{"id":2224,"date":"2017-10-18T07:15:02","date_gmt":"2017-10-18T12:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2224"},"modified":"2017-10-21T07:18:40","modified_gmt":"2017-10-21T12:18:40","slug":"the-sith-empress-part-32","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2224","title":{"rendered":"The Sith Empress – Part 32"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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

Part 32<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jessica and Gaia made their way to a small area outside the temple, secluded enough to have a private conversation.\u00a0 This is what they wanted, a private area for this conversation between them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what happened?\u201d Gaia asked after sitting for a few minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seemed that my trusted second betrayed me.\u00a0 He had been with me the longest and planned this revolt,\u201d Jessica replied.\u00a0 \u201cAt least he did in the Sith way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Sith way?\u201d Gaia asked trying to understand.\u00a0 She knew little of the Sith.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts like this, the strongest are not always on top, that\u2019s a misconception of the Jedi,\u201d Jessica replied.\u00a0 \u201cIts who is the best, most cunning and powerful.\u00a0 He hide that side of him from me very well, that ambition.\u00a0 He picked his time well, and organized his supporters well and when the time was right, attacked.\u00a0 The ship never had a chance to fight back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll those people,\u201d Gaia said saddened by it all.\u00a0 \u201cThey were killed just so he could get on top?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the Sith way.\u00a0 We find a person\u2019s weakness and use that against them,\u201d Jessica replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about me?\u201d Gaia asked, knowing she had been a prisoner yet Jessica had saved her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had ordered the captain to do anything he could when a hit knocked you out.\u00a0 I knew no one would concern themselves with you, but I could leave you there,\u201d Jessica said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy big, bad Sith Lord has a weak spot for me,\u201d Gaia said with a smile, it felt nice having someone be concerned with her like that.<\/p>\n

\u201cYea, well, I carried you to the escape pod, placed you in there and pulled the launch button,\u201d Jessica said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you come with me?\u201d Gaia asked, the question she pondered the most.<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t abandon my men.\u00a0 I may be a Sith Lord, I may be ruthless, but I protect those who are loyal,\u201d Jessica replied.\u00a0 Somehow the answer made sense to Gaia as she continued.\u00a0 \u201cIt is the strongest survive, but we don\u2019t toss away a life like that.\u00a0 Loyal men are those who will do anything for you later on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd how did you get off the ship?\u201d Gaia asked.\u00a0 \u201cI saw it explode.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter I pushed the ejection of your pod I started to head to the bridge,\u201d Jessica replied.\u00a0 \u201cBut there was a large explosion on board and I felt the ship breaking up.\u00a0 Knowing there wasn\u2019t a lot of time left I dragged several crewmen into the nearest escape pod and left the ship.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe landed on the nearby planet, probably the same one as you.\u00a0 I gathered up a few loyal men who survived, but Tyi had his troops looking for me,\u201d Jessica said.\u00a0 \u201cTyi made his mistake here, he showed little loyalty to others, and the men I had saved were now very loyal.\u00a0 With their help I remained out of sight, and gathered information though them, learning who had tried to have me killed.\u00a0 I also learned how he let you go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it was too easy to get on board a transport and leave,\u201d Gaia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe gave orders to let you go,\u201d Jessica said.\u00a0 \u201cProbably thought he would take care of you all when he attacked Yavin IV.\u00a0 It took him longer than I expected to gain control as other groups viewed my downfall as a way to gain control.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe civil war, we kept an eye on that knowing once it was over they would attack,\u201d Gaia stated recalling the reports.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, predictable to the end,\u201d Jessica said.\u00a0 \u201cHe know nothing of remaining in the shadows when it comes to such missions.\u00a0 I knew enough to keep the Republic confused before I was ready, and they were not ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gaia realized she already knew that, Jessica had pretty much told her that when she was a prisoner.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce I knew his plans I stowed away with some help, the rest of my men carried out the rest of my plan to end this threat,\u201d Jessica said.\u00a0 \u201cThey went and destroyed other key instillations before heading back to their home, or where ever they wished to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou let them go?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy Empire wasn\u2019t going to happen with that group,\u201d Jessica replied.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I wanted to check up on a certain Jedi first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d Gaia said looking over at Jessica, her voice almost a squeak.\u00a0 After a few seconds she looked back out and leaned against Jessica.\u00a0 \u201cI think that\u2019s the nicest thing you\u2019ve said to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did do all that to save you, had to make sure,\u201d Jessica replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou would have found someone broken, morning for you,\u201d Gaia replied honestly seeing the shocked face.\u00a0 \u201cI think somewhere along the way I feel in love with you, I know, crazy right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot really, I think I did the same,\u201d Jessica replied.\u00a0 They were quiet for several seconds as each basked in what the other said.\u00a0 \u201cI did some awful things to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was Darth Rizon, not Jessica,\u201d Gaia said.\u00a0 \u201cIt did hurt, but I also realized I can\u2019t let you go again.\u00a0 When I thought you were dead, I didn\u2019t want to live either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand, I saw you shot, thought you were dead,\u201d Jessica said pausing a bit.\u00a0 \u201cI completely lost control.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gaia considered the situation and realized that was how Jessica was.\u00a0 Her strength was her anger, that dark side of her.\u00a0 If Gaia was to accept Jessica she had to accept that part of her as well.\u00a0 Otherwise she wouldn\u2019t have a complete person with her, she would change her for into something she wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, now what for the Sth Lord?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe retires,\u201d Jessica said.\u00a0 \u201cThere are other things I\u2019d rather be doing, spending time with.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI get the feeling this won\u2019t be easy,\u201d Gaia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNope.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gaia knew where ever Jessica would go, she would go with her.\u00a0 Now she would have to inform Master Skywalker of this decision and hoped he understood better than she did.<\/p>\n

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

Fie-Tel looked on watching as Gaia was making her way back with the dark-harked woman back to the temple as he looked over at the others.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, they\u2019re coming back,\u201d he said to them.\u00a0 \u201cAny clues to who she is?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe told us some things,\u2019 Luke replied back to him.\u00a0 \u201cBut, I fear we\u2019re about to lose a Jedi for now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Fie-Tel asked, unsure about what he meant.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe means when Jessica leaves Gaia will be going with her,\u201d Kyle stated from where he sat.<\/p>\n

\u201cMuch like you did,\u201d Luke replied looking over at Kyle.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think she\u2019ll leave the Jedi Order?\u201d Fie-Tel asked uneasy with such a decision.\u00a0 He had devoted his life to the order and to see it tossed away wasn\u2019t something he enjoyed seeing.\u00a0 He had worked too hard with Gaia to see her quite like this and hoped Luke was wrong in his perception.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sometimes you have to let things happen like this in order so people may find themselves again,\u201d Luke replied back.\u00a0 \u201cI have a feeling that one day she will return.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike what you did with me,\u201d Kyle stated as Fie-Tel recalled that whole incident.\u00a0 \u201cYou never gave up on me even when I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were going through a lot and had to come to terms with who you were and your feelings with Jan,\u201d Luke replied back to him.\u00a0 \u201cIt was a lot to sort out which is why I wasn\u2019t surprised when you came back.\u00a0 It was how, especially with Desann forcing the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was in a rush to regain my powers,\u201d Kyle replied recalling that he used the Valley of the Jedi to regain his powers.\u00a0 And that act had set in motion a range of events leading up to them watching Gaia walking towards her with a woman who tried to take over the galaxy.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure about this Master Skywalker?\u201d Fie\u2019Tel replied.\u00a0 He wanted some sort of reassurance.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne can never be sure, but if we want Gaia to remain, we must set her free,\u201d Luke replied watching as the two continued to walk towards them.<\/p>\n

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

Gaia made her way alongside Jessica as they headed towards Master Skywalker.\u00a0 She could ask for some time away from the order to sort out some things in her life.\u00a0 She needed the time and space to sort out her feeling for Jessica and figure out who they were together.<\/p>\n

They entered the room and saw Luke was in the room along with Kyle and Fie-Tel standing there almost waiting for them.\u00a0 She approached them as Jessica hung back a bit.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaster Skywalker, there is something I need to talk to you about,\u201d Gaia finally said looking at him instead of the others.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know you can discuss anything with me Gaia,\u201d Luke replied startling Gaia a bit, she had not expected him to be so open already and wondered if he somehow knew what she was going to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need to leave the order for a while.\u00a0 I need to figure out some things, like who I am,\u201d she said to them.\u00a0 She looked at Luke, then over at Kyle and Fie-Tel.\u00a0 Of them all only Fie-Tel seemed disappointed in her statement while the other two seemed thoughtful and accepting.<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand,\u201d Luke said shocking Gaia with that.\u00a0 She had expected some talk about how you don\u2019t leave the order, or something like that.\u00a0 She figured at least one would try to change her mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are not the first one to undergo such personal problems,\u201d Kyle said and she figured he had some personal experience with such things.\u00a0 She knew he had left the order for a while and came back.\u00a0 She still didn\u2019t know the entire story but it seemed to be similar to her own.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Jedi Order in the past would have frowned upon such things, but the new order is still learning and making changes to prevent past mistakes.\u00a0 I have come to understand that we are only people with feelings and require time away.\u00a0 Some come back better than when they left,\u201d Luke said looking over at Kyle and Gaia knew he had undergone something similar.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had turned by my back on the Jedi, had a lot of personal problems.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t until Desann forced me to make a decision that I really came back and became focused on who I was,\u201d Kyle said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a feeling our paths will cross again,\u201d Luke said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo do I,\u201d Jessica said speaking up.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings will work out,\u201d Luke said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you Master Skywalker, I will remember everything you\u2019ve taught me and make you proud,\u201d Gaia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you follow your heart, you will always do well,\u201d Fie-Tel replied.<\/p>\n

Gaia smiled knowing that following her heart had been the best for her, even when faced with a Sith Lord.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that she made her way back out and headed to pack.<\/p>\n

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

Fie-Tel watched her leave the room along with the dark-haired woman.\u00a0 He still wasn\u2019t sure about this, he had pledged his life to the order, not to turn his back on it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou still disagree,\u201d Luke said looking at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, there are traditions which should be respected,\u201d Fie-Tel said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we should also learn from the past, so we don\u2019t repeat those same mistakes.\u00a0 Some of those led to the rise of the Emperor and Darth Vader and then finally the Purge.\u00a0 We must build a new foundation for the Jedi and merge the new and old,\u201d Luke said to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so,\u201d Fie-Tel said, still unsure.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure it\u2019ll work out, it might take a while, but I think they\u2019ll be back,\u201d Kyle said.\u00a0 \u201cGaia had a good head on her shoulders, and Jessica, I think she needs to figure out who she is now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean and not be a Sith Lord,\u201d Luke said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Kyle said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou trust her?\u201d Fie-Tel asked.\u00a0 \u201cShe is deceptive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI trust Gaia,\u201d Luke replied without hesitation.<\/p>\n

And with that Fie-Tel knew what happened to the two of them would be up to Gaia and hoped she was strong enough.<\/p>\n

End part 32<\/p>\n

Continued in part 33<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Sith Empress by AJ Marks Part 32 Jessica and Gaia made their way to a small area outside the temple, secluded enough to have a private conversation.\u00a0 This is what they wanted, a private area for this conversation between them. \u201cSo, what happened?\u201d Gaia asked after sitting for a few minutes. \u201cIt seemed that […]
Continue reading…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,19,18],"tags":[3,10,56,57,22,12,21,20],"class_list":["post-2224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fanfiction","category-star-wars","category-xenauber-xena","tag-aj-marks","tag-fanfiction","tag-jedi","tag-sith","tag-star-wars","tag-story","tag-uber-xena","tag-xena"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2224"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2224\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2233,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2224\/revisions\/2233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}