The Alpha Legacy - "Rise" Prelude to KotFE

[GuardianElite]

Tantra – Planetary Atmosphere, approaching the Defense Grid


Steam lifted from the skids as the Assault Shuttle emerged from the cloud bank. Mrysti smiled at RT who held on to the troop railing next to her, looking out the open troop door. An icy cold wind blew in to greet them, Mrysti was the only one who should have been affected. The mixture of Republic and Imperial Commandos all in their armor, as well as her brother all looking at her like she was insane. Dressed in only her thigh-high armored boots, the training top with it’s armored shoulders and collar; Mrysti actually did drape a set of heavy black robes over the top of what little armor she wore. It was sub-arctic temperatures after all, especially their destination. And as the holo-screen rose and came online in the center of the troop area all eyes, including her own went to it.

The smile was for being almost right, though Mrysti was wrong about the time and the circumstances. The enemy had indeed begun landing forces, but the speed at which Mrysti and her band of ‘Coalition’ cohorts assaulted the planetary blockade caught the enemy in the middle of setting up a ground defense. There were no cannons or planetary based anti-air systems ready to greet them. Sporadic fire could be seen from the surface, but it was little to non-existent as the shuttles veered and moved away from the defenses that were actually being set up.

“We are getting data from the Tantra Central Defense Grid, the ‘enemy’ hasn’t taken it yet.”, RT face got grim, “…we are able to track their movement...they are headed that direction, but we are unable to get the size of the Force.” Mrysti lifted a brow in a question as the other Commandos leaned in, “…the Tantra people all live below the surface, their only monitoring of the outside world or the surface of the planet is through a sensor array…the enemy is destroying the array as they make their way toward the Grid. That’s how we are tracking them….”

Mrysti turned her face back out to the frozen air, looking out over the surface. It was so cold, so barren down there. RT knew what she was going to say before she even said it.

“That’s where we are going. Make a direct line toward the entrance of the Defense Grid, we are going underground. If we can get to the Defense Grid before they do…seize it, we stand a chance of holding this planet. We need to coordinate with the indigenous forces of this planet and—“

Shaking his head as she spoke, Mrysti stopped abruptly watching her brother.

“That enemy force is proceeding unabated and at a pace that shows no resistance. The forces of this planet are either dead or have not been committed yet, let’s hope it’s not the latter….”


Zakuul Forward Command – 18 Kilometers from the Tantra Defense Grid.


The ‘black’ prince opened his eyes. Up till that point he had been on his knees in the assault vessel in meditation. It was his way, unlike his brother the ‘black’ prince saturated himself in the Force before a battle. His meditations were his way of preparing. Looking up, his eyes met the still pacing eyes of his brother who walked impatiently inside the shuttle. The sudden opening of his brother’s eyes caused the ‘white’ prince to turn his attention toward him. Though the ‘white’ prince chose to build his rage before a battle, shunning the quiet meditations of his brother, he too had felt it.

Standing up next to him, the ‘black’ prince looked out of the viewport of the shuttle’s troop hatch. They looked at one another as if to agree that their feelings matched before one spoke to the other. It was the ‘black’ prince who felt it first and the ‘black’ prince who spoke on it.

“She’s here.”

Landing, the Zakuul assault started to disembark. The ‘white’ prince had no idea why they were leaving the air to set a ground assault, but he trusted his brother implicitly. As the hundreds of Zakuul warriors disembarked, the two brothers walked slowly to the center as the chaos of troops moved around them. The ‘dark’ prince nodded to his lighter armored brother.


Tantra – Location: Culvert Entryway, Subterannian Entrance to the Planetary Defense Grid, 18 KM North


It hit her like a ton of dura-crete bricks, the vision. It was only a flash, but enough to feel their presence. Mrysti quickly reached for the headset to everyone’s surprise.

“Attention, attention all forces….break off! Prepare to land…we fight our way through!”

Mrysti looked at RT, her eyes were wide as he shrugged in confusion.

“Something knows we are coming. They have set up on this trajectory leading to the Defense Grid entrance.” Not having time to explain, she pulled RT close. “No matter what, you and the Commandos get to the sub-level…stop them from getting to the Defense Grid. Leave me if you have to…but, get there!!”


It was a valley naturally cut by the passing of a glacier. The valley led all the way to the main surface entrance which led several miles below the ice to the planetary defense grid and the rest of Tantran society. At the base of the valley, where it began, it’s winding path to the surface entrance sat the forces of the ‘Dark’ and ‘Light’ princes that were the hands of the Zakuul Empire. RT’s eyes got wide at the sight, before the shuttle veered a sharp left dropping them behind a ridgeline and out of site.

“Did you see that?!?! Void…who the—who are those guys?!?!” All of the Commandos exchanged glances as Mrysti pursed her lips stepping off into the deep snow before the shuttle even touched the ground. Her Holo-emitter came on line as she looked at her wrist. For a moment it blinked the number of forces before the datastream went dark, undoubtedly due to the Zakuul destroying the sensors. Mrysti looked back at RT as he and the rest of the Commandos disembarked, the other 39 shuttles depositing their soldiers as well.

“Get your team to the surface entrance…skirt around if you have to…” The sound of walkers being deposited next to Mrysti and RT noisily made her raise her voice, “…I will lead the rest in….” She touched her forehead a second, “…I have a feeling they want to talk first.”

Igniting her purple blade, Mrysti strode over the hill looking down at the myriad of forces laid out against her, not even bothering to look back at her brother for an acknowledgement. The walkers and the other armored troops cresting the hill with her as they all walked forward and toward the ‘enemy’.


One looked at the other, the ‘white’ prince tightening his grip on his saber which he held in a reverse grip. Together they walked forward, alone. The forces of the Zakuul standing ready behind them. Snow blew in at a chilly horizontal freeze as Mrysti’s robes blew out beside her. The light of the purple blade reflecting off of her black armor. She stopped allowing the twins to get a little closer. Before she could say anything, they too stopped looked at one another and then at their opponent, who stood with her saber out to her side. They exchanged no words as Mrysti watched the two brothers. They were twins it appeared, both wearing opposite colors and she wondered if that meant they represented opposite sides in some way. As she looked them over, being careful to appear to continue looking both of them in their eyes she noticed the lightsabers and it hit her. This was the presence she felt and she knew they too felt her presence. In the Force, she could see that they had been expecting her in some way. Though this was the first time she was able to put a face to the visions of ‘black’ and ‘white’ she saw. The ‘black’ prince was the first to speak.

“You have interrupted the conquest of this planet….’Hammer’. There is no need for violence, if you bow to the will of our father, the Emperor of the Zakuul.”

Trying not to look surprised, Mrysti tightened the grip on her lightsaber as the ‘white’ prince, almost in time with her movements did the same. Why wouldn’t they know of her, there were intelligence assets, spies on their side; obviously by how quickly the Zakuul had taken eight planets with, how Mrysti surmised, out firing a shot. Now they faced true resistance, but did they know of her from data or something else. The ‘white’ prince took a step forward in defiance.

“Bow! You will kneel before the Zakuul or be destroyed…”



And that’s all it took. Mrysti bowed for no man, not anymore. Almost in time with her movements the remainder of her forces and the forces of the twins erupted in battle. The walkers beginning their barrage of the Zakuul line as Mrysti raised her saber above her thrusting a hand out to push the ‘white’ prince back to the Zakuul firing line. The ‘white’ prince sailed like a piece of paper as she turned her eye to the ‘dark’ one.

“I bow…for no one.”


Jetpacks cut as RT kneeled at the surface entrance doorway to the Planetary Defense Grid. The sound of the battle miles away made his head come up. It was underway and now his timetable just got shorter. As RT took out the plasma torch, the other Commandos starting to apply charges to the door, he wondered how long their meager force could hold off such odds. It was easily 3 to 1 out there. Beginning to feel guilty for leaving Mrysti, RT swallowed hard. She had her job and he had his. This was important, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he needed to be there with her.


In a reverse grip, the ‘white’ prince had already launched himself back toward Mrysti. She dodged, rolled and weaved out of the spinning blades of now, both brothers. As she fought, she let herself go dropping deep into the Dark Side of the Force. The mental acuity of the Arena, the foresight of seeing the brothers movements before they happened, all of it kept her one step ahead. They fought in and out of several lightsaber forms, all of them seeming to be archaic styles of forms taught by both the Jedi and the Sith. Ataru…Juyo…they passed through each with ease and simplicity. They were skilled, but not experienced.

Bringing her blade up Mrysti deflected the blade of the one while launching her hand out and coursing a deadly stream of Force Lightning at the other. Again, lack of experience showed itself as the ‘white’ prince in all of his rage failed to bring his saber up or a hand to block or absorb the lightning; he was thrown back toward the Zakuul lines. The ‘dark’ prince looked back at his brother worriedly. There was something in his eyes as he turned them back toward Mrysti. Then she noticed it, they had not seen the pure energy of the Dark Side of the Force, much less a lightning generated by the pure awesome power of the Force. These twins were fighting the pull of both sides; neither truly dark…or truly light.

Stepping back, Mrysti swirled the blade in her hand still holding it with only ONE of her hands. The 'dark' prince held his in both hands, moving slightly up and down as he tried to anticipate her movements. Mrysti could tell he was buying time, waiting for his brother to rejoin the fight. Doing what she knew as a Dark Lord of the Sith, she smiled wickedly, twirling the blade one time in her hand and pointing with the other.

"First time seeing a Sith boy?!?! You have no idea of the terror you have awakened by coming here..." Mrysti sneered a bit surprised at the arrival of the second brother, who walked instead of charging like before. He did not raise his saber, but rather brushed his shoulder that was struck by the lightning off, at Mrysti. She stood up a little straighter, put off by the non-chalant way the 'white' prince brushed at her, tilting her head slightly; questioningly. She watched as the 'white' prince raised his hand in a similar fashion that Mrysti had only a moment before, arcing his fingers at her and giving a little quizzical look at both her and then his brother.

"That...was interesting. Harnessing the 'power' like that...you simply pointed your hand and thought--" His words were cut off as Mrysti was struck by the purple-blue arcs of Force Lightning that leapt from the 'white' prince's fingers. By not continuing the attack, he gave Mrysti time to recover as she pulled herself off the ground, her armor smoking. The two twins now looking at one another.

"How is that possible brother...to harness the 'power' that way?" As the 'dark' prince questioned his now lightning throwing brother, the 'white' prince raised the hand again launching yet another deadly array of Force Lightning at Mrysti, she blocked it with her saber, but then it abruptly stopped as both brothers seemed to be looking at one another.

"I don't know, brother...but, this....'Hammer' used it. It just came to me after I was struck."

Mrysti was dumbfounded, in the course of only a few moments the 'white' prince had not only discovered how to channel the Force into lightning, but was using it semi-effectively. This was odd and incredibly deadly. The word 'prodigy' came to mind. Both brothers, not incredibly experienced in the use of the Force, but full of raw potential. Where did they come from and why? Again the 'white' prince struck out against Mrysti, this time dropping his saber to use both hands to concentrate the lightning at her. Mrysti had to think quickly, there were other uses of the Force they had no knowledge of, but they would adapt quickly. Spinning, she sent the lightning back at her attacker who grimaced as the lightning ensconced him sending him to the ground.

"You may know how to generate it boy! But can you use it!!!???"


As the battle raged, the ‘Coalition’ forces began to fall to sheer numbers. The Zakuul simply had more and their reflective shields were more than evening the odds against Mrysti’s veteran force. The Zakuul General, watching from the bridge of one of the Capital ships zoomed in on his own Holo-viewer. This was indeed interesting. Waving his hand at his tactical officer he off-handedly spoke.

“Send in the rest…objective point: Surface Defense Grid Entrance….and concentrate all firepower on those walkers….”

[GuardianElite]

Tantra – Landing/Departure Zone


As the ‘wondering’ sage took the two soldiers Mrysti was dragging from her hand and arms, she collapsed at the foot of a smashed walker. Her breath was labored and she wheezed, it struck her as strange, the fight wasn’t that difficult at least while she was steeped in the Dark Side. Now as her bloodlust subsided, her body was telling her otherwise. More injured than she originally realized as she slumped the Sage squatted next to her as he laid a hand on one of the open wounds on her shoulder, most likey caused by the shrapnel.

“The price the pure Dark Side demands is not worth the cost, Darth Retuvisa…” The Sage shifted her to a leaning position against the walker’s leg and ripped the robe open revealing the multitude of cuts and open wounds on her person. Her life’s blood running out of her. Mrysti was tired, so…so tired. And suddenly her mind wondered back to Tatooine, the last time she was this tired. Now she wanted to sleep. The Sage, whom she knew as Gonikur, refused to let that happen. Tapping lightly at her face the force of the slaps increased the more her eyes seemed to drift, “No…now is not the time for rest. The battle is done, My Lord…but you still have a War to win. Stay with me…”

Shaking her head, Mrysti started to drift again, yes it was time to rest. Rest from the bad decision she made, rest from ever thinking of forming a ‘Coalition’ to fight an almost unbeatable foe. Rest from life that she had finally done her part. Yes, it was ‘rest time’. The ‘wondering’ Sage seemed to read her thoughts as he spoke directly to her mind.

‘No…it is not your destiny to die here….and WE are not finished…’

Lifting the large woman, Gonikur took charge of the remaining forces, directing them to the shuttles. They heaved the massive Mirialan Dark Lord onto the waiting assault craft as it rocketed toward the outer atmosphere. Mrysti’s vision blurred, her images fading and she could hear the words spoken, but with little understanding.

“She will need Kolto…don’t concern yourself with that, fly directly through…no, I will worry about that you just do as your directed Pilot…..”


Tython


Waking with a start her visions already fading from the haze of unconscious sleep Karolin threw on the brown Jedi Robe and nothing else starting for the door. She was shocked to find her Son standing in the doorway as it slid open. Beta stepped in, stopping his Mother from leaving as she dejectedly moved aside, backing up into the room. His face was a mask of concern and frustration as Karolin moved back toward the bed, Beta grabbing a seat before either of them said anything.

“It’s time Mother, you need to tell me what this is really about. I could feel you call out in the Force from across the Temple….I bet everyone could.”

Karolin crawled up on the bed bringing her knees to her chest as she rested her chin on them looking away errantly. It was something she didn’t want to do, Beta had already been involved with more than he should have in the course of his life concerning them all. He was an Alpha, but he was also his own man. The one thing a Mother wants for their child is to someday have their own life. During the course of his, Beta had sacrificed title, status and even love for the sake of his family. The young man was just getting back on his feet and here Karolin was again, once again about to drag her Son back in with them.

“I don’t want you involved Beta.”, It was a forceful tone and one Karolin rarely used with her Son. In a way, Beta halfway expected it. Karolin was backed into a corner now, she had called out to him in the Force, there was no denying it. Looking at his Mother, Beta sat back in his seat and in a rare act for him as well took a tone with his Mother.

“That’s a hellava thing to say to me, Mother…I am involved, I was involved the moment you laid eyes on me. The beggar boy, the boy no one would train? The boy the Jedi discarded and discounted…you saw something in me Mother. When I had nothing, you were there…when I needed anything you were there. Our destinies were entwined the moment we grew together, Mother and I have never looked back….”

Karolin slapped the spread covering the mattress looking up angrily. It was exactly what she didn’t want to hear. In another time, Karolin would have been completely selfish and cruel, she would have lashed out at her Son and told him that she never asked for his help, that he should have went his own way years ago. But, in truth she couldn’t have done much without him. They were an odd team, Beta seemingly always coming through for her at just the right moment. It was Beta who gave her one of her chances after being captured by the Jedi during her madness, sacrificing his title as a Master so that she could be spared carbonite. That was a different time, Karolin was more herself now. There was no reason to be cruel.

“I never wanted this for you, Beta. And had I known what bringing you into my life would have been like for you….”

Smiling warmly, Beta got up moving next to her and sitting on the bed. He draped a strong arm around her, pulling her close.

“I have no regrets. None. The things I’ve seen…the things we’ve done…as a family. Things I would have never been exposed to, people I’ve met, places I’ve been. Most of all, all of you. I wouldn’t trade anything for any of that. I am who I am because of you. And I am a proud…very proud Jedi. Most of all, I am proud of you, Mother.”

Karolin looked up at him bewildered, her eyes began to leak as she looked him in amazement. There was a question there, but she couldn’t voice it. Proud? Her SON proud? How could that be? After all she done, all the evil she cast throughout the galaxy and through both the Republic and the Jedi, how could her Son be proud?

“I-I don’t understand…but, why…are you…”

“Proud?”, Beta laughed as he pulled on Karolin again, “I’m proud because, I knew…no matter what anyone else thought, I knew you would come back. It’s who you are Mother. You ARE a Jedi, you’re a healer…you bring people hope. And that’s not something that you can just cast away. It’s part of a person’s being. I knew you would come back and I knew you would finish just as you started.” Beta let her go and looked at her, “It’s why you’re here isn’t it? To finish what you started before you have to go away?” Beta looked at her sadly following her eyes as she cast them away again, “I know Mother, I am not stupid. I felt the resolve in you the moment you arrived. This is big, bigger than anything we have faced before.”

Getting up from the bed, Beta slowly moved to the door. He placed his hand on the frame before it slid open looking down at the floor as he spoke.

“You are doing what you think is right by trying to keep me away, Mom. And I know that…but think about this….if this is indeed the end, if our destinies together have finally come to a conclusion…don’t you want me there to be a part of it? I need to be there…you need me to be there as you pass and join with the Force.”

Karolin looked up again with amazement as she wiped the tears off her face watching him slowly depart from the room as the door slid shut behind him. Her boy, her baby boy had finally become a man. A very insightful and thoughtful man. It dawned on her all of those things she wanted for him had already come to pass and even though Karolin didn’t believe it, in her many trials and tribulations; all of the things that she had dragged Beta and the rest of the family through she had forged the man who just left her room. There was no greater thing that a parent could be proud of. Jumping off the bed, her robe following behind her she ran to the door and found Beta just making his way down the hall, calling out to him.

“Beta!!! Wait.” He turned back as Karolin moved purposefully toward him, placing a hand on his face, “You’re right, Son. It is foolish of me to think otherwise. You are an Alpha. You are who you are because…of me. And I do want you there.” She turned back to her room moving down the hall, “Come back and sit. This will take a while to explain….”


Second Moon of Dagobah – Planetary Orbit – SIS/ISD ‘Coalition’ Fleet


It was a ritual passed down through the ages, forged by a collection of other rituals armored and unarmored warriors held for those that fall in battle. As warriors of different tribes, different societies collected together and formed their own rituals with those of other cultures, the burial honors for members of an organized force morphed and evolved into what is known in modern times. There were many ways to go about it, environment and speed at which the dead must be cared for dictating the manner in which the fallen were honored. Circumstances always played a part, in this case ‘Gyro’ as he was known by his unit, would not be present in mortal form for his honors.

Voices would be heard, music would be played and for the ones closest to the man being honored, they would remain numb to almost all of that. No one ever truly believing that someone who was here just a moment ago, was now gone and was not coming back. Those most poignant moments would be reserved for the ones closest to him. His Commanding officer, stepping to the lectern and in this scenario aboard a vessel, Republic Navy protocols would prevail. Those in attendance listened as Commander Kell would call the roll of those under his Command in alphabetical order.

The Soldier in roster order before ‘Gryo’ stood up slowly as their name was called, sadly they looked down and back up at their Commander, “Present….Sir.” Commander Kell stopped a moment before he called the name, he knew what he had to do, but his eyes went to the small display that sat prominently at the foot of his lectern. A pair of Republic Armored Boots, A rifle, turned upside down with its Vibroblade bayonet holding it between them; a Republic helmet on the butt stock of the rifle looking out silently at the crowd…and finally a pair of holo-tags slung off the weapon that seemed to dangle in a breeze that was not present onboard a Republic Man-a-War.

“Gyro” There was a pause…

“Gyro” Another pause….

“Republic Serial Number AA-23-476B…Codenamed: Gyro. Please answer the rolls….” It was then that the sobs could be heard. For most of these Soldiers it was not the first time they had buried someone, for even less of them one of their own. But, hearing the name called by their Commander and not hearing the response, it finally hits home. Your comrade is gone and he is not coming back. To finish the rolls, Commander Kell grasped the lectern tightly the wood of the stand almost creaking under his grasp as he does what he must as a Commander.

“Code name ‘Gyro’…is absent from duty…hereby stricken from the rolls…may he finally rest…”

Standing off to the side, RT watched. It never got any easier. He had done thousands of these, both as the Commander and as the Commander’s Commander, handing the flag off to a loved one or commanding some part of the ceremony. As Commander Kell stepped away from the lectern and looked at him, it was the first time RT would be speaking NOT as a member of the Republic Military. With his sister floating in Kolto, it fell to him; the De-facto Second in Command. He felt ashamed, not only for no longer being a Major in the Army, but for also having to speak. He knew Kell, fought next to him on Tantra. That bond was now sealed forever. But he knew ‘Gyro’ only in passing, just another member of Commander Kell’s elite squad.

Slowly, RT climbed the lectern to the top and looked out over all of the sad faces. He saw Marstel in the back and Gonikur; the odd Sage standing next to him…more members of the Coalition, faces all different all various races, colors, creeds, different factions; Republic and Imperial, all working together now for a common goal. RT nodded to himself, he knew what he had to say, it was what Soldiers, warriors had to hear.



“You know…I’ve done a lot of these. I know what some of you are thinking, I have sat in those seats you’re sitting in right now. First, you’re thinking, why is this ‘guy’ talking, when you want to be hearing from Commander Kell? Well, to answer that…it’s protocol, you all know that at this point of the service, the Commander’s Commander speaks and well, my Sister cannot be present. Besides, I don't think some of you want to hear from her anyway, you've all seen her...", there was a bit of laughter as RT provided a moment of levity to the situation, but quickly got back on track, "….and I am supposed to tell you how great ‘Gyro’ was and how his sacrifice was meaningful. How what we are doing shapes the galaxy and blah, blah, blah…” RT paused and looked down before squeezing the lectern and looking back up, “….those words never meant anything to me when I heard them, when I was a member of the Republic Army. But, for the first time ever, here….right now! They do!” RT looked down at the small display in front of him, “He did what he did because that’s what Soldiers do…they sacrifice, they fight and we die so that others may live. This was a cause he felt so strongly about that he was willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good of it.” RT paused backing up slightly, “…I feel the same way. And I would gladly have died in that culvert with him and with ANY of you, if it called for it. May we all feel as strongly as ‘Gyro’ did….”

Raising his hand in a solemn salute, it was the cue for the firing party as the commands of the firing party’s commander echoed off the walls of the small chamber.

“Stand by…..READY! READY!....AIM!....FI—“ The rest of the first command drown out by the report of the seven man team firing their first volley.

“FI—“ The second shot causes some in the crowd to shake back to reality, that yes, this is really happening.

“FIR—“ The third and final shot echoes and slowly dies in the chamber as the Republic Hymn begins to play, the bearers of the flag that stand in front of the small display begin to fold the flag in time with the music. Only this time, it’s not a Republic Flag. Kell didn’t want that. The bearers finish and pass the ‘Coalition’ flag to RT who checks it to ensure it is tight and folded appropriately. RT does an about face holding the flag, cradling it in his arms like a newborn. In the absence of family, RT thrusts the flag at Commander Kell; ‘Gyro’s’ family at the present time. There are words to be spoken, RT knew them he had said them a thousand times, but not this time. Kell knows, both RT and Mrysti are grateful to have such warriors among them. They exchange a salute and a crisp nod to one another instead of saying the words. Those words are reserved for civilians and there are none of those types present.

The burial ceremony begins to disperse and without missing a beat, Kell put a cigar in his mouth wandering over to where RT and Marstel are standing. It was too soon for RT to exchange words with the man, but he does nod at him before looking at his brother. It was now back to business as Marstel looks on the two men grimly.

“Es worse than weh thought RT….es 10 planets now, Tha Zakuul have started an offensive in tha Abrion Sector….a’ course ya kno, weh loss Tantra…”

Slapping his brother on the shoulder the three men start moving to the medical bay, RT is of course dismayed, but his mind is elsewhere.

“How is she?”

Marstel stopped, looking at both of them.

“Kolto will help, she loss ‘lot ‘a blood…she ain’t no spring chicken no more RT. And she done been put together more time than I kin count…Mrysti es a tough broad, buh she ain’t gone lass this whole War if she keep on this way….”

“I’ll talk to her…let’s go check her out. I need a look at the Holo-map…Commander Kell, you are more than welcome to come along if you want…”

[GuardianElite]

Tantra – Central Command Center

The two brothers looked at one another, both were on their knees at the large Holo-image of their father. It was the ‘white’ prince who looked up angrily.

“….but, I don’t understand?!?! We WON at Tantra….this makes no sense Father!!!”

As the ‘black’ prince joined his brother in finally looking up at the large holo image, the snide and condescending words rolled off the Zakuul Emperor’s tongue like water. It seemed practiced and was as per the normal routine chiding to both brothers.

“Yes, well of course you did. Or rather, my Forces did…the two of you only served to expose yourselves and therefore cause the necessity of speeding up my timetable. You failed to destroy the Jedi or the Sith and now they know about us….even now, they mobilize against us. I am unconcerned…however, you were warned. You both had one mission and in that you failed….”

Gritting his teeth, the ‘white’ prince lowered his head back down, his rage seethed from every pore of his body as he began to shake slightly. Without prompting and used to his brother’s spats of rage at their father, the ‘black’ prince slipped a hand behind his back, unseen by their father as he squeezed his brother’s hand, to calm him. The ‘dark’ prince’s eyes remained fixed and confused at the image of their father, his calm was legendary. For him, service to his father was the ultimate goal, no matter the outcome. Lowering his head as well, but not in rage; rather in subjugation he spoke lowly.

“Forgive our mistake, father…but you speak words we do not recognize. ‘Jedi’? ‘Sith’? We do not know these words….and the ‘power’ they spoke of it as the ‘Force’. I can only attribute our failure to lack of understanding. You trained us well, father….we will do better, I promise you…”

Without a word, the image started to wink out as the purple-blue of the holo-field began to fade showing the Zakuul Emperor turn his back on the two brothers and walk away. The ‘white’ prince stood up and immediately destroyed the holo-screen with a push in the Force turning his back on the shattered device. His brother followed him placing a hand on his shoulder.

“He is right you know…we could have destroyed those ‘Jedi’ or ‘Sith’, whatever they were. Instead we chose to stand in awe at your new ability. The failure is mine as well, I am just as guilty as you are.”

Turning sharply on his brother, the ‘white’ prince clenched his fist, “We ARE NOT failures! And I am tired of that miserable old man saying that to us! He has said that our whole lives…but, who’s out here?? WE ARE, brother…you and I. I don’t see him outside his throne room, I don’t see him leading the charge as we decimate this galaxy and take it piece by piece. To hell with him and to hell with his plan!”, the ‘white’ prince looped his hand around his brother squeezing it tightly, “…this is about you and me, brother….”

Though not convinced of his brother’s words, the ‘dark’ prince smiled kindly squeezing the arm and hand in return. Duty, it was all there was. Honor, to their father, there was no higher calling. He knew he would never convince his brother of the values he held, so long ago he stopped trying returning the squeeze again.

“Of course, brother…I am yours. But….we let the ‘Hammer’ escape, as well as her cohorts. This will not be finished until we find her or the others.” His eyebrow went up slightly, “That…’power’ she used, it was awesome, wasn’t it? She was a ‘Sith’? I would like to know about them….”

Dropping his hand, the ‘white’ prince smiled wickedly at his brother’s words. “There is always the ‘Doctor’, if you can get her to talk. She is resistant to the Mind Probe and if I am not mistaken, she hates the both of us immensely…I will have her brought to the surface before we start again, maybe after seeing what we’ve done to Tantra, she will change her mind….”


Tython


Karolin held his hand longer than she should have, finally his slow movement broke it from her grasp as Beta walked toward the landing pad. His pack was slung over his back, the brown Jedi robes covering the battle armor he wore. Turning he smiled at his mother as she brought that hand up to cover her mouth.

“I will find them Mother, I have an idea where the fleet is ‘Hold-up’ at. I will contact you once I make contact….” Becoming stern, Beta lost the jovial smile, “You just do what you need to here, Mother. We will be fine until you are finished, don’t worry….” He smiled jokingly again, “….It’s ME!!!”

Karolin held back the tears, huffing a slight laugh at Beta’s final joke. The preceding two days she told him everything, well….almost everything. What she failed to tell him choked her up at the moment as she held her hand over her mouth, thinking if she made a mistake in telling him anything at all. She fought hard to not let him sense it in her, that she was holding something back. Not ever really sure if she successfully cloaked the truth or if Beta was just humoring her, she continued to talk. Beta now knew everything she did, except for this. Karolin lurched forward dropping the hand as she ran a few steps forward.

“Beta!!!...” He turned slowly looking back at her, “I-I…..Love you, be careful, my Son….” Boarding the ship, Karolin watched him leave. At that moment, she almost told him, but again she feared what it would do if she did. How could she tell him that in regaining her powers she had seen his death and that death was in her defense?


SIS/ISD ‘Coalition’ Fleet – Republic Battleship ‘Honor’ Medical Bay…





The three of them stood around the Holo-map, Marstel brought his hand up considering their alternatives and coming up with no solutions. His programming had been activated from the moment they entered the room. This was serious, three battlefronts all of them spreading throughout the galaxy. As RT explained to both Marstel and Commander Kell, he stood up a little straighter watching Commander Kell, who’s eyes were drifting to the floating Mirialan in the Kolto Tank. Choosing to speak directly to Kell, RT looked over at the tank with him.

“It’s on us now, Kell. This doesn’t concern her…not right now anyway. We CANNOT wait four days to get mobilized, we need to move now, strike hard and strike fast.”

Going back to the map, Marstel watched the icons float and move in the blue haze. Two reported battle fronts, a third unreported in the Moddell Sector, exactly on the opposite side of the galaxy from the other two. His mind mapped and calculated the possible scenarios and all of the possible solutions presented problems. It would have helped if he knew their ultimate goal, but so far no one had any idea. Unlike the war between the Republic and Empire, where skills such as Marstel would have been useful, no one had spies on the Zakuul side of this affair. No one infiltrated their ranks, so no one had any idea where they were headed or what they were after. RT lowered his head slamming the fist on the console.

“It boils down to this. we don’t have enough and they have more…We are one fleet…they are several. Without re-enforcements, we are going to lose this and there is no way we can cover all three battlefronts simultaneously alone at any rate….”

“That’s true, RT. But as I was just analyzing, we still have no idea what their final objective is. Knowing that information would give us direction to concentrate our efforts.” RT looked up at Marstel as he spoke, never quite used to the ‘smart’ voice he used when he was under the influence of his programming, “We need information…I calculated four possible scenarios, one of which requires us to go back to Tantra, infiltrate their base and steal the information we require…”

RT shook his head at his brother, “No, they have no doubt brought up the reminder of their forces to re-enforce that system. We have seen that tactic by them time and again.” They all glanced at Mrysti in the tank, “We shed our dearest blood on that snow, I have no intention of going back there if we can avoid it.”

Marstel shrugged looking at both men, “Then our alternatives become limited…we have no choice. The three of us must split the fleet, each of us heading to the battlefronts in the varied parts of the galaxy.” Kell looked at Marstel chewing the cigar nervously, he knew what RT was about to voice. Splitting the fleet was not even a fighting chance for any of them against so large a force. As RT was about to voice that, the SIS Commander walked through the sliding door of the Infirmary, his eyes drifting to the Kolto Tank before looking at the men.

“Excuse the interruption gentlemen, I thought you would be interested….The Supreme Chancellor has just declared Martial Law across the Republic. We expect the Sith to do the same, though they have not at the moment. The War is effectively over gentlemen…” His face got a little redder for a moment, “Well...the war between the Republic and the Sith, that is…” As he turned to leave, he looked back a moment, “And we depart for Kuat momentarily to join up with the rest of the Republic fleet. She exposed the Zakuul over the galactic holo-net…you all HAVE your re-enforcements.” The Commander focused his gaze on RT, “Major, you will be expected to meet with Commander Malcolm and the Supreme Chancellor once we arrive…”

Marstel leaned back folding his arms, the second option for splitting their forces just became feasible. RT placed both hands down on the console looking at the tactical map of Tantra, he wasn’t completely convinced they should just leave the planet to the Zakuul, they had paid too much for that land. But, as they all made preparations to leave the Dagobah system, he looked at each of them in turn.

“You will both take a fleet to the other Battlefronts…” He slapped Kell on the shoulder, “Welcome to the Party, new friend…unfortunately you are not going to like your assignment. When the Sith join us and I am sure they will, you will return here with my Sister and take charge of this phase of the battle. We need to keep the Zakuul occupied until we discover what their final objective is. That means…you will return here with an Imperial fleet at your back.” RT glanced at Mrysti in the tank, “Of course…you will have to deal with ‘her’ as well….she will be awfully cranky when she comes out of there…”

--

Muffled voices, they entered and exited her mind as quickly as they were heard then they were gone, as well as the footsteps. Mrysti had placed herself in a Jedi healing trance, the machines unable to activate a comatose state due to her nature as a Force-User. She knew what she had to do, Tantra had nearly killed her and though she loathed to be out of the fight for the moment, it was necessary to heal and be ready for their next encounter with the ‘brothers’.

Wavering in and out of consciousness, Mrysti traveled purposefully in and around the ship. She phased in and out of the future and the past. It was beyond seeing, it was knowing. The purposefulness of her movements within the Force was to remain aware of what was going on, there would be no time to waste after she emerged from her sabbatical. Much of the same visions she had before, there were some shifts but very few. Mrysti knew that the galaxy was aware now and they were scared, already chaos was erupting on several Imperial and Republic worlds. She felt the intent of her brothers and Commander Kell, she knew what they were planning and had no disagreement, but she did not want to leave the system, though she could do little at the moment to stop them. There were ‘cards’ she had yet to play concerning those ‘brothers’ and the sooner she saw them again the sooner she could play them. Time was of the essence.

A hand placed itself against the glass of her Kolto Tank and though she could not open her eyes, she smiled in her mind at the presence. The ‘wondering’ Sage had stayed pretty much around and in her presence since depositing her in the MedBay. Telepathically, she told him to go, attend his own affairs, but his since of duty to the promise he made would not allow for that. RT was right about one thing, she was going to be cranky when she emerged. Hopefully, they would be back in the system before that happened and she drifted back into a deep unconsciousness.


Tantra – Central Command Center


Roughly, V’ictoria was deposited on the cold floor of the underground command center. One of the Zakuul Knights sat her up as her hands were still bound behind her. She had been treated well for the most part, despite the ‘brothers’ feeble attempts at using a mind probe and the Force to try and free her mind of information. Though on board the Zakuul ships during the Battle for Tantra, V’ictoria had already surmised that a big battle had happened. And though these Zakuul had been victorious, there was an unusual amount of anxiety connected to their victory. They had encountered resistance of some sort and they didn’t like it.

Looking up and smiling as the ‘brothers’ entered, V’ictoria watched them. In their many questioning and answering periods she had used her superior intellect to not only gleen information from them, but also manipulate them in a way. They were ‘boys’, inexperienced with this sort of treatment to not only a woman, but in the uses of a prisoner. Her superior knowledge of psychology had gathered that they were like most older teens, they hated their father, they wanted to do things their own way and they felt much resentment for many things on many levels. It wasn’t so much that the ‘brothers’ were entering to question her as she was about to start dissecting their minds once again, even from the position of being bound and at their mercy.

As per usual, the ‘white’ prince took the position of the heavy, looming over her as he crossed his arms, the ‘dark’ prince pulling a chair and spinning it the way an adolescent would, sitting in it backwards. They all looked at one another for a moment before V’ictoria feigned her shyness looking down.

“I’m afraid you boys have caught me at a bad time, I am hardly dressed for company. Perhaps if you untie me and allow me to look presentable we can make arrangements to meet at a later date.”

That made the ‘Dark’ prince smile, the ‘white’ prince dropping his hands from his chest in disbelief.

“No, Ms. V’ictoria, I think we will stay for a minute. As you can see we have prepared this chamber for you and though we must depart soon, we wanted to ask you something’s to perhaps help with our mission.”

Trust had already been established between the ‘dark’ one and V’ictoria long ago, he was easy. She hardly asked questions and he volunteered information. There were points he would not cross however, but in this case he had already volunteered that yes, they were leaving and yes, she had information about their mission. She didn’t ask the obvious questions, feigning ignorance as she always did, smiling happily.

“But of course, I am always happy to help you…I hope I have proven valuable to you in the past. What are your questions?”

The ‘white’ prince was growing impatient, all this pleasantry every time. Violently he snatched V’ictoria’s chair around to face only him, gritting his teeth. The ‘dark’ prince lowered his head in dismay, once again disappointed in his brother’s actions.

“Who are the Jedi?!!? Who are the Sith?!?!”

As the ‘white’ prince spun her around, V’ictoria’s programming activated unknowing to them both. She struggled to keep it under control as it only activated when it detected a rise in her bodily functions; namely anxiety, fear or anger. She grit her own teeth and forced a smile, her logical mind still prevailing for the moment.

“Jedi? Sith? Why….have you met one?”

The ‘white’ prince stood up, looming over the bound V’ictoria again, “Yes, you could say that…they used words and terms…powers we are unfamiliar with, especially this ‘Hammer’.”

It was everything V’ictoria could do to control herself. Did he just say, ‘Hammer’? She bit the inside of her mouth to quell her programming as well as her excitement. The ‘Hammer’ could only be one person and that meant that her cousin, ‘Mrysti’ had finally come for her. She needed to know more, but her hesitation threw the brothers off as the ‘white’ knight started for the door.

“We don’t have time for this brother, leave her…we need to start.”

As the ‘dark’ prince gave V’ictoria a shy smile getting up slowly and starting for the door, she waited till it slid completely shut before she let out a huge breath she was holding. Struggling against the binds at her wrist, she quickly twisted and used the edge of the chair until she freed one hand, at the expense of cutting her skin open. The lubrication of the blood helped her slip her tiny wristbone through the binders. Kicking the chair out of the way she looked around the room rubbing her wrist and thinking quickly. It was time, Mrysti was here and she was now ready to leave the company of the Zakuul Imperium.

-FIN-