Part 6

Astrid was leaning against the bulkhead of the ship as she listened to Hiccup's story. "So this Valkorion or Vitiate as he liked to call himself was the Emperor of Zakuul?"

Hiccup nodded. "I sensed that he was strong in the dark side of the Force."

"And both the Sith and Republic at that time wanted to forget that this Eternal Empire ever existed?" Astrid asked to be sure. She did wonder what could have prompted them to wipe out an entire empire from history. "So now we have more questions than answers." Astrid grumbled and placed her hand against her furrowed brow. "This Eternal fleet, Scorpio, and Aries is still a mystery. Are you sure going to Florrum is going to help us?"

"Vitiate did say to seek out the droid that helped make our lightsabers. Why would he point us in that direction if there wasn't something to be gained from it?"

"If he was a powerful dark side user, then he might just be using you for some nefarious scheme even if he's a Force spirit now." Astrid stated. "I know how these people work Hiccup. I used to be one of them." she grumbled.

"Hiccup how strong would you say this Force being was?" Heather asked out of curiosity.

Hiccup thought for a moment before he responded. "If we had to fight him in his prime I believe we wouldn't win without suffering serious injury. That is if we could win at all." Hiccup told them.

"Exactly my point." Astrid mumbled. "We don't know this being, we have no knowledge of his true strength or motivations. For all we know he could be planning to take over a new body to conquer the galaxy if what you told us is correct."

"I think we should give this Vitiate a chance Astrid." Hiccup stated. "I did sense some remorse when talking to him."

"You are way too trusting Hiccup." Astrid told him with a slight smile. "But I'm willing to revise my opinion of this being after we talk with Professor Huyang. A very long talk."

"Oh, Snotlout, Eret and the twins are also heading to Florrum." Astrid said as an afterthought.

"Oh?" Fishlegs asked curiously.

"I only received a brief message from them. Something about trouble on Mandalore."

"Why do I have a feeling that this is all connected somehow?" Fishlegs groaned.

"The Force works in mysterious ways Fish." Heather smiled.

"You mean it works in ways to give us headaches." Fishlegs sighed.

"There is still one matter that needs to be discussed." Hiccup stated as he turned to Throk who had downed all the sugar water that Fishlegs had provided. He was still somewhat jittery as he looked up. "How did you manage to piss off space pirates?" Hiccup asked.

"As I said before, we received intel from Maz that children were being kidnapped and brainwashed to become soldiers. Mala eventually got captured because the information wasn't entirely correct. After infiltrating the area where Mala was being held prisoner, she provided me with the message I was to relay to you. I returned to Takodana to speak with Maz who pulled quite a few strings to find your whereabouts."

"That still doesn't explain the pirates." Hiccup mumbled.

"The information wasn't free." Throk groaned. "I literally spend my entire savings to get it and then I didn't have any credits left to buy a ticket to Coruscant."

"Ah" Hiccup said as he got what had happened. "So you stowed away on a transport."

Throk nodded. "Little did I know that the ship belonged to the Outcasts." Throk groaned.

"Well Takodana is a pirate and smuggler haven." Astrid commented.

"Yes but I literally chose the worst ship to stowaway on." Throk sighed. "The Outcasts might seem like regular booze smugglers but they are notorious in the Unknown Regions. The rumor is that they have a hefty hand in the slave trade there since there isn't any galactic power there to forbid it."

Astrid grimaced "I forgot about that. It's the same in Hutt space. The slave trade still exists there even though the Republic outlawed it. They were too chicken to go head to head with the Hutts, the Empire didn't care and I doubt the New Republic will intervene. The Hutt hyperlanes are trade routes too valuable to lose." She stated looking disgusted.

Meanwhile Dagur had landed his shuttle in front of Andeddu's Keep. Mala who had been sleeping in an odd position in the shuttle was yanked up suddenly.

"Unhand me you swine!" Mala spat at him as she tried to move her cuffed hands out of Dagur's grip.

"You best learn some manners." Dagur hissed as he slammed her into the bulkhead.

"Oh I have manners but they would be wasted on you!"

"I could kill you, you know." Dagur threatened.

"I doubt it." Mala huffed. "You need me. You're running out of time as we speak."

"What would you know!"

"I know enough to surmise that you need someone who is Force sensitive yet not overly powerful." Mala smirked. "How much time will be wasted if you have to start your search again?"

Dagur glowered at her and said with a malicious smirk "I don't need a whole person." as he opened the shuttle ramp and dragged her out. Mala still stood straight and was not about to be intimidated. She squinted slightly as she wasn't used to the light on this planet, having come from a world in perpetual darkness. Dagur led her inside the Keep, keeping his gloved hand on his saber to emphasize his point.

They approached the Room Andeddu referred to as his study only to come face to face with Camicazi outside. "So this her?" She asked as she looked Mala up and down with an unimpressed look.

"Of course it is." Dagur huffed. "I verified myself that she's Force sensitive."

"Well then we might have to make this quick." Camicazi stated as she glanced at the closed door of the study. "It seems that he's losing control."

"Did you do what was required?" Dagur now asked.

"Of course. He's quite susceptible after one of those bouts."

Camicazi, Dagur and Mala entered the study which they found in complete disarray. Scrolls and books lay haphazardly on the floor as if someone had thrown them in a fit of rage. The walls bore evidence of a Force struggle and there in the middle of it all lay Andeddu half slumped over a chair with a book hanging loosely in his hand.

"Andeddu" Dagur called as he brought Mala forward. "Look what I brought!"

Andeddu lifted his head slightly to look at the trio. Normally he would have been composed and his usual Sith self but right now he couldn't bring himself to care. The struggle with the other consciousness in this body had tired him out. His impudent host had kept fighting for control and he had almost got it. Here he was, the great Andeddu, Sith-God, nearly bested by a clone that had only about a year of Force training.

"What in blazes makes you think I need a woman?!" Andeddu hissed in annoyance. Mala flushed slightly at the implication before steeling her gaze. She still had an objective to complete here. She just needed to wait for the perfect opportunity.

"Not for that!" Dagur grumbled. "She's to be your new host."

Andeddu huffed. "You think that I want a host with so little Force power."

"Well you clearly don't have control over this one." Dagur reasoned. "Just look at yourself. You can't even function right. The way you're acting is unseemly."

"I don't need you to tell me wha-AARRG" Andeddu shouted as he suddenly clutched his head. He fell out the chair still clutching his head. Camicazi took a step forward but was stopped by the piercing gaze of mismatched eyes as they peeked out of auburn tresses.

"I will take great pleasure in ending you." The voice of the clone hissed before Andeddu took over again.

Mala took her chance and rushed forward, knife in hand and held it up to Andeddu's throat. She connected her and her hostage via the Force and that split second was all she needed to get the message through.

Mala landed in a dark space and was confronted by the host personality. "Who are you?" The clone asked.

"Someone you'll be very grateful to later." Mala stated and looked around "This dreamscape is so empty. You haven't chosen your path yet." It was more a statement than a query.

"I'm a Sith." The clone simply stated and Mala shook her head. "No, you merely act like a Sith because that was what was chosen for you. You have yet to make up your mind. I had a vision from the Force, whether you chose the light side or the dark side you will accomplish great things." She smirk that know-it-all smile. "Now make sure you keep that thing I placed in your pocket safe." She stated before the clone could get in a word edgewise.

The moment was gone as Mala broke the connection to see Dagur and Camicazi bicker. "How can you not search her!" Camicazi screeched.

"Well excuse me!!" Dagur stated dramatically. "It was you who Force pushed me off a cliff when I was checking for weapons during our last conquest!"

"You were groping the Queen!!"

"I was checking for weapons!"

"In her bosom!!!"

"Hey you hide knives in there all the time!!" Dagur countered as Camicazi seethed. "So excuse me for being cautious!!"

Andeddu rolled his eyes as he was still being held hostage while the two were bickering. Using a bit of the Force he yanked the knife out of Mala's hand and turned her around. "Don't think I'm a weakling." He hissed at Mala as he held her up by her neck.

"I don't think you're weak." Mala got out. "Just conceited, self-centered, arrogant...." She stopped as she was being choked now.

"You know I might revise my opinion of you." Andeddi stated. "You certainly have the gall to challenge me. I'll make you regret that once I have your body!" Dagur and Camicazi had stopped bickering and watched things play out. Andeddu groaned as he released himself from his host and his spirit then made his way into Mala's body.

The clone's body fell into a heap on the ground and Camicazi moved quickly to subdue him by placing the Force suppression collar back on. Mala's body had also fallen to the floor but she was still unconscious. The clone however was awake and tried to get up. Camicazi shoved him back with a kick before she said "Don't you dare try anything." She then laughed "Not that you actually can. I've been feeding Andeddu Force suppressing drugs in case you got out."

"You've been what?!" Andeddu shouted in Mala's voice as he slowly stood up. "How dare you! That was why I was feeling so weak!"

Camicazi merely shrugged before she gave the clone a wicked smile. "Don't worry. I have something special planned for you. You'll probably never see the light of day again but who cares."

Andeddu meanwhile tested out his new body and tried to undo the stun cuffs that Dagur had placed on Mala but found that he couldn't. "Dagur get these things off of me." He commanded and mentally started working out a training regimen to get this body up to his level.

"I think I'd rather not." Dagur stated as he crossed his arms.

"What!" Andeddu hissed enraged. "You dare to disobey me!"

"It just seems easier with you in cuffs and a weaker body for us to get what we truly want."

"You'd go this far for immortality?"

"No...." Dagur paused. "We'd go this far for the location of the Eternal fleet."