Ghost of Nightmares Past/Chapter 23

A DEVIOUS PLAN

Her anger rose, as she staggered into her ship. Collapsing into her seat, Stellandra stared at the burns that now roamed her body with a loathing glare. How dare he? How dare he do this!

Turning, she activated her Med Droid, and it flickered into life. Seeing his mistress' anger, he cowered away as he drew close. "My...Lady?" He said in a quaking voice.

"Fix me up you snivelling piece of trash!" Stellandra snarled. "Sidious didn't bring me back from the dead for nothing!"

"Yes...my lady," The Droid slowly moved towards her, and scanned a burn, before delivering its report. "The damage is excessive, my lady. It's going to be hard to heal it all in the amount of time you have requested me to do it."

"Just get to work!" Stellandra snarled, and the Droid cowered away again, already beginning to peel away the bits of clothing that had caught her burnt skin, to reveal the damage below. Stellandra kept her face turned away, jaw clenched tight. She had only a couple of months until she could seek her revenge, and until then, it was only a waiting game right now.

But she needed to plan this carefully; she only had one shot at this, and if that blasted Sinya Kairn stood in her way once more, everything would be lost, and the Future would proceed on as normal.

No, she needed to plan this so carefully, and secret. Hissing once more in pain, she waved the Droid away, ignoring the pain rising through her burns once more, and swivelled in her seat to her communicator. "Darth Sidious? Do you copy?"

The hooded figure appeared before her, head bowed to hide his true face and identity. "Ah, Elder. How may I be of assistance?"

Stellandra drummed her nails on the work-top, and said, "I need a favour."

"Oh?" Sidious said, a smile playing onto his wrinkled face. "What sort of favour?"

"All I need you to do is to get me to the right facilities, Sidious," Stellandra retorted. "The rest of the Details are classified and confidential."

"Very well," The Sith Lord sighed. "Where are you wishing to go?"

Stellandra frowned. Now, where would she need to go to start planning in secret? Where could she go? A smirk crossed her face, and she answered. "Mandalore."

Sidious nodded, and disconnected. Stellandra leaned back in her seat, steepling her fingers, staring at her half-burned form. No, she liked this new face. It made her feel different, and when people looked on her, they would be scared. She sighed, and shouted. "DROID! Set a course for Mandalore!"

The hooded figure wandered the streets of Sundari, her cloak's hood pulled over her face to hide the damage done. The streets were riddled with Men wearing Mandalorian Armour, guns in their hands, and Machines standing around, ready to fire once they were given the command.

A couple saw her approaching the entrance to the Palace, and went to meet her. One halted her with his rifle, and said, "What do you want?" "Count Dooku sent me," The figure answered shortly and firmly. "Do not make me wait."

"Do you have any identification on you?" The other snapped, his rifle also held high, pointed at her heart.

The Figure sighed, and, in an instant, ignited her sabre in a red glow, and sliced the two Mandalorian Soldiers in half within a second, heads falling with arms and legs to the ground. Extinguishing her sabre immediately, the Figure stowed it back in her belt, and, using both hands, shoved the massive doors open, making them slam against the wall.

The Death Watch Men were waiting for her, raising their rifles and knives towards her, but she raised a hand, and sent Force-lightning towards them, striking each of them in the chest, and crumbling to the ground before they could even fire a shot. One snivelling Official was hiding next to the Crystal Throne, hands up in surrender, pleading for his life.

"Please!" He cried. "Please! I beg you!"

The Figure lifted him with the Force, and he squealed, struggling uselessly in the air. Her hand closed, and he began choking, stopping his squealing. "Now," The Figure said in an irritated voice. "Tell me where Dira is."

The Official gawped a few times, and she loosened her hold on his neck, making him breathe easier. "Dira... in the Cells!"

The Figure smirked. "Thank you."

"Please!" The Official gasped. "Please, spare me!"

Her hand clenched into a fist.

The Official fell to the ground, neck crushed and broken, rolling down the stairs to her feet. Sighing, she stepped over his body, and headed into the deepest parts of the Palace, seeing the Grand Art disappear into rough stonework, and then dank and depressing walls and floors. Two Mandalorian Men were waiting for her.

She sliced them in half, and entered the dungeons.

She could hear them, the person she was after, and approached the cell, expecting to see her prey, huddled in the corner of the cell, almost in shadow. Their blonde hair was falling onto their arms, wrapped around their knees in a comforting way.

With the Force, she clicked the cell door open.

The Figure moved into the cell, standing, sabre in hand, over the huddled individual. She ignited it in a red light.

The Prisoner shrank back, and now, she cursed herself. It was a boy, but she could recognise some Dira features in her face, and her eyes. And now she saw that her hair wasn't all blonde; it had some light brown mixed in with it. "Supisy Dira?"

"Yeah?" Supisy said, staring at the red sabre in her hand.

The Figure stared around, and said, "Where is he?"

Supisy knew who she was talking about, and whispered. "I don't know. He's been missing eight months nearly. He said he was going to come and find me, but I was captured by Death Watch before he could even get close!"

"Then come," The Figure hissed, grabbing her by the collar. "Let's find your Uncle Nerra, and reunite with him, shall we?"

"Let me go!" Supisy demanded immediately, and she struggled in her grip.

The Figure threw her out of the cell, and she slammed into the ground, extinguishing her sabre. "I don't have time. If you don't bring Nerra Dira out for me, Supisy, nothing will!"

Supisy stared at her in fear, her light blue eyes wide, as she grabbed her collar, and dragged her out of Sundari, and into her ship.

Stellandra left Mandalore, anger coursing through her heart. But now, as she threw Supisy into a cell on her ship, she felt pride.

At least she had bait for Nerra Dira, and where there is trouble for Nerra...

Sinya Kairn was not far behind.