CHAPTER SEVEN
As Admiral Argen stepped onto the bridge of the Vengeance, Captain Krius walked up to him.
"Admiral, you have a transmission from the Eclipse," the young captain said.
"Ah, that would be Lord Sidious," Argen said, straightening his rank insignia. "Bring him up on the comm channel."
Kirus nodded and pressed a series of buttons on one of the bridge's computers. A large holoprojector rose from the steel floor and the shimmering blue image of Admiral Klev appeared.
"Klev?!" Argen exclaimed. "I-I was expecting the Emperor..."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Argen," Klev said coldly. "Lord Sidious is currently on Byss running errands, and he has left me in charge of the Eclipse."
"I see..." Argen replied, taking up a cold demeanor of his own. "What do you want?"
"Well, first of all, I wish to...congratulate you on your success on Had Abbadon."
"Thank you," Argen said, smirking. "It helps when you're as wise and intelligent as me."
Klev scowled. "Right. Secondly, Lord Sidious granted me a few orders to give you."
Argen arched a white eyebrow. "And they are...?"
"You are to take your fleet to Elom, Belsmuth, and Hettsk," Klev said. "We must sow the seeds of fear and spread them."
"And after that?"
"Then you are to join Grand Admiral Thrawn's fleet on its way to the Mid Rim, and all the way to Coruscant."
Argen shifted slightly at the mention of Thrawn's name. "Will that be all?" he asked stiffly.
Klev nodded. "Yes, admiral. That will be all."
The hologram vanished, and Argen sighed heavily.
"Is there something wrong, sir?" Kirus asked.
"No, captain," Argen answered coldly. "Set a course for the Elom system."
* * *
The magnificent scenery of Theed and the pleasant faces of the people of Naboo were not enough to lift Toah's feeling of uncertainty. Something wasn't right, he thought. As the transport speed that carried himself, Han, Leia, C-3PO, and Chewbacca traveled through the royal city, Toah could not help but feel as if some evil had come to the galaxy.
He shook the feeling off and instead listened to Han's story to an obviously bored Leia.
"...And that's when Chewie barge in and scared the Jawa juice out of Mako!" he was saying. "Lando was laughing so hard, I could've sworn he had broken a rib!"
Leia yawned. "I'm sure it was a riot..."
Han laughed. "You bet it was! Right, Chewie?"
Before the Wookiee could answer him, the speeder suddenly came to an abrupt stop. Han looked at the transport's pilot.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"I don't know," the pilot replied in shock. "Something's jamming the controls!"
Toah looked out the speeder and saw six strangers, all of them wielding blood-red colored lightsabers, surrounding the vehicle.
C-3PO's photoreceptors blinked. "We're doomed," he murmured.
"Thank you, Mister Understatement," Han muttered.
A seventh warrior appeared in front of the transport, with a violet blade in hand. While the other six were fully cloaked, the newcomer wore armor over his dark robes. His sinister eyes glowed from his slightly pale face and glared at Toah and the others.
"Well done, men," the warrior said. "Just the ones we were looking for..."
* * *
Xanus, Remker, and Kyle watched as the Mu-class shuttle landed on Zegris' swampy surface near the base. Exiting the shuttle was a lump-headed, Sunesi Jedi Master, wearing the traditional robes of the Old Jedi Order.
"I'm glad you could come, Master Aqinos," Xanus said to him. "Hardly any of the other masters would come."
"I can see why," Aqinos replied, observing the dank and boggy scenery. "Thankfully, I'm used to worlds like these."
Xanus smirked. 'That's fortunate. Anyway, before I leave..." The Jedi Master glanced around and whispered something into Aqinos' ear, quiet enough so Kyle and Remker couldn't hear.
The Sunesi Jedi's brows seemed to wrinkle. "Are you sure it's...him?"
Xanus nodded. "I'd recognize his face any day..."
Aqinos shook his head in disbelief. "But...that's impossible..."
"I know," Xanus said sadly. He began walking towards the shuttle until Remker stopped him.
"Master," he called. "What's going on? Do you know who that person who attacked us was?"
Xanus turned to the Zabrak Jedi Knight. A moment of silence passed between them until finally the Jedi Master spoke. "All will be explained eventually. For now, may the Force be with you."
He stepped onto the shuttle as the ramp raised up to close. As the ship rose up, it's triangular wings lowered and soon, it had blasted off into space.
* * *
"What do you guys want?" Han demanded as the seven dark warriors forced him and the others out of the transport.
"Not much," one of the warriors said in a growling voice. "Just taking you to the Emperor."
"The Emperor?" Leia exclaimed in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"You'll find out if you stay quiet," the pale-faced man snapped. "Fass, prepare the ship."
"Yes, Lord Sedriss," said one of the Dark Jedi.
Once Fass had left, the pale man known as Sedriss turned back to Toah and the others. Toah froze when Sedriss' eyes fell on him.
The Dark Jedi grinned. "Oh, I'm sure the Emperor will be interested to see you..."
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