{"id":2131,"date":"2017-08-19T07:17:33","date_gmt":"2017-08-19T12:17:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2131"},"modified":"2017-08-23T07:29:29","modified_gmt":"2017-08-23T12:29:29","slug":"the-sith-empress-part-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2131","title":{"rendered":"The Sith Empress – Part 15"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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

Part 15<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jessica waited in the shadows ass her men did their jobs of finding the survivors of the battle and getting them to join her force.\u00a0 She felt something going on inside the tomb and realized Tavion was trying to resurrect one of the ancient Sith Lords, but even as she felt that there was another, stranger presence close by.\u00a0 She decided to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary while on the planet\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n

She silently counted the number of people her recruiters were able to gather from Tavion\u2019s shattered force.\u00a0 The woman wasn\u2019t very competent if so many of her forces were either defeated or turned traitor.\u00a0 A few stopped to look at her, and she knew some even recognized her before everything happened at the Valley of the Jedi, but she was no longer Jessica, her outward persona was now Darth Rizon.<\/p>\n

Of course, it was good they recognized her, a challenge to her might be exciting as she knew who would win.\u00a0 Many of them already had lightsabers which would boost training for her forces.\u00a0 They would make her elite troops if they survived the training she gave them.<\/p>\n

News drifted down the hallways of Tavion\u2019s defeat to a Jedi named Jaden.\u00a0 Jessica was not surprised at all by the news, for she had foreseen the woman\u2019s failure and now that failure would strengthen her own forces for victory.<\/p>\n

The last of the group was making their way through the tunnel when she had that strange feeling again, this time the strongest it had ever been, and so unlike anything else she had felt.\u00a0 This was a warm, enveloping sensation of calm and peacefulness so strong it took her a moment to come to terms with it.\u00a0 Looking around she finally spotted someone, a small woman with blonde hair looking back at her with some intensity.\u00a0 For some reason the color green came to her.<\/p>\n

A noise made her break contact and looked away from the woman to see what had happened.\u00a0 She noticed one of the men had dropped his weapon as a flash of anger coursed through her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you can\u2019t hold onto your weapon then don\u2019t carry one,\u201d she growled slipping back into Darth Rizon\u2019s persona very easily.<\/p>\n

The men stopped and looked at the upcoming conflict between the two of them.\u00a0 The man seemed to have barely heard what Jessica said and a few even backed away from them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever,\u201d the man replied gruffly as he retrieved his lightsaber, clearly annoyed at having been spoken to by her.\u00a0 His attitude only angered Jessica more, clearly Tavion had not disciplined her troops.\u00a0 \u201cAnnoying women thinking they are tough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jessica flung the man into the wall watching as he staggered slightly and recovered a bit reaching for his lightsaber.\u00a0 She had a feeling he was slow enough to not understand who stood before him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care who you are, I was the commander of Tavion\u2019s forces and I will be the new commander once I talk with whoever is in charge, and I\u2019ll make your life a personal hell,\u201d he said, activating his lightsaber.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you challenge Darth Rizon, your last mistake,\u201d Jessica replied ass her own lightsaber came to life.\u00a0 She easily struck down the former leader and stood there for a few seconds.\u00a0 \u201cIf you were the commander, you were pathetic.\u00a0 Anyone else wish to challenge a Sith Lord?\u201d<\/p>\n

She watched as the men shook their heads knowing they couldn\u2019t defeat her.\u00a0 With a bit of prodding they started back up the tunnel as another person walked up to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, excuse me Darth Rizon,\u201d the man said cautiously as she looked at him.\u00a0 \u201cDo you want some of us to go after the woman who was watching us?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jessica felt impressed that the man had seen that much, but gave it some thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, we\u2019re leaving this place,\u201d she finally said.\u00a0 \u201cShe will already be with the rest of the Jedi and there is no reason for a confrontation now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, there is a Republic cruiser orbiting the planet.\u00a0 How are we going to get off?\u201d another man asked as they began walking back though the passage.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me worry about that,\u201d Rizon stated already having an answer, something she had expected before she even left to head here.<\/p>\n

The group continued on their way as she could feel the mixture of fear and uneasiness coming from the men.\u00a0 They probably wondered what she had planned.\u00a0 Boarding the shuttle she moved to the front of the shuttle and sent out a command before ordering the pilots to lift off.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cCaptain, we have three shuttle lifting off from Korriban\u2019s surface.\u00a0 What are you orders?\u201d the second in command of the cruiser asked from his position looking over the scanners.\u00a0 He looked up at the captain waiting.<\/p>\n

The captain turned to his own console before activating his communicator to contact Luke Skywalker.\u00a0 This mission was part of the Jedi, not Republic so he would ask to see what the Jedi Master wanted.\u00a0 Quickly explaining the situation he received an answer to the question.<\/p>\n

\u201cBattlestations, we are to disable the shuttle and take any crew and passengers are prisoners,\u201d he told the bridge crew.<\/p>\n

The cruiser went to full alert and began to close in on the fleeing shuttles.\u00a0 Orders were given for the shuttles to stand down which unanswered.\u00a0 The cruiser closed in to firing distance when everything changed in an instant.<\/p>\n

\u201cCaptain, new contact just came out of hyperspace,\u201d the scanner operator said. \u201cComputer states is a Sith battleship.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA what?\u201d the captain asked not sure he heard the scanner operator correctly.<\/p>\n

Even as the scanner operator repeated the words and the captain tried to make sense of the information the battleship opened fire.\u00a0 Despite it being hundreds of years old its weapons were still formidable to take on a modern cruiser.\u00a0 Its shields were pounded as they quickly failed.<\/p>\n

Evan as the captain tried to figure out what was going on the battleship destroyed the cruiser.\u00a0 Minutes later it took aboard the shuttles and left the planet.<\/p>\n

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

The group was walking back to the shuttle to head back to Yavin when Luke suddenly stopped and looked up.\u00a0 The rest of the group followed suit and to Gaia she thought she saw some concern on the looks on some of their faces.\u00a0 She watched as Kyle and Luke exchanged a glance.<\/p>\n

\u201cSkywalker to Captain Yept,\u201d Luke said into his communicator.\u00a0 Gaia watched as there was no reply and the stretching silence caused everyone some concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong,\u201d Kyle asked breaking the silence.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a bad feeling about the cruiser,\u201d Luke replied back to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat, when you have a bad feeling half the universe trembles,\u201d Kyle replied half joking half serious.<\/p>\n

Gaia remained quiet listening into the conversation going on between Luke and Kyle.\u00a0 There was something about the mysterious woman who appeared to be in charge of the group which she couldn\u2019t shake.\u00a0 She seemed familiar to her somehow.\u00a0 She turned her attention back to the other two who were no looking at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you all right?\u201d Luke asked her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, just thinking about something,\u201d Gaia replied a bit honestly.<\/p>\n

Before Luke could say anything else another Jedi came running towards them.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaster Skywalker, we just received word that the cruiser was destroyed which was trying to intercept the shuttles,\u201d he said to Luke.<\/p>\n

The news was met with shock with the group as Gaia wondered what could have happened to the ship.\u00a0 A cruiser wasn\u2019t something a few shuttles might be able to destroy on their own.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny clues as to what happened?\u201d Luke asked<\/p>\n

\u201cNot at the moment,\u201d the man replied.\u00a0 \u201cThe Republic is sending out a recovery team to sift through the wreckage to figure out what might have happened, either by an attack or something else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems we have another mystery on our hands then,\u201d Kyle replied to the group.<\/p>\n

Gaia wondered if the woman she had seen earlier had anything to do with the attack on the cruiser.\u00a0 There was a part of her that hoped the woman wasn\u2019t but another part of her figured she had to be.\u00a0 She also wondered why she had not mentioned more to Master Luke about her.<\/p>\n

She headed to the shuttle lost in her own thoughts wondering what was going on with her.\u00a0 She had never kept information from the others and yet there must be a reason for her recent behavior.\u00a0 She was determined to figure it out before telling Master Skywalker or Fie-Tel.<\/p>\n

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

Gaia practiced her training wondering what her next step might be and, of course, thinking about the mysterious dark-haired woman.\u00a0 She was trying to meditate when Master Fie-Tel came walking into the room and headed right for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cGaia, you\u2019re wanted in Master Skywalker\u2019s office,\u201d he told her and waited for her to get up.<\/p>\n

She was slightly surprised to be summoned by Master Skywalker and wondered what might have happened since stopping Tavion.\u00a0 She walked along with Fie-Tel who said nothing making her wonder what had happened.\u00a0 They entered Luke office seeing he was sitting behind the desk but waved them inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome in Gaia,\u201d Luke said to her.\u00a0 \u201cMaster Fie-Tel and I have been going over your recent records and you\u2019ve demonstrated abilities which are capable of a Jedi Knight.\u00a0 AS of right now we are promoting you to the rank of Jedi Knight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJedi Knight,\u201d Gaia replied slightly stunned by the turn of events and didn\u2019t feel like she had earned such a title.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour actions on Korriban and the attack on the academy have proven you are ready for such work,\u201d Luke said to her.\u00a0 \u201cJust remember, a Jedi never stops learning, or being tested.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t master,\u201d Gaia said to them both.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I have a mission for you,\u201d Luke said to her.\u00a0 \u201cLately I\u2019ve been feeling a disturbance in the Force, I\u2019m not sure if its related to what happened at Korriban with the cruiser and what you were researching earlier, that\u2019s what I want you to find out.\u00a0 Look around and report back to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will,\u201d Gaia said, wondering how she would go about this investigation.\u00a0 She decided to go over the reports from the Republic and meditate on the Force, this time concentrating on the mysterious woman.\u00a0 Perhaps she could find something.<\/p>\n

The reports came back with nothing at this time, but they were still going over the information.\u00a0 Her meditation had come to nothing either and she was starting to get frustrated when during one of her meditations a planet came to her.\u00a0 Quickly looking it up she realized it was on the edge of Republic space.<\/p>\n

She approached Master Luke and Fie-Tel along who were talking with Kyle when she approached them.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, Gaia, have you discovered anything?\u201d Luke asked her as she entered the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure, but I think I have something of a lead,\u201d Gaia said.\u00a0 \u201cThe reports from the Republic are still inconclusive at this time, but the name of a planet did come to me during my time meditating.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you think this planet might be important?\u201d Luke replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d she said looking at the three of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we can get a ship for you to head there and check it out,\u201d Luke said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you Master Skywalker,\u201d Gaia said to him, feeling a bit nervous about the trip, it would be her first time going solo off world like this.\u00a0 Sure they were all trained to fly the fighters but she had never done so on her own until now.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it, things will be fine,\u201d Fie-Tel said to her.\u00a0 \u201cThough, what planet?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m not exactly sure of its name, but it\u2019s on the edge of the Republic, known but not part of it,\u201d Gaia said to them.<\/p>\n

She watched as Luke seemed to chuckle at that.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeems like that\u2019s always how it is,\u201d Luke said.\u00a0 \u201cGo on ahead and pack and go, I\u2019ll inform the hangar of your actions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you master,\u201d Gaia said, then headed off to pack.<\/p>\n

End part 15<\/p>\n

Continued in part 16<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Sith Empress by AJ Marks Part 15 Jessica waited in the shadows ass her men did their jobs of finding the survivors of the battle and getting them to join her force.\u00a0 She felt something going on inside the tomb and realized Tavion was trying to resurrect one of the ancient Sith Lords, but […]
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