Chapter One: New Journey

[Akirapryde]

Chapter One: New Journey
Post Three: Dark Plots
Outer Rim World of Fray

The chamber was dark, with the only light coming from the few control panels along the metal walls. Armed guards hide in shadows as they carefully watched over the area. The footsteps of a lone shadowy figure echoed through the corridors as she walked slowly in to the large room. She couldn’t see the guards hidden in the shadows, but their presence did not go unnoticed. As she walked towards the center of the large room, anger filled her heart as she approached the slightly raised platform.

The past few days had not gone the way she had planned it. In fact, she considered herself lucky that her guards had not been ordered to execute her once she returned from her mission. While she was grateful of that little stroke of grace, she knew she wasn’t out of harm’s way. She had failed her mission and she knew that there would be a price to be paid for that failure. She slowly lowered herself to a knee, “mother, I am here as summoned” the figure said as she lowered her head. Her voice echoed and shifted, making identification impossible.

The platform came alive with a cloaked figure of a woman. “My daughter Orchard, I have heard troubling news from Fray. It would appear that the Republic has yet to join the conflict. In fact, due to victories in the field, the North has gained popular support.”

The figure lowered her head, “yes mother, this is correct. My plan was sabotaged but unforeseen forces. Their speeders were shot down before my own plan could take effect.”

The hologram woman reached out with her hand and Orchard gasped as she reached for her throat. As Orchard choked and grasped for air the woman spoke, “I am not pleased by your failures. I warned you about your complex plans and how easily the Jedi would thwart them.”

Slowly Orchard was lifted off the ground as the guards watched the scene on folding. The woman’s voice became darker and viler as she spoke, “I foresee a shift in the conflict. The Government WILL loss, and in that, the conflict will be resolved. A neutral Republic will support the Northern leaders in exchange to keep the fuel flowing. The Jedi will be brought in to secure the final peace and hailed as heroes Fray. This cannot be allowed to transpire!” Orchard continued to choke as she hung in midair.

“If the Jedi do not become involved in this conflict, then we will become forced to find another hot spot to ignite the war. I have vested a great deal of resources to create this conflict and manipulate the event in the Outer Rim so that the war is primed.” Orchard continued to choke as the woman spoke, “I will not allow your incompetence to destroy my plans.”

Orchard struggle to speak, “mother.....please...” she cried. “I know the name of Sinya's daughter!” She had wanted to keep this as a surprise for her mother, but it was a time to think of saving her own life.

Orchard struggled even more as the woman's anger grew. The woman spat, “liar! Sinya can't have children. This was made ensured.”

“Pl....please...hear.....me....out....mother.....” Orchard could feel her life slipping away as she pleaded for her life. But suddenly air flooded her lungs as the woman released her. She fell to the floor in a heap as she was released.

“You better not disappoint me, my daughter,” the woman said as she lowered her hand.

Orchard caught as she allowed herself a moment to fill her lungs. After a moment, “Mother, I suspected that Sinya had a daughter here at the Academy. But only recently was I able to prove it. I framed Graff in hopes of allowing Sinya’s daughter to over play her hand. Sinya became involved almost immediately, this proved her personal interest here. I have a new spy within the Academy who was able to give me a security recording of the call which brought Sinya’s involvement in to the issue. I believe that Lysire is Sinya's daughter.”

Orchard started to choke again as she was lifted off the ground once more. The woman in the hologram erupted, “fool! I already know that Lysire is Sinya adoptive daughter.”

“Moth...mother....not....adoptive.....” Orchard manage to struggle out. Once more she fell to the ground as her throat was released. Coughing Orchard continued, “my spy was able to secure a DNA sample. Lysire is more than an adoptive daughter to your hated foe. She is a genetic match for Sinya and her human husband. Lysire is Sinya's flesh and blood. The story of her past is a lie that even she doesn't know. My spy is assured me of this information.”

The woman smiled as she leaned back, “for years I wanted a way to have my revenge on Sinya for her betrayal of me and my son. Sinya’s actions cost him his life. And now, I know her secret,” the woman said laughing with darkness in her heart. “Sinya must have had her genes and Prince John’s spliced to create a daughter. Then created the story to conceal the girl’s true identity from me.” She laughed as she brought her fingers together, “clever Sinya….clever…”

Orchard smiled as she looked up at the hologram, “I can have Lysire's head delivered to you in five days.”

The woman shook her head, “no, my daughter. Too much is at stake for us to become distracted. As much as it would please me, Lysire’s death will have to wait. For now, we must focus on the task at hand. It’s time that you show yourself to Auro. There is a force user helping him. Guiding him through visions of the future.”

Orchid nodded, “yes I am aware of her involvement. Mya is her name. My spy has reported that Auro leans heavily upon her and her guidance.”

The woman nodded, “yes, this has to stop. Maya must die. Auro cannot be allowed to stop us. Blind him from the future. I want her death to be before him. Show him that he can’t stop us. That there is nothing he can do to protect those close to him. In doing this, we will ensure his fall to the darkside.”

Orchid nodded, “yes mother, it will be done as you wish. There is something else. There is a Twi’lek with a strange name. She is called Unna Hi Chaanu. A Twi’lek with an Iktotchi name. I am not completely sure about this Unna. But Mother, could we have been wrong about the Seer we were warned about? This Maya is a powerful Seer. The information I have, proves this.”

The woman looked at Orchid from over her fingers, “It matters not. The Iktotchi are a dead race. The Iktotchi Seer that was meant to aid Auro is gone. Just like the Miraluka who would fight by his side. While he might find himself surrounded by people, he is all but alone from those whom he will need. With Maya’s death, he will become blind to the future.” She fell silent for a moment. “Also. The King is losing focus of his role. The boy is not controllable. Remove him from power. This will allow his younger brother assume the throne. Alask will prove to be more controllable.”

Orchard nodded, “yes mother it shall be done. The coming New Year Celebration will be a perfect backdrop to remove the Child King. I know just the means to do this and further our plans with the North. It will throw both sides in to chaos.”

The woman smiled, “if your plans for the New Year celebration fail to draw the Jedi in to the conflict. Than the Field Army which the King has deployed to Baku will prove to be useful. Reprogram the droids to attack the people of Baku. This will force Baku to change sides and cut off the Republic's supply of fuel.”

Orchard returned to smile, “and in cutting off their supply of fuel will force Master Chun's hand.”

“I have known Master Chun long before he was even a Knight. Threaten the Republic's supply of fuel and Master Chun will stop at nothing to return the flow of fuel to the Jedi's war machine. And in this, Master Chun will give us the spark needed to ignite a war that will burn a thousand worlds,” she said coldly.

Orchard nodded, “Mother if we turn Baku against the Crown, what of Lady Baku?”

The hologram woman withdrew in to her hood allowing only her nose to be seen. “Lady Baku's usefulness to my plan has expired. Remove her from the board in such a way that it further divides the world and draws the Jedi deeper in to the conflict. Do not fail me daughter or I will not be as forgiving.”

Orchard nodded as she lowered her head, “it will be as you wish, Mother.”