Location: Praesitlyn, Sulis Sector

Oliver: I had no clue where I was. Well, that wasn't entirely true. I was on a hill, and there was a city in the distance. And those space ships that everyone seemed so comfortable with. How long had it been since I'd even seen a wooden bridge, let alone a wooden ship on the water? Three, maybe four years? I'd begun to give up hope. I wasn't quite sad, though. I was calm, serene as always. It was a hard thing to maintain. No anger, no fear, no hatred. That was difficult enough on my home planet...wherever that was. Out here, where men fly through the skies and people flit from world to world like country to country...well, it was far more difficult. I could manage, though. Always.

I looked down at my side, then took one of my pistols into my hand. Carefully, I measured a portion of black powder into the barrel, then the ball and wadded it all down. I did the same with the other, just in case, and then took the three quarter foot long cylinder in my hand, then placed a little bit of oil on the slider, just in case I needed to get it working in a hurry. I moved it under my thumb, watching light begin to be emitted from the end. I moved another knob then, placing a drop of oil in it as well, watching the light begin to be focused by the crystals. In a moment, the bright white beam focused into a blade, and I moved it through the air, listening to the rhythmic hum. It was calming, though other people who'd seen it tended to be unnerved. On my planet, the effect was even more pronounced. We'd never even seen a laser, let alone an energy blade. I could have taken over the whole planet with it, had it been my intention. Luckily, it was not

"I suppose I should go see where I am. " The crew that'd brought me here were off trading parts or whatever they wanted to do here; I was supposed to meet them later to help navigate through the cluster of black holes again. I had no idea what I was doing, but just instinctively knew which way to pull the stick. Like all my talents, it surprised those around me. I couldn't fire one of those blaster things accurately, but I could knock away the blasts with a sword, or know how to fly through an asteroid field when I couldn't even turn on the engines to a ship. I was supremely odd, and once again, lost as hell

Siduri: *The planet was called Praesitlyn, often called "the jewel of the Sulis Sector" by its inhabitants who were by and large content with accepting the beauty of the planet, as opposed to testing the hypothesis by traveling to the surrounding systems. The people of Praesitlyn were proud and happy to go about their normal lives with little interference from the galaxy at large. The planet, itself, was of a temperate climate, covered by great forests, lakes, plains, and the occasional mountain range. Most of the Praesitlenes lived in village communities, much as their ancestors had done when the planet was settled millennia ago. Much of the production of the planet was traditional, in fact- the large sapphire mines brought the planet fame on a limited scale as these jewels were known to be of the highest quality throughout the galaxy, the meats and vegetables grown by the farming communes were nutritious as well as meeting a variety of tastes, the textile industry produ!
ced intricate weaves of brocade intended for use by the noble Houses, as well as the more common cloth used by the rural population, and lastly, the slave market, the supplier of thousands of young humans, suitable for an Imperial pleasure house or the mines of Kessel. Slavery was integral to the population of Praesitlyn, for it was one of the bases that their culture had been built around, and it was an ever-growing industry.*

*Perhaps it should be stated here that Praesitlene society was a caste system, ruled by the Royal and lesser noble Houses. One was born into his or her social position, free or slave, commoner or noble, and from which there was no mobility from one rung to the next on the social ladder. Slaves were produced when a child was born out of an official mating. Because Praesitlene matings were not exclusive, there were many instances when pregnancy took place and teary-eyed mothers had to give their children up for the auction block in the capital of Galadorn.*

*Galadorn. Ah, Galadorn, the one contradiction to the rural splendor that was Praesitlyn. Although the tallest building in the capital was still the stone-walled Palace of Justice, the seat of the official Praesitlene government, it was a relic from the past in a city that was just as explosive and fast-paced as any other spaceport one could find on other worlds. Galadorn was were all the off-worlders would come to engage in trade, and to seek permission to enter the Communications Station, located on the outskirts of the city, and the largest in the entire Sulis Sector. Galadorn was also the place where any official Praesitlene ceremonies would take place, and only on those festivals or days of judgement, would the Ensi, or the female religious leader of Praesitlyn, be found within the walls of the city.*

*Today is one of these such holidays, albeit, a minor one. Trade continues, life for the commoners goes on as it would on a normal day, but the Ensi, Siduri Archanes of the Royal House of Dennon, has arrived to speak with the Prefect General, the chief magistrate of Galadorn, at the very same Palace of Justice. Some over-eager children, wanting to catch a glimpse of the imposing woman who has defied tradition by not handing over the rule of the planet to a man, have tried to get closer toward the skiff that the Ensi now descends from.*

Oliver: With a sigh, I allowed the saber blade to dissipate, taking a moment to first unfocus the beam, and then to seal the aperture. The city in the near distance was likely where my ride was, and I didn't wish to have to find another. I was incredibly lucky that I was highly intelligent; I would have bene unable to learn Basic from books on that old starship and the holocron otherwise. My people's written language was derived in part from old artifacts from the ship, though, which made it somewhat less taxing.
My stroll into the city was quick, enhanced as my speed was by the Force. That's what people out here said, anyhow. On my world, we thought it was magic...but the two were effectively the same. It was just a different way of looking at it. I arrived in a state of awe, hiding my weapon beneath a fold of my shirt, and then simply began to wander, going where I found myself drawn

Siduri: *The Ensi does not seem to be in the mood for the ceremonial guard that has broken forth from the Palace of Justice to come to greet her. She pays these armor-clad men little attention, though, they knew her from the days when she stood beside them, commanding the Praesitlene Army. Yes, the Ensi had been lucky to assume the position that she held now. Although, she would claim that it had always been her birthright to stand as Praesitlyn's ruler, there was another who was more directly in line for the succession, one whom Siduri dealt with quickly and had permanently silenced before turning 20. Yes, in-fighting between nobles had been a long part of Praesitlene noble history, but the decimation of the noble Houses, especially of the ruling House of Dennon that the Falleen had caused within the past twenty years, left few who could have challenged Siduri's claim to the throne. And now, she had remained in control of the planet for almost a decade. In this time, Sid!
uri sought to bring more glory to herself and her people, and that was how she had come to know the teachings of the Sith.*

*Today's ritual shall just be a short one and the Ensi is almost resentful that she has had to leave the serenity of her Fortress to come into Galadorn. The Prefect General now appears through the great doorway of the Palace of Justice and comes, arms extended, welcoming her, yet, again, to his city. Traditional greetings roll off the tip of his tongue, and the Ensi, remains quiet, her posture firm, yet, not completely hostile. The Prefect General has seen her like this before and knows that her moods can often be volatile. He clears his throat, and then, looking off into the crowd, he signals for the guard to begin removing the children.*

Oliver: I moved into the back of the crowd watching this display, finding it somewhat similar to things I'd been a part of at home. My family was one with a long noble history, though our government was more like a constitutional monarchy than feudalism. Still, we were rather fond of ceremony, and I watched intently, wondering why the woman seemed to so capture my attention. There was something odd about her, but I couldn't put my finger on what exactly.

The city, for some reason, felt cold. I looked around through the crowd then, watching people treat others as slaves. The practice turned my stomach, and no less than ten feet from me, a man was glaring at his female slave. In a moment, I saw him raise his hand and bring it down on her face. Then again. I steeled my nerves, placing emotion away. Calm. Serene. I breathed deeply, and saw her bite him. Then, I saw the blaster pistol move from his hip to press near her face, and watched his finger twitch.

As he pulled the trigger, a beam of light moved foward toward her, and then stopped, reflecting down into the ground. Between the barrel and her face rested a glowing white beam, one issuing forth from my lightsaber. They both stood there dumbfounded, and I was wordless...watching as they and then everyone around me started to back away.

Siduri: *Revolt was not uncommon on a planet with such a large slave population. The Ensi, herself, had been a victim of a slave uprising within her own household about four years prior- several slaves had conspired to end her tyranny and remove the Sith from the planet, as one by name of Daru had attempted to assassinate her and the man she had taken as her mate during their coronation. Daru's attempt was suicidal, to say the least, as he made his attack out in the open, actually from the courtyard of the Palace of Justice, where the Ensi now stood. Daru, after he was summarily carbon-frozen and hung upon the wall of the throne room in the royal Fortress, was proven to contain Falleen blood, and thus, he was a threat to all of Praesitlyn, not just its rulers. The second revolt was internal, occurring within the Fortress alone, far from the eyes of the public, and thus, more effective. Siduri had lost her vibrant red locks due to the toxins that had been poured into her b!
athwater. If not for the powers of the Sith, the Ensi would have perished. Today, she still bore the marks of that attempt, the garish yellow locks that she left that way as a reminder, and the traitorous slaves heads still, though they were not quite decayed, adorned several posts surrounding the Fortress.*

*That sound. That sound of a lightsaber could not be mistaken, and in the quiet courtyard, the Ensi did not miss it. Praesitlene had few force users apart from herself, and those who were allowed to remain on the planet were usually guests, fellow Sith or Imperial emissaries. Without a word to the Prefect General, Siduri broke past the line of the ceremonial guard, striding confidently and pulsating with the anger that now consumed her, as she sought the wielder of the weapon*

Oliver: People were now no closer than twenty feet from me, and still trying to get further away. I looked dumbfounded; I'd just saved someone's life. Then, there was a blast moving in my direction. Without thinking, I parried the blow and destroyed the weapon with its own blast, then began to check my escape options. I needed to be more careful. MUCH more careful.

Still, I wasn't afraid. Neither was I angry. Escape was simply the wisest course of action. Calmly, I looked toward the least frightened faces. "You need to make a path." Some of them repeated the words, and began to move aside for me. I continued on, speaking when necessary, and quenching the blade when I was further into the crowd. I could feel something, some reason why it would not be good to be caught up in this crowd.

As I reached the edge, I could see people moving to make another path, and half wondered what it was for. "This doesn't look good.."

Siduri: *The Ensi was a tall woman by Praesitlene standards. Standing five feet and eight inches tall, her blonde locks were soon visible within the crowd. Most of the populace would not be expecting such a sudden action on her part; Siduri was someone whom they saw from the balcony of the Palace of Justice on special occasions, if at all. No, she was not the type to walk amidst her people, but to wall herself up in the secluded paradise of her Fortress attended by her slaves. Nor was this the image of Siduri "the Warrior" that her army would see her as; missing were her typical bow and quiver which she often carried into battle, and her battle-worn tunics, leggings, and mail shirts. Rather, she moved with a regal presence that could only recall the state ceremonies, a Siduri that her fellow Sith would see only on occasion.*

Who dares to bring such a weapon to Galadorn on this sacred day? *Siduri's voice rang forth into the crowd as her brown eyes fixated upon the form of the young man with the lightsaber. Closer, she drew to him, her steps measured and sure.*

Oliver: What was I supposed to say here? The only people I'd heard of using these besides me were other Jedi, and I didn't know any other Jedi. It seemed everyone in the galaxy knew Luke Skywalker's name, but I certainly wasn't that well known. I had to say something, though. Right now, I was standing there with a blank look on my face and nothing to say.

Physically, I was a very impressive young man. An active physical life among the nobility of my planet consisted of fencing, jousting, seamanship, running, and all manner of physical activity and sport. My body was in the condition of a warrior even before I had begun to study the Force. I was several inches over six feet, with a sandy blond mop of hair and youthful features. I was apparently human, or else looked exactly like one.

"Oliver Wellington...Jedi Knight." It was the truth, though I'd wondered if that was best. Still, deception wasn't in my nature. And, for all the fear the locals felt of you...I felt none. It was obvious. I wasn't even sweating, simply radiating almost a total lack of emotion. Then, softly, I repeated a few words to myself.

"There is no passion, there is serenity." I nodded then, waiting for some form of response

Siduri: *The Ensi resisted the urge to burst out into a fit of laughter. This boy was calling himself a Jedi Knight? How humorous. How very humorous indeed. Not that Siduri hadn't seen Jedi before; rather, she'd had the honor of turning several to the darkness and managing to give several others wounds that they would be sure to remember her by. But this boy before her surely seemed no more than a boy who had the ability to tap into the Force. An apprentice who thought too highly of himself, perhaps, but it was clear to Siduri that he was no more than a child. A child with a toy that he probably didn't know how to control. She would see about that.*

And do you know who I am, Oliver Wellington? *Siduri demanded, crossing her arms in front of her chest, locking her eyes upon him?* Of course not. *she sneered. Yes, she could tell that he was not Praesitlene, although he was very human. But one did not become ruler of a people that you could not recognize them when you saw them. No, his features were quite different, as was the very sound of his name. He did not belong here.*

You are not one of my people, yet you seek to foul them with your corruption?

Oliver: Luckily, my appearance belied my strength and experience. With nothing but the ways of the Jedi to sustain me, I'd grown more than strong in them. To others, there was always some other thing to study. Some other passion to persue. No one was simply a Jedi. They were pilots, diplomats, or any number of things. I was a sailor. A corsair. That wouldn't keep me alive out here in the galaxy...

That fact had saved me more than once. I was almost always underestimated. Usually vastly underestimated. A cap and ball pistol couldn't even puncture some fibers people out here wore as clothes. It just made them arrogant.

I met your eyes then, still eerily calm. "These are your people? No, I don't know who you are. I'm a stranger here, but there is great evil in this place, and among your people. To treat men like chattel is wrong throughout." I watched the people around now, making certain none had drawn weapons on me. I felt...

"I feel much anger in you. " I said it quietly, but still loud enough for you to hear. My voice was very slow, collected and calm.

"There is no death; there is the force." Perhaps if one could read lips, they might see what I said. Perhaps not. And still, I moved. One careful step after another. Neither did I move away, nor directly toward you. It was but a slow progression of steps, side to side as I began to move inches in your direction.

Siduri: *Siduri bore no weapons apart from the darkness that she wielded since she had come to the capital to preside over a religious ceremony. The Prefect General would have supplied her with the dagger needed for the ritual, had she not been interrupted. But it did not matter; things such as this had to be taken care of first. Upstart Jedi could not think that the could set up shop on Praesitlyn. If he could not be put to her own purposes, then he would surely learn what happens to Jedi who cross the path of Siduri Archanes, Ensi of Praesitlyn and so-called Master of the Sith arts.*

*She did not even have to look at the commoners who had now given Siduri and the stranger ample space. Some looked on with curiosity, some with utter fear but were unable to tear their eyes away. The commoners were base like that. They always adored spectacle and bloodshed, even if it frightened them at first.*

*He is just a boy, a foolish boy who thinks he can change several thousand years of tradition because it does not agree with his own morals. Siduri smirked. Let him. Let him try.*

I am she who must be obeyed. I am the Ensi. I -am- Praesitlyn. *She said, tilting her head up slightly so she met his gaze. Yes, she was haughty, but she was of the noble blood and there were few left, especially here on Praesitlyn who could do anything to humble her. In her younger days, she would have already cast the Aura of Uneasiness, the special power of a Sith to sicken and fill with dread anyone who came into his or her presence. The older Siduri would save such tricks for when they were most necessary.*

I would be careful how you spoke about my planet, -boy-, that is, if you have intentions on leaving it while you still draw breath.

*Of course he could feel anger within her. Was he stupid, or did he just not know the powers of the darkness, and what it could offer him?*

Oliver: "Then is it you who corrupts it, or it that corrupts you? I have not threatened you, yet you threaten my life? I have no desire to stay here, but I cannot sit idly by while people are murdered. " This society was sick, and permeated everything about now. I sighed, sensing the overwhelming presence of the Dark Side. I had little experience with it, save the warnings as to what it was and what led to it. Anger. Aggression. Fear. I felt none of them, despite the cold I could feel.

"Your anger unbalances you. You allow your rage to dictate your actions; you have no control. You touch the Force, yet it controls you. Why did you take the easy path?" I was assuming much, yes. I didn't wish a fight if it could be avoided, however. I was closer now, and had begun to allow the force to flow through me. I no longer watched the crowd, only you. I acted on instinct.

Siduri: *Siduri glared at the boy and snapped* There is no corruption here, apart from the Jedi stench that exudes from your being, my dear Oliver. *She didn't know which murders he was referring to, the public executions which were held every so often, or whether there had been some disturbance in the street that he had taken it upon himself to settle, oddly enough, in sight of the Palace of Justice, where Praesitlenes were to report to the Prefect General if they had a problem with one of the laws.*

You are all dismissed! *she called out to the crowd, no longer pleased that they were watching such a display. Summarily, she'd have the guard come and expel those who lingered if need be. Whatever transgression the Jedi had caused, she'd deal with later. Now, was for stopping up the refuse that poured from his mouth, tainting the minds of her people.*

*Only after the crowd began to disperse, did Siduri turn back toward the boy, who was now making demands of her* You speak to me as if you are my equal. I could easily kill you for that alone, boy. You will accompany me back to the Palace of Justice and answer the questions that I see fit to put before you, else I can make certain your stay here is quite uncomfortable. I am the Ensi. *she repeated* I do what pleases me, and that is all you need know now.

Oliver: "Is that title anything like...Emperor? " I paused there, breathing calmly as you told others to leave. Certainly some would, most even. But even on a planet long rules by the Dark Side, there were always those who'd heard the legends of the Jedi Knights. Surely some would wonder, perhaps even lingering. In some, surely the dread spark of hope would reignite.

"I speak as if all were equal, for they are. I can feel your anger, but more. Hate. And even for all your anger and hate, for all the talk of the might of the Ensi and your ability to squash me with a thought, you're afraid. " Again, I paused and approached. Now, I drew very near.

"I do not fear you. There is no emotion; there is peace. There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no passion; there is no serenity. " And again, I paused. I drew ever nearer, now within a few feet.

"There is no death; there is the Force." And so I stood, defiantly, and wholely without the fear of your subjects. No anger, no fear, no hatred. I did not hate you; I pitied you. It showed in my face.

"Lead where you will. "

Siduri: *Siduri could begin to feel her blood percolating, almost boiling. How DARE he? And she wondered why she kept Praesitlyn out of so many galactic affairs, paying their tithe of slaves and sapphires to the Empire for ‘protection' and self-rule. Of course there would be inspections and the occasional entertaining of some Imperial this or that. But that had come to a close when she had expelled most of the Imperial presence from Praesitlyn within the past year or so, and declared the planet to be a Sith protectorate. The population hadn't liked that; they felt tied more firmly to the Empire if they had to align with anyone, but there was little they could do about it. Siduri ruled with an iron fist.*

*She raised her hand and slapped Oliver across his insolent cheek* Don't you dare quote your Jedi mantra drivel to me!

*Siduri spun on the heels of the shoes she wore, the diaphanous silk of the basic navy blue gown fluttering as she did so.* Afraid? *she snorted, her back toward Oliver* A Sith hardly fears anything as harmless as you.

*She then strode back toward the ancient stone structure, the Palace of Justice, not turning to see if he were following. If he didn't, she'd merely seal off the spaceport of Galadorn and he'd turn up sooner or later. There wasn't very far for this caged mouse to run.*

Oliver: I took the slap without flinching, still giving that same unimpressed look. I knew I was simply honest, not insolent. "Your rage controls you. I've only spoken the truth." Still, I was unnervingly calm. My mind was open to the Force, and what it could show me here. I knew better than to be afraid of you, or even for my life. Fear was the path to the Dark Side. In its own house, I knew not to so much as allow it an inroad.

"But you do fear. It drives you. Your fear is why you claim you have none. Why do you try and lie to one who can feel the emotion within you?" I was following now, very calmly. Perhaps I walked to my death, but it would not by my doom. I was in control of my fear, of my anger. I walked the difficult path of the Light Side, and knew it would not fail me in my time of need. And, should I die, the Dark Side would not consume me.

"The Sith fear everything. That is why they are Sith and not Jedi."

Siduri: *Siduri scoffed, listening to the words of the boy who was, indeed, following her. At least he wasn't completely stupid; he was obeying for now. But he knew very little about whom she was or what the Sith truly were. Sith weren't the creatures of the ghost stories that were told to frighten young children. Far from it. The ultimate goal of a Sith was the utter and complete binding of power to your own lifeforce and pleasing the spirits of the departed Lords. Praesitlene religion on the whole, placed a strong focus on worship of ancestors, and it was Siduri who had extended them to the honoring of those of the aged Dark Lords and their followers. But what made a Sith a "Sith" and not merely a darker form of Jedi, was the fact that a Sith did not placate the Force, did not ask for the powers, but merely ripped them from where they remained and forced, bended the Force to their own will. A Sith was no slave of the Force, but a master of his or her own destiny, as t!
he Warlord Kast told a young Siduri, over ten years prior, when she had appealed to him to initiate her into their mysteries.*

You know nothing of anger, nor its power, boy. The Jedi wrongly feel to stifle emotion, to keep it bottled up until it rots your insides. And you tell me this is preferable to opening myself up to the power that permeates the universe, letting my emotion fuel my ability to focus and take what the Lords have blessed me with? How wrong you are. A Sith doesn't hesitate to take what is hers.

*Saying thus, the great doors of the Palace of Justice are opened. Slaves clad in the short, brocade tunics of the Royal House of Dennon appear instantly. Some are attached to the Prefect General's staff, and those, with the most ornate costume, belong to Siduri herself, and were brought to wait upon her during her time in the city. Seeing their mistress, the bow deeply as she passes, not bothering to look upon any in particular, but calling for one, who stood at the rear of the line* Indrel, *she said to the dark-haired boy, no more than eighteen years himself* Show my -guest- to the audience chamber. *said Siduri, nodding to Indrel, her steward, then pointing a slender finger at Oliver.*

I will return shortly. *With a flourish, Siduri swept up the grand staircase that stood across from Indrel, who merely bowed again.*

*Approaching Oliver, Indrel, bowed* This way, sir.

Oliver: "I know enough about the Dark Side to know it a thing to avoid. It offers much at first, and then becomes harder and harder to call upon. As it twists your perceptions, you become its slave. No matter how much you may justify your actions, no matter how much you believe they're of your own free will, you are but a slave to the Dark Side. " I shook my head at your ignorance, and your misgivings to the Jedi. Obviously, you were never a Jedi yourself. Always a Sith. Or so I assumed.

"The Jedi master their fear, their anger. They do not stifle their emotions. Love, joy, friendship, serenity...these are no stranger to the Jedi. A Jedi simply knows the Light from the Dark, and keeps away from the darkness. To be Jedi is not a life of opulent luxury; it is an admittedly hard life. It is a rewarding one, though. The way of the Jedi is a difficult path, but the Light side is stronger. " I watched as you left then, still not so much as raising a hand.

Then, to Indrel I listened, and followed. "You will send a messenger to contact Bim Tanuk in the city. You will inform him he is to bring his ship here."


Siduri: *Siduri hears Oliver's words as she climbs up the staircase and merely rolls her eyes. The young seem to think that they know everything. Of course, she was his age once, but she readily admitted that there was much in the galaxy that she didn't fully comprehend. Before prostrating herself before the feet of the Warrior Kast, Siduri had never left Praesitlyn before. One did not leave the planet of your birth if you were noble, unless you were filled with discontent and the desire for more, as Siduri was. She needed help, power, to be specific to hurl her from her position as commander of the Praesitlene army, to her place upon the throne. A rival had to be eliminated, and that was easily accomplished, especially after having pledged herself to the Sith. But young Oliver would learn, as Siduri herself did, that the only true power came from the darkness, and that love was inseparable from many other emotions- lust, jealousy, anger, and despair, and all could be tu!
rned for the benefit of the one manipulating the powers of the Force. This, was the Sith way. And if he didn't see things more clearly, then it would be his time to die. Yes, Siduri never liked wasting potential sources of new talent.*

*Within moments, she is gone from sight, disappearing into one of the upper chambers, leaving Oliver with Indrel, chief slave of the Ensi*

*Indrel opens up the doors of the audience chamber, having to do so manually since they are so aged, built before doors had become mechanized. He turns to Oliver, extending his hand to allow him to pass, when he hears the man's words, and stares back at Oliver as if he is dazed.* Bim Tanuk? *he repeats* I do not know this man, sir.

Oliver: "He is a smuggler, you will find him at the bar in the northwest of town, the one with the columns out front. You will send this message, and then not mention to anyone you have sent it." I didn't sound harsh, but I was definitly trying to control his mind. It needed to be done, and such tactics were not inherantly of the dark side. I was still uncomfortable with them, at least usually.

I do enter into the audience chamber, though. If he seems still reluctant, though, I'd do the same with another slave, hopefully one with less will and loyalty to you. If that became necessary, then I'd follow by obscuring what transpired in Indrel's mind as best I could.

Siduri: *Indrel's eyes begin to water slightly, unaccustomed to being given orders in this fashion, especially from someone who was not the Ensi or one of the men she had taken as her mate in the past. He nods mutely, his brain trying to process this information, trying to get past his own conditioning that his will is to serve the Ensi in what she requires. He was more than being a slave in that regard; often, he stood as an acolyte, a temporary second in the rituals that Praesitlene religion demanded be performed, a position that should have surely gone to the young Lord Tamron, son of Siduri, but alas, the young Lord had gone off to pursue his own studies, away from his beloved mother and the planet that would one day, be his.*

*Floundering, Indrel made a sloppy bow and left Oliver to his own thoughts within the chamber. It remained to be proven whether Indrel would dare to leave his posting in the Palace of Justice to deliver the message that Oliver had charged him with. Even so, the Prefect General's own guard would have surely stopped him and inquired as to what business he was being sent on, being that he belonged to the Ensi, herself, and not to the Prefect. Power-hungry nobles could be difficult to cross.*

*A quarter of an hour would pass before the Ensi would present herself, entering from a door on the opposite side from which Indrel had brought Oliver. The Prefect General and the rest of the guards were noticeably absent, as it was only Siduri herself, who appeared, dressed for the kill in a manner of speaking. Although she had reached 30 years, the darkness had not taken such a great toll on her as it could have. She still retained most of her beauty and the clothes she had her slaves dress her in, clearly emphasized her role as symbolizing the planet's fertility- the gown she wore was almost completely transparent, only with the glimmer of iridescence shimmering in the light, with only a small thong concealing her lower realm. Through the dress, a portion of the large tattoo that ringed her navel, and her various piercings could be seen- the rings embedded within her breasts causing the top of the dress to pucker slightly. Her blonde hair was unbound, flowing freely !
half-way down her back and curling into little tendrils. Her brown eyes, however, remained cold and distant as she took her seat, crossing her legs*

Oliver: When you entered, I was seated upon the floor. My legs were crossed, and you'd perhaps be at first surprised when the Force did not register my presence. It was as if the room was empty, totally lacking in sentient life. Yet, there I was. My eyes were closed and my breathing slow. The Force flowed through my emptied mind. In Emptyness, I awaited whatever would occur. Perhaps it was unwise to enter such a state, but if you wished to kill me immediately I would have surely felt a blaster bolt in my back sooner. Now...this simply served to be a reminder. Only Jedi could enter Emptyness; to the Sith it was forbidden.

As you entered, I slowly worked to bring myself out of the trance. In a moment, you could feel consciousness returning to my body, and the presence of my mind in the room. I was now more focused, however. Slowly, my eyes opened. The pools of liquid brow hovered upon you, and then I slowly rose to my feet.

"What questions have you brought to ask me?"

Siduri: *The boy on the floor was scarcely older than her son. Granted, Siduri had taken liberties through powers of the Force and had asked her former teacher, the Lady Ameck, to speed up his development process so that she would not have to cart an infant around with her. The boy Tamron took well to this change, from being suddenly about 12-14 years of age, and then taking the rest as nature had intended. In a sense, what Siduri was about to accomplish would be far greater than "deflowering" the boy. That's really what it all boiled down to, the plucking of a young male leaning toward the light and ensuring that his soul would be forever blackened by her touch. It wasn't impossible, and rather, was something that had been successfully accomplished on several occasions already, some of the boys being too unstable for even the darkness to sustain them. Pity.*

What do you know of this planet, Oliver Wellington? For what reason have you come here? *She asked after the boy had taken to his feet. Yet, he would notice that her tone would be different. Gone was the sharpness that she had utilized to command him when they were outdoors, but rather, she spoke to him much more softly, her voice laced with such a power that one could not derive from the Force, but from pure, unadulterated seduction alone*

Oliver: "I know now who rules it, and that I have no desire to stay here. This planet is consumed with the Dark Side. The people live in fear, slavery is rampant, and it is obviously not a part of the New Republic." I'd heard the New Republic was a just government, but never knew if I was inside or out of it. Nobody wanted to take a young man ignorant of the galaxy to Yavin 4. I'd heard that was where Jedi go. Only recently, but they were going there. When I went to Coruscant, it was by accident and the Empire had yet to fall. Now it seemed I should head back toward what was called the Core. I just had no idea how to go about it.

Of course, I really didn't know enough about the galaxy to get anywhere I wanted to go. I just had to go where the wind took me. Now, it seemed the wind had decided to send me to be tested. I knew I had to accomplish this; I wasn't certain how the challenge would come, though. Not entirely.

"Why are you trying to lessen the harshness in your voice? I'm many things, but a fool is hopefully not one of them."

Siduri: *Siduri rose from the seat she had taken on the low dias. She stepped down, and stood as close to the boy as they had been in the streets, although now, her intentions were far, far different. Then, she had merely sought to punish him for his transgressions, and now, she sought to bring the poor, delusional boy to see the error in his ways.*

Do you find me so offensive, my dear Oliver? *Siduri smiled, raising a finger to caress his cheek* Too old for one such as yourself, perhaps? *She cooed* Don't be so hasty. You've just arrived and there is much here that you can learn and take back when you return to your New Republic. *she tried not to choke on those last words, finding that assembly to be more than a joke if anything. Alien-loving imbeciles, all of them.*

All rulers have private and public personas, as I'm sure you're well aware. *she explained.* Here, you may address me as Lady Archanes.

Oliver: "Your body is inviting, I admit. Lust, however, does not consume my mind. I can feel your emotions permeating the room, and could read your mind if it was called for. I do not think what I'd find inside would be as attractive as your exterior." I stood confidant and proud, though not haughty. I knew better than to underestimate you; the Dark Side was not to be laughed at.

This close, and in this setting, you would have a better look at both my pistols and my lightsaber. Both were strange. The pistols were decidedly low tech; they were ancient cap and ball black powder pistols. One shot before they needed to be reloaded, and that shot was dangerous and clumsy. The lightsaber was...apparently not powered by an energy cell. It had a manual apeture slide, and then a knob to focus the beam. It was something that looked like it should be in a museum...not in actual use.

"And what do you believe I could learn and take back?"

Siduri: *Siduri laughed softly as she listened to Oliver profess that he believed that he could hold his resolve against her charms. Such a young one, filled with all these idealistic notions. But he would fall too; either they fell or they died, that was their own choice, and surely, those who came to her of their free volition saw that her pleasures and the knowledge she could impart were surely worth what they had traded. Some, even said it made them stronger, to have been tempered in her fire, and to move onward to greater things. Nor, did he know that she'd been schooled in the pleasuring of men since she first began to bleed, even having her sessions on the arts of dance taught by the Twi`lek Oola, before fame found the alien on the wrong end of Jabba the Hutt's chain. Oliver was a boy, and when he fell he would fall hard and fast, just the way she liked it.*

You claim that you can feel my emotions, so why do you deny your own? *she asked, continuing to stroke his cheek* You've never had a woman like myself, one who could teach you vast things about yourself, about the Force, about the world. Don't hold yourself back from your full potential. Embrace all your emotions *she smiled* Admit that you fear me, right now. Fear me, not as a Sith, but as a woman, and for how I can un-make you as a man.

*Her hips brushed against his side, feeling the hilt of the lightsaber he wore. Surely, Siduri took notice of it, but it hardly occurred to her as anything that might not be something that his father had passed along to him, instilling some sort of Jedi tradition. She wasn't very good with technical things and it had taken her longer than most to assemble her own lightsaber, and there was a great deal of gnashing of teeth, both on her part and that of Lastir Armais, the artificer who showed her how to assemble the parts. Surely, Siduri preferred to fight in the manner of the Praesitlenes- with either her bow, or with a clean-edged dagger or sword. She'd still carry the lightsaber, but it was hardly her signature weapon. There were few, on Praesitlyn, at least, who could best her with the bow*

*Her fingers then slipped to the nape of his neck, massaging the roots of his hair gently, almost hypnotically trying to get him to relax, to open himself up to her suggestions.* Doesn't your Republic encourage the opening up of trade with foreign cultures? You could benefit from staying here, learning from me what you will. There are few who know Praesitlyn better than I.

Oliver: I was from a remote world, and one untouched by the galaxy as a whole. Even still, this was not foreign to me. I was well versed in how women exploited their sexuality to garner what they wished; many a noble had fallen to a comely young woman's mechanations. I wasn't oblivious to what was going on.

"No, I do not fear you. I pity you. Here, you seek to begin me walking down the dark path. Do you think I'm unaware that fear is the first step? Negative emotions are closed to me; I will not act on them. Fear, anger, lust, jealousy, spite...hatred. All of them lead to destruction. Look around you, Lady Archanes! You have all of this, yet you are still a slave to the Dark Side. Reject the darkness...embrace the Light Side of the force and you'll be redeemed. The ways of the Jedi are not those of emotionally sundered men and women; the path of the Jedi is a difficult path to call upon the positive aspects of the Force. Do you know the secrets of the Light Side? Have you even searched for them? I have heard that the Sith could throw lightning from their fingertips or even wipe clean the minds of the weak minded. Those are fearsome abilities...but nothing compared to the power of the Light Side. Light can always dissipate darkness. Every trick the dark side offers, the light si!
de can dispell...and it does so freely, without any need to satisfy its hunger. The path to walk the Light is more difficult, but more rewarding. When I lay down to sleep, I can do so with no fear for what the next day may bring. I live with hope. Can you say the same?"

Your touch upon me was seeming to have little effect; I was a Jedi Knight. It was not so simple as wrapping a smuggler around your finger. I locked my eyes with yours, thinking before I spoke. "You fear me, though. Lady. I can sense it. When the crowd saw the lightsaber blade, hope jumped in their hearts. The chance to grab at freedom was theirs. You fear the Jedi, because you know you made a mistake when you wasted your considerable prowess in the Force on the ways of the Sith. Come with me to the Republic; study under Master Skywalker and learn the true nature of the Force. Only your fear keeps you here, a prisoner in a cage as grand as the hills of this planet."

Siduri: *Things were not going exactly as Siduri would have liked them. Then again, it was never satisfying enough to get one's way so suddenly, as she had hundreds of slaves who would do her bidding without blinking. It was harder to find someone who would prove to be sufficient enough of a rival. Someone worthy of her time. This was especially a rariety in one so much younger than herself. Siduri was almost -enjoying- this entanglement. But Oliver would fall, just as Praxus and Elijah had, and soon he would be calling her Master. She could almost taste the delicious sound of it. Yes, and if Tamron ever returned, she even surmised that the two could be partners, her son and the boy who had come to her for spiritual guidance. She'd teach them both and they would grow into such fine, strong men. Ah, yes. All in due time. First things first.*

*She drowned out some of his ravings, knowing that he would be surely cured of them all if she tried to utilize her powers more fully. Oh yes, she could make him docile as a stuffed Ewok, if she deemed it sufficient to her purpose. She was stronger in the ways of the Force and his mental defenses would eventually weaken to an attack as such. Ah, "Affect Mind" was one of the most wondrous of powers. So simple, so neutral, but so deadly when put to specific purposes. But, Siduri always preferred them to come on their own accord. There would be time for that later, if he continued to resist. She'd have another new recruit for the Sith or a corpse. Either way would suit the Sith- any Jedi was to be a dead Jedi, but Siduri's own motives didn't always correspond with those of the Sith one the whole. She intended to get some enjoyment out of this, through pleasure or suffering, it didn't matter, as for Siduri, suffering and pleasure were connected.*

The Sith did not give me my wealth, my power on this world, dear, little misguided one. *She would turn up the heat a bit, see if it would make any progress, if not, well, there was always drawing upon her powers for an extra "punch".* I was born to all of this. *She said, extending her arm in a grand gesture.*

But you claim I have no knowledge of the Light? How unfortunate that you make judgements so quickly. Would your Master Skywalker approve of this? I think not. *She paused for a moment, now taking her hands and running them down his clothed chest* You call me a slave to the darkness? *she shakes her head softly* How wrong you are. You are clearly unmarked by the powers of the darkness, as you have said so yourself. Yes, there is much that we can do that I would gladly show you, if you chose to learn. I have not wasted my life, no. There is so much that you can learn from my experiences, so many things that your previous masters had forbidden, I'm sure.

*Gently, she began to caress his mind with the darkness, a slow and subtle intrusion that if he were not mentally aware of such a thing happening, he would probably not detect it initially.* Relax, dear Oliver. Relax, and let your feelings go. Don't tell me that you have not thought of what it would feel like to possess my body, to make it your own tonight. Relax, and perhaps I shall reward you with the thing you wish. *she cooed, slowly twisting the darkness to her purpose*

Oliver: I was glad now I'd taken the opportunity to enter Emptyness earlier; my mind was well steeled against such casual invasion. I stretched out my mind now, reaching across the surface of the planet. Carefully, I touched the mind I'd sought, relaying the need for the ship to be in the air and on its way as soon as humanly possible. If need be, I'd be blasting my way out of here.

"I have no desire to learn the powers of the Dark Side. Had I, I would certainly not have taken the time to learn the more difficult path to the Force. I have climbed a mountain, or more to the point, am in the process of doing so. You were given the plain. Certainly, you'll reach the center much faster than I'll reach the top. By the same token, while you still stand in the middle of a field, I'll stand atop a mountain. " I stepped back, keeping my eyes level with yours still. And then, while you sought to touch my mind with darkness, I opened my mind to project my own serenity. I had no idea if such a thing could work, if one could force a Sith to experience the serenity within the Jedi. It might delay your actions, however. I could only hope.

"Open your own mind, Lady. Have you ever felt peace? Touch it. No lust. No fear. No pain or anger. Have you felt serenity? Can you even know why the Jedi take the road we do? " Still, I held myself calm. Passive. I did not back away, instead seeking to harnass my own positive emotions. And above all, I refused to feel fear, or to fall into anger...or lust.

Siduri: *Siduri's brown eyes blazed with anger. This was his choice and he had sealed his fate. He could have come willingly, but he had rejected such an offer. The anger was building from within, her powers growing stronger than they had been since the many years that had slipped by without choosing to take advantage of them. She was no longer a wide-eyed girl who had thoughts of revenge, who sought to learn of the darkness to make her stronger. She was a woman, burned and molded by the fire of the Darkness into a more than capable Force-user, so much that she had declared herself a Master of the dark arts, learning much on her own long after the great Sydrian Ta`Shihr had cast her off as his student. Yes, all the name of long ago, from Kast, to Ameck, to Ta`Shihr, all of those who had filled Siduri with the knowledge that she would now use to unleash hell upon this young Jedi.*

*He could most likely feel the darkness growing, surrounding her like a spider weaving a web at speeds that were incomprehensible. Just as she had felt the disgusting, sickly sweet probe of the Light. Nothing more. It was as if your body were on fire, you had the sensation of pain, but soon it was all numbing and your defenses would work to see if they could extinguish it as soon as possible, moving away from the source of pain. But pain only served to reap greater rewards.*

You claim you can feel and feed off of emotion, but there is no love without hate, none of your serenity without strife, no light without the darkness. I am that darkness! *She declared, her voice ringing clear and true, echoing off the walls and from the galleries above that looked down upon the central area where she and Oliver stood.* I have taken that power and made it mine! You cannot deny the existence of one without the other. But that is not to say that one is not stronger than the other, because the Darkness shall triumph. Embrace it, or die, Jedi. That is your choice.

*Her posture became more straight, more regal as she held her arms open, drawing the powers of the darkness into herself, her stance more symbolic than useful, as she could do so without the apparent theatrics, but she wanted to impress upon him the grandeur, the power, to make him repent and see the error in his ways. The air crackled, and a cold breeze swept through the galleries as she drew upon the power, preparing herself for attack*

Oliver: My teeth ached, and my whole body was wracked with pain as I fell to my knees, kneeling before you as I reached down into my own inner reserves of will. As I knelt there, I called upon the force. I had need to dispell the pain, to use the Light Side to ignore its very existance. I did not rise, though. I stayed there on the ground, kneeling before you. You were arrogant; this would buy me a few seconds, I hoped. I was not a proud man.

Still kneeling before you, I then began to augment my own speed and strength, harnessing the Force to allow me to exceed my limits. I simply knelt there, though, continuing to express pain upon my face. I needed time. I didn't seem to have it.

"What do you want? Just tell me!" My voice was strained, and I turned my face up to look at yours. Hopefully, should you take the moment to attack, I could move out of the way. If not...

Siduri: *If Siduri had her bow, she'd already have shot a few arrows to pin the boy in place. Nothing that would cause permanent damage, but she could use the opportunity to heal his wounds with the singing pain of the darkness, further binding him to her cause. But she had left her weapons back in her Fortress, and surely could handle a boy without need of anything else but her own physical prowess and her Force powers. Yes, she'd have to be careful not to damage the merchandise too greatly if he was clearly in a position to turn. Then again, battle scars only added to the sexual appeal of so many Sith males, reassuring that they belonged to the warrior class that embraced them.*

*She drew closer, her movements quick, and fluid, having been the result of her years of military training. She knew his ploy, having seen this trick before- yes, the ever popular- "I'll turn, I'll turn, really I will" excuse for trying to escape. But she wouldn't fall for it so easily. Of course he was preparing himself for a further clash and Siduri did not forget that he held a lightsaber amongst another weapon. The blaster bolt could be easily enough deflected and her agility and dexterity were still superior for a woman of her age so that she could defy the sweepings of the lightsaber if it came down to it. But Siduri liked to be in charge of a battle, to have it in the palm of her hand, so these options were weighed, but would be avoided until proven necessary*

*Already she closed her hands, constricting the Force around his neck in a telekinetic choke hold as he knelt upon the floor.* You know what I want, Oliver. A young boy such as yourself shouldn't die so soon, now, should he? *she smirked, gleefully appreciating the pain that he should be feeling.* Painful, isn't it? I can make it get much worse, my dear boy. But all of this can be over now, if you give yourself to the darkness. *She licked her lips* Give yourself to me, and I shall make you great.

Oliver: There upon the ground, I was forced to take a much more direct course of action. Summoning my Force of Will, I released my throat from the telekinetic choke hold. I didn't gasp for air or immediately strike, though. I wouldn't turn to anger for power. I knew where that would lead, most assuredly.

"Never." Then, rather unexpectedly perhaps, a beam of brilliant unfocused light pulsed up toward your face. I leapt to my feet that very moment, swiveling the knob to focus the brilliant beam of energy into a blade. The unmistakable hum of the lightsaber echoed through the room, and I leapt into the air, flipping without effort onto one of the catwalks above. Once there, I'd move with all my jedi speed, instinctively searching for the way out...and knowing full well that to escape could involve taking lives.

Siduri: *Siduri let out a great shriek, betraying the rage that consumed her soul. She hadn't thought the boy would be able to cast off her attack so easily. He was stronger than she had expected and thus, would be a greater prize to either turn or strike down. Yes, she didn't fully discount that possibility. He was strong and that in itself was admirable, but she hadn't fully exhausted her tricks yet. Not by a long shot.*

*Her combat sense was flaring, her adrenaline pumping, and her heart pounding against her chest. She was angry with herself for not being prepared enough for this confrontation. Surely, she could have taken one of the guards' swords before approaching him, but she wanted him to be swayed by her beauty and cunning, rather than taking him by force. But alas, that was not how it came to be and she still had a mess to clean up. Easily, she avoided the arc of Oliver's saber, completely expecting him to take heed of his weapon next.*

*She watched as he fled for the upper levels, thinking that would be his way out. Poor little fool; the Prefect General's chambers were off to the side from one and Siduri had already given the man word that all exits from the audience hall were to be sealed and guarded. The guards weren't force users, of course, but it would take a bit of saberplay to get past their numbers. Praesitlenes were harder to kill than Imperial stormtroopers. Then again, who weren't*

*With a cat-like grace, Siduri pulled herself into a running leap and somersaulted onto the gallery that Oliver had transpired to use as his escape route. Granted, he was still armed, but a sadistic smile formed upon her blue-painted lips as she faced him, drawing on the darkness again, preparing a new form of attack, one not so easily escapable*

Oliver: I wasn't planning on a conventional escape, though. The exits were most assuredly guarded. The Sith was hot on my trail. I needed a different way out, and going up seemed the best course of action. And so, again, I lept. Straight up now, catching hold of whatever I could grab hold of. I brought the saber up in an arc, cutting away at the material of the ceiling as I focused my mind upon the task. I was running, yes. It ws not out of fear, however. It was a plan, a definite plan to get into a better situation.

I pushed with my legs then, vaulting up into the attic. I easily made it in, and then reached out with the force, telekinetically moving the heaviest object in the room to cover the hole I'd made and buy more time. Again, I went to work with the lightsaber, opening a hole up into the roof, and vaulted out on top of it. I was a long way up, but now in the open. It would make getting out of here a lot easier.

Keeping the saber ignited, I looked off into the distance. The transport was approaching from the South, but wasn't yet anywhere close enough to get to. I needed another couple minutes...just that much.

Siduri: *What goes up, must come down- one of the fundamentals of physics that even this boy couldn't avoid. Siduri, filled with her rage, took off after Oliver as he flipped himself up toward the roof. She was grateful that she hadn't let herself go after having the second child three years ago; grateful that her reflexes at 30 were as sharp, if not sharper, than when she had been a young Adapt at the age of 22.*

*Holding onto the hand-rail on the second level of the galleries, she kicked out with her legs, aiming them into the hole that Oliver's saber had created, causing whatever piece of furniture he had used to stop up the hole to become dislodged just from the power of her kick and not any specifically applied use of the Force, allowing her access to the level of the attic. No, she was saving her abilities for later, for a going away present that he'd be sure to remember her by.*

*It didn't take long for her to get onto the roof, hurling herself through that last cutting, and taking to her feet. There was no other place to run unless the boy sought to throw himself to his death in the courtyard below. She heard the hum of the air-traffic in the distance and considered the possibilities of it being the Jedi's ride. It was all probable, but she'd be done with him before they'd have need of picking him up; all that would be left would be several charred parts, if Siduri had her way.*

*Her anger, having been built and compressed, she packaged it into one of the most dangerous of all the powers of the Sith, the Bolt of Hatred, which she hurled directly at Oliver.*

Oliver: The transport was nearing, but not before the Sith made her presence known on the roof. I spun toward her, then focused all of my will on augmenting my physical prowess for the moment, trying to maneuver out of the way of the blast.

I didn't know what you'd been anticipating in how I'd dodge, and so jumped almost directly up. I went up like a rocket, tumbling through the air in an attempt to remove myself from any possiblity of getting caught by the effect. However, I went further. I called upon the Force for assistance, allowing the Light Side to augment my actions further.

In a moment, the palace was not just below me...it was a very LONG way down. I flipped again, trying to use the oddity of the situation to my advantage. I'd done things like this before when boarding ships after swinging off ropes. How hard could it be?

And so, I directed my fall, trying to land directly on top of you.

Siduri: *Siduri's aim hadn't been off; had the boy remained in position and not taken to the air, there would have been little chance that he could have avoided the projectile of pure hatred that she had directed at him. But he had and this drove her almost to the point of insanity. Siduri was an archer, her skill with distance attacks suburb, her arrows always hitting their marks on both moving and stationary targets. But this, this was maddening. Now, she was after his blood. Yes, if she couldn't get one of a man's fluids, it would be the other and now her body ached for the thought of gutting Oliver and watching the liquid as it gushed from his veins, bathing her in a barbaric frenzy, a true offering of her devotion to the Lords of the past. All of the control, all of the moderation that she had built up over these years of solitude since Noraa had left her had finally snapped.*

*Growling like an enraged beast, Siduri tore at one of the spires that adorned the roof with her bare hands, her rage building to the point where she was able to wrestle the pointed peak of stone free from the place where it had stood for centuries. It was heavy, and it would have strained her back had she not filled herself with the rage that the Darkness ensured. Looking upward, she could see Oliver begin his descent, his projected landing point, being where she stood. Siduri thrust the stone spire up into the air, intent of impaling the boy upon it as he fell.*

Oliver: Again, I saw a quick end coming. I was not panicked, though. Unlike the Sith, the Jedi were not lost in the heat of the moment. Obviously, you were feeding your strength with the Dark Side. With that in mind, I hoped this would work.

Flipping in the air again, I reoriented myself, augmenting my dexterity to the point where such a thing might be possible. I watched as the transport came into range, just thirty feet away from me. I bounded down, placing my feet upon the stone, just to the sides of the tip. And then, with another thrust of my legs, I sprung into the air, grabbing hold of the hatch and pulling myself up. I quickly reoriented, igniting the saber again in case you attempted to join us. The ship banked to the side, allowing a view inside for a moment, and then righted again. I watched, pulling back only as the hatch began to close.

Siduri: *Siduri howled with anger as Oliver made his escape. She hadn't counted on the ship arriving so quickly, but there was little she could do about it. He was gone and she wasn't about to go trailing after him, just to stamp out his lifeforce, as she might have in her younger days. Siduri had responsibilities, a planet to run, and despite the blood that she sought, she knew it was best to let him go and hunt him down another day.*

*Scowling, she lifted her head upward, watching the ship clear away from the Palace of Justice. Only then did she realize how cold the air was, when just clad in that filmy dress. Again, she was reminded of the failure and sent the broken spire flying off the side of the building with one rightly placed kick. Falling, it crashed in the courtyard, shattering into billions of pieces. Oh yes, Siduri was livid. It took something of a great magnitude to get her to destroy such a hallowed hallmark of Praesitlene culture. But there wasn't anything that couldn't be fixed and countless slaves would die until it would be to her liking. With that, she slid down the hole that remained within the roof, and prepared to make her way to the Prefect General. If Oliver was lucky, his ship would clear the planet before she sealed off the planetary shield.*

Oliver: As soon as I was aboard, the ship took off at full speed, sending everyone and everything about clamoring about. I slammed into the back wall of the cabin, then scrambled to a seat and strapped myself in. The moment we were clear of the planet's atmosphere, the navicomputer would be working on coordinates for the jump to hyperspace.

End .