Planet Atrisia, Atrisian Commonwealth

There are three ways to defeat your enemy. The first, and most obvious, is to better him in a trial of force. The best way is to have him destroy himself…The middle way is to destroy your enemy from within.

- Sayings

Ventress was dispatched to convince the other side of the galaxy to align with my Empire, and not the Sith, and to create a stable route to Jedha. And Jedha was a major target, for 100 reasons. Being the jump point to Rakata Prime, just the first reason.

With a string of independent worlds, converted behind her, like Phu , only the constitutional monarchy of Atrisia remained as an obstacle. Or a trampoline.

We shall see. We definitely didn't want to conquer these people, but instead make them join willingly.

"The Immortal Pef's offer is not a joke, Atrisian Empress. Or do you doubt that the Pef Empire is not capable of making judicious use of power?" Asajj argued pretty nicely.

"Oh, someone has read our Sayings. But I'm afraid I do not have the negotiating power I'd wish. The Atrisian Parliament has wrestled the decision from the emperor courts domain over 500 years ago. We live in liberal times now, Lady Grayshade" Grace Tching, the Empress, a stern woman about 30, said with a tinge of sadness.

"As a personal boon for your line, our Empire will conceive a solution to augment your decision strength. Perhaps as a Hand, for this region of the galaxy. But, if your people will prefer a Moff governor, nominated by Sith Lord Palpatine, we will find someplace else. S thread hyper routes are expensive, but so are we." my Voice argued politely. She was getting better at diplomacy and war.

"Oh, not at all like Emperor Palpatine's Fists then. But not a Voice? Or is that something else?"

"The Voices are more than people, and less. We are ideals and legal instruments. Our own words and deeds reflect the will of the Pef Empire, and oblige everyone to obey. We are the law, and our words are law.

It is not a political nomination, Empress Tching. If I say for example 'this star is in my way' soon after that star will be erased, and let me pass freely. If I call a holy war, the Empire will rise. If I say, there is 30 trillion credits in that gift box..." Ventress said softly, pointing gracefully at the droid which decloaked to her right, and carried an aurodium chest.

"Good. All three paths, and mastered flawlessly. Force, cooperation, subversion. And your fleets are already expanding in the Deep Core, ready to strike from within. Looking to encircle the galaxy, and protect the ripe core, until is ready to rejoin the wealthy crust. I shall try what I can, Lady Grayshade. Who knows, perhaps we'll be sisters, one day..." the scheming Empress concluded with a wide smile.

She'll be perfect. A bit flat chest wise on the Fibonacci beauty index, but I could fix that.

And not with artificial breast implants like our female agents, carrying soft satchels of liquid explosives as insurance.

Real gene alter and hormonal rebalancing. For the kids, of course.

'Keep saying that to yourself Pef. This woman is much like Zero. Peffy will have to tame her a long time.' Asajj whispered in the bond, before returning to her audience with the Atrisian Empress.

"I am certain you will, Grace. You can promise your Parliament massive investments and war reparations, for your valued help in the Clone Wars. Perhaps a thousand ships, and a few Meteors. To keep those pesky pirates away, and ensure liberties for nearby worlds, so filled with slaves and poverty."

"Oh, even Meteors? Money, ships, new planets...you'll have your answer next week, Honored Voice. Your gift is well-received, for such a long audience. Let's stop the politics and chat a little more, about that wonderful speech of Avatar Greyshade. I watched it ten times, and he seemed to believe every word." The Empress said with a tinge of worry. So, some people did pay attention.

"Oh, our Avatar did indeed mean every word. But that's a medium future, 20 or 30 years away. Those visions contain people who are mere babies now, or still not born. By that time, we will be more than ready, dear Grace. So, the capital city is called Jar'Kai..." Asajj said calmly, taking her future sister arm, and starting to gossip.

Her favorite form, originated here. My Voice was in heaven.

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

Planet Bespin, Independent

Cloud City

There were a few Imperial Navy ships in the system when Peffy arrived, but they didn't stay long enough for a misunderstanding to happen. Too bad.

Anyway, it was time to claim the gas giant for ourselves, and then increase the production a hundred times.

The Empire will need more weapons. And Jedi willing to upload themselves into computers were pretty good weapons too.

"So, this is where the Altisian Jedi have stayed hidden eh? In the clouds." I said gently, looking towards Mister Altis and Miss Callista.

"Not just here. But we were ignored till now. Until Palpatine began hunting all of us." Master Altis complained, still blinded by some hogwash beliefs.

"Well, darksight is a potent unifying force ability. Predicting and manipulating your opponents, scrying all over the galaxy, and arranging false prophecies. That the Ruusan Jedi didn't even know it existed, made them foolishly simple to exterminate" I answered with a shrug, and kept spinning the spherical holocron over my palm. The grey holocron.

"But you do. It seems you know everything, just like Emperor Pef." Callista discovered, a bit late.

"We share a force bond of course. All Voices do. Look, there's powerful force-user on that platform! Maybe 20 years old, works as a gas prospector." I exclaimed in fake wonder, pointing towards Streen .

I already knew he'll be around, just kept an open mind to sense his thoughts.

"You're still toying with us. There was no surprise in your voice" Master Altis remarked with some regret.

"There's a trillion stars in the galaxy, esteemed refugees. I can only be in one system, so don't expect miracles. I can help in one place, or arrive late and punish someone after. Strength is useful, but skill matters more. And I have much to learn" I answered with a sad and truthful voice.

"Huh, that's a sobering thought. You trashed everyone in the Zero garden. Even the Masters. With your pinky finger" Callista said with a bit of envy.

"The former jedi order gave master titles too easy. Master Fay, Master Ha, Master Yoda...yea, they almost deserve it. Living for 700 hundred years and learning, even half the book, is quite remarkable. Now go and collect the others, while I speak with Mister Streen. Maybe he wants to learn more..." I said half joking.

He should want to learn more. And control his telepathy and force visions.

I mean, really? There was an Altisian praexum right on this planet. Darth Vader came around, looking for rebels, in the movies.

And they all missed him? What's wrong with this picture?

The one-eyed, leading the blind and causing disasters at every turn.

Planet Dantooine, Pef Empire

20 BBY, tenth month.

" Dantooine . They're on Dantooine."

―Leia Organa

More scavenging hunts, for Rakata tech and answers.

I have another crystal now, stuck to my crystal self, along with many others.

The Shadeshine from Ventooine, which normally drains organics of life and boosts them to sorcerers levels of force ability. Not gonna work like that on my Rur crystal, but the dozen abilities imprinted on the force matrix can do things I could barely do till now, like boost organic life to grow fast, like Bendu can. Or abuse fire and air elemental alter just like Peffy can.

I have no ears and nerves to be enhanced, but the stone gave me electromagnetic senses, just like Shards have.

And some kind of force sight, that Peffy is learning from his miraluka maids, much better than the blind bat mode I had if I don't use the droid's photoreceptors. More senses, yay!

And to think Han Solo would have destroyed this wonder, for whatever reason he destroys things. He once blew up a planet just to steal some box. I'll have to make sure that doesn't happen.

A life crystal from Rafa works on me as well, allowing me to stay at x6 speed without overheating. Not forever, as they are consumables, but for emergencies it will be great. Peffy and my Voices carry a dozen with them, just in case.

Another crystal, the Quilan Pyradex that we located a few at Roche, can boost my computation and mathematical formulations ten times. Core and Zuralee also received one of those, since they need it the most to plan our economy or discover new mathematics.

Whoever lived on Roche, before the planet was pulverized into asteroids must have been really smart. Possibly some kind of insects, so likely the killiks.

And we have leads for two quinlan crystal pyramids more. One on Tatooine and another on Klatooine.

Possibly not a coincidence, that I'm now on Dantooine.

It has another force ability embedded inside, for complex numbers, much like Altis has that astronavigation ability.

I think I'll give one to Na-jia and the other to Solanus, once they are recovered.

And there it is, the Rakatan ruins (Dantooine), with the cute guardian Overseer (droid)

I am the Overseer. The Builders programmed me to enforce discipline among the slaves while this monument to the power of the Star Forge was constructed." ― Overseer

Yes, very cute. 'Now open the penetralia, and go wait outside.'

'This is not fun anymore. It's slavery!' the Overseer complained wisely.

Now, any holocrons or nice stuff? Of, course not. Not here.

And the star map is fused to the floor, so no one can steal it. Unless they take the floor too.

Now let's drain the dark side a bit. This grey haze is not the warm love of the Daughter.

Too bad that beautiful green haired girl is actually something like the droch plague, a colony of insects, and not a real girl.

I'll deal with the Adams family later.

For now, knowledge. You, mighty Rakata salver droid, who killed all the slaves on this planet!

Yes you. Do you know what we do, to slavers now? Here, new laws!

Now rip off your limbs, before I do it for you.

Nope, there no statute of limitations. The law is the law, unless I change it.

Here, let me help you with that last spider leg. See! Now you have been punished, and your reeducation can begin.

I may need you to open more things for me.

Let's spread our senses, and see what else is worth 'liberating' on this planet. Look, a former Jedi academy. And a holocron named the Codex of Tython ? Thanks a lot.

What else?

A Jedi, and...an identical copy? Which was hidden from the force...another blank.

Hello X2 . Guess I have your clone brother X1 on Blueforge, being examined right now.

And landing again.

"Falon Grey , what a surprise to meet you here. Pef Greyshade is my name. And this young one, must be your clone brother X2?" I asked them amused, after my ship took custody of the map and the paraplegic rakata droid.

"Pef...like the Immortal Pef? The Emperor of this new Empire..." he asked confused, but a bit wary now.

"Very good. So, telling war stories? Teaching your brother mind tricks? Kidnapping babies? What are you doing on my planet, mister Grey, former jedi, and still wearing a lightsaber illegally?" I asked amused.

"Just helping the farmers...although the new droids do most of the work..."he admitted a bit ashamed.

"I'm certain there's holonet here on Dantooine, I paid for it after all. And my Avatar's declaration was not conditional. You must register with the Imperial Servants and relinquish force weapons, unless you become a member of my Assassinorum Office or the Grey Paladin Office. Or you can be deported, to Coruscant. Lord Palpatine might give me a whole planet for an evil jedi..." I mused out loud, then turned away, going to inspect the fields and growing entire crops in hours. This was kinda cool too.

Especially on an entire continent at once.

And more food would be useful, if the droids managed to collect all. Of course, they would. I was here after all.

'Go collect the crops, valiant farmer droids. The Empire needs this food!'

And here they are, still awed at my magnanimity, gifting the farmers a new crop, 6 months sooner.

"You have Grey Paladins, like the heretic order from Coruscant?" Mister Grey asked, a bit hopeful.

"I have a few of those, but not exactly. This unit will be formed of various units, from Mandalorians, Sun Guard, Echani, and dozens more. Power armors, bolt pistols, sniper rifles and other nice weapons. Our own counter-terrorism unit. The guard panthers, protecting the baby banthas from rancors" I explained in a relaxed voice.

I couldn't keep the Jedi locked up forever. But I could use them.

"I see. Not like Jedi at all. Shoot first, then rescue the hostages" X2 commented, quite aptly...

"Yes, or stopping bioweapons and whatever. My Assassinorum are more adept at revenge and retaliation. So, my grey brothers, what say you. Ready for 100 years of hard duty?" I asked curious.

"I'm in. My lifespan might expire in 5 years..." X2 said with some fatalistic tone in his voice.

"Nonsense. 100 years is the minimum term for a pension. Unless you get killed. But age and disease, come now, that's silly. It's like three or four abilities to learn. Takes a month, or three for a newbie like Grey the third" I answered in a derisive voice, as my ship came to glide 10 meters above the crops.

And flying...let's lift X2 as well...

"Kriff, I was kinda bored..." Falon Grey muttered, so he got plucked up and taken into the Fade II frigate.

Let's send orders to Vanquo and start organizing this new branch.

Good position, with easy access towards Hydian Way, Mandalorian space, as well as the Pentastar and Gordian Reach.

I'll have to begin mapping and taking over that pocket as well. Yavin 4 was too much a threat and prize.

Now what was my Peffy doing on Ukio?

Planet Ukio, Pef Empire

former Jedi agriworld

"Indeed, sweet green lady. He came to Mand'alore, possibly to challenge me for my title. So, I put him to sleep and had him shaved all over. Then I sent him back to Coruscant in a bacta tub. But to think it would make him go mad and attack Master Yoda...unintended consequences" I explained over a glass of ice-tea. Who knew there's ice-tea here?

"Don't blame yourself Avatar. The danger you can't sense is usually the most deadly. And I never believed that crap of prophecy." Miss Keelyvine Reus said sadly, but looking amazing in her green bodysuit, which let me analyze her curves to perfect accuracy. And she wore green lipstick, which was new and probably tasted nice as well.

"You said that loud, Avatar. Mmmm. Want a taste?" the woman asked me seriously.

How could I refuse?

I closed my eyes and hoped for warm, moist...hard lipstick tube?

"Hey, you tricked me, you evil green witch!" I exclaimed, half upset.

"No way! You really expected a kiss? We met like an hour ago..." Miss Reus said with an awed and bewildered expression.

Oh, right. Fanatic jedi women. Possibly, Reus has never been kissed in her life. No matter how beautiful her green eyes and lips were.

"Nevermind then. Go hop on that corvette with the other plant monks, and join the boring conclave on Ruul. And to think, I thought you were cool...mmmm" I managed to say before the crazy nonconformist jedi planted a kiss on my lips.

"That's for the trick you played on Skywalker, nothing else. But don't think if I did it once....mmmmmm" She managed to say before I returned her kiss.

"You have much to learn, dear maid. Come with me then, to Kitel Phard. There's this city called Jar'kai, like the saber style. And..."

And we walked into the sunset, holding hands. Sigh. Romancing a Jedi was hard.

Next, she'll want movies and dinner.