Star Wars: The Lost Son

[Darth Randus]

::Execelent, my apprentice. You are trembling, whats wrong?:: He motioned for her to follow him back to his couch in the common area. "Tell me, what is troubling you. This is not like a Sith apprentice. However, you are still learning." He paused, and then added darkly, "You will not hesitate in the future, it will be your undoing."

[Aurora Starfire]

Darth Maera shook her head. "It- it's nothing, master." She was ashamed for showing such weakness, but knew she could not hide it from him. "It's just.... I've never killed someone before." She bowed her head. "I'm sorry for disappointing you, master. It was inexcusable."

 

* * *

 

Arion sat in the pilot's chair on the Jedi Phoenix, trying to meditate. He thought perhaps if he could attain clearer focus, he could penetrate the darkness surrounding his sister and figure out what had happened, but so far, no luck. The navicomputer beeped, and he leaned in closer. Whoa, time flies while you're meditating, he thought, and keyed the comm. "Dropping out of hyperspace now, guys. Might want to strap in."

[Darth Randus]

Darth Saaron watched his apprentice and said, "Indeed you are right, it was inexcusable. Especually if you are to be my empress one day." He paused, letting that sink in for a moment, "Know this, my apprentice, you can never hide something from me, the real question is if I am watching or not. But have I once punished you for a failure yet?"

[CSI]

"Yay! It makes our day!" Vergil sprang to life, and checked his inventory: "A combat Shotgun, Z-6 Rotary Blaster Cannon, dual Blaster pistols, 5 Thermal detonators, 5 plastic bombs, 5 EMP bombs, and 5 Flash bombs. You?"

 

CSI checked his: "Well, I don't have my bomb on me, but I got several big crates on me. Since you took my only Z-6, so I think I'll take a Combat shotgun, dual blaster pistols, and a DC-17 Sniper Attachment. And...don't forget our ego."

 

"Oh, yeah." Vergil smiled, "Yeah, we'll bring them."

 

"Oya! Oya! Let's go kick some butts, gentlemen!" Suddenly he noted Sarela, "And lady."

[Aurora Starfire]

Darth Maera stared down at her lap, still filled with shame. "No, master, you have not." After a minute, she looked up, cautiously. "Empress, milord?"

 

* * *

 

Arion guided the Phoenix up and docked in the larger ship. He set down, lightly, and then walked in to join the others. "So, everyone ready?"

 

Sarela nodded. "I believe so."

 

"Let's go, then. We've got a lot of ground to cover." He rested his hand on the hilt of his saber staff, grimly.

[Darth Randus]

Just as Darth Saaron was about to respond to Darth Marea, the ship's computer sounded through out the ship. "Intruder Alert in Docking Bay 2, all security personel secure the area. Automated launch of the Emperor's Yacht in progress. Sections sealed, launching in 5 seconds."

 

While the warning was issued, Darth Saaron continued to show no worry about what was going on. He looked Darth Marea in the eyes and said "My mother and your brother have come to try and stop us, I will not let them." he paused, "I want you to be my Empress when I become the Emperor." By the time he had finished his setence, the yacht had launched and automatically engaged its cloaking device. He began to hide his presence in the force and set a random course, not knowing where he wanted to go yet.

[Aurora Starfire]

Darth Maera looked up at him in surprise. "I- I don't know what to say, milord. I am not worthy of such an honor." She followed his lead by concealing her Force signature, and thought about what he had said. "My brother is here?" she asked, in a low voice. "And your mother? I mean no disrespect, milord, but is that why we are leaving rather than to stay and fight them?"

 

* * *

 

The ship rocked heavily, and Arion had to fight to maintain his balance. "Uh oh, what happened?"

[Darth Randus]

Darth Saaron chuckled when he heard Darth Maera's denial of her honor. Gently he reached up and forced her to look into his eyes, firey eyes looking into firey eyes. "If I did not think you were worthy, I would not have made the offer." He paused and added jokingly, "Who is the apprentice to question the amount of honor that the master has given her?" He chuckled. "We are leaving because your training has not been completed and you are not ready to face them... yet."

[Aurora Starfire]

Darth Maera looked into his eyes, slowly losing herself in their depths. "Thank you, master. I- I'm sorry, I did not mean to question your judgement. Whenever you deem fit, I am eager to learn more. I- I want to be worthy of you, of the honor you have given me, to one day rule at your side."

 

* * *

 

Arion scanned the sensor readouts, anxiously. "It looks like part of the ship has broken up, but..... where's the rest of it, then?" He frowned. "I don't like the feel of this. I'm lifting off and moving back a safe distance while we try to figure out what's happened."

[CSI]

"Look closely..." CSI narrowed his eyes, "Look!"

 

Vergil joined in: "Yeah, the stars looks distorted...why?"

 

"Very smart idea, indeed." CSI narrowed his eyes, "They want to escape from us, right? Let them. Abort Mission, I repeat, abort mission. Now we wait."

 

Vergil asked CSI: "What do you mean?"

 

"Look, they cloaked themselves. That means they're abandoning this ship. And I know typical Siths--they're always kind enough to send us transmissions before they escape. So let's wait." CSI took off his ARC outfit, and put on his trademark white robe.

[Darth Randus]

Darth Saaron looked at his apprentice's eyes and smiled, "You are worthy of me, my love, that is why you will be my empress, nobody will stop us. One day, we will rule the galaxy, and make things the way we deem fit."

 

He got up off of the couch and placed his mask back on. He walked over to a communications platform and stepped onto it, motioning for Darth Marea to follow. Once she was there, he masked the comm frequency to appear as though it were comming internally from the bridge of the super stardestroyer, and activated a signal to the Jedi Phoenix and stood perfectly still, hands folded across his chest, glaring behind his mask and not making any sound at all. :: Do not make a sound, my apprentice. I want to supprise them.:: He directed the signal to appear in the common room of the Jedi Phoenix and waited until someone noticed him and his apprentice.

[Aurora Starfire]

Darth Maera pulled her hood down lower, further shadowing her face, and nodded. ::Yes, master. As you wish.::

 

* * *

 

Arion was still running sensor checks, when the comm blinked. "We're receiving a transmission, just like you predicted, CSI. It's running to the main hold." He walked swiftly into the room, and keyed the comm. "Unidentified vessel, this is the Jedi Phoenix. What is the purpose of your call?"

 

Sarela shivered, but whether it was premonition, or paranoia, it was impossible to tell. She simply stood there, waiting for the response, anxiously.

[CSI]

CSI simply shrugged: "That comes with experience." Then he narrowed his eyes, "Let's see what they will say...but be warned, don't expect good news."

 

Vergil agreed with CSI, and said to Arion: "Yeah, we're ready when you are."

 

Then the duo grabbed two bottles of Juma Juice and began to enjoy the transmission.

[Darth Randus]

Darth Saaron smiled darkly behind his mask, looking at each of their faces. Coldly, darkly, he spoke after a few minutes. "It seems that you two," he pointed at CSI and Vergil, "want a show. Let me give you one." He used the force to open a hidden detention cell and pulled out two Jedi, one about 19 years old, and the other in his mid twenties. He then used Force Crush on the older Jedi, killing him, and then began to use Force Choke on the younger one. "I would suggest that you take me sersouly, or this young Jedi over here will face a fate far worse than death."

[Aurora Starfire]

Darth Maera glared at the viewscreen from within the shadows of her hood, furious at the two Jedi for mocking her master. She released her rage in a blast of lightning at the younger prisoner.

 

Arion stared at the transmission, unable to tear his eyes away from the grim spectacle. Finally, he said, "Darth Saaron." He lowered his voice, deadly quiet. "What have you done with my sister?"

 

Sarela turned cold inside, horrified at what her son had become, and simply watched, waiting to see what he wanted.

[Darth Randus]

Darth Saaron smiled behind his mask, "If you truly wish to know Jedi, ask her your self." He turned to look at his mother, "I've seen the Jedi Order, I know they want to hunt me, punish me, imprison or even exile me. So it seems pointless to say anything to you, you are the one responsible for breaking up our family in the first place." He turned back to Arion and watched him in amusement. Through the force he said to Darth Marea, ::Good work, my apprentice.::

[CSI]

"Oh, yeah, I think I'll send a letter to Jedi Council to mourn for a fallen Jedi." CSI muttered, "And I'll double the bounty for Darth Saaron."

 

Vergil said nothing. He looks like a statue.

 

"And I used to destroy things before, but now...I'm addicted to restore things." CSI said, "And...don't say I'm a Jedi. I'm a Sith Ma-rau-der."

[Aurora Starfire]

Darth Maera gave him a small smile. ::Thank you, master.:: She returned to his side, watching Arion's reaction.

 

Arion shook his head, wordlessly. "N-no, Aurora, no! It can't be.... you're a Jedi. It- it's not possible...."

 

Darth Maera shook her head. "No, Arion. That is not my name, nor is it who I am any longer." She slowly lowered her hood, revealing her changed appearance. "I am Darth Maera, apprentice to the Dark Lord of the Sith."

 

Sarela bowed her head, with grief. The son has become the father..... as I feared it would be.

 

Arion stared at her, horror in his eyes. Finally, he managed to say, "Saaron..... Saaron, you've corrupted her. You said you loved her, that you would protect her! How could you destroy her like this?!?"

[CSI]

CSI and Vergil frowned and narrowed their eyes. "We need to go to Coruscant. Right away."

 

::Arion, don't give in your dark side. For our sake, don't.:: CSI warned Arion, ::And I can assure you, we can find a way to find your sister, and Darth Saaron.::

 

Then Jedi Phoenix flicked into hyperspace, with a small humming.

[Aurora Starfire]

Darth Maera cut Arion off with a wave of her hand. "He did not corrupt me, I chose the path I am now on." Her eyes narrowed. "I gave you a chance to stay out of this, Arion. You should have taken it. If you are wise, you will quietly go into exile somewhere and meditate. Not that I expect you to, I know you too well. But do not interfere with my master's plans, or he will end you, and I would be powerless to stop him." She eyed CSI and Vergil. "That goes double for the two of you."

 

Arion shook his head. "No. I'll find a way to save you, Aurora. I know you're still there, somewhere. I can feel it. We will meet again, and I will never give up on you, I promise." He broke off the transmission, unable to endure any more. "I.... I'll be in the cargo hold. CSI..... would you please get us on our way, to- to Coruscant, or wherever we're going next?" He turned away, and walked slowly to the cargo hold, his mind numb with the shock and horror of what he had just seen.

[Darth Randus]

Darth Saaron smiled under his mask as he led Darth Marea back to the couch. "Great work, my love. Your brother is a fool and will try to stop us, no doubt we will see him again." He paused, "Now, my apprentice, it is time to plan our take over of the republic. What are your suggestions?"

[Aurora Starfire]

Darth Maera smiled, glad to have pleased Darth Saaron. She was quiet for a while, thinking about his question. Finally, she said, "The backbone, the heart of the Republic is the Jedi Order. Without the Jedi, the Republic will crumble. But with them, they could hold out indefinitely. If we're going to take the Republic, we have to eliminate the Jedi threat first."

[Darth Randus]

Darth Saaron smiled, "Right you are, my apprentice." The Jedi who was still being held with the force finally spoke up. "You... will... never succeed."

 

Darth Saaron turned and looked at him and used the force to bring him over to him. "That, my Jedi friend, is where you are wrong. You see, we will succeed, and my apprentice here will convince you to join us, my any means neccessary." He smiled and turned to Darth Marea, ::Proceed, my apprentice. I am curious as to how this will turn out. He may have information which will help us.::

[Aurora Starfire]

Darth Maera stared at the captive Jedi for a long time. Finally, she told Darth Saaron, ::Master, Jedi are very difficult to interrogate unless there is some other incentive involved. Torture almost always fails, unless used against someone they care about. As a conversion tool....:: She paused. ::We might have slightly more of a chance of success. But it is far from certain.::

[Darth Randus]

::Very well, my apprentice. Proceed with your attempt.:: Darth Saaron said through the Force as he looked at Darth Marea. He then turned to look at his captive Jedi again, watching and evaluating his apprentice.