Nathrrya looked up at the Jedi Temple, impressed by its grandeur, which she suspected was the point. The building made a statement; it was a beacon of light on the city planet of Coruscant. Or at least it was meant to be, as she could feel the darkness that was settling over the durasteel and duracrete world. This made the red haired woman frown. She might be a Sith — a very time displaced Sith, Nathrrya reminded herself — but even to her, the darkness she could feel felt unnatural somehow.

The woman should have been dead. How she managed to survive four thousand years encased in that carbonite prison without any form of life support was unfounded and unheard of entirely. By all rights and reasons, she should be dead. But she wasn’t. She had a theory as to how this all happened but the one entity she had yet to come in contact with since her freeing hadn’t shown. If and when he does, her theory would be confirmed.

Needless to say, the archaeological team that unearthed her carbonite block were rather surprised to find the thing still working, and more shocked to find the person inside still alive. They thought she was a Jedi and Nathrrya didn’t bother to correct them. Once she had recovered from a greater bought of hibernation sickness she got herself onto the first transport to Coruscant.

During her four thousand year slumber, Nathrrya felt that she had come more into tune with the Force that it had become a part of her and she was able to commune with it easier than when she had her old life during the time of the Cold War. There was no feeling of uncertainty when, in so many ways, the Force told her she needed to get to and speak with the Jedi High Council. What she was shown made her blood run cold. While she was a Sith and had her fair share of unpleasanties bestowed upon her as well as by her, she was still human and what she saw caused her stomach to turn and she had to, somehow, stop the vision from coming to pass.

The Force seemed almost amused that it was using a Sith from a time long past to stop the fall of the Republic and destruction of the Jedi.

Nathrrya didn't mind. She may have been a Sith, but she was also a servant of the Force. Most, if not all, Sith would say that they were Masters of the Force, making the Force to do their will, certainly not the other way around. And it was true, to some extent, as that was how Sith got their abilities. But this had never sat right with Nathrrya. Could she say it was her will alone that had led her to walk the path she had? Why so long ago on Korriban she had simply taken Overseer Tremel's hand and allowed the man to live, when she'd been ordered by Darth Baras, to kill him and take his hand as proof?

The answer was, simply, because she couldn't. Nathrrya had suspected that the Force had guided her actions that day, and on many days since. That was why she considered herself a servant of the Force. And it was telling her to try and save the Jedi and Republic, so whatever her personal feelings on the matter, that's what she'd do. As she gazed up at the Jedi Temple, she had to try and figure out a way to not only gain admittance to the Temple, but an audience with the Jedi High Council – both easier said than done.

While Nathrrya was pondering her options she heard voices and she turned to see what she took to be a Master and Padawan ascending the steps of the Temple.

"Do you have any idea why the Council wishes to see us so urgently, Master?" the younger of the two men asked.

"Master Windu did not go into specifics, but it seems that the Chancellor is concerned about a developing situation in the mid rim," the older bearded man replied.

Nathrrya smiled. Here was her way inside, and the prodding she was getting from the Force all but confirmed it.

"Master Jedi, may I speak to you a moment?" Both Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi heard an unusually accented female voice from behind them. Both men turned to face the source of the voice and both couldn't help but stare.

Qui-Gon felt his eyebrows rise at the woman's choice of clothing: a leather jacket with a tied bandana top with matching leather pants, boots and gloves with a utility belt that had many pouches, even a blaster holster, but the one thing that Jinn couldn't fail to notice was the gilded lightsaber hilt.

For his part Obi-Wan Kenobi was trying not to stare at the red-haired, blue-eyed woman. Her choice in clothing certainly wasn't helping matters, he had thought that Siri Tachi was attractive but this woman was another level entirely. The Padawan then mentally smacked himself for his thoughts. That's when he noticed the lightsaber hilt hanging from the woman's utility belt as well.

Obi-Wan looked up at his master but found Qui-Gon looking thoughtfully at the woman, stroking his beard as he did so. Obi-Wan returned his gaze to the woman and noticed she was smiling, as if amused by something, and her eyes sparkled with mischief. It was only slightly unnerving to the Padawan.

Qui-Gon gently probed the mysterious woman's metal shields and found them to be quite strong, though they did seem to give a little, an indication that she was fully aware of what he was doing. If the smile on her face and the twinkle in her eye was anything to go by then it was clear that she was not upset by the Jedi master's light probe – almost as if she had expected such a thing to happen.

Nathrrya folded her arms over her chest and though her eyes were annoyed she had obvious amusement in her tone. "Are you quite done Master Jedi?"

Obi-Wan felt his eyes grow slightly and he had the sudden urge to tug at his tunic's collar, as it felt suddenly too tight. What happened next shocked both Jedi.

Nathrrya chuckled. "Like what you see, young Padawan? I seem to recall that your Order had some outdated rule about attachments and such."

"What… how?" stammered Obi-Wan.

"I'd like to know how you did that as well," Qui-Gon said. "It's clear you're Force-sensitive, and have had training, as you carry a lightsaber. Yet something tells me you're not a Jedi."

"Telepathy isn't hard,” she stated, waving one hand before resting it back on her other arm. “It merely requires a lot of practice. I find that training bonds make it easier, especially between master and apprentice. It’s much like talking – once you learn it you can do it without difficulty.” She smiled then, her eyes softening into a friendly look towards the men. “And you're right, I'm not a Jedi, but I serve the Force nonetheless, or at least I try to. I'd rather tell my story only once and to your High Council, which I believe is where you were going when I interrupted you."

Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow. "You wish to speak to the Jedi Council?" He was unsure of what to make of the woman’s request, but he sensed no deception from her though she was clearly hiding something. Her words intrigued him the most; she had said “your Order” and called herself a “servant of the Force”.

It crossed his mind that this woman could have been an ex-Jedi – one of the many Jedi Masters who had voluntarily left the Order for whatever reason – or she could be a non-Jedi Force user, possibly a member of a small, obscure Force-using order from a distant part of the galaxy. There were plenty of rumours in that regard.

Nathrrya grinned and spoke with mirth. "I think telling them that a four thousand year old Force-user wishes to speak to them should get their attention, don't you, Master Jedi?"

Obi-Wan felt his mouth fall open and his voice spoke out before his mind had time to stop it. "Four.... you don't look a day over thirty!" His mind did a mental facepalm considering it was somewhat rude to comment on a woman’s age.

"Why thank you, Padawan,” she replied. “You know just how to make a girl feel special.” She gave the young Jedi a seductive smile and winked at him. All Obi-Wan could do was blush in response.

Even Siri isn't this... bold, he thought warily.

Qui-Gon massaged his temples then, feeling only mildly perturbed by the woman’s taunting towards the young man at his side. "Must you do that to my Padawan?" he asked.

Nathrrya nodded her head. "Of course! It's just the way I am, and your Padawan is turning into such fun to tease. And the fact you Jedi have that outdated no-attachment rule makes it all the more entertaining, to be honest."

"It is not outdated," Qui-Gon replied with a glare. “It’s a key rule in our teachings.” There had been many arguments similar to this over the years that he had with others. He wasn’t quite sure if he really wanted to have another one.

The woman smirked. "Yes it’s outdated. I never understood the reasoning behind it, and neither did my cousin or his Padawan! So there!" She poked her tongue out for good measure.

It actually felt good to act silly. Sure, it was childish behaviour, but when you’ve been asleep for four thousand years and wake up in a completely different time with nothing left but your own self for companionship, Nathrrya really didn’t give a womp rat’s ***. Besides, seeing the shocked expressions on the two Jedi made it that much more worth it.

She took a breath and regained her composure, becoming more serious. "Look, I wouldn't worry since they’re both long dead. I doubt they were frozen in carbonite the way I was. Lucky me." The melancholy and sadness that was coming off the woman was almost overwhelming to the two Jedi.

She looked at the Padawan, her blue eyes piercing in her gaze, but soft at the same time. “Let me ask you this, Padawan: Have you ever been in love? Like, truly in love and not just some simple infatuation?”

Qui-Gon glanced at his Padawan, who looked decidedly uncomfortable under the woman’s attention. Neither man knew how to answer to what to answer with. Obi-Wan had thoughts of Siri fly through his mind. He only stammered in attempting to respond but nothing tangible came out.

The woman nodded. “Precisely my point,” she said. “You’re still at the beginning of your life… and if you’re fortunate you’ll find love at least once. However, the Jedi with her damnable sense of over-caution, would tell you love is something to avoid, to shun away. Thankfully, anyone who’s remotely alive knows that’s not true.”

Qui-Gon looked incredulously at the woman and crossed his own arms. “Love advice? You’re giving the Jedi Order love advice?”

“And why not?” she replied. She moved her hands to her hips. “You Jedi surely need it. All this nonsense about avoiding love is so much bantha fodder... I shouldn't be the only one to realise it.”

“Aren't you worried about the Dark Side at all?” Obi-Wan asked with curiosity and concern.

Nathrrya shook her head. “Not particularly. Is it something to be aware of? Yes, certainly. However love doesn't lead to the Dark Side. Passion can lead to rage and fear, and can be controlled... but passion is not the same thing as love. Controlling your passions while being in love... that's what they should teach you. But love itself will save you... not condemn you." Her eyes became unfocused, seeing something only she could. “Love saved me, stopped me from making a truly terrible mistake.”

I'm quite liking how this story is starting, actually a rather similar story concept has been bouncing around in my head for sometime but I'm terrible at writing so it's stayed mostly there. BTW nothing wrong with teasing poor Obi Wan there, it builds character .

The whole no connection bit for the Jedi has always bugged me, especially in light of that for the vast majority of the the Order's existence Jedi were allowed to marry and have families. It wasn't until after the Exar Kun war that that the silly idea got started apparently along with the restriction of one Padawan t at a time to a Master for training.

I honestly believe that since the release of KotFE, all of us talented writers who play the game have had this idea pop into our Star Wars universes. Even I had this idea come to mind - how would my BH react or act when she finds out she's been frozen for 4 thousand years, survived, and found herself in the world of the Prequels and Original Trilogy. Not to mention she had that romance going with Torian and then finding he's long dead... she doesn't take loss very easily.

Other than that, I love this, I love your character and her shameless flirting. It's very refreshing to see other people work their ideas into the SW universe and I feel better knowing that I can read other people's ideas and share mine too!

So, I really hope you continue with this and you figure out how to get her into the Council Chambers. I'm really interested in what comes next!

Here's the next part. Glad people have been enjoying it It's also at ff.net. under the title A Time Displaced Sith if you're interested.

"Are you sure you are alright, Nathrrya?" Qui-Gon asked. "Would you like to meditate in the Room of a Thousand Fountains?" As the unlikely trio had walked up the steps of the Jedi Temple, they had introduced themselves to each other. Now, they stood in the grand entry hall.

The Sith smiled sadly at the Jedi Master and shook her head. "No, I'm not alright, Master Qui-Gon. It's finally hit me just how alone I really am. Everything is so familiar, yet so different." She sighed. "I feel like a living fossil, a relic of an age long past." Nathrrya smiled again, but it never reached her eyes. "Which, all things considered, is exactly what I am. It's going to take me some time to get used to that idea, so yes, I would like to meditate somewhere to try and centre myself."

The Jedi Master simply nodded "I understand," he said kindly, looking around for someone to show Nathrrya the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Qui-Gon smiled when he spotted Padawan Siri Tachi talking with several other Padawans a short distance away.

"Padawan Tachi, I have a task for you," Qui-Gon called.

Siri turned, to see Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan with an interestingly dressed, red-haired woman. As the blonde-haired Padawan approached the trio, she noticed the woman had a lightsaber hanging from her belt. This made Siri curious, was this woman a Jedi, returning from some sort of deep-cover mission?

"What can I do for you, Master Jinn?" Siri asked respectfully.

"Obi-Wan and I have been summoned to see the Council, and I would like you to take Nathrrya here to the Room of a Thousand Fountains," Qui-Gon explained. "She is not from the Temple, and does not know its layout. Please stay with her, as the Council may wish to speak with her."

I'm not even from this time period, Nathrrya thought glumly.

Siri bowed to Qui-Gon "As you say, Master Jinn." The Padawan then beckoned the Sith to follow her. "Please come with me, Knight Nathrrya." The smile Nathrrya gave Siri was a bittersweet echo of what might have been.

____________________________________

"What do you think of Nathrrya's claims, Master?" Obi-Wan asked as they rode the turbo lift up to the Council chambers.

"I did not sense any deception from her. However, it was clear she was hiding something," Qui-Gon replied, bemused as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Most likely to do with her Force training."

Obi-Wan looked at his master, puzzled. "Do you think she could be Sith?"

"To be truthful, my Padawan, I do not know," Qui-Gon admitted. "I had considered the possibility that Nathrrya could be a Sith, but she acts like no Sith that I have ever read about. Also, I am fairly certain that a Sith would never call themselves a 'Servant of the Force' as Nathrrya did."

"True enough, I suppose, Master," Obi-Wan remarked, remembering how flirtatious the woman had been. It was not a trait one would associate with a Sith, he supposed. "It's almost certain that the Council will want to speak to her," he added.

Qui-Gon nodded. "Indeed, my Padawan, I agree with you."

"I'd like to be a fly on the wall for that conversation, master," Obi-Wan said with a smile.

"As would I, Padawan, as would I," Qui-Gon replied with a grin.

__________________________________________

"Here we are, the Room of a Thousand Fountains," Siri announced as she and Nathrrya passed through the large wooden doors. The Padawan had noticed that Nathrrya had kept mostly to herself during their walk, and hadn't spoken much. Siri doubted that you would need to be Force-sensitive to sense the sea of emotions coming off the woman.

The Sith felt her eyes grow bigger as she took in what had to be the largest greenhouse she had ever seen. It was easily seven stories tall, and had to take up a good portion of the north-western side of the Temple. The two women were standing on a platform, from which, Nathrrya could see, several stone and dirt paths diverged. The paths then wound their way through potted plants and large displays of exotic foliage from across the galaxy. The Sith could also see small bridges crossing streams that flowed from unseen sources. Benches lined the paths, encouraging meditation and reflection – this was a Jedi Temple, after all. There had been nothing coming even close to this at the Sith Academy on Korriban. Nathrrya could hear fountains trickling from everywhere within the chamber, along with the roar of the waterfall at the room's centre. Some of the fountains were concealed by the shrubbery, but most others were brilliantly displayed in the centre of some of the stone walkways.

The Sith turned to the Padawan at her side "I can see why this is called the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Hard to believe we're on a city planet when you're in here."

Siri smiled "That was the intent, or so I was told. It's mainly used for meditation, but some Jedi come here for lightsaber practice, and the Jedi Council has met here at times, due to its peacefulness and serenity."

Nathrrya grinned "Peacefulness and serenity are just what I need right now." The Sith could swear she felt the Dark Side recoil from her for saying that. Rage, hate and anger had their place, and were useful; it was one of the major things that separated the Sith and the Jedi. One harnessed the darker emotions while the other tried to release all emotion. Both beliefs were flawed, not necessarily wrong. That was Nathrrya's view, as a result of what she'd witnessed over the years.

"Though I have to admit, lightsaber practice sounds tempting," the Sith said, looking down at her own weapon. "I'll have to see if it even still works. Force only knows what the carbonite freezing has done to it." It was the one thing Nathrrya had yet to do. She should have seen to her lightsaber sooner but when you're told that four millennia have passed since you were frozen the shock had made the thought of anything else go out the airlock. While the outer case of her lightsaber looked fine the internal components were likely to be another matter entirely. Now she was somewhere that would have everything she'd need to rebuild her lightsaber. At least she didn't have to worry about the blade colour giving her away, as she didn't use the traditional red crystal – she used a purple-violet colour crystal, as she felt it suited her personality more.

Siri raised her eyebrows in surprise "You were frozen in carbonite?" she asked, shocked.

Nathrrya nodded "Yes, and for far too long." The sadness in her voice was almost painful.

Siri felt awkward at this revelation. "Perhaps later we can go and see Master Drallig, I'm sure he'll be able to help you make sure your lightsaber is working correctly."

The Sith smiled, "I'd like that, Padawan Tachi. Now let's see if we can find a nice quiet spot for me to meditate in."

It didn't take the two women long to find a suitable spot for Nathrrya to meditate in. Siri seated herself on a bench nearby simply observing. The Sith herself was seated cross legged, hands on her knees and eyes closed. Now, at last, Nathrrya could try and mentally process what had happened to her, which wasn't easy, as she worked through her emotions. The Sith was sorely tempted to simply leave the Jedi to their fate, and find a nice quiet part of the galaxy to ride out the oncoming storm. But Nathrrya knew her conscience wouldn't allow her to do that.

Nathrrya didn't really hate the Jedi in the way most Sith did. She thought they were a bunch of self-important hypocrites, and needed to be taken down a peg or two. But to see them wiped out the way this... Darth Sidious personage had planned? The Jedi didn't deserve that. During the Great Galactic War, four millennia ago, she'd seen the flaws of both the Empire and the Sith, as well as the Republic and the Jedi. It seemed as if nothing had been learned in the time since.

What really concerned Nathrrya was this Sith Lord, Darth Sidious. He was far too much like her former Emperor, Vitiate, for her tastes. And that much Dark Side energy concentrated into just one living being was never a good thing. Nathrrya briefly wondered what it would be like to re-establish the Sith Order, after all, apart from Sidious, she was the only other fully trained Sith Lord in this time. Four millennia ago, she had been known as Darth Wrath, the Emperor's Wrath. A title and role with which she had become disillusioned, by the end of the Great Galactic War. If she were to re-take her title of Sith Lord, she'd have to think of a more suitable name, but only after Sidious had been dealt with. And for that Nathrrya needed the Jedi. The Sith knew her limits, and she seriously doubted she would be able to defeat Sidious in a one-on-one fight.

"Master?" an all-too-familiar voice asked, one Nathrrya never expected to hear again.

The Sith's eyes snapped open, and she saw before her three Force-ghosts, sitting cross legged. Nathrrya recognised each one easily enough. To her right was her one-time apprentice, Jaesa Willsaam, in front of her was her cousin, the Hero of Tython, and to her left was his one-time Padawan and now partner in more ways than one, Kira Carsen.

"Jaesa? How is it possible for you to appear here?" Nathrrya asked, a little baffled.

The Force-ghost of Jaesa chuckled lightly. "You forget, Master, I was a Jedi before I joined you. Is it so hard to believe, that because of that, I can appear here?"

"Ah, that makes sense. Whatever the case, it's good to see some familiar faces," the Sith admitted.

"I know I said you'd make a good Jedi, cousin, but even I never pictured this," said the Hero of Tython as he gestured around them.

Nathrrya just rolled her eyes. "Ha ha, very funny, cousin."

"What's this, the big bad Sith, scared to be in the middle of the Jedi Temple?" Kira asked teasingly.

The Sith snorted. "So says a Child of the Emperor. You still hanging out with this loser, Kira?" she asked.

Kira grinned in response as she put her arms around the man at her side "Where else would I be but at my tough guy's side?" she asked, making it clear they were far more than Master and Knight.

Nathrrya just laughed "Point taken, Kira."

"On to more serious matters," the Hero of Tython said. "We wanted to let you know you aren't alone as you think you are. We may not be able to do this," he gestured to their Force-ghosts, "as often as we may like, but we'll never be far away."

"Even Master Satele is willing to speak up for you, if the current Council becomes too... belligerent," Kira said.

Nathrrya felt her mouth fall open. What in the name of the Force was going on, if a long-dead Grand Master of the Jedi Order was willing to speak up for a Sith? The shock must have shown on her face.

"Master, you've taken on a great task, dealing with Darth Sidious. You've seen the danger he poses, not just to the Jedi, but the galaxy as well," Jaesa said.

"I haven't agreed to anything yet," Nathrrya grumbled good-naturedly.

"Maybe not, Master, but I know you," Jaesa replied "You're thinking about it, and you can feel how out of balance the Force is becoming. If you don't act, darkness will rule, and even you won't stand for that. You've told me many times that the Sith and the Jedi are the opposite sides of the same cred-chit."

"Your apprentice is right, cousin, and you know it," the Hero of Tython pointed out.

The Sith just rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine, I'll see what I can do, now stop pestering me, will you!" she snapped, but without any real bite to her words.

The three Force-ghosts just smiled at each other, looking very pleased with themselves, before they started to fade away.

"Well that was unexpected," Nathrrya mused as she stood up and walked over to where Siri was seated.

Siri smiled as the Sith walked over to her. "I gather you had some friends of yours visit." At Nathrrya's curious expression she continued, "I could sense their presence, though I couldn't see them, or hear what was said."

"Yes it was... good to see them. I'm not as alone as I feared," Nathrrya admitted "Now let's see if we can do something about my lightsaber. I've got a feeling I'm going to be needing it far sooner than I realised."

"You wished to see us Masters?" Qui-Gon asked as he and Obi-Wan bowed respectfully before the Jedi Council.

"Indeed we did, Qui-Gon," Mace Windu said. "As you know, Master Gallia has been investigating the activities of the Trade Federation on behalf of Supreme Chancellor Valorum. She will tell you more."

Adi Gallia nodded to Mace in acknowledgement before speaking to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. "This morning, the Supreme Chancellor contacted and informed me that the Trade Federation has placed a battle fleet around the planet of Naboo, effectively blockading the planet," she said. "The Trade Federation claims that it is in response to the recently passed taxation bill on hyperspace trade routes. Valorum doesn't believe it to be the case and neither do I. After all, the Neimoidians are known more for their cowardice, than their military strategy."

"That is why the Supreme Chancellor has requested that we, the Council, send the two of you to discreetly investigate the matter on his behalf," Mace continued. "He has not informed either the Senate or the Trade Federation of the Jedi's involvement, so you will have the element of surprise."

Qui-Gon bowed. "I understand, Masters. My Padawan and I will make arrangements to leave immediately." He paused a moment. "However, there is something I wish to inform the Council about."

"Wish to inform the Council about something, you do?" Master Yoda asked with curiosity "Then inform us, you must."

"On our way here my Padawan and I met a most... unusual woman, named Nathrrya," Qui-Gon said.

That's... one way to describe her, master, Obi-Wan thought to himself.

“What was so unusual about this woman, Master Qui-Gon?" Mace asked, his Force senses beginning to tingle at the mere mention of the woman's name.

Qui-Gon looked thoughtful for a moment as he folded his arms over his chest. "She was strong in the Force, and I believe her to be a fully trained Force-user. She not only openly carried a lightsaber, but she also spoke to both myself and Obi-Wan telepathically, and it was as natural to her as breathing."

Obi-Wan was doing his best trying not to blush with embarrassment. He couldn't understand why his encounter with the woman was still affecting him, and she wasn't even in the room!

Mace leaned forward, a deep, thoughtful expression on his face. "Interesting. What else did she have to say?"

"She expressed a wish to speak before this Council. Nathrrya claimed to be a four thousand year old Force-user," said Qui-Gon, noting with some satisfaction the shocked expressions on some of the Council's faces. "I do not think she meant that in the literal sense, as she did mention being frozen in carbonite. How she is alive and well after so long is a mystery to me."

"I see," Mace said, as he leaned back in his seat.

Yoda looked at the Korun Master. "That look, have you, Mace," he stated. "Think Nathrrya, a shatterpoint, could be?"

Mace nodded. "Possibly, there is only one way to be certain, Master Yoda." The Korun Master had a unique form of Force perception which allowed him to see the shatterpoint in situations, beings and circumstances. These shatterpoints revealed points upon which other things were reliant. Shatterpoints could form links between beings, creatures, planets, and if destroyed or utilized, these shatterpoints could hold the key to averting disaster, sealing fate, winning battles and fulfilling the very will of the Force itself. "Where is Nathrrya now, Master Qui-Gon?" Mace asked.

"She had expressed an interest in meditating in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. I assigned Padawan Tachi to be her guide. As far as I know they are still there," Qui-Gon replied.

As the discussion had taken place Yoda had been studying Obi-Wan. The young Padawan seemed almost embarrassed about something. "Before summon them we do, want to know, I do, what Nathrrya telepathically said."

Obi-Wan felt like burying his head in his hands, but he didn't. He didn't know how to explain that Nathrrya had flirted with him. For once, Obi-Wan Kenobi was lost for words.

"I believe she was flirting with my Padawan." Qui-Gon spoke up, due to Obi-Wan's silence. "Her exact words were, Like what you see, young Padawan?" The Jedi Master was doing his best to keep the amusement out of his voice and utterly failing. In retrospect it had been amusing, even if it was at his Padawan's expense, though he didn't approve of the woman's flirtatious nature.

"She had just folded her arms over her chest, Master," Obi-Wan protested.

"True, but you should not have been so easily distracted, my Padawan," Qui-Gon lightly reprimanded. Wisely, Obi-Wan didn't comment further. "Nathrrya's choice in clothing is... one of a kind. You'll understand when you meet her."

"I see. Summon them we will. Stay here, you two shall," Yoda said with a slight smile. "Curious about her, you two are."

_____________________________________

Master Drallig had to admit he was impressed with Nathrrya's lightsaber skills. Padawan Tachi had arrived not too long ago, with her unusual guest, to his little corner of the Temple. The two women had then explained Nathrrya's problem, her lightsaber. Nathrrya simply wasn't sure if it still worked and turning on a damaged lightsaber was incredibly dangerous.

The Jedi battlemaster had allowed Nathrrya the use of one of the workbenches and it hadn't taken the woman long to disassemble her lightsaber. Sure enough, the internal components were in a very sorry state. The only things she could save were the crystals, everything else had to be replaced. Master Drallig was more than happy to let Nathrrya take what she needed from the temple supplies. Nathrrya soon had her lightsaber reassembled and turned it on, the purple-violet blade springing forth, much to the obvious delight of the weapon's owner.

Nathrrya then fell into a series of advanced katas, getting a feel for her weapon, as it was undoubtedly weighted differently than what she had been used to. Then the woman had smiled, seeing the training dummies at the far end of the room. She then threw her lightsaber, and successfully took off the 'head' of one of the dummies at its 'neck,' before her weapon returned to her.

"Impressive throw, Nathrrya," Master Drallig said, though he was a little concerned just how accurate she had been. It was clear to the battlemaster she had intended her throw to behead the training dummy and it had done exactly that.

"Thank you Master Drallig," the Sith replied with a slight bow. "I can assure you, throwing a lightsaber that accurately isn't easy. It took me years to master it, but it has saved my life more than once." This was perfectly true; Nathrrya simply didn't mention that she had used it against Republic forces and by extension the Jedi as well.

Padawan Tachi approached the pair and bowed "Sorry to intrude, Master Drallig, but Natrrya and I have been summoned before the Council."

The Sith looked at the young woman. "That didn't take long."

_______________________________

Siri and Nathrrya entered the Council chambers, with the Padawan in the lead. "Masters," Tachi said, as both women bowed. "May I present our guest, Nathrrya."

"Welcome you to the Jedi temple, I do," the diminutive Jedi Master said. He then looked at Qui-Gon Jinn, and said, "See what you mean, I do," before Yoda turned his attention back to Nathrrya. "Clothing unbecoming a Jedi it is you wear."

The Sith smiled slightly. "Just because I carry a lightsaber does not make me a Jedi, Master Yoda," she pointed out calmly. Nathrrya had decided that she wasn't going to openly say she was a Sith unless she had to, it would be far more interesting to see if the Jedi Council could figure it out for themselves.

Mace had leaned forward in his seat and was scrutinising her through the Force. Nathrrya was indeed a shatterpoint, for he could see the possible impact she would have on the Republic and the Jedi, most of it surprisingly good. But there was one thing that Mace's Force perception was telling him that he simply couldn't accept. The Force was telling him that this woman was a Sith, and not just any Sith, but a fully trained and very powerful Sith Lord, for he had seen glimpses of her nature and power through the Force. Yet here she was, standing calmly in the middle of a room full of Jedi Masters, hands clasped behind her back and feet slightly apart, seemingly not bothered by the strength of the Light Side of Force. The Korun Master realised that he would have to re-evaluate all he thought he knew about the Sith.

"Claim to be something else, you do?" Master Yoda asked, pointing his gimer stick at the woman.

"Indeed. I come from a time when Jedi were not the only ones who carried lightsabers," Nathrrya replied. "Make of that what you will."

There was muttering around the Council chamber. "Impossible for you to be Sith, it is," Yoda stated emphatically. "Sith would never willingly enter Jedi Temple."

The Sith just laughed at that. "Desperate times call for desperate measures, Master Yoda. I was awoken from my carbonite tomb to discover that four thousand years had passed, the galaxy I knew gone in the blink of an eye. I could hardly get my mind around the fact I was alive, much less what I would do with myself." Nathrrya paused a moment. "As I recovered from hibernation sickness, I saw visions in the Force of what could be. A rising darkness, a peaceful world blockaded, a queen in danger, a strong Force-sensitive discovered and the return of the Sith, but not in a form I recognised. The Republic being torn apart by civil war, the Jedi leading large armies into battle time and again. The Order stretched too thin and in the end the Republic burned, the Jedi massacred by the very troops they led. Behind it all the great puppeteer, nothing but a name and gender – Darth Sidious, Dark Lord of the Sith."

The silence in the Council chamber was deafening "Always in motion, the future is," Yoda said at last. "The Force, out of balance, is. Naboo blockaded has been. Queen Amidala, in danger will be."

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were just as shocked as the rest of the Council. Even Siri Tachi looked stunned, she couldn't quite believe that she had been escorting a Sith around the Jedi Temple. What was the galaxy coming to?

Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon with a slight smile. "You were right, Master, she was hiding something. And what a something!" he said with humour. Making light of the situation seemed to be the best way to deal with it.

Qui-Gon grinned at his Padawan. "Are you saying that you, a Sith, is willing to help the Jedi?" he asked Nathrrya, perplexed.

Nathrrya shrugged. "Is it so hard to believe, Master Qui-Gon? I come from a time when there were almost as many Sith as there were Jedi. The Force was balanced because of that. It wouldn't be the first time I've helped the Jedi." She paused, remembering her mission on the prison world of Belsavis. "Now the darkness I sense feels wrong, unnatural. It doesn't feel like the Dark Side should. I can't explain it any better than that." She looked Master Yoda in the eyes. "One thing I do know from experience, is that the amount of Dark Side power that Sidious has acquired in one person is never a good thing. I really don't want to have to deal with another Sith Emperor. Once was quite enough for me." Nathrrya shuddered at the thought of facing another Valilte.

"Impossible! The Sith have been extinct for a millennium!" Master Ki-Adi-Mundi exclaimed, not wanting to believe what he was hearing, unknowingly giving the Sith in their midst some information to investigate at a later time.

Nathrrya pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. "There's always one," she muttered with a sigh. Looking, almost glaring, at the offending Jedi Master she spoke. "Fine, then maybe this will convince you." So saying, Nathrrya briefly closed her eyes, calling the Dark Side to her. When she opened them again, they were Sith yellow. "Now do you believe I'm Sith?" Nathrrya asked in an overly sweet voice so at odds with her eyes.

For his part Ki-Adi-Mundi simply slumped into his chair, unable or unwilling to process the information before him. Several Jedi Masters had gone for their weapons but were unsure on how to proceed for the Sith was still stood calmly, hands clasped behind her back and her lightsaber still in plain view on her belt.

Master Yoda glared at his fellow Council members. "In danger from this Sith we are not. Sidious the problem will be. Stand down, you shall." His voice left no room for argument.

_________________________________________

In his office in the Galactic Senate one Sheev Palpatine, Senator for the beleaguered planet of Naboo, turned his chair to look out the window toward the Jedi Temple.

"I could have sworn I felt..." Palpatine said to himself looking intently at the Jedi Temple in the distance. The man frowned, had it been his imagination that he'd felt a tremor in the Dark Side of the Force?

Perhaps he would meditate on the matter later, when he had time. For now, though, he had plans to set in motion and people to manipulate – like that fool of a Viceroy, Nute Gunray. Unfortunately, the Neimoidian had his uses.

_____________________________

Nathrrya looked towards Obi-Wan, flashing him another seductive smile and winking at him. Judging by the Padawan's reaction, her yellow-coloured eyes gave the gesture another meaning, one that was hardly innocent. Nathrrya's smile only widened when she felt the sudden spike in concern and protectiveness coming from Padawan Tachi, but there was something else under the surface. The Sith knew what it was, as she had felt it once herself long ago. It seemed that Padawan Tachi loved Padawan Kenobi and, he returned her feelings. The Sith hoped that the Padawan's love would not end in the way hers had. Turning back to face Master Yoda, her eyes returning to their normal blue colour, Nathrrya tucked that nugget of information away for later use.

Yoda's ears drooped slightly "Sith you are, deny this, I cannot." He sighed heavily as if defeated. "What will you do now?"

"I mean to find this Darth Sidious and deal with him. And by deal with I mean kill, he's far too dangerous to be left alive. However, I can't do it alone. I'll need the Jedi's help to do it, and you will need mine. He's too strong in the Dark Side for me to face directly, even if I knew who he was, I don't think I would survive the encounter," Nathrrya explained. "As for what I'll do after Sidious is dead, I'll wait and see if I'm still alive." The Sith had a few ideas to what she'd do, but convincing the Jedi was going to be an uphill battle.

Yoda nodded thoughtfully looking over at Mace Windu "What say you, Master Windu?"

The Korun Master leaned forward. "Nathrrya, you are a shatterpoint. You can alter the outcome of many events simply by your presence. It is for this reason that I am requesting that you accompany Master Jinn and Padawn Kenobi to Naboo, and resolve the blockade crisis. You will, of course, need to wear Jedi robes." Mace doubted that the Sith would let his last comment slide.

Nathrrya barely managed to contain her laughter. "I'll be happy to accompany Master Jinn and Padawn Kenobi, but there is no way in the Nine Corellian Hells that will I ever wear Jedi robes. Any Sith worth their title wouldn't be seen dead in them!" After she regained her composure she continued. "No disrespect to your order intended, but it simply isn't done." The Sith shuddered for good measure. In truth, Nathrrya didn't really mind, but she was having too much fun messing with the Jedi Council to say so.

Well this is far as I've gotten.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.” Nathrrya muttered looking in the mirror of her quarters aboard the consular class cruiser that had taken herself, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to Naboo. The Sith had felt the reversion to real space so knew they were close to their destination. That’s why she was before the mirror making sure her Jedi robes sat correctly. The robes were functional but had to be one of the most unfashionable and unflattering items of clothing in the known galaxy.

Call it a vice but Nathrrya liked to look good when she was letting loose with her lightsaber. That’s why she much preferred her far more revealing outfit. The Sith could still remember when she’d first bought it, it had cost an obscene amount of credits but the look on Malavai Quinn’s face when she’d returned to her ship wearing it had been oh so worth the money. The man hadn’t known how to react as he was so by the book. Even the more down to earth and dare she say crude Lieutenant Pierce had done a double take when he’d seen her. As for Vette and Jaesa, the women had been mildly shocked but agreed that she looked good.

Remembering Captain Malavai Quinn brought back some less pleasant memories. In her mind’s eye she could see the two of them going through the Imperial Transponder Station near Corellia. Something about the whole situation had seemed off to her but it was only when Quinn had sprung his trap that it had all made sense. Darth Baras had played them both. Being betrayed by Baras hadn’t bothered Nathrrya in the slightest; she’d seen that coming almost as soon as she’d met him on Korriban. Being betrayed by her lover was something else entirely. She’d wanted to choke Quinn to death or run him through with her lightsaber but she had done neither. She loved him and she simply couldn’t do it. It was the end of their relationship that was certain but for the sake of the crew they would never speak of what had happened. That night in the privacy of her quarters she had cried herself to sleep.

“After all this time you still grieve for him, what might have been.” A deep rich male voice said from behind her.

Nathrrya pinched the bridge of her nose “Now is not the time Valkorian.” She growled turning to face the spectre of the Eternal Emperor.

“Oh? Now seems like the perfect time. You still have many issues to deal with my former Wrath.” Valkorain replied mildly.

“Do. Not. Call. Me. That.” Nathrrya spat the Dark Side flaring around her, her eyes turning Sith yellow.

__________________________

“Do you feel that Master?” Obi-Wan asked concerned.

Qui-Gon nodded “Yes it would seem our Sith friend is upset about something... personal.” he said looking thoughtful.

“Should I go and check on her, master?” For some reason he could not explain Obi-Wan felt worried about the Sith’s wellbeing.

Qui-Gon shook his head. “No I do not believe that would be wise. Nathrrya will join us when she is ready.”

“I’m still having trouble getting used to the idea that we’re working with a Sith.” Obi-Wan observed dryly.

Qui-Gon chuckled “How do you think the Council feels, Padawan?” he asked “Nathrrya simply doesn’t act like any Sith that we are familiar with. The Council do not know how to react to her.”

“Yes she’s flirtatious, playful and fun.” Obi-Wan replied with a grin “Not things you would normally associate with the Sith. This mission will not be boring with her around.”

“Indeed my Padawan. Nathrrya has shattered the Order’s perceptions of the Sith and has forced the Council to rethink all they thought they knew. True we haven’t seen the Sith in almost a thousand years and she comes from a time older than that.” Qui-Gon said looking thoughtful “The future is always in monition but if Nathrrya survives herself appointed task she may well want to re-establish the Sith Order.”

Obi-Wan felt his eyebrows rise “Would that be wise master?”

“I cannot answer that Padawan for the future is always in monition.” Qui-Gon replied.

_________________________________________

“I see I got a reaction.” Valkorion said, a smirk appearing on his breaded face. “That’s a start.”

The Sith glared at her former Emperor “You did that on purpose didn’t you?” she accused the spectre. Valkorion simply smiled. “Should’ve known.” Nathrrya muttered darkly eyeing the spirit of the man that had been stuck in her head for the past four thousand years. That fact alone was incredibly annoying. “Fine then, yes I miss Quinn terribly and wish I could’ve repaired things between us but the galaxy was falling apart no thanks to you and your Eternal Empire.” She was starting to vent. “Your plan didn’t work either did it? You wanted me to get your throne back from your bratty little children, which was your own fault that they were so bratty. You had a family and you blew it so spectacularly it defies belief. My love life pales in comparison to that.” Nathrrya was on a roll now “Oh and let’s not forget we’re four thousand years in the future, four thousand! I should be dead!” she screamed. As quickly as her rage and been ignited it was gone and Nathrrya slid to the floor exhausted “I wish I were dead.” She said softly.

“You shouldn’t think like that.” Valkorion said genuine concern in his voice.

Nathrrya’s blue eyes peered up at the spectre “And why not? The galaxy I knew, everyone I ever cared about gone, nothing left but dust and echoes.”

“How do you think I feel?” Valkorion asked.

The Sith snorted at that “You’re all but immortal this is probably nothing more than an inconvenience to you.”

“That may have been true once. My power is what kept you alive for so long.” Valkorion explained. “You were far more special than even I suspected. Somehow during the past four thousand years you’ve been drawing on my power to keep yourself alive weakening me in the process. Just before you were awoken I became one with the force.”

Nathrrya’s head snapped up at that “What!?” she exclaimed “Wait... I see it now. So you’re not in my head anymore?”

Valkorion shook his head “No I’m not. Your thoughts are yours once again.”

“Well that’s something of a relief.” Nathrrya said as she stood up a smile on her face. “I wonder what Quinn or Vette would say if they saw me in these?” She wondered as she straightened her Jedi robes.

Valkorion chuckled “I have to say you look the part. Just the thing for keeping a low profile.”

The Sith grinned “That’s the general idea.” Something then occurred to her “Am I immortal now?” she asked fearing the answer.

Valkorion shook his head “No, but you will live for many years yet. Eight hundred to a thousand perhaps, provided you don’t do anything rash like get yourself killed.” He said with some amusement. Valkorion then took a step forwards “Don’t make the same mistakes I made.”

“I don’t intend to. I’ve seen the flaws in the Sith teachings.” Nathrrya replied.

Valkorion smiled seemingly satisfied “Good then you truly are the future of the Sith Order, Nathrrya, more so than I ever suspected. May the Force serve you well.” With that Valkorion, the Eternal Emperor faded from view.

Nathrrya just stood there contemplating what had happened and what it meant. She felt freer, lighter even. The Sith knew the path she was on was the right one. Her eyes flashed yellow for a moment, she would rebuild the Sith Order but this time it would not destroy its self with in fighting. She smiled, her past was just that her past, she would miss people and places from it but she could at last accept that. Nathrrya palmed the door controls and exited her quarters to find the two Jedi.

_______________

Obi-Wan couldn’t help but grin when he saw Nathrrya walking towards the airlock where he and Qui-Gon were stood “I thought you said a Sith wouldn’t be seen dead wearing Jedi robes, yet here you are.” The Padawan said clearly amused.

Nathrrya smiled “What can I say I enjoyed messing with the Jedi Council. The looks on their faces when I said no was something to behold was it not?” The Sith replied mirth in her voice “I don’t mind really for if we encounter Sidious or more likely any of his minions they’ll think I’m just another Jedi.”

“Also blending in is far easier than trying to explain to people what you really are. Sith to most people are just stories in history texts and not very pleasant ones either.” Qui-Gon said.

Nathrrya nodded “I agree but there will come a time that I may have to reveal what I am and what I can do.” She looked the Jedi Master in the eyes “And I fear it may be sooner that we’d like.”

“A possibility, one we will deal with when the time comes.” Qui-Gon replied “Shall we go? The Viceroy is waiting for us.” He said indicating that Nathrrya should go first.

“Ever the gentleman I see Master Qui-Gon.” The Sith replied with a smile as she raised her hood. One Sith followed by two Jedi left their ship to confront the Viceroy of the Trade Federation, Nute Gunray.

“I have a bad feeling about this.” Obi-Wan remarked as the three Force-users were led by a TC-14 protocol droid into a conference room aboard the droid control ship Saak'ak.

“I don't sense anything.” Qui-Gon replied as they looked out the window to the planet of Naboo below.

The Padawan considered his words “It's not about the mission, Master, it's something...elsewhere...elusive.”

“Don't centre on your anxiety, Obi-Wan. Keep your concentration here and now where it belongs.” Qui-Gon lightly admonished.

Obi-Wan frowned “Master Yoda says I should be mindful of the future...”

“...but not at the expense of the moment. Be mindful of the living Force, my young Padawan.” Qui-Gon tried to explain yet again.

The third member of the group chuckled “You’re both right.” Nathrrya said slightly amused. “That elusive presence you can sense Obi-Wan is undoubtedly Sidious. I’m more aware of him being what I am.” The Sith turned her head to look at the Jedi Padawan “The fact you can sense him at all is impressive. But your Master is right we have to be aware of what’s happening right here, right now.”

Obi-Wan grinned at Nathrrya “Yes, Master.” He said with humour bowing slightly. The Sith simply shook her head grinning in return.

Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow “Did you just call our Sith friend, Master?” he asked mildly.

“Yes I believe that I did, Master.” Obi-Wan replied with a smirk “How do you think the Trade Viceroy will deal with the Chancellor's demands?”

Qui-Gon shook his head in exasperation “These Federation types are cowards. The negotiations will be short.”

The Sith snorted “And because they’re cowards it makes them all the more easy to manipulate. The Trade Federation wouldn’t do something this brazen unless they were sure they could get away with it.” Nathrrya turned to the two Jedi “Which means Sidious is helping them, for what possible reason I don’t know. But mark my words Sidious is behind all this.” She gestured out the window to where the rest of the blockade fleet could be seen.

All three Force-users turn towards the door of the conference room as it slides open but it’s only the TC-14 droid carrying a tray of drinks and food which it places on the table in the middle of the room.

“Is it their nature to make us wait this long?” asks Obi-Wan as he gets himself a drink.

Qui-Gon shook his head “No. I sense an unusual amount of fear for something as trivial as this dispute.” He says picking up a drink for himself.

“Sith Lords tend to have that effect on people.” Nathrrya observed dryly, sipping her own drink. “Can’t possibly imagine why.”

__________________________

On the bridge of the Saak'ak, Nute Gunray, Daultay Dofine, and Rune Haako were stood before the hologram of Darth Sidious, a robed figure whose face was obscured by a hood.

“This scheme of yours has failed, Lord Sidious. The blockade is finished! We dare not go against the three Jedi.” Dofine cried.

“You seem more worried about the Jedi than you are of me, Dofine. I am amused...” the holographic projection of the Sith said in dark amusement “Viceroy!”

Nute, looking very nervous, and with good reason, stepped forward. “Yes, My lord?”

“I don't want that stunted slime in my sight again. Do you understand?” Sisious barked.

“Yes, My Lord!” Nute says as he gives Dofine a fierce look, who, rushes off the bridge.

“This turns of events is unfortunate.” Sidious says getting back to the matter at hand “We must accelerate our plans, Viceroy. Begin landing your troops.”

Nute seemed to hastate a moment before he spoke “Ahh, My Lord, is that, even Legal?” he asked.

“I will make it legal.” Sidous said leaving no room for argument

“And, the Jedi?” Nute asked fearing the answer.

“The Chancellor should never have brought them into this. Kill them, immediately.” The Sith ordered coldly.

“Ye...Yes, My Lord. As you wish.” Nute shuttered realising that for the first time he’d made a deal with the devil himself and he was going to collect his due.

________________________

In the conference room the three Force-users all looked at each other before going for their weapons, they had all felt a disturbance in the Force.

“Our ship has been destroyed.” Nathrrya grimly stated.

“Master, gas!” Obi-wan cried seeing the green and no doubt toxic gas starting to fill the room.

All three Force-users took a breath and held it. The two Jedi were as you would expect very calm about being almost murdered. The Sith on the other hand was anything but, she was thinking of what painful things she could do to Nute Gunray once she got a hold of him.

Nathrrya didn’t like it when people tried to kill her and she liked it even less when they were so underhanded and cowardly about it. The Sith’s eyes were a fiery yellow which made her two Jedi companions very nervous as they could feel the Dark Side coming off of her in waves. Whatever it was she was about to do the Jedi made sure they were out of the line of fire.

Nathrrya raised her left hand and let loose an incredibly powerful Force Push at the conference room door, unfortunately the TC-14 droid was in the way and it was instantly blasted apart. The wave of force energy slammed into the door which held briefly before it was torn to shreds as the sound of tearing metal could be heard. By luck or the will of the force the squad of battle droids that was on the other side of the door fell victim to the flying shrapnel that had been the conference room door.

Without anything to stop them the three force users made their way to the bridge with a very angry Sith in the lead.

_____________________

On the bridge Nute and Rune looked at each other terrified as they had just seen a squad of battle droids turned to scrap but what had scared the two men the most had been the look on the female Jedi’s face, it had promised one thing, retribution.

“What in blazes was going on down there?” Nute asked uncertain.

“Have you ever encountered a Jedi Knight before, sir?” Rune replied as calmly as he could.

“Well, not exactly, but I don't... Seal off the bridge!” Nute cried panicked.

“That won't be enough, sir.” Rune said as the bridge doors slammed shut.

“I want destroyer droids up here at once!!!” Nute ordered growing desperate.

“We will not survive this.” Rune noted grimly.

“Look, the door!” one of the other crew yelled pointing at the bridge door. A lightsaber could be clearly seen cutting through the metal of the door.

“Close the blast doors!” Nute ordered truly terrified at what he was seeing.

A series of massive blast doors sealed shut but this only served to slow the Jedi down as soon a red molten spot appeared in the middle of the door.

“They’re still coming through...” Rune couldn’t or wouldn’t believe his eyes.

“Impossible!! This is impossible!!” Nute whimpered.

“Where are those blasted destroyer droids?!” Rune demanded.

_________________

“Master, destroyers!” Obi-Wan yelled on seeing the two large wheel droids come rolling into view.

“I'd say this mission is well past the negotiation stage.” Nathrrya remarked irony in her voice. “Wouldn’t you?” she had calmed down some from eailer but she was still highly annoyed at the whole fiasco.

“Indeed.” Qui-Gon replied as they started deflecting blaster bolts back at the two heavy droids. “They have shield generators.” He noted.

“We don’t have time for this!” the Sith cried her eyes turning yellow. Nathrrya reached out with the Dark Side and used a powerful Force Crush to turn the two heavy war droids into scrap, their shield generators exploding in a shower of sparks as the droids themselves were crushed to about half their original size.

“That’s one way to deal with them.” Obi-Wan remarked, glad that Nathrrya was on their side as from what he’d seen so far she would make quite a fearsome opponent. “Shall we say hello to the Viceroy?” he asked nodding towards the partly melted bridge door.

Nathrrya shook her head “There’s no point they’ll just send even more destroyers after us.” As much as she wanted to inflict severe pain on Nute Gunary it would have to wait. “I think it’s time we let ourselves out?” she asked the Jedi Master.

Qui-Gon nodded his agreement “We can’t learn anything more here and we should try and make contact with the Naboo.”

With that the three Force-users disappeared down a passageway before more battle droids could impede their progress.

_________________________

Nathrrya, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan peered through the large vent cover of the service duct they were in into a giant hanger bay. They had to be careful not to be seen as thousands of battle droids were being loaded onto landing craft.

“Battle droids, thousands of them.” Qui-Gon said stating the rather obvious.

“It's an invasion army.” Obi-Wan replied “But it makes no scene.”

Qui-Gon nodded “It's an odd play for the Trade Federation. We've got to warn the Naboo and contact Chancellor Valorum.”

“Then we better split up. Stow aboard separate ships and meet down on the planet.” Nathrrya said slight amusement in her voice for she did find the entire situation amusing in a very twisted way. Here she was, a Sith indirectly working for the Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. The irony!

Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon with an ironic smile “You were right about one thing, Master. The negotiations were short.”

All three Force-users chuckled at that before they split up to sneak aboard separate landing craft.

________________________

Nathrrya ran through an unfamiliar landscape that was part forest and part swampy grassland, she looked back over her shoulder in time to see one of the monstrous droid troop transports, emerging from the mist. The local wildlife had the right idea as they began to run past her in panic.

Time to get a move on, she thought using the force to enhance her speed. Up ahead of her she could see an odd, frog-like Gungan, from what Qui-Gon had said they were not seen much as the Gungans kept to themselves, some sort of feud with the Naboo humans apparently. So what in the Force was it doing here?

Jar Jar was foraging for his supper again but after being banished from the main Gungan city he really didn’t have much choice. He looked up when he realised that he could hear running footsteps, lots of them. Jar Jar was shocked it see many of the local wildlife and one human female coming towards him but what truly terrified the Gungan was what was behind them. A huge metal thing was rushing towards him and all he could do was stare at it, mouth agape.

“Oh, nooo!” Jar Jar cried panicked just as the human woman passed him. As she did so he grabbed onto her for dear life. “Hey, help me! Help me!!” he begged.

“Let go!” Nathrrya yelled taken completely by surprise. The Sith stilled, her eyes growing bigger and turning yellow at the same time. Had this.... Gungan just try to grope her!? Intentional or not Nathrrya was furious and wanted nothing more than to reach out with the Dark Side and snap his neck. However the oncoming heavy droid transport was more of a concern. Nathrrya let herself go limp and fall backwards into the swampy grassland bringing the Gungan with her, making sure he was on top. He could protect her after what he’d had tried to do! A few moments later the droid transport passed harmlessly overhead. Nathrrya unceremonially shoved the Gungan off her and stood up dusting off her robes as best she could as she watched the massive transport disappear into the mist.

Unfortunately the Gungan wasn’t done with her yet as he suddenly engulfs her in a hug and kisses her much to the Sith’s disgust. “Oyi, mooie-mooie! I luv yous!” Jar Jar cries.

Nathrrya, none to gently Force Pushed the Gungan away and he made a very satisfying thud when he hit a nearby tree. Jar Jar slowly stood up clearly dazed from his collision.

“Are you brainless? You almost got us killed!” The Sith yelled “Ugh, and I thought that Peirce was a lousy kisser.” She complained wiping her face as best she could. “I’m going to need to soak in a bath of disinfectant after this is over.” Nathrrya muttered darkly.

“I spake.” Jar Jar defended himself though he was becoming wary of the human woman.

“The ability to perform what you call speech does not make you intelligent. Now get out of here!” Nathrrya yelled. “Before I do the galaxy a favour and Force-Choke you to death!” her eyes turning yellow as she spoke.

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t kill the natives.” Qui-Gon said as he and Obi-Wan arrived.

The Sith turned to face the two Jedi her shoulders sagging in relief “Finally you two decide to show up. Can you take this pathetic life form off my hands before I end up Force-Choking him?” she asked sweetly “Then again the Gungan gene pool might actually improve if I did.” The two Jedi weren’t totally convinced that she wasn’t being serious.

“I thought you were the one who collected pathetic life forms, Master.” Obi-Wan remarked with a smile.

Qui-Gon just rolled his eyes. “Now that we’re all together, let's get going, before more of those droids show up.”

“Mure? Mure did you spake!?” Jar Jar asked panicked as the three Force-users take off at a run with the Gungan trying to keep up and not fall flat on his face.

“Ex-squeeze me, but da moto grande safe place would be Otoh Gunga. Tis where I grew up...Tis safe city.” Jar Jar said making everyone stop suddenly.

“A city did you say?” Qui-Gon asked, Jar Jar nods his head. “Can you take us there?”

The Gungan made the attempt to look as though he’s thinking “Ahhh, will...on second taut...no, not willy.”

“No?” Qui-Gon asked raising an eyebrow.

“Iss embarrissing, boot... My afrai my've bean banished. My forgoten der Bosses would do terrible tings to my. Terrible tings if my goen back dare.” Jar Jar said wringing his hands.

In the distance they can hear the heavy droid transports and other elements of the droid army.

“Do you hear that?” Qui-Gon asked pointing towards the sounds of the droid army. Jar Jar just nodded his head. “That's the sound of a thousand terrible things heading this way...” the Jedi Master explained in his most foreboding voice.

Obi-Wan stepped closer to the Gungan. “When they find us, they will crush us, grind us into little pieces, then blast us into oblivion!” the Padawan said in an equally foreboding voice.

Nathrrya was doing her best not to giggle at the entire exchange as she had a hand over her mouth. Who knew Jedi could be so underhanded?

Jar Jar’s eyes went wide with horror “Oh! Yousa point is well seen. Dis way! Hurry!” the Gungan said as he promptly turned and went the wrong way almost hitting a tree before he turned and went the right way deeper into the swamp.

________________

And that's why you shouldn't grope a Sith unless said Sith wants to be groped Also I could really use a beta reader as my spelling and grammar aren't the best.

I've been quietly reading this so far but after that last chapter, I've got to say something. I can't believe you stuck Jar Jar in there! He belongs, of course, but oh my.

This is very well written though, I like how you've worked in well known characters that don't speak English as plainly as we do like Jar Jar and Yoda. I'm also very much so enjoying the concept of the story, the combination of our game vs. the movie franchise. It's very well done and enjoyable, keep it up.

Writing Jar Jar had to be the most interesting experience in the world. But this is great! And he groped her? Oh man, I don't even think the Doc would be so bold to grope her (I know, different class companion, but do you get my point?)

Shoot, I'd be willing to beta read. I'm decent at spelling and grammar and I used to do this a loooooong time ago. I'd be willing to help out. =)

Especially if it means I get to read more of this!!

I've been quietly reading this so far but after that last chapter, I've got to say something. I can't believe you stuck Jar Jar in there! He belongs, of course, but oh my.

 

This is very well written though, I like how you've worked in well known characters that don't speak English as plainly as we do like Jar Jar and Yoda. I'm also very much so enjoying the concept of the story, the combination of our game vs. the movie franchise. It's very well done and enjoyable, keep it up.

Heh, glad you're enjoying it so far. And it's hard not to have TPM without Jar Jar. Though I'm quite sure many were just waiting for Nat to Force-Choke the life out of him. Yoda surprisingly isn't too hard to write once you understand the way he talks. If I hadn't found a script for TPM online I'd have been screwed trying to do Jar Jar. That really did save my hide.

Writing Jar Jar had to be the most interesting experience in the world. But this is great! And he groped her? Oh man, I don't even think the Doc would be so bold to grope her (I know, different class companion, but do you get my point?)

 

Shoot, I'd be willing to beta read. I'm decent at spelling and grammar and I used to do this a loooooong time ago. I'd be willing to help out. =)

 

Especially if it means I get to read more of this!!

That's the point Jar Jar is too dumb to know better. Plus the fact I thought it was darkly amusing. But you're right Doc maybe a womaniser but he even wouldn't be that crazy.

Ok I'll PM you about beta reading

That's the point Jar Jar is too dumb to know better. Plus the fact I thought it was darkly amusing. But you're right Doc maybe a womaniser but he even wouldn't be that crazy.

 

Ok I'll PM you about beta reading

Doc understands life and death. He's too proud to die as a result of his womanizing. Jar Jar... is an idiot. 'Nough said.

And okay!

As the three Force-users and one inept, clumsy, accident-prone and wholly annoying Gungan creep their way through the occupied city of Theed in search of the Queen of Naboo, Nathrrya wondered just how the Gungan species had survived for so long or was Jar Jar the exception rather than the rule? One thing the Sith did know was that she wasn’t going to forget going through the planets core in that dammed sub anytime soon. She was also sure she was going to have nightmares for weeks about the oversized fish she’d seen. No wonder Jar Jar had been scared witless at the prospect of travelling through Naboo’s core.

“There’s the Queen and her retinue.” Nathrrya whispered pointing down to the courtyard below them. From their vantage point on the covered balcony that surrounded the courtyard the rescue party could see Queen Amidala, four of her handmaidens, five of her security and one of her advisers being escorted by ten battle droids. The Sith couldn’t believe how lazy the Trade were being as there hadn’t been a single battle droid on the upper levels. Nathrrya knew if she had been leading the droid army then this was one of the first places she’d have sent troops. The woman supposed it was her wartime experience colouring her thinking.

There was a narrow passage that leads out of the courtyard between two buildings with a covered balcony connecting them, not unlike the one they were on. Obi-Wan pointed it out to his master.

“Look there, the perfect ambush point.”

Qui-Gon noticed and agreed with his Padawan. He beckoned them to follow as they started to make their way around the upper level to rescue the Queen.

________________________

The first the battle droids were aware of the attack when one of them broke Jar Jar’s fall. It had crumpled under the Gungan’s weight.

At least he’s useful for something, Nathrrya thought as she jumped down with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan as they began to dispatch the remaining droids with their lightsabers. The last remaining battle droid - a sergeant - tried to run for help but Nathrrya stopped him cold as she reached out and made a fist. The droid exploded in a shower of sparks as the pieces tumbled to the ground.

“Yousa guys bombad!” Jar Jar cried pumping his arms in the air. He was getting used to these humans and their strange powers but he was still weary of the woman. There was something about her that he found unsettling.

Queen Amidala and her retinue just stared in amazement; they couldn’t quite believe what had happened. Captain Panaka was the first to get his wits back and ordered his men to grab the weapons left by the destroyed droids while he picked himself a blaster rifle.

Nathrrya had noticed that several of the trashed droids had been carrying heavy blaster pistols so she called one to her and hid it within her robes when no one was looking. Why she picked up the weapon she didn’t quite know but she had the feeling it might come in handy soon. The Sith may have preferred her lightsaber but she was proficient with both blaster pistols and rifles. Quinn and Pierce respectfully had seen to that.

Qui-Gon ushered the Queen and her retinue between the two buildings out of sight. “Your Highness, we are the Ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor.” He said with a slight bow.

“Your negotiations seem to have failed, Ambassador.” Sio Bibble, the Queen’s head councillor, pointed out.

Qui-Gon hardly acknowledged the man. “The negotiations never took place. Your Highness, we must make contact with the Republic.”

Captain Panaka stepped forward shaking his head. “That’s easier said than done. They've knocked out all our planetary communications. It was the first thing they did when they invaded.”

The Jedi Master frowned at the unwelcome complication. “Do you have transports?” he asked at last.

The Security Captain smiled and pointed the way with his rifle. “Yes, in the main hanger. This way.”

As the large group disappeared down an alleyway they could hear that alarms had been sounded.

______________

Captain Panaka slowly slid open a side door to the main hanger. Everyone could see several Naboo spacecrafts, including the Queen’s private cruiser, as well as some pilots and ground crew being guarded by about a platoon’s worth of battle droids.

Panaka turned to the Jedi Master looking grim. “There’s too many of them.”

“That won't be a problem.” Qui-Gon replied as he faced the Queen. “Your Highness, under the circumstances, I suggest you come to Coruscant with us.”

“Thank you, Ambassador, but my place is here with my people.” Queen Amidala replied firmly.

“They will kill you if you stay.” Qui-Gon said bluntly.

“They wouldn't dare.” Bibble shot back.

“They need her to sign a treaty to make this invasion of theirs legal. They can't afford to kill her.” Captain Panaka explained.

Nathrrya couldn’t keep her mouth shut any longer; so far she had been content to let the Jedi Master do all the talking. At least with her Imperial accent people took notice.

“Listen, the situation here is not what it appears to be. There is something else behind all this, Your Highness. There is no logic in the Federation's move here. The Force is telling me that if you remain here they will destroy you.”

She spoke to the Queen gently but firmly and had also slipped a Force suggestion behind her words to prod the Naboo into taking action. She hated being idle when there were enemy forces within shooting distance. Idleness could get you killed.

Bibble turned to his queen and began to plead with her. “Please, Your Highness, reconsider. Our only hope is for the Senate to side with us... Senator Palpatine will need your help.”

“Getting past their blockade is impossible, Your Highness. Any attempt to escape will be dangerous.” The Security Captain pointed out.

“Your Highness, I will stay here and do what I can...They will have to retain the Council of Governors in order to maintain control. But you must leave...” Bibble begged.

The Queen listened to both sides and turned to face two of her handmaidens. “Either choice presents a great risk to all of us," she said. Nathrrya viewed this as a very odd exchange for a queen to address her handmaidens like that rather than the advisor and the captain. She narrowed her eyes as her mind tried to make sense of it.

“We are brave, Your Highness.” Padme replied. The queen nodded at her handmaiden's response.

That was the clincher. It finally hit her like a bolt of Force lightning - the queen was a decoy and the true queen was the maiden that responded. Nathrrya had to hand it to her that she was a very clever girl, but she blew her cover when she spoke. It was almost tactless how it occurred and when the Sith looked around at the present company no one showed signs that she caught the same thing she had. Unless the Jedi also caught this and didn't betray they knew. Either way, she pitied the girl.

“If you are to leave, Your Highness, it must be now.” Qui-Gon urged seemingly none the wiser for the decoy Queen’s misstep. The Sith caught this but remained silent.

“Then, I will plead our case before the Senate.” The Queen said as she turned to Bibble. “Be careful, Governor.”

“Wait here - I’ll deal with the droids and free the pilots.” Nathrrya got up before anyone could enter the main hanger.

Qui-Gon turned his attention to the Sith with a concerned look on his face. “Are you certain?” he asked.

Nathrrya turned and gave him a slight smile. “Of course. I doubt I’ll even break a sweat.”

There was a brief pause but the Jedi Master only nodded. "Very well. Obi-Wan and I will be here if you need us." To any more than that or to argue would be pointless. Nathrrya nodded and walked into the hanger activating her lightsaber as she did so.

Captain Panaka wasn't very thrilled seeing a woman going out there. Intimidating lightsaber or not he was still a gentleman as well as a soldier. He turned to the Jedi Master. "Is it really wise to let her go in there alone? She's out numbered."

Qui-Gon shared a quick glance with his Padawan. Based on what they both saw her do on the Trade flagship they both felt that she was the Sith equivalent to a Jedi Master - a Darth. Qui-Gon had no doubts that Nathrrya would be perfectly capable of handling a few droids.

"There is no need for concern," he finally said. "She is very capable and those droids won't be problematic."

_______________________________

When Nathrrya entered the hangar most of the battle droids started to approach her except the ones that were guarding the pilots and ground crew. The Sith raised her left arm, palm open, and then suddenly made a fist and brought her arm straight down. Most of the droids froze for a second before exploding in a shower of sparks, their component parts tumbling to the hangar floor.

The remaining six acted immediate and opened fire on their assailant, which Nathrrya easily deflected using the energy field of her activated lightsaber, and doing it one handed because she hadn’t gotten to show off since being released from her cabonite prison. She was feeling dramatic - she produced the blaster pistol she took earlier and shot the remaining droids point-blank in the center of their mechanical heads between the eye receptors. Once the last droid had fallen she deactivated her saber and returned it and the pistol to her utility belt. With a flick of her wrist and a gesture she had freed the Naboo pilots.

Nathrrya turned to face the door through which she had entered. The rest of the group was now filling into the hangar while the freed captives started to prepare the cruiser for takeoff.

“Your Highness, it’s time we left - your transport awaits.” Nathrrya made a slight bow.

_______________________

“That was impressive wasn’t it Master.” Obi-Wan said through their training bond as he and Qui-Gon walked alongside the Queen and her handmaidens.

“Indeed it was my Padawan.” Qui-Gon replied “I think we are right in thinking that Nathrrya is a Darth and I hadn’t even realised she’d picked up a blaster pistol.” That had been a surprise. He looked at Obi-Wan. He smirked with some amusement. “I wouldn’t let Siri see you with that expression, my Padawan.”

“What expression, Master?” Obi-Wan asked as he schooled his features into neutrality.

Qui-Go’sn smirk turned into a smile. “There is no shame in being appreciative. However, Siri may misinterpret it for something that it is not.”

Obi-Wan was becoming very uncomfortable. He wasn’t pleased about where the conversation was heading. “Whatever do you mean Master?”

The Jedi Master gave his Padawan a very droll look. “You know perfectly well what I mean Obi-Wan.”

He finally let the matter rest as they followed the final members of the group onto the cruiser. Qui-Gon could hardly reprimand his Padawan when he was in a similar predicament regarding Master Tahl. Perhaps Nathrrya had been right about the no-attachment rule being outdated.

____________________

The Royal Cruiser sped away from the Trade Federation blockade but not without damage. Its shield generator had been brought down but if it hadn’t been for the efforts of the cruisers compliant of Astromechs things may have been very different even if most of the little service droids had been destroyed in the process.

Ric Olie turned his pilots chair to face the others on the flight deck and, considering how small it was, the flight deck was pretty crowded with Captain Panaka and the three Jedi. The female Jedi made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and as for what he’d seen her do to those battle droids back in the hanger... Ric didn’t know what to think.

“There's not enough power to get us to Coruscant...the hyperdrive has been damaged.” The pilot said.

“We'll have to land somewhere to refuel and repair the ship.” Qui-Gon replied with a sigh.

“Here, Master,” Obi-Wan said. He was looking at the star chart and found a planet nearby, which he pointed out. “Tatooine... It's small, out of the way, poor... The Trade Federation has no presence there.”

Nathrrya peered over the Padawan’s shoulder and raised her brows in recognition. “Haven’t been on that dustball in a long time. It’s probably still the armpit of the galaxy and possessing the largest hive of scum and villainy you’re likely to find.”

“And how long ago was that?” Obi-Wan asked innocently.

“Not long enough.” The Sith shot back with a grin.

Captain Panaka gave the woman a concerned look before he turned to Qui-Gon. “How can you be so sure?” he asked.

“It's controlled by the Hutts...” The Jedi Master revealed.

Nathrrya muttered several choice curses under her breath. The Sith detested the oversized slugs with a passion and had never liked the Empire’s alliance with the creatures and as for the detachable that was Makeb the less said about that the better. Too think the Hutts now controlled Tatooine. It made her ill just thinking about the sheer amount of resources that both the Empire and Republic had put into that Force-forsaken dustball so long ago.

“The Hutts?” Panaka was not liking the idea at all.

“It's risky... but there's no alternative.” Obi-Wan said.

“You can't take Her Royal Highness there!” The Security Captain shuddered thinking about the possible failure if they landed the cruiser on that planet. “The Hutts are gangsters... If they discovered her...”

“It would be no different than if we landed in a system controlled by the Federation... except the Hutts aren't looking for her, which gives us an advantage.” Qui-Gon said.

Captain Panaka sighed in frustration. “Very well, Master Jedi. You and I will go and tell Her Highness the good news.” The man completely failed to hide his sarcasm.

____________

In a conference room aboard the Saak'ak, ironically the same one that the Jedi had been in not even a day earlier, sat Nute Gunray and Rune Haako. Before them was a hologram of Darth Sidious.

“We control all the cities in the North and are searching for any other settlements...” Nute informed the Dark Lord.

Sidious smiled evilly. “Destroy all high-ranking officials,Viceroy... slowly... quietly. And Queen Amidala, has she signed the treaty?”

“She has disappeared, my Lord,” Nute said shaking his head. “One Naboo cruiser got past the blockade.”

“Viceroy, find her!” Sidious bellowed without actually doing so. “I want that treaty signed.”

“My Lord, it's impossible to locate the ship. It's out of our sensor range.” Nute replied.

Sidious narrowed his eyes. “Not for a Sith...” His apprentice appeared behind him. “...Viceroy, this is my apprentice. Darth Maul. He will find your lost ship.”

“Yes, my Lord.” The hologram faded from view. “This is getting out of hand...now there are two of them.” Gunray said to his second in command.

“We should not have made this bargain. What will happen when the Jedi become aware of these Sith Lords?” Rune asked.

______________________

Nathrrya and Obi-Wan had escaped to the royal cruiser’s galley since there was no real need for them to be present while Master Jinn and the security captain informed the queen of their current predicament. Both were seated comfortably having some caff.

“Nathrrya, how do you perceive the Light Side of the Force?” Obi-Wan had been having thoughts about their new Sith companion and he was still very interested in learning about it in general. He had been thinking about this particular thing for some time. The Sith rolled the question around in her head for a moment.

“I’m aware of it,” she said. “I can see it but if I look at it for too long it can become almost blinding. It’s also something of a comfort to know it’s there… like, if I can see the Light Side then I know I haven’t gone too deeply into the Dark that I can’t find my way back.” When she looked up she smiled when she saw the surprised expression on the Padawan’s face. “Not quite the answer you were expecting, now was it Obi-Wan?”

“No it wasn’t,” he admitted. He looked down at the mug he held for a second, considering the liquid remaining within in. “But it explains why you seemed so... content in the Jedi Temple. Until you called on the Dark Side, I don’t even think Master Yoda would have realised you were a Sith.”

Nathrrya grinned and took another sip of her drink. “That’s nice of you to say but I would’ve given myself away eventually.”

Obi-Wan nodded, agreement in his eyes. “I suppose that’s true. But I thought all Sith immersed themselves in the Dark Side.”

Nathrrya shook her head. “Not all, no. Oh some do, however. This Darth Sidious, as an example... he’s so immersed in the Dark Side that he couldn’t find his way back to the Light even if he wanted to.” The Sith looked thoughtful. “The Dark Side gives great power but it asks for a great deal in return. You’re familiar with the concept of Dark Side corruption?” Obi-Wan just nodded and she continued. “There are ways to counter it, but the easiest and simplest is to not draw on the Dark Side too often or too deeply - something that is easier said than done. That’s why I keep the Light in view: If I do that then I know I won’t lose myself completely to the darkness.”

A companionable silence fell between the two Force-users as they drank their caff. Both of them sipped their drinks and listened to the buzzing people within the ship. Nathrrya was slightly aware of the fluctuations of the Force between them and just in general. It could be likened to the current of air on a gentle spring day.

After a while she looked up at the Padawan across from her and pursed her lips before she spoke again. “You know, Sith are allowed to love and have attachments.” He glanced down thoughtfully at her caff and waited a second. “It’s a shame the Jedi still has that outdated rule about no attachments. I’m sure you’d be a lot happier without it... and I’m certain Padawan Tachi would be, as well.”

“How do you know about that?” Obi-Wan asked, obviously shocked. The reaction only made the Sith grin.

“Please, it’s almost obvious. At least to me it is. Do you remember when I winked at you in the Council chambers? I could easily sense her emotions towards you and they were very un-Jedi like in nature.” She paused for a moment and watched him, seeing what he would do. “I’d wager you feel the same way about her.”

The Padawan tried to keep his composure under the scrutinizing eye of the female Sith, but he eventually lost it and sighed defeatedly. “There’s no denying it then. Yes, Siri and I are very… close.”

Obi-Wan started a little at the extremely frustrated groan that came from the woman before him. Needless to say it was almost un-lady like but he’d somewhat come to terms that he would forever be surprised by what this person had in store.

“Oh for the love of the Living Force!” She made a point by thumping her mug on the table to get her frustration across if the groan didn’t make it clear. “Would it kill you to just admit to being in love with her?”

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow at her and took a very smug look upon his face. He leaned forward a little and grinned. “Apparently I don’t see the need since you’ve admitted it for me.”

She could have Force choked him. She settled with burying her face in her hands and pulling at her hair for added drama. “Bloody Jedi. Fine! Be stubborn and see if I care.”

She would admit that she was having some fun talking to the Padawan, and she figured she would have to change tact. Part of her wondered what her purpose was in even bringing this up. Perhaps that missing piece of her was trying to make itself known?

“Listen,” she said, continuing, “This has nothing to do with the Jedi Code or falling to the Dark Side. What I’m trying to talk about here is about feeling a perfectly normal, healthy emotion. If the Jedi Order can’t even admit to the concept of love then it’s much more trouble than I thought.”

A mild sense of annoyance washed over the Padawan. “What would you know about love, Sith?” He whispered the last word, knowing that eavesdroppers would catch it if he said it too loudly. But he instantly regretted saying the whole thing altogether when he saw the very hurt expression he received from the woman on the other side of the table. Perhaps he shouldn’t have phrased it quite the way he had. He prepared himself for the impending onslaught of emotion. But it never came.

“I know far more than you do, Padawan,” she said softly. Her shoulders slouched and her eyes dropped to the table for a moment. A mixture of happiness and sadness twitched on the corner of her lips. “It hurts like nothing in the galaxy when it goes wrong, but it can ignite the very stars themselves when it’s right.” There was a wistful expression on her features now.

“I loved a man once, probably far more than was wise for me to do. I didn’t care because I didn’t have to be anything when I was with him. I could just...be.” She looked up at him for a moment. “Do you want to hear the rest?”

Obi-Wan was intrigued now. But he couldn’t help but sense the emotion she was giving. It could have been much stronger. All he could do was nod and she continued.

“His name was Malavai Quinn.” She smiled when she said his name. Obi-Wan could see how her eyes brightened and her features took shape of a woman in love. She looked proud to get to say his name as she had and it sounded like she held it in high regard. “He was an Imperial Military officer assigned to my ship. I took great delight in flirting with him because he was so by the book that he had no idea how to take my advances.” Her smile loosened into a chuckle as she remembered how he would be a perfectly articulate man when he was on the ball and, as soon as she threw something at him, he became a bumbling mess. It was more entertainment at first before it became anything serious.

“He eventually cracked, and for me it was well worth the wait. We created many happy moments together in the time that we were one. There were numerous occasions where the rest of the crew found other things to do outside of the ship because we were impossible to listen to.” There were two connotations there and Obi-Wan caught them both, one of them making him blush just ever so slightly. But then her smile faded, her eyes didn’t hold that lover’s gleam. Obi-Wan remained silent, not trusting his own words, and waited for her to continue.

“It didn’t last. He eventually betrayed me… tried to kill me and almost succeeded. Before he sprang his trap he revealed that he’d been a plant posted in my crew by my former master, Darth Baras. Baras had planned to have me killed from the very beginning. He manipulated Quinn into trying to finish me off because I threatened his plans.” Her eyes became distant, as if she was looking at it as it happened. “When those war droids came into the room, and Quinn was standing there looking at me, I felt everything shatter from the tower of care and compassion we had built up to that point. It was the most debilitating feeling I’d ever experienced. And it was calculated to hurt, to destabilize me just enough to weaken my abilities. But I made it through. I turned those droids into shrapnel.”

Obi-Wan swallowed something that had built in his throat and he inhaled slowly, realizing he hadn’t really taken a breath while she told the story. He had to ask, but he feared the answer. “Did you… did you kill your lover?”

The woman held his eyes for a second before shaking her head. “No. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I still loved Quinn so much.” Obi-Wan felt relieved. “But I wanted to, trust me. Any self-preserving Sith would have killed him without any indication of thought. And I very well could have, too.” She lifted her hand as if she was going to Force choke someone, but she didn’t use her Force powers. She was merely demonstrating how simple it could have been for her to end the man’s life. He felt his heart beat faster but he noticeably relaxed when she slackened her arm and it thumped down on the table like dead weight.

“When he was on the ground, surrounded by his failed attempt to kill me, I saw something very different than what most Sith would have seen. An extremely broken man. We were probably in worse shape than the droids were. But the way he looked up at me after all he had done, to see the pain and suffering in his soul through those amazingly blue eyes… I was ruined. It turned out we had been each other's’ undoing.” She let out a very sad sigh.

“So… what happened, then?”

She shrugged indifferently. “We both went back to the ship and never said a word about it to anyone about what happened in that warehouse. I cried myself to sleep that night because I couldn’t have the man I loved in bed next to me, and I cried more knowing that I would never have him again.”

There was an intense silence between them as Obi-Wan took the story and the emotions and rolled it around in his mind. “I… I don’t know what to say.”

Nathrrya smiled, but it was sad. “You needn’t worry, Obi-Wan. I guess what I want you to get out of this is to just admit that you love Siri, even if it’s only to yourself. Preferably you would admit it to her so she could have a chance to return it. But hiding your true feelings is rarely healthy and it goes against what it means to be human. We were meant to have these emotions, they are very much part of life. But what most Force users don’t think with is that there is solace in being able to let go. When the time comes, letting go and coming to terms with it is the bravest and hardest thing to do, and when you really come to terms with it, you have that much more freedom to see what’s right there in front of you. That is why some Jedi succumb to the Dark Side… they can’t let go of the negative that inflicts them when they’ve lost something so precious… so valuable… so very much of what life is.”

She looked up and held Obi-Wan’s eyes for a very long moment. They spent that time only looking at one another, both regarding the other in a completely different light than their first meeting. It was then that the Padawan saw exactly what this woman built herself on, how she worked, what she believed. It was mind boggling and went against so much that he had learned in his time training to be a Jedi.

It was slightly out of character, but it felt appropriate at the time. Nathrrya reached over and put her hand on his. “Confess your feelings, and should anything happen to her, learn to let go.” She retracted her arm and he looked down where she had touched him. It was the friendliest gesture he’d experienced since being around the Sith. He nodded his head slowly.

“I will think on your words, Nathrrya,” he said. “I can promise nothing more.”

The Sith smiled. “That’s all I ask of you.”

Unbeknownst to the two of them, Qui-Gon had witnessed the last moments of their conversation. Interestingly enough, he too would have to meditate and think on the words of the Sith about admitting emotional feelings and attachments. Perhaps there was hope for the Jedi yet.

“That has to be the worst idea I have ever heard of,” Nathrrya stated, shaking her head. “Are you out of your bloody mind?”

“It will help us to blend in if I take Jar Jar with me.” Qui-Gon replied. He saw no reason for this to be a bad thing.

“With us, you mean, Jedi,” she replied, beginning to become annoyed. “I’m coming with you whether you approve of it or not. If you bring Jar Jar I’m sure I’ll accidentally end up Force choking him, and it won’t be my fault if I do.” She raised a hand to her head and rubbed her temples, trying to alleviate an oncoming headache from the sheer stupidity of the concept of Jar Jar being a good idea. “Enlighten me, Master Jinn, but how can you possibly think that having Jar Jar with us will assist us to blend in? He’s a Gungan, a swamp-dwelling...thing… and we’re on a Force-forsaken desert planet. He will attract more attention rather than deflect it.”

“Master, Nathrrya does make a relative point,” Obi-Wan offered, attempting to calm things down between the two. They had been arguing for at least ten minutes by this time and he was pleasantly impressed that the Sith hadn’t nearly lost her temper as he thought she would. But her tense shoulders, the frown on her features and the general feel of the Force around her indicated that it wouldn’t be too long before she did. “You have to admit… the Gungan is rather accident-prone.”

Qui-Gon considered his Padawan and looked at the Sith again before he eventually sighed in defeat. “Very well - perhaps it’s best that Jar Jar stays here on the ship.” After the statement there was a not-so-muted sound of “yeppie!” heard in the background followed closely by more than a few groans of dismay. “And we all felt the disturbance in the Force.”

Nathrrya snorted and dropped her arm, her hand slapping her side as she did so. “Is that what you call it? A ‘disturbance’? To me if felt a lot more like a herd of stampeding Bantha. You-know-who is most likely looking for us and the queen. Trust me, you’ll want me around if he shows up and pays us a visit.”

Just at that moment, the astromech droid R2-D2 rolled into the room and made a series of beeps and whistles. Nathrrya’s space seemed to calm some when he announced the good news. She reached down and pat the little droid on his dome appreciatively. “That’s great to hear, Arr-Two. With the list of parts we need we can get this hunk of junk off this planet.” She raised her voice slightly. “And we know that half of the crew are standing in the hallway. They forget we’re Jedi and can sense them.”

The droid rolled out of the room and the Sith followed. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were left alone. The Padawan crossed his arms and grinned at his master. “Looks like she outmaneuvered you again, Master.”

Qui-Gon frowned. “It would seem so. One would think she’d taken over control of this mission.”

“Would that be a bad thing, considering what it is we may face?”

“Perhaps not,” he replied, considering Obi-Wan’s question. “But it’s quite awkward to have my authority challenged in such a fashion.”

His Padawan nodded in agreement. “I understand, Master. But she is a master in her own right, so I can see that the two of you won’t always see eye to eye and will disagree at times."

“You’re correct in your assessment, Obi-Wan.” He nodded, indicating that the conversation was done with. He put his hand on his Padawan’s shoulder briefly. “Remember, don’t let them send any transmissions. The Trade will attempt to locate the Queen if they do so.”

“I understand, Master. May the Force be with you.”

_____________________

“And how is that keeping a low profile?” Master Jinn asked when Nathrrya came up to him from the ship. She was wearing the same outfit as the day she came to the Jedi council. The only addition was the blaster pistol on her utility belt. She came up him and grinned, shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight. The dust was already beginning to tickle her nose and she hated it.

“You’d be surprised what people don’t take notice of. I could pass as a mercenary or a bounty hunter. I’ve always worn this style to distract my targets. Succeeded each and every time.”

“Where is your lightsaber?” he asked.

She pointed to a place in the duster that she wore. “It’s right here, out of sight but within easy reach if I need it.”

“Wait!”

Captain Panaka had called to them as he was coming down from the ramp of the cruiser. Both the Jedi and the Sith turned to see him rushing towards them with one of the Queen’s handmaidens in tow. Both of the Naboo natives seemed to falter when they saw Nathrrya’s choice of clothing, very different from the Jedi robes she had been wearing up to this point. When the Sith saw the peasants garb that Padme was wearing, she had to use a significant amount of effort to keep herself from facepalming.

You’ve got to be kidding me, she thought to herself. If taking Jar Jar was a bad idea this had to be a completely different level of bad and it happened to be another crate of monkey-lizards that she didn’t want to open. She just prayed that nothing else happened. Maybe an asteroid or a meteor would explode the planet with them on it.

Nathrrya looked up at the sky for good measure.

“Her Highness commands you to take her handmaiden with you,” Panaka said. “She wishes for her to observe the local...”

Qui-Gon shook his head. “No more commands from Her Highness today, Captain. This spaceport is not going to be pleasant.”

“The Queen wishes it; she is curious about this planet.” he said. Nathrrya saw the look of consideration on Jinn’s face.

“For the love of the Living Force, please don’t tell me you’re actually considering this insane request.”

“I’ve been trained in defence. I can take care of myself.” Padme had spoken up for the first time. “Don’t make us go back and tell the Queen you refused.”

“Neither of you will have to because she’s right here,” Nathrrya said. She turned to Padme with a glare. “Isn’t that right, Your Highness?”

“How did you know?” Padme was obviously surprised. Captain Panaka also wanted to know how it was discovered as well. Even the Jedi Master was piqued.

The Sith rolled her eyes. Did she really have to explain this? “In the hangar on Naboo. Your decoy made the tactless mistake of turning towards you when she spoke of the risk. You made the equally tactless blunder of responding. I found the exchange to be odd.”

Padme looked to deflate in her confidence. She noticeably slumped and even her tone didn’t have as much bite to it as it had a moment ago. “So, I guess this means I’m not going with you to Mos Espa?”

“Damn right you’re not, Your Highness,” she said. It was hard but she honestly cared about her safety and that tint was laced all over her response. “Look, the spaceport is going to be filled with slavers, smugglers, criminals…” To make her point she ticked off each thing on her fingers. “And, let’s not forget this Force-forsaken dustball is also controlled by the Hutts, so in addition to all of that you also have prostitution, gambling and the trafficking of every illicit substance you can think of ten times over.”

Padme was young, but she wasn’t an idiot and Nathrrya communicated in such a way to address her more intelligent side. She saw that Padme was slowly understanding the true danger the planet possessed. Nathrrya turned to Panaka.

“Captain, I implore you to do your job and safeguard your monarch. Your post is head of security, so please… for the love of the galaxy… secure her!”

Panaka noted the sharpness of her command, indicating that she was very much in charge at the moment. He snapped a salute to her with a “Yes Sir!” before escorting a grumbling Padme back to the safety of the cruiser.

___________

The Sith, the Jedi and the astromech, R2-D2, made their way through Mos Espa to locate some of the smaller junk dealers. While the three of them made their way through the streets it was obvious that most of the male population, alien or human, were oggling the woman rather openly. The stares and mutters and the occasional cat call didn’t bother her in the slightest. However, one of the street thugs decided to be bold and attempted to frisk her, to which he was promptly put on his back on the ground before he could really touch her and had the barrel of the woman’s blaster flush against his manhood. Nathrrya’s cold, hard stare and her evil smile terrified him. Seeing her display the other men decided to give them all a very wide berth.

Once her dominance was established on the streets they managed to find a suitable junk dealer shop. As they entered a flying alien insect creature came out from the back and grumbled in Huttese.

“What do you want?” Watto asked.

Qui-Gon nodded his head in greeting. “I need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian.”

**** - could this become any more difficult? Nathrrya was becoming sour. Toydarians were immune to Force suggestion and mind tricks. For good measure she looked out of the nearest window at the sky to make sure of the meteor theory from earlier.

“Ah yes, ah yes. Nubian. We have lots of that. What kinda junk?” Watto turned towards the back of the shop slightly. “Boy, get in here! Now!”

“My droid here has a readout of what I need.” Qui-Gon said as R2 beeped a conformation.

Nathrrya’s attention was taken by the arrival of a rather dishevelled, scruffy looking, blonde haired boy who she’d guess to be about eight or nine years of age. The Sith’s Force senses threatened to overwhelm her as the boy was awash in the Force. His power was vast, untapped and untrained and if his Force signature was much brighter she would have to wear eye protection just to look at him. What Nathrrya found strange was that he had no Darkness in him at all - not a speck. Considering where the boy lived that was hard to believe.

She glanced over at Qui-Gon to see if he had noticed it as well and it was his stoicness that made her promise never to play cards against him. If the Jedi Master had picked up on what she felt then he was showing no outward sign that it was the case.

“What took you so long?” Watto asked raising an arm as if to strike the boy.

“I was cleaning the bin like you...” Anakin replied trying not to flinch.

“Never mind!” Watto waved away the excuse. “Watch the store I've got some selling to do here.” He turned to Qui-Gon. “So, let me take you out back. You'll find what you need.”

As the Jedi and the astromech left with Watto, Nathrrya found herself a comfortable wall to lean against and wait until Qui-Gon returned. The boy had hopped up onto a counter and was trying to look busy by, apparently, cleaning some random parts. In reality, he was carefully and sneakily studying the woman he was left with.

The boy, Anakin Skywalker, had been able to read people. He didn’t know how he was able to do this and he didn’t know why, but he just could. It came in handy at times and his mysterious ability was telling him that this woman, innocently leaning against the wall and minding her own business, could be extremely dangerous even though he had an odd feeling of safety around her. If he had to explain it, it would be odd.

“Are you an angel?” Anakin asked thoughtfully.

Nathrrya raised an eyebrow at the question. “No, I don’t believe so. Though I’ve been called many names in my life, young man, most of which were not very complementary.” The Sith considered the boy for a moment. “Tell me about these angels?”

“I've heard the deep space pilots talk about them,” he answered. “They live on the Moons of Iego I think. They are the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They are good and kind, and so pretty they make even the most hardened space pirate cry.”

“Hmm, can’t say I’ve ever met one of these angels…” she said, thoughtfully. “Then again, maybe I have now that I think about it, or perhaps know of someone who could be one and doesn’t know it.”

In Nathrrya’s opinion, the boy hand described Padme pretty well. The young monarch was beautiful, or would be given a few more years, and she was good and kind even if she were a little naive. Nathrrya just wished the Force would stop prodding her so damned hard. “Would you like to meet an angel?”

Anakin’s eyes went wide. “Do you mean that?”

“Well I can’t promise anything but I’ll do my best to arrange something.” Nathrrya said honestly. “Tell me young man how do you know so much?”

“Since I was very little - three, I think - my Mom and I were sold to Gardulla the Hutt, but she lost us betting on the Podraces to Watto, who's a lot better master than Gardulla, I think.” Anakin replied.

“Hutts and slavery, that doesn’t surprise me.” Nathrrya said darkly wishing she could Force choke the lowlife that had sold a mother and child into servitude on this pit of a world... and probably a number of other sentients while she was at it.

“You don’t like slavery, do you?” Anakin observed.

“No, I don’t. I utterly detest the practice.” It was one reason she had removed Vette’s shock collar as soon as she was able to. Her blue skinned Twi'lek thief had become a surrogate sister in time. Just thinking about her brought a pang of lonliness to the Sith’s mind, but she pushed it aside when Qui-Gon re-entered the shop followed closely by R2-D2. The astromech was making a series of disgruntled beeps and whirs.

“We’re leaving.” The Jedi Master said as he passed Nathrrya.

The Sith rolled her eyes knowing exactly what had happened. “Well it was nice meeting you...”

“Anakin,” The boy replied “Anakin Skywalker.”

“Call me Nathrrya.” She said before going after Qui-Gon. She had to jog to catch up with him but soon fell into step beside the man.

“You tried a Force suggestion didn’t you?”

“Yes.” Qui-Gon said clearly grumpy.

“Watto is a Toydarian,” she pointed out with an amused tone. “They so happen to be immune to them.”

“So I’ve discovered.” Qui-Gon replied “Why didn’t you say something?”

“You never asked.” Nathrrya said in a smug tone.

_____________________

Watto entered his shop, shaking his head “Outlanders! They think because we live so far from the centre, we don't know nothing.” He grumbled.

“They seemed nice to me.” Anakin replied.

“Clean the racks, then you can go home.” Watto said as he flew off.

________________________________

“So we’ve got nothing to barter with, fantastic.” Nathrrya said. She looked off to the east and just contained herself enough to keep from kicking the sand like a disgruntled child. “Oh, how lovely! A sandstorm is on its way.” She pointed off in the distance at the hulking, swirling mass of tan and brown coloured sand. She hit herself in the head, thinking that if Qui-Gon had eyes he would have seen it without her having to present it like an award.

“We’ll head back to the ship then.” Qui-Gon replied. His companion shook her head.

“No way will we make it back there before that gets to us. Tatooine sandstorms are deadly. There haven’t been any survivors. We’ll have to hole up somewhere and ride it out.” She felt a wave of Force energy tickle her senses and she turned just in time to see the boy from the junk shop. She called out to him and he looked up, seeing her and her friend. He smiled.

“Hi Nathrrya! What do you need?”

She pointed to the large obvious, ominous cloud of dust. “Sandstorm! We won’t make it back to the ship before it hits us. Do you know where we can take some shelter until it passes over?”

As she spoke to the boy Qui-Gon had adjusted his robes. In doing so his lightsaber was briefly revealed and Anakin got a quick glimpse of it, which he took note of. He then thought for a moment and had an idea. “Well, better come home with me and stay there for now. Mom shouldn't mind.”

___________________

“Mom! Mom! I'm home.” Anakin called as he, Qui-Gon, Nathrrya and R2-D2 entered the slave hovel Anakin called home.

“I’ve seen worse.” The Sith said as she looked around the compact space.

Anakin's mother, Shmi, came into the main room from her work area and was clearly startled to see the room full of people.

“Oh, my!! Ani, what's this?” Shmi asked placing a hand over her chest.

“These are my friends, Mom. This is Nathrrya, and...gee, I don't know any of your names.” Anakin said.

“I'm Qui-Gon Jinn,” the Jedi Master said with a slight bow. “And this is our droid, Artoo-Deetoo.”

“Anakin why are they here?” Shmi asked a little concerned about her son’s actions.

“A sandstorm has hit Mos Espa,” Nathrrya explained, her voice gentle and friendly. “As we would have never made it back to our ship, your son was hospitable enough to offer shelter until it passes.”

“Come on! Let me show you Threepio!” Anakin tugged at Nathrrya’s sleeve.

The woman just shrugged and followed the eager young boy into another room and R2-D2 rolled behind them, beeping all the way.”

“Don’t you think she’s a bit old for my son?” Shmi asked amused by the whole thing. Qui-Gon, admittedly, didn’t know how to respond to that.

_____________________

Anakin showed off his partly completed droid to Nathrrya, which was lying across his workbench. The Sith eyed the… thing. There was only one eye receptor on the head and pretty much the entire body of the droid had no outer casings.

“Isn't he great?!” Anakin asked, enthused by his creation. “He's not finished yet.”

“I can see that,” the Sith replied, amusement in her voice and a smirk on her lips. “You’ve got some very impressive mechanical skills to build him from nothing.”

“You really like him?” Anakin asked. Nathrrya just nodded. “He's a protocol droid...to help Mom. Watch!”

Anakin activated the droid. As soon as it sat up Anakin saw the missing eye receptor and ran over to the other side of the room to retrieve it and quickly pressed it into the empty socket. The light lit up and and the droid slowly swung his incomplete legs over the side of the bench and stood up, though wobbly.

“How do you do?” it said. “I am C-3PO, Human Cyborg Relations. How might I serve you?”

“Oh Force! You’ve recreated 2V-R8!” Nathrrya groaned when she heard the voice. The look on her face was rather dismayed. “I honestly don’t know if I should be impressed or terrified…”

Anakin gave the woman a very confused look, one which didn’t go unnoticed by the Sith. She calmed herself and rubbed the back of her neck. “Many years ago I had a ship that came with a protocol droid called 2V-R8. He sounded almost exactly like your C-3PO.”

That clarified things, but Anakin was still a very excited young boy and, of course, the topic changed. “When the storm’s over I’ll show you the racer I have. I’m building a Podracer!”

The Sith looked thoughtful upon hearing this. Podracing might just be the answer to their little problem and she certainly going to remember this. During her musings, R2-D2 let out a whirl of beeps and whistles towards the protocol droid.

“I beg your pardon... what do you mean I'm naked?” it asked. R2-D2 beeped again.

“My parts are showing? Oh, my goodness. How embarrassing!”

Nathrrya couldn’t help herself as she burst out into a fit of very girlish giggles which then turned into full blown laughter.

________________________________

Qui-Gon had taken five small capsules from his utility belt and handed them to Shmi. “I have enough food for a meal.”

“Oh, thank you!” Shmi replied, taking them. “Thank you so much. I'm sorry if I was abrupt. I'll never get used to Anakin's surprises.”

“He's a very special boy.” The Jedi master said thoughtfully. The woman smiled and nodded.

“Yes, I know.”

Qui-Gon’s communicator went off and he turned away. “What is it, Obi-Wan?”

“We’ve received a transmission from Naboo,” he said. “Conditions there are not good. If it’s to be believed, then the people are dying. The Queen is upset... but absolutely no reply was sent.”

“It sounds like bait to establish a connection trace.” Qui-Gon said.

“We suspected they would try such a thing,” the Padawan agreed. “What if it is true and the people are dying?” he asked.

“Either way, we're running out of time.” The Jedi master said grimly.

___________________________

It was night time on Coruscant and two cloaked figures were walking along a balcony overlooking the city.

“Tatooine is sparsely populated. If the trace was correct, I will find them quickly, Master.” Darth Maul said as he walked several paces behind his master.

“Move against the Jedi first... you will then have no difficulty taking the Queen back to Naboo, where she will sign the treaty.” Darth Sidious instructed.

“At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last we will have revenge.” A sinister smile crossed the Zabrak’s face.

“You have been well trained, my young apprentice. They will be no match for you. It is too late for them to stop us now. Everything is going as planned. The Republic will soon be at my command.”

_____________________

“Have you ever seen a Podrace, Nathrrya?” Anakin asked as they ate dinner.

The Sith shook her head noticing the worried look on Shmi’s face as she did so. “I’ve heard of it but I’ve never had the experience to see one.”

“They have Podracing on Malastare.” Qui-Gon said. “Very fast, very dangerous.”

“I'm the only human who can do it.” Anakin said with some pride. He then noticed the look his mother was giving him. “Mom, what? I'm not bragging. It's true. Watto says he's never heard of a human doing it.”

“You must have Jedi reflexes if you race Pods.” Qui-Gon said. Or a Sith’s. He thought looking over at Nathrrya, who just smiled.

“I... I was wondering... something...” Anakin asked unsure.

“What?” The Jedi Master prompted.

“Well, ahhh... you're a Jedi Knight, aren't you?” the boy asked.

“What makes you think that?” Qui-Gon said raising an eyebrow.

“I saw your laser sword. Only Jedi carry that kind of weapon.” Anakin said.

Qui-Gon leaned back and slowly smiled. No Anakin, Jedi are not the only ones to carry such a weapon. He thought glancing at the Sith sitting across from him. And I fear you’ll learn that all too soon. “Perhaps I killed a Jedi and stole it from him.” Nathrrya almost snorted in her drink but managed to contain herself.

Anakin shook his head “I don't think so... No one can kill a Jedi Knight.”

“I wish that were so...” Qui-Gon said sadly.

“I had a dream I was a Jedi. I came back here and freed all the slaves... have you come to free us?” Anakain asked hopefully. Nathrrya glanced between the boy and the Jedi Master as she drank.

“No, I'm afraid not...” Qui-Gon replied

“I think you have... why else would you be here?”

Qui-Gon looked thoughtful for a moment and made eye contact with Nathrrya, who gave a slight nod and an encouraging smile. Anakin didn’t notice the exchange but Shmi had and it made her wonder just who the red-haired woman was if a Jedi Knight was conferring with her.

“I can see there's no fooling you...” Qui-Gon said as he leaned forward. “You mustn't let anyone know about us... we're on our way to Coruscant - the central system in the Republic - on a very important mission, and it must be kept secret.”

“Coruscant... wow... how did you end up here in the outer rim?” the boy asked.

“Our ship was damaged, and we're stranded here until we can repair it.” Nathrrya explained.

“I can help! I can fix anything!” Anakin cried. The boys eyes brightened at the idea of working on a ship.

“I believe you can, but our first job is to acquire the parts we need.” Qui-Gon said.

“But we have nothing to barter with.” Nathrrya reminded the master. It was all she could do to keep her annoyance down. “The junk dealers have a weakness don’t they?” she asked, turning to Shmi.

“Gambling,” she admitted. “Everything here revolves around betting on those awful races.”

“Podracing... Greed can be a powerful ally.. if it's used properly.” Qui-Gon noted.

“You almost sounded like a Sith when you said that, Qui-Gon.” Nathrrya said telepathically, clearly amused by the thought. She grinned at him over the forkful of food she put to her lips. The Jedi Master gave the Sith a dirty look in response - once again overlooked by the boy but not his mother.

“I've built a racer! It's the fastest ever... There's a big race tomorrow, on Boonta Eve. You could enter my pod. It's all but finished...” Anakin said becoming excited.

“Anakin, settle down…” his mother chided, her expression worried. “Watto won't let you.”

“Watto doesn't know I've built it!” Anakin said as he turned to Qui-Gon. “You could make him think it's yours, and you could get him to let me pilot it for you.”

Both the Sith and the Jedi could feel Shmi’s anxiety, she clearly didn’t like her boy racing pods. “I don't want you to race, Ani... It's awful. I die every time Watto makes you do it.”

“But Mom, I love it... and they need help... they're in trouble.” He turned to his mother with a look on his face only a child could make in the advisary of his mother. “The prize money would more than pay for the parts they need.”

“Your mother's right,” Qui-Gon said, siding with Shmi.

For the love of the Living Force, Nathrrya sighed inwardly. Qui-Gon, make up your mind on who’s side you’re on.

“Is there anyone friendly to the Republic who might be able to help us?” Qui-Gon asked, looking at Anakin’s mother.

Shmi shook her head. “No the Republic doesn’t exist out here.”

“We have to help them, Mom...you said that the biggest problem in the universe is no one helps each other...”

“I'm sure Qui-Gon doesn't want to put your son in danger,” Nathrrya piped up. “We will find another way...” She knew full well that the only other way would be to outright steal the parts they needed. She didn’t have any particular trouble with that course of action, but her Jedi companion most certainly would.

Or would he? He had a very Sith-like thought earlier that Nathrrya was only slightly shaken on his frame of mind.

“No,” Shmi said, shaking her head. “Ani's right, there is no other way... I may not like it, but he can help you... he was meant to help you.”

“Is that a yes?” the boy asked, enthusiastically. His eyes brightened and he all but jumped out of his chair. “That is a yes!”

Nathrrya and Qui-Gon walked side by side as they made their way through the spaceport towards Watto’s shop. The Sith was uneasy.

“I don’t like this,” she said. “The plan could easily backfire on us."

“You don’t think that Anakin can win the race?” Qui-Gon asked, perturbed that the Sith was uneasy. He frowned and the sun glistened on the beads of sweat on his brow.

“No, not at all,” she replied. “He’ll most certainly win - this I have no doubts about. I’m bothered by Watto. If he becomes too much of a problem… well, I can think of a few ways of making him see our side of things.”

“You’re talking about the Dark Side,” Qui-Gon stated with disapproval.

Nathrrya shook her head. “You’d think so, but I don’t believe I’d need to resort to that with Watto. Fear is a powerful tool and it has nothing to do with the Dark Side. Make him fear us and as long as he believes it’s in his best interest he’ll do what we want.” She patted her blaster to make her point.

________________________________________

Watto flew over to the two Force users when Nathrrya and Qui-Gon walked into his shop. Anakin walked behind his master.

“The boy tells me you wanta sponser him insa race. You can't afford parts. How can you do this? Not on Republic credits, I think.” Watto laughed.

“My ship will be the entry fee.” Qui-Gon said as he produced a small holo of the ship to show the junk dealer.

“Not bad... not bad... a Nubian.” Watto said thoughtfully rubbing his chin.

“It's in good order, except for the parts we need.”

“But what would the boy ride?” Watto asked. “He smashed up my Pod in the last race. It will take some time to fix it.”

Qui-Gon smiled “I have... acquired a Pod in a game of chance. ‘The fastest ever built’.”

“I hope you didn't kill anyone I know for it.” Watto laughed at his own bad joke. “So, you supply the Pod and the entry fee; I supply the boy. We split the winnings fifty-fifty, I think.”

“Fifty-fifty!?” Qui-Gon asked not at all pleased. “If it's going to be fifty-fifty, I suggest you front the cash for the entry. If we win, you keep all the winnings, minus the cost of the parts I need... If we lose, you keep my ship.” Watto seemed to be considering the offer. Qui-Gon opened his arms gesturing to the deal. “Either way, you win.”

“Deal!” Watto agreed to the terms. Qui-Gon reached out his hand to shake and Watto slapped the Force user’s palm in agreement to the deal. He turned to Anakin then. “Your friend is a foolish one, me thinks.”

Nathrrya caught the comment and smirked. “Who’s the more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows him?” She grinned at the shop owner before following Master Jinn out of the door.

______________

Nathrrya and Qui-Gon were standing on the back porch of the Skywalker hovel. Below them in the courtyard they could see Anakin tinkering with his Pod along with Artoo and some of his friends.

“What if this plan fails, Master? We could be stuck here for a long time.” Obi-Wan’s voice came through Qui-Gon’s comlink and there was an obvious note of concern when listening to the Padawan.

“A ship without a power supply will not get us anywhere,” the master said. “And there is something about this boy...”

Obi-Wan groaned “Please tell me you’re not bringing back another pathetic life form, Master. We already have one of those.”

Nathrrya chuckled at Obi-Wan’s referral to the Gungan. “We may well be Obi-Wan. However there is something unusual about the boy.”

“We have to go my Padawan, Anakin’s mother is coming.” Qui-Gon closed the connection and had just put the comlink away as Shmi came onto the porch.

“You should be proud of your son. He gives without any thought of reward.” The Jedi Master remarked looking down at the boy.

Shmi smiled. “He knows nothing of greed. He has...”

“He has special powers.” Qui-Gon finished.

“Yes...”

Qui-Gon nodded. “He can see things before they happen. That's why he appears to have such quick reflexes. It is a Jedi trait.”

Nahrrya had been leaning against the wall against the hovel when she picked up on what Qui-Gon was saying to Shmi. She glanced over to him and raised her eyebrow. Qui-Gon… what are you doing? she thought to herself.

“He deserves better than a slave's life,” Shmi said sadly as she looked down at her son.

“The Force is unusually strong with him, that much is clear. Who was his father?” Qui-Gon asked.

“There was no father that I know of... I carried him, I gave him birth... I can't explain what happened. Can you help him?” Shmi asked though it was clear the subject was an awkward one.

That you know of? Nathrrya inwardly snorted. Lady, you either did it with someone or you didn’t. She rolled her eyes but remained quiet.

“I'm afraid not. Had he been born in the Republic, we would have identified him early, and he would have become Jedi, no doubt...he has the way. But it's too late for him now, he's too old.” Qui-Gon replied.

The Sith ground her teeth but held her tongue despite having a few choice words for the Jedi Master. She waited until they finished their conversation and Shmi had disappeared back inside the hovel and out of earshot. She glared at the Jedi and he looked back at her, the expression on his face clearly asking what her problem had to be now.

“Were you just saying that your Order still has that laser-brained idea of kidnapping younglings from their families?” She couldn’t believe the idea of it and even her question betrayed her annoyance and disbelief of the concept.

“It is not kidnapping,” Qui-Gon defended. “The Jedi just recruit at a young age that’s all.”

Nathrrya rolled her eyes at the man and kicked herself off the wall to face him, her arms crossed over her chest. “Right… sure. But no matter how you dissect it, it’s still kidnapping, Master Jedi.” The fury was building. “And what happens to them when they… what was it? When they turn thirteen and a master or a Knight hasn’t chosen them? Huh? What happens, Qui-Gon? They get shipped off to some agro world and have their dreams crushed? I’m sorry, but I’m very surprised that there aren’t more fallen Jedi or Jedi-turned-Sith around here if the Order treats their recruits like that, especially if they’re so precious to you.”

Qui-Gon responded with a thunderous expression, his own fury going through his eyes. Nathrrya felt the wave in the Force around the man but she was defiant and held her ground. “Don’t you dare mock the Jedi Order for the Jedi way of life, Sith.”

She only smirked and took a good grip on the vibroknife she had inserted into the man’s pride. She was going to twist it and then pull it out in a flourish. “Anakin is the perfect age to start Sith training. Now that I think about it, it’s been far too long since I’ve taken an apprentice. He might even go for it when he finds out from the Jedi council that he’s ‘too old’, don’t you think?” She smirked and then it turned into an evil grin. She let a little bit of the Dark Side flutter around her and it touched the Jedi, startling him just a little bit.

“You wouldn’t dare…” Nathrrya’s tactics had worked and she was now successfully under the Jedi Master’s skin. Luckily enough for him she had no intention of taking the boy as her apprentice and certainly had no intent to train the kid, either. But she was still having fun.

“Oh, wouldn’t I?” she asked sweetly. “I’m Sith. I’d be a daft fool if I passed Anakin by. But if I were you, Master Jedi, I would be far more worried if Sidious discovered him… or his apprentice.”

That last thing was a sobering statement. It paused the Jedi and made him consider the truth in her words. “Yes… Darth Sidious is the real enemy.”

“Yes, he is.” She calmed herself and her demeanor changed. “I’m sorry - I may have poked a little further than I had meant to, but it was damn good fun to see your reactions.”

Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow at that. “What do you mean, Nathrrya?”

The Sith shrugged her shoulders. “I was trying to get you to see just how flawed the Jedi way is in training their apprentices. I don’t see it being totally wrong, but just flawed. And before you say anything, yes I’m aware of how flawed the Sith Code is as well. I went through it… and I managed to keep my sanity in the end.” She paused, her mind running over that whole period of time she spent in the tombs on Korriban and her first missions as her master’s apprentice on the Sith capital of Dromund Kaas. “There shouldn’t have to be an age limit for starting Force training,” she added. “I didn’t get to the Sith Academy until I was in my mid-twenties.”

“You didn’t?” Qui-Gon asked truly surprised.

“I can thank my parents for that,” she said, smiling. “They didn’t want to see their baby girl turned into a monster… and their fear was not without foundation. While they were both Force sensitive they weren’t strong in it. They both came from families that were known to have Force-strong children. I just so happen to be the unlucky one and got the full brunt of the power from both families, and I was born in Imperial Space, so I was destined for the Sith Academy sooner or later.”

“Are you saying you come from a line of Sith?” the Jedi Master asked with a frown.

Nathrrya shook her head, a slight smile on her face. “No, the opposite in fact. As far as I’m aware I’m the only Sith... the black Nerf of the family.” There was a hint of pride in her voice. Nathrrya becoming Sith may have been a case of cosmic bad luck, or the will of the Force, but she wore the dubious honour with pride... so she could stick to the more traditional members of her family. Her cousin, Force bless him, had never been like that and considering who he’d ended up with it was just as well.

“You’re descended from Jedi?” he asked, shocked to the core.

The smile Nathrrya gave the Jedi Master could be considered evil for the Sith was enjoying herself far, far too much. “Not only descended from but also related to - my cousin was a notable Jedi Knight. I’m not sure if your archives go that far back, but if they do they might even have archives of him and the Padawan he helped to train. He had the title of Hero of Tython and the honour of being the Slayer of the Sith Emperor.”

The pride and admiration she held for her cousin was very evident in her voice and this was surprising to the Jedi Master. But then her demeanor changed suddenly. It wasn’t as happy or carefree the way she was about her relative. “If the Sith had ever discovered my Jedi lineage, they would have executed me without a second thought.” She sighed and looked down at Anakin and saw him still tinkering with his Podracer. “Shall we go and see if that mobile deathtrap of his actually works?”

_______

Anakin was sitting on the balcony rail of the hovel he called home as Qui-Gon tended to a cut on his arm. As it was night time Anakin had leaned back to look at the vast blanket of stars in the sky - something he was prone to do when he had the chance.

“Sit still, Ani. Let me clean this cut.” The Jedi master admonished lightly.

“There are so many!” Anakin said looking up at the field of stars. “Do they all have a system of planets?”

“Most of them.” Nathrrya’s voice floated gently from the far corner of the balcony.

Both males startled slightly as they had forgotten she was there. The Sith was good at going unnoticed when she wished to.

“Has anyone been to them all?” Anakin asked after a few moments, looking back up at them.

“Not likely.” Qui-Gon said with a chuckle.

“I want to be the first one to see them all... Ouch!” He cried out and twisted his face when he saw the Jedi Master wipe a patch of blood off his arm.

“There, good as new.” Qui-Gon said with a smile.

“Ani, bedtime!” Shmi called from inside the hovel. Qui-Gon put the sample of Anakin 's blood into a comlink chip.

“What are you doing?” they boy asked curiously.

Qui-Gon regarded Anakin for a few moments. “Checking your blood for infections.” The expression on Anakin’s face said he didn’t believe the Jedi Master. From her corner, the Sith buried her head in her hands to stifle a groan. The Jedi Master was being so unsubtle it was embarrassing. She, at least, would have waited until the boy went to bed.

“Ani! I'm not going to tell you again!” Shmi called for a second time.

“Go on, you have a big day tomorrow.” Qui-Gon urged. “Goodnight.”

Anakin rolled his eyes as he ran into the hovel. Qui-Gon waited a few moments to make sure the boy was gone before he took the blood stained chip and inserted it into his comlink, then he called Obi-Wan.

“Obi-Wan...” said Qui-Gon waiting for his Padawan to answer.

“Yes, Master?”

“Make an analysis of this blood sample I'm sending you.” Qui-Gon noticed Nathrrya had drifted over to stand by his side, a question in her eyes. “I need a midi-chlorian count.”

“Wait a minute...” Obi-Wan replied “Alright. I've got it.”

“What are your readings?” The Jedi master asked after a few minutes.

There was a long pause before Obi-Wan replied to his master’s request. “Something must be wrong with the transmission.” He sounded completely confused.

“Here's a signal check.” Qui-Gon said as he tested his comlink.

“Strange.” Obi-Wan replied perplexed. “The transmission seems to be in good order, but the readings are off the chart... over twenty thousand.” The Sith and the Jedi Master exchanged knowing looks but kept their true thoughts to themselves. “Even Master Yoda doesn't have a midi-chlorian count that high!”

“No Jedi has.” Qui-Gon confirmed.

“Not even mine’s that high.” Nathrrya added.

“What does it mean?” Obi-Wan asked.

“We’re not sure.” Qui-Gon replied looking at the Sith as he spoke. “Goodnight Obi-Wan.” He said as he closed down the comlink.

“You think Anakin is the Chosen One of Jedi prophecy, don’t you?” Nathrrya asked bluntly.

“How do you know about Jedi prophecy?” Qui-Gon asked with a frown.

Nathrrya rolled her eyes. “I don’t know. My cousin was a Jedi Knight?” She gave him an admonishing look. “He and I, on very rare occasions, managed to meet up in deep space. I tell you, the sight of my Fury docked next to his Defender would have had both Orders wondering what in the Force was going on. We talked like family would and he told me... The only thing we didn’t talk about was the damn war.”

“I see,” he replied. “Yes, it is possible that Anakin is the Chosen One.” He regarded the woman before him. “It’s said that the Chosen One will bring balance to the Force and destroy the Sith.”

The Sith in question snorted. “If you’re trying to scare me, Jedi, you’re doing a poor job of it. The prophecy I’m familiar with only says that the Chosen One will bring balance to the Force. It’s never clear how it would be done or what it actually meant.” Nathrrya eyed the Jedi Master for a moment, regarding him as he did her. “The part about destroying the Sith must have been added after my time. The thing that bothers me most about the boy is the fact his Force signature is so pure - there’s not one speck of darkness to be found in him. Given where and how he lives I’d have expected some.”

“You’re worried he’s pure light?” Qui-Gon asked, surprised.

Nathrrya shook her head, her brow furrowed. “Not really. Everyone who is Force-sensitive has the Dark within them; Sith, Jedi… even you. I can see it and I can sense it because I can see it within myself. Hell, even my cousin had a bit of the Dark Side as well. Neither the Dark Side nor the Light Side can exist without the other. But the boy… there is no Dark.”

“Qui-Gon, can you imagine what would happen if Sidious gets his hands on the child? The damage that can be wrought?” Nathrrya shuddered. It wasn’t for dramatic performance but the through truly worried her beyond all reasonable doubt.

“I can.” Qui-Gon replied grimly. “But what do we do?”

“What can we do?” Nathrrya asked sadly. “The boy’s a slave.”

Nathrrya and Qui-Gon walked through Mos Espa towards where the pods were being prepared for the big race. As they walked, the Sith felt no need to hide her displeasure or disgust at the blatant use of slavery on this pit of a world. She could feel the Dark Side pulse around her in anticipation of the destruction she might bring if provoked at the right moment.

The Jedi Master eyed the woman at his side with some surprise at the expression that had settled on her features once they had entered the slave quarter of the spaceport. She went from just grinding to flat out anger as he watched her look around them. He could feel her agitation and it was not pleasant.

“I thought the Sith practiced slavery,” he queried.

“They did,” she said, coming to a slow stop and turning to face the man. She was sure he was paying her back for yesterday. “However, I always found the practice barbaric and abhorrent. I had to keep that idea to myself, especially when I was given a slave of my own.”

She found herself smiling as she remembered the blue-skinned twi’lek. “Her spirit hadn’t been broken and she remained optimistic about everything. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than to see someone without a spirit. You look around this dump and you can see it manifest everywhere if you look hard enough.”

“You speak fondly of this presumed slave you acquired,” the Jedi noted. Nathrrya only nodded.

“Her name was Vette… at least that’s what she told me her name was. She has a Twi’lek name that I could never remember. When we were at the Imperial Spaceport on our way to Dromund Kaas, she very boldly asked me to take the shock collar off of her. I had no trouble with the request. Her help during my trials on Korriban were proof enough of her loyalty and I think she was surprised that I took her collar and the remote and turned them into scrap. One of my main goals was to have her willingly give me her loyalty rather than me forcing her into it.”

“We became like sisters over time and that got us into a number of misadventures in our time together, though most of it was me aiding and abetting in her own crazy schemes.” She narrowed her eyes as they hardened and looked at Qui-Gon. “But you attempting to free Anakin is laser-brained at best and a disaster waiting to happen. Even Vette would be skeptical.”

Qui-Gon frowned as he thought it was a fairly sound plan given the circumstances. “I don’t see you offering up an alternative,” he told her, crossing his arms over his chest.

Nathrrya could have sworn he was pouting. She snorted in response. “Oh, believe me, I have a plan,” she affirmed. “However, not many people would survive its implementation. It also requires liberal use of the Dark Side and there would be very little left of this hive of scum and villainy other than a smoking ruin.” Nathrrya eyed the Jedi Master and he narrowed his own, scrutinizing her. “Remember what Anakin said about freeing the slaves? That’s pretty much my plan except I’d see to it that no one involved with the slave trade survived. I’d take great delight in clearing Jabba the Hutt’s palace and cutting that oversized slug open. Believe me, Master Jedi, I am more than capable of levelling this cesspit if someone were foolish enough to provoke me into doing so.” The Sith woman held Qui-Gon’s gaze - he was struggling to keep from reacting badly. Nathrrya shrugged and smiled a very evil smile. “So, let’s hope that no one does.”

She turned and stalked down the road and it took the Jedi Master several moments to regain his composure after that ordeal. It unnerved Qui-Gon how easily Nathrrya had talked about razing an entire settlement. Admittedly she had some deeply held beliefs as to why she would do such a thing and it was clear that passion drove the Sith in her ways. If anything, the Jedi Master had just been granted a rare insight into those very passions that drove the woman.

It, very much, was not what he was expecting at all.

____

“I want to see your spaceship the moment the race is over.” Watto said almost as soon as Qui-Gon and Nathrrya had entered the large Pod hanger.

The Sith was in no mood for the Toydarian’s cockiness due to her conversation with Qui-Gon. Her blaster was drawn and levelled before Watto had even finished speaking. “Pick your words with care, Toydarian. I’ve seen people with your cockiness crash and burn. You are heading for a fall and, when you do, it will hurt.” Nathrrya’s voice was colder than an ice storm on Hoth.

Watto filched slightly on seeing the barrel of the woman’s blaster pressed lightly against his nose. He’s seen people quick on the draw before but he’d swear he never saw the woman move her arm.

“Patience, my blue friend,” Qui-Gon said, interceding. “You'll have your winnings before the suns set, and we'll be far away from here.” He tried to keep Watto calm but even he was perturbed by the speed in which Nathrrya had drawn her blaster.

“Not if your ship belongs to me, I think... I warn you, no funny business.” Watto had gone to smile but instantly regretted it when he felt the press of durasteel against his nose.

“What did I just say Watto?” the Sith said, a hint of anger creeping into her voice. “You will not have our ship - I can promise you that Toydarian. And if I were you, I would make certain you don’t try anything funny. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry, Watto. No one likes me when I’m angry.” To prove her point Nathrrya flared the Dark Side just enough to make the Toydarian uneasy.

It worked perfectly as Watto flew off a short distance. He cast a glance at the pair of off-worlders. But his glance lingered a fraction of a millisecond more on the woman. He now understood her role in whatever they were up to. She was the muscle, and if the Toydarian were honest with himself he was terrified of her. Watto had heard about what had happened in the streets of Mos Espa to the unlucky thug who had tried to frisk her. Whoever she was she had incredibly quick reflexes. Watto might even think she were a Jedi if he believed in such things.

Qui-Gon and Nathrrya followed the Toydarian. “You don't think Anakin will win?” The Sith had now returned her blaster to her utility belt feeling that, for now, her point had been made.

Watto had stopped before an orange pod racer and had turned back towards them. “Don't getta me wrongo. I have greata faith ina da boy. He's a credit to your race, but Sebulba there is gonna to win, I think.” The Toydarian nodded towards the pod’s pilot.

“Why?” Nathrrya asked suspiciously as she studied the Dug. Her Sith mind began to think of all sorts of creative and devious ways to remove Sebulba from the field and ensure an easy victory or Anakin.

“He always wins.” Watto replied with a laugh his tone making it clear why he thought the Dug always won. “I'm betting heavily on Sebulba.”

Does he now? Nathrrya thought, scowling her unamusement. So you’re telling me Sebulba is nothing more than a thug and a cheat? You will regret your choice before the day is out, Toydarian. I promise you that.

It would be all too easy for the Sith to eliminate Sebulba as a competitor - the easiest and most direct way would be to simply kill him but that would cause far too many problems even on this pit of a world. No... Nathrrya would have to be far more subtle and not here out in the open with so many people watching.

Qui-Gon had been watching the Sith carefully and he was in no doubt that she was busy thinking up all manner of nefarious schemes to deal with Sebulba and thus ensure Anakin’s victory in the race. If the Jedi were honest with himself he didn’t mind that the Sith was doing what came naturally to her and manipulating events to insure that Anakin would win. It gave him a measure of confidence for what he was about to do. “I'll take that bet.”

Watto suddenly stopped, laughing as he faced the two outlanders “What??!! What do you mean?” he asked incredulous.

“I'll wager my new racing pod against... say... the boy and his mother.” The Jedi said his smile as reassuring as possible.

Watto shook his head, infuriated. “No pod isa wortha two slaves! Perhaps one of dem… the mother, maybe...the boy isn't for sale.”

Nathrrya’s right hand slowly began to drift towards her blaster. She just knew she was going to need it to put the fear of the Sith in Watto.

“The boy is small, he can't be worth much.” Qui-Gon countered. The Toydarian just shook his head. “What? Not even or the fastest Pod ever built?”

“Do you think I’m stupid?” Watto countered.

“Both, or no bet.” Qui-Gon said with finality.

“No pod isa worth two slaves…” he repeated, annoyed. “Not by a long shot... one slave or nothing.” The Toydarian was actually getting angry and activity in the pits had come to a halt at the scene that was being created.

“Very well. The boy, then.” Qui-Gon said simply.

Watto smiled as he pulled out a small cube from his pocket. “We'll leta fate decide. Blue it's the boy... red his mother.” Watto tossed the cube into the air but as it arced a single blaster bolt turned it into dust.

“No fate cube Toydarian, no tricks. We want both the mother and the boy. No excuses.”

Watto now knew true fear for he was looking down the barrel of the woman’s still smoking blaster and it was aimed directly between his eyes. The Toydarian would later swear he saw the woman’s eyes change colour briefly from blue to yellow and back.

The woman’s voice was as about as comforting as a hard vacuum. “Before you protest, consider your words carefully for they might be your last. I have no qualms about ending the likes of you.” The threat was clear.

Watto wisely backed off and flew away muttering in Huttesee the entire time.

Anakin had been quietly working on his pod while Qui-Gon and Nathrrya had been talking to Watto. And despite the redhead’s aggressiveness towards the Toydarian Anakin’s mysterious inner voice told him he was completely safe with her for her aggression was directed towards Watto and people like him, slave owners and traders.

Anakin suddenly felt dizzy for a moment and in his mind’s eye he could see what might happen if someone upset Nathrrya enough. The hanger they were in was ablaze, smoke and screams everywhere. There were also plenty of bodies but none were slaves as far as Anakin could tell but it was what he saw in the middle of the hanger that startled the boy.

Nathrrya… with blaster in one hand and a violet coloured laser sword in the other. But her eyes unsettled Anakin the most for they were a bright, unnatural yellow. Anakin shook himself and the vision or whatever it was passed. He’d puzzle over it later but for now he had to finish prepping his pod and had a race to win.

____

“I am forever glad to be out of there!” Nathrrya said as she and the Jedi Master left the hangar where the pods were being prepared for the race.

“You were close, weren’t you?” Qui-Gon asked concern evident in his voice.

The woman was silent for a long moment, her facial features almost painfully stoic. “Nothing says angry Sith like a burned out shell of a building with a body count to match.” She shook her head.

“I see. I hope you’re not planning anything too... drastic.”

“Don’t worry, no one’s going to suddenly drop dead. Even on this backwards dustball that would draw too much attention.” The Sith and Jedi Master walked beside one another towards the stands where the race would be viewed. “What I have in mind is turning Anakin’s probability of winning to a certainty.” Her eyes sparkled as she glanced at Qui-Gon. “I’m going to play the locals at their own game... but I have something they do not: the Force as my ally.”

Qui-Gon nodded in understanding. “The Force can indeed be a powerful ally.”

____

Nathrrya had found a suitable spot in the stands as the all the pods and their pilots were brought out on the starting grid. She scanned all the contestants and while many were competent the only real threat to Anakin was the Dug, Sebulba, and that had to do with the fact he cheated than because of any real ability he had.

She sat herself in the stands and locked her attention on the Dug and concentrated her mind on the Force. She carefully traced it to the alien and searched for any kind of weakness that she could use against him. Luckily for her it was like child’s play since the disgusting creature was practically a ticking time bomb. There was a lot in Sebulba’s lifestyle that was neither clean nor healthy. With just the right amount of suggestion….

Nathrrya smiled evilly.

Anakin had jumped into his speeder and was a little disgruntled after a verbal confrontation with the Dug. Because Sebulba was worked up and excited about his future victory he wasn’t aware that the years of built up and collected toxins in his body were flowing through his veins. Should something happen the sudden release of the toxins into his blood could render the alien unfit to race. Nathrrya knew this was going to be too easy. She sat back, wrapped her mind around Sebulba’s body and squeezed through the Force. She felt a small pop, like an electrical pulse zapping in the air. It was subtle enough that she sensed it and no one was the wiser.

The effect hadn’t taken long. Sebulba went down screaming in agony and it soon became apparent that the Dug would not be taking part in the race. The announcers were making comments about the scene down below as the Dug was being carted off to what apparently passed as the medical bay on the dustbowl. With a satisfied look on her face, Nathrrya turned her head enough to look towards Watto’s private viewing booth to see the Toydarian in a physical state of malcontent and utter mental agony. He had just lost a lot of money and the race hadn’t even started yet.

Anakin was watching as the medical droids pulled the ailing Dug off the track. Just like everyone else he had a very confused and puzzled look on his face. The Sith woman sat up and made a telepathic connect with Anakin.

“Anakin,” she said. “Don’t be startled. I’ll explain this later - just listen. I am sure I saw Sebulba do something to your pod just before he confronted you. Check it before getting settled, there might be sabotage.”

The boy nodded to himself and checked around the vehicle. Sure enough, there was a turned lever that would have broken off during the intense vibrations of the pod and the speed it would be going at. It took him just a few moments to repair the damage Sebulba did before the final call was made for the racers to take their marks. Anakin jumped into the cockpit of the pod and put on his helmet and powered up the vehicle.

Seeing that Anakin made the necessary repairs, Nathrrya sat back in the seat and took a breath. She did all she could and now it was up to the boy and the Force to make the final show a good one.

_____

“You! The two of you swindled me!”

Nathrrya and Qui-Gon stopped and turned towards the very agitated Toydarian as he flew up to them, a nasty scowl on his face. He was practically screaming. “You knew the boy was going to win! Somehow you knew it! I lost everything.”

The Jedi Master simply smiled knowingly while Nathrrya’s smile could be called evil by comparison. She was enjoying the flyer’s misery a little too much for the Jedi’s taste.

“Whenever you gamble, my friend, eventually you'll lose.” Qui-Gon said. He tried to sound apologetic but Nethrrya caught a hint of an ‘I told you so’ attitude which tickled her sadistic side. Qui-Gon wasn’t sorry at all for the Toydarian’s misfortune. “Bring the parts to the main hanger. We'll come by your shop later so you can release the boy and his mother.”

“You can't have them! It wasn't a fair bet!” Watto yelled before he found himself having trouble breathing. He fell out of the air and wrapped his hands around his neck as he struggled to breathe.

“You’ve been getting on my nerves since we arrived on this dustball,” Nathrrya growled. She had her hand raised and pointed at him. She slowly closed her hand and the Toydarian gasped and began to struggle a little bit from the pressure closing around his windpipe. “I don’t think I have to voice how tired I am of your games and yet, here we are, in this predicament, and I’m quite tempted to end you.”

Watto tried to speak but he couldn’t. His eyes were wide in fear as he looked up at the woman who, quite literally, had his life in her hand. His fear emanated from him and his thoughts rang clearly in Nathrrya’s mind. It was certain that Qui-Gon could have sensed the fearful question he had.

“No, Watto,” she said coldly. “I am something far, far worse than a Jedi. I am a nightmare made manifest - passion and power, rage, fear and hatred bundled cosily together…”

She took a step towards him and he tried to back away but he couldn’t move. Nathrrya’s eyes flashed yellow with the Dark Side and the sensation sent shivers up Qui-Gon’s arms. He wasn’t going to interfere until he absolutely had to, knowing and somewhat trusting the woman to know her own limits.

“I am Sith,” Nathrrya hissed to the Toydarian. “You will release both Shmi and Anakin and put them in our custody if you want to keep breathing the putrid air on this planet. And they better be ready within the hour when I come by to collect their slave papers and deactivation codes for their implants. If they aren’t, then I will squish you like the bug you are and I’ll make sure you feel it.”

She suddenly released him and Watto gasped for the air that was now able to flow freely into his lungs. He coughed and sputtered a few times as he struggled to get up. Nathrrya stomped her foot towards him and the action kick-started the Toydarian into the air in fear. “Get out of here you pathetic excuse for a life form!”

The Toydarian didn’t need telling twice as he flew off as fast as he could.

Qui-Gon watched Watto leave and stayed silent for a moment. He looked towards the woman standing beside him. Her chest was heaving but gently and little by little he could practically hear her heartbeat slowing down. “You showed great restraint.” he commented.

The woman opened her eyes and they were back to normal, but her facial expression was hard, stoic and still not that of a happy person. Deep down she was still pissed off and seething hatred at what was happening around her. She would have to meditate off the feeling to regain her control and composure. But she nodded at Qui-Gon’s words. “I just put the fear of the Force in him, nothing more... But it wasn’t idle. I will squash him if those papers aren’t ready in time.”

Qui-Gon had no doubt and he kept the words to himself. He didn’t need to speak them to the woman since he knew she knew his thoughts about it. He’s been around the woman long enough to know when she was serious or when she was bluffing. The bluffs were few and far between. He only nodded and led her away - there was still much to do.

____

Nat let her Sith side come out to play, as let's face face it Watto needed a reality check

I'm glad everyone is enjoying the tale, as off the wall as it may be I don't think it would have worked as well if it were one of the Jedi classes, been a little predictable. Using my SW gives me a bit of wiggle room for her be be just a little nasty and mean like she was with Watto.

Anyway I have parts 10 and 11 written however my beta reader hasn't been well recently so it might be sometime before anything else gets posted. I have a rough idea where this is going to go. Hopefully there might be a few twists in the story that you wont see coming. Others I suspect might be more obvious.

Chapter 10 part one at long last! Enjoy!

___

“Mom, they sold the Pod!” Anakin cried out in delight as he burst through the door of their little hovel. Qui-Gon and Nathrrya were behind him and looked almost smug but were being quiet about it. Anakin showed his mother what he had in his hands. “Look at all the money we have!”

Shmi smiled but her eyes were stunned as she took the bag of coins from her son and looked through it. “Oh my goodness, that’s wonderful, Ani!”

“Both of you have also been freed of your slavery,” Nathrrya said as she and the Jedi Master entered behind the excited child. “Neither of you are slaves any longer. I have the codes to deactivate your implants.” She pulled out the slave papers and handled them over to Shmi as she dug around for the codes for the deactivation. She found the little remote device and both Shmi and Anakin knew that the remote had belonged to Watto.

She used the device and the implants were deactivated. Nathrrya knew they would be correct and that they would work since she went back to Watto and questioned him at length on the matter. She knew that the Toydarian was immune to Force suggestions but he wasn’t immune to the practice of mind searching. She forced her way into his head and dug around for the information she wanted. It was an uncomfortable action at best, and that’s only when the one doing it knew what they were doing. The truth of the matter was Nathrrya just didn’t trust the bug-man to tell them the truth and give them the correct codes. She found out he never intended to give the right ones to the Force users. She enjoyed making him suffer.

Anakin looked at Nathrrya in shock, wondering if what he heard was correct. “What? Did you hear that, Mom?” He looked over at Qui-Gon. “Was that part of the prize or something?”

The Jedi Master only smiled contently. “Let’s just say that Watto has learned an important life lesson about gambling.

Shmi was thrilled at the turn of events. She watched her son in his excitement and couldn’t help but feel excited herself. She’d been a slave for as long as she could remember and her son was born into it - it wasn’t a life she wanted for him and it seemed her prayers had finally been answered and then some. She would have given anything for her son to be free to grow and do his own thing, but now she was freed along with him and she could experience all of his growing and adventures. Anakin rushed his mother and wrapped his arms around her waist, tightly hugging her. She knelt down and hugged her son in return. “Now we can make our dreams come true, Ani. We’re free!” She looked up at Qui-Gon. “Will you take him with you? Is he to become a Jedi?”

“Our meeting was not a coincidence. Nothing happens by accident.” Nathrrya rolled her eyes behind the Jedi Master as he addressed the boy. “You are strong with the Force, but you may not be accepted by the Council.”

The Sith ground her teeth and couldn’t stay silent. “Oh please! Qui-Gon, we both know your High Council is going to reject him out of hand because of his age. That’s regardless of whether or not he is what we believe him to be. You know damn well that the Order needs to change and I know you can see it.”

The Jedi Master sighed and rubbed his temples. She had been making that same argument for a long time, practically since meeting her, and little by little he was wondering if what she is saying is truth. “Yes… I will have to agree with you, Master Nathrrya. In the short time I’ve been around you I have been reconsidering many aspects of the Jedi Order.”

Nathrrya looked at him in shock. It wasn’t easy to do that to her. “...excuse me?”

Qui-Gon smiled at seeing her reaction. “I’m calling you ‘Master’ because that’s what you are. And considering what you say is true and the Council does, indeed, reject Anakin, what would you suggest is done?”

The two former slaves had given up trying to follow the conversation. Neither of them were making any sense of what was being said and Anakin had a sneaking suspicion that something was going to happen and it involved him. Since he was being mentioned numerous times between the two other adults he could only assume what was happening, but it was nowhere near to an educated guess. The only that could be deduced by Anakin and Shmi was that it involved Anakin’s future.

Nathrrya finally took a breath and ran a hand through her hair and rubbed at her neck. “Okay… so if the Jedi Council are really as short-sighted as I believe them to be - and trust me, they are - then I’ll apprentice the boy and see him trained.”

Qui-Gon was about to raise a protest but was cut off from speaking when she raised her hand to quiet him. She narrowed her eyes at the Jedi but glanced over at the mother and son. She reached for Qui-Gon’s arm and pulled him to the side and lowered her voice. “Let me make it perfectly clear to you: I’m talking about discipline and control. We both can feel his potential right now at, what… eight? Ten? Just imagine that power when he’s an actual adult… another eight or ten years from now. Please consider that and tell me you understand my concern.”

He did see the concern and it did make sense. The amount of power in that boy and what he’s seen the kid do in the pod race and with the experiences he’s been told by his mother… it all made clear sense to him why Nathrrya would have such attention on this. He raised his hand and stroked his beard in thought before looking at the Sith’s eyes. They held that concern and he nodded his agreement with her. “So, you will not teach him your path?”

Hell yes, she thought. But that was selfish… and dangerous. She shook her head. “Not unless he asked, and even then I would wait until he was old enough to really understand what that path means. The Dark Side is not for everyone, Master Jedi.” She paused a moment and considered her words. She slid her tongue over her teeth thoughtfully as she did so.

“Look,” she said. “Have you ever seen a mind completely and utterly crushed by the Force? I have and it’s not a spectacle that you want to see over and over. Hell, you don’t want to see it once. I wouldn’t wish that on even the worst bastards.” At least it communicated. She shook her head again and clearly looked at Qui-Gon in the eyes. “No. You have my word that I will not teach him the ways of my path.”

Even though they were being relatively quiet, a mother has ears that are to be reckoned with. “Nathrrya are you a Jedi?” she asked.

Nathrrya and Qui-Gon turned to the two. “No, I’m no Jedi. I won’t claim to be something I’m not, but I can use the Force much the same way a Jedi can even though my training was very different.”

“Do you have a laser sword too?” Anakin asked, his voice full of enthusiasm. Shmi had the boy by his shoulders and she gave him a firm grip. Anakin didn’t seem to notice.

Nathrrya chuckled. “Yes, I do Anakin, and it’s called a lightsaber. Would you like to see it?”

The boy nodded with bright eyes and watched as the woman retrieved her lightsaber from its hiding place. He admired the golden hilt before looking up at Nathrrya. She caught the flicker of reserve in his eyes and the question he thought about made his brow furrow. “Is the blade a violet colour?”

The Sith cocked her head, her interest piqued on his question. “Yes…” she said warily. “How did you know? I never had to use it around you, or at all, really.”

Anakin frowned and his head drooped. He hesitated his answer and his lips wriggled from side to side as he thought about how to say what was on his mind. He knew what he wanted to say, just not how to really say it.

“Back when we were in the pod hangar I had… I don’t know… a vision, I guess. I saw it clearly but it was all destroyed and you were there with your blaster in one hand and your lightsaber in the other. That’s when I saw the colour.”

Nathrrya and Qui-Gon shared a look that went unnoticed by Anakin and very much seen by Shmi. Things just became a whole lot more complicated and the Force users knew this and Shmi, as a concerned mother, picked up on the feeling but didn’t know exactly how complicated this had just become. She remained reserved and allowed Anakin and the other two converse.

Anakin looked up at that moment, almost urgently, and looked at the woman. “And I remember your eyes the most,” he continued. “They were yellow. Why would your eyes be yellow?”

Nathrrya sighed and clicked her teeth together a few times before she leaned against the nearest wall. She folded her arms over her chest and lowered her chin in thought. She had to be careful of what she said and she thought about her response as quickly as she could. But she didn’t want to short-change the boy of information that would make him run amok.

“You had a vision, Ani,” she said, raising her head to look at him. “A series of moments in time that have not yet come to pass but that are always in motion and changing. As for my eyes, they turn yellow because of the way I was trained in the Force. That’s all you need to know about that right now.”

Anakin seemed content with the answers he got from the female Force user. Qui-Gon was impressed by her answer and how she managed to deflect a relatively complex situation with Anakin’s curiosity. However, it was only a matter of time before her true identity came to the surface and they would have to explain that to him and possibly his mother. It was time to change the subject.

“Shall we help you pack?” he asked. “The distance to the Queen’s cruiser is long and there isn’t much time left before sundown.”

---------------

The two Force users walked along the paths of Mos Espa with Shmi, Anakin and a partially completed C-3PO in tow. The usual business was buzzing around them and they all went unnoticed for the most part. As they carried on their trek both Force users were keeping their attention out for anything strange.

Qui-Gon was the first to catch it. As they turned a corner he managed to catch something out the corner of his eyes. He grabbed his lightsaber and took one swift turn and lunged at the unsuspecting droid, swiftly cutting it in half. It clanked down to the dusty ground at their feet and he knelt down to inspect it. The remainder of the party gathered around to look as well.

“What is it?” Anakin asked, his eyes glancing over the sparking droid.

“Probe droid,” the Jedi said. “Very unusual too… not like anything I’ve ever seen before.”

“I have,” Nathrrya confirmed. She glared at the sparking remains and frowned. “That is an Imperial Probe droid. I can’t believe they haven’t changed that much in all these years.” She crouched down beside the Jedi and picked up a piece of the outer shell and inspected it further. She sighed. “A more apt description of it would be a Sith Probe droid.”

Shmi and Anakin tried not to dwell on what the two were talking about. Both of them knew that they would learn in time only what they needed to know. The two Force users obviously had their own communications and their own situations to deal with that only they were privy to.

Nathrrya got up and dropped the shell casing into the now smoking heap. “Damn. That apprentice is looking for us and he knows we’re here. That means we need to book it back to the ship right the hell now because your padawan and Captain Panaka and his men will not be enough to protect the queen.”

---------------

The group was nearing the location of the Naboo cruiser and had just made it to the edge of the clearing when both Force users became extremely agitated and on edge. They both felt the waves in the Force and they both knew that it meant danger was close. As a result, Nathrrya had even pulled out her lightsaber from its hiding spot within her duster.

Qui-Gon and Nathrrya both turned around as one to face the opposite direction. Off in the distance from where they had come they could both make out a quickly approaching figure in a black robe on a speeder. He was aimed right at Shmi and Anakin and intended to run them down.

“Anakin, Shmi, drop!”

As Qui-Gon warned the two Nathrrya had activated her lightsaber and used the Force around her to throw the weapon towards their assailant. She knew that at the angle they were in the blade would never connect with the apprentice’s neck but she wasn’t expecting it to. Just as she predicted, he pulled the speeder up to block the attack and the front half of the vehicle took the brunt of the damage. He leaped from the seat and flipped, pulling out his own lightsaber as his speeder crashed into a heap in the sand.

Nathrrya Force leaped the distance between her and the other Sith to quickly engage him, not giving him a chance to go after Shmi and Anakin. She used the Force to call her lightsaber back to her hand and she deflected the attacks the other Sith put down on her. He was strong, but she was better. The two of them going back and forth in the desert caused a small dust cloud to kick up around them, effectively blocking the two from sight but not the glow of their weapons or the sound of them as they fought on in their deadly dance.

Qui-Gon rushed over to where Shmi, her son and the droid were and helped them to their feet. He ushered them to the cruiser and hurried them on board. The three followed Captain Panaka as he came to escort them aboard. Once safely on, the Jedi Master turned and ran back towards where the two Sith were battling it out in the sand. He had his saber in his hand and activated it, the light shining a brilliant green against the red dust of the sand.

He neared them and slowed. He heard something and stopped to listen. Nathrrya was able to sense him coming to help but she reached out into the Force to speak to him. He felt the sensation tickle into his mind and form words. He was clearly able to hear her.

Get them to safety and get the ship in the air, he heard her say. I’ll keep him busy until you come to pick me up. Just don’t fly off without me!

The Jedi Master understood what was being asked and he turned and headed towards the cruiser. He rushed through the opening and went to the cockpit where Captain Panaka was with Obi-Wan and the pilot.

“Everything is in working order, Master,” Obi-Wan confirmed seeing Qui-Gon enter. “Setting a course for Coruscant…” -he looked around- “...where’s Nathrrya?”

Qui-Gon went to the pilot and pointed out through the cockpit window towards a small dust cloud. Those present saw the dancing red and violet lightsabers through the dust. “Over there, fly low.”

The pilot nodded and took off. They hovered for a moment and he guided the ship towards the duel.

---------------

Darth Maul was becoming increasingly annoyed at the unknown woman he was dueling against. Not only did she effectively cut him off from getting to the Jedi and the ship with the Naboo Queen, but this Force user wasn’t even attacking him. Each maneuver she made was in defense as she blocked, parried and pushed against him to trip him in his stance. It was infuriating - she was mocking him with her moves and the feeling he got from her Force signature was a complete sense of know-best and I’m-better-than-you. But the thing that annoyed him the most was that the woman didn’t speak one word since they starting fighting.

He continued his forward attacks, hoping to tire the woman out. Surely she wasn’t invincible and had a limit to her stamina. He pulled from the Dark Side and gained more power behind his thrusts and arches of his lightsaber style, using the momentum of the blade hilt and his speed to drive more power towards his opponent.

Nathrrya frowned when she felt the surge of Dark Side energy come from the other Sith. She added an extra step and a hop in her foot movements to continue her evasive maneuvers just enough to keep him busy until Qui-Gon brought the cruiser over to her to pick her up. This other Sith was certainly skilled but he was also a loose cannon - his skill in the Dark Side was good but not at master level and she could tell that the energy he used was going to cost him later.

Darth Maul could tell this woman had Dark Side energy within her. It floated around her like a mist and he could sense it and it was very tightly controlled - that much was evident based on her skill. But she fought against him, not with him, and he briefly wondered if she were some sort of fallen Jedi. If this was the case, how was it that she was aiding her former Order? Even if she were to be entirely Sith it would mean that someone somewhere had broken the Rule of Two. Regardless, his master would want to know this. Perhaps she could be recruited and serve as a useful tool...

Maul’s thoughts as he continued to slash away at his opponent were headed down a decidedly lecherous route as he considered what kind of fun he could have with such a tool if his master were so clever to attain her trust. Seeing the woman’s disgusted expression on her face made him grin. It seemed like his thoughts were a little too loud.

Nathrrya called on her powers and unleashed a strong Force push towards the Zabrak. Her opponent wasn't expecting the attack and he burst into the air, flying backwards nearly a hundred feet and landed on a sand dune, destroying it. The wind was knocked from his lungs and the force of the attack caused him to become dazed and disoriented. Just as she thought about applying a little more hurt on the other Sith, Nathrrya heard the hum of the cruiser’s engines just behind her.

Maul shook the dazed feeling from his head in time to look up. The woman gave him one last glaring look before she deactivated her saber and stowed it, all while she turned in a flourish and leaped up to land on the open door of the departing cruiser. He watched her walk further inside, the hatch closed, and she was gone with the cruiser and the Queen. And Darth Maul was left on his back on Tatooine… his first mission failure.

---------------

Nathrrya slammed her hand down on the control panel for the door of the cruiser and wasn’t nice about it. She was scowling and her teeth were bared like a ferocious animal. Her head buzzed with the mental image pictures that the Zabrak Sith had so lovingly put there for her to gnaw on.

“It’s going to take weeks of meditation to rid myself of those sexually depraved images,” she muttered to herself. “I know Quinn and I could get kinky, but kriffing Force!”

She took a moment to at least calm herself down before she went towards where the throne room was. She was certain everyone had to be gathered there since no one else was around the other locations of the ship as she walked.

She stopped suddenly just before the door to the throne room. She turned herself back towards the way she came as if looking backwards towards the fight she had with the Zabrak. It dawned on her that he was very well trained but she was able to push him back regardless of his skill level. A frown crept on her face since that was an indicator his master was holding the Zabrak back.

There was something else to consider: She had spent the better part of five years fighting a galactic war and she had become quite battle savvy and acquired damn good reflexes from it. She saw that in that time she never really relaxed or knew how to outside of the alone time she spent with Quinn. Other than that she was always on the move and never really stopped for anything or anyone. That’s probably why she found the Zabrak so underwhelming. A plan began to form in her head. Maybe she could defeat the Sith master after all.

She turned into the throne room and all heads turned to her as she came in. Her lightsaber was now clearly in view of everyone present. Quickly she surveyed the room and smiled to herself when she saw Padme and Anakin talking quietly to one another, though the boy seemed to be doing most of it. She wondered what he would think of his crush if he found out she was the elected monarch of an entire planet. But that was something for later.

She approached the decoy Queen and bowed slightly. “Your Highness, the situation seems to be much graver than the Jedi and I have suspected. The assailant I fought against had a double-bladed lightsaber. He used a red blade and I could feel his power through the Force. He’s Sith.”

“Sith?” Captain Panaka asked, puzzled. “They haven’t been around in a very long time. Are you sure? And how does the color of a lightsaber determine if he’s really Sith or not, despite your assessment?”

Oh stars… these ignorant little…

“Lightsabers use a combination of Force energy and powerful crystals to create the saber beam," she said, rolling her eyes a little. "Thousands of years ago only natural crystals were used and none of them were red. The Sith, always looking for more power and more strength, created synthetic red crystals which were ultimately stronger than the natural ones and were reported to break those of Jedi. Of course, as the years continued and engineering progressed, the Jedi were able to farm stronger natural crystals for their own weapons which were more on par with those of the Sith's manufactured kind.”

“You know a lot of Sith culture and history,” the decoy Queen commented. “It proves that you’re a valuable ally to have against this new foe.”

Nathrrya looked around her at all of those gathered. Her eyes landed on Anakin for a moment before she looked back at the decoy. “Regardless of my knowledge of Sith culture, I know this because I know what the Force signature of a Sith is..."

She looked over to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. She thought back to the beginning when she and the Jedi Master had talked about this very scenario. She did a mental shrug, knowing that the Master would pick up on it easily, before she turned her attention back to the fake monarch with a deep breath.

"I just so happen to be one.”

The flurry of emotions and deafening silence surrounding her almost made her sway. She put up her mental barriers to protect her mind from the onslaught of shock and surprise. The biggest one was of confusion, which came from the young boy.

The maiden pretending to be Padme looked over at the two other Jedi. “Is this true, Master Jedi? Have we had a Sith in our midst this entire time and you just saw it unfit to communicate this piece of rather important information?”

Qui-Gon nodded and crossed his arms over his chest, a motion Nathrrya had begun to associate with him. “Yes, your highness, but would you have believed me if I had told you? It turned out to be much simpler for you to think she was just another Jedi.”

“How can we believe you now?” Captain Panaka challenged. “We all saw it. She has a violet lightsaber. If her spiel about colour crystals was true, wouldn’t she have a red saber as well?”

“Violet colour,” the woman said smugly, crossing her own arms over her chest indignantly. “The Sith could choose whatever colour crystal they wanted, though red is usually the signature and is the color of their first acquired lightsaber. Where I came from, some warriors who dual-wielded had two different crystals, one for each saber. Some Sith even designed their own crystals to create different colour combinations.”

Nathrrya thought back to her on-again, off-again friend: Lord K’natara Synge. She had also been trained by her former master, Baras, and learned to dual-wield her weapons. She was the only apprentice Baras had that managed to stay on what there was of Baras’ good side and he kept her around. The woman didn’t like the red and black motif of the Sith and was always fond of green and very skimpy outfits. But her crystals were specially designed to be a dark green base and then emit an almost pale green light. With her black wavy hair, green eyes and pale skin she was one of those not seemingly dangerous individuals and Nathrrya had been on the negative receiving end of her skill numerous times.

Quinn had known her too, and she kept him in the loop of where Nathrrya would be and when so as to create a strategy on when and how to kill her. Sure enough, after Quinn’s betrayal and her mercy towards him, K’natara rethought her position in Baras’ game and eventually sided with Nathrrya against Baras and became her ally in the war. The last time Nathrrya saw the other woman she was fighting off Zakuulan Knights trying to get towards Nathrrya before she was knocked unconscious by Arcann. Then Nathrrya was frozen.

She didn’t think about it much but now that she had a second she felt that much more alone. Even though Nathrrya and K’natara didn’t get along much they were still friends and were brought together by an unlikely scenario. Now she wasn’t here. Obi-Wan’s voice piped up and pulled Nathrrya out of her mind.

“Since they know Nathrrya’s true identity now, perhaps an explanation is in order.”

Qui-Gon nodded in agreement to his padawan’s statement. From the looks on the decoy Queen, the real Queen and Captain Panaka and his gathered men it looked like there was no withdrawing the notion of how Nathrrya came to be among them. Qui-Gon kept it brief. As he spoke Nathrrya moved her location to stand near Obi-Wan and in line with him.

“I sensed no deception in her,” Qui-Gon said after part of the story. “Though I felt she was hiding something from me.”

“Of course I was!” Nathrrya chuckled. “Realize the amount of time it took for the Council to come to terms with me being a Sith and walking among them of my own free will and not brandishing my lightsaber in their faces.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Obi-Wan added, leaning towards Nathrrya, “if you had flashed them that seductive grin and wink that you threw at me - twice I might add, my dear - I’m certain you would have had them in the palms of your hands.”

Nathrrya had to restrain her laugh. She stifled it but the sound was odd enough that she got a side glance from Qui-Gon while he continued. Nathrrya regained control and leaned towards the padawan. “That little trick may have worked on you but the truth is I just like seeing how adorable you are when you blush.”

The pink flush on Obi-Wan’s face was evident to the Jedi Master. He took note of this while he continued his story to the rest of the contingent and made a mental note to approach the Sith woman later. It made him wonder what her true intentions towards his padawan where and exactly what the two were conversing about over the caff, especially now that he caught the edge of a flirt going from Obi-Wan to Nathrrya.

Seeing the blush allowed a secret delight to fill Nathrrya’s mind. She had caught the flirt and she had to be honest to herself that she found the padawan very attractive. If he hadn’t been in love with Padawan Tachi there was no doubt in her mind that she would have been much more bold towards Obi-Wan. Even then, she had to tread lightly.

In the time that she has spent with the two Jedi, she knew that Obi-Wan was a devout member of the Jedi Order. He was extremely loyal and he had his sights on becoming a Jedi Knight - that was something Nathrrya was not interested in jeopardizing for the young man so she was content with just being his friend and giving him a little bit of grief now and again.

“I honestly don’t think that my little trick would have worked on them. Every one of them are far too serious, especially the dark skinned one - Master Windu, I believe? I don’t think he knows how to.”

“You would think so,” the padawan said with a chuckle. “I assure you, he does. I’ve seen him but it’s incredibly rare.”

“I’m sorry, but don’t the Sith and the Jedi normally not get along with one another?” Captain Panaka’s question pulled Nathrrya and Obi-Wan’s attention towards the security chief.

“You’d normally be right,” Nathrrya answered. “Put one of each in a room with each other watch the ripples disperse into a frenzy of stampeding bantha. But I’m not your stereotypical Sith, either.”