila stepped into the turboshaft. "Deck 7, crew quarters."

The turboshaft began to move. She idly counted the number of times the light on the com panel blinked. What if Carth managed to take - what was it called? The name Outrider came to mind. He would surely challenge Dorak within seconds of securing the ship!

The turboshaft stopped. The door opened, but she didn't go through it. She keyed for the door to close. Now, if ever, was the time to go to Dorak.

"Locate Mauj Dorak," she said out loud. The computer's deep male voice responded. "Deck 22, section 3. Meditation chabers."

"Deck 22, section 3. Meditation chambers," she ordered. The turboshaft began to move again. It stopped, and the doors opened. The stone room was dark and quiet, and there was an eerie fog floating about an inch off the floor. She walked into the room. Dorak sat in the center.

"Good evening, my Del," he said. His voice seemed deeper than the last time she had heard it, and had a strange echoing quality to it.

"I have news, Mauj," she said. "Important news."

"I'm sure you do..."

She was suddenly struck with a bout of terror. Terror the like of which she had never known was possible. The change in his voice made her skin crawl.

"What is it?" he said distractidly, obviously not really paying her any attention.

She shivered. She didn't want to tell him. She was afraid of what he would do.

"I..." she began, scrambling for something to say. "I have been sent by Admiral Onasi, Mauj, to inform you that we have still not been able to find the Brightwing," she lied. "They seem to have masked their hyperspace wake using a-"

"It is irrelevant," he said, his voice again making her skin crawl. "The Sahri will fall to us. The Empire will thrive, and I will rule over the galaxy!"

"Yes, my Mauj," she said, bowing and taking her leave.

[The Doctor]

Chapter Fifteen

 

Bastila threw herself onto her bed. She was trapped. On one hand, she had her Mauj. He was being consumed by power, and she didn't know what she could do to save him. On the other, she had Onasi, who was blinded by his lust for dominion over the living galaxy.

She rolled over, a wave of nausea hitting her. What could she do? Between the two of them, the Empire would collapse, and the Jedi would be vulnerable! She fell into a restless sleep, plagued by nightmares.

 

* * * * *

 

~Another time jump. The following takes place approximately two days after Carth's meeting with Sgale. They have set a course back to the Deltic Expanse, the system containing the white dwarf star known as the Blue Eye.~

 

Carth stood at the head of the bridgte, Sgale standing behind him. He had been granted crew quarters, and had therefore been able to shower and get into some clean clothes. That takes care of the stench, Carth thought. He turned to the operations officer. "Ensign, are you detecting the asteroid mr. Sgale indicated?"

"No sir," responded the ensign immidiately, apparently expecting the question. "At least not at the projected coordinates."

"Carth scowled at Sgale. "If we don't find that asteroid exactly as you described, I will personally-"

"Admiral, I've got it," said the ensign. "Approximately 30 kilometers from the projected coordinates. Bearing 336 mark 249."

Onasi smiled. "Bring us about, bearing 336 mark 249."

"Aye sir," said the helmsmen. The view from the front window shifted as they turned around to face the asteroid. It loomed in front of them, almost twice the size of the Endar Spire. The large fissure seemed like a gaping wound in the side of a terelk. There it was.

"Sir, we're receiving a transmission from-"

The ship rocked as weapons fire bit into the deflector shields.

"Return fire. Spacial torpedoes, full spread. Fire!"

The attacking ship was hit by six glowing balls of evergy. They deflector shields dropped, and escape pods began to launch.

"Stop those pods!"

Bastila walked quickly towards him. "Admiral. We should let them go. They aren't a threat. Isn't recovering that ship more important than-"

"Fire!" yelled Carth, ignoring her. One by one, the escape pods were destroyed. Carth turned to address the helmsen. "Lay in a course for the asteroid. Bastila, Lieutenant Telkan, and Ensign Gilch, you're with me. Captain, have three security teams meet me in the shuttle bay."

"Three?" said the Captain incredulously.

"We're securing a new ship in the name of the Empire, Captain," he said simply. "Do as I order."

"Yes sir!" he said, placing his right fist on his left shoulder in salute. Bastila fell into step behind Carth, Commander Telkan and Ensign Gilch following.

"Deck 24, shuttle bay," said Bastila, once they were all inside. The pod began to move through the ship. The doors opened, and they stepped into large room with multiple shuttles along the wall. Four dozen soldiers were boarding their ships, ready to claim their prize in the name of the Empire.

 

* * * * *

 

"The Outrider's docking clamps are active, sir. We won't have to use the transporter," said Bastila.

"Excellent. We'll dock first. The security teams can transport in. Their ships should remain ready in case the Endar Spire is attacked again."

"Aye sir, transmitting instructions now," she responded. Ensign Gilch guided the shuttle in gently. The ship rocked ever so sligtly as the clamps locked in. The airlock hissed as the pressure equalized, and they disembarked, weapons ready. They walked into a dmily lit corridor, then halted. A purple haze formed in front of them, and a dozen Imperial marines faded into existence in front of them, their disruptor rifles ready.

They moved towards the bridge. When thyopened the door, a stream of yelt rats came swarming out. The marines opened fire on them, covering the ground in a dark blue paste.

"You're cleaning that up, Major," said Onasi, irritated. He stepped onto the bridge. The controls were dead. Lieutenant Krelkan walked over to the operations terminal and brought main power online.

"Power distribution systems are active, Admiral," he said. "Sensors are coming online now."

"Scan the ship for non human life signs, lieutenant. I don't want any alien scum playing around with our new ship."

"I'm only detecting 16 life signs on board. All human," he said with satisfaction. There was a silence. "Sir, I'm picking up weapons fire. It's the Spire. She's under attack."

 

* * * * *

 

Captain Kalton sat in his command chair, awaiting for orders from the Admiral. Out of nowhere, the ship rocked - hard.

"Sir, I'm detecting numerous alien ships assuming an attack formation,"

"Shields! Now!"

"Generators are down, sir!"

"Sir, we're being hailed."

Kalton waited a moment, considering his options. He could surrender, and be killed by the Admiral upon his forced return, or he could be kill by the aliens now. He didn't likie either of those options.

He decided to stall for time. "Put it through."

The window at the head of the bridge was suddenly filled with the image of a large, ugly alien with horns along the side of it's head, and particularly large eyes. It spoke in a series of clicks and buzzes.

"They say: lower your shields and surrender your ships. You have invaded Telerite space. The ship you have boarded belongs to the Telerite mining cooperative. Any attempt to-"

Kalton made a slicing moment with his hand. The image snapped back to the view of the asteroid.

"Commander, charge all weapons. All ans," he said, activating the ship wide comm system. "Report to your stations and preapre to engage the enemy."

The ship rocked again as they were pelted with weapons fire. "Sir, I'm reading almost a dozen ships out there! We can't-"

"Targe the lead ship!" yelled Kalton, ignoring him. "All weapons, fire when ready!"

The lead ship was hit with every weapon that the Endar Spire had, exploding spectacularly. The other ships swerved to avoid te shrapnel, but continued their assault of the Spire. Consoles all over the bridge exploded, showering the entire room in sparks. Coolant pipes burst open, power lines snapped, and cables hung from the celing as they fell out of their place.

"Return fire!"

"We can't! Targeting scanners are offline!"

"Then target the sons of bitches manually! Destroy them!"

 

* * * * *

 

"Admiral, the Endar Spire is taking heavy damage."

"Bastila! Get us out of here!"

"Aye sir, I'm on it," she said from the helm.

The engines kicked into life, and the ship lurched forward as Bastila manipulated the unfamiliar controls. They burst from the asteroid, flying directly into battle.

"Raise shields," ordered Carth. "And power up the weapons systems. I want to be ready when we enter battle."