Star Wars The Triumphant Return Part 5

WARNING: CONTAINS POTENTIAL SPOILERS FROM STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS
    A package is delivered to the Trailblazer. A package that was unexpected, but now unwelcome. It was delivered via a scout on an X-Wing Starfighter. It was from Ahsoka Tano, to be delivered to Zonia Landala. Barriss and Zonia looked to it in curiosity and confusion. Barriss and Ahsoka communicated with each other almost on a daily basis. It was unusual for her to send the package to her on such short notice. As they looked to it, Barriss picked up the letter that was attached to it and handed it to Zonia. “What does it say?”, Barriss asked Zonia. Zonia looked to the letter and opened it. “Dear Zonia”, said Zonia as she was reading the letter, “I wanted to wait till you were old enough for me to give this to you. I think now is a better time than ever. Best Regards, Ahsoka Tano”. Zonia was confused. What was she talking about? She did not know. So she opened the package. When she opened the package, she was in awe and shock by what she saw. It was a Nightsister energy bow. “I can’t believe it”, said Zonia, “I thought the Separatists destroyed them all”. “Not all of them”, said Barriss as she looked at the strange weapons. “I think I know how I can make quills”, said Zonia, “from the trailblazer’s hyperdrive”. Barriss nodded in approval and went to the trailblazer’s engine room to make quills from the plasma the ship’s hyperdrive produced. When she made enough quills, she went into the forest to see if she had any archer’s skills with her. As she climbed up one of the giant conifer trees that grew on the slopes of the Corinthian Pass, she took aim at a pine cone that was hanging from the branches of a neighboring tree. As she stood on the branch and took aim, she slowed down her breathing, and let her breath out slowly, timing her breaths with her heartbeats to ensure the recoil from the bow had no effect on her shot. When the perfect moment came, she breathed out, and let go off the bow, hitting the pinecone perfectly from a distance of over 60 meters. Zonia was astonished to see she had skills as an archer. But it was hardly surprising considering it was a nightsister weapon being wielded by a nightsister. As she watched the pinecone fall down to the forest floor, the cracking of the branch she stood on caught her attention. She was startled at first, but relieved when she saw it was just Jaspar approaching her casually. “Nice to see you here”, she told him as she put her bow away. “I see you got a new toy to play with”, said Jaspar. She giggled a little. “Yes”, she said, “just a gift that Ahsoka sent me. What are you doing here? I thought you had training”. Jaspar looked down a bit in sadness and disappointment. “The Empire”, said Jaspar, “they’re onto us. Somehow, word had gotten out that we found a clue leading us to the Triumphant”. Zonia looked to him in shock and disbelief. “I don’t believe it”, said Zonia, “How?”. “I don’t know”, said Jaspar, “while the leading council of the Erisil Guard believes that the Triumphant may be hidden on Kelma, we also believe that we may have a mole among us”. “What do you mean?”, asked Zonia, “I thought the Empire was hunting down the Erisil Guard, why would one of your knights betray and turn against you?”. “That’s what we’re trying to find out”, said Jaspar, “I need your help, and you’re the only one I can trust”. Zonia looked away from him and saw Barriss step out of the Trailblazer. She was ready to resume Jedi training with Zonia. “Well, I think I can afford to play hooky for one day”, she told him as she held his hand and they climbed down the tree. As Barriss looked around trying to find Zonia, she saw her and Jaspar take off in speeder bikes, heading back into Corinth. Barriss just rolled her eyes, put her lightsaber away, and headed back into the trailblazer. As she went into her cabin, she sat down to try to meditate, deep into the Force. As she sat quietly, breathing slowly, she received a call on her commlink, coming from Ahsoka. A call she was eager to answer. “Wild Card, this is Fulcrum, come in”. “Fulcrum, this is Wild Card reading you loud and clear, over”. “How’d Jedi training go?” asked Ahsoka. Barriss just rolled her eyes and looked away. “It didn’t”, she replied sharply, “sometimes, I wonder if she even takes me seriously. Have your missions fared any better?”. “Not exactly”, said Ahsoka, “we have not yet been able to launch any raids so far. A lot of Imperial convoys now travel heavily armed and its making it difficult for us to launch any effective raids”. “I sense that isn’t the reason you called”, said Barriss, “is there anymore you wish to tell me?”. “Unfortunately yes”, said Ahsoka, “the Empire has somehow learned of your clue to the Triumphant. I contacted the Head Master of the Erisil Guard and he told me that he has reason to believe that one of his warriors has turned in service of the Empire”. Barriss closed her eyes. She already had enough to deal with. This was the last thing she needed to hear. As she sat on the floor of her cabin, with her lightsaber sitting on her desk in front of her. “Do you think we could find out who this mole is?” asked Barriss. “You have to”, said Ahsoka, “if the Empire is onto your next clue leading you to the Triumphant, you have to find this mole before they can compromise your mission anymore”. “Then I guess we have no time to waste, I’m going to go pay this Head Master a visit”, said Barriss, “Wild Card out”.
    
    As Barriss rode away in her own speeder bike, Zonia and Jaspar were already in Corinth looking for any intel. As they paced around, covered in robes, squadrons of stormtroopers ran by, with Zonia holding on to her lightsaber tightly in one hand, and Jaspar’s hand in the other. As they made their way into a back alley, Jaspar pulled out his commlink and immediately tried to contact other Erisil Knights. “Pleiads” said Jaspar over his commlink, “this is Krieger, do you read me?”. “These are the Pleiads sisters, reading you loud and clear”. “we’re at the point rain, where are you?” asked Jaspar. “On our way. We had a couple of ISB agents try to detain us. We barely shook them off”. “Copy”, said Jaspar, “we’ll wait for you here”. As Zonia and Jaspar waited in the back alley, two Mirandan females joined them. Each covering themselves in thick, heavy robes. When they finally revealed themselves, Zonia was in shock by what she saw. They were identical twins, not much older than she was. “Zonia”, said Jaspar, “these are the Pleiads sisters, Catarae and Anfisa, also members of the Erisil Guard”. “Pleasure to meet you”, said Catarae as she bowed down in respect, with Anfisa bowing down quietly. “We need to leave”, said Catarae, “The Empire has probe droids everywhere. They’re in a hurry to find the last members of the Erisil Guard”. “And the last of the Jedi…” said Catarae as she was looking at Zonia’s lightsaber which was just barely covered up. Zonia immediately covered up her lightsaber more, barely able to hide it among her robes. Immediately, they got back on their speeder bikes and rode to an outpost deep in the forest outside of Corinth. As they rode through, Zonia looked around and could sense something was out of place. Although Catarae seemed warm and welcoming, Anfisa didn’t seem to like her as much. As if she was hiding something. When they arrived at a small cottage, they got off their speeder bikes. The cottage looked old and abandoned. As Zonia looked around when they went inside, Catarae went up to her and grabbed her by the shoulder. “Looks are not everything”, said Catarae, “with us, not everything is at is seems”. Right away, she pulled on a lever and a secret passage way opened in the fireplace. As Zonia looked into the fireplace, Jaspar looked outside the windows to make sure no one was watching. “After you…” Catarae told Zonia. Zonia looked inside with fear, then slowly walked inside. As she walked inside, it got colder and colder. It wasn’t long before the passageway led deep underground. As she walked down the narrow corridor, with Catarae and Anfisa walking behind her, Jaspar walked up to her and walked alongside her, with a flashlight in his hand to light their way.
    
    While Zonia and the other Erisil Knights walked down the narrow corridor, Barriss got on a speeder bike to meet with her contact outside of Corinth, to see if she could talk to the surviving head-master of the Erisil Guard. As she went inside of an old abandoned warehouse, suddenly out of nowhere, a group of Erisil Knights in disguise suddenly ambushed her, and released a storm of lightning on her. Before she got a chance to reach for her lightsaber, she was down on the ground with the wind knocked out of her from their painful electric shocks. As she struggled back up, one of the knights pulled out one of their swords and pointed it towards Barriss, all while kicking her lightsaber away. “Don’t move Jedi”, said the strange warrior with a voice modulator. As Barriss struggled to get back up, she finally explained why she was here. “I am not your enemy”, she told them as they surrounded her. “I need to speak to your headmaster”, she told them. “And who sent you?”, asked one of the warriors. “Fulcrum”, said Barriss, “I was sent by Fulcrum”. Right away, the Erisil Knights lowered their weapons and took off their masks and voice modulators. “Sorry we attacked you”, said the lead Guard member, “We couldn’t be too sure if we could trust you. My name is Master Adimus”. Right away, Master Adimus handed Barriss her lightsaber back and led her to a separate room in the warehouse. There, sitting in the center of the room, was the Headmaster of the Erisil Guard. Sitting in a meditative position with his weapons lying out in front of him. “Please be as respectful as you can be” said Master Adimus as he closed the door behind him, leaving Barriss alone with the old Headmaster. As she saw him sit in a meditative position, she set her lightsaber in front of her and did the same. As she closed her eyes and went into meditation, the Headmaster opened his eyes and saw the Mirialan Jedi in front of him. “You must be Wild Card, am I correct?” he asked her. Right away, Barriss opened her eyes. “I am”, she told him. The Headmaster didn’t seem to respond. He just looked in her wide, expressive blue eyes, Barriss looked at his, and she could tell from the lack of color in one of his eyes that he was blind in that eye. She didn’t have to say anything, but he could tell she was looking at his bad eye. As Barriss looked away, the Headmaster kept looking at her, to see if she had any more to say. “Why are you here?” he asked her. “Fulcrum sent me”, said Barriss, “We have reason to believe that one of your Guard members has turned against you. Against us”. The Headmaster thought long and hard about what she had told her. “Why should I trust you?”, asked the Headmaster, “Do you think I do not know who you are, Barriss Offee?”. Barriss’ eyes widened at hearing him say that. He knew who she was, and what she had done. “How do I know your nightsister apprentice has not convinced my guard members not turn against our people?”. “Because we are not like that Headmaster”, she told him, “We are not here to be your enemies. We want the same thing that you want, to stop Imperial Oppression on your world, and back in my Galaxy. And I can prove that I am not your enemy”. Right away, she held her hand over his bad eye and began to use her healing abilities. After a few minutes, the Headmaster closed his eye. When he opened it, Barriss looked on in amazement when she saw that the color had returned. The Headmaster was even more amazed when he was finally able to see out of that eye for the first time in years. “During the Clone War, when the Separatists invaded Miranda and we held our ground, Count Dooku himself came here and intended to keep us all in line. But I, like many others, had resisted. He wanted no resistance from me, so he tapped his lightsaber in my eye. I was blind in that eye ever since, until you restored my sight. Thank you”. Barriss smiled as she heard him thank her. “I’ll make sure we help you as much as we can in your search for the Triumphant”. “Then let’s find that mole first…” she told him.
While Barriss was meeting with the Headmaster, Zonia kept walking in the narrow corridor with Jaspar. “What exactly are we looking for?” asked Zonia. “We picked up on a lead”, said Jaspar, “we think that there might blueprints for the Hundulasiliah-class battleship buried down here”. “You mean like the Triumphant?” asked Zonia. “Exactly”, said Jaspar, “you and the Pleiads sisters are the only ones I can trust right now. If we can find the blueprints, we might be able to avoid finding the Triumphant altogether, and develop that hyperdrive first”. Zonia smiled. As  they walked along, the ground suddenly started shaking beneath them. “What’s going on?” asked Zonia. Jaspar looked around frantically. It was an earthquake. All the seismic activity that helped build the great mountains of the Corinthian Divide was now working against them. Suddenly, rocks started falling. They all covered their heads to avoid being hit by the falling rocks. Almost as soon as the shaking started, the ground underneath Zonia and Jaspar gave way, and they fell down into a gaping void. As they fell, they tumbled along the sides of the cave, and when they hit they came to a stop, everything went black. They lost all sense of time, and coordination. When Zonia woke up, she stumbled back on her feet. With no flashlight, she ignited her lightsaber. With only her green, glowing blade acting as her source of light. As she looked around frantically for Jaspar, she called out to him. But didn’t respond. “JASPAR!!” she screamed out desperately. Not long afterwards, she heard weak coughing in the darkness. As she hurried to the weak coughing, she saw him lying on the ground. Gripping his leg in pain. “Jaspar!” she cried out as she hurried to his side. Jaspar opened his eyes, and saw Zonia’s eyes glowing with the green of her lightsaber. “Zonia”, he said weakly. He struggled to get up, but was back on the ground groaning in pain when he put his weight on his ankle. As he gripped his ankle carefully, Zonia moved closer towards him to get a better look. “Calm down”, she whispered to him, “let me see…”. As she looked at his ankle, she saw that it was broken. Probably broken by the fall, or by the falling rocks. “I can’t move”, said Jaspar. “Don’t worry”, said Zonia, “Barriss taught me a thing or two for this”. Right away, she held her hand over his swollen ankle and closed her eyes. As she slowed down her breathing, Jaspar began to feel the pain go away, and the swelling begin to go down. Jaspar was astonished by what he was seeing. She was using the Force to heal his injuries. A skill she learned from Barriss. When Jaspar felt the pain go away entirely, he moved his ankle away. Zonia dropped her hand, and started breathing heavily, exhausted. Jaspar looked on in astonishment. “I don’t believe it”, said Jaspar. Zonia looked up and smiled. “I’m still learning”, she told him. Jaspar was able to get up without any problems. As he took Zonia by the hand and helped her up, they continued on their way through the cave. The cave itself was dark, cold, and damp. And it was very easy to lose all sense of orientation. Zonia and Jaspar could’ve easily lost their way entirely, had Zonia not had her lightsaber to provide them with just enough light to walk along. The cave was also very quiet. With only the hum of Zonia’s lightsaber and the occasional water droplets breaking the silence. But as they kept walking. The structure of the cave began to change. Rugged walls eventually gave way to smooth walls. Carved not by nature, but by intelligent hands. “Do you know about this place?” asked Zonia. Jaspar just looked around. “No”, said Jaspar, “I don’t. I knew there were passageways down here, but I didn’t know about this one”. “Why exactly are we down here?” asked Zonia. “To retrieve information”, said Jaspar, “before the mole retrieves it and hands it over to the Empire. The Erisil Guard has used hidden passageways like these to hide information for thousands of years. I didn’t know there were more passageways to be found. I guess all that data must have been lost when our civilization collapsed at its peak. We lost a lot of our knowledge when that great cataclysm took place”. Zonia thought about what Jaspar had told him. “What brought down your civilization?”, asked Zonia, “I mean, someone has to know. Civilizations like yours that spread themselves out across the stars don’t just disappear overnight”. “I don’t know Zonia”, said Jaspar, “If I knew, I would tell you”. As he leaned against the cave wall, he unwittingly pushed a pressure plate. A pressure plate that caused a hidden door to open and led to a secret room. Zonia and Jaspar looked at each other in awe. When they went inside, the lights suddenly came on. They looked around in astonishment. All around them, computer monitors and Holo-projectors unlike any they had ever seen. Jaspar couldn’t believe his eyes. It was definitely Mirandan technology, but technology unlike any Mirandan had seen for thousands of years. When Jaspar sat at one of the computers, a very large Holo-projector turned on in the center of the room. On its display, was a Library’s worth of information. Ship logs, weapons designs, and lists of star systems colonized by Mirandans were all on display on that Holo-projector. “Do you know how it works?”, asked Zonia. “I think”, said Jaspar. Right away, he tried to work the computer. “Computer”, said Jaspar, “search Titan-Miranda System”. Right away, the computer did as it was told. And displayed the Titan-Miranda system, with all 7 of its planets orbiting their central star, and Miranda orbiting the fourth planet from the star. “This is starting to get interesting”, said Zonia as she leaned on the control panel, “what else can you do?”. “Search Titan Republic Navy”, Jaspar ordered the computer. Right away, the computer displayed a list of all the ships of the Titan Republic Navy prior to its collapse. Zonia was astonished by the list. It had almost as many ships as the Empire. Right away, Jaspar started to get more ideas. “Search Titan Republic Warship Zukima”, said Jaspar. Right away, the computer showed Jaspar and Zonia an image of the Zukima, with all of its stats. Including its size, armament, and it’s Home spaceport. “I don’t believe it”, said Jaspar, “it’s an entire log of all the ships the Titan Republic once had”. Zonia looked on, impressed by the warship displayed on the Holo-projector. But when Jaspar scrolled down to see what it’s fate had been, he was shocked by what he saw. The projector stats read out: DESTROYED BY MONARCH. Zonia looked on in curiosity too. Jaspar had told her everything he knew about Mirandan history. But he never mentioned anything, or anyone, called Monarch. Right away, Zonia sensed something was out of place. Jaspar desperately searched for other ships of the Titan Republic Navy. And all suffered the same fate. All were destroyed by Monarch. Finally, out of desperation, he ordered the computer to search for the lost Battleship Triumphant.

TSS Triumphant
Type: Hundulasiliah-Class Battleship
Tonnage: 72 Million Tons
Length: 2400 meters
Width: 350 meters
Armament: Classified
Fate: UNKNOWN

    They couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Almost every ship they had searched was destroyed by this “Monarch”. The only ship that wasn’t destroyed was the ship they were still looking for, the Triumphant. “Computer”, said Jaspar, “search Monarch”. The computer began searching its vast archives, but when it finally found it, it displayed a rocky planet with a large structure built around its equator. Jaspar looked to the strange image with curiosity. But as he read about the massive structure built into the planet, his gaze went from curious, to serious, to horrified. “I can’t take this anymore”, he said turning off the computer. He covered his face with his hands in anguish. “Jaspar?” asked Zonia, “what’s wrong?”. “I don’t believe it”, said Jaspar, “that thing, that thing I had displayed up on the Holo-Projector, that’s what wiped us out”. “What do you mean?” asked Zonia. But Jaspar found it difficult to answer. Zonia sat next to him, and held his hand. “You can tell me”, said Zonia, “I’m listening”. With Zonia at his side, Jaspar held his chin up. “Back when we were expanding beyond our Micro-Galaxy, we came across other races. Not all of them were friendly. Tromvoyans, Maisonians, Yuuzhan Vong, just a few to list. So we built warships, like the Triumphant, to protect our convoys moving between our star systems, and our interests of expanding. But soon, even those warships were proving not to be enough. So we built a massive super-weapon. A weapon capable of wiping out entire star systems in a moment’s notice”. “That large structure built into the planet”, said Zonia, “that was Monarch?”. “Yes”, said Jaspar, “it worked by harnessing the energy of its neighboring star, and then unleashing it on our enemies”. Zonia was astonished by what she heard. She knew ancient Mirandans had advanced technology, but she never imagined them to be so destructive. “But that’s not all”, said Jaspar, “In order to control that weapon, to make sure we got all of its measurements and trajectories correct, we built a super computer. And a very powerful super computer at that”. “Could you say that it’s, super intelligent?”, asked Zonia. “Not just super intelligent”, said Jaspar, “but Sentient. We created a Sentient Computer without even knowing it. And right after Monarch was created, it decided that the only thing that was truly a threat to Mirandans, were other Mirandans. And a threat to its own existence. So Monarch took control of that weapon away from us, and used it against us. Not only did we lose control of that weapon, we also lost control of most of our technology. We were so dependent on technology. It connected us, but it also divided us in ways you can’t imagine. Everything from our warships, to our own personal devices, Monarch used against us. The only warships we didn’t lose control of were the Hundulasiliah Battleships. Those ships were obsolete by then. Their operating software incompatible with Monarch’s virus. By the time we were able to fight back and destroy Monarch, our species was nearly wiped out to extinction. Betrayed by our own technology”. “That’s why you haven’t been developing much technology recently”, said Zonia, “to keep history from repeating itself”. “Yes”, said Jaspar, “It all makes sense now. But you know what? I don’t think Monarch is the only weapon of mass destruction on this database. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”. “Yes, we’ve stumbled on an important secret. And we can’t risk the Empire finding this secret”, said Zonia as she held a thermal detonator. “How brilliant of you Jedi”, said Catarae as she casually walked into the room with one of her swords in her hand, “but I’m afraid I cannot let you do that”. Right away, Zonia ignited her lightsaber and Jaspar reached for his swords. “I take it you’re the mole” said Zonia. “Good, I don’t have to explain it”, said Catarae, “SO, you know what comes next”. Right away, Catarae unleashed a torrent of lightning. Zonia held her lightsaber and absorbed the torrent. “Catarae!”, Jaspar cried out, “WHY?!”. “Because the Erisil Guard was supposed to be helping our people. Protecting us. But instead of doing that, it’s held us back. Clinging us to our past. But ever since the Empire came here, we’ve proven to be ineffective. It’s the Empire that offers us hope of moving forward. But before we can do that, we need to cut all the anchors clinging us to the past”. “Then so be it”, said Jaspar as he held both his swords in a defensive position. Without warning, Catarae charged at Zonia and Jaspar. As Erisil swords and Jedi lightsabers clashed in the darkness, sparks shot out. As Catarae unleashed the full fury of her attacks, Zonia and Jaspar struggled to keep up. Although Zonia had trained with a lightsaber for years, she had no idea how to adjust to her deadly opponent. She trained to fight an opponent with a lightsaber, not some crude weapon. As Jaspar forced Catarae to focus her attacks on him, Zonia used this to her advantage, and force pushed Catarae into the cave wall. Not long afterwards, she was lying motionless on the ground. Zonia and Jaspar approached her cautiously. But as soon as they were close enough, Catarae suddenly turned around and unleashed a full fury of lightning on Zonia and Jaspar, and sent them flying across the room. As Zonia lay lying on the ground in pain, Catarae raised her sword over her head. Zonia saw the rogue Mirandan warrior prepare for the kill, but couldn’t move. But as she swung her sword on to Zonia, it was suddenly stopped by another sword. When Zonia saw who had saved her, she saw the quiet and serious Anfisa stopping Catarae’s blade with her own. Catarae looked, but still struggled to get back up. “Catarae”, said Anfisa, “You don’t have to do this. You must stop at once”. “I don’t have to listen to you anymore, Anfisa, if you truly cared about our people, you’d join me right now”. “If that’s how you want it”, said Anfisa, “then that’s how it will be”. Right away, the two resumed their fighting. Their blades clashed so hard, that sparks shot out. Initially, Catarae had the upper hand, and kept forcing her sister to keep stepping back. But it was all part of Anfisa’s strategy. Within moments, she began to force Catarae to keep stepping back. Zonia saw the two Mirandans fight, and the Dathomirian struggled back to her feet. Anfisa kept increasing the power and frequency of her strikes. Using her own electrical abilities into shocking her muscles to power through faster and harder. Finally, Anfisa found an opening, and disarmed Catarae. Right away, Zonia extended her hand and Force-pushed Catarae back into the wall, this time, knocking her out for good. “Not bad Nightsister”, said Anfisa as she smiled at Zonia.

    As they walked out of the cave, with Catarae in restraints, Zonia remotely set off the thermal detonator back in the computer room, with the intention of destroying all of its secrets. As they walked out of the cave, they saw Barriss and the Erisil Headmaster waiting for them outside. As Zonia approached her master, she hung her head in shame. Knowing she played hooky from Jedi training. “Master”, said Zonia, “I shouldn’t have walked away from your lesson. I’m sorry”. Barriss just smiled at her apprentice. “Well”, said Barriss, “At least you found the mole. I guess your mission was your training for today”. Zonia looked up to her Mirialan master, and smiled. “But I am going to have to start to discipline you”, said Barriss, “I can’t let you keep missing your training. I don’t approve, and Ahsoka definitely does not approve”. “I understand”, said Zonia as she smiled at Barriss. While Barriss and Zonia talked, the Headmaster congratulated Jaspar and Anfisa in their part in finding the mole. Jaspar also told the Headmaster of what they found in that cave, and why they had to destroy it. After their meeting, the Erisil Knights took Catarae away to be interrogated and handed over to the Rebel Alliance, and Barriss and Zonia headed back to the Trailblazer

    “Fulcrum, this is Wild Card, come in”. Barriss heard no response. “Fulcrum, this is Wild Card, come in”. There was once again no response. “Fulcrum, this is Wild Card, please come in”. Barriss was starting to get worried. It wasn’t like Ahsoka not to respond to her calls. As Barriss sat in her quarters, waiting for Ahsoka to respond, a response started making its way through. “Well, well, well”, said a strange distorted voice, “if it isn’t Wild Card, or should I say, Barriss Offee?”. Barriss started to lose her patience. “What the? Where’s Ahsoka!?” asked Barriss. “We know all about you”, she said, “and if you want Ahsoka alive, I suggest you come alone. And bring your Padawan with you”. “My Padawan?”, asked Barriss, “She has nothing to do with this! Who are you?”. “Mirandan Sister’s told me all about you”, she said, “if you want to know what I’m called, you can just call me Seventh Sister”. “Seventh Sister?” asked Barriss, “You’re an inquisitor!”. “Wonderful”, said the Seventh Sister, “you are as smart as they say you are”. “What do you want from me?” asked Barriss. “I want you to meet me in the Lothal System”, said the Seventh Sister, “And I want you to come alone, with your Padawan”. “What does my Padawan have to do with this?!” Barriss asked frantically. “That’s for me to know and you to find out”, said the Seventh Sister, “either you and her come alone, or I’ll kill your friend, slowly”. Barriss shook her head in disbelief. “When do you want us at Lothal?” asked Barriss.

    Elsewhere on Miranda, the Mirandan Sister paced around the underground computer room that Zonia and Jaspar destroyed. To see if anything had remained of the information stored in the computer. But as she was looking through the room, she saw that part of its back-up memory was still intact. When she saw that the blueprints for Monarch were still intact, she smiled and chuckled evilly to herself. “Lord Vader and Lord Sidious will be pleased to know I have found you”, she thought to herself, imagining the potential the superweapon could have.