HP: Dance of the Veela

Reijar, Ordo System…

The civil war in the Imperium was now turning firmly in House Atreides favour, the successful defence of Caladan had managed to sway some of the other houses away from House Harkonnen including a good number of the Salusian Militia giving them a much stronger fighting force and letting them take the fight to their enemies.

Paul Atreides was visiting Reijar today on the advice of his mother, she had thought it good to learn a little from Haron who already was a successful leader of his own people as if things went their way, House Atreides might be ruling the Imperium soon.

To that end they were fighting with swords, Paul did well having been trained in such things his entire life but the combat experience Haron had was too much and he easily disarmed the boy. Haron stood over him and then threw the sword back.

"You learn far more from failure than you do from success." Haron told him calmly as the boy got back to his feet. "You use an aggressive fighting style, which can be a good thing but only if it is balanced enough to keep you from overextending yourself."

"Easier said than done." Paul said having been knocked on his ass several times by the Mandalore.

"But worth it in the end." Haron assured him before imparting some wisdom he had learned along the way. "You serve your people as their leader as much as they serve you as your subjects. I would give my life to protect them especially my family and devote my time and effort to keeping them safe. They know that and it reassures them. Despite the situation making sure they know you are there is important."

"But how can I do that?" Paul asked as Haron's words hit home. "Be a leader worth the position?"

"By making sure you stay grounded, stay focused on the task at hand. There is no real rulebook to leadership but the best thing you can do is have something that reminds you what is important like my family does for me." Haron told him and Paul nodded before saying.

"My mother has said that Princess Irulan Corrino has expressed interest in being married to me. She's a daughter of the last Emperor of the Imperium, she's smart and well connected not to mention my age so it's a good match but…" Paul said and Haron knew exactly the problem from the reluctant way he said it.

"But you don't love her." Haron said with an understanding voice knowing that feeling all too well.

"Yes." Paul said reluctantly. "There's another girl Chani, she's been my lover since I could take one and a friend for even longer." Paul said with a longing in his eyes and voice.

"It might surprise you to know this." Haron said deciding to share his own experience. "But my wife and I were an arranged marriage too. And I had another girl I wanted to marry instead."

"You did?" Paul said with shock as he had seen Duchess Ordo playing with her children and the love that clearly existed between her and her husband so he was shocked to hear they had been put together against their will.

"Yes, an old agreement between two families we were powerless to get out of." Haron admitted. "Ginny as she was known was perhaps the passionate girl I had ever met before then and I loved her so much. I was going to marry her before this agreement came up and separated us. There were reasons we just couldn't break it and so I had to let Ginny go and wed Ara instead. Ara wasn't exactly eager to be married to me either. It caused a lot of tension and cost me many friendships, Ara and I didn't know how to make the most of our marriage till finally we both talked it through together and shared our feelings with each other so we knew where we stood. We decided to make the most of it, to not waste our time and get to know each other properly. To work on our marriage."

"If you both work on it, there is no reason you two can't have a good marriage." Haron said as he gave the boy advice that would hopefully help stop him and his future bride from going through the same issues he and Ara had once had back on Earth. "What does Chani think of this?" He asked and Paul frowned.

"Not sure." He admitted reluctantly. "I haven't said anything yet."

"Then your first move is clear. You and Chani need to talk and perhaps Princess Irulan should be a part of this conversation as well if you are going to marry her. If you are not willing to give Chani up and are still going to marry Irulan then you all need to find some agreement between the three of you and if not…then you may have to make some hard choices or indecision might be as dangerous as making the wrong one." Haron told him seriously. "What does Irulan want? What does Chani want? What do you want? These questions are the ones you need answers too if you are going to be a husband or a leader. Difficult decisions will be put before you every day and you can't run from them, you have face them and sometimes you will need to compromise. Give up what you want or do things you don't want too to get the job done. I don't like some of the things I have had to do but I did it because at the end of the day countless people rely on me as your people will rely on you. It is a heavy burden but only when you see it like that can you be the leader your people need you to be."

Seeing the boy was having a hard time dealing with this information Haron decided to distract him so he could have some time to process it all.

"There is something I have to show you as well, perhaps something that will interest your force culture the…Bene Gesseritt as they are called, I believe." Haron said before pulling the Darksaber off his back and igniting it.

The black blade simmered into existence and Paul was immediately struck in awe of it. Haron smiled knowing the attraction before explaining what it was.

"It is called a lightsaber, a weapon of considerable utility. The blade can cut through most materials with ease along with flesh, but it can also deflect blaster fire back at the enemy among other things." Haron said as he twirled the blade around, the hum it made singing in the air. "Unlike a normal sword the blade is never at rest so the utmost care and special training is needed before you can begin to use one. So…shall we begin?" Haron said with a smile as he tossed him a training saber which Paul took an ignited, creating a thin yellow blade which he studied for a moment before lunging forward, Haron easily parried the move as he let Paul get used to the weapon so that one day, he might teach his own people to make use of such a weapon.

YT-2400 Light Freighter 'Dasher', Unknown Space…

Ahsoka honestly didn't like being in such a confined space with Barriss but since her fighter could only take one person and she wasn't going to let Barriss out of her sight she had no choice if she wanted to find her brother.

At least she had shared the other half of the code and now she was talking to her best contact in the hopes he could tell her just where to go.

"The ID code you sent me was hard to identify but I managed to find out it refers to a highly guarded facility on the planet Nur. I can't say more beyond that." Bail Organa told her sadly.

"Okay thank you Senator." Ahsoka said before asking. "Can the Alliance?" She started to ask before he interrupted her.

"Sorry Ahsoka, but the Alliance won't be spending anyone." Bail said looking completely apologetic before adding. "Mon Mothma has been refusing to commit to any kind of military action. Garm has been doing it but his resources are stretched at the moment."

Ahsoka sighed with dismay as she realised there was no help coming from the rebels.

"Thank you, Senator." Ahsoka said before closing down the transmission. An angered Barriss snarled with anger.

"That pathetic bitch and her token measures is going to be the cause of so much trouble!" Barriss said, dropping herself into the pilot's seat with a dramatic thump. "What about your Liber8 friends? Can they help?" Barriss asked intently.

"No." Ahsoka said with annoyance at the way Barriss was acting. "Liber8 is trying to help friendly worlds fight off Kalderans and the Empire alike. They haven't got the forces to spare."

"A suicide mission, that's what this is. We can't do it alone." Barriss said as she leant back in her chair in despair. Ahsoka felt almost as dejected as she did, knowing it would be almost impossible to get themselves in, find what they were looking for and get out without outside help.

"Who is it?" Ahsoka asked not able to stop herself from asking anymore. "Just who are you risking your life for?"

"That is not your concern." Barriss told her sharply but Ahsoka told her.

"I am going to be risking my life for whoever it is just like I am for my brother! I should know, although why you would care after you betrayed everyone who ever gave a damn about you is something I cannot understand." Ahsoka snapped at her finally letting out the anger she had been trying to hold back.

That got a reaction as Barriss flinched like she was hit by a slap to the face, she sagged in depression as she sighed remembering just what lines she had crossed back then before finally admitting to Ahsoka just who the Empire had taken from her.

"My daughter." Barriss said quietly and in pain at the reality of it all.

"Your daughter?" Ahsoka said sitting up in surprise, not able to believe what Barriss had said.

"Yes, my little girl." Barriss said with a depressed look. "When I escaped from prison during Order 66, I decided to try and blend in with the places I found myself and that included dating. I am not ugly regardless of what some people would think." Barriss said with a look at her before she continued. "I got involved with a man and I ended up pregnant. He ran off and left me holding the baby and I raised her by myself ever since. Then Dane took her. Took my little Celeste." Barriss said with fear for her child on her face as clear as the tattoos. "Abducted her from school while I was working." She said bitterly knowing she was at not being there to protect her.

Ahsoka was honestly shocked, having never imagined Barriss with a child. She had always been so much of a loner, she now could see how isolated Barriss had been back at the Temple, apart from her there was hardly anyone in her life and when they had drifted apart, she had not even noticed. She did feel bad about that but what stuck with her the most was that Barriss seemed to think that she thought she was ugly.

"I never thought you were ugly Barriss." Ahsoka said surprised. "Why would you think that?"

"Because I was always second best." Barriss told her, finally letting her insecurities out. "Not as strong as you, not as bright as you, you had a better master than me, a far better career as a Jedi than me. You were always better."

"What do you mean?" Ahsoka said in disbelief. "You are powerful, you are more graceful than I could ever be. You think things through while I rush in and get myself in trouble. You are a natural healer and I can't even begin to do it half as well as you. We're different Barriss but not better than the other. Just skilled in different things." Ahsoka said sadly, not understanding how Barriss could thing so little of herself when she had so many gifts. Perhaps Luminara had been a worse master than she had known Ahsoka considered, shattering Barriss's own confidence and self of self-worth.

Barriss was silent as she thought about it, not sure she was able to believe it. Knowing Ahsoka wasn't a liar she had to think she meant it although that she could think anything good of her after what she had done was a major surprise to Barriss.

"I wanted to join you, when Skywalker started forming his own little Jedi." Barriss said sadly. "I really wanted to be there and learn from Master Tuwan like you all did, but Luminara wouldn't let me and I was too timid to go against her. Then I saw you with all your new friends like I didn't exist. I…I just got so mad." Barriss admitted knowing how foolish she had been back then.

"I missed you there." Ahsoka said sad now too as she remembered the day in question and realised that she hadn't been a great friend to Barriss either. "I went looking but Luminara wouldn't let me see you."

"Sounds like her." Barriss said bitterly, remembering her old master with anger before saying something she knew she had to say. "I am sorry, for what I did. I know that isn't enough for…all of it. But regret it every day and I missed you, what we had. I know I can never make it up to you and we can never really be friends again but I am sorry."

Ahsoka honestly was touched by the apology late though it was. She had no idea Barriss was that insecure inside, if she had she would have tried to let her know how brilliant she was. If she had maybe they might still be friends now.

This only made her more determined to find Yul'xe and Celeste. There was one last person she could call for help and so she sat up and told Barriss.

"I can reach out to one more person, someone who has the means to help us." Ahsoka said before activating the comm relay and before Barriss could ask who she was contacting a hologram appeared before them although Barriss was kept out of view.

"Ahsoka. It's been a while." Haron Ordo said as he appeared in full armour. Ahsoka nodded with a smile on her face.

"I know and I am sorry for having to reach out to you at all but I have a problem. My brother and a few other force sensitives have been kidnapped by the Empire and taken to an Imperial Outpost on the planet Nur. Do you know anything about the place?" She asked him getting serious.

Haron was silent for a moment before asking her sternly.

"Ahsoka, please tell me you are not going to try and assault that Fortress by yourself." He said and she could almost see the look of disapproval in his eyes even though he was covered by a helmet. She told him quickly.

"I am hoping not too but I need to know what it is." Ahsoka said eagerly and Haron gave a sigh before telling her.

"Fortress Nur is the headquarters for the Empire's Inquisitors." Haron told her which made a chill run down both Ahsoka and Barriss's spines as they now understood just why their loved ones had been taken. "A heavily guarded installation where force sensitives are broken and forced to become hunters for the Emperor."

Both Ahsoka and Barriss knew for certain now there was no way for them to rescue their loved ones without help but it was a big favour to ask for his help. So Ahsoka made an emotional plea as she knew how much family meant to the Mandalorians.

"Haron, please…he's little brother and I know that at least one little girl was taken from her mother. They're in danger. I need your help." Ahsoka pleaded with him and both of them held their breath as he considered their words. Haron being a father himself knew how he would feel if one of his children ended up in the hands of the Empire, so he understood their fear.

"I can't spare a large force right now, but I can get something together." Haron told her which instantly rekindled both their hopes. "Meet them at these co-ordinates and be ready for a real fight."

"Don't worry, we will." Ahsoka told him and smiled again. "And Haron, thank you. I owe you."

"You should be careful with that statement Ahsoka. One day someone will collect." Haron told her.

Dathomir, the Outer Rim…

The Liberation of Dathomir had been a year in the planning, while Merrin trained intelligence units had been scouting all of the different Imperial facilities on the planet and waiting for the Imperial Surveillance Facility to be as close to completion as possible before they struck.

The Invasion Force had assembled centred around a Lucrehulk commanded by Bo Katan, she looked at the strange planet with foreboding as something about it just made the hairs on the back of her neck stand to attention. She turned to Cal Kestis and Merrin, Cal was wearing his usual armour but Merrin had been given a suit made of the special steel they had discovered recently. She looked striking Bo Katan said with her Nightsister colours painted on.

"Are we prepared?" Bo Katan asked not really wanting to waste time with a planet like this but it was the will of the Mandalore and she did see the advantages of both the planet and the people.

"All is ready Lady Kryze." Cal said respectfully and she nodded, glad of the respect he showed.

"Then you had best get to the hanger, its time." Bo Katan said with a smirk, knowing it was the first time she had led a planetary invasion and was pretty proud of herself and would be even more so if it went well.

"Then let's move." Merrin said and both of them apparated to the hanger bay, Cal still was somewhat unnerved by the sensation but Merrin was taking it in her stride having already had similar abilities before she started training with the Akaan.

"Yes Ma'am." Cal said with a grin as he walked with her to the transport along with other warriors, Basilisk war droids and Skytroopers.

The hatches closed and the transports lifted off, flying out of the hanger and towards the surface accompanied by Vipers, X-wings and Scurrg H-6 bombers for assistance and protection.

- x -

The Imperial Prisons were designed to keep prisoners in, so their outer defences were not as tough. They had no ships in orbit to support them and only limited ground-based forces.

Tie Fighters were scrambled to intercept them, the Vipers being better at atmospheric flight broke off to intercept them while the X-Wings and H-6s began to strafe the ground units, the bombers also using their missile and torpedoes to attack buildings and ground fortifications, clearing the way for the troops to land.

Landers and troop carriers came down and began to discharge the landing force, Mandalorians and Skytroopers accompanied by Basilisk war droids all raced out of the landers with heavier Rancor models following behind. They began to attack the scattered and confused Imperial ground forces while Cal and Merrin led a team of Mandalorian female warriors into the main prison complex.

- x -

"The communication channels are jammed sir. We cannot contact anyone." The officer at the communication station. The fear on his face was truly a sight to see and it would under other circumstances have given the man in charge a great sense of satisfaction but not when they were facing a full-blown invasion.

"Break through!" Taron Malicos told him sternly with his hand around his throat for a moment till he let the man free to try and work. Lank Denvik, a visiting Imperial Intelligence officer was surprisingly calm about the situation despite the fact they might all be dead soon or in some Mandalorian interrogation chamber. Taron however then noticed someone was missing.

"Where is your little protégé?" Taron asked suspicious of the sudden absence but didn't give Lank a chance to answer as he took off to find him.

- x -

"It's alright Kata!" Bode said as he ran with his daughter in his arms, rushing towards the landing bay in hopes of stealing a ship and using the chaos of the battle to escape with his daughter. He hated being forced to work for Lank, for the sake of his daughter he tolerated it but this was perhaps the best chance to be free.

"Daddy! I'm scared." Kata said as she clung tightly to him before suddenly, she saw something he didn't over his shoulder. "DADDY BEHIND YOU!" She screamed out in fear and Bode on instinct threw Kata away from himself which was the only thing that saved the little girl's life as a saber was impaled through his chest.

Bode gasped as Kata screamed, looking at Taron Malicos who was holding the saber with a disgusted look in his eyes.

"I knew you couldn't be trusted." Taron said with a revolted look in his eyes. "Maybe some time with the Inquisitors might make your daughter worth something." Taron said taunting him with what would happen to Kata now. Like him she had the force, untrained for the moment but strong enough to be an Inquisitor.

"You…bastard!" Bode said as his voice broke with the effort and pain of trying to stay alive but Taron pulled the saber out and kicked him over, Bode looked up at his terrified daughter and smiled as much as he could for her and told her with his remaining strength.

"I love you; I will be with you always remember sweetie. Me and mommy will be with you always." Bode said with his breath failing him, he knew he was dying and nothing could stop that now but he wanted his daughter to know he loved her and that she would be the last thing he would see. Kata nodded, with tears streaming down her face as she scrambled towards him and he was able with little strength he had left to wipe her tears away and kiss her cheek before finally succumbing to his wounds.

"How sweet." Taron mocked as he stared down in disgust while Kata clung to her dead father sobbing her eyes out. But as he reached down to grab the little girl he was suddenly hit by a blast of green magic.

"Get away from that child!" A female voice said with a Dathomiri accent. Kata managed to look up along with Taron and saw two figures approach dressed from head to toe in armour. Kata was still too raw from her father's death but they had hurt the man who killed daddy so she hoped they would be good.

"Killing a father right in front of his child. Just when I think the Empire has run out of ways to make me sick, you go one better." A male voice said and both of the two new figures drew lightsabers. Two dark red blades with a smoking effect to them and a solid blue appearing as Taron struggled to his feet.

"Maybe this might be worth my time, after all." Taron said as he drew his own lightsabers, both red blades.

The two armoured figures ran forward and put themselves between Kata and Taron to make sure she was as safe as possible. The space was tightly confined but just large enough to fight and while Cal kept him busy with a rapid exchange of saber strikes, Merrin used her Nightsister magic.

Taron found the floor beneath his feet shifting and changing, letting him fall through it like quicksand and Merrin snarled at him as he went under.

"Dathomir will have you." She said using her magic to bury him as deep underground as she could manage. Taron struggled but despite his own dive into Nightsister magic he was no match for the much more powerful and better trained Merrin.

Cal kept his saber lit though as he checked the area was secure, turning he saw the girl kneeling over her father's body and had a flashback of himself kneeling over Master Tapal's body as he died. Turning off his saber he shared a look with Merrin who nodded and they went over to her and knelt down, putting a hand on her shoulders each.

"It's alright little one. He is at peace now and you are safe. We will not let anything hurt you." Merrin told her, actually taking off her mask so the girl could see her face. Cal did the same and the girl who was still sobbing said.

"He's…my daddy and my mommy's dead."

That hurt both of them too as they could feel her grief through the force, Cal made sure he was looking her in the eye before saying.

"I lost a father, when I was a few years older than you are now." Cal told her with pain as he remembered his Jedi Master and his demise, even after all this time it still hurt him deeply. "He died to save my life and I think about him every day. Know that your daddy is with the force and watching over you."

"Really?" Kata asked him, her eyes red raw and desperate while Merrin in a maternal gesture stroked her hair gently.

"Really. But do not worry young one, me and Cal will help you now, we won't let anything happen to you." Merrin told her to comfort her. Kata lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Merrin who held her a little awkwardly, not really knowing what to do around young children but gently wrapped her arms around her and letting her cry into her shoulder, knowing this pain herself all too well.

Cal surprised her by wrapping his arms around both of them holding them so all three were huddled together on the floor.

They stayed like that before Bo Katan found them and smirked.

"Lovely little family." She mocked, the ex-Jedi/Mandalorian, the Nightsister and their adopted daughter. Cal and Merrin were too angry to be embarrassed though and Merrin said sharply to her.

"This little girl has just lost her father, her only remaining parent. Show respect." She said with a glare that was actually intimidating and Bo fell silent before telling them what she had come to say.

"The leaders of all the clans are here in his prison and they are demanding an audience with us all."

"Then let's get to it." Cal said before Merrin put her hand to his shoulder and told him.

"I will. I know them and they know me, you are male and they will not listen. Take care of her." Merrin said and told the young Kata. "I will need to go and speak to some people now; Cal will make sure you get something to eat. I'll be back soon." Merrin reassured Kata who still clung to her hand but reluctantly let go while Merrin gave her a warm smile before she went off to meet with the various 'mothers' while Cal led Kata away so they could find her some food and arrange for her father to be laid to rest.

- x -

The various mothers were squabbling like children when Merrin arrived and she sighed, seeing again how they had been so easily conquered by the Empire. As a people, as a whole they were extremely powerful with the force and their magic. Together they were capable of so much belong the Jedi and Sith in some ways but they were completely divided she thought sadly. She used her magic like Luna had taught her, amplifying her voice to make it louder.

"SILENCE!" She called out.

Her voice was so loud that she managed to get all of them to stop arguing.

"This pathetic squabbling allowed the Empire to take over our world before!" Merrin said fiercely not giving any of them the chance to interrupt. "If you had all stood united this would never have happened. All the power we have! If we had been together, we could defend our world." Merrin said with anger as they listened to her.

"I was forced to leave and look for help to save us! I was just lucky to find it." Merrin said gesturing to Bo Katan who was standing at her side. "Better yet they have agreed to make sure we aren't threatened again. They will use the station they built to watch for any more Imperial Ships but the fact remains, we need to be unified. Singing Mountain, Howling Crag, Blue Coral Divers, Nardithi Nightsisters, whatever clan you belong too. We can't be caught unprepared again!" Merrin said forcefully, eager to make her point.

"What do you intend we do about it?" Augwynne Djo said, leading of the Singing Mountain Clan and one of the strongest leaders on Dathomir. Merrin had been terrified before she had seen them arguing like they had been when she came in, they were no better than her she thought with realisation. Just people regardless of their position.

"Choose a leader, a great mother that can keep the peace!" Bo Katan said with annoyance as she had little respect for them if they couldn't pull themselves together in the face of such a dangerous threat.

That made all of them look at them dumb founded, not able to belief what was being suggested.

"What you say has never been done before." Another Mother, Amaya Kymeri said with bitterness given the long running issues between them. "Who could we even choose anyway? All of us would be accused of favouring one clan over the others."

"Choose Merrin." Bo Katan said which shocked all of them not least Merrin herself who had never been informed that this had been what the Mandalorians had wanted from the beginning. "She has no allegiance to any of your clans and yet from what I have been told she has studied with many of you. She understands your ways and has seen the wider galaxy, she knows how to see the big picture. What better candidate is there?" Bo Katan asked earnestly.

The mothers all looked very unsettled at the idea and Augwynne stood up and declared.

"I will meditate on this, we all should. It is a big decision." She said and Merrin nodded, shaken slightly because if enough voted in her favour she might become the leader of Dathomir.

They all went to their own former cells to meditate in private and before Merrin could ask Bo Katan what she had done the older woman had vanished, making a hasty retreat to avoid her questions.

Merrin frowned as she considered just what burden this placed on her but realised the benefits too. She could bring much to her people not least of which was protection. Walking out to see Cal and the girl they had found she smiled as she saw the girl playing a little game with Cal, feeling some enjoyment despite the horrible circumstances. She had no intention of being a mother, not yet anyway but now she was honestly considering an adopted daughter she thought to herself with irony.

Sometimes the Force or fate or whatever it was took these decisions out of your hands.

She went over to join the game, the girl hugging her again and telling her that she was named Kata. She was warm and loving girl, trusting them quickly Merrin found and she couldn't help but like her straight away. Being leader of this planet would let her give this girl a home, stability and future training Merrin realised as they all sat around the table. Whether Cal would be willing to stay with her she had no idea but she hoped he would. The Imperial Intelligence officer they'd captured could be their gift to the Mandalorians for their help in liberating the planet.

It took a couple of hours but eventually the mothers all finished their meditations and returned to the meeting room where Merrin was waiting for them with Bo Katan and Cal and Kata at her side. Seeing a male armed disturbed some of them but none questioned it.

"We have all thought deeply on it." Augwynne said with concern but got to the point. "It is clear to us all that you are right. If Dathomir is to ever become more than it is now, a Great Mother is needed and as your friend pointed out…you are the best candidate…So I name you with the authority of all the clans assembled here…Great Mother of Dathomir."

Merrin wanted to yell but suppressed it, knowing she could do much with this and ensure the protection of their world. She could even bring secrets she had learned from the Akaan here she thought but knew that would need to be done carefully.

"Then as my first act as Great Mother." Merrin said doing her best not to be nervous as Cal and Kata both gave her encouraging looks. "All clans will hold a celebration. We are free of the Empire and it is time our sisters and even our brothers truly enjoyed themselves." Merrin said and a cheer went up as she ordered what amounted to the biggest party in their history.

Fortress Inquisitorius, Nur…

The headquarters of the Inquisitorius was an imposing building, a single spire that rose out of the water protected by turbolasers, it had no energy shields or other defences as not only was most of the facility underwater but no one thought that anyone would be so stupid they would try to attack the place.

A single landing bay existed for ships coming and going, an Imperial Shuttle carrying supplies arrived as usual, it had all the usual security checks and codes to pass through unchallenged. It landed and the crew began unloading their supplies but unknown to the Imperials a small spider droid was hiding on the hull, it untucked itself and unseen by the busy Imperials ran quickly across the landing pad and into the facility, looking for a computer terminal and when it found one, connected briefly to it, transferring a rather nasty computer virus into the system.

The droid then retreated into the nearby ventilation ducts so it wouldn't be discovered.

The virus was a special one, given specific instructions to disable the turbolasers, security systems and communications, preventing the facility from calling for help or interfering with the attack that was coming.

A single Star Destroyer was in orbit, standing guard over the facility and the moment the Mandalorians could be certain that the facility couldn't reach out for help a Null ship jumped in accompanied by a small fleet of ships including a Lucrehulk. The Null ship had already prepared before it jumped and fired the blast of purple energy, striking the Star Destroyer hard, rendering it helpless as bombers and smaller warships along with the Lucrehulk began to strafe it before they could begin to recover.

While the ship in orbit was being taken apart Kom'rk dropships alongside D-77s spewed out of the hanger and rushed down towards the surface and specifically the fortress.

The personnel assigned to the facility were confused by the sudden systems failure but understood the moment the dropships appeared; the Inquisitors sensed the threat but could do little as the dropships fired their lasers to strafe the landing zone so it was clear.

As the Imperials were either cut down or dived for cover one of the D-77s came close and opened its ramp just as the only Inquisitor present on the platform threw his saber at one of the landing ships and smashed its rear mounted engines which spluttered and started failing, leaving all the warriors little time to bail out before it smashed into the water below.

But another of the ships got close enough to the platform and Mandalorian shock troopers leapt out, flying around the platform to strafe any stragglers that remained while Ahsoka and Barriss leapt from the ship and landed on the pad. The Inquisitor charged at them with his lightsaber but Ahsoka already had hers in hand and lit, trading a few blows before bisecting him at the waist.

Barriss blinked, having not expected her to be so ruthless but didn't wait around and leapt over the pad to cut down the few remaining Imperials who remained. Leaving the pad secure and more warriors arrived to charge the facility while others went to assist the currently sinking damaged dropship.

The two Mandalorian leaders of this assault who also happened to two of their force users, the Akaan Ahsoka thought with curiosity as she looked at them joining the fight, their strange looking lightsabers cutting through the Imperials as they launched themselves into the facility, Ahsoka and Barriss ran after them, eager to find their loved ones.

- x -

Leading a good portion of the ground forces was Din Djarin, eager for the fight but still deeply unsettled by this place. From what he had learnt, it was designed to hold and torture force sensitives until they were broken into being Inquisitors for the Empire…even children.

That enraged him, Din thought with disgust. The idea that poor innocent younglings were torn from their families and tortured to serve the revolting old man and his empire.

So, when they came across Imperials, organic or droid he and his warriors showed no mercy.

Stormtroopers, Interrogators, officers it didn't matter, none were high enough to be worth sparing anyway he considered and pressed the attack, killing all the Imperials they could find.

Then they came across a real challenge he thought with sense of anticipation, one of the Inquisitors.

A black skinned Twi'lek appeared before them and Din gritted his teeth as they had no Akaan or the two Jedi with them but he thought with his confidence returning, his people knew how to stop one of them.

He and his men surrounded the Inquisitor who was spinning his stronger whirling lightsaber around to try and fight them off but Din waited until the last possible moment and hit him with a repulsor blast. The shot was well aimed and managed to catch the Inquisitor by surprise, knocking his saber from his hand and leaving him defenceless. Din fired his cable as did the other members of his team, wrapping the Inquisitor down before firing their gauntlet mounted blasters. The Inquisitor wasn't able to move out of the way and had only the thin Imperial standard issue armour on, it was nowhere near strong enough to resist their weapons. The Inquisitor struggled but soon went down to their overwhelming fire.

- x -

Near the cells Roon and Makla were fighting a battle of their own, a pair of Inquisitors had found them, engaging them one on one in an attempt to bring them down.

They were human they saw but hardly a challenge for them, more vicious than dangerous and the pair channelled their magic, hitting them both with full body bindings before cutting them down on the spot.

Both looked down at their work with satisfaction before checking the cells, most thankfully were empty but to their disappointment that some of the cells were full. Opening them they saw a number of younglings emerge, the oldest was sixteen they thought with anger but the youngest looked only four years old! They thought with their anger rising before reassuring them.

"It's okay now." Makla told them, the male Kage was hoping that with time they could be healed of their trauma and whatever programming the Empire had managed to force on them and Roon was in full agreement and told them.

"We'll get you out of here, come on." The Male Duro told them with a smile, even taking off his helmet so they might trust him.

The younglings for good reason after all they had experienced at the hands of the Empire didn't do so quickly. It was actually the youngest that took to him first, reaching out with his small hand but it was start he thought with relief.

- x -

Ahsoka and Barriss meanwhile were focused solely on finding their respective family members, cutting down anyone that got in their way. Arriving in a long corridor though that was labelled as a vault they could feel their loved ones were close but on the other side of the vault, so they would cross it as the fastest way there.

But what they found there horrified them.

This was no vault they realised as they saw the orange preservation units that lined the walls on at least two levels going along a fair way.

It was a tomb.

Bodies frozen like insects in amber were all around them, they looked on with horror at the scene around them, not able to believe that the Empire would go to such grim lengths. They saw Master Coleman Kcaj's preserved body hanging there with an expression of shock on his face. They looked around and saw even a youngling with the training helmet still on was preserved here like some twisted trophy room.

But there was worse to come, personally for both of them.

Ahsoka looked and saw to her own horror that she recognised two of the corpses personally, Jinx and O-Mer looking only a bit older than they had the last time she had seen them after their escape from the Trandoshans. She had no idea just when or how the Empire had found them but they had and now here they were frozen with an expression of horror on their faces.

But Barriss was in for an awful shock of her own, in the tank opposite the ones that Ahsoka was staring at she saw Luminara Unduli, her dead body preserved for all to see.

But they both then sensed a threat and saw the same hunter that had snatched the ones they loved preparing to ambush them just like he had Ahsoka's brother. Barriss, already infuriated by everything snapped and lashed out, grabbing him with telekinesis around the neck. She pulled him forward and impaled him on her now lit lightsaber before throwing the body aside.

Both wasted no more time and ran from the room, not wanting to see anymore and finally emerged into the main torture chamber and their hearts stopped as they saw two people strapped to electrical torture beds. Yul'xe had plenty of marks and bruises but looked otherwise okay.

The girl opposite him was only five years old! Ahsoka thought with disgust at the Empire torturing someone that young and innocent. She was Mirialian with the same olive-green skin as Barriss and the same dark blue eyes, the only thing slightly different was that she had a slight purplish tint to her hair. Both prisoners perked up when they saw them but then fell silent and cowered as an older man with an almost skeletal appearance and wispy white beard appeared from a catwalk nearby.

"I always find it works best when two people can see each other suffering as they are not only dealing with their own but each other's too." The old man said with excited anticipation, he honestly looked almost orgasmic over causing pain and his form was thin like he hardly ate but his eyes burned orange and dark side aura that surrounded him was extremely bitter and twisted. Neither Barriss or Ahsoka dared to move or even speak with their loved ones in such danger though.

"See for yourselves." He said activating the arrangement and both Yul'xe and Celeste screamed out as pain briefly which tore at Barriss and Ahsoka, and froze them in place until the dark sider stopped.

"Both subjects are coming along quite nicely." The old man said and intense anger speared through Barriss and Ahsoka, both of them blasting him with the force at the same time while Ahsoka ripped the controller from his hand.

The old man sailed backwards but stopped himself before he slammed into the wall, he let loose a torrent of force lightning at them both with a delighted look on his face, it was a fairly strong blast of it and both of them had to hold their ignited sabers tightly to block it.

Both of them managed to catch each other's eyes and knew in their hearts what they had to do, to save their loved ones.

Barriss finally trusted Ahsoka to protect her from the lightning, letting her saber fall to the side while Ashoka trusted Barriss not to stab her in the back while she was unable to defend herself.

Barriss took a deep breath and let loose as powerful a force scream as she could, using all her fury and anger at the man who had tortured her daughter.

In the middle of his lightning attack the old man couldn't defend himself against her scream and was blasted backwards with considerable force, his face wide with the unbearable sound of a Force infused scream.

Barriss held him there for a good while before she couldn't keep up the attack any longer and fell to her knees ending it, but he was still suffering its effects which allowed Ahsoka to cross the distance and with a single stroke of her lightsaber ended his life.

Both Barriss and Ahsoka were breathing heavily struggled to their feet towards their loved ones, breaking them open with the force and Yul'xe and Celeste rushed forward, wrapping them in their arms. Ahsoka held her brother but looked on as she saw Barriss kissed and hugged her daughter tightly with such maternal concern it honestly struck her in the heart.

She had never imagined to see Barriss full of so much love and joy, it made her look like a completely different person. Ahsoka honestly was confused as she had now seen three faces of Barriss; the calm Jedi Padawan, the angry and resentful traitor and a kind and loving mother who cared for nothing more than her daughter's safety.

Which one was she really Ahsoka thought with confusion to herself? Did she change who she was or were they all the same person just different facets?

Ahsoka didn't know but what she realised was that she had to be better with people to understand them, not to mention the sight of this and her own experience with her family had made her realise just what she was missing. Some of the men in the village had approached her but she hadn't accepted any of their interest.

Maybe she should Ahsoka thought with a slight longing, she wondered if she might find someone that would look at her like Anakin looked at Padme.

- x -

Later Ahsoka accompanied by her brother to the landing pad where she saw the young children that had been prisoners here and saw the Mandalorians giving them some food and trying to comfort them.

She could feel the force inside them, pure and untainted which made her smile. Barriss, she noticed had sneaked off with her daughter but Ahsoka didn't begrudge her that, she thought with a smile glad they had finally dealt with what had happened and just glad to have saved their loved ones.

Din, she noticed feeling his confident presence in the force saw her and approached.

"I see you found him. Good. We managed to wipe out a good number of Inquisitors." Din told her looking around as Roon and Makla boasted of their achievements in battle.

"More will be out there; we shouldn't drop our guard." Ahsoka warned him and she could feel Din rolling his eyes even if she didn't actually see it.

"Yes. We know that." Din told her in a deadpan voice.

"What about the children? The Hidden Path I am sure will take them in." Ahsoka said and felt the tension rise the moment she mentioned the Jedi, knowing she had made a misstep.

"We will do our best to return them to their families and if the families' consent, we will move them all to our territory or other Rift Alliance worlds so they are safe. No child will be indoctrinated to the Jedi on our watch. If they have no family, there are Mandalorian families who will take them in." Din told her aggressively and Ahsoka realised despite having a common enemy the Jedi and Mandalorians were still marred by centuries of conflict and different ideological beliefs. She saw the warriors around her become more tense and some even reached for their weapons including Roon and Makla.

Ahsoka realised immediately that she was over stepping her boundaries and nodded, keen to avoid a fight when her brother was so close and he was getting more nervous she noticed so she quickly spoke.

"I understand, now I must return with my brother to our family." Ahsoka said and that seemed to relax them she noticed with some relief.

"Then we bid you a safe journey. Oh, the Mandalore sends his regards. Says you are still the best assistant he ever had." Din told her as he remembered the message his leader had given to him to pass on.

Ahsoka smirked a little at that but was glad to hear that Haron Ordo thought well of her, friends were worth their weight in credits she thought with relief and if they were going to defeat the Empire someday then they would need all the friends they could get.

Giedi Prime, the Pasdisahah Imperium…

The original home of House Harkonnen had become one of their bastion worlds and a place they could store the weapons given to them by their Imperial Allies which were more important than ever as the war with Atreides raged on.

The Mandalorians like the Imperials though were not averse to bending the rules a little or outright breaking them to secure victory.

A Mandalorian Special Operations Team there for had been dispatched to, deal with these weapons and leave House Harkonnen deprived of them.

The team was in and out as fast as possible, they didn't even bother to land merely dropped bombs over the facility and disappeared before the locals had a chance to react.

The explosions ripped through the facility and detonated the unused ordinance inside, making a second explosion even larger than the first and reduced the facility to ruin. It was so powerful in fact that it flattened all the buildings within two miles of facility with so much being stored there.

This left House Harkonnen dealing with a major crisis, one of their strongest and most important assets was now weakened by the great disaster and worst still they had lost their stockpile of ammunition and tibanna gas. They still had some left over but it would be quickly drained as House Atriedes made its big move.

- x -

Kaitain, Pasdisahah Imperium…

The forces assembled by House Atreides were extensive, not only did they have their own ships and troops with them but they had Fremen, units of the Sardaukar who accompanied the remaining forces of House Corrino who were keen to reclaim their planet, the great Heighliners of the Spacer Guild and a number of other houses who had pledged their support once it became clear just who was going to win this fight and the Harkonnen forces had been driven from their base world.

The Mandalorian observers were astonished at the enormous Heighliners, easily the most enormous ships they had ever seen. They were mostly cargo ships from what they could tell but when fitted with weapons they could become the most powerful juggernauts imaginable. Many were just carrying the invasion force for the ground portion of this battle but some had been armed for fighting in space.

Paul Atreides was staring at the planet from his command ship, amazed at how much the situation had changed from the way it used to be. Now he and his family stood on the verge of victory over House Harkonnen when a short while ago it had seemed like they were on the edge of certain defeat.

He saw his ships open fire on the House Harkonnen. Driving them back steadily towards the planet, Paul was grimly anticipating the ground battle, a lot of people were going to die and while it was to keep the Imperium from becoming a puppet state of the Galactic Empire it troubled him all the same.

Deprived of their special weapons it didn't take long for the Atreides forces to force their way and Paul along with his personal guard accompanied their forces to join the ground assault.

- x -

One Hour Later…

The city was as chaotic as it was possible to imagine, all over the city pitched battles were fought and many were dying on both sides. Paul was enraged at this as he personally led the assault on the palace.

Harkonnen guards were waiting there but Paul blasted them with a force wave and his own guards shot them with blasters to stop them getting up.

Ruthless but he honestly didn't care as the end of the war was in sight.

Chani was at his side, wearing combat armour and doing her best to support him as both a fighter and a lover. He hadn't managed get up the nerve to try to convince her to talk with him and Irulan to see just how they might make this work but he wasn't exactly eager to have that conversation.

Paul frowned but his attention was stolen by the sight of Imperial observers and his sworn enemy, the man that had ordered his father killed and the previous Emperor to ensure that he would rule as the puppet of the Galactic Empire.

Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, his fat frame on the throne which belonged to the ruler. Between Vladimir and his Imperial masters was a team of Sardaukar that had stayed loyal to him led by Vladimir's two nephews, Count Glossu Rabban and Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.

Paul stood before them and the old fat Baron glared at him.

"If you think I or my family are going to beg for our lives then boy you couldn't be more wrong. I saw a gamble for supreme power and I took it. It is how one grows to be great, by taking advantage of their opportunities. Now let this war end, one way or another." Vladimir said without fear.

Paul would have admired the strength of his conviction if he didn't hate him so much for masterminding the death of his father.

"It will end, today." Paul said as he pulled a strange looking cylinder-shaped object from his waist while Chani looked on in confusion as did most of the others although the Imperial Observers looked at it with shock as they knew what it was.

"Knowledge imparted to me by my own allies, the Mandalore himself taught me to create this." Paul said as he held the object in front of him and with a low hum an orange-red coloured blade burst into existence. The Mandalore had taught him all the components needed, how to build it, where and how to harvest the crystal taken from a small vein on Arrakis itself and how to awaken the force with it. Trained him to use it and heightened his ability to enhance his physical prowess.

Paul charged forward, his saber slicing cleanly through the bladed weapons of the Sardaukar warriors before ending them with a single cut each, closing in on the two Harkonnen men Paul was no less efficient in his movements, beheading one and then slicing deeply into the chest of the other.

The speed at which he did it completely shocked them, as did the power of the weapon he now wielded but instead of wasting any more time with words and plunged his weapon's orange blade straight into Vladimir's chest.

The old Baron was so shocked he was only able to look down in disbelief, not able to believe such a weapon existed.

Paul pulled his lightsaber free as his guards took the Imperials prisoner, knowing the Bene Gesseritt would soon be doing their best to learn the secret of such weapons. He would permit it as he had the Mandalore's word that none of his people would give the secret of the lightsaber to anyone else. They would help advance their technology but no more than that.

He turned and saw others had now arrived, his mother the Lady Jessica along with his younger sister and all their family retainers, representatives of the groups that had joined him, the Mandalore and his observers and among them was his biggest problem.

Chani and Princess Irulan.

The two stood apart, both as different as night and day but both very strong willed. Chani was a fighter, tough and with a razor-sharp focus and could endure anything. Irulan was strong too but in a different way, politically and with her words not to mention a certain cunning that came with being brought up in the Imperial Court, she could dominate it and probably smooth over any issues that arose within.

She was also brave, when her father had been assassinated by the Galactic Empire, she had brought whatever units of the military that remained loyal to House Corrino to their side including the Sardaukar and much information that had proved vital to the war. Finally, unlike Chani Irulan was a trained at least partly by the Bene Gesseritt and had the potential for a good amount of power inside her even if she had never unlocked it for herself. Any children they might have could be stronger than either of them.

One would be a good Empress and the other a good wife and he couldn't pick between them. One was possibly the love of his life and the other could do a great deal of good for the Imperium and help him in his new role as its ruler.

Paul rallied his courage as he saw his mother, Chani and all his family's retainers along with the Mandalorians look on encouragingly, making his first speech as Emperor.

"Today this war for control of the Imperium ends, losses haunt both sides but with time we will not only rebuild but grow stronger." Paul declared to them all, many of which had expected to return to their isolation. "The outside world has intruded on us and we can no longer ignore it, our isolation has left us behind much of the galaxy and this war proved our vulnerability. With the aid of our allies and new friends the Mandalorians we will not only catch up with the rest of the universe so we will never be caught off guard again. They have already invited us to join the Rift Alliance, a union of other nations like ourselves that wish to live free of the oppression of the Galactic Empire."

Paul was still not done yet as confusion and worry spread through the crowd as this sounded like the end of life as they had known it but Paul and some others knew that had already happened and it was impossible to go back, not now outsiders knew ways to enter their borders.

"We will find our place but only when we are ready will we emerge, there is much work to be done." Paul before getting to the bit he had been dreading. "To ensure the stability of the Imperium, I will take Irulan Corrino as my wife while I assume the throne. Chani will be our trusted companion." Paul declared, it unsettled many and he could also feel the disapproval of the Mandalorians as they saw he was trying to have his cake and eat it as they said.

Both his lover and his politically useful wife at the same time.

His mother Lady Jessica he could tell was deeply concerned about this arrangement and Paul in his arrogance had forgotten that it was best to speak to people before getting them into an arrangement that neither had agreed too.

Chani and Irulan looked at him in shock before turning to each other with narrowed eyes. Paul swallowed wondering just what he had gotten himself into.

- x -

"I hope you have a plan if you intend to have both of us." Irulan said shortly as she stood in front of Paul with anger in her eyes and her latent power starting to spike, object shaking slightly around her. Chani noticed this but decided to just get to the point as she looked at Paul as if he had grown another head.

"I had no expectation of being your wife but I hadn't expected to have to share you with another woman." Chani said just as cross with him for this. Paul honestly was wondering just what he had been thinking when he came to that decision. If he wanted a smooth rule then he should take Irulan, if he wanted love then he should go with Chani.

"I understand your anger." Paul said trying to relief the tension and failing miserably as they both glared at him. "I am not sure what I was thinking but I think if we talk about it, we will find some arrangement that makes us all happy." Paul said leaning forward and taking Chani's hand as if to hold it to comfort her but she pulled it back.

Irulan noticed his obvious feelings for Chani and felt them through the force even if she was not that skilled in it. She frowned and told him with scorn.

"I am not going to be so hostage or trophy wife just so you can have your favourite concubine and have children with her on the side while I am left alone." She told him and was about to storm out of the room when Paul rushed over to stop her and said quickly, eager for her not to leave.

"I am sorry Princess. I know you deserve more than that. You would not be my wife and empress in name only, I would not be averse to having children with you." Paul told her and then asked her a question when she said nothing in return. "What would you ask of me?"

Irulan stared at him, assessing his worth before asking with a slight relenting in her anger.

"I would like to spend time with you, to see if marriage will work between us. I am something of a historian." She admitted looking almost sheepish about it like she was embarrassed by it and Paul was actually surprised as he hadn't known that about her. "I would like to write a history of House Atreides, chronicling your house from the beginning to its ascension to the throne. Would you help me with that?" Irulan asked now surprisingly nervous.

Paul was surprised and wondered if it was some kind of ploy but even if it was it was something he would deeply like to see done. He nodded eagerly and told her with a warm smile.

"That would something I would like very much. I look forward to spending time with you and maybe you might be willing to do one with the Fremen too. Chani might spend time with you to achieve that, so you can get used to each other." Paul suggested.

The smile on Irulan's face disappeared so fast it was within the blink of an eye; Chani didn't look particularly thrilled either. Paul sighed knowing they had a long way to go.

- x -

The Mandalore Haron Ordo entered sometime after with his own sister Deera Ordo and both shook their heads at his situation. As Haron had warned him indecision could as dangerous as the wrong decision and now he was faced with two women both of whom were mad at him for putting them both in this position.

"Well, I would wish you luck but I think that isn't going to be enough to get out of this mess." Haron told him smirking under his helmet.

"Indeed." Deera said with a teasing laugh.

Paul frowned but knew they were right and that he had created this mess for himself and would need to fix it by himself. Still Paul thought with determination to change the subject he had other matters to speak to them about.

"My mother is taking charge of the Bene Gesseritt, she will get them straightened out." Paul said with a smile, if anyone could it was his mother but there was something else that he had to tell them, something his mother had only just discovered.

"When she entered their secret vaults, we found they were keeping a lot of secrets from us. Some we are only beginning to understand but apparently there were two that will interest you." Paul continued before picking up a box from the table and opening it. "When the Bene Gesseritt began, they did not emerge from nowhere, the basis for their initial abilities came from this before they found they couldn't open it anymore." Paul told them opening the box.

Haron and Deera peered inside and both blinked in surprise, not having expected to find one of these here. It was a largely crystal construct in the shape of an icosahedron. It had a bright simmering light inside it that changed colour as they looked at it.

"A holocron, a Jedi one no less." Haron said with surprise, not having imagined that but it did make sense that the Bene Gesseritt might have had something to get them started.

"I was hoping you would recognise it; we are giving it over to your safekeeping since you clearly know more about such things than we do." Paul said and Haron with grateful surprise took the box and wondered just what secrets might lie within. Paul however had something for Deera too. He pulled out a folder of extremely complicated mathematical formula and detailed blueprints for some kind of machine and offered them to her as he explained.

"The Bene Gesseritt have been many things over their history but one of them was scientists." Paul said. "They studied the radiation in hopes of irradicating it but made a different discovery during their efforts. They imagined that by bombarding protons and anti-protons together they could disperse the radiation but instead it created an incredible explosion and release of energy while generating more protons and anti-protons. They took that discovery and tried to design a reactor that makes use of that reaction but it proved too unstable with our technology at the time. But you have a much greater understanding of science and technology than we do, maybe you might be able to make something from this." Paul said with a hopefulness in his eyes.

If they were able to then this might actually be they have a renewable and self-sustainability power source of considerable strength, perhaps more than they knew and while it would take them some time to see how viable it was but the excitement that Haron could sense from Deera made him believe it was possible.

Haron nodded and told him.

"This is a great gift, both of them." Haron told him and tried to reassure him. "You have made the first step as Emperor, just take it one day at a time. Don't try to think about everything all at once. That's a weight no-one can bear." Haron warned him and Paul nodded, feeling incredibly uncertain about his new role but Haron was right.

You can't build an empire in a day, nor deal with all the problems of one either Paul realised wearily, although he knew it might take significantly longer to get Chani and Irulan too to trust him.

Reijar, the Ordo System…

Weddings were special occasions for a Mandalorian, the creation of a new family and the unifying of two or more larger ones.

This one however had the Haron, Ara, Neville, Hannah, Deera and Vysa worried.

"Are you sure about this?" Ara asked wondering if Luna was doing this too soon. She had only known him a year and dated for less than that. It concerned them that she might be setting herself up for being hurt.

"You could wait a little longer, maybe live together?" Deera suggested, like her sister-in-law she was worried Luna was getting married too soon.

"Yeah, he might be a bantha to live with." Vysa said, despite her rather fast relationship with Eliza they had been together for longer before tying themselves together.

"Guys." Luna said with a smile, understanding their worries and was touched by their concern for her wellbeing. "This is my choice, I have watched all of you fall in love and make your families, even the Mareks although they were married when they got here. I know it's fast but I know it's what I want. Edric is the first one I have honestly seen myself spending my life with."

She was so firm in her conviction that despite their own misgivings about they allowed her to do it, Haron himself walking her to the altar and stood with the others and all the children as Luna took a husband for herself. Lelia however was distracted, Deera noticed and decided to see what was bothering her tonight.

- x -

Later that night, Haron, Deera and Vysa all went to see Lelia.

They had all been told about what Ara had discovered about Lelia, all of them feeling guilty as they had clearly been neglecting their responsibilities as her family.

She was sitting on her bed with her pad in hand, sensing them as they approached and looked up. The three older Ordos all looked at her before Haron told her with a sigh.

"We own you an apology." Haron told her with a sad look on his face. Lelia looked confused and Deera told her.

"We haven't been there for you like we should have been." Deera said looking sad that they hadn't noticed her insecurities.

"Or told you how awesome you are." Vysa said as she came to sit next to her. Lelia was confused at what they were talking about and didn't think they had been ignoring her at all.

"But…" Lelia said and Vysa put her hand up to stop her before telling her what they meant.

"We should have been making sure that you know that you are gifted, you are loved and will we have no doubt that whatever you do with your life you will be incredible at it." Haron told her with a serious look on his face but a slight smile appearing as he finished that sentence.

"I'll never be as good a leader, a scientist or underworld expert as you." Lelia said with a downcast look but Vysa gently took hold of her chin and made her look at them in the eye.

"You are yourself." Vysa told her with a smile. "A bright, caring and loving young woman who is going to be amazing. Just because you are the beginning of your journey doesn't mean you can see end yet."

"Yes, who knows what you might do in your life. And we are going to be there watching proudly as you do." Deera added now also sitting on the bed herself next to Lelia.

Lelia was really touched and could see that they meant what they said, she managed to say after a while.

"I get it, thanks."

"Good, because I don't want to have to yell it in your ear till you do." Vysa said with a smirk and they all had a laugh before Haron said.

"Ara showed us your designs. It's impressive." Haron told her which made her blink in surprise especially when he added. "Really impressive. You have a real talent for design and I am going to ask Duke N'Val to help you develop it. He knows and has the best ship designers in our territory and if anyone can help refine your gift its them. If you want too of course." Haron said hoping not to force her into something she didn't want but he hoped she would do it as she would realise her own worth.

Lelia was a little overwhelmed by this, not having expected it but was touched they felt like this about her. She was the youngest of her siblings and had always felt like it, they were overprotective of her and now they were encouraging her to develop her own talents.

"I would like to spend more time with you all. If that's okay?" She asked nervously knowing they all had other responsibilities and they all smiled before telling her.

"Absolutely." Deera said with a wink and they all laughed before going to do something, just the four of them. Playing a game or two, spending a dinner together or something like that, just them so they could bond as a family.

Imperial Palace, Coruscant…

Palpatine sat on his throne, feeling that even in failure, victories could be made.

True they had failed to take over the Pasdisahah Imperium and acquire its territory for their own use and secure a route into Mandalorian territory but there had been a small victory he thought with a smirk.

Apart from capturing one of the Bene Gesseritt who he would delight in taking out his frustration on while he drew out all their secrets, he had acquired a supply of the spice Melange, he had been delighted by the way it stimulated his own connection to the force to a higher level than it had been before and slowed the degeneration of his body, it had bought him years extra life if he used it carefully till the Imperial Intelligence service were able to secure a more permanent supply or the scientists managed to create a synthetic version. He had been warned of the mutative properties of the drug but it would be managed by the cloned body parts he was creating and as soon as he mastered essence transfer then he would be able to move himself into a new body as required, freeing him of this rotting shell he thought with some thrill of having a healthy body again.

The loss of most of the Inquisitors and their fortress hardly even registered with him as they were both weak and disposable. He had already ordered a new facility on Mustafar would be built for them given its presence in the dark side.

But as he took his next dose of Melagne, he smirked knowing that in the end he would not only be the one that ruled the galaxy but the one and only master of the force.