Re: All In The Game

[Guest]

Krell shook his head and sighed at the tone of Serenity's voice. Yes she had learned some disturbing information but to push everyone aside that she cared for was not right. It cut deep, but there was nothing he could do about it. "Engage the Ioian device to open the cloak and prepare to leave. All hands to battle stations. We still probably have that Sith Ship out there."

The cloak flickered and open space apeared. The Raven went through followed by the Phoenix and then the device was turned off allowing the cloak to once more completely encase the planet. The Sith Ship appeared on their sensors and they apeared on its. The Sith Ship turned to approach the two ships. Krell was getting into a foul mood, and ordered his ship to turn and face the Sith Ship.

On board the Sith Ship the captain turned to the Sith Lord. "Our weapons do not compare to those aboard that ship sir. We are definately out gunned and even more if the second ship turns to engage us as well." The Sith Lord looked angerly at the Captain but just turned away from the view screen. "Break off but follow at the maximum range of our sensors." he told the captain. The Sith ship turned and moved away.

Krell was hoping that the Sith ship would have come on and tried to attack. He was in the mood to annilate something. But when the other ship moved off, "Resume course and inform me when we have arrived. I don't want to be disturbed by no one until then." he then left the bridge and went to his quarters, shutting and locking the door behind him.

[LadyRaven]

As the Phoenix exited the cloak, the Sith ship came on their sensors as well. "Boss." Slyder said, "We have contact."
"Show me." Serenity replied as she tapped her console. The other ship appeared on the main screen and she studied it closely. "Is that who I think it is?" She asked.
"Confirmed, Boss." Slyder said, "It's the same ship we saw before. The Raven has turned to intercept and it appears to have backed off."
Serenity watched carefully as one eye squinted slightly. "They know our weapons are superior." She said, "How far back has it moved?"
"Maximum range Boss." Slyder told her, "They're well off our asses."
Serenity magnified the image of the ship until it covered the entire screen. "What are you up to?" She asked it quietly, almost as though she was expecting an answer. Her eye squinted again and she leaned forward in her chair. Another tap on the console and she was connected to the Raven. "Krell, if you're listening." She began, "That ship out there is following us. Are we heading straight for Vera Prime, or are we gonna lead them a dance first? Personally, I don't mind a game or two with them." If anything, she wanted to rip them apart and hand their asses right to them. Besides, it might make her feel better...

[Guest]

When Serenity made contact with the Raven, the first officer answered. This is Kendal, Krell is........" he paused a moment, "not here. He left orders to continue on course to the Vera Prime. It seems he does not feel the Sith ship is a threat at this time." He thought he knew his captain well, but he was not acting just right at the moment. He never stayed away from the bridge for a long period of time. He seemed disturbed in some way, almost angry but yet not quite that.

"I would suggest that we do as he has instructed. Perhaps he has plans once we reach our destination." he said cautiously. He knew Serenity was the captain of the Phoenix and had a temper. If she wanted to go chasing the Sith ship that would be up to her. He had his orders and he knew better then to go against them unless it was a dire situation. If she decided to go after the ship he would not inform Krell, even though he probably should.

Aboard the Sith ship, the Sith Lord looked at the star charts and the course the two ships were heading. "Captain, they are heading towards Sith Territory. Courious that they would be heading there." He reached out with the force trying to sence what they were up to. He picked up on Serenity's anger and smiled. "Yes be angry, let your anger control you. Then you will be easier to turn to us." he also picked up on Krell's feelings but could not penetrate his thoughts. "Strong you are Captain. Never have I seen anyone that could resist like you." he rubbed his jaw. Though stong minded people could not be influenced mentaly by the force, one could get deeper feelings and thoughts. This one he could not do that."

Turning to the captain, "Keep following and if one of the ships turns to engage us, move off and do not engage. What ever they are up to we will find out when they get to where they are going."

[LadyRaven]

Serenity lifted an eyerbrow at the response she got and took a moment to consider what she had been told. Krell didn't think the Sith ship to be a threat? Had he lost his mind?! "If that ship isn't a threat," She said to herself, "Then I'm a fucking virgin!" She got back on the comm again. "Kendal." She said, "If we don't do something about that ship, it's gonna follow us the entire way to the Vera Prime. And we're heading into their territory. Every Sith within a million parsecs will know we're coming. If that's not a threat, then please, tell me what is. Get Krell on the comm and tell him I really need to speak to him, ok?"

[Guest]

Kendal licked his lips as he sat in the captains chair and Serenity told him to get Krell on the comm. He had his orders and he had never disobeyed any that Krell had given him. "Captain....... I am under orders not to disturb him nor is anyone else until we reach our destination." He had no idea why Krell was acting like he was but something was up. "Captain, this is not like him. He is seldom away from the bridge when things are happening or there is an enemy ship out there. But I have not disobeyed an order from him and will not now."

Krell laid on his bed looking up at the ceiling. It was quiet but he knew that the Sith Ship was out there shadowing them. Turn and fight, it would run away and return. They could not play games with it, they didn't have the time. When they reached their destination they would be close to the old systems of the Sith. It was said they had been wiped out by the Jedi, but Palapitine was proof that it was not as the Jedi had reported. Now more Sith had showed up. Perhaps there were more of them out there, perhaps not. When Palapitine had took control, where were the rest of the Sith Lords then. Would they not have come pouring in to help rule the Empire? Or were their numbers so diminished that there was no real threat.

But yet ships entering the old systems that had been ruled by the Sith, never returned. It was an interesting situation, but again they had two tough ships that were armed to the teeth and two crews that knew what they were doing. Closing his eyes he tried to get a bit of sleep. He figured that once they arrived there would not be much time for it.

[LadyRaven]

Under orders not to disturb him. Serenity sat back in her chair and growled with frustration. Had Krell lost all sense of logic? Had he gone insane?! Serenity sat and thought for a few moments longer, then stood up. "Mac." She said, "Keep an eye on things for a while."
"Uh." Mac replied, "Yeh, sure Boss, anything you need."
She smiled at him and steadily walked away from her chair. "Oh, and release the docking clamps for one of the shuttles, would you please?" She asked politely.
"Ok." Mac replied again. He tapped the consol and nodded, "Done."
"Thank you Chief."

The shuttle left the Pheonix a few minutes later with Serenity on board. It was only a short hop over to the Raven, barely ten minutes, but it seemed to take forever for her. When she neared the hanger doors, she opened a comm link to the bridge of the Raven. "Open up Raven." She ordered, "I'm coming in." The doors opened without so much as a response. She thought Kendal must have been a little shocked that she had done it. Andit was for that same reason that he didn't inform Krell either. Instead, he raced from his seat to meet her in the bay.

When he got there, Serenity had already started making her way into the body of the ship. "What the hell are you doing?" He demanded, "I told you before, he doesn't want to be disturbed. I'm under orders here, Serenity. I could get reprimanded for this!"
"Shove it up yer ass, Kendal." Serenity spat back, "I'm taking this up with him directly, whether you get your ass chewed or not."
"I can't let you do that." Kendal said firmly, blocking her way.
Serenity made no hesitation in pulling out her pistol. she pointed it directly at him, even touching the end of his rather large nose with it. "Either way, you're gonna let me." She replied smoothly. "Now be a good pup and move."
Kendal quickly stepped aside and let her through, standing in the corridor with a look that said he wasn't about to mess with her again any time soon.

Serenity stormed through the ship to Krell's quarters and made no bones about making her presence known. Lifting her heavy boot, she braced her back and steadied her balance. Then, with an almightly bang, she kicked Krell's door. A flash of an old memory made her grin. She had once done this on Rat's door and the poor boy had literally shot up the wall in fright. She hoped the same would happen with Krell. Seconds after the kick, she repeated the action. "Open the fucking door!" she demanded.

[Guest]

Kendal moved quickly back up to the bridge. He didn't want to be anywhere around when Serenity disturbed Krell. Making it back to the bridge he took the command chair and mummbled "Some one just shoot me." Shit was going to hit the fan and he knew it. He had no idea on how to handle Serenity. He knew she and Krell had a thing going and that the two could be hot headed at times. But this was going to be a real headach.

When Serenity had left the Phoniex in the shuttle the Sith Lord, Darth Sorrel, smiled. "Ah now what are you up to?" he murmered out loud. Then he picked up Luke's presence that had been obscured by Serenity's. A scowl formed on his face. "Jedi!" he snarled and motioned to his aprentice. "We have more then the Sith/Jedi decendents. We have a Jedi aboard one of the ships. When we make our move, he is all yours." His apprentice smiled and bowed to his Master. "Yes Master. I will make short work of him."

Krell was still laying on his bed when the first loud kick on the door came. He was on his feet and moving to the door when the second one came. Before Serenity spoke, he wrenched the door open, "Kendal I told you not to................" his voice was angry. He saw Serenity there and his eyes narrowed. He heard her angry voice as the door opened and could tell she was angry. Well so was he. She had basicly ignored him while on the planet, even when he tried to comfort her. He knew she was pissed at what had happened to those in her family tree and her family but was he not now part of that. Especially since he was the father of their child. He felt as if he had been slapped in the face and ignored for no reason.

He stepped back a couple steps so she could enter and then shut the door and then leaned against it waiting for her to tell him why she was there.

[LadyRaven]

Serenity scowled at her lvoer and stormed into the room. "As and when I decide to lean myself to that whelp." She spat, "I'll let you know." She watched him lean against the door and scowled further before she moved right up to him and viciously socked him in the jaw. Not waiting for a reaction, she spun about and paced to the other side of the room. "Are you so lost up your own ass that you don't know what you're getting us all into?" she yelled suddenly. "That Sith ship is following us! I can feel them picking at my head. And you're gonna lead them right to the fucking prize! What the hell are you playing at Krell?" She started moving back toward him. "Do you want us all dead?"

[LadyRaven]

((This is a co-post between Questor and Raven))

Krell watched her approach and then felt her fist slam into his jaw. It knocked his head to the side and when she turned and walked to the other side of the room he rubbed his jaw. "And what would you propose we do. Turn and chase it. We turn, it moves off. We waste time and give them time to get more help here. I like picking the time and place for my fights."
Serenity lifted her brow, "And while you’re deciding the perfect time, you're leading them right to the Vera Prime, right in the fucking middle of their own territory!" She countered. "They know we're up to something, Krell. They're not stupid, Krell, they know we're up to something! And all the while, you just sit in here and contemplate!"
"What else am I to do?" He asked. He went over to a cupboard and opened it and drew out a bottle and poured some into a glass. "Yes they know we are up to something, but they don't know what. If that ship is cloaked like their planet, then we have the only thing that can breach it. We get there; they will have no idea of what is there." He was not worried about the Vera Prime being found by the Sith. If they arrived with both ships undamaged then they stood a better chance to take on what might be sent against them. If too great of force was sent, they could leave and the Sith would be none the wiser.
"It won't take them long to figure it out." She replied sharply. "All it takes is one loose thought or feeling, intuition, inkling even, and they've got us bang to rights. We can't play with them like we play with the Imperials. They don't follow the same rules as the rest of us." She moved back to the other side of the room again, pacing as she battled to figure out why he was doing this.
He drank the fiery liquid down and watched her pace. "Luke is a Jedi and I would imagine he will keep them from picking up any stray thoughts. He knew from his research that they could do many things like that. Serenity herself could if she tried and probably had already subconsciously. "What would you propose then? Turn and try to fight them? If we do we lose time and as I said give
them time to call in reinforcements. Then when we do arrive we might have to face even more."
serenity looked at the ceiling for a minute or two, then sighed, "I didn't say to turn and fight them." she replied, a little calmer this time, "But we can't beat the odds on their own turf. We can't lead them to that ship or the game's over, Krell. You've gotta understand that." She rubbed her forehead for a second, trying to think. "What if we split up?" She asked, "One of us take a detour for a few parsecs. They've only got the one ship so far, so they can only follow one of us. Fair enough, it'll add on a little extra time, but the Vera Prime is still cloaked and they have no idea about it. For all they know, we're on as much a wild goose chase as they think we are. Why not use that to our own advantage?"
He poured another glassful of the liquid. To separate would be madness as well. Yes it would make the Sith Ship go on a wild goose chase but what did they have in that sector of space that kept ships from returning? Were they destroyed, captured, what. Two ships had a better chance against whatever they had then one did.
Taking a sip of the liquid, he shrugged his shoulders. "You want to go after the Sith don't you?" he asked her. "If that is what you want, do it." He would take the chance that there was nothing more powerful than his ship that would be called in to help the Sith Ship.
Serenity shook her head, "Not particularly." She replied, "Personally, I couldn't give a toss about them. You already know who I'm after and how willing I’ve been to wait for him." The air around them chilled slightly, but then returned to normal. "But what I won't do is lead them into their own space to a ship that they will happily hand over to the Empire. You heard what Tal San said. The Vera Prime was their most advanced ship. And that was over five hundred fucking years ago! I just don't get why you're letting them follow us to it. Shit Krell, if they get their hands on it, you may as well kiss all this good night. Your ship, crew, me and your daughter!"
"They won't get a hold of that ship." That he was sure of. "I am not going to let anything happen to you or our child." he told her. "We are it here in the Republic. We have no friends here, and I doubt that the Republic would be willing to help us. They themselves would want the ship. Either way we have no real choice in the matter. We cannot let that ship sit there with some odd chance that someone might find it. There might be more of those devices around somewhere and more professors like ours. Can we take the chance of that happening?" he asked her. "Our only hope is to find the ship, board her and take control of it before they know it or can stop us."
"And then what?" Serenity asked, "Just announce it to the galaxy?" She threw her hands up in the air, "Hey, come and look at us!" She yelled, "Big and shiny! And while you're at it, why not take up the challenge and chase us? Never know, you might just catch us and then you get all the playtime you want!" Only an idiot would have missed the sarcasm. Just then, Serenity felt something prick her mind and it hurt like hell. Shutting he eyes tightly, she put her thumb and forefinger to her temples and winced. For a few seconds, it stung like a bitch, but then it subsided again and she shook her head. She was positive that it was a Sith trying to get in her head. "Look, we can't afford to make a mistake here, Krell. Not one single mishap."

Krell raised a brow then said, "We use it to get rid of the Emperor and his cronies and restore what is now the Empire to a Republic, Federation or whatever, where the people will be better off. Then we take the ship back to the Ioians. Something like that is too dangerous for any of us or anyone else to have. Remember that Star Destroyer we blew up. We didn't take it and we probably could have, but we decided to be rid of it for the good of all. I plan on returning it to those that can take care of it." he saw her hold her head and figured it was the Sith trying to get something from her, or just to annoy her. He moved to her and put his hands on her arms and looked down at her, a concerned look on his face.
The memory of that star destroyer was still fresh in her mind. "I remember that far too well, Krell." She replied, "My best friend died because of it." His touch brought her comfort this time and she let her head drop. "I just feel that we shouldn't be leading those assholes to the Vera Prime, that's all. It's like a really, really bad feeling that something is gonna happen, but I can't see what yet."
"I think Luke would say that the future is not easy to see. Since there is many variables that can happen that constantly changes it." He pulled her to him. "Look we can only do what we can do. If we meet heavy opposition, we leave and return later. Either way the Sith probably have sent communications to whoever in that sector of space. Let’s meet what comes when it comes."
Serenity hugged him back, but that bad feeling just wouldn't go away. "Something is gonna happen Krell, something real bad. Something we've never dealt with before. Not even Luke can see it, I know. He can feel what I'm feeling and he's just as on edge about it. But the Sith. They know what it is. And they know not to play with it. If we keep going to the Vera Prime, whatever it is is gonna happen." she then shook her head and took a deep breath. "I'll tell you something though." She said her tone lighter now. "when all this is over, you're picking a nice, temperate planet for us to retire on. And you can think up a name for your daughter while you're at it. I'm heading back to the Phoenix. I need to talk to Luke's ghosts. One of them has to know about Sith territory."

A warm feeling came over her. Lu'Sen stepped out of the shadows. "No need to do that. I am here and close if you ever want to talk." she said. "So you are heading for my old stomping grounds." she smiled. "Back then there were many worlds filled with a variety of races that respected the Sith and followed them without question. That was before the war with the Jedi that eventually nearly wiped out the Sith. What do you wish to know?"
Serenity rolled her eyes, and then passed a look at Krell. "Figures." She said quietly, and then turned to face the ghost. "So I take it you're haunting me instead of the old man now, Lu'Sen, or Grandma, whatever you want me to call you." She let Krell go and made for a chair near his desk. "I need to know about Sith space." She said to the ghost, "Just what is in there that's freaking me out so
bad?"

[Guest]

Krell watched her as she seemed to be talking to some one in the room. He could not see anyone but from the way she was acting she was talking to some one. He downed the rest of his drink and watched.

Lu'Sen stood by Serenity smiling. "Grandma sounds so old. I prefer just Lu'Sen. So you are heading into my old stomping grounds." she closed her eyes and sighed. "Lots of good memories and good times there." she opened her eyes and looked at Serenity. "You have to know something child. The Sith was monsters. We were taught that we were the Masters of the Worlds and that the Galaxcy belonged to us. We were taught the dark side of the force which makes one strong and powerful. We ruled over the people of hundreds of worlds. We were also taught that the Jedi were the monsters, that needed to be destroyed. I found all I had been taught was a lie and that those that were of the Supreme Counsel wanted nothing but complete domination of the Galaxcy. After I found your Grandfather I realized both sides had been lied to. I was able to convince a few of the Sith Lords realized this and tried to change things but were destroyed." It seemed she wanted Serenity to know this.

"You want to know about what awaits you in Sith's old sector of space. Since the fall of the Sith there, civil war spread over the entire sector of space. With out the Sith Lords to keep control, it was everyone for themselves. It is now divided up into many small empires. Only a very few Sith Lords managed to escape the destruction of the order. The Jedi were stronger then them and they went into hiding. They kept a low profile and only trained a couple aprentices. The one that took control of the Old Republic was once an apprentice of an apprentice that had become a Sith Lord. The one that now follows you also was once an apprentice. Their masters are long dead, killed by their own apprentices. "

"Where you are going there is but a couple Sith Lords that have returned and have once more taken control of a few systems each. They may come to the aid of this one and they may not. It seems they vie for power and control." She then began to pace back and forth just like Serenity had done. "But what is bothering you about that sector of space." she shook her head. Even Magnus and myself can not tell what it is. But it is evil, pure evil. It is spread across a large portion of space and none that enter it lives. Be careful there."

[LadyRaven]

Serenity listened carefully to everything Lu'Sen had to say and it was quite a story too. It was enough in fact that it literally overloaded the woman. She still took it all in though, her mind unable to remove or float over the possible lesser points of information. Serenity suddenly found she was quite desperate to get it all out of her head. So desperate in fact that she actually felt quite sick. The past weeks were finally catching up with her. And on top of that, Lu'Sen had not quelled her feeling about what lay before them in Sith space. If she didn't know then it would be impossible to find someone that did. Well, perhaps not impossible, but incredibly unlikely. When it was all over and done with, Serenity moved to a chair and sat down. She nodded to Lu'Sen in silent thanks and then watched as the ghost disappeared. She sat there for a short time to let it all sink in better and then took a deep breath. She then leaned back in the chair and looked to Krell. “Is there any chance of a coffee?” She asked him, “And maybe a few dozen data pads.” Was she staying put for a while? It seemed so. She then moved from the chair to the desk and picked up a communicator. She placed it in her ear and tapped it. “Phoenix.” She said, then, “Bridge.” A few seconds after that, she spoke with Mac. “Chief.” She said, “I’m gonna stay with Krell a while. There’s a few things I need to get sorted. I’ll be back in a while.” She took the communicator out of her ear after the confirmation and put it back on the desk. She looked to Krell and gave half a smile. “So,” she said, “How’s about that coffee?” Then moved to gather up all the data pads he had in his quarters.

[Guest]

It was strange watching her talk to someone that was not there. If he had not a bit of inside knowledge of the matter he would have thought she had gone off the deep end. But evidently she was talking to some one that had died but had become one with the Force and could talk to those that could use it. She seemed to talk to whoever for a bit and then she sat down in a chair. She turned to him and asked for some coffee and some data pads. He had a feeling she was going to be staying a bit and opened a pannel in the wall and pressed a couple buttons then placed a mug on a pad and let it fill with coffee.

After she got done using his communicator and talking to her ship he was there when she again asked for the coffee and handed it to her. "So what is up and what do you need the data pads for?" he asked. "Who were you talking to?"

On the Sith Ship the apprentice looked at his master. "Master, I like it not. They are heading directly towards......." but the Sith Lord cut him off.

"Yes I know." He said and stood there thinking. "Do they think they can pull us into the Dead Space?" he rubbed his jaw. "What are they after there. What are you up to Jedi?"

[LadyRaven]

Serenity smiled at Krell as he handed her the coffee and started clearing all the data from the pads she could find. It wasn't deleted, simply stored away in the memory until she had finished. She sipped at the coffee as she started putting down all what she had learned. When Krell interrupted, she looked up briefly. "I'm recording everything that's happened since we started this little adventure." She told him. "I'm gonna make sense of it all one way or another. I need to get it out of my head. The answer's in there somewhere, I just need to find it." She smiled as he asked who she had been talking to and sipped at her coffee. "Her name was Lu'Sen. She was the Sith half of the lovers and apparantly, my great-great grandmother, so something like that. She's a dead ringer for Mum except she has black hair and Mum was a blonde. She's been talking to me since Luke got in touch. She was telling me about Sith space, but she doesn't know what's there that's been bothering me." Another sip of the coffee and Serenity felt a sudden grumble in her stomach. It was loud enough to be heard and it seemed to show just how long she had gone now without eating enough.

Serenity began tapping away at the first data pad, putting down the first moments she and Krell had met up and his first explaination of what he was offering. She even went as far as to note down her feelings about it. Everything was done in great detail, right down to the shape and size of the blood spatter on his coat and boots. Having an eclectic memory was a curse most of the time, but now it was being useful. She recorded the details of the artifact he had shown her. She called it the lure. The details of that first day quickly filled up the remaining memory in the first data pad so she picked up the next one and carried on. The second one comprised mostly of what she had learned from Krell on the way to Haven. How Valis had sent Krell looking for her. How he believed she was key to helping the rebellion. She recorded her thoughts and feelings on the matter during the trip.

It all started pouring from her mind faster and faster until she had filled another three pads and was quickly starting on the fourth. By that time, her coffee had also run out and she put the pad down briefly to make another. Krell wasn't forgotten. She smiled at him between her notes, making sure he knew she was grateful for the time and company.

The next four pads were filled with her thoughts and what she had learned since leaving Haven and arriving on the cloaked planet. Nothing was left out. Slyder and Marrianne's wedding, the wonderful three days that she had spent with Krell in that very room; Kai's death and the destruction of the Imperial ship. Every last detail was recorded. There was also an extensive entry on Montrose and his activities. She continued until the data pad was full and then stopped. She ran her fingers through her hair. She had filled nine pads now and though it had only taken her just over an hour or so, she felt something was missing.

"Ok." She said, sitting back on the chair. "I've recorded everything I've seen, done, thought and felt, but something is missing." She looked to Krell. Could he know the answer? She thought harder. "Actually, there's a couple of things that don't fit. What has happened on this journey that just hasn't felt right? Is there anything else that you could know that could help?"

[Guest]

One thing that Serenity had not put down in the data pads and that was because she had no idea of it. He sat down next to her and told her, "Better put some more down and this might be kind of a shock to you as well. But Vallis made me swear not to tell you until the time was right. I think that time is now."

He poured himself another glass of the firey liquid he had been drinking when Serenity had come in. "When your Uncle and mother were born, their parents had to concel them from the empire and anyone else that might want to hunt them down. But they were not the only children to their parents. There was another, an older sister that had been placed in hiding even before they were born. Vallis found out about her not to long ago." he looked at Serenity intently as he laid the real bomb on her. "Your Aunt, is the wife of the Emperor."

"I don't think even the emperor knows who she really is. She was adopted by a man and a woman that was to help hide her identity. Vallis thinks that she is the one that is having the Emperor searching for you. Your Uncle has a bad feeling about it all. If she has the ability to use the force, perhaps she is manipulating the Emperor. Being decendent from the same blood line as you, she may have gone completely over to the dark side."

[LadyRaven]

Serenity listened and then slowly started nodding. "I knew it." She said, putting the new information down in the data pad. "From the minute he pulled you aside, I just knew he was hiding something from me. What else hasn't he told me about?" She pushed the data pad away and turned in the chair to face Krell proper. "That isn't all of it and you know it Krell. You've been around my uncle longer than I have and you can read people just as good as me, so what's the rest of it?"

[Guest]

"I know he is very worried. That was one reason he sent me to seek you out. He wanted me to bring you to him before the emperor got ahold of you. I think you are right though, there is more to this then he has told even me. Once we get back to Haven, we will have to go to him and find out the answers together. For I would like to know myself."

Montrose paced the bridge of his command ship. His Star Destroy destroyed, the ship yard a wreck, and Serenity and Krell had again escaped. He was not having a very good day, week, or for that matter year. As his ship approached the imperial homeworld he was in no mood to report to the emperor his failing to capture Serenity or Krell. But he would have to and put up with the moron's anger and rantings. He needed that Star Destroyer to help him take control of the empire and make himself the emperor. He felt the Empeor was a weakling and unfit to rule let alone lead a fleet of ships against the New Republic and reclaim the glory of the Old Empire. The only redeeming thing about a meeting with the emperor was the man's wife. She was a beauty and a woman of inteligence and even though the people hated the emperor, they seemed to love her, and why she married the man he could not understand.

[LadyRaven]

Serenity nodded quietly and then turned back to her data pads. "It'll be hell getting it out of him." She replied. "It's been nearly twenty years and he still hasn't said anything about Dad." She looked at him from beneath her lifeless hair. "We'll have to come up with something solid enough to force it out or he'll just fob us off." She continued going over teh pads to try and figure out what she had missed. And then it seemed to fit.

"Krell." She said suddenly as she held up one particular pad for him. "When we came out of hyperspace in this sector, there was something wrong. A space dock where there couldn't possibly be one. Well, a manned one at least." She got out of the chair to make herself some more coffee and while she did that, she hunted through the cupboard beneath the counter for something worth eating. "The last time Jezz passed through that part of space, there was nothing there at all. It was the Void and that was what I had expected to be there. The Void can take centuries to move on, so either we got there at the end of its feeding cycle, or something made it move on faster. But that doesn't explain how a fully working, fully manned station could be there so soon after with an almost complete star destroyer." She shook her head.

The coffee was done and she'd managed to find a ration pack that contained something very close to a handful of cereal bars. That would do. She took the small meal and drink back to the desk and started eating for probably the first time that week. The cereal bars were incredibly dry, but they settle her stomach and once dunked in the coffee, tasted infinitely better. After eating nearlly half the pack, Serenity finally breathed long enough to talk once again. "This may sound a little more weird than usual." She offered, "But whenever I've been near the Void, I've had this nasty sinking feeling in my gut. A real, down to the guts bad feeling. It's managed to keep us far enough away to avoid it." Another mouthful of the cereal and coffee. She chewed and swallowed quickly. "I've got that same, bad gut feeling now about Sith space. Could the Void be there now, do you think?" It seemed impossible, yet possible. Perhaps improbable was a better word....

[Guest]

Krell had no idea what kind of creature or entity the Void was, that Serenity talked about, but he had heard about it. There were others that had barely escaped its deadly grasp and tell about it. He only knew that it drained the energy from ships and the life essence from living creatures. No one knew how long it was in the sector of space that they had crossed to get to the New Republic or if it even stayed there. But she told him she was getting the same feeling that she had when she encountered the Void as they approached Sith Space.

"If it is a creature, it might have felt that the sector of space it was in was not good hunting grounds anymore and moved." Though why it didn't approach inhabited planets was another mystery. There was plenty of energy on a number of worlds that was close to the boarders of both empire and new republic.

Aboard the Sith ship. "Master there has been word on your request for assistance. Either no other Sith Lord is within range or they ignor you." The Sith Lord nodded. It was not unlike his kind to ignore other's requests. It had not been so, long ago. The Sith had worked together, but since the War with the Jedi, things had been different and it was everyone for themselves. He himself had two systems under his control and three apprentices. Two remained behind to keep control of the people of those two systems, the third he had brought with him.

About the time Serenity was telling Krell about her feelings on the area they were heading, he to felt the strange sensation. He had felt it before when they had left Sith Space. But now it was more 'alive' then it had been. As if it was stronger. He knew that what ever it was that destroyed ships and crews and seemed to guard Sith Space, was something to be avoided at all cost. But it looked as if the two ships he was following was heading straight for that area of space.

[LadyRaven]

Corrasant -

The marble halls and corridoors felt cooler than usual. The summer months were coming to an end and though the seasonal change wasn't as dramatic as some planets in the core systems, it was change enough that it could make someone wear an extra robe. It was enough for Amelia to feel the chill. Despite her renowned beauty, her years were beginning to show now. Still, she had been grateful to age gracefully. As the woman walked, two droids shuffled behind her. There was something to be said for being the Emperor's current wife. The droids were no ordinary pieces of machinery, but the latest and most sophisticated equipment and software available to only a select few in the core systems. Not even the best imposter could outwit these two, aptly named One and Two, as they were matched to her DNA. And they had come in handy a few times over her years on Corrasant. She hadn't always been as popular as she was today. Very many in the old Senate had tried to have her killed, exiled, imprisoned. She had been arrested, tried and vindicated every time, but her caution had not faded.

Amelia Loun had a secret though. Everything she had ever been charged with had been truth. In her 62 years of life, 50 of those on Corrasant entirely, the woman had schemed, lied, cheated and stole her way to the top; usurping senators, blackmailing husbands and murder. Her cold blue eyes told the truth of her years and her past, but at least the rest of her had lied a little better. She still had a fantastic figure and what little grey hair she had was neatly tucked away and barely seen at all. Her high cheek bones and full lips had not faded with age, though she had invested in a little help to keep her youthful appearance from time to time.

As she walked the hall now in her silk and jewel laden gown and robe, her two droids following obediently, she pondered the happenings of the Empire. Things were changing and the Emperor needed new blood in his court. Amelia was now too old to hold much sway with him and the senate. She had never provided him with an heir, nor had she wanted too really, but that wasn't the point and she had never really been close enough to him to provide a solid foundation to rule. That was where her young niece had come in. After discovering that she had been born and actually survived the Imperial destruction of the free world. Not only that, but she had a twin brother. The brother wasn't much concern and the attack on his convoy last year had left little for survival. For all she cared, the brother could be dead. It was the woman she was interested in.

Serenity Diamond was a famous pirate, a young and beautiful woman with a temperment that was not to be crossed. Amelia almost felt a kinship with her, but that was where it ended. Serenity Diamond was a means to an end. A tool to be used and moulded to her purpose and Amelia would do what it took to have what she wanted. There were of course a few snags that she had to overcome in order to get her hands on her niece. The first one being her trecherous brother, Valis. It surprised her that the old man was still alive. It had been enormous fun watching him realize who she was to him. To see the guilt in his images for not rescuing her sooner. as if she needed actual rescue. Perhaps from the old fart she was still married to, but little else. Another snag was what she had learned to be her niece's lover. A former Imperial lieutentant no less. Krell had been a thorn inthe senates' side for years, but now he was a thorn in hers. And it seemed the pair were not just a fling anymore, but were coming to be a solid and complete family. This was something she could not tolerate happening. She had seen it coming really, well, felt it, but she had underestimated the failure of her best allie.

Admiral Montrose had been in her service for many years, though he hadn't officially known it and until now, she had been pleased with his progress. Even with his eyes on the Emperor's chair, he had been loyal, but just recently, his failures had been mounting. First he had failed to find Serenity before the rebels, then he had failed to catch her at the govenors palace and from his latest report, she had turned up at her dockyard and destroyed that too and Montrose had arrived too late again! Amelia was frustrated at everything. In his own way, Montrose had been after the pirate for years already, but when she needed him to be specific, his failure had been all the more spectacular.

As she walked, another arrived in the hall. The cloak was enough to show just who it was, but as always, the shadow made his presence known. Amelia's protection had already shot him once. They would have killed him if Amelia hadn't stepped in. "Lady Loun." He offered quietly. His raspy voice told of his life. Harsh and lasting.
Amelia turned around to face her shadow with a smile and wth a wave of her hand, the droids turned about and patrolled elsewhere. "Good evening Shadow." She replied. She chose not to know his real name, prefering to think of him as the shadow that watched over her and her interests. "What can I do for you?"
"You seem troubled, Amelia. The Admiral's efforts are not as pleasing as they once were." He said as he began to walk with her.
"Yes." she sighed, "It would seem that my niece is always just one step ahead of him. Ahhh, what am I to do?" She smiled, showing just enough wrinkles to be polite. "How are your efforts faring?"
The shadow smiled politely, showing brown teeth and a wrinkled mouth. "A little better." He replied, "The Sith and his apprentice are following your niece and her lover, but..."
"But?"
"They seem to be heading into Sith space. More specifically, the dead zone. Neither I nor them understand why. They are still following, but I have adivsed caution."
"Do they understand what you wish of them?" Amelia asked.
The shadow nodded, "I have conveyed your orders, but they assume it comes from the Emperor. Serenity is to be brought in, alive and they are free to do what they wish with the rest of them. Krell is to be executed on sight."
"Good." She said, then stopped walking and went silent for a moment. She then turned to face the shadow proper. "You did say dead zone, didn't you?"
The shadow nodded, "Yes. Why?"
Amelia lifted a perfectly manicured eyebrow. "I find it odd that they would go there." She mused, "I have found their entire journey thus far to be odd. First, they raid one of my husband's outposts, the entire system no less, and then they attack my shipyard for no apparant reason except that it was simply there and that it belongs to the Empire. and then, they disappear into thin air, only to reappear several hours later going the other direction. And now, they are heading for the dead zone right in enemy territory. It makes no sense at all, even if they are looking for something."
The shadow nodded, "It seems they are." He offered, "But what, we cannot fathom. My Sith cannot sense her mind at all. He knows she is there and he knows she can use the Force, but he just cannot seem to penetrate her thoughts. And there is one more thing."
Amelia frowned, "Go on."
"It is not just Diamond that they have sensed." He looked down, "There are three more around her. One is not aware of it yet, but he has the potential. Another, a young girl, and she is fully aware and just as capable as your neice. The third is much more powerful. My Sith believes him to be Skywalker."
Amelai's face paled beyond recognition, "No." She snapped, "That cannot be!"
The shadow nodded apologetically, "His power and age tells truth, Amelia." He said, "And he is training your niece and the other girl. They become more powerful by the day and he has barely begun. Serenity will soon surpass him."
Amelia shook her head vehemently, "I cannot aloow that." She said firmly, then started walking away. "Ready my fleet!" she demanded, "I am going to the dead zone!"

Within hours, a fleet of no less than twenty destroyers were leaving orbit around Corrasant. Leading the fleet was the Imperial Amelia Loun. In an effort to win Amelia's favour, the Emperor had comissioned this ship specifically for her. A slightly different design, but far more powerful than the rest of the fleet. He had conquered thousands of systems in her name and now she stood on the bridge, proud and confident of her namesake. A proud smirk crossed Amelia's lips as she surveyed what she owned, knowing that very soon, she would be coming face to face with her niece.....

[LadyRaven]

Serenity nodded as she went over the data pads again. It certainly seemed like the Void had moved and even without solid evidence of it, she wasn't about to take any chances. "I don't wanna rush in there if it is the Void." She told Krell. "If we can find a way through without getting it's attention, it's all good. If not, I'd rather spend an extra few days going around it." It wasn't like Serenity to say something like that, but she had good reason. It had moved a huge distance in what was a relatively short amount of time which could mean many things, some benign, other's more dangerous. It was the dangerous ones that Serenity was thinking of now. It could have gotten smarter, or grown, or matured. It could be hunting more specifically. Any of these things made the Void just that more bit dangerous, but a combination was absolutely deadly.

As the ships moved closer and closer to the empty space, Serenity began to feel something different. She felt quite at peace. Though it made the situation no less dangerous, she felt as though it wasn't active. It was resting, sleeping maybe. Despite that, she still wasn't sure. "Stop." She suddenly said over the desk. "Stop the ship. All stop and power the engines down." She looked at Krell with a serious eyes. "Something is different. We need to stop."

[Guest]

Darth Varlois sat there a scowl on his face. Things were not going as planned nor as he wished. He had been sent to the empire by a mysterious shadowy figure that had suddenly appeared on a planet he controled. The sheer power that surrounded the man was unbelievable and Varlois knew he would stand no chance against him if he tried to attack the man. He had never senced such power before. When he was told to go to the New Empire and find a way to bring it under Sith control, he obeyed.

He had discovered an abandoned ship yard with a half completed Star Destroyer on his way to New Corrasant. This he information he relayed to the Emperess, his contact there. Such a weapon would be useful in controling the New Empire and perhaps even taken back lost territory from the New Republic. Since the Rebellion such ships had long been abandoned for smaller ships that did not cost as much to run or service. Once such ship could hold a number of fighters and ground troops that could assault a planet and with its huge turbo lasers it could pound the planet's cities, leaving them in ruins. But that ship and the ship yard it was being built in was destroyed by those aboard the two ships he followed.

On board was a Jedi Master and two apprentices that were quickly becoming very powerful, perhaps as powerful as the shadowy figure himself. There was yet a third one on board. Not as powerful as the two females but combined with them, oh the power he could control. He might even be able to defeat the shadow figure which he took to be a powerful Sith Lord. Then he would take over the entire Sith Empire and come back to take control of the New Empire and Republic.

But first he had to some how kill the Jedi Master and gain control of the three before they could master their skills. Get them to follow him and obey him.

Aboard the Raven in Krell's quarters, Krell moved behind Serenity and had placed his hands on her shoulders. He began massaging them. "Enough for now." he told her, as he quickly reached down and took the data pad out of her hand and placed it on the desk and then resumed massaging her shoulders. He looked over at the bed and wondered if she was up for a little fun. It would surely relax her and take her mind of things. But that thought was soon shattered when she cried out telling him to stop the ship. Also at that time the claxton's sounded and his first officer's voice came over the intercom. "Red Alert. All hands to their battle stations." Then on his personal com, "Captain, a fleet of Imperial Destroyers have just appeared, and are heading our way."

"Damn!" Krelled muttered and grabbed Serenity' by the hand and pulled her up out of the chair and towards the door. "Is that what you were feeling?" he asked Serenity.

[LadyRaven]

Imperial Amelia Loun -

The journey to Sith space had only taken a few hours, but Amelia was growing impatient. She paced her office floor with her droids growling under her breath at the latest report. Her shadow's news had disturbed her badly. Why had she not felt this? Across the office, the shadow sat in silence, watching the woman pace impatiently. He had his own thoughts to content with. He could feel the discent from the Sith he commanded and would have to erradicate it before it became a problem. Still, the pacing of his beloved charge gave him deeper cause for thought. Had she known that Luke Skywalker still lived, she would never have let it lie so long. She would have picked Serenity up before Luke had even found her, or help Montrose kill her. This had put a serious spanner in the works for her and he didn't like that. As her protector and closest consort, some would even say her dearest friend, he could not put her in direct conflict. Not that it mattered much, Amelia had never shied away from a fight and that wasn't about to change.

Another hour passed in silence before a small beep came to the desk consol. The shadow opened the link. "We are coming up on the dead zone." The ship's admiral informed them, "The Raven and the Pheonix are on the screens and we have your small transport also."
"Very good." The shadow replied, "Come to a stop just behind the transport and pick them up before we engage the rebel ships."
"Yes Sir." The admiral responded.
The shadow turned to face Amelia. "We have arrived." He told her quietly, "What is your plan?"
Amelia stopped her pacing, stayed motionless for a moment and then turned to face her shadow. "Pick up your hunters quickly. Once they know we are there, they will turn to attack." She said, "Krell's confidence in his ship is firm and he can still do a lot of damage. Charge the magnetic array and disable them immediately."
"You do not wish to destroy him?"
"I cannot." Amelai said angrily, "Serenity is aboard his ship. I can feel her. Disable them. I will join the admiral on the bridge. Make sure he does not fire without my presence."
"As you wish." The shadow said and then disappeared to carry out her orders.

The fleet came out of hyperspace exactly how the shadow had ordered and they picked the up the transport before anything could happen to it. The admiral, eager to get a shot off at the infamous priates, charged the magetic array, but also the Mark5's. he fired a warning shot between the the Raven and the Pheonix to announce their presence and by the time Amelia made it to the bridge, the Raven had fired back, hitting the secondary command ship just to Amelia's left. It took out the forward guns, but the hull remained intact. Amelia was insensed with rage at this. The admiral's orders had been clear and she made no bones about punishing him.
"You're killing him!" A lieutenant shouted as the admiral fell to his knees with his eye literally bulging from the sockets. Though Amelia hadn't laid a hand on the man, her tiny fingers just pointed at him and she used her ability to bring him down. "His orders were clear." She snapped. "He was not to fire until commanded to. A mistake he shall pay for with his life."
The admiral gave a small shriek of pain before his eyes exploded from his skull. Amelia then walked passed the dead man to the lieutenant. "You have been promoted." She told the man. He gulped in response and took his place. Amelia moved to the forward screens and waived her hand at one of the communications staff. "Open a link to both ships." It was done.

"Rebel ships." She said clearly, "You are outnumbered and outgunned. I know you have scanned my ship and have discovered the magnetic array. You will stand down your weapons, or I will destroy you."

The Pheonix -

The Imperial fleet had come from nowhere and Mac had been completely unawares. He had been so busy watching the following transport that he hadn't thought to check further afield. So, when nearly two dozen star destroyers suddenly appeared on his screen, the old man panicked. "Holy shit!" He shouted, "Ready the guns! Shields to full! Engines to full! All hands to your stations!" And then the lead ship fired a warning shot between him and the Raven. "Fucking hell!" He shouted, "Back us the hell off!"
"Mac." Sllyder said from his station, "You need to see this." Mac arrived in seconds and then covered his mouth. "Oh no." he said, "One shot from that and we're all dead fish." Then the leader appeared on the main screen and Mac literally fell into the chair beside Slyder. "Ren."

[Guest]

As Krell reached the bridge he took his command seat and looked at the situation. He was briefed on what their scans of the destroyers revealed. "Damn command ship has a magnitic array that will mess up our entire electronic system. We will have no weapons, nor manuvering capabilities. That damn ship is alot more advanced then anything we have encountered so far. The lead ship fired a warning shot and the Raven fired back taking out the forward guns of the ship next to the command ship.

"Hold fire." Krell commanded. There were a hell of alot of ships out there and he was not stupid. They now faced the enemy fleet. "Full reverse. Keep us moving away from them. That magnetic array has a limited range and if we can keep out of it we might have a chance. Krell had one hell of an idea but it was going to take luck and a bit of skill to do. He gave orders for the crewman monitoring the Dead Space to let him know when they were with in range and any change in the area. As the hail came in from the imperial flag ship he had it put up on the screen. His eyes went wide as he saw the woman standing there on the ship's bridge. He would have swore it was Serenity but a much older version of her. He rose from his chair to stand.

"Well now, if it isn't the emperess herself come out to play." he grinned and continued. "Emperess Amilia." he nodded his head. "And what do we owe the pleasure of your visit."

"Captain." the crewman whispered. The mans eyes were wide and afraid. "It has shifted sir. Moving! Moving towards us!"

That was what Krell wanted to hear. Now all he had to do was to keep Amillia distracted long enough. To his first officer he whispered, "Shut down all non essential systems, to include weapons. If she uses that damn thing they will not be effected." Aboard the command ship the newly appointed admiral looked up from a consol. "They are powering down their weapons." he smiled. Krell hopped that Amillia in her arrogance would not realize what she had missed.

"Just barely out of its range sir and they are begining to close." came Jenkins' voice. It was going to be close.

The crewman continued his report, a frightened tone in his voice. "Distance closing fast sir. Sir it is seperating into two parts."

"Serenity, what do you feel. Reach out and see what you feel about the void."

[LadyRaven]

Amelia smiled politely to Krell as she got the reports that they had powered down and were moving back. They were moving into the dead zone. "By the surprise in your eyes, Krell." She replied, "She and I share a strong family resemblence." Behind her, a crewman tapped his consol a few times, thenc alled over the new admiral.
"Sir." he said quietly, "I don't quite understand these readings."
"What is it Officer?" The admiral asked nervously.
"The dead zone." He crewman said, "It's moving and splitting down the middle. I'd say Sir, that it was alive."
The admiral stood up quickly and moved to the shadow. "Sir." He said quietly, "Something is happening in the dead zone."
"I know." The shadow replied, "And so does your Empress. Do not interupt further."
"Yes Sir."

Amelia overheard the conversations and smiled again before turning to the screen. "Either you are very brave, Krell." She said, "Or incredibly stupid. You tihnk you could lose me in the dead zone, but you cannot. Your lover isn't the only one that can survive the creature. Think carefully."

Just out of sight of Amelia, Serenity stood stoic, reaching out her mind as Krell had told her. "It has been sleeping." She whispered. "Resting and waiting. It feels like a baby waiting for it's mother to wake up......" her voice trailed off as her eyes seemed to glaze over. The air cooled, but not too much. A gentle smile curled her lips as she touched Krell's hand. "I've found the Vera Prime." She whispered. "She's right in the middle of the creature and she's not a ship. She's alive. The void isn't going to hurt us. It's letting us in, letting me in.".....

[Guest]

As they continued their reverse course, Krell continued to look at Amilla. "Yes I know emperess, but the rest of your ships I don't think have the same protection as yours and ours does." he grinned as the two halves spread out around the three ships and cut the rest of the fleet off from the Command ship. Krell had taken a gamble and it had paid off. Something that Serenity had told him of the encounter she had with the creature some time ago just didn't sit right with him. The events of the last few days had begun to make him think a bit and piece a few things together.

When Serenity told him that she had found the Vera prime and what she felt, it only confirmed what he had thought. Putting a finger to his lips Jenkins cut the sound part of the communications witht he emperess. "It is another of the Ioan's weapons. It must have been created by Alma Thur but he was not able to control it. Remember what we were told. Only the decendents of the Sith and Jedi lovers can now control their technology." he knew that the void would not harm the Emperess or any on board her ship, just like it would not harm the Raven or the Phoenix because of Jenny and Serenity. Well he knew it now. He had hoped he had been right in his theory.

Luke joined Ren and the others on the bride of the Phoenix and looked upon the emperess. He raised a brow at her appearance. She could have been Serenity's twin, if she was younger. "Well Emperess, it seems that my dealings with the Sith are not done with yet. I destroyed the emperor Palapitine who was a Sith Lord, you should not be to hard to deal with, since you are not as strong as he was."

The void swarmed over the destroyers and then moved back to surround the Raven and Phoenix, but it did not attempt to harm either or those on board. Krell's crew was nervous and it appeared so was that of the Phoenix when they contacted the Raven.

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