{"id":2125,"date":"2017-08-16T07:15:50","date_gmt":"2017-08-16T12:15:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2125"},"modified":"2017-08-19T07:18:04","modified_gmt":"2017-08-19T12:18:04","slug":"the-sith-empress-part-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2125","title":{"rendered":"The Sith Empress – Part 14"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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

Part 14<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jessica watched as the techs on the bridge went over the systems and checking to make sure things were working.\u00a0 So far the only thing she knew wasn\u2019t up and operational was the main engines.\u00a0 That would be the next thing to work on, bringing up main power to the ship.\u00a0 She approached the leader of the techs.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know how to start up the engines?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d he said looking around.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do ma\u2019am,\u201d one of the techs said.\u00a0 \u201cOr, at least I\u2019m familiar with procedures on many ships, I\u2019ve never done it one this type of ship.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSee if you can start up the main engines,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cTake the guards with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMa\u2019am, what about the bridge?\u201d one of the remaining guards said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be here on the bridge,\u201d Jessica replied giving them a stare.\u00a0 They all knew who had defeated the droids and with a nod they headed off the bridge towards the engine room.<\/p>\n

The group worked a bit more, a few working on the start-up procedure of the engines from the bridge as it required men on both sides.\u00a0 A while later reports came from the engine room they were ready to try a start-up.\u00a0 She watched as the engines came to life and all systems came online.<\/p>\n

They continued working as she moved over to the communications.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes this work?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt should,\u201d the reply came back as she activated it.<\/p>\n

\u201cTyi, you read me?\u201d Jessica asked waiting a few seconds before a reply came back.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes my lord,\u201d he replied.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re reading that the ship\u2019s engines have powered up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it seems its in working order, for the most part,\u201d Jessica said.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s the number of ships?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThree hundred and twenty-one,\u201d he replied back to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcellent, the Republic and Empire won\u2019t know what hit them,\u201d Jessica replied, pleased that things were going so well.\u00a0 She smiled at the thought of being Empress of the universe and the heart of a new Sith Empire.<\/p>\n

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

Gaia made her way to the main temple area as Master Skywalker had called for a meeting of all Jedi in the area.\u00a0 She had been back for a few days now and hadn\u2019t discovered anything else but had gone back to some of her training.<\/p>\n

As people gathered she had a feeling she knew what was going on.\u00a0 Reports on Tavion\u2019s activities had been going around now for a while and there was a feeling among many that the conflict was about to reach its climax.\u00a0 She looked up as Luke stood before them all.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you all for coming so quickly,\u201d Luke said to them, glancing around at the Jedi who had shown up.\u00a0 \u201cJaden has come across some information that Tavion has been influenced by an Ancient Sith Lord.\u00a0 Right now she is on he way to resurrect this Sith Lord, we must stop her at all costs.\u00a0 I will not lie to you, we will be up against other Force users who can use lightsabers as well, so be careful out there.\u00a0 Organize into your groups and head out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gaia felt herself unsure and wondered if she should have even attended this meeting.\u00a0 Fighting like this was not her specialty, and she could end up costing someone their life by her hesitation.\u00a0 Heading off she went in search of Fie-Tel, quickly spotting him talking to Luke and Kyle Katarn.<\/p>\n

\u201cGaia, what can I do for you?\u201d Fie-Tel asked as she approached them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t feel like I should participate in this mission Master Fie-Tel.\u00a0 My combat skills are not as good as the others, I could endanger someone else,\u201d Gaia stated to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cGaia, I need all available Jedi on this, the threat is that great,\u201d Luke said to her in a serious tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll find you a spot to maximize your abilities,\u201d Fie-Tel said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I\u2019ll do my best,\u201d she said hoping they were not expecting too much from her.\u00a0 She could only hope things went smoothly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a feeling you\u2019ll do just fine,\u201d Luke said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo on and join a group, probably one of the groups guarding the ships or something like that,\u201d Luke said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Gaia said, she could do that.\u00a0 If she was guarding something she was not as likely to actually engage in the fighting, or so she hoped.\u00a0 She also felt something else which was stirring out there, getting stronger.\u00a0 She only wished she understood more about that.<\/p>\n

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

Tyi listened as reports came in from his spies in the New Republic and realized that several senators were visiting the Jedi, and there were reports that something else was going on concerning them.\u00a0 They seemed to be amassing for some sort of assault, or at least that\u2019s what one senator said.<\/p>\n

Tyi knew that the Jedi were concerned with a group of rebels under the leadership of Tavion.\u00a0 He had suggested to Lord Rizon to join her forces but she had dismissed that thought saying Tavion would be defeated.\u00a0 Tyi wondered, after all she had been a pupil of Desann.\u00a0 He had a feeling the Jedi were now moving against her forces.<\/p>\n

Figuring that Lord Rizon would probably want to know what was going on he activated the communicator and waited for her to answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s up Tyi,\u201d Rizon\u2019s said over the communicator.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy lord, I\u2019ve receive news that the Jedi are moving against Tavion and her forces,\u201d Tyi said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I know already, the Jedi will win this battle,\u201d Rizon said almost bored with the conversation and Tyi knew he had to tread lightly or risk her anger.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis might be a way to boost our forces my lord,\u201d he said carefully, waiting for her to reply.\u00a0 He expected her to brush the thought off.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo be it,\u201d Rizon finally said ass Tyi released a breath even as she continued.\u00a0 \u201cBe sure to remain in the shadows.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course my lord,\u201d he said as she signed off.<\/p>\n

He turned to gather up a group of loyal people to act as recruiters informing them they would have to remain in the shadows.\u00a0 It took a while but he managed to round up the group and turned in shock to see Lord Rizon heading towards them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve changed my mind,\u201d she said to him, dressed in black with a red cape and had the aura of power flowing around her.\u00a0 \u201cI will be going with them, Captain Pietete has orders as well, I want you to continue on your current mission of inspecting the other ships of the fleet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course my lord,\u201d Tyi said wondering what happened to change her mind.\u00a0 He wouldn\u2019t question her as he knew when to remain quiet.\u00a0 She boarded the shuttles and it made its way off the ship and towards the planet along with several other shuttles which were all capable of hyperspace travel.\u00a0 He wondered how many people would come back.<\/p>\n

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

Gaia double checked her equipment on her way to their destination.\u00a0 She was feeling slightly nervous about what was about to happen and her fear of actually hurting someone was foremost in her mind despite the fact a fight was going to happen.<\/p>\n

Taking a deep breath she tried to focus on something else other than the fighting which was coming up.\u00a0 It was difficult for her as she could almost feel something different about this mission.\u00a0 She hadn\u2019t felt it at first, but now, it was there.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything all right?\u201d another Jedi asked her sitting next to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess, not sure, guess its the feeling of going into battle,\u201d Gaia said trying to explain it to him.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not sure, can\u2019t really pinpoint it at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPrebattle jitters, we all get it and its normal,\u201d the other Jedi explained to her.\u00a0 He had seen battle before as a pilot with the rebellion years ago during the battle against the Empire and was one of the first new Jedi.\u00a0 \u201cI remember my first time going into battle, thought I was going to throw up.\u00a0 But once you get engaged, its live or die, instinct and training takeover\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess so,\u201d Gaia said, hoping the other Jedi was right, but had a feeling there was something else there.<\/p>\n

They felt the shuttle touch down on the planet\u2019s surface and the door opened allowing them all out.\u00a0 Gaia went to her assigned area and waited to see what might happen considering they were there to stop a force of Dark Jedi under the command of Tavion, who is seemed was trying to resurrect a dead Sith Lord.\u00a0 Gaia waited to see if anyone came near her area despite hearing fighting all around her.<\/p>\n

Movement off to her right caught her attention and saw a Jedi facing off against another attacker wielding a red lightsaber.\u00a0 She moved in to engage activating her own lightsaber and together they overwhelmed the attacker with the other Jedi finishing him off, something Gaia wasn\u2019t sure she could do.<\/p>\n

The Jedi muttered thanks and ran off heading back into the fray.\u00a0 She started to follow and stopped when she felt something different.\u00a0 It was much different than earlier feelings, and she could not link it to the Force like usual.\u00a0 She felt a tug more like something when the Jedi Academy had been attacker earlier by Desann.<\/p>\n

Looking at the retreating form of the other Jedi she made up her mind and decided if she could discover the source of this feeling.\u00a0 Quietly making her way around the battle field avoiding any other entanglements.<\/p>\n

She heard the fighting start to settle down even as reports of Tavions defeat were spread by everyone.\u00a0 She heard some occasional fighting going on but turning a corner she heard voices trying to be quiet.\u00a0 She couldn\u2019t quite make out what they were saying.\u00a0 Moving quietly she peaked around the corner and noticed several of Tavions\u2019 forces were heading to a secret exit she was sure no one knew about.<\/p>\n

Gaia stepped further out watching and realized she should tell the others when she noticed the person who appeared to be in charge.\u00a0 She wore all black, except for a deep crimson cape which seemed to flow around her along with long black hair which caught her attention.\u00a0 The one thought which went through her mind was how beautiful the woman was which seemed like an odd thing to think of.<\/p>\n

She berated herself for such a thought and regained her senses and looked for any sense of trouble.\u00a0 She noticed there were several of Tavion\u2019s forces which were leaving though this tunnel and she knew she had to tell someone but it was then the woman in black turned and seemed to look in her direction.<\/p>\n

The gaze caught her and for a second she had a vision of blue eyes looking at her, despite the fact she had no idea what color the woman\u2019s eyes were from this distance.\u00a0 Her rational mind screamed she was in danger and should leave, but her soul seemed to be saying something else.\u00a0 It was like it was longing for something from the woman, drawing her in and surrounding her in such a depth she never before had experienced.<\/p>\n

One of the men heading down the tunnel dropped his lightsaber with a clanking noise which started both of them.\u00a0 Realizing she had been discovered by the woman Gaia quickly fled the scene and heading to where the others were as fast as she could.\u00a0 She heard no one trying to pursue her which was good news as she reached a small clearing where Luke, Kyle and another Jedi were waiting.<\/p>\n

\u201cGaia, glad to see you made it,\u201d Luke said and by the tone in his voice she understood they had lost some Jedi, probably some good Jedi.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we might have more trouble in the future,\u201d Gaia said, slightly out of breathe from her run.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean\u201d Kyle asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI followed a feeling of something different and saw a group of survivors heading out a secret exit, led by a woman who wasn\u2019t Tavion, tall, dark hair,\u201d Gaia said, stopping herself before saying blue eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, someone took the survivors,\u201d Luke said thinking about it.\u00a0 \u201cDo you know how many might have gone with them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, I saw about twenty while I was watching, at least until I was spotted,\u201d Gaia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ll have to leave the planet, and we have a Republic cruiser patrolling to prevent any ship from leaving.\u00a0 We\u2019ll inform them they might have business,\u201d Luke said, moving to call the cruiser.<\/p>\n

Gaia looked on still thinking about the woman, and that somehow she would be seeing her again.<\/p>\n

End part 14<\/p>\n

Continued in part 15<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Sith Empress by AJ Marks Part 14 Jessica watched as the techs on the bridge went over the systems and checking to make sure things were working.\u00a0 So far the only thing she knew wasn\u2019t up and operational was the main engines.\u00a0 That would be the next thing to work on, bringing up main […]
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