Chapter Text
Disclaimer: A long time ago, in a galaxy quite close by…
CHAPTER ONE: For The Discerning Time Traveler
“So. We’re in the past.”
“Yuuuuuuuuu-up.”
“And we can’t get back to the future.”
“Nooooooooo-up.”
“In short we are, in fact, stranded.”
“Yuuuuuuuuu-up.”
“...Luke, are you drunk?”
A hiccup. “Looks that way, doesn’t it? Force-Exhaustion; it’s worse. It’s so much worse.”
Mara groaned. “I told you Flow-walking back through the World Between Worlds was a bad idea.”
“Yes, and we both agreed with you.” Leia snapped. “Which was why we put you in charge of pulling us back out if anything went wrong.”
“Not my fault that bloody bird decided to crash into me the minute Farmboy leaned too far forward.” Mara huffed.
Another hiccup from the floor. “Convor; not a bloody bird.”
“Whatever.”
Leia sighed. “Look, it’s no good arguing about it now. The first thing we need to do is figure out just exactly when the kark we are.”
“Well,” Mara said, looking around, “judging by the fact Malachor’s temple is apparently standing once more, I’m going to go out on a limb and say it’s at most 17 BBY.”
“No one actually says BBY, Mara.”
“Funny, I’ve seen you put it at the top of enough official memos, Leia.”
Muffled grumbling from the floor. “Girls, girls, you’re both pretty.”
With one last glare, the two let the matter drop. “Right; 17 BBY, then. But probably much earlier, since we were aiming much earlier. The question is how much earlier.”
Mara held up her comm. “Judging by the fact I’m picking up Imperial frequencies, but they’re all spouting data about the Republic, I’d hazard a guess and say…the Clone Wars.”
Leai blinked. “...The Clone Wars.”
“Yes.”
“As in, the largest conflict the galaxy has ever seen since the Ruusan Reformation.”
“Yes.”
“ Those Clone Wars.”
“Kirff, for the last time Leia, yes.”
“...Well kark. Right; we need to contact the Jedi. Get them to come for us and then…”
“Whoah, whoa whoa whoa whoa…no.” Luke dragged himself up into a sitting position. “No Jedi. Absolutely not.”
Leia glared. “And why the kriff not?”
“For one, we’re a family. Something forbidden for Jedi. Two, we used several forbidden techniques to get here; techniques we absolutely cannot admit to even studying. Third, because we can’t tell the truth, the Jedi will know we’re lying about something, and considering the fact that this is fourthly, Malachor, they’ll lock us up and throw away the key. Plus, you know, it’s the Clone Wars. Palpatine’s rise to power. The Jedi are in his hip pocket right now.”
Leia started. “...Luke, I didn’t know you studied history.”
“I didn’t. R2 just has very vocal opinions about the old Jedi Order. And I didn’t have much else to do on all those long hyperspace jumps.”
“...Okay then.” Mara crossed her arms. “If we can’t deal with the Jedi, what exactly are we supposed to do?”
“Simple.” Luke cheerfully replied. “We become Sith.”
“...I’m sorry Farmboy, I must be hearing things, because it sounds like you just said we should become Sith.”
“Yep! Yep I did!”
Leia and Mara shared a look. “Luke, are you sure you didn’t hit your head when we landed?”
“Nope, not sure at all. But as far as I can see, we’re probably going to end up doing quite a lot of morally reprehensible things. Things the Jedi would be outraged at, but also things that anyone and everyone would expect from the exact antithesis of the Jedi. Ergo, we’re going to be Sith.”
“Hold up Farmboy; who said we’re going to do anything at all? Are you sure we won’t accidentally wipe ourselves from history by messing something up?”
“Nah,” Luke gave a dismissive wave, “that’s not how Flow-walking works. For all intents and purposes, this is an alternate universe. Nothing we do will matter to the world we’re from. As far as I can tell, the only way back home for us is the long one; why not have a little fun while we’re on it?”
“...He’s got a point, you know. I for one can think of quite a few things I’d like to do, and Force knows they’re Dark as kriff. Plus, you know, technically half-a-Sith already. Be fun to put those skills to use karking with Palpatine.”
“...But…but…but…”
Mara sighed. “Look at it this way, Leia; if you’re a Sith, no one will think twice if you do something like, oh, say, assassinate Count Dooku and take over the Seperatist Alliance.”
“...Fine. But if we’re going to be Sith, we’re doing it my way. Now, where do we go about getting red lightsabers?”
Luke gestured wildly. “Um, hello! Malachor! Infinite sabers here! Pick your poison!”
“...Right. Best get to it, then. Oh, by the way: what’s the closest star system to here?”
Luke frowned. “...I think it’s Zygerria. Why?”
“Oh, no reason. Luke, can you teleport us there?”
“Yepper-depper-do.”
“Please never say that again.”
“Okie dokie.”
Ahsoka Tano trailed behind her Master, Anakin Skywalker. Normally, she’d be living up to her nickname of ‘Snips’ with all sorts of snarky comments on the way, but this was serious: they’d been summoned before the Council. Nobody else, just them.
And didn’t that kill the mood.
Only half the Council was there when they stepped through the doors, but it was still more than enough to put Ahsoka on guard. Master Windu and Master Yoda were both present; a rarity nowadays. Even more rare, it was Master Windu who first greeted Skyguy; and warmly, no less!
“Knight Skywalker; we’re most grateful for your speedy answer to our summons. We have a developing…situation, and your insight would be most appreciated.”
Insight? Master Skywalker? They really must be desperate.
Skyguy’s brow furrowed. “A situation, Masters? What kind of situation?”
Master Windu said nothing; merely pressed a button on his chair. A holo-recording began to play; Coruscant News Network, from the look of it.
“And in other news, the system of Zygerria has, for the first time in centuries, appointed an official Senator to the Galactic Republic. We were most fortunate to be granted the following statement from the new Senator, Darth Torhu:”
Another image came on screen; obviously the new Senator. Dark robes; solid mask; commanding presence.
All that was missing was the red lightsaber, and they’d have another Sith. Joy.
Darth Torhu began to speak; Ahsoka jolted as a smooth timbrel issued from the Senator’s vocoder. “We of Zygerria have long held ourselves apart from the wider galaxy; and for good reason. We have rebuilt; we have reorganized; we have restructured. But now the time has come for us to re-emerge. Once the universe trembled in fear of the name Zygerria; no more. Now the only ones who need fear us are those whom we deem as ‘slavers’...or pretenders to the good name of the Sith. Yes, I am Sith; and I am not the only one. We follow an older tradition; one vastly superior to the heresy of the Banite Order. We believe that every sentient being has a right to be strong; and that it is the responsibility of the Sith to see how far they can go, Force-Sensitive or not.”
It was then that Darth Torhu removed their mask, and Ahsoka found herself staring into the face of a female human. “No more slaves. No more empires. No more shadows. The Force shall set us free.”
And then it was back to the CNN newscaster, and the cold darkness that had seeped into the Council chambers.
Ahsoka shivered; another Sith in the galaxy. Worse, more than one of them. What was the galaxy to do?
Master Windu’s voice snapped her from her reverie. “Your opinion, Knight Skywalker?”
She could see Skyguy’s jaws grinding together. “My opinion, Master Windu? My opinion is this is some of the best news we’ve gotten this entire war.”
“Explain, if you please.”
“Well, if this Darth Torhu and her friends are planning on killing the rest of the Sith running around the galaxy, and freeing all the slaves they can find while they’re at it, then I say let them. If worse comes to worse, the two bunches of Sith will kill each other off and we can pick up the pieces.”
Ki-Adi Mundi gave a small nod. “Wisely said, Knight Skywalker.”
“But regrettably, not quite correct.” Mace flicked a switch, bringing up another image to project. “You see…it appears that these previously unknown Sith also consider our own clones to be little better than slaves.”
WHAT? Ahsoka wanted to scream. HOW DARE THEY! THE CLONES WERE…
That was as far as she got before horrible understanding began to sink in. “Oh. That’s how they’re planning to fight us.”
The attention of the room snapped to her, and Shoka realized too late that she’d said that out loud.
“Your insight, might you share, Padawan Tano?”
She bowed. “Of course, Master Yoda. It’s just…it was a Jedi who commissioned the clones, wasn’t it?”
Mace frowned. “A former Jedi, Padawan Tano. And that is restricted information.”
“Yes sir, it is, but Master Kenobi mentioned it to me once.”
“I see. Pray continue.”
“Well sir…if the Sith were to reveal it was the Jedi that commissioned the clones…and then convince the galaxy we were in fact in control of a slave army…well sir, I don’t think the galaxy would be very happy with us.”
Skyguy snorted. “That’s putting it mildly.”
“Precisely.” Master Windu folded his hands beneath his chin. “We called you in to consult on the best course of action because we knew you were the two that were the most prepared to see the consequences of our actions. Any suggestions, Knight Skywalker and Padawan Tano?”
Ahsoka looked to her Master, then nodded, indicating he should go first. Skyguy seized the opportunity with gusto. “We have to beat the Sith to the punch. Start making overtures to get the clones recognized as citizens. Senators Amidala and Organa will help. As for the ‘former Jedi’ who placed the order with the Kaminoans...I’m sorry to suggest it masters, but perhaps it would be to our benefit to frame him as a former Sith as well?”
“Hmm.” Yoda wiggled in his chair. “Potential, this idea has. But much easier, the truth is to give. Jango Fett, the template for the clones, revealed to Master Kenobi the identity of his employer. Tyranus, their name was. A Sith name. Also mentioned the moons of Bogden, he did. Send a team, we had not the time to do. But now, an excuse, we have.”
Shaak Ti folded her arms together. “It’s decided then. Who shall be dispatched?”
“Master Vos and Knight Secura have had dealings in that sector before.” stated Mace. “Vos is currently on-planet, I believe.”
Ki-Adi Mundi raised an eyebrow. “And where is Knight Secura?”
Aayla Secura flinched as another wave of droid-fire crashed against their shields. Her Star Destroyer was holding for now, but anything could happen in a battle. “Status report, Commander Bly.”
“The first droid troop-ships are away, General. Why the Seppies want to land troops on whatever kind of hell-world it is down there, I don’t know, but it can’t be good.”
“Acknowledged. Have the turbolaser batteries shift focus from the Lucrehulk to the-”
Aayla trailed off as she saw…no…no, it couldn’t be…
“General?”
“...Yes, Commander?”
“By any chance do you happen to know why the Seps’ own Vulture droids are targeting their troop transports?”
“I do not.”
“I was afraid of that.”
They watched as the Vulture droids tore their own fleet to shreds, then turned their attention to the Lucrehulk cruiser, and finally themselves. When at last nothing of the Seperatist fleet remained but wreckage, Aayla pulled herself back into focus. “Begin dropping troops onto the world below, Commander. We don’t have much time before…”
Whatever she was going to say was quite abruptly cut short. As was the power.
The only light that remained in the ship was the eerie blue of a holo, one now projecting over the entire bridge. A masked figure stood in the light; medium height, vaguely female-shaped. “Have I the pleasure of addressing the officer in charge of this fleet?”
Aayla swallowed. “...You do. Jedi Knight Secura here. And whom exactly am I addressing?”
The figure laughed. “You may call me Darth…Jadis, little Jedi. And I am the one responsible for the Separatists' recent…mishap.”
“Are you also the one responsible for our entire cruiser losing power?” Aayla snapped.
“But of course. You Jedi tend to negotiate only when staring down the burning blade of a lightsaber; I merely had to make sure you knew which way it was pointed first. This is your only warning, Knight Secura; leave this system, and never return. The Separatists are not welcome here, and the world below is not safe for Jedi.”
“And how would you know that?”
“Because that is Dromund Kaas, little Jedi; homeworld of the Sith. And it was lost for good reason. To descend into that hole would be to tempt the Dark; and you are no Sith to withstand it.”
Dromund Kaas; Aaya shivered. She had heard the name; in fearful whispers told at night in the creche. “The Sith were destroyed.”
“No, little Jedi; we were not. Return back the way you came, and consult with your Council. They will have much to tell you…and much for you to relay in turn. Oh, and should you pass a red planetoid along the way, avoid that too. Korriban is no kinder to Jedi than Dromund Kaas. And they are both under our protection.”
With that, the holo vanished, leaving the bridge once more running at full power.
Really, there was only one thing they could do. “Recall the fighters, Bly. We gotta get outta this place.”
“Agreed, General.”
“You,” Luke accused, “enjoyed that entirely too much.”
“What?” Mara asked innocently. “Never wanted to be the boogeyman? Even once?”
“The boogeyman isn’t real.”
“He is now. And you’re it. Might wanna start acting the part.”
“Fine. Now let’s drop every Zygerrian interdictor we’ve got behind them to make sure no one ever comes this way again.”
“You said it Farmboy. And then where?”
“I dunno; I was thinking of Dathomir. I think you’d get along smashingly with the Nightsisters.”
“Yes, but would they get along smashingly with us?”
“Just play up the fact that I’m basically your concubine and I’m sure they’ll be accommodating.”
Mara laughed. “The Grandmaster of the Jedi Order, my plaything. I like it. Dathomir it is then. And who knows? We might find some Apprentices.”
“If we do, you get to be the one to explain to Leia why we brought home more strays.”
Rats.
When the Council at last made contact with Knight Secura, there was pandemonium.
Ahsoka watched it all with horror.
Dromund Kaas was real. Dromund Kaas had been found. The Sith had gotten there first. Korriban was still somewhere out there. There was a confirmed second Sith. Knight Secura had met them. The Sith hated the Separatists.
What. The. Kriff.
Even Anakin was looking shell-shocked. “What…what do we do now, Masters?”
“Now?” Yoda asked. “Now, no good, our trip to Bogden will be. If reclaimed the worlds of the Sith, have been, go instead, to the heart of the rising empire we must.”
“But Master Yoda,” protested Anakin, “didn’t the Sith say there would be no more empires?”
Mace nodded. “Indeed they did. But we have no proof that this Darth ‘Jadis’ is of the same ilk as Darth Torhu. And even if they were, their intentions are still under scrutiny. We must proceed with caution. Master Vos will be dispatched to Zygerria undercover. Master Kenobi will also be dispatched along with him. As for you, Knight Skywalker: we need you to convene with Senators Amidala and Organa immediately. We will need to begin gathering allies soon; and you are among the best in that regard. Truly a credit to your former Master.”
Anakin straightened with pride at Master Windu’s words. “Thank you, Masters; I shall not fail you.”
“Then may the Force be with you, Knight Skywalker.”
Ahsoka followed her Master out of the Council chambers as fast as she could. “Master, where are we going?”
“Republica 500, Snips. We’ve got some political assassination to arrange.”
“I thought that was more Master Kenobi’s specialty, Master.”
“Oh, it is. But even Obi-Wan pales in comparison to the good Senators for Alderaan and Naboo.”
“That, I believe.”
Ahsoka skidded to a halt. Beside her, her Master did the same.
Darth Torhu was here. Here, in the Republica 500! And talking (talking!) with Padme! And Bail! And Garm Bel Iblis! And…and…and half-a-dozen other Senators too!
Right in the middle of the lobby!
There was no other word for it; she froze.
“Ah, Knight Skywalker! And Padawan Tano; my my, this is a pleasant surprise!” Oh thank the Force for Padme. “What brings two of the Jedi Order’s best to Republica 500?”
“Ah…” Anakin stammered, “well…you see, Senator, I, that is to say, we…we’ve been dispatched…”
“Yes?” Padme asked, a worried look on her face.
“We’ve been dispatched to see if the Jedi can lend aid in getting the clones recognized as citizens!” Anakin blurted out.
Ahsoka just barely resisted the urge to bury her head in her hands. Well that was going to be on all the news networks in the morning.
“Really?” came an oh-so-familiar voice. “What fortuitous circumstance be this. You see, Knight…Skywalker, was it? You see, Knight Skywalker…”
Darth Torhu strode forward with all the regality of a dragon. “That is also what I have been dispatched to do.”
“Indeed.” Anakin ground out. “I was unaware the Sith would be interested in such a matter.”
“Ah, but I can assure you we are.”
We. Torhu had said ‘we’.
“And not only us, but the newly-elected Prime Minister of Zygerria as well. It is a pleasure to serve someone so…strong-minded.”
Strong. The ruler of Zygerria was a Sith.
Beside her, she could feel some of the tension in Skyguy’s frame dissipate. “Elections? The news failed to mention that.”
“Oh, that news is only of interest to the local systems. And, of course, other worlds who have suffered under the taint of slavery. I believe it is the current top story in the Tatooine sector at the moment.”
And for a brief shining moment, Ahsoka felt pure hope emanate from her master. “Truly?”
“Truly.” Torhu smiled. “Come, let me introduce you two to some friends.”
And once more, Ahsoka followed her Master into the fray.
“Did you learn anything, Master?”
“I did, Snips.”
“And?”
“I learned that Torhu is the name of Alderaan’s Goddess of Vengeance.”
“...Oh.”
“And that we should have faith in our good friends, the Senators.”
“The Council won’t like to hear that.”
“The Council can get karked.”
Asajj Ventress was afraid.
She was very, very afraid.
She had arrived on Dathomir for the very first time to find her planet running amok. Mother Talzin was convinced that their doom was upon them, and for some Force-forsaken reason was convinced calling Dooku to face the evil bearing down upon them was the only solution.
Naturally, Asajj had taken great offense to that.
Which was why she was now being kept restrained in the middle of a Nightbrother village, tied up next to the two sons of Mother Talzin.
“So,” she asked as calmly as possible, “any idea what’s coming?”
The smaller of the two boys shivered. “The Heirs of the Fanged God.”
“...The who?”
“The Fanged God.” the larger replied. “The patron of the Nightbrothers. The Nightsisters fear a revolt; they fear that the Fanged God will come to set us free.”
The Force will set me free. Asajj had heard that line enough to know what it truly meant. “So make you into slaves, then.”
The smaller one shook his head. “It is the Nighsisters who are slaves; slaves to the magic granted by the Winged Goddess.”
“Feral.” hissed the elder.
“No, she needs to understand, Savage.” Yellow eyes peered into hers. “The only chains in the Force are the ones the Winged Goddess lets her servants forge for themselves. The Fanged God will return; and we will be free.”
Free. Asajj didn’t know the meaning of the word anymore.
Perhaps she never had.
Okay, so maybe Luke hadn’t necessarily had no other choice than to raze the Nightsisters’ village to the ground, but that place was just wrong. Even the Dark Side (loathe as Luke was to touch it) felt twisted in pain there; he just had to set it free.
Plus, you know, freeing people was kind of in his name now. So he slipped his metaphorical fingers through the fur of the beast that was the Dark, and asked in the most powerful voice he could: “WHERE ARE THE SLAVES.”
The witch in front of him screamed in terror; he asked again. “WHERE. ARE THE. SLAVES.”
“South!” the witch sobbed. “South!”
“THANK YOU. NOW SLEEP.”
The witch collapsed, utterly spent. Luke stood, only to find Mara staring at him. “...What?”
“You know, you’re pretty good at being the boogeyman. Of course, it would help if you, you know, actually killed people, Darth Ekkreth. Kriff, even Leia’s done it.”
“Leia’s done lots of things, Mara. You should know, you were the one who got her on board by mentioning Dooku. But just in case you were worried…I left the Clan Mother impaled on her own spear.”
“Nice.”
“I try. Now, let’s go save us some slaves.”
Asajj could feel it; the tension. The weight. The oncoming storm.
Instinctively, she pulled herself in as tight as she could. Beside her, the two Zabraks whimpered and held on to her legs. She’d have laughed at them, if she weren’t terrified out of her mind. Because if judgment had come for the Nightsisters…then it had also come for her.
Maybe Talzin wasn’t so crazy to call Dooku.
The weight in the air vanished…and then came crashing down, a hundred times harder. Asajj could barely breathe. She felt her breath grow short, and her vision began to blur. The floor came rushing up to meet her, and she let out a sob as the pain only intensified.
“WELL, WELL, WELL,” purred a Voice, “WHAT HAVE WE HERE? A WITCH WHO THOUGHT TO SAVE HERSELF BY COWERING BEHIND CHILDREN?”
Asajj wanted to protest; wanted to fight. But she could do nothing but dig her fingers deeper into the dirt.
“NO!” Feral screamed. “No, it’s not like that!”
“Feral!”
Savage’s scream came too late.
“REALLY?” said the Voice. “HOW SO, LITTLE ONE?”
“She…she’s our sister. She was a slave, before; please...please, my Lord…” There were tears in Feral’s voice. “Please don’t kill her.”
“KILL HER? WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT KILLING HER. IF SHE IS AS YOU SAY…THEN I HAVE COME TO FREE HER. AND YOU, AS WELL.”
And with that, that terrible, horrible weight disappeared, and Asajj could breathe again. Her chains fell off with a clink, and the Force once more flowed to her call. It was like being rescued from drowning, and Asajj drank it in greedily.
“AH; I SEE. NOT JUST A WITCH, THEN. TELL ME, DAUGHTER; WHAT IS IT THAT COULD CAUSE YOUR MOTHER TO ABANDON SUCH POWER?”
Asajj flinched, and the story fell from her lips. “I…disagreed with her, my Lord. She wished to call my Master here to fight you; she would have given me back to him in order to assure his help.”
“...HOW PREDICTABLE. TRULY, I HAD HOPED THAT AT LEAST THE NIGHTSISTERS WOULD PROVE SMARTER THAN THE FALSE SITH, BUT APPARENTLY NOT. SO TELL ME, YOUNG ONE…WHAT IS YOU WISH FOR?”
“...What I wish?”
“THAT IS WHAT I SAID.”
“...What I wish is to see my former Master dead.”
“THEN WE SHALL GRANT YOU YOUR WISH.”
“In exchange for?”
“IN EXCHANGE? WE OFFER THIS FREELY.”
“Liar.”
“YES; YES, I AM A LIAR. BUT ONLY TO THOSE WHO LIE TO ME. I AM DARTH EKKRETH, CHILD. WHAT IS YOUR NAME?”
Ekkreth. The word stirred long-discarded memories from long ago; words from the slaves on Rattatak. And so she answered. “...Asajj, my Lord.”
“WELL, WELL, WELL. SHE-WHO-WALKS-UNSEEN. AN APT NAME. THE RAIN WAS LONG AGO, MY CHILD.”
Whatever remaining doubts Asajj might have had, they were swept away by that simple statement. “But the desert does not forget.” she replied.
“THE DESERT NEVER FORGETS. COME, MY CHILDREN; WE MUST PREPARE. DEPUR IS COMING.”
Dooku. Ekkreth meant Dooku. Asajj found herself following him from the hut.
Depur would be swept away by Ekkreth. That was how the stories went.
And that was how it would be again. Asajj would make sure of it.
Oh, what she wouldn’t give for the Jedi to see this.
“Master?” Ahsoka pushed her Master’s door open and went in. She found him collapsed in a chair, the Holonet flashing before him and empty bottles beside him. “Master, are you alright?”
“...No, Snips. I don’t think I’m ever going to be right again.”
Oh, not good. “...Master, what’s wrong?”
“I found the name of Zygerria’s new ruler.”
“...And?”
“His name is Ekkreth. Darth Ekkreth.”
A smile broke out on her face. “But Master, that’s wonderful!”
To her surprise, Anakin shied away. “Don’t call me that; please don’t call me that…”
“What…Master?”
Anakin flinched. “I’m no Master, Ahsoka; I can’t be.”
“...Master, you’re not making any sense…”
“It’s my name, Snips! Can’t you see? His name is my name!”
“But Master, that’s ridiculous! His name is Ekkreth, you just said!”
“Yes; yes I did.” And it looked like it was killing Anakin. “Do you know what Ekkreth means in Basic, Ahsoka?”
“...No.”
“...It means Skywalker. It means that there is a Sith Lord walking around out there with my name. It was supposed to be me that freed the slaves; it was supposed to be a Jedi. Instead…the Force decided to make the sickest joke of all time.” And with that, Anakin collapsed with a sob.
This…this was not good. This was at least three buses, a taxi, and a long walk away from good. Thankfully, Anakin seemed to have passed out; it meant Ahsoka had time to figure out a plan to deal with…this. What was she supposed to do? Who was she supposed to call? Obi-Wan was off world, and so was Master Plo. Who could…?
She had it. Her comm lit up as she began to dial. It didn’t take long for the call to connect. “Ahsoka? What’s wrong?”
“It’s Anakin, Padme; I think…I think you’d better come.”
“...I’ll be right there.”
“Torhu here.”
“Depur is coming to Dathomir. Happy hunting.”
Click.
“...Well. It seems I am needed off-world. Please prepare my ship.”
“As you wish, my Lady. As Lord Ekkreth said: happy hunting.”
“I trust you to handle things in my stead, Representative. You shouldn’t be called into the Senate for a few more days at least; it takes time for paperwork to go through. But should it happen, then may the Force be with you.”
“Thank you, Senator. I shall make the Sith proud.”
“And Zygerria.”
“Of course, my Lady. And Zygerria.”
Obi-Wan Kenobi frowned. “You mean to tell me that there is a Sith in the Senate, and it is perfectly legal?”
“Trust me, we were just as surprised as you, Kenobi.” growled Mace. “But apparently, being a Sith has not been a crime for, oh, several hundred years now. And believe me, we are looking into just how that occurred. In the meantime, we have an assignment for you.”
“Oh?”
“You will be joining Master Vos in infiltrating this new Zygerria. All relevant files have been forwarded to you. You depart in three hours. May the Force be with you.”
The stern Master’s hologram winked out of existence, leaving Obi-Wan with more questions than answers.