{"id":2092,"date":"2017-07-26T07:34:12","date_gmt":"2017-07-26T12:34:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2092"},"modified":"2017-07-29T07:43:12","modified_gmt":"2017-07-29T12:43:12","slug":"the-sith-empress-part-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2092","title":{"rendered":"The Sith Empress – Part 8"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Sith Empress<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 8<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Luke watched as Gaia ate and wondered what might happen next with her before going over the conversation with his sister. She had not been convinced of anything and wanted more proof.\u00a0 He hoped she might at least understand that something might be going on.\u00a0 But he had to admit that convincing any of the others he would need proof that something was going on, and not vague feelings and a visit from an old Jedi Master.<\/p>\n

He knew there were still some hard feeling regarding the Jedi, and the lies which the Emperor had spread during his reign. One of many things they had to try and overcome.\u00a0 Perhaps setting up on Yavin IV wasn\u2019t the best idea he had, but he would make it work.<\/p>\n

He felt glad Gaia had accepted the offer from Leia to head over to the library. He had a feeling she had to do this on her own, he couldn\u2019t help her in her research.\u00a0 He probably would not recognize what she might be looking for.<\/p>\n

They finished up and Leia and Gaia left the room leaving Han and Luke alone, the children not quite up yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what\u2019s the story with the kid?\u201d Han asked pinning Luke with a stare.<\/p>\n

Luke sighed knowing this was going to come up. He hoped Gaia would find something which he could bring to the council, or something he could use to formulate a plan against this new threat.\u00a0 With it all he understood his sister\u2019s reluctance to appear before the Council without any proof.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess that I\u2019m really hoping she finds something about this threat. I have a real bad feeling about it all,\u201d he said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, this really could be serious,\u201d Han replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it warranted a visit from Yoda,\u201d Luke said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll try to talk to Leia, see if we can get any more help, not sure it will do any good. You know how she gets when her mind is made up,\u201d Han said to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Luke replied, giving him a grin before heading off to start his own day.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Gaia really had no idea what she was headed into but heading to the library with the President of the Republic was not something she imagined doing on the way to Coruscant. She looked on as the shuttle approached the capital building, a place she never thought herself to be when she was younger.\u00a0 Now she was going to do research as a Jedi padawan.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t let the size of it overwhelm you, if you do that you\u2019ll never get over it,\u201d Leia said to her.<\/p>\n

Gaia nodded hoping she could do that. The entire Galactic Senate was housed in the building and she knew hundreds of different species were all in there.\u00a0 It amazed her how they housed everyone so different species would not fight among each other.<\/p>\n

The speeder touched down in a special spot and allowed both of them out. Gaia looked around amazed at all the bustle of people running around probably doing some sort of errand for some senator or other important figure.<\/p>\n

\u201cFollow me, I\u2019ll show you where the library is,\u201d Leia said to her. \u201cI can arrange a tour as well if you\u2019d like one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, no thanks,\u201d Gaia quickly replied as they started off into the building. A few people stopped and said hi to Leia, and looked briefly at Gaia as if they were wondering who she was.\u00a0 Gaia remained quiet and just watched the interactions.<\/p>\n

They made their way down before entering the library, which was deep inside the building and from what she heard took up several floors.<\/p>\n

\u201cMadam President,\u201d a voice said as they entered. Gaia turned to see a tall, skinny figure make its way towards them, an older human with grey hair.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Ysonne,\u201d Leia said in a quieter voice. \u201cYsonne, this is Gaia, from the Jedi Academy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA Jedi, I\u2019m honored to be in your presence,\u201d Ysonne said turning to talk to Gaia.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I\u2019m not a full Jedi yet,\u201d Gaia said honestly clarifying her position in the Jedi Order.<\/p>\n

\u201cNevertheless, you are training to be a Jedi, yes?\u201d Ysonne asked which Gaia nodded yes. \u201cWe don\u2019t get many Jedi here.\u00a0 Now, tell me how I can help you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYsonne knows the library almost better than anyone else,\u201d Leia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou flatter me madam President,\u201d Ysonne said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s true,\u201d Leia replied turning to look at Gaia. \u201cI\u2019ll leave you in her capable hands.\u00a0 If you get tired and want to head back to the house and left them know.\u00a0 I\u2019ll leave word that you are my houseguest, if you have any trouble show them this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gaia took a card which Leia handed her and placed it away in a safe spot.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will,\u201d she replied watching as Leia said a quick good-bye and hurried off to a council meeting.<\/p>\n

\u201cPoor girl, always heading off to this or that meeting,\u201d Ysonne said looking at the retreating form of Leia before turning back to Gaia. \u201cNow, how can I help you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m looking for any information about the Jedi before the purge,\u201d Gaia replied hoping she would know where to look.<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm, might be difficult, the Emperor destroyed a lot of the archives. However, I do know some pieces which did survive, perhaps what you seek will be in there,\u201d Ysonne said leading Gaia away from the entrance, down a few flights of stairs and further in the recesses of the library.\u00a0 \u201cDo you know what time period or the name of the Jedi you\u2019re looking for?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet, only that they were two women and I hope they were Jedi within the last millennia,\u201d Gaia replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat covers a lot of time, but most of it was when Yoda was alive,\u201d Ysonne replied before coming to a sudden thought. \u201cWe do have some information recovered from the Chu\u2019unthor and its files, but if what you\u2019re looking for is more recent I\u2019m afraid you\u2019ll have trouble finding it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand,\u201d Gaia said as they approached an area and she looked around. For not having much information there was a lot of it here.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is just so much missing, the old Jedi library took up an entire building to house it all,\u201d Ysonne explained looking as if she was missing a friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can only hope what I need is here,\u2019 Gaia replied back to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so too, this entire area is full of Jedi records, I must go but if you need any assistance don\u2019t hesitate to call on one of us,\u201d she said to her. \u201cThe library is open all the time to accommodate all species.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Gaia said watching as she left the room before heading over and sitting down at one of the computers to go to work. She could only hope she might find something about the two Jedi somewhere in all of these files and documents.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

The wind whistled around the empty desert terrain blowing the tiny sand particles into the assembled group on the surface. The group followed slowly behind a woman who seemed to know where they were going.\u00a0 All of them were dressed in black, the lead figure also wore a black cape which fluttered in the wind along with her black hair seemingly unfazed by it all.<\/p>\n

The others would occasionally glace at each other than at the woman and continue on wondering where they could be going. No one in the group dared to question her as they trudged on.\u00a0 The group had been walking for a while now and the only thing which made things better was the fact it wasn\u2019t hot like other desert planets.<\/p>\n

The woman stopped causing everyone to halt but still no one spoke until the woman looked around for several seconds and nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re here,\u201d the woman said to the men who were there to guard her. They merely looked around not seeing anything which might indicate an entrance or a cave to them.<\/p>\n

The woman closed her eyes and concentrated on the Force. The wind picked up causing the others with her to couch down to present the smallest target they could for the stinging sand particles.\u00a0 For a second a few thought they might be picked up and tossed about t=by the wind when it suddenly died down and stopped for the first time since they landed.<\/p>\n

Looking up an entrance had been revealed to a cave.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay here,\u201d she said to them and descended into the entrance. No one dared to argue with her and none of them even wanted to go down there.<\/p>\n

\u201dWhat do you think\u2019s down there?\u201d one of the guards asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t know, I just wonder how long it\u2019ll take her to get back,\u201d a second one said.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast time it took almost all day,\u201d a third said.<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably another Sith artifact,\u201d the first one said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we get to carry it back,\u201d the third one said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf its not too heavy, I\u2019ll take it,\u201d the second one said seeing the others look at him with some confusion. \u201cHey, prestige man,\u201d he said to him knowing they all had volunteered in a hope to impress her, the Sith Lord they called Darth Rizon.\u00a0 She had a power they all felt and understood, she was going someplace and they all wanted a part of it.\u00a0 They also had learned how easily she could discard with you if you overstepped your bounds.<\/p>\n

A noise caused them to look at the entrance seeing the woman exit the cave carrying a small black metal looking device in her hands. She handed it to one of the men and then turned and went back into the cave leaving them standing there looking at each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou okay,\u201d the first one asked<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, its strange though, I can feel its power coursing through me,\u201d he answered a bit strangely not taking his eyes off the piece of metal. Even as they were trying to figure out what they might be the woman came walking back up with another object and handed to one of the other men before disappearing once more.<\/p>\n

The three of them all looked at each other wondering what might happen next, or how many times she might disappear into the cave. She emerged once more with a third object and handed it to the remaining man.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re done here,\u201d closing her eyes and concentrating the entrance was covered up once more before beginning their trek back to the ship.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Luke sat meditating on the Force hoping to figure out more of what was going to happen next. He could feel a stir in the Force of something but it was elusive in nature.\u00a0 He and Gaia had been on Coruscant now for a week and a half and she was nowhere close to solving her puzzle which made him wonder if this new event was even connected to the feeling and warning Yoda gave him.<\/p>\n

The comm link buzzed interrupting any further thoughts as he picked it up.<\/p>\n

\u201cLuke here,\u201d he answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry to bother you Master Skywalker,\u201d the voice of the head of the Jedi Academy replied. \u201cBut you wanted to know when the next batch of students were going to arrive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I did,\u201d Luke said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning,\u201d he told him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be there then,\u201d Luke replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, thought you might want to know, Kyle Katarn also just arrived back as well,\u201d he told Luke.<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm, his vacation didn\u2019t last very long, hopefully nothing happened between him and Jan,\u201d Luke said knowing that Kyle was a talented Jedi and hoped he would come back to the academy full time, he could be very useful.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was leading when they landed master,\u201d he replied back to Luke answering a question. \u201cAnd they appeared happy.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, let me schedule a flight path out of here and back to Yavin IV then,\u201d Luke said ending the conversation even as he pondered a few other questions. Standing up he went in search of Han to tell him what was going on and what he might consider doing with Gaia.\u00a0 She hadn\u2019t been much of a problem and spent most of her time in the library searching.<\/p>\n

Leaving the room he knew what he must do next.<\/p>\n

End part 8<\/p>\n

Continued in part 9<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Sith Empress by AJ Marks Part 8 Luke watched as Gaia ate and wondered what might happen next with her before going over the conversation with his sister. She had not been convinced of anything and wanted more proof.\u00a0 He hoped she might at least understand that something might be going on.\u00a0 But he […]
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