{"id":2103,"date":"2017-08-02T07:15:35","date_gmt":"2017-08-02T12:15:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2103"},"modified":"2017-08-05T07:40:13","modified_gmt":"2017-08-05T12:40:13","slug":"the-sith-empress-part-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2103","title":{"rendered":"The Sith Empress – Part 10"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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

Part 10<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A man turned and looked at the computer screen as an alert popped up indicating some unusual activity had occurred.\u00a0 He kept a constant vigilance over such things otherwise they might be discovered and that could be a disaster.<\/p>\n

Looking at the screen he noticed what had been searched, and it wasn\u2019t the usual search this time, this was something different.\u00a0 He had to give a warning to the others and let them figure out what they might do.\u00a0 Leaving the room the screen still active, the words still flashed.<\/p>\n

Jedi Master Bri Lightner healing sleep<\/p>\n

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

Walking down the corridor of the ship and the room where he knew their leader was.\u00a0 He had in his hands the replies she had been waiting for and he hoped they were what she wanted.\u00a0 Their leader had a temper and was not afraid to use it on anyone.<\/p>\n

He arrived at the door and the guard nodded and allowed him inside.\u00a0 Standing inside were several men and standing in the center was a woman dressed in black with a red cape.\u00a0 She had long black hair which was free and flowed around her shoulders as she turned and looked at him, almost right through him.<\/p>\n

Jessica, or Lord Rizon as the others knew her, calmly waited for the man to say anything.\u00a0 She was expecting a report on their numbers and hoped things were going well.\u00a0 Beside her was her second in command, Tyi, who had been with her the longest.<\/p>\n

\u201cReport,\u201d she finally said as the man continued to stand there looking as if he might faint away.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes my lord,\u201d he finally replied with a slight bow to her.\u00a0 \u201cOur numbers continue to rise and our agents report higher than expected number of recruits from the Core Worlds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jessica smiled slightly as she heard the news.\u00a0 It was better than she expected at this time.\u00a0 If the Core Worlds were recruiting then they would easily fall to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what of our spies?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve found a few willing recruits among the New Republic\u2019s fleet that wish to join us as well, and our spies are reporting no one knows of our actions yet,\u201d he replied back to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, very good, but we must be sure not to let any of them know the true purpose of their missions.\u00a0 That will be your job, do not disappoint me,\u201d Jessica said starting at the man until he was shaking slightly.\u00a0 With a nod he indicated he could leave which he did in a hurry leaving a few still in the room.<\/p>\n

She turned and looked out the window and into the vastness of space.\u00a0 Out there were her ships ready to go to war and her plans were coming along just fine.\u00a0 The Republic and the Jedi, along with the Empire had no idea she was coming, and she would be swift and deadly.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow does the training come along?\u201d she asked not bothering to turn around and look at anyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reports state that they are coming along quite well.\u00a0 We\u2019re getting leaders emerging like you said they would,\u201d Tyi said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcellent,\u201d Jessica said knowing that given the right crucible the true leaders would rise up.\u00a0 They would be part of a new group of Sith that she would train to fight against the Jedi.\u00a0 She had spent the last few weeks training like the ancient Sith Lords had.\u00a0 The only thing she hadn\u2019t done was tattoo herself, something she had no desire to do.\u00a0 It would allow some seduction in the future.\u00a0 She also felt herself growing stronger each day.<\/p>\n

Then the question of an apprentice entered her mind but felt she was not strong enough.\u00a0 Thinking about the teaching of Darth Bane and she felt he was wrong.\u00a0 Limiting herself to one student was very Jedi-like in her mind.\u00a0 At the time it might have been needed, but that time had ended, it was time for a new Sith to emerge.<\/p>\n

She looked on watching a few fighters streak past as they trained.\u00a0 She would soon have everything ready and be ready to move out.<\/p>\n

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

Gaia made her way into the solo residence looking for anyone she knew.\u00a0 She had not discovered much of anything and was beginning to wonder if the information she wanted was even out there at all.\u00a0 She had a strong feeling that Jedi Master Bri was important to this research but so far every place she looked came up empty.\u00a0 She simply seemed not to exist except for that one note of a trial.<\/p>\n

Heading into the living room of the house she spotted Han sitting there reading, a sight she had not expected after everything she knew and had heard of the man.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like you\u2019re looking for someone,\u201d he said to her with that typical grin on his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was looking for either of you,\u201d Gaia replied.\u00a0 \u201cWanted to let you know we could leave at any time, not sure I\u2019ll find anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLeia had been mentioning it, said she had a couple of senators lined up who wanted to go, was waiting on if their schedule had cleared up,\u201d Han replied to her.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s currently out with the kids, doing some time with them.\u00a0 Her job doesn\u2019t allow much so she feels guilty about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gaia understood what it was like to have parents very busy, only difference was hers worked just to earn enough for them to live and eat.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, did you get your research done?\u201d Han asked switching subjects.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes and no,\u201d Gaia replied letting out a bit of a sigh.\u00a0 \u201cI thought this would be easy, find two Jedi women, but with incomplete records it proofed difficult.\u00a0 I did come up with a name though, Jedi Master Bri Lightner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t say I\u2019ve heard of that name,\u201d Han replied after a couple of seconds of thinking about the name.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeither had I, but then again how many Jedi Master names have been lost to history,\u201d Gaia mused out loud.\u00a0 \u201cShe could have been a great Jedi Master but thanks to the Emperor we lost most of that information.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrue, makes me wonder what else the Emperor destroyed that we don\u2019t know about,\u201d Han stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuess we\u2019ll never know,\u2019 Gaia replied to the statement not sure if she should feel uneasy with such a comment or not.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you trying to find out about this Jedi?\u201d Han asked<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure, but they seem really close, and they appeared to me,\u201d Gaia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCould it have been a master and her padawan?\u201d Han asked causing Gaia to ponder it for a few seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it might be at first, but the way they acted, what I sensed, it felt like they were closer somehow,\u201d Gaia replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know much about the Jedi,\u201d Han said with a slight laugh.\u00a0 \u201cFirst time I encountered one I told him about ancient religions and it not being a substitute for a blaster.\u00a0 I probably should learn a bit considering who my wife is and my children are probably Force users as well.\u00a0 I know Luke is trying some different things as well, like marriage.\u201d<\/p>\n

The term marriage caused Gaia to look up and ponder.\u00a0 She hadn\u2019t looked up anything about marriage in her research and it seemed to go in the right direction.\u00a0 She knew before the great purge Jedi were forbidden to marry, except for special reasons.\u00a0 Jedi Masters like Ki-Adi-Mundi had been allowed due to his species low reproduction rates.<\/p>\n

She knew Master Skywalker had eased up some requirements simply due to the fact those same restrictions had helped turn his father to the Dark Side.\u00a0 There were several Jedi Knights who were married and some had been before coming to the academy.\u00a0 Gaia had a feeling such things wouldn\u2019t change.<\/p>\n

They looked up to see the door open allowing four people to come in, three running as they ran though giving a quick hi to Han as Leia made her way in.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey there,\u201d Leia said to Han before turning to Gaia.\u00a0 \u201cSo, you emerge, how goes the research?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I\u2019m about done,\u201d Gaia said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat works, I\u2019ve got two senators lined up and they\u2019ll be ready to go in a day or two,\u201d Leia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can wrap up any remaining research in that time,\u201d Gaia said now having a timeline to return to the academy.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWhat brings you into my office?\u201d the man behind the desk said looking up as another man walked into the room.\u00a0 He hoped it wasn\u2019t anything too important which might be deemed a threat to their way of life.<\/p>\n

\u201cI found something interesting, but I\u2019m not sure it poses us much of a danger, but it could actually be a blessing this time,\u201d the reply came back as a data crystal was placed on the desk which he picked up and inspected.<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm, interesting,\u201d he said going over the information before his eyebrows rose at the information on the screen.\u00a0 \u201cA Jedi?\u201d he asked looking back up at the man for some conformation.<\/p>\n

\u201cYep,\u201d the man replied with a nod of his head.\u00a0 \u201cBut that\u2019s not the part I was refereeing to.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued reading before saying anything.\u00a0 \u201cThe last Jedi who knew about us was Jedi Master Yoda, and he took the secret to the grave, so how did she find out?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the interesting part, look on the last page,\u201d the man said.<\/p>\n

He quickly scrolled to the last page seeing picture and froze.\u00a0 He looked at the picture than at the other picture going back and forth before looking back up.\u00a0 \u201cAre you sure about this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe pictures don\u2019t lie my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man behind the desk let out a sigh and leaned back before opening another file an quickly scanned it as well.\u00a0 There was much at stake here and the wrong decision could kill them all if he acted out of haste.\u00a0 Yet, he had to do something to ensure the right side won as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I may say, I don\u2019t think it was an accident in us finding her this time,\u201d the man standing said.\u00a0 \u201cWe can help this time unlike so many other times.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou may think so, but we must do it cautiously.\u00a0 If things go wrong we could all be in danger, or our greatest ally could return,\u201d he said to him.\u00a0 It was a delicate balancing act he had to perform here, the darkness was very close.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s them, I know it,\u201d the man said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen you\u2019re aware of the danger as well?\u2019 the man asked, seeing he nod.\u00a0 \u201cVery well, approach her, and only her, but be cautious of how much you tell her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will,\u201d the man said before leaving the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope you\u2019re right my friend, I really do,\u201d he said to the retreating form before looking the files over once more.\u00a0 The bard and warrior, a dangerous pair, yet also their greatest allies.<\/p>\n

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

Tyi made his way to where Darth Rizon stood waiting for him.\u00a0 She barely turned to acknowledge him which caused him to bow before speaking.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy lord, we\u2019ve arrived at the planet,\u201d he said to her wondering what she might say next.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcellent, have a shuttle prepared right away,\u201d she ordered turning back to look out the window at the planet in question.\u00a0 Tyi bowed again before heading over to the communications to notify the hangar.\u00a0 They were on board a simple vessel, not really a military ship but it could defend itself if it had to.<\/p>\n

The hangar could house a few shuttles and a couple of y-wings the fighter they managed to get off the market.\u00a0 Part of him wondered when they might be able to acquire more ships.\u00a0 She promised power and so far seemed on a mission no one else understood.\u00a0 They had been visiting several different planets for a while now.<\/p>\n

He looked back at her and realized she had changed since landing on Ouspent.\u00a0 She seemed to become even more fearsome than when he first met her and it was that fearsome underlying power which brought people in.<\/p>\n

Their ranks had grown, which caused a few discipline problems but Darth Rizon easily stopped those.\u00a0 She had brutal punishments and the men quickly found that out.\u00a0 They also were slowly forming into working, functioning units.<\/p>\n

He finished and made his way back over to where she stood still looking out as if she saw something no one else could.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy lord, the hangar reports a shuttle is ready,\u201d Tyi said to her having a feeling she already knew it.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery good,\u201d she said not looking away.\u00a0 \u201cDo you see it Tyi, its calling out for us, waiting for us, and all we have to do is reach out and take it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t sure how to respond considering she smiled as she said it.\u00a0 He really had no idea what she was talking about so he stood silently not wishing to anger her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts all right Tyi, I know you can\u2019t see it,\u201d Rizon said to him.\u00a0 He wondered if anyone could see what she saw.\u00a0 \u201cWait for me here.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a swirl of her cloak she turned and left the room leaving Tyi and the rest of the group standing there.\u00a0 Tyi wondered how long she\u2019d be down on the surface of the planet this time.\u00a0 Previous expeditions ranged anywhere from about an hour to almost half a day.\u00a0 The only thing which really bothered him was she seemed to return stronger than before each time.<\/p>\n

End part 10<\/p>\n

Continued in part 11<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Sith Empress by AJ Marks Part 10 A man turned and looked at the computer screen as an alert popped up indicating some unusual activity had occurred.\u00a0 He kept a constant vigilance over such things otherwise they might be discovered and that could be a disaster. Looking at the screen he noticed what had […]
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