Part 9

Rizon walked off the bridge of her ship headed to the hanger of the ship. She was meeting with the remaining representatives of the planet below which she had just conquered. Once they realized that she really did mean business they had caved in to her quiet easily. Of course she had also begun the training of her Jedi prisoner.

With the thought of the small reddish blonde haired Jedi Rizon felt a smile start to come to her face. She quickly wiped it off and wondered where that had come from. It would not be good to have the rest of the crew seeing her smile about such a thing. Now if she was smiling about some other things then it would not matter, but this was too important to smile about.

She walked up to the shuttle and ordered the pilot who was standing there that she was ready to go. The pilot nearly jumped and went to the cockpit. The engines were already warmed up in anticipation of Darth Rizon's arrival on the hanger. The other pilots were both envious and relieved that it was not them taking Rizon down. There was a lot of honor and prestige that went with such a position. It was, however, offset with the fact that the pilot could lose his or her life if they made Rizon mad.

The shuttle made its way down to the planet's surface. Beside the shuttle were three fighters as well just in case something happened. Rizon was sure that nothing was going to happen. She had beaten these people in to submission. Now that she had their submission she would have no problem controlling them. They would remain in line though fear of her.

The shuttle landed on the planet's surface. A few seconds later the door opened and Rizon walked out of the shuttle and into the winds of the planet's surface. He blood red cloak fluttered in the wind along with her black hair. She made an imposing figure as she walked towards the small group that was waiting for her.

Rizon recognized the leader of the group almost right away. He was the one who was standing in the middle and looking at her with hatred in his eyes. Rizon approached the group unafraid of what they might do to her. Instead she walked straight up to the group. She could feel that several of the others were afraid of her. The feeling that they gave her was intoxicating and seemed to give her strength.

In one swift move she ignited her lightsaber and before anyone could move the person in the middle had been beheaded. It was something that shocked all of the delegates. In face one fainted dead away at the sight of the headless body falling to the ground. The others standing nearby stared wide eyed at her half expecting her to strike out at another person.

"There, now that I have you complete attention, here are the terms of surrender, total surrender to me," Rizon said her voice as cold as ice.

Several members of the group were still too terrified to even move even though they had heard what she had said. Rizon stood there a bit longer and stared at them until they began to fidget a little. One finally realized that she was waiting for an answer from them.

"Total surrender," he said to her making nod her head. "I-I don't know," he stammered.

"It's simple, either total surrender to me or I destroy the entire surface of this planet," Rizon said her voice without any emotion.

The group looked among themselves for a second before finally agreeing to the total surrender to her. Rizon glanced around in satisfaction. The first order of business was to establish a government under her. That usually did not take that long. Either the person when with it or they died. Sometimes she realized it really was easier to be a Sith over the Republic and their bulky systems.

"Good, the new governor will be down shortly," Rizon said then turned and walked back to the shuttle but stopped just a few paces away. "If you try to rebel I won't stop the bombardment next time," she said over her shoulder.

The group shuddered at her words but Rizon continued up into her shuttle. With a brief word to the pilot the shuttle went back to her command ship. She knew that she had their complete attention now. She also knew that they would not be stupid enough to try something right now. She also knew that they would try something in the future but by then she would be too powerful to stop. With a grin she thought about what was waiting for her on board her ship. Her next course was the next planet along with a meeting with the New Republic. This meeting would keep the Republic off guard until it was too late.



Luke Skywalker walked back into his home. It had been a long day so far and little had been achieved. There were more questions now then when he had started the day. The mysterious visit had also startled him. The fact that someone could get in and out without anyone noticing was not a comforting thought. He also understood that there were many secret organizations in the universe. Many required special skills or special event to occur before they were accepted.

Then there were the reports on the rim that a new Sith Lord had risen. This was along with the fact that the Republic was already dealing with some Sith Lords. The only problem was that this new Sith Lord appeared to be different than the others. There was a true sense of power from this one.

"Master Skywalker," a young Jedi said approaching him.

"Yes young Tries," Luke said turning tot he young Jedi.

"We just received a report that the Republic has accepted a meeting with the Rizonians. The President asked if one of us would go," the young Jedi said.

Luke thought about that. Leia was a Jedi in training and had the abilities, but if a Jedi was there then she would be free to concentrate on her job. But there was also the fact that Luke did not want to make it seem like the Jedi were trying to be too close to the Republic. He wanted the Jedi to remain independent.

It was a tough decision to make. He wanted someone to be there yet he knew how that would be viewed if he accepted. Luke finally made a decision based on what his instinct was telling him to do.

"Our reply is we will send one to go to these meetings, but only as an observer and nothing more. Tell Fie-Tel to pack and head to Coruscant," Luke said.

"Yes Master Skywalker," Treis said then quickly left to carry out what Master Skywalker had asked him to do.

Luke turned to head back to where he was going. He was unsure if this was the correct path to take. Perhaps it was time to reinstate the Jedi Council to help govern the Jedi and make decisions. It was something that had worked in the past for hundreds of years. One person having so much power was not wise either. He would have to consider it all before doing anything else.



Gaia could not really believe that she had been left alone for so long. There was really nothing much for her to do except meditate. She had not seen much of the dark hair woman lately. Gaia was not sure if she was disappointed or happy about that. Part of her wanted to see the woman again soon. Another part of wished she would never see her again.

The door opened and the woman walked into the room. Gaia thought it was a bit strange that her heart would be pounding so erratically at just seeing the woman, and it was not from fear.

"Well you're precious republic has agreed to meet with me. Of course they don't know its me, yet," Jessica said to the small Jedi. "Do you want to hear more of all of this?"

"Not that it matters, you'll tell me anyways," Gaia said.

"I'll tell them that I've been attacked by some unknown force outside the known universe. The New Republic fools will think that it's the same force that is attacking them. By the time they realize who is really attacking them I will be unstoppable with a force a Sith warriors," Jessica said.

"The Jedi will stop you again," Gaia said.

"The Jedi are weak. Their numbers have been hurt by the recent attacks against them. Those forces were nothing compared to what my forces are. They are true Sith warriors," Jessica said to Gaia. "These new Jedi are nothing like the Jedi that fought against us back then."

"Then what, you'll have the universe to yourself," Gaia asked.

"With you as my queen," Jessica said.

"I don't want to be queen," Gaia said.

"But you will be," Jessica said.

"Highly doubtful," Gaia said but as she said it Jessica had come on around beside her and cupped her cheek.

The intercom chimed interrupting Jessica. She turned to the intercom to answer and see what was going on.

"Lord Rizon, we're approaching the meeting point with the Republic," the captain said.

"Very good, I'll be right there," Jessica said then turned to Gaia. "Well I must go for now, but I'll be back little one."

Gaia held back a comment as she watched the tall dark haired woman walk out of the room. Gaia was not sure what was going on. Part of her really liked the woman for some reason. She would have to think about that some more before she came to a conclusion on what she was going to do.



Fie-Tel waited with the President as the meeting was about to begin. He glanced at the woman who was Master Skywalker's sister. She could be a powerful Jedi as well if she put her mind to it like her brother. He could feel the Force from her even if she did not feel it. He wondered if she carried a lightsaber as well. He knew that she had constructed one but had never seen it.

It was probably a lot like the Emperor. He had a lightsaber but had rarely used it. The man was a manipulating person who used his wits before anything else. He had heard that the diplomat from the Rizonian delegation had landed and was now just waiting for the person to appear.

The door opened and a tall powerful looking woman walked into the room. She had long dark hair and ice blue eyes. There was also something about her that made Fie-Tel uneasy in her presence. He was not sure what it was but would be sure to mention it to Master Skywalker later on.

"Hello, I'm am Chancellor Rizon," Jessica said to the people in the room.

"Chancellor, I'm the President of the New Republic Leia Solo," Leia said greeting the woman in front of her.

"I thank you for meeting with me," Jessica said with a smile on her face.

"Well the Republic tries to keep an interest in what is going on near the boarders," Leia said.

"Yes it is always good to know what is going on," Jessica said. "We've been keeping an eye on an aggressive group that has recently appeared."

"So I've been hearing," Leia said. "Our spies report that there have been several attacks along our boarder."

"Then they are bothering you as well," Jessica said.

"Yes, do you have any information about them," Leia asked.

"No, they just recently appeared and attack without warning," Jessica said. "They appear to be using old Sith Empire weapons."

"That is news," Leia said. "Perhaps it is the new Sith Lord we've been hearing things about."

"That is possible, some remnants of the old Sith Empire that has been lost until now," Jessica said.

"Some group of the old Army of Darkness which was finally defeated by Lord Hoth," Leia said thinking about the possibilities that this could open.

"I was under the impression that they were all killed," Jessica said.

"So the stories go," Leia said. "But the stories and the truth sometimes are very different."

"Indeed," Jessica said.

"Rizon, an interesting name for a group calling themselves to be Rizonians," Leia finally asked having been thinking about the name.

"It is the custom for the chancellor to take up the name Rizon, so we are all called Rizon," Jessica said.

"I see," Leia said thinking that it was a bit of a strange custom. But she had seen some strange customs in her travels so it really did not make much difference to her. "Do you have any indication as to where this group of invaders is from," she asked looking at a nearby map.

"No, our empire is right here and the attacks have occurred at these planets," Jessica said pointing a spot at the egged of her empire that correlated with a group of New Republic planets that have been attacked.

"What type of ships do you use," Leia asked.

"Sith Empire inspired designs. Our empire discovered a group of ships that had been built during Darth Revan's rise to Sith power several thousand years ago," Jessica said.

Leia was not sure about that statement. The last time Darth Revan's fleet had been seen it had been assumed that the entire fleet had been destroyed. Now she was being told that this empire used Sith battleships from a thousand years ago.

"What about their teachings," Leia asked. "I assume that they brought their teachings to you as well."

"Yes they did bring their teachings, but there were no Dark Jedi, or Sith as you call them so the teachings lacked that part," Jessica said. "This group attacking us could be a remnant of that group though," she said to Leia.

"A splinter group of your empire," Leia said.

"Quite possible," Jessica said. "They could also be a splinter group of the Old Republic as well."

Leia was about to argue that when she realized that they did not know anything about their attacker. The only thing she had heard was that a Sith Lord was in charge but no idea as to what type of troops the Sith Lord was leading.

"It's possible," Leia finally said not wanting to say too much.



Leia walked out of the meeting with the Empress Rizon with the Jedi Master Fie-Tel right beside her. The Jedi had been silent during the entire meeting and now she was wondering what he thought.

"What do you think Master Fie-Tel," Leia asked.

"I don't know madam President," he replied as he thought about it some more. There was a lot that he wanted to discuss with Master Skywalker before saying anything to anyone else.

"I thought that she was for the most part truthful, but it can be hard to tell with career politicians," Leia said. "I guess I should know, I am one," she said with a laugh.

"If that is the case then the Empress thinks the same thing about you," Fie-Tel replied.

"Ah, it's all just politics in the first few meetings. It takes a while to fully understand the other side," Leia said.

"Of course Madam President," Fie-Tel said. "If you'll excuse me I have to report in to Master Luke."

"Of course, I'm sure he is waiting for your report," Leia said. Maybe she would get something from her brother about what the Jedi thought about the Rizonian Empress.



"Master Fie-Tel what did you find out," Luke asked the Jedi Master as the man reported in.

"I don't know Master," Fie-Tel said thinking about the meeting. "The Empress Rizon has a strange aura around her that is for sure."

"The Force," Luke asked wondering if it was that or something else. He had learned that there were many forces at work in the universe which must be approached with both caution and open arms.

"I don't know master," Fie-Tel replied. "There was something to the Empress though. She held herself with great poise and power."

"Someone to keep an eye on then," Luke asked.

"Quite possibly," Fie-Tel replied.

"All right, stay there and work with the Republic on this. I'll work here to see if I can uncover anything about her and this Rizonian Empire. If it exists then there should be something in the Jedi archive then," Luke said.

"Very well, I'll stay in touch Master Skywalker," Fie-Tel replied.



Jessica walked onto the bridge of the fleet flagship of her fleet. The latest report was that she had ten operational ships that were manned. Then there was also the problem that she already had a revolt on her hands. She knew who it was so she was not that worried but it would have to be crushed quickly.

Then her thoughts came to green eyes which seemed to almost float in front of her. It was a good thing that no one was looking at her to see her smile. It was a genuine smile that she could not have stopped if she had wanted to.

Turning a corner she ran into a group of people. It seemed a bit strange to her but then her senses went into overload. The person in the lead she recognized as the one who was to be the leader of the attempted coup.

"If it isn't Lord Rizon," the woman said to her.

"Katie," Rizon said waiting for what she knew was going to be a fight. "I see that you have been working quickly beside the scenes lately. It does not matter though," Rizon said as she stood calmly before them.

"Its twenty against one," Katie said.

"Actually its twenty-two against one against one," Rizon said to Katie knowing that she did not know what the Sith Lord was talking about.

"Trying to trick me Lord Rizon, I don't think it will work this time," Katie said.

"Doesn't matter," Rizon said lifting her hands. Before anyone could even do anything Force lightning streaked from her fingers striking those in front of her. Several were thrown against the walls and slumped down while others writhed in agony.

Katie was thrown backwards landing on her back. Her entire body felt numb from the attack as she glanced around. She noticed that several others were also lying down and that several were already dead.

Those who were either ran or opened fire with their weapons. Once again the Dark Lord was one step ahead of them. Her lightsaber was already lit and spinning into action as the laser shots were deflected back to those who opened fire.

Finally the only noise in the hallway was the humm of Rizon's lightsaber as she looked over those who had attempted the coup. She snorted in disguise at their pathetic attempt.

"You really are pathetic aren't you," Jessica said to Katie as she walked towards the blonde haired woman. "Understand this, you are facing a true Sith Lord," she said as she swung the lightsaber down.

The others looked on in fear as Darth Rizon quickly launched an offensive against the group in front of her. The men that had plotted against her really stood no chance. The commotion though did bring several guards that were nearby in to the hallway. They skidded to a stop as they watched some of the horror that was in front of them.

Get a clean up crew here now," Rizon said. "And remember that this is what happens when you go against me."

Several of the guards dumbly nodded their heads as they just stood there. A few shook of their shock and quickly went to work to call up a cleaning crew.

Jessica walked away knowing that she had set an example. It was something that she had been expecting and was the Sith way. She had put it down with force just as the Sith way had instructed. Now all she had to do was wait for the major strike to occur now that the minor one was over.



Gaia had felt the sudden Dark Force eruption on board the ship and wondered what had happened. She figured that someone had probably challenged the tall woman. At the thought that the woman might be dead there was an unexpected pain in her chest.

"This is silly," Gaia mumbled to herself as she thought about this. "She is a Sith Lord, an enemy of the Jedi," she tried to tell herself. But even as she said that her soul would not allow herself to believe that.

"I'm acting like a schoolgirl with her first crush with this woman," Gaia said trying to scold her self. The only problem was that it was not working too well. "I might as well be in love with her or something," she said but a part of her opened up as she said it. "Oh boy this is ridiculous," she said more to herself.

As she looked around she thought about how she was a prisoner. She had been forced by her to make a terrible choice and now she was sitting here talking about the woman as if she was her wife or something.

"Well, mom always said that I would be unusual," Gaia said to herself. She calmed down for a second and allowed herself to think about everything that had happened lately.

The woman that had captured her was very powerful in the Force. Gaia was sure that she would not be able to defeat this person in combat. Then there were the mysterious visits from the two 'ghosts' that looked like her and her captor. They had acted like two lovers to Gaia. Then there was the strange group that she had met while searching for information about Jedi Master Bri Lightner and someone called Xara.

This was getting complex Gaia thought to herself. There was something going on that she was sure of. Then there was the way that the woman was acting toward her. As she thought about it she thought it was almost protective.

"Nah, that's just my imagination," Gaia thought as she thought about it some more. "Though there does seem to be some attraction that's for sure," as she thought about the events that she had felt and witnessed.

That train of though made her wonder about everything. Had she been going about all of this the wrong way? Her heart and mind were constantly at war with each other. But she had usually relied on her heart not her mind. That was what had made Fie-Tel so frustrated when he tried to train her.

Her mind was finally made up then. She would follow her heart and see where it led. She felt more at peace than she had for along time now. Now all she had to do was wait for her target to appear again.



Fie-Tel was listening to the President talking when he suddenly felt a disturbance in the Force. It was nothing like he had ever felt before. This was the Dark Side and to him it felt real close.

"Fie-Tel, are you all right," Leia asked having felt something as well and wondering if he had felt it as well.

"Ah, just something strange in the Force," Fie-Tel said.

"Then you felt it as well," Leia asked.

"Yes, it was strong and close," Fie-Tel said.

"Our new Rizonian friend," Leia asked.

"Maybe or maybe not. Remember that the Emperor worked right under the Jedi's noses. This could be something similar," Fie-Tel replied.

"Then Empress Rizon could be a threat," Leia asked wondering about all of this.

"Madam President, everyone can be an enemy and everyone can be a friend. They might have a different take on the Force than we do. The Dark Side and Light Side might exist side by side in their society," Fie-Tel replied.

"Maybe but there is also a new Sith Lord out there somewhere. We could be sitting right next to him," Leia replied.

"You mean on board that ship," Fie-Tel said.

"Yep," Leia said. "We need to proceed very carefully."



Jessica walked back to the bridge not in a good mood. Several who saw her quickly moved out of her way. Word about the attempted coupe was already spreading though out the ship. She did not care as long as it put the fear back into their eyes. She could feel their fear right now which made her feel even stronger.

Tyi was standing on the bridge carrying out his latest orders as Jessica's eyes swept over the room. There was something else going on as well. She could feel it right now.

"What's the situation," she asked the captain.

"We've received news that the fleet is ready to go," the captain replied.

"Good, prepare the next phase of the plan then at once," Jessica said. A part of her fleet would head off and attack another nearby world to add to her growing Empire. That would mean more people which meant more ships could be manned which would grow her power.

"How are the local governors doing establishing their power," Jessica said looking right at Tyi.

"They are not having much trouble my lord," Tyi said looking at her then went back to work.

"Good, see to it that nothing goes wrong," Jessica said. "I'll be having another meeting with the President of the New Republic soon. I'm sure that she'll have some questions for me," she said with a smile. "Let me know the moment everything is ready."

"Yes my lord," Tyi replied once more. He watched as Darth Rizon walked off the bridge of the ship and looked around at the others who were on the bridge. He could tell that they were truly frightened of her. He was frightened of her as well. The woman was powerful and he had heard that Katie had tried her revolt and failed. The tall blonde woman was now dead as he had expected.

Anyone who overthrew Lord Rizon would be powerful indeed.



Jessica walked along not really sure where she was going. She glanced up and noticed that she was standing outside the room where the Jedi was being kept. A slight smile came to her face and she decided to head inside.

Walking inside she noticed something strangely different about the woman in front of her. She was meditating again which did not surprise her.

"I felt you coming," Gaia said without looking up or opening her eyes.

"You are a Jedi, I would think that you would be able to feel a Fore user approaching," Jessica said.

"No, I didn't say I felt your presence though the Force," Gaia said opening her eyes for the first time. "I said I felt you."

The look in the young Jedi's eyes almost made Jessica stumble. It was something she had never seen before. It was not hatred or even distain in the young woman's eyes.

"Who are you," Jessica said as her red lightsaber snapped to life and she pointed it at the young Jedi.

"Not a threat to you," Gaia said not breaking eye contact with her capture's blue eyes. She was looking for something in the woman in front of her. Gaia had the feeling that the eyes would lead the way.

Jessica broke contact and turned away. Putting her lightsaber back she walked out of the room feeling more confused now than she ever had been in her entire life.

Gaia's shoulders slumped. It would be a strong show of wills that was for sure. She wondered what else was to happen in the near future.

End Part 9


Continued...