YOUNG JEDI KNIGHTS 03:

SHADOW OF THE SITH

"Sir? The ship is ready to depart," informed the New Republic officer.

Luke Skywalker gazed at the barren surface of Yavin IV one last time, burning the image of the devastation into his brain. Turning on his heel, Luke ascended the ramp of the transport shuttle and took his seat in the passenger bay. The exit ramp hummed shut, right before the ship vibrated slightly on its repulsorlifts. Luke strapped himself into his seat without thought, staring at the opposite bulkhead as the shuttle flew into Yavin IV’s dusky atmosphere, then broke out into the vastness of space.

The shuttle sailed towards the bulk of an orbiting Calamari battlecruiser, its organic hull marred by turbolaser impacts from its most recent battle. Debris floated everywhere around the Republic patrol squadron, the remnants of the Imperial task force sent to destroy the Jedi Academy. Luke watched the slowly spinning pieces of destroyed hull, feeling nothing at the sight of his enemy’s destruction. The Empire was not to blame, they had merely exploited an advantage when they saw one. No, the real author of this tragedy was Tenel Ka, she was the one who had forced him to leave his students in order to bring her back to justice. Luke ground his teeth together until they ached, then he looked away from the bulkhead towards the two men piloting the craft.

"Where are we going?"

"Minister Organa-Solo has ordered us to bring you back to Coruscant. She wants to discuss what happened with the Academy."

"I have to go after Tenel Ka. She’ll get away unless I pursue her immediately."

"I’m sorry, sir. I have my orders."

"Yes, I see," nodded Luke, before he reached out with the Force, seized both of the officers’ necks, and crushed them with audible snaps.

Luke unbelted himself and walked calmly to the cockpit, releasing the corpses from their chairs, then taking his place at the left hand console. He turned the shuttle to starboard, away from the battlecruiser, then plotted a course towards where he last sensed Tenel Ka. The shuttle’s sub-light engines flared, propelling it out of tractor beam range, then eventually out of the squadron’s scanner range entirely.

Jacen Solo groaned as he woke up, rubbing away the sleep that still weighed against his eyelids. He rustled his short brown hair, then slowly lowered his legs to the cold deck of his cabin. The frigid metal shocked him into full consciousness, sending him straight to his feet. Hopping from foot to foot, Jacen went to the head to relieve himself, then spent a moment performing his morning ablutions. He pulled on a clean red jumpsuit, and buckled on the weaponsbelt that held his blaster pistol and lightsaber. Combing his hair back with his right hand, Jacen left his cabin and made his way to the exit hatch of the Rock Dragon, the light freighter ship he and his sister, Jaina, had once run cargo with. The breeze was warm as Jacen emerged onto the landing pad, where several cargo lifts held supplies for the Jedi boy.

"About time you woke up," growled a grizzled freight hauler from where he lounged near one of the lifts.

"Sorry, I’ll leave a larger tip to compensate you for your time," grinned Jacen.

"You better," warned the heavy-set man before he climbed into the cab of his lift and activated the vehicle’s repulsorlifts.

Jacen withdrew a remote from a pocket in his suit and used it to lower open the ventral cargo hatch of the Rock Dragon. He watched until all of his supplies were loaded aboard, then he walked to the waiting operator with a small bag of credit chits.

"I’m looking for information. Where’s a good place to hear the latest news?"

"There’s a holo-bar called the Techno Dream. You can find out about anything within four sectors there," replied the hauler as he snatched his payment from Jacen’s outstretched hand.

"Thanks," nodded Jacen before he sealed the Rock Dragon shut and left the pad.

Even at mid-morning, the Techno Dream was filled with raucous patrons. Customers leered at naked holo girls or played strategy games, pitting Republic forces against Imperial fleets. Jacen took a moment to get the lay of the place, then briefly scanned the patrons with the Force to see if anyone had dark intentions towards him. Sensing no danger, he descended the short staircase to the floor of the club, advancing to the wide bar in the middle of the cacophony.

"I’m looking for a data broker," shouted Jacen at an overworked bar tender.

"There’s a lot of brokers, kid," replied a squid-head while he hastily filled glasses with assorted beverages.

"I need a broker who can track someone for me."

"Lida, booth #44."

Jacen turned away from the bar, searching along the far outer wall until he spied booth #44 on the second floor. Climbing up a spiral staircase, he pushed past dancing and fighting customers until he reached the booth and stumbled inside. It was cramped and dark, with a single chair and a small table that extended out from the far wall. Jacen sat down, then waited until the surface of the table glowed and the full body image of a girl appeared before him.

"Hi, my name’s Lida. What can I do for you?"

"I’m looking for a girl, her name is Jaina."

"Do you have a last name?"

"Yes, but I’d rather not say."

"I promise confidentiality with all my customers. I need a full name to do a proper search.

"Jaina Solo."

"Prime Minister Leia Organa-Solo’s daughter? You must be Jacen, her brother."

"Yes. Can you find her?"

"Wait a moment. I need to slice into some datanets."

The image of Lida disappeared, plunging the booth into darkness again. Jacen sat impatiently in his uncomfortable chair, fidgeting until the pretty slicer girl reappeared in front of him.

"A Hyper-Comm Net inside Imperial space mentioned a girl matching Jaina’s description. She was aboard a Star Destroyer that was about to bombard Yavin IV."

"Yavin IV? Did the Republic drive them away?"

"Yes, but not before the Empire razed the planet’s entire surface."

"Oh, no. The Academy."

"I’m sorry. You must have had friends there."

"Was Tenel Ka or Luke Skywalker listed among the dead?"

"The Republic is having problems identifying the dead, but those two haven’t been mentioned."

"Thank the Force. What happened to Jaina?"

"The Imperial attack force was completely destroyed by Republic battleships. All the data I have says that no one survived."

"No. Jaina," groaned Jacen as he lowered his head, tears dripping down his pale cheeks.

"I’m sorry, Jacen."

"How much do I owe you?"

"Two hundred credits."

Jacen fed the money into a slot set inside the table’s edge, then rose up to his feet. "Thank you, Lida."

"Bye," smiled the girl sympathetically.

Jacen left the booth, looking at the oblivious patrons as they reveled around him. He wiped the tears from his eyes quickly before marching towards the club’s exit. A delicate hand touched his right arm, causing him to spin around, right hand wrapped around his blaster grip.

"It’s me, Lida," smiled the blue-haired girl with hands upraised in front of her chest. Jacen took his hand away from his weapon, then eyed the short girl warily.

"What do you want? I have all the data I need."

"You looked like you could use some company. I’ve heard some of the stories about your adventures with Jaina."

"Yes, we had quite a few. I loved her."

"Let me get you a drink. There isn’t an age limit at the Techno Dream."

"Thanks," smiled Jacen weakly as he let Lida guide him to an empty table nearby.

Jaina landed Scorpio with deft skill. She then left the ship just as the primary sun set along Anchoron’s horizon. She swept a strand of auburn hair from her face, and checked the blaster pistol that hung next to her right hip. The Jedi girl closed her eyes briefly, opening her mind to the Force. She sensed her brother nearby; his essence made her smile with relief. Re-opening her brown eyes, Jaina quickly left the pad in search of her twin sibling.

*Ah. Our guide has led us to our prize,* purred Tamara victoriously. The shade walked Tenel Ka’s body out of the Hapan scoutship, scanning the city with the Force. The Sith Lord grinned smugly when she sensed both Jaina and Jacen within Anchoron’s primary port city.

*Now the hunt comes to an end.*

Jacen and Lida twirled together, moving in time to the roaring music that pounded around them. Jacen held Lida’s waist, smelling her floral perfume, holding her shapely body close as she writhed in front of him. Lida rested her arms around his neck, gazing up at him with her large green eyes. They danced for hours, forgetting the chaotic reveling around them, locked in an intimate embrace that blocked out Jacen’s raw pain.

The young Jedi had just bent down to kiss Lida’s eager lips, when he sensed a warm presence behind him. He pushed Lida away, and spun to see Jaina entering the Techno Dream. The siblings locked eyes, drinking in each other’s appearance, their minds melding together through the Force. Jacen blushed when his sister found his memories of Lida, but she only smiled and ran down the stairs towards him. Jacen pushed away patrons as he charged towards Jaina, all thought of Lida gone as he enfolded his sister in a tight embrace. The twins kissed each other fervently, their mouths locked for several minutes until they had to part for air. Jacen nuzzled his sister’s thick auburn hair, then pressed his left cheek against it, holding Jaina desperately against him. She rubbed her right cheek against her brother’s firm chest, clasping her arms around his waist.

*I love you,* sent Jaina into Jacen’s mind.

*I love you, too. I’m sorry about a moment ago.*

*It’s okay. You thought I was dead, you were trying to forget.*

*I should have had more faith in you. I won’t fail you again.*

*Just hold me, Jacen. Just hold me.*

The twins remained twined together as the music slowed down. Lida brushed a tear from her eye, then turned her back on the young siblings.

*How touching. It almost makes you weep.*

*They belong together. I can’t break them apart,* thought Tenel Ka softly.

*Nonsense. You want Jacen and you shall have him. Then we can get to my payment.*

*I didn’t ask you for Jacen! You’re controlling me like a puppet!*

*Not for much longer, little girl. I long for a woman’s body.*

Tenel Ka hid behind the mass of customers, watching Jacen and Jaina as they slow danced on the level beneath her. The Jedi girl unclasped her lightsaber, then jumped from the upper balcony, landing near the couple just as she ignited her weapon.

Jaina gasped in surprise when Jacen shoved her behind him and activated his own green lightsaber. The opponent’s beams clashed and hissed together, before Tenel broke away to swing a series of quick slashes at Jacen. The Jedi boy parried the blows, as terrified patrons backed away from the dueling combatants. Jaina drew her blaster, waiting for an opening to fire.

"Tenel! What are you doing?" gasped Jacen.

"Distracting you," Tenel grinned, as she slashed down at her foe. Jacen knocked her saber up, then forced her back with several swipes of his weapon.

"Cut it out before you get hurt."

"I battled Jedi Masters in my time, boy. A stripling like you doesn’t even work up a sweat," retorted Tenel before she kicked him in the back of his left leg and smashed the pommel of her saber into his face.

Jacen sprawled onto his back, his lightsaber rolling away while blood poured from his nose. Jaina fired her blaster, the bolts glancing away from Tenel Ka as she blocked them with her lightsaber. Tenel summoned a strong wind, buffeting Jaina until she flew back into the air and fell onto a table. It collapsed under the stunned Jaina, allowing Tenel to stand over an equally senseless Jacen.

"You’re mine, now," smiled Tenel Ka gloatingly.

"Never. I love my sister, no one else."

"Not anymore," growled Tenel, before she bent down to touch Jacen’s forehead with the tips of her fingers.

*No! Don’t hurt him!* screamed the real Tenel Ka.

*Don’t worry, I’m merely making him more tractable,* replied Tamara a moment before she launched a Force spike into Jacen’s mind.

The boy screamed in agony, his body locked in a violent seizure as Tamara crushed his will. Tenel Ka sobbed inside her mind, helpless to stop the Sith Lord as she turned Jacen into a mindless automation.

*There. All done,* giggled Tamara proudly. She helped Jacen to his feet, who now stared ahead glassy-eyed and open-mouthed.

*He’ll do whatever we want now,* said the Sith Lord. She took Jacen’s hand and pulled him along behind her as she exited the club.

*I’m sorry, Jacen,* wept Tenel Ka within her mental prison.

Jaina moaned as consciousness returned. She sat up, staring at the nearly empty club around her. Lida knelt next to her, holding a glass of water in her hand. She offered the drink to Jaina, then helped the Jedi girl rise to her feet.

"What happened to Jacen?"

"That girl named Tenel Ka took him. What did she do to him?"

"What do you mean?"

"She touched his head, he screamed, then he followed her around like a tame pet. He didn’t look right."

"She must have used the Force, but what did she do to him? Uncle Luke never taught us how to crush minds."

"She talked like she was real old. She sounded crazy."

"Or possessed. Dark Jedi can possess people sometimes."

"You better go after them, Jacen needs you."

"Did you hear where they were going?"

"Tenel Ka said she was going to Coruscant, something about getting her payment. She was muttering like she was talking to someone else."

"Thank you, Lida."

"How do you know my name?"

"I shared Jacen’s thoughts. I know you tried to comfort him, I appreciate it. I could use a data slicer, would you come with me to save Jacen?"

"Yeah, I want to help him," nodded Lida.

"Let’s go," smiled Jaina as she led the way out of the Techno Dream.

=====

Luke Skywalker let the calming breezes of Byss wash over him as he lifted his face up towards the blue-green sky. Relishing the strength of the Force, Luke lowered his gaze to the ruins of the Imperial Citadel. The Jedi Master strode to the foot of the mountainous pile of debris, focusing his mind upon it. Luke let the Force flood into his body; he spread out his arms, embracing the dark power that boiled across the planet. Torn metal struts trembled, then began to straighten, rising up into the air. Metal shrieked and protested as Luke poured the Force into the palace, wielding the Dark Side like a sharp scalpel to restore torn braces and heal shattered walls. The cacophony became louder and louder until it roared like thunder, the lump of debris slowly transforming into a rebuilt Citadel. Luke’s face broke out into a sweat, his brain aching from the strain of channeling so much raw power. Finally, the noise faded away, allowing Luke to open his eyes and see his handiwork.

The Imperial Citadel was restored to its dark glory, the massive tower jutting up to slash at the tranquil sky. Luke wiped his forehead, sighed with relief, and then entered the fortress. As the Jedi Master walked past, consoles sprung to life, fed by the enormous generators restored beneath the castle. Luke emerged into the immense throne room, his black boots clicking on the obsidian marble floor until he approached the throne, ascended its dais, and spun to rest within its enfolding embrace. He leaned back into the cushioned chair, then summoned holo-screens that projected maps of the entire known galaxy.

"Begin search routines for Tenel Ka. Check all known databases, Imperial and Republic."

<<Working>> replied a male computer voice from the arched ceiling of the throne room.

Tenel Ka rose to her feet, combing out her sweat slick red-gold hair with her right hand. She gazed down at Jacen’s Solo’s prone form, where he lay panting from their most recent exertions. Tenel grinned self-indulgently before reaching to the deck for her discarded dragon skin armor. The Jedi girl went to the cockpit of her scoutship just as the auto controls released the craft from Hyperspace. The blue vortex outside the ship flashed away to be replaced with an endless expanse of black space and glimmering stars. The short-range scanners beeped almost immediately, heralding the approach of two Republic light cruisers.

"You are in Coruscant space, identify yourself," ordered a voice from the ship’s comm.

"I am a visiting diplomat from Dathomir. You will let me pass," replied Tamara through Tenel’s lips. She projected a tendril of the Force, insinuating her will over the officer’s.

"You can pass," agreed the Republic officer without hesitation.

Tenel shut off the comm, then piloted away from the cruisers. She programmed a heading towards Coruscant, letting the ship fly itself while she reclined in her chair, an enigmatic smile on her beautiful young face.

"Did you get our transponder modified?" asked Jaina while the Hyperspace countdown became shorter and shorter.

"Yes. Any Republic patrol ships that see us should read a licensed cargo hauler cleared to drop supplies to Coruscant," replied Lida with a relieved sigh.

"Good. We’re emerging into Realspace."

Scorpio flashed back into normal space, its sub-light engines flaring as it shot towards Coruscant. A squadron of X-Wings made a quick fly-by, but no one challenged them on their way to the Republic capital. Scorpio flew past the massive Golan defense platforms, then dived into Coruscant’s polluted atmosphere. Greasy gray clouds wrapped around the agile starcraft while it roared down towards Imperial City. The clouds parted reluctantly, revealing the sparkling, many towered vista of the capital.

"It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen Imperial City," murmured Lida with awe.

"Wait till we land, it’s not nearly as impressive. There’s damage all over the place from all the various battles that have occurred here. Mother wanted to completely refurbish the capital, but the Senate never wants to grant the funds."

"I still like it. You can feel the history of this city."

Jaina snorted softly before turning her concentration to landing Scorpio. Traffic control provided Jaina with a landing coordinate, which she quickly plotted and flew towards. Scorpio descended with its repulsorlifts, landing gently on a small round landing pad. The ship vented itself as the exit ramp lowered with grinding servos.

The Jedi girl left the ship first, her hand on her belted blaster while her mind scanned the area with the Force. Since her danger sense was quiet, Jaina motioned for Lida to follow her. The slicer girl followed after Jaina, a small gear satchel over her left shoulder and a small blaster hidden inside her open vest.

"Tenel’s here. She’s moving towards the Palace."

"What’s the plan?"

"Get to her before she causes any more damage."

Tamara clouded the two sentries’ minds, allowing her to slide into the Palace easily. She projected an avoidance aura over herself, people who passed by would instinctively avoid her and fail to remember seeing her. She caressed her belted lightsaber while she walked down massive hallways and rode lengthy turbolifts. She finally found her objective, the war room where her target lay.

"The Empire’s raiding has decreased forty-percent. The blow we dealt them over Yavin IV must have really hurt them," reported General Bel-Iblis as he and all the senior military officers stood around an active holo-tank with Prime Minister Leia Organa-Solo.

"Keep the border defenses at full strength. I don’t want any more repeats of Yavin."

"Yes, Prime Minister."

"What about the reports of activity on Byss? I thought the planet was razed by the Emperor’s force storm."

"It was, but apparently a very strong Force active is repairing key installations. Imperial loyalists who were pledged to Palpatine are slowly gathering on Byss. It’s a small movement, but it could grow into a threat if we wait too long," replied General Crix Madine.

"Bel, what do you think?"

"Sending units to the Deep Core is always a nightmare. We have a standing garrison near the one Hyperspace passage we know about. We can’t spare the ships to cover all of the possible entry points. I say we just monitor for now until a definite threat develops."

"Alright. We’ll keep watch for now. If there’s nothing else, we’re done for today."

Leia leaned heavily against the tank’s rim as the various officers and aides filed out of the war room. Bel Iblis laid his hand over Leia’s left shoulder sympathetically.

"You look tired. You should get some rest, go home."

"Go home to what? No, I have work to do."

"What about Anakin?"

"Han’s taken him to Corellia for a month or so on a diplomatic mission."

"If you need anything, let me know," smiled Bel before he left the chamber.

Leia stared into the slowly spinning image of the galaxy. For a brief moment, she wondered where Jacen and Jaina were, then she frowned deeply and purged her mind. She straightened herself and took a deep breath before leaving the holo-tank. She walked into the hallway, her mind fogged with fatigue as she strode towards her office. When she reached her destination, she frowned when the lights failed to activate for her. She closed the door behind her, then negligently reached out with the Force to press the light stud.

Nothing happened, which made Leia even more frustrated until she sensed another presence in the room. She spotted someone sitting at the high-backed chair behind her large desk. The intruder removed her legs from the desktop, then rose slowly to her feet. Two eyes began to glow with a fiery green light before a stab of agony seared within Leia’s brain. The Prime Minister fell to her knees, clutching her head with both hands.

Tenel Ka smiled maniacally, the shade within her shattering Leia’s defenses with powerful Sith mind bolts. Tenel leapt over the desk and marched swiftly to Leia’s side, kneeling down to grasp her temples in a tight grip. Leia moaned with fresh pain as Tamara increased the ferocity of her assault, crushing Leia’s shields, driving deep into her exhausted mind.

Tenel gasped loudly, pushing away from Leia before she collapsed unconscious to the floor. Leia lay in a ball, shivering while her body was overwhelmed by the Sith Lord. Finally, the trembling passed and Leia pushed herself to her feet. She walked to stand over the senseless Jedi girl.

"Now we both have what we want," grinned Tamara, before insane laughter bubbled out of Leia’s mouth.

A little used maintenance entrance hissed open, allowing Jaina and Lida to enter the Palace. Lida replaced her lockpick tools, then followed the slowly advancing Jaina into the darkness of the passage. Jaina used the Force to enhance her vision, making the passage as bright as day to her eyes alone. The duo progressed slowly, evading anyone who came nearby. They took a service lift to the executive offices, watching for guards while they drew closer to the Prime Minister’s office. The two girls hid behind a hallway pillar when the door to Leia’s office opened, disgorging two Republic guards holding an unconscious Tenel Ka.

"Take her to the dungeons. Put her in one of the Emperor’s stasis cells."

"Yes, Prime Minister," nodded the senior guard before he shouldered Tenel’s limp body and helped carry her down the hallway. Leia closed the door to her office, disappearing inside.

"Something’s not right here. Mother felt wrong," whispered Jaina with a frown.

"What should we do?"

"Let’s get Tenel. Maybe she can give us some information."

The two girls followed after the guards, trailing them closely until they reached the underground levels of the palace. The duo halted when the guards and their burden entered a crowded guard station.

"Stay here. I’ll go get Tenel and bring her back."

"Okay," acknowledged the slicer.

Jaina took a deep breath, then called on the Light Side to aid her. She walked to the guard station door and palmed the portal open. As she walked into the room, she released a general mind field, commanding all of the guards to ignore her. The Republic soldiers continued to talk and perform their duties while Jaina snuck past and left through an opposing doorway.

When the door hissed shut, Jaina sighed with relief, then drew her blaster pistol from her belt holster. She adjusted the weapon to stun and strode cautiously down the dimly lit passage. Jaina spied the two guards just as they were placing Tenel Ka into a small stasis cubicle. She raised her weapon, firing two quick shots that incapacitated both guards in a heartbeat. She rushed to the stasis cell, pulling out Tenel and laying her carefully on the floor.

Jaina knelt at Tenel Ka’s side, touching the girl’s forehead, prodding her mind with the Force. Tenel awoke with a gasp, then focused on the young Jedi above her.

"Jaina, you saved me."

"What happened? What did you do to my mother?"

"Jaina! I’m so sorry! Tamara made me do everything! She took your mother!"

"Tamara? Who’s Tamara?"

"There’s no time! We have to go back to your mother’s office! We have to save her!"

Tenel Ka struggled into a sitting position, then ascended to her feet with Jaina’s help. The friends returned to the waiting Lida, then took a circuitous path back to the Prime Minister’s offices.

"Tamara is a Sith Lord. It will take both of us combining our powers to fight her."

"Maybe we should get Uncle Luke, he is a Jedi Master."

"No, we can’t ask him for help."

"Why not?"

"It’s a long story."

From that point, they remained silent until they neared the Prime Minister’s office. Tenel Ka grasped her lightsaber tightly as she strode towards it. The double doors opened inwards silently at the Jedi girl’s approach.

"Get ready," warned Tenel Ka as she ignited her blade and charged into the office.

Jaina followed her friend, raising her blaster and entering the dark room. Without warning, purple force lightning flashed across the room, searing the rich carpeting in front of Jaina. The young girl blindly fired her blaster, reaching out with her senses to find her possessed mother.

"Link with me!" shouted Tenel Ka as she raised a powerful force shield. Harsh lightning splashed against the barrier, making Jaina twitch with pain from the mental strain.

"Try to break her mental shields!" ordered the warrior girl, her gaze locked on the silhouette of Leia behind her desk.

Jaina obeyed Tenel, lashing out with her mind, attempting to destroy the Sith Lord’s defenses. Tamara laughed with Leia’s voice, easily withstanding the young Jedi’s assault. She retaliated with a powerful mind bolt, a stab of pure agony that made both young women cry out and clutch their heads.

"Fools! I am a Sith Lord! I am more than equal to any Jedi Knight; and neither of you are full Jedi. You are ignorant children pretending to be more than you are. I will spare you today, but never try my patience again!"

Tenel glanced at Jaina, silently telling her to retreat. Jaina turned to stare at her mother, the woman now a stranger looking back with cold, arrogant eyes. Fighting back tears of frustration, Jaina staggered to her feet and followed Tenel out of the office. As soon as both girls left the room, an alarm sounded throughout the hall. The doors to Leia’s office slammed shut and locked, trapping the Jedi outside.

"C’mon!" urged Tenel before she ran down the hall to an open turbolift. Lida held the lift open until everyone was inside, then she sealed it and overrode its controls. While the lift hummed with its descent, Jaina and Tenel Ka leaned against its walls, gasping for breath.

"She’s too strong. She was right, we’re not full Jedi yet."

"Uncle Luke needs to finish our training."

"Not him. I’ll never speak with him again."

"Why do you hate him?"

"It’s personal. Do you know of any other masters?"

"No. They’re all dead. Uncle Luke is the last."

"Perhaps we should go to Dathomir. There are still Jedi teachings amidst the lore of the Witches."

"What about Jacen? Where is he?" asked Lida.

"He’s at your house," replied Tenel Ka as she kept her gaze on Jaina.

"We have to get him before we leave."

"Yes, that’s a fact," nodded Tenel.

"Madam Prime Minister, we’ve lost track of your daughter’s ship. They’ve jumped into Hyperspace."

"It’s not important. We will waste no further resources on my wayward children. We have more important matters to address."

"Such as?" inquired General Bel Ilbis from his position on the other side of the war room holo-tank.

"Gather the bulk of the Fleet. Order them into Imperial space, it’s time we rid ourselves of them once and for all."

"The Senate will have to approve any aggressive moves against the Empire."

"I’ll take care of the Senate, you just get our forces prepared to attack."

"What about the peace accord? You attack and there will be no hope for a non-aggression pact."

"The Empire simply wishes to buy time to rebuild their fleets, I will not give them that time. We are in the superior position. We must exploit our advantage while it is ripe."

"The member worlds won’t like it," remarked General Madine. "It will sound unduly aggressive."

"We fight to protect them. They will see my wisdom when the last remnants of the Empire are swept away."

"Very well. I’ll alert the admirals and begin ship re-deployments," sighed Iblis.

"Excellent. Keep me informed about your progress," ordered Leia before she swirled away in a sweep of black robes.

After she left, Madine turned to Iblis and murmured, "She seems different, more blood thirsty."

"Perhaps she’s right. A pre-emptive strike now may save lives in the future. I will do my duty for the Republic."

"Good luck, old friend. I’ll keep you up-to-date on Imperial fleet deployments," promised Madine with a war weary smile.

Luke Skywalker stirred from his revelry when a holo-screen blinked for attention.

<<Subject found. Subject has just left Coruscant system. Captured nav data projects course for planet Dathomir.>>

"Ready my ship. I have you now, Tenel Ka," smiled Luke darkly.

=====

The starcraft Scorpio descended into the dusky atmosphere of Dathomir just as the sun faded below the eastern horizon. The clouds were tinged with bright purple and red that reflected off the agile ship’s hull as it approached a lengthy series of ravines and plateaus. Tenel Ka piloted confidently, lowering Scorpio between two sharp edged ridge walls. The ship roared down a narrow cleft, gradually slowing down until Tenel activated Scorpio’s repulsorlifts and lowered the ship onto a patch of smooth rock on the ravine floor. Two women in long black cloaks and black dragonskin armor emerged from an opening in the rock wall directly opposite Scorpio.

"Who are they?" asked Jaina from behind Tenel as they both descended Scorpio’s landing ramp.

"Witches of Dathomir. They’ve been sent to greet us."

"Welcome, your highness," said the older witch, bowing low at the waist with respect.

"Thank you. I am honored that you allowed us to study your library."

"We’ve been hoping that you would take an interest in your heritage, Princess Tenel Ka. We almost despaired when it was said that you went to the Jedi Academy to learn the ways of the Art."

"We call it the Force, ma’am," corrected Jaina primly.

"There are many names for the great power that flows throughout the universe. Everyone is entitled to their own interpretation."

"That is a very enlightened attitude," observed Tenel Ka. "I’m surprised to hear a Witch admit such beliefs."

"There is much about our order that you do not know. I hope you will let me teach you," smiled the witch warmly.

"We shall see," replied Tenel Ka, before she let the two witches guide her and Jaina into the depths of the Witch’s compound.

"How do you feel?" inquired Lida anxiously.

"Horrible. It feels like my head’s going to burst," groaned Jacen from his bunk.

Lida reached over from her perch on the side of Jacen’s bed and brushed her fingers lightly across his forehead. Jacen smiled, gazing deeply into the girl’s beautiful eyes.

"Why did you come after me with my sister? I didn’t part very well with you."

"You needed help. I couldn’t just forget about you."

"Most people would."

"I’m not most people," smiled Lida gently.

"No, you’re not," murmured Jacen as he softly took Lida’s hand in both of his and held it tenderly.

"The fighters are ready, my lord," reported Darlina from her place at Luke Skywalker’s side.

"Good," replied the fallen Jedi as he marched towards his own waiting TIE Defender.

"My lord, the New Republic has launched a massive attack on Imperial territory. We could use this to strike at them while they’re distracted," said a dark acolyte from Skywalker’s other flank.

"We don’t have the resources or the manpower to hurt the Republic. Let my sister waste her ships on the Empire, we’ll deal with them both later. The last of the Jedi are my prime concern. They must be seduced or destroyed, especially Tenel Ka."

"As you wish, master," bowed the acolyte respectfully.

Darlina rushed to pilot her own fighter while Luke climbed into the round cockpit of the TIE. He sealed the entry hatch shut, then activated the cockpit displays with a thought. Buckling himself securely to his chair, Luke grasped the controls and slowly raised the fighter on its repulsorlifts. The tri-winged craft shot into the darkening sky, trailing after the four other TIE Defenders that were already breaking away for open space. Once free of Byss’ thick atmosphere, the fighters gradually faded from sight, their cloaking devices shielding them from all visual and non-visual means of detection. Only a brief surge of energy marked the fighters’ entrance into Hyperspace.

Lida held lightly onto Jacen while he slowly climbed down Scorpio’s ramp. The young Jedi raised his face into the warm breeze, relishing the feel of real air against his skin.

"Maybe it’s too soon for you to be moving around. Let’s go back inside."

"Not yet, Lida. My headache’s going away, the fresh air is helping. Let’s just walk a little farther, then we can go back."

"Alright," sighed Lida before she guided him along the ravine floor, supporting him whenever he needed it.

It was deep into Dathomir’s night when the five TIE Defenders pierced the planet’s atmosphere. The swift fighters glided silently into the canyon that led to the witches’ sanctum. Luke Skywalker piloted his ship without expression, his mind focused on searching for his former students. The Defenders maintained their cloaks until Luke gave the mental signal to land. Darlina and three other Dark Jedi apprentices waited patiently as Skywalker exited his own craft and took a moment to scan the area.

"Tenel Ka and the others are amidst Force sensitives. Keep the witches at bay while I deal with my objective."

"Yes, master," bowed Darlina.

Skywalker strode towards the sanctum entrance in a swirl of black robes and cloak. He unclipped his lightsaber, eager to finally re-capture his lost prize, Tenel Ka.

Tenel Ka sat in a lotus position within the dark meditation room. The red-haired girl held her eyes shut, breathing deeply while seeking her calm center. A witch stood near one of the walls, observing the girl’s progress. Tenel snapped her eyes open when sounds of fighting echoed from the distance. The witch guardian frowned in concentration, then looked down at Tenel gravely.

"Intruders have entered the sanctum. Stay here until someone comes for you."

With that warning, the witch left the room, sealing the chamber’s door behind her. Tenel Ka uncoiled to her feet, grasping the smooth hilt of her rancor-tooth lightsaber. The Jedi girl opened her mind to the Force, hoping to discover who the attackers were. Tenel gasped in pain when a Force bolt slammed against her mind, isolating her from the rest of the compound. The warrior girl activated her blue-green lightsaber just as the chamber door was blasted off of its hinges. Luke Skywalker marched into the room, his lightsaber burning with ruby fire. He smiled coldly when he spotted Tenel Ka, raising his humming blade in mock salute.

"So, I find you at last. Drop your weapon and it will go easier for you."

"I won’t surrender to you. You’ll have to fight me," swore Tenel as she raised her own glowing blade.

"Very well," growled Luke before he lunged at Tenel, slashing his lightsaber down at her.

Tenel parried the blow, then blocked several others as Luke pounded angrily down upon her. The two duelists circled each other, trading blows, testing defenses. Tenel Ka panted loudly, sweat glistening on her skin from trying to keep up with her former master’s lightning swift strikes. Luke frowned with mild dismay, surprised that the young girl could repel his assault so effectively.

"You’ve learned much, Tenel Ka, but you are not a Jedi yet," said Luke before he lashed out again, slashing and stabbing with his blood-red blade. Tenel parried the attack, then struck out with her right foot, slamming it into Luke’s knee. Luke grunted with pain, hastily raising his lightsaber as Tenel launched a quick counter-attack.

"Good. Very good," observed Luke while he backed away from Tenel Ka’s determined advance. He suddenly reached forward, slapping Tenel across the face, then shoved his right knee into her belly. Tenel grunted, before flying back when Luke struck her with a vicious upswing of his right arm. Tenel Ka fell limply to the rock floor, sitting up unsteadily and wiping a trail of blood from under her nose. Luke Skywalker stood above the warrior girl, his lightsaber poised just under her delicate chin.

"Do you surrender, or do you want to die today?"

Tenel glared up at Luke for several long seconds, before deactivating her lightsaber and tossing it away.

"Excellent," hissed Luke, kicking Tenel Ka into unconsciousness with his hard right boot.

Jaina gasped as the lightsaber of a Dark Jedi slit a bloody line across her left arm. The Jedi girl riposted quickly, forcing her foe back before ramming her humming blade deep into his stomach. The male drooled blood from his mouth and fell dead to the cold floor of the passageway.

She took a moment to lean against a wall, then resumed her path back to Tenel Ka. The girl met a few witches who rushed past, attempting to repel the other Dark Jedi running rampant within the sanctum. Explosions could be heard in the distance, powerful Force blasts from Luke’s minions who had been ordered by their master to destroy the witches’ irreplaceable library. Jaina wiped falling dust from her face, then began to run, fearful of what her wayward uncle might have done to her friend.

Luke emerged from the sanctum opening, carrying the unconscious Tenel Ka in his arms. The Dark Jedi commandos waited for their master near their TIE Defenders, although two of their number were missing. Darlina strode up to the Jedi Master and bowed crisply.

"The library is destroyed, master. No records of the Witches’ teachings remain."

"Good work, Darlina. Return to Byss, I will follow you."

"Do you wish me to guard the prisoner?"

"No, she will ride with me," replied Luke before he smiled coldly down at the comatose girl before him. "If only you knew what punishments I have planned for you, dear Tenel."

Jacen and Lida hid behind an outcropping of rock, watching silently as the occupied TIE Defenders, and the remote-controlled empty fighters, rose silently on their muffled repulsorlifts and shot up into the pitch black sky.

"Tenel Ka," murmured Jacen, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Should we get Scorpio and follow them?" asked Lida.

"We better see if Jaina is okay first," replied Jacen, before he gingerly got to his feet and tried to jog towards the sanctum.

Jaina stood near the dark opening, gazing up into the starlit sky when Jacen and Lida approached her. The twins hugged briefly, then parted to regard the receding points of light that represented the departing raiders.

"Uncle Luke has Tenel Ka. She was unconscious but otherwise looked alright," said Jacen.

"He wants her to suffer. He blames her for the destruction of the Academy," murmured Jaina. "He’s full of hatred."

"What do you want to do?"

"His followers destroyed the Witches’ library, but the witches managed to save one book. It contains knowledge of many Force disciplines that Uncle Luke didn’t know about. The Witches say that the skills are unique to Dathomir. That may give us an advantage when we finally face Uncle Luke and Mom."

"Do you want to follow him?"

"Not yet. We have a lot to learn, brother. We train, then we go after Tenel Ka. I just hope she’ll still be alive when we’re ready."

Prime Minister Leia Organa-Solo entered the War Room, hands clasped behind her back contentedly. She watched with a satisfied smile as the techs recorded the Republic’s advances into Imperial space. Fleet icons moved forward with little interference, the remaining Imperial defenders were disorganized and in complete disarray. The smell of imminent defeat does that to soldiers, thought Leia with a wolfish grin. The shade of Tamara that possessed Leia’s body burned with dark pleasure, this routing reminded her of the glory days of the Sith, when they ruled the galaxy with an iron grip, crushing anyone who dared to challenge their evil rule.

"All of the Empire’s outer colonies are pacified, Prime Minister," reported General Madine from the primary holo-tank. The slim Sith woman joined her general, gazing with smug joy at the line of colored icons that represented her conquests.

"The Imperial Fleet is retreating to the core worlds. Bastion is being heavily reinforced, or so my spies say," said Madine with a guarded glance at his commander-in-chief.

"Disra is panicking, that’s very good," purred Leia, her eyes burning with relish. "Maintain the advance, the war is almost over."

"I hear you have a special project in one of Coruscant’s old Imperial shipyards. Security is so tight that no one on my staff can tell me about it. What are you building, another Death Star?"

"Hardly something that inefficient. Death Stars look impressive, but there are other weapons that do the same job with fewer resources."

"I would think that you would be the last person to advocate space weapons of mass destruction, considering your own homeworld was destroyed by one," frowned Madine.

"We must adapt to our environment or die, General. If building a planet killer will end this war quickly, then many brave Republic soldiers’ lives will be spared. Surely life is more important than an ephemeral thing like morality?"

"That’s one way to look at it," nodded Madine reluctantly.

"I’m glad that we understand each other, General. Continue your excellent progress, I will be watching," smiled Leia frostily before she turned to leave the War Room.

"Something strange is going on here, and I intend to find out what it is," whispered Madine under his breath as he regarded Leia’s retreating form.

=====

Tenel Ka struggled to awaken. Intense pain burned against the side of her head where Luke Skywalker had kicked her into unconsciousness. The warrior girl slowly opened her green eyes, then stared with astonishment at the complex device positioned beneath her. Tenel finally noticed that she was hanging suspended over the device, wearing nothing but her underwear. She was fastened securely to a metal frame that held her above the unpleasant looking machine, her arms pressed tightly against her sides. A thick metal collar was fastened around her neck, obviously the source of the inhibitor field that kept her from using the Force to free herself. She wriggled ineffectually within her bonds until the door to the dimly lit room hissed open to admit Luke Skywalker. The black robed Jedi Master smiled maliciously as he bent down to gaze into Tenel Ka’s defiant face.

"Comfortable, dear?"

"Why am I held here? I thought you were going to put me on trial and execute me."

"Oh, no. A trial would be too good for the likes of you. I’m going to torture you. I want to make you suffer just like all the cadets on Yavin IV suffered when the Empire razed my academy. Your life will be long and agonizing, a fitting punishment for your sins. Shall we get started?" inquired Luke pleasantly before he slapped the activation switch of the machine.

Tenel Ka’s bound body jerked briefly as the frame lowered down towards the humming machine. Tenel hung just above a series of emitter prongs, her eyes wide with terror as the machine built up power. With a bright red glow, the machine activated, sending invisible fingers of agony into Tenel Ka’s body. Tenel bit her lower lip until she broke the skin, blood staining her chin as she screamed uncontrollably. Luke stood nearby, relishing the girl’s pain, purging himself of guilt while watching the cause of his failure writhe in torment.

Another Star Destroyer exploded in a brilliant cloud of debris and escaping plasma. Fleet Admiral Pellaeon watched the ruined ship drift away as a squadron of X-Wings moved on to fresh prey.

"Admiral! We’ve lost three more cruisers! We have to leave!"

Pellaeon sighed to himself, gazing out into the violent maelstrom raging outside in the emptiness of space. He held his gloved hands clasped behind his back, the hands clenching with frustration.

"Signal the retreat. Load the navs for the alpha withdrawal point and engage when ready."

"Aye, Admiral," replied the bridge pit officer before he rushed to follow his orders.

"So this is how it ends for the mighty galactic Empire," murmured Pellaeon while two Mon Calamari heavy cruisers concentrated turbolaser fire on a lone, wounded Victory-class Star Destroyer, tearing it apart like wolves would devour a sheep.

General Madine sat near a roaring fireplace sipping a large glass of amber liquor, when the door chime to his quarters sounded.

"Enter."

General Jan Dodonna passed through the doorway, acknowledging Madine with a respectful nod. Madine gestured to the well-stocked bar, then waited until the elderly officer had fixed himself a drink and seated himself across from Madine near the fireplace.

"Ah, the heat feels good against these old bones of mine. The weather on Coruscant seems especially chilled tonight."

"Perhaps it matches the heart of its current ruler," remarked Madine with a careful look at Dodonna.

"It’s dangerous to say such things about our lawfully elected Prime Minister."

"It may be more dangerous to let her continue her campaign against the Empire. By the time she’s through, we may not be able to distinguish between the enemy and ourselves."

"You refer to the planet killer?" asked Dodonna, before taking a long gulp from his glass.

"Yes. I know what she’s building in the Gamma-Seven shipyard, an Eclipse-class Super Star Destroyer, with a fully functional super laser."

"A serious violation of Republic law, if the Senate finds out about it."

"My informants tell me she’s quietly trying to gain support to repeal the law forbidding weapons of mass destruction, for the good of the Republic, she says."

"I take it you don’t agree with her views?"

"Leia’s changed ever since that incident with her children and the Hapan princess. Something’s wrong with her, I just don’t know what," frowned Madine in frustration before he drained his glass dry. Dodonna watched the younger general as he went to the bar to refill his glass.

"Perhaps it has something to do with the Force, Leia is a Jedi Knight as well as our Prime Minister."

"I don’t recall any of the Jedi acting so belligerently. I thought the Jedi advocated peace and harmony."

"Perhaps the record keepers exaggerated that part," smiled Dodonna.

"That’s not funny," rebuked Madine from his standing position near the fire, his eyes focused on the dancing flames.

"I agree that Leia’s behavior lately is unusual. What do you want to do about it?"

"I want her removed from office before this war gets totally out of control. We’ve established a huge buffer against the Empire, we don’t need to take any more territory."

"There are whispers in the Senate about halting the advance, but so far Leia’s faction has been able to filibuster any real resolutions. You’ll need to gather much more support before you can call a vote for removal."

"I know, that’s why I need your help. Will you support me, Jan?"

"Do you know when the new Eclipse sets out?"

"Two weeks. My spies say she wants to send it out to the front immediately, with her in the captain’s chair."

"This is good. With her gone destroying planets, we’ll be able to convince the Senate that she’s out of control. We can have her recalled and dismissed."

"May the Force be with us," toasted Madine as he clinked glasses with the elder general.

Moff Disra shambled into the frantic war room, dismayed to see so many panicked techs and officers. The fat ruler of what remained of the Empire moved to the huge holo-tank that dominated the room from a raised dais. Disra climbed the dais’ stairs ungracefully, then grasped the edge of the tank while he caught his ragged breath. Admiral Pellaeon glanced at the panting Moff briefly, then returned his attention to the strategy map beneath him.

"Have you halted the Rebels’ advance, Admiral?"

"No, sir. The Alliance is throwing their entire fleet at us from multiple fronts; we just don’t have the ships to cover everything. I’ve consolidated our remaining forces around a few key worlds, it will be very costly for the Rebels to attack those systems."

"Can we hold them?"

"For awhile, but not indefinitely. Supplies will run out eventually, and the Alliance has far greater resources than we do, it’s only a matter of time before they overwhelm us."

"So we’re beaten, is that what you’re trying to say?" scowled the fat lord.

"I’m afraid so, sir. I did warn you that this scenario might occur."

"Yes, for all the good your warning did. Fortunately for the Empire, I have access to resources you do not. Would you care to hear my analysis, Supreme Commander of all Imperial Forces?"

"Yes, sir," nodded Pellaeon, his irritation barely concealed.

"My spies on Coruscant tell me that the Rebels’ leader, Leia Organa-Solo, plans to lead a new offensive against us in person, on the bridge of an Eclipse-class Star Destroyer."

"An Eclipse? With a working super laser? She’ll tear through our defenses without having to pause for breath!"

"That’s true, unless we’re prepared for her. Grand Moff Tarkin used to say, the best way to defeat a Jedi is with another Jedi, I plan to even the playing board."

"How?"

"I believe that the former Rebel hero, Luke Skywalker, has had a recent change of heart? He’s based on our former capital of Byss with a small band of followers."

"Yes, but he hasn’t shown any support for the Empire. He appears to be plotting independently of both sides."

"Ah, Admiral, but I know how to bring him on our side," smiled Disra smugly.

"Really?"

"Yes. I’ve managed to infiltrate Skywalker’s little enclave, I know what he holds dear."

"What’s that?"

"A girl. One of his former students. He seems to blame her for the destruction of his school. He’s chased her across the galaxy twice, and I believe he’s torturing her quite inventively right now."

"What’s your plan?"

"To capture the girl, then hold her for as long as we need Skywalker. We threaten to kill the girl quickly and painlessly unless he does what we want. We threaten to be merciful, the last thing that Skywalker would wish on his victim."

"Hmm, it might work. What do you need me to do?"

"Nothing, my dear Admiral, the game has already begun," chuckled the fat moff darkly.

Luke Skywalker stood at the pinnacle of one of the many towers jutting from the Palace. A strong wind buffeted his short, dark blond hair. He rested his hands upon an iron railing, slowly flexing the fingers of his regenerated right hand. Luke turned when he heard movement behind him, alerting him of the arrival of Tenel Ka and Darlina.

"You may go, Darlina. I won’t need you anymore tonight."

"Yes, master," bowed the young woman with a harsh glance at Tenel.

Luke waited until the Dark Jedi left, his lips quirking up in a brief smile as he sensed Darlina’s hate and jealousy. He focused his gaze on Tenel Ka, who stood before him pale and uncertain.

"I’m sure that you enjoyed our sessions together, but alas there shall be no more."

"Are you finally going to kill me?" asked Tenel, her expression resigned.

"Oh, no. Like I told you earlier, a quick death wouldn’t do at all," smiled Luke as he slowly circled Tenel. "I’ve done something much more appropriate. How does your right arm feel?"

"Fine. Just like…" trailed Tenel as she slowly felt her right arm with her left hand. "It can’t be! It’s flesh and blood! How?"

"An interesting Sith technique that I just discovered. The Sith were a deeply misunderstood order. They knew more things about organic physiology than we could ever dream of. They could meld technology with the Force, even create completely artificial beings like droids that were powered and controlled with Force energy. They were geniuses!"

"You used the Dark Side? To heal my arm?" stammered Tenel, realization slowly dawning in her horrified mind.

"Yes," hissed Luke as he stared hatefully into Tenel’s green eyes. "The Dark Side flows in your veins now, it permeates every cell of your body. You belong to me now, to the Dark Side of the Force!"

"NO!" screamed Tenel Ka before she fell limply to her knees. "No."

"Welcome to the Sith, Tenel Ka. I’m sure you’ll fit right in," smirked Luke before he threw back his head and laughed loudly into the boiling night sky of Byss.

=====

The enormous engine vents of the Eclipse-class Super Star Destroyer flared to life. The humongous warship slowly sailed out of the orbital construction yard, its millions of hull lights vying to outshine the stars around it. Dozens of worker drones zipped away from the ship as it cleared the dock, picking up speed from its sub-light drives.

"We have cleared dock ma’am," reported a bridge pit officer.

Prime Minister Leia Organa-Solo nodded in acknowledgment from the throne-like captain’s chair fixed on the catwalk running down the center of the bridge pit. Leia watched lesser Mon Cal cruisers fall into position about her ship, the Retribution. She stiffened her back as she sat up, her hands clasping the command chair arms tightly.

"Signal the fleet. Follow the Retribution into Hyperspace on my mark. Set course for the Imperial border."

"Aye, ma’am."

"Jump!"

The stars elongated and flashed as the huge Super Star Destroyer burst into Hyperspace. The lesser ships of the task force hurled after their leader, ready to go into battle.

"Sir! The latest Intel reports are in!" exclaimed an aide as she charged into the war room.

"Then give them to me!" snapped Moff Disra from his standing position near the primary holo-tank.

The slim female aide ran up the dais steps to Disra’s side, reaching out to give him a sheaf of hard copy. Disra flipped through the pages, halting when he found the news he dreaded.

"The Retribution has left dock. They’ve set course for our border."

"Then it’s time," replied Admiral Pellaeon softly.

"Yes. Tell the insertion team they may commence the operation."

Tenel Ka blocked an arm chop, then replied with a quick upward kick. The Dark Jedi girl opposing Tenel jumped back, then launched her own series of foot jabs and leg sweeps. Tenel called on the Force, accelerating her movements so she could dive past the girl’s defenses and slam a finger jab into her stomach. The dark-haired girl grunted before Tenel wrapped an arm around her torso and slammed her backwards onto the cushioned floor mat. Tenel Ka hopped out of combat range, her arms held up defensively. The Dark Jedi laughed lightly, then groaned as she slowly rose to her feet.

"You’re getting better, Tenel Ka. You’re learning to focus your hatred."

"It’s still hard to fight in this uniform," protested Tenel while she fingered the black tunic she wore. The sleek black shirt had matching pants that were tucked into polished knee length boots. Black leather gloves covered Tenel’s hands, while the girl’s long red hair was twined into a severe, waist length braid.

"If you’re going to be a Ravager, you have to look like us," smiled the girl. "C’mon, let’s grab a quick shower before our meeting with Master Skywalker."

"Ah, Eris! How was your training session with Tenel?" inquired Luke Skywalker from the top of the throne dais.

"It went well, Master," bowed Eris respectfully.

"Take your place with the other Ravagers," ordered Luke, before he descended the stairs to the floor of the great hall.

"Word from our spy network on Coruscant is that my dear sister has left at the helm of her new Eclipse Star Destroyer, the Retribution. With her attention focused on the Empire, we are going to use this opportunity to increase our supplies and resource base. I want you to sneak into Republic space and conduct a series of raids. Hit small and mid-sized transport convoys, taking as much cargo as you can carry. I’ll have several used transport vessels ready at several key points for you to unload upon. We need to strike quickly and efficiently, our window of opportunity may be very brief. Questions?"

"What about the blockade ships surrounding the Core?" asked a young male Ravager.

"The blockade was weak to begin with, Leia didn’t assign nearly enough ships to block all the exit routes. With the war, she’s had to pull ships to garrison her conquests and to replenish her losses. The blockade is a joke. We’ll eventually clear the rest of them from our space, but first we need to prepare."

"Do we spare the transport crews?" asked Tenel Ka softly, her face downcast.

"No. We must leave no traces for my sister to find. The crews must die, as well as any witnesses that happen to be in-system. Is that a problem for you, Tenel Ka?" smiled Luke cruelly.

"No, Master. It is not," replied Tenel as she looked hatefully back at Luke, her left hand rubbing her right arm absently.

The four transport ships had no warning when eight TIE Defenders dropped their cloaks and opened fire. The bulky, ungraceful ships vainly tried to split up and evade their attackers while the fighters swooped in, raking the transports’ hulls with green laser fire. Tenel Ka bit her lip as she lined up a transport beneath her and fired, her tri-laser array tearing a precise line of fire across the vessel’s large engines. The engines flared briefly with damage, then died, forcing the ship to wallow in space. Muttering a silent prayer for forgiveness, Tenel locked on the bridge of the transport and fired, watching painfully as the compartment exploded in a brilliant cloud of debris and gas.

The attack ended quickly, with all four transports disabled and no Ravager casualties. Four TIE Defenders locked tractor beams on the powerless prize ships and began dragging them out-system before jumping to Hyperspace. The remaining four Ravagers spread out to cover the withdrawal. Tenel Ka was among them.

"Suffering from a guilty conscience, Tenel Ka?" goaded Darlina from her nearby fighter.

"Maintain comm silence, Darlina," admonished Eris sharply.

Tenel Ka sat silently in her tight cockpit, the lights of her control panel harsh across her face as she struggled with her emotions. She felt the guilt from murder burning painfully in her belly, yet the pain lessened with each moment, dampened by the cold numbness radiating from her restored right arm. She stroked her arm through the slick fabric of her tunic, wishing for the courage to sever the evil limb from her body. Tenel Ka replaced her left hand back on her fighter’s controls, hardening her heart to the pain, until a proximity alarm sounded.

"Ships are entering Realspace!" shouted Darlina as a Victory-class Star Destroyer appeared from the void behind the Ravagers.

Tenel Ka applied her afterburners while two squadrons of TIE Fighters launched from the Star Destroyer’s hanger bays.

"Break and repel attackers!" ordered Eris, the four tugging Defenders releasing their prizes and turning to aid their comrades.

Tenel Ka dived to port while two TIEs flew after her, firing short bursts from their linked laser cannons. Tenel poured on the speed, her Defender much faster and more maneuverable than the aging TIEs. The cockpit shuddered when a TIE scored a lucky hit, damaging her rear shields. Tenel transferred power from her starboard shield to her aft, then swung sharply to port. The two TIEs split apart hastily as Tenel fired a long burst at both of them. The left-hand TIE managed to evade, but his comrade wasn’t as lucky. Green darts of energy shredded the unlucky pilot’s starboard solar panel, causing him to spin out of control until his unstable engine exploded in a bright flare.

Tenel shot after her remaining pursuer, who had altered course back to the Star Destroyer. Tenel fired several laser bursts at the fleeing pilot, then locked a proton torpedo on him. The TIE began to jink violently, the pilot detecting that Tenel had a missile lock. Tenel Ka smiled grimly as she released the torpedo, her eyes following the projectile’s progress on her tactical screen. The TIE had almost reached the defensive umbrella of the Star Destroyer when the torpedo slammed into its port ion engine. The fighter blossomed into a perfect sphere of white-blue plasma. Tenel grinned in triumph, then frowned when a wave of disorientation hit her. The girl’s body became limp with weakness, her hands sliding off her controls as her ship continued to speed towards the looming Star Destroyer.

"Tenel! Pull back! You’re getting too close to the Star Destroyer!" shouted Eris over the comm system.

Tenel tried to reach the flight sticks, but her arms were weighed down with lead. She gasped softly once, then fell unconscious, the underbelly of the Star Destroyer growing larger in her cockpit window.

"You blundering fool!" spat Luke Skywalker as he slapped Eris brutally across the face.

The raven-haired girl fell to the floor, but her eyes remained locked on her master. "Forgive me, Master. Once Tenel Ka was caught in the Star Destroyer’s tractor beam, it was impossible for us to save her."

"Who would dare do this?" fumed Luke, his arms clasped behind his back as he paced in front of the audience hall’s throne dais.

"The IFF was broadcasting as Imperial, Master," offered Eris while she slowly got back to her feet.

"The Empire? What is that fat toad Disra planning?"

"Master! We’re receiving a secure transmission from Bastion!" exclaimed Darlina from the entrance of the audience hall, her left arm wrapped in a plasti-cast.

"Transfer it here, Darlina," ordered Luke.

The blonde girl ran to obey, and a moment later a large holo-screen grew to life between Luke and Eris.

"Greetings, Jedi Master Skywalker. I trust Byss is treating you well."

"It is an adequate base for now. Get to the point, Disra, what have you done with Tenel Ka?"

"Such concern for a subordinate! It really is quite touching," smiled Disra maliciously.

"I can kill you right now, Disra. Continue to toy with me at your own peril," growled Luke.

Disra swallowed uncomfortably, but quickly restored his oily smile.

"I do have your plaything, Skywalker. I need your help to repel your accursed sister’s advance. With her new ship, she can crush what remains of my Empire, I want to prevent that."

"What do you think I can do? One man against an entire Super Star Destroyer?"

"You have your acolytes, the Ravagers, I think you call them. I think a Jedi Master and a squadron of cloaked TIE Defenders could take out a Star Destroyer quite handily."

"You’ve done your research well, Disra," scowled Luke.

"Yes, I have," smiled the moff smugly. "Destroy the Retribution for me, and I’ll return Tenel Ka to your tender attentions. Fail to stop Leia, and I kill Tenel Ka--quickly and painlessly."

"That wouldn’t do at all," growled Luke. "Very well, I will do what you ask. I will remember what you’ve done, Disra. There will be a reckoning one day."

"Of course, Jedi Master," sneered Disra before the holo-transmission blinked off.

"Gather the Ravagers, Eris. We have a job to do."

"Yes, Master," bowed Eris.

Squadrons of TIE Fighters swarmed around the Retribution like locusts, firing futilely at the massive warship. A Mon Cal cruiser exploded from Star Destroyer fire, but the attacking ship died soon after, when the Retribution locked an entire broadside on the unlucky ship and opened up. A few surviving orbital Golan stations fired their turbo-lasers constantly, the weapons dangerously overheating as the crews did their best to damage the oncoming behemoth. The Retribution’s forward batteries retaliated, shredding the Golan stations into their component molecules. Planetary surface cannons locked on the Retribution and attacked, their large focused beams flashing against the Super Star Destroyer’s powerful shields.

Leia fought to keep from wiggling with joy in her command chair, the shade of Tamara that possessed her giddy with obscene pleasure. Fighters and cruisers burned and died just beyond the wide observation windows of the bridge, the flashing light of lasers and ion cannons giving Leia an evil aspect.

"Forward shields down ten percent. The planetary cannons are beginning to wear them down," reported a bridge pit crewman.

"Prepare to fire the main cannon," commanded Leia in a husky tone.

"Ma’am, I thought we were only going to use the super laser if the Imperial commander refused to surrender. There is a significant civilian population on the planet," said Captain Bendine.

"A civilian population loyal to the Empire. A civilian population that has been building arms to help murder innocent Republic citizens. Do not pity the people down there, Captain, they are traitors to freedom. Tell me when the cannon is ready!"

"Cannon can fire in two minutes and counting."

"Excellent," smiled Leia.

"It’s pretty messy out there, Master," said Darlina on a low-power comm channel.

"Yes, it is. Eris, take the Ravagers and try to disable the Retribution’s engines. I want to get on board," said Luke.

"It will be done, Master. May the Dark Side be with you," replied Eris softly.

"It is, child. It is," said Luke before he accelerated his fighter forward.

The emitter of the Retribution’s main cannon had began to glow with an angry red light when the Ravagers de-cloaked and opened fire on the Super Star Destroyer’s main engine vents. Seven TIE Defenders coordinated their blasts on the far port exhaust, ripping it to pieces. Proton torpedoes flashed out towards the other engine vents, shooting deeply down exhaust tunnels until they exploded near the primary reactors. The huge warship shuddered like a living thing, the main cannon dying as the millions of hull lights along its hull flickered on and off from cascading power disruptions. Darlina launched several heavy proton bombs into the mangled engine array, blasting great gashes into the aft hull. The Ravagers shot away when X-Wings roared towards them, laser cannons flaring.

Luke Skywalker smacked against a passageway bulkhead, the tremors of the exploding engines traveling all across the ship. He regained his feet, continuing his advance to the bridge. Exiting a turbolift, Luke encountered four guards positioned in front of the bridge hatchway. He activated his lightsaber, the ruby beam exuding a hellish radiance.

"Stop! You are not permitted here!" shouted the guard leader, his blaster rifle leveled at Luke’s chest.

Luke smiled, before he used the Force to snap the leader’s neck. The remaining soldiers hesitated as they watched their commander fall, giving Luke plenty of time to rush forward and slice their necks with his lightsaber. With blood dripping from the walls, Luke palmed the bridge hatch open.

Leia rose from her chair, turning to face her brother when Luke strode arrogantly onto the bridge. Bridge pit officers attempted to draw weapons, but Luke struck first, launching fat tongues of Force Lightning at the helpless humans. Screams and the smell of burnt flesh filled the bridge as Leia calmly unclipped her own lightsaber and flicked it on.

"Nice to see you again, brother. It seems like forever," smiled Leia coldly.

"It appears I’m not the only one to undergo a transformation. A super laser, from you? I never would have believed it."

"Only the strong survive. If we limit ourselves, someone else with less scruples will come along and squash us."

"Very enlightened. I’m surprised to hear such wisdom coming from your lips. You’ve grown up."

"I’ll let you leave now, brother. You’ve embraced the ways of the Sith. We could join forces, rule the galaxy together."

"You sound like Father," frowned Luke. "I’m not sure that I like it."

"Get used to it, dear brother. Now, do we have a deal or not?"

"I never did like to share," replied Luke as he lunged at his sister. The two Jedi locked blades, the weapons hissing sharply as the duo fought for positioning. Leia knocked Luke away, then lashed out with several violent swipes.

Eris fired a sustained burst from her laser cannons, destroying an enemy X-Wing from behind. She banked hard to starboard as red laser fire flashed past her flank, another X-Wing swooping quickly by overhead. Eris yanked her flight stick upward, pouring on speed while changing course to follow the impertinent Republic pilot. The X-Wing jinked back and forth dodging her own fire as well as stray shots from the battling capital ships. Eris grinned when she finally hit the X-Wing’s upper port engine, the damage slowing the fighter long enough for her to pour sustained fire into his dorsal shields until her lasers burned past them to engulf the cockpit. Interior debris and a spurt of crystalizing blood marked the death of the Republic pilot, before the X-Wing spun out of control and exploded. Eris flew away from the chaotic melee long enough to witness the Imperial world’s planetary batteries resuming fire upon the listing Retribution. Powerful turbo-laser beams splashed against the vulnerable hull of the massive Super Star Destroyer, searing great rents into its metallic skin. Interior compartments exploded brilliantly, venting atmosphere and dead crewmen.

"Hurry, Master," urged Eris, diving back into the vicious fighter dogfight.

Leia slashed a deep furrow in Luke’s left arm, then unleashed a bolt of raw Force energy at the reeling Jedi Master. Luke barely deflected the bolt in time with his upraised right hand, then he released a powerful Force wind at his sister. Leia staggered back, her black dress billowing around her from the strong air currents. The Sith Lord residing within Leia negated the wind and renewed her lightsaber assault, hacking at Luke brutally. Luke parried her hate-driven blows, then kicked her in the stomach. Leia grunted with pain, slicing up with her blade, ripping a bloody rent against Luke’s left cheek. Luke clasped his heavily bleeding cheek, snarling with rage. He reached out with the Force to choke Leia, then as she blocked it with her own power, he threw a Force bolt. The green shard of energy smashed into Leia’s belly, hurling her back into the observation window on the far end of the bridge. Leia slid to the deck, her stomach smoking from the powerful strike.

Luke’s lightsaber hissed for blood, its ruby light illuminating Leia’s face as her brother slowly walked up to her.

"Good-bye, dear sister," bade Luke, raising his lightsaber for the coup de grace.

Tamara gathered all of her power for one last desperate mental strike, lowering the telepathic shields that hid her presence within Leia’s mind. Luke’s eyes widened in surprise when he finally detected the Sith shade residing in his sister’s brain. Leia smiled triumphantly and hurled her mental Force bolt, the attack creating a nimbus of purple energy around Luke’s head. Luke screamed in agony, his mind on fire. Leia sustained the assault, slowly rising to her feet, blood trickling from her lips. Luke dropped his lightsaber and fell to his knees, wisps of smoke curling from his ears, nose, and mouth.

"Die, Jedi! Die!" growled Leia, her lovely features twisted with hatred.

Quivering on hands and knees, Luke reached desperately behind his back, withdrawing a vibro-knife from a fold in his black robes. Activating the weapon, Luke hurled it at his sister, aiming instinctively with the last of his strength. The mental pain suddenly faded, allowing Luke to draw breath and look up. Leia held the handle of the knife in both hands, her eyes wide with astonishment. Blood stained her dress heavily, pooling around her feet. She released the blade that nestled in her chest just before she fell backwards to the blood-slick deck.

Luke watched his sister die, his heart cold and unfeeling. He hastily raised his mental shields, sensing Tamara’s attempt to transfer her consciousness into his body. Luke listened to Tamara’s high-pitched, ethereal death scream, as oblivion finally seized her and carried her into the void. The Jedi Master coughed to clear his throat, wiped his nose, then retrieved his lightsaber. Luke glanced back at his prone sister one last time as he stood at the open bridge hatch.

"Farewell, Leia. May the Force be with you, always."

The Retribution shuddered from another series of hits from the planetary cannons. A great hull-shaking explosion shattered the Super Star Destroyer in half, both pieces slowly falling into the planet’s gravity well. With the primary threat eliminated, the surface batteries locked on the remaining Mon Calamari cruisers, destroying several of them before the survivors blasted away at full sub-light speed, racing away from the pursuing TIEs in order to jump into Hyperspace.

Eris waited at the rendevous point at the edge of the system, her TIE Defender cloaked and drifting. The rest of the Ravagers had already jumped back to Byss, proud of their victory over the Republic. Eris reclined in her padded cockpit seat, then sat up when she detected a slight disturbance in the Force.

"Master?" inquired Eris on the Ravagers’ coded channel.

"I am here, Eris," replied Luke, his fighter cloaked and undetectable to the young woman.

"Are you well?"

"I will live, Eris. Did we take any casualties?"

"No, Master. The Ravagers performed well."

"I’m glad. Let’s go home, I’m very tired."

"Gladly, Master," smiled Eris before she engaged her fighter’s drives and accelerated into Hyperspace.

The forest glade was quiet and cool, a nearby stream gleaming under the light of two golden suns. Jaina sat cross-legged near the brook, reading intently from the book given to her by the Witches of Dathomir. Jacen reclined against a tree nearby, listening to the plant’s song through his enhanced link with nature. The twins’ peace was broken when Lida burst from the bushes, her breathing ragged from sprinting.

"Jacen! Jaina! I’ve just been on the Holo-Net! Something terrible has happened!"

"What is it?" asked Jacen as he jumped to his feet.

"Your mother! She’s been killed in a big space battle!" gasped Lida.

"Mom?" breathed Jacen, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"How?" inquired Jaina cooly.

"Her new ship, the Retribution, was crippled and destroyed by Imperial forces. Almost the entire task force was trashed!"

"Jaina! Mom’s dead!" sobbed Jacen, reaching out for his sister’s comfort. Jaina held her brother tightly, her own face radiating anger.

"Have you been keeping tabs on Uncle Luke?" asked Jaina.

"Yes. Republic Intel thinks he’s been conducting raids with those cloaked TIE Defenders of his," replied Lida quickly.

"Were there TIE Defenders in the battle with Mother?"

"I think so. The reports are incomplete, but I remember reading that Defenders crippled the Retribution’s engines early in the battle."

"Uncle Luke killed Mother," murmured Jaina softly.

"No! Uncle Luke would never do anything like that!" denied Jacen as he broke away from his sister.

"Our uncle isn’t the same man anymore. He’s been corrupted by the Dark Side of the Force. Think about it! Mother was a threat to him, just like we are, just like Tenel Ka was."

"Do you want to go after him now?" asked Jacen reluctantly.

"No, we aren’t ready yet. But we will be soon, and on that day, Luke Skywalker will pay for what he’s done to our Mother and to our best friend," swore Jaina fervently.

~~~~~~