[FONT=Arial]Takes place after Apprentices II.[/FONT]

Imperial Centre, IHC Sublevel 93A.



The view was absolutely amazing, the sights the Hapan saw couldn't be seen anywhere else in the galaxy.

Mainly because they were holo images of the best things in the galaxy.

Amazing the wonders of the sentient mind...

Lupercus couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Down several kilometres below the surface of the planet Imperial scientists had discovered that man could simply not exist without complete use of external stimulae for all six senses.

And so the images that danced before him danced. Along with the smells of an autumn filled with the breeze stripping brown trees of their foliage. The feeling of the breeze was there too, the occassional gentle gust, not strong enough to knock paper from desks, but just enough to let you know it was there.

Then again, that part could well have been a faulty air conditioner, but the effect was the same.

"So Admiral Desaria, you understand that it is your unique traits and loyalty to the Empire that has seen me choose you for this most important mission?"

The man behind him stood with the regal bearing of one born to rule. His body actions were deliberate and to the point. As such he nodded curtly.

"Ja, Herr Darksword. Ich verstehe vollständig.

Ich bin stolz, daß meine Bemühungen durch den Emperor erkannt worden sind."

Lupercus smiled at the use of the Admirals native tongue. While gutteral sounding, it was also slightly melodic in a harsh, perfunctory way. The Hapan had learned it solely for the purpose of these discussions with Desaria. And as a basis from which to converse with the Admiral without others understanding entirely what was going on.

He reverted back to said langauge now.

"Ich danke Ihnen für Ihren Zeit Admiral. Bis Morgen..."

Nodding in respect to the Admiral, Lupercus took his leave, knowing full well that the next day would bring a glorious prize to them both. Not just for the Empire, but for the Sith as well.



The Next Day, Admiral Desaria's Flagship, Final Jump point before Naboo.



Having been in a meditative state for most of the journey, Lupercus roused himself to the task at hand as he prepared the plethora of equipment that could potentially be necessary to their task.

That is, if the Jedi dare show themselves...

Immediately brought to impatience by the thought of battle, true battle, Lupercus immediately summoned an acolyte to finish his work for him. Such acts were beneath someone of the Dark Lords stature.

Pacing down the halls of the Star Destroyer took him past where Ithron had been quartered for his journey. Radiating a deep seated anger and with the desire for the hunt barely contained Lupercus entered his apprentice's room, the plasteel door almost rent at its hinges from the force of the blow which had opened it.

"My apprentice, can you sense the greatness that can be won here today?"

It felt weeks ago, but in fact it was only a few days since Ithron's rapid departure from the planet Korriban. He had returned as rapidly as possible to the the Diktat on Correlia. His prize from the mission had been taken from him and summarily ignored by Lupercus, as he suspected it might be. The Sith Lord had explained that nothing of any worth remained on Korriban - the "mission" had simply been a test.

"One which, fortunately, you appear to have passed." Lupercus had said at the time, in a voice which gave no illusions about Ithron's fate had he not.

In the space of a few days, the two Sith had visited various Imperial installations, and ended up here, on a Star Destroyer - no lesser vessel than the Baron-Admiral Desaria's flagship itself. Even here, in this place that was no stranger to power, Ithron found his Master, and by extension himself, treated with enormous respect. The fear that he could feel in any Officer who dealt with the Sith had come as a surprise initially.

In his cabin, one that would perhaps usually be given to someone of Colonel rank, Ithron was thinking to himself. His thoughts were fixed on Xa Fel, on Vance and the others. He last seen them in a macabre vision before landing on Korriban. In the real world, the last time had been when Vance sent them on the mission to Korriban - before Ithron had met Lupercus.

The Brotherhood of Sith, he thought to himself. Are all of Vance's Brotherhood after me now? For betraying their high ideals?

None of the Apprentices from Xa Fel frightened Ithron. Even the Knights like Necros demanded only caution, but the thought of Vance coming after him with revenge on his mind....

At that moment the door slammed open.

My apprentice, can you sense the greatness that can be won here today?

Ithron inclined his head towards the Master, smiling inwardly at the intensity of emotion coming from him.

Something's put him in a good mood, he thought, his former musings forgotten.

"Perhaps I'd be able to sense it better, Master, if you tell me what we're actually going to be doing today?"

Lupercus' anger mixed instantly with a strange sense of joviality at the apprentices question. He was slightly amazed at the fact that Ithron did not sense what was coming. It only took a moment for the Hapan to realise that his apprentice was focusing on the events of the past few days, rather than the events of the future.

Had Ithron been meditating, he surely would have sensed their location. Or at least more importantly, their destination.

"You waste time wondering how you got here Ithron, rather than what matters...

Why?"

Lupercus stepped into the room completely before fixing his apprentice with a sly gaze.

"You come to me seeking something more. Seeking true understanding, true power.

And now..." The Sith gestured wildly as if there was something to look at. "...I have brought you here, to the place where the great strides of power I made as an apprentice can be found."

Instantly in Ithron's mind flashed images of his Masters battle with Gash Jiren. To the apprentices amazement flashes of feeling came through also. Pain in defeat, but also the extacy of power.

"We are at Naboo, former home to the Grand Jedi Order."

Lupercus spat the last words with an overt sense of sarcasm.

"We aim to seek out a foe worthy of your death, that you may truly understand the power that i speak of."

Lupercus's fingers arched out as his hand rose, using the force to raise Ithrons hand up and remove the glove that hid his apprentices self inflicted attempt at a rise to power. The next sentance he spoke was mirthful in jest towards the younger sith.

"None of this self deprecation crap."

He released his apprentice and his tone returned to an overtly dramatic level.

"We will bring you to the brink of destruction, that we together may reform the true Order of the Sith..."

Humbled by the grand designs of the Sith Master and embarrassed by his insight into his injury, Ithron remained silent, entranced. Even after spending several days in close proximity to him, Ithron found the Sith Lord's personality overwhelming. Still, after an effort of will, he managed to speak.

"Hang on...." he cried. "You mean to say that we came here, seeking my destruction?! Well, what happens if this worthy foe manages to go beyond the brink and actually destroys me?"

In the calm gaze of Lupercus, he saw his answer.

"If they manage to destroy me, then I've failed....that's right, isn't it?" he said bitterly.

He fell silent.

If I don't get more powerful than I am, Vance and his cronies will destroy me when he catches me up - and he will. he mused.

He looked sidelong at Lupercus.

But fuck this....

"I'm with you, Master, as you doubtless knew I would be...

But be sure that I won't let myself be destroyed. I'm going to fight with every ounce of power in me before I let myself be taken to the brink of destruction, as you put it, by anyone..."

At his apprentices response, and his doubtful realisation of what was before him, Lupercus smirked insanely. The deaths head grin something Ithron had seen on many occassions since his return to his true Master, and would see many times more.

"Well, you must not forget that i'm here for some sport also!" He turned his eyes skyward as he continued. "Sadly Jiren is long dead, as are many of the former Masters who once had the power to challenge me. And if only one comes with such power well...

You'll have to settle for something less, glorious."

The Sith Masters gaze returned once again to his apprentice. He knew full well that despite the fact the Jedi Order had dissolved, they would not allow there former seat of power to fall unattended. If they did it would truly be a triumph of the Darkside, but if they rose to meet him well, that was just fine too.

But no, they will not let me return here unhindered. I shall flush them out.

"But perhaps while I destroy their last Master, you shall destroy their many plebian padawans.

And i'm sure that there remain many trinkets in their vaunted temples that might teach you something new..."

Not for the first time, or the last, the grin of his Master scared Ithron and reminded him just who he was dealing with. He had never yet seen Lupercus in combat, but he was sure that the opposing side would not be fun to be on.

"Their last Master? What of Leia? Vodo? Cole Donovin?" he exclaimed, quoting the names of the Masters he had seen or heard of during his time at the Academy. "Their padawans will pose no problem....unless some of the more experienced ones take a hand in the defence. Even then though, I can't see even them being that stupid...

You really expect some resistance? While we're in the Academy and the Temple, I take it the Imperials will be securing the planet. What about the Coalition? Can we expect a ground war, Master?"

Theed.

It was a beautiful city, the architecture something that wasn’t common within the galaxy at present. In fact, aside from some of the most historical of sites, there remained nearly no masterfully designed structures, of human-make, save for on Naboo; in effect, following the initial Sith raids so long ago, the peoples had rebuilt and maintained their sense of cultural creativity. And it was surely something to witness, seeing the high domed buildings, the cliff-side palace and the perfectly laid stone streets…

It seemed fitting that the Sith would once again seek the planet for their own needs. And even as Darth Vicirus stalked the main street, concealed within the crowd beneath his cloak and keeping away from general attention, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia. This had been the home of the Naboo Sith Order, before he had come and changed the Sith; in a sense, Vicirus’ intervention had been both a saving grace, and a bitter mistake.

Now, having had the chance to finally realize his true intentions for the Sith Order, the Sith Master had decided to lay claim to that which once belonged to the Dark Side. The Jedi had sullied the temples, had taken the planet following the departure of the Sith, seemingly having disappeared into the background of the galaxy; and, in truth, Vicirus wished to make a statement to the Jedi Order, to show that the Sith would no longer stand idly by and watch them walk safely throughout the universe…

…they would see their beloved home, their Jedi Temple, literally ripped from their hands by the Sith.

It would be a declaration they could not ignore, and would warn them of the darkness to come; especially given their lack of direction, and the weakness that had filled them following the closure of the Jedi sanctuary. In effect, the Jedi Masters had sealed their own destruction, by actively spreading themselves out and disrupting the sense of comradeship between the Jedi as a whole.

Already Jedi Padawans had no teachers or mentors, left simply to fend for themselves in a galaxy that was changing before their very eyes. The Empire sought to understand the Force through their Jedi Corps, an idea that had since fallen from the general public light; but it wouldn’t take long for those inbred abominations to return under the command of the Emperor, or more accurately one of his lackeys, to further disturb the balance of the Force.

As such, Darth Vicirus foresaw a most agreeable event horizon. In the past, the Sith had been destroyed, slaughtered by one of their own; likewise the Jedi had suffered the same fate by the hand of Anakin Skywalker. The Sith were then culled by the new Jedi Order, reduced to nothing but a few in a universe so large and occupied by the Light; and as such, it was now the Jedi’s turn to be reduced to a hollow shadow of their once overpopulated might… it was simply the order of things, one way or the other.

Not to mention the Jedi had already started the process, personally.

Looking up, Darth Vicirus saw the Jedi Temple looming ahead. The structure had been abandoned by the Jedi, but still there remained a semblance of the Light Side within. It was possible that some Jedi were inside, perhaps using the structure as a home, of sorts, as they sought to remain on Naboo; or perhaps the Jedi within simply didn’t have the courage to venture beyond what they knew…

In either case, the Dark Side had come to claim their precious sense of stability, and the Light Side would be purged from this place, once and for all…

Imperial V-class Star Destroyer Dominion

System Periphery, Naboo


The ships hung in space at the farthest reaches of human vision, the harbingers of destruction. More than that, the approaching squadron symbolized not just devastation or death, it was the armored fist of righteous justice come to cleanse Naboo of the infestation that had crawled upon it for so long.


Too long.


Grand Admiral-Baron Telan Desaria looked out over the system sprawling before him as his ships pushed on, scattering all before them. A dozen worlds orbited an older star that had only reached its zenith an eon before, bathing every planet in a warm embrace that boded very well for tourism. Without giving the system any thought beyond its beauty, Naboo was a calming, almost peaceful sight to the eyes.


Then one considers what is here, what has been here. The very people devoted to destroying order, the Lords of Chaos dwell here. Desaria felt his gloved hands twist into fists; he had spent his entire life pursuing order, trying to drive off every vestige of anarchy so the citizens of the galaxy, of the Empire, could live in prosperity. And now below him sat the Jedi in their lair, the guardians of anarchy itself. They had vowed to a man to serve the republic and its corrupt governmental structure, democracy; they had defended a crumbling house before the Clone Wars when senators made deals and decisions based solely on their own needs above the needs of those they were supposed to help. The very thought made the Grand Admiral sick.


" You stand ready to do your duty like an island in a maelstrom, Grand Admiral."


Desaria did not turn around; he could recognize the voice of Grand Inquisitor Ierin del Forza. He ignored the red-tuniced Viscount and concentrated on the task at hand. He had one Naval warship, his flagship, supported by seven Aurora-class Destroyers, each one flying the Inquisitoriate Banner, each one with Inquisitoriate crews and carrying Inquisitoriate troops. Though he loathed the Inquisitoriate, their ruthless methods would be needed today. Besides, they were created to fight the Jedi. Who better, aside from the Sith.


The Grand Admiral stood to his full height and strode deliberately across the catwalk to his chair. Sitting down as regally as any aristocrat could, he calmly commanded his formation to full alert. Fighters were scrambled and shields raised. The Empire had returned to Naboo, this not just to conquer....


...but to purify!

He wanted to strangle Dolash.

He might as well have handed every padawan over to the Sith for them to either slaughter or turn them to the dark side. Rane thought bitterly, for perhaps thousandth time since the Jedi Order disbanded. Now though there was a deeper sense of bitterness in his thoughts then before, for he had sensed the presence of the Sith lords arrival in force and he knew that if the Sith where there, the Empire would likely not be far behind.

He wasn’t going to stick around and see the outcome, for he was almost certain what would happen. The few Jedi what remained on Naboo would no doubt try to fight, but the odds were against them. The younglings that were left behind would surely be killed, or taken away to be forced into becoming new dark Jedi.

Rane wasn’t going alone though. In the lone cabin of the ship he was currently piloting were two young Trandoshans: Silonik K’Satikur and his friend Mortor, both Jedi younglings and far from having completed their training in the Force. Right now they were both sleeping peacefully, thinking they were just going on some trip. He couldn’t bare the thought of telling them the truth: that they were running away, knowing Silonik would protest and want to bring the others to save them as well.

It wasn’t that Rane wanted to only take the two Trandoshans: he wanted to take all the younglings to safety. His inability to do so weighed heavily on him and he could only hope the Jedi that were in charge of the orphanage, where the rest of the younglings were, will find a way off the planet before it was too late. Rane feared it may already be too late, for just as his small ship jumped into hyperspace he thought he saw larger, destroyer class and other battle ships hyper in.

He and the two younglings had escaped the planet, but he wasn’t sure where they were going to go. Trandosha was a logical place, considering the younglings race, but how to ensure their training continued was a mystery. Rane himself had only as much training as the little ones, if that, and he knew Trazu, Silonik’s father, would be hesitant to train them himself considering much of his original training was as a Dark Jedi.

One step at a time… Rane told himself. Get them to a safe place first, then figure things out from there….

A slight chuckle escaped his lips. It had been many years since he last saw Trazu and he wondered how the short Trandoshan would react when he saw him again….

Dreams...

The Force ruled many aspects of life - indeed, its' hand was at work in more facets of the universe than even the wisest of the Jedi or Sith might suspect. As such, it was not unusual for the Force to manifest through dreams and visions while the mind slumbered. Sometimes it was two sensitives communicating, sometimes it was the dreamer reaching out in their sleep, and very rarely, it was sometimes the Force itself, passing down cryptic warnings to further its' will.

Such a vision came to one Katria of Naboo as she slept. Through the fog of the night, a piercing light filled her half-vision and caused her to jump up in bed. Startled, she looked around her dormintory for the cause of the disturbance.

Mistress Katria, who took care of the Theed Orphanage and Shelter, hadn't felt such a disturbance for quite some time. Not since she'd left the disbanded Jedi Order to found the orphanage, in fact. Feeling wary, she got out of bed and dressed herself in her old robes, even seeing fit to hook her old lightsaber on her belt.

"I felt it too," whispered a willowy voice. Turning, Katria saw the faint blue form of Barris, a Force ghost she had taken with her from the temple. "I don't think we're safe here anymore," she said. "That disturbance, it was of the dark side."

Katria didn't say anything, her expression grim as she picked up Barris's crystal from the nightstand and pocketed it. Slipping carefully down the halls to as to avoid waking the children, she made for the back door.

As she opened the door, six Naboo royal guards were waiting for her. For a moment she tensed, her hand straying over her lightsaber, but she recognized some of the men and the sorrow in their faces, so she allowed her guard to drop. "What's going on?" she murmured.

Ashen-faced, the sergeant of the group bowed a little. "Mistress Katria, Queen Carlotta sends word. The Empire is on their way. They have made no diplomatic overtures... it looks like-"

"I understand," said Katria, nodding. "Do we know if there are any Sith?"

"None we know of yet," murured the guard. "Though... no one's watching the temple any more. We don't know what's going on there."

Katria knew already what was going to happen. The Sith, like vultures, hoped to sack the temple for any scraps of artefact or knowledge that hadn't been taken by the Jedi during their departure. They hoped to find a few padawans to kill for sport and to spite their ancient enemy. Finally, they hoped to make the world theirs as a symbol of the dark side's resurgence.

They would almost certainly succeed. So far as she knew, she was the last full Jedi on the planet, with only the young force-sensitives under her care and a handful of the less-trained padawans remaining on the planet. She quickly realized the precariousness of her position.

The men seemed to know too. "The Queen has arranged for you and your wards to be taken to the palace in secret. We've got an escort waiting on the road beyond, we'll take backroads and send a few decoys in case anyone's watching."

Feeling relief that the Queen had chosen to protect them instead of barter their lives away, it was Katria's turn to bow. "Thank you, sergeant. Let me go wake the children, I'll return in a minute."



Queen Carlotta was not amused.

The young Queen of Naboo was intelligent and quick-witted, and had inherited a strong taste for intrigue and politics. Unfortunately, there was simply no negotiating with a Star Destroyer, especially not with the paltry forces under the command of the Naboo Security Force. In an effort to avoid confrontation, she'd already ordered them to stand down and avoid resistance. The Empire would simply roll over them if they did, and likely cause gratuitous death and destruction in the process.

There was still the matter of addressing the invaders that even now gathered at the edge of the system. So it was that the Queen and her advisors were gathered in the throne room in the early morning light, the Queen composing a diplomatic missive to be sent to the Imperial's commander at once.

"Most noble officer of the Empire," the Queen began. "Greetings, on behalf of the sovereign of Naboo.

"I can only wonder as to your purpose, arriving at the edge of our space with ships of war, and without explination. Alas, I fear I know the reason, which is why I write to you to ask for clemency. We have no quarrel with the Empire and have no means of resistance. We have committed no crimes against your nation and hope that this will be reflected in our treatment by you.

"In fact, the only thing that I could imagine would draw your eyes to Naboo and cause the Empire to attack without warning would be if your intent were to catch someone by surprise, corner them before they can escape. I promise you, even the Jedi whom you hunt are long gone from this place - there are no Masters of the Force left on Naboo, only a few children with little instruction and no power or influence.

"With this in mind I hope we can come to some sort of peaceful arrangement or agreement to avoid unnecessary violence or hardship. Sincerely, Queen Carlotta of the Naboo."

With the message finished, one of the Queen's handmaidens bowed and hurried to deliver it to the communications office. Turning to her advisors, Queen Carlotta frowned. "What of the last Jedi on Naboo? Have they been notified?"

"We think so," grumbled a craggy old minister, leaning over in his chair. "Of course, anyone powerful enough to interest the Empire knew they were coming before we told them, so they've already buggered off. There were a few padawans we still had tabs on - our files have been carefully burned, Queen. By the time the Empire arrives, there should be no trace of our association with the Jedi left."

"Good," the Queen said, her face turning grim. "I only hope the Empire will see it that way. It's of the upmost importance they find no Jedi left here, or else they will scour the planet looking for them. We may still have a chance at survival if they find nothing to interest them here."

"It was a blessing in disguise when old Dolash left," the Minister grunted. "If he'd still been here, the Empire and the Sith might repeat what happened when... well, you all know..."

A dark silence desceneded on the throne room. None dared imagine a repeat of that dark day even with Sith and Stormtroopers hanging above their heads.

Carlotta broke the silence. "See to it that the last Jedi is hidden or away by the time they arrive. If they find her..." The unspoken hung heavily in the air.