The system she's heading to is barely a footnote in the star charts. Resource-poor and off the main trade routes, for all that it's nestled comfortably in the Mid Rim. Surveyed once some fifty-four years ago and promptly forgotten again, not worth the effort of colonization.

On the second planet (lightly forested, large tracts of steppeland), she finds her destination. A temple, stone, old, steeped in the dark side until it hangs over the area like a shroud. There's a weed-covered landing pad nearby, and a doorway into the interior of the building that almost seems to be pulling at her.

(...and a faint sense that there's something familiar here...)

Great.

Not too surprising, though. She doubts this'll be a boring trip...

She can't quite place the sense. It's - like something out of a terrible dream. An old vision?

Cautiously, Ani makes her way forward, alert for traps, alert for little nudges in the Force...

The walls of the temple are bare, the lines clean and flowing. Were it not for the feeling in the air and the sure fact that she knows who hid this place from the galaxy, this mightn't be a Sith temple at all.

Further in, she sees rooms with racks of datapads, strange objects and esoteric sculptures, arranged more like they're in storage than on display. Unaccountably, she's reminded of the rooms she and Elesse shared, before.

She's really not liking this trip down memory lane. Hoping this isn't a forewarning of visions. Wondering -

Why now.

Ani doesn't touch anything, not yet. She'll get what sense of this place she can, first. She keeps exploring, trying to push away thoughts of Elesse (and the thought of her hurts, so much still, like the wound Elesse's death ripped open in her chest never healed at all - but it's not the time).

In the center of the temple is a large room, with the computer terminal that sent the alert flashing near the entrance.

There's a large tank in the middle of the room filled with a greenish fluid, looking like the cloning vats of the Kaminoans and others, but the occupant of this one is full-grown-

-and has a face she's still not forgotten-

-and a presence in the Force that's like looking into a dark mirror.

What.

Ani covers her mouth, breath catching in her throat - did - what -

She leans against one wall, hyperventilating, crying despite herself -

She's -

That looks like Elesse.

Feels like Elesse, but - twisted - dark - 

What - 

Did Palpatine - 

(Ani wants to throw up. She hasn't, since she figured out how she got pregnant. She's been too numb. She wants to.)

(Distantly, there's a warm presence - concern, love, light - are you okay?)

It's like a shock of cold water.

Ani - 

Focus on your mission, Luke. I'm fine.

She'll have to be. Even if Palpatine cloned Elesse, or - something - maybe something weirder is going on.

She'll... Reserve judgement.

She sits there, breathing, trying to meditate and clear her mind. Ending up mostly focusing on the warm, somewhat confused glow in her chest her children inspire. The present, and the future, not the past.

She mostly manages calm. (She's been getting used to crying, after all.)

The figure stirs. The beeping of the terminal grows louder.

The tank begins to drain.

A few last deep breaths.

Ani backs up a little, making sure she's at the far side of the room. Giving El- giving the woman space.

(She keeps her hands loose by her side. Neither reaches for her saber nor wraps her arms around herself, though she wants to do both.)

The walls of the tank retract into the floor, and the woman drops. Catches herself. Stands.

Looks Ani in the eyes. The weight of her presence is like a black hole, stronger than Palpatine, stronger than Luke- and unmistakably the same as Elesse.

"Hello there."

"Hello." She meets the woman's gaze without hesitation.

The woman's presence in the Force... Is not quite as bad as the slap in the face the first time Ani met Leia. Mostly because of forewarning, but -

Ani is determined to handle this better than she did her avalanche into and then out of the dark.

It's - Ani doesn't think a clone would feel like this. Not so - the same.

(Ani's own presence is immensely powerful, albeit a bit confused about whether she's more dark or light. Mostly a disaster, lately.)

She waves a hand casually and blasts the still-beeping terminal with lightning.

"Annoyances. Are you the inheritor sent to greet me, then?"

"I inherited the frequencies for the monitoring systems, yes - from Sidious - though I'll admit some surprise at seeing you awaken." An understatement.

Playing along seems more likely to get her information. And... The woman feels so familiar. Almost enough to trick Ani into trusting her.

"While I slept, it was as though I viewed the galaxy through thick glass. The details were blurred, but I saw the broad shapes. This.. Sidious did not expect me to wake either." Her lips quirk. "He feared it, though. The secrets he stole were enough to ensure that, even as he wrought the destruction of the Jedi and so sealed his own fate."

So the woman has an information advantage over Ani. Great. But... It's sounding more and more like this woman's not a trap - for Ani, at least.

Ani doesn't think she's lying. Not yet.

"He was a fearful man."

(How is this woman not Elesse - how is this woman so much Elesse - )

"I sense that you know me, though you are not familiar. I am Darth Occlus. What is your name, girl?"

"Ani is the only name I bother with."

"You have - an odd resemblance to a woman I knew, once."

An odd exactly identical status except for the hair color and being a Sith. (...'Sith' suits Elesse oddly well.)

"Then perhaps it is the Force that has brought you to me. Tell me, Ani, with your master dead, what is it that you seek?"

Palpatine was not her master. Elesse, maybe, could claim that, if anyone could, but - the thought's painful.

"Perhaps it has." Though she really does not trust it anymore.

"And, lately, I've sought peace." Mostly on behalf of her children.

"An elusive goal, peace. For so long as resources are limited, the nature of life is conflict."

...Occlus is really weird. She'd be less so, if Ani's mind didn't insist on comparing every word to Elesse -

"It doesn't need to last forever, fortunately. Just long enough." For her children - and coming grandchildren, if the galaxy has decided to be kind for once - to grow strong.

"Ah, then it is a question of imposing your will on an uncooperative galaxy. As it ever is."

"Some bastards are more popular than others. I'm not interested in having my own empire, though, or in leading the galaxy to perfect peace. What I want is more personal." Galactic peace hadn't been something she'd wanted even as an idealistic teenager, after all, though she'd played with the idea as Vader, staring at her daughter in the Imperial Senate.

"It comes to power, nonetheless."

"In the end, yes."

"The ends are what matter."

"What do you seek?"

"Some quiet."

"Not much different from peace, really."

"And no easier to achieve."

"Generally not."

"It would seem that we share a goal, at least in part."

She needs to remind herself she can't just trust random past Sith because - the Force seems to think she's somehow Elesse -

"It does seem that way."

"Why were you sealed away?"

"I lived through the height of the Sith Empire, and the beginnings of its fall. I sealed myself here to await a more propitious era."

"Things are currently less chaotic than that. The new government replacing Sidious's empire isn't finished, yet, and there's still tension with the Galactic Empire's leftovers, but - currently it seems like the galaxy is stabilizing."

"How fortunate."

"What would you do, with quiet time?"

"In my era, I was a keeper of lore, ancient mysteries, secrets of the Force. I would find and catalog what has been discovered while I slept."

"Much of that was in the Jedi Archives, which - were interfered with. Regathering everything will be a project, though it sounds like one you're looking for."

"Yes. My collection of Jedi texts is limited. I look forward to expanding it."

"Would you otherwise interfere in the galaxy at all? If granted quiet and archives."

"Only if the galaxy interfered with me."

"It's more likely to if you introduce yourself as 'Darth Occlus' to people. The only known user of that title in living memory was Darth Vader, who is - poorly liked, most places."

"Occlus, then."

She nods.

"I'm willing to give you access to what archives I have, and occasionally assist with searching out others, so long as you don't interfere with me or mine, and so long as any information is made available to me and my students as well." (This decision is... An unfortunate amount influenced by the little voice whining 'Elesse' in the back of her head. But she hasn't been able to significantly organize the Jedi texts in the five years since her - un-fall - and... It'd be helpful to get Luke to read something, ever. And Leia might even accept reading assignments from Ani, for all that she won't accept training.)

('Leia and Ani sometimes spar, and Leia tries to kill Ani while Ani tries to correct her form' doesn't really count as training.)

"You do not fear I will corrupt the information?"

No because you were an amazing teacher, and I didn't deserve you.

"It doesn't seem your style."

"Very well. Then we have an accord."

She nods.

"Do you want to take anything from here, before we leave the planet?"

Dropping out of conversation will also give her time to contact Luke...

"This cache is a decoy. There is nothing of value, besides myself."

"Smart."

"My ship's nearby, then."

"Lead the way."

Occlus pulls her Force presence in, contracting it into a cold, tight ball. Her sheer weight is less noticeable, unless you look straight at her. It's almost like Elesse's, but harder, more sharp edges.

Ani can almost forget she's not leading her teacher somewhere - perhaps rescued, sharpened by time - when she looks away from Occlus.

Almost.

Her ship is, fortunately, big enough for two, rather than the tiny X-wing Luke likes to hare around the galaxy in. It's nothing grand, though. A humble ship for a supposedly humble person, though rumors she's a Jedi Master have started spreading despite Luke's best misdirection.

The contradiction is almost laughable.

Occlus has no complaints about the ship. Hers was roomier, but it is long gone now.

She gets them into space, then on target for Coruscant - and into hyperspace.

"I'm going to mediate for a bit," she tells Occlus.

"As you like."

She retreats a bit, into a side room. It's a converted storage room, but - good enough.

She starts by bleeding off her desire to break down crying into the Force.

She'd like to drift some, but...

'Luke?'

Luke is currently in the middle of a somewhat tense moment.

'Uh, busy - '

He sends her a flash of the seven grey aliens he's currently facing off with, mostly on accident - not a species he recognizes.

' - Noghri. They're loyal to Vader - '

A wordless sense of thanks, a vague concept he should be able to invoke that...

'Be careful.'

She withdraws from him, to not distract him.

...Well.

Hopefully he'll think to contact her when things are less - emergency shaped. (She's worried about Leia, too...)

She tries to meditate for a bit, but her rhythm's broken, and Luke doesn't get back to her in the next hour.

She gives up, and wanders back into the main areas of the ship.

Occlus is sitting cross-legged on the couch, eyes closed.

...She's - not going to bother her.

Ani -

It's easier to think, somehow, closer to Occlus. Probably because her mind's stupid.

Ani doesn't start meditating properly, but does unfocus her eyes a bit as she checks on the ship, drifting off into the Force some.

She gets flashes of a time not her own-

-a jungle world, dark and rainy. A grim citadel lurks on the edge of a mountain-

-Lightsabers clash, red on red-

-A ghostly purple figure-

-On rust-red sands, a girl spills blood and does not blink-

She lets the visions float by - doesn't pursue them. Ani's not sure how to get the Force to - shut up, really - but...

She suspects pursuing Occlus's - history? - too far might anger the woman.

She does, after a bit, get a tap from Luke, so she focuses her mind on him, pushing whatever the Force is trying to tell her away. The present, not the past, and - 

Her own past is currently trying to interfere with her present.

She might have to speak to the Noghri herself...

And she will have to investigate Thrawn, the Grand Admiral she'd redirected the Noghri's loyalty to. He will likely be a threat to the New Republic...

She doesn't let Luke lean on her too much, but does offer him as much information as he needs. He lets filter back that he hasn't let on Ani's survival to them - but he's gotten Leia roped in, and one of them will meet a Noghri representative soon.

Once Luke disengages from the Noghri, Ani updates him about Occlus, and her own - possible emotional compromise. 

'I'd like to meet her - especially if you like her.'

His voice is a bit teasing.

Exasperating boy.

'I don't know about that last bit. But you can meet her. I'll need help, anyways, with getting her access to some things. Rumors I'm a Jedi Master you found in a dumpster can only carry me so far.'

'We're heading back to Coruscant soon, anyways. Leia wants to finish negotiations first, but - doesn't think that'll take long, and Han's antsy.'

She pushes fondness at him, and 'See you then.'

She's in a relatively good mood when she turns her attention back to the ship, the Force actually around her, and Occlus.

"Good talk?"

She nods, humming a bit.

"More or less."

"I would like to know more about the state of the galaxy, if you don't mind. Major political factions, general disposition of the remaining Force users."

"Alright."

"Right now, the two biggest factions are the New Republic and the Galactic Empire. The Empire is united in name only, since the Emperor's death five years ago, though that might change soon. The New Republic is a coalition; there's a few factions within its leadership, but they're - not single cohesive groups, more people who favor one potential for a position over another. There's also currently a lot of independent or undecided systems."

"Remaining Force users... That's pretty much myself, my students, and whoever successfully hid themselves from the Emperor - he wasn't one for competition. None of those have come out of hiding yet."

"That sounds halfway peaceful already."

"We're making progress, yes."

"Certainly helped by the lack of powerful Force users making nuisances of themselves."

"Things do seem to run better that way."

"The one intelligent thing Sidious did."

"Perhaps on accident. He was one of the empire's worst problems, after all." ...That, and her own temper constantly fucking up chains of command.

The Sith ideal is as far as she can tell a really stupid philosophy to run governments on in general.

"Is that still true if you view his empire as an extension of his self, rather than an entity with an independent existence?"

"In his life, it's arguable, though his military at least was often incompetent at getting its goals. And, now that he's dead - well, I'd be delighted to dismantle everything he ever built."

"A fitting end."

"He'd absolutely hate being nothing more than a footnote in the grand sweep of history."

"Were you his apprentice?"

"That's... Very arguable. He doesn't deserve to be counted as my teacher."

"Why not?"

"Comparison. My - real teacher was actually worth being called my master." Not that Ani ever did... "Sidious was scum."

"Who was your real teacher?"

She's quiet, for a little bit.

"Her name was Elesse. She's - the person you remind me of."

"I see."

This explains some things.

"A Jedi?"

"Yes."

"Ah."

"It suited her well, but... There weren't very many other things she could've been."

"Such as a Sith?"

She shakes her head.

"Mm. I never had much of choice, myself."

"A lot of people don't."

"Elesse was - good, about giving me choices." Ani wouldn't have liked her, otherwise.

"What happened?"

"We drifted apart after I was Knighted, and stopped talking as much, and Sidious - convinced me he could teach me to make people immortal, if I sided with him against the Jedi. I wasn't able to talk it over with her, but thought - surely she'd want that."

"The next time we met, she tried to kill me. I defended myself. She died."

"That sounds like... multiple levels of misunderstanding. But typical of what I know of Jedi."

"Sidious was almost certainly manipulating information streams, which - didn't help."

"No, it wouldn't. The Jedi must have lost their edge, in their thousand years of peace."

"The Senate, too, and every structure meant to keep the peace going."

"I think they - we - all forgot that peace isn't the default. It's something you have to constantly move towards."

"My time was continuous war. Simpler."

"I found I'm not much one for war - at least not the kind with command structures."

"The key to working with a command structure is to be at the top, I've found."

"Even being at the top isn't always pleasant."

"I find it so. To each her own."

She nods.

(She would've been content, she thinks, or maybe even happy, to give Elesse an empire, and serve as her right hand - )

(Well, now she can give Leia a Republic with all the shiny trappings of democracy. Close enough.)

"I'm - not particularly surprised you like leading, really."

"Of course not."

She smiles, but - doesn't really know what else to say.

There's so many - things she'd say to Elesse - but -

It's both an incredibly dangerous trap and also probably not fair to just... Substitute Occlus into Elesse's place, minus the difficult history.

"Where did Elesse die?"

...And there goes her good mood.

"Mustafar."

"Mm. Volcanic, primarily mining interests?"

"Yes."

"Have you ever observed any traces she left behind, lingering voices, manifestations?"

She shakes her head. "I was - numb, though, to much of the Force, for - a while. And had intentionally cut myself off from my visions, partially to hide certain things from Sidious."

Worth investigation, then.

"I see. Thank you."

"Why do you want to know?"

Occlus smiles.

"Curiosity. A powerful Force user sometimes leaves behind an echo when they die."

This is her skeptical face.

"And what would you do with that?"

"What makes you think it is possible to do anything with such a thing?"

"I try not to underestimate the Force. And, if anyone could... I've seen people weaker than you pull off feats more impressive than interacting with a Force ghost."

"Very well. I know a certain ritual that allows me to call forth a ghost and another that will bind it to living flesh. Mine, specifically."

"...Would it harm her at all?"

"The risk, I think, is lower than it would be with others, given our apparent similarity."

She nods, slowly.

"In any case, she may not have left a ghost."

"How would you find out?"

"By going to Mustafar."

...They'll be getting to Coruscant well before Luke and Leia anyways, at their current rate -

"Do you want to divert to there?"

"I would not object."

"I'm not in a rush to get back to Coruscant. I can reroute us to Mustafar easily enough, then." She stands, heading for the cockpit.

Occlus smiles to herself.

Ani pauses, for a moment, to update Luke - he's moderately worried, of course, but...

She can't truthfully tell him she trusts Occlus.

Of course, she hadn't even trusted Elesse. Not really. Doesn't trust Leia, and Leia's the other person Ani would hand an empire to on a platter.

...Trusts Luke, but trusting Luke is somewhat like trusting gravity.

But Luke has a bizarre amount of faith in Ani's ability to make decisions that everyone in the galaxy doesn't promptly regret, so he doesn't push her.

She redirects the ship towards Mustafar.

Occlus returns to her meditations.

Ani leaves her to it, instead focusing on trying to center herself, to sort through the jumbled tangle of her emotions - her motives -

She won't support Occlus over her children. She... Isn't sure she'd support Elesse over her children. Probably wouldn't, though Elesse probably also wouldn't make her pick. Occlus might. (If she tries to force Ani to side against Luke and Leia, Ani will kill her.)

(She spends a short while sorting through the preemptive grief that thought causes her. Ani will kill her and then feel very bad about it, probably, but she feels bad about everything lately, so.)

She definitely would have chosen Elesse over the rest of the galaxy. Arguably did. Occlus... Remains to be seen, but Ani's children are astonishingly good people so probably 'would Ani set the universe on fire for her' is a philosophical thought experiment. Setting the universe on fire would turn her children against her, so Ani won't do it. She'd probably feel kinda bad about it, anyways...

...Ani can't protect her children if she's dead, so 'sacrifice herself for' is also a thought experiment.

And she needs to remind herself she doesn't know Occlus that well yet.

Leia would oppose someone trying to create a new Empire. Hopefully Occlus keeps to her quiet library, then... But if Ani has to pick who to gift the galaxy to - probably Leia.

A traitorous part of her brain whispers she'd have to find a second galaxy for - Elesse or Occlus, then.

Ani spends a while turning that thought over.

...She refuses to let herself jump off that cliff this quickly. No falling madly in love with someone who looks like her first crush just on similarities. That would be stupid, and Ani - okay is very arguably stupid.

But she's capable of acknowledging it, at least.

But - peace and prosperity and democracy and cheering crowds for Leia, places to explore and people to befriend and help for Luke, all the knowledge of the universe for Occlus -

Ani... Thinks that's the best split.

For - the possibility of finding Elesse's ghost...

If the ghost is sapient - is Elesse - Ani needs to apologize, obviously. Needs to check whether Elesse would find being bound to Occlus acceptable. Needs to -

(get Elesse to love her, the traitor brain says)

Ani examines that thought.

...Did Elesse ever love her?

- Elesse definitely wasn't as far gone as Ani. She wouldn't have tried to kill her, if she was, no matter what Anakin did.

It's kind of an unsettling revelation how much Luke's constant stream of obvious affection helps Ani not feel - adrift, cast aside, trapped -

Possibly one of the conversations Ani has with Elesse's ghost - assuming Elesse's ghost exists and can be conversed with - is about feelings.

She finishes that thought, examines it, and...

Pulls the knowledge that Luke, at least, loves her around her shoulders, and lets her anxiety bleed into the Force, and centers herself. Not so much in calmness and peace like the Jedi would teach, but -

In love. Always love.

She's much calmer, for the rest of the trip to Mustafar.

Mustafar is much as she last left it, fire and darkness, both physically and in the Force.

Occlus sees why Ani was reluctant to think about the place.

Ani does her best not to let the bad memories overwhelm her.

Quietly, she leads Occlus to where the duel occurred. " - It was here," she mumbles, staring - at where Elesse had fallen (where the girl who'd once been Anakin Skywalker had lain, crying and almost dead, until Sidious deigned to fetch her and trap her in that metal monstrosity - )

"Yes. I feel-" Occlus pauses. It's almost like hearing an echo of her voice.

"Hm. This will take a moment." She begins sketching in the air with two fingers, eerie purple sparking out Sith runes.

She watches, tense and trying not to be.

After a while, Occlus frowns, frustrated.

"There is nothing here. Almost, I thought- But the trace is too weak."

...She isn't sure if that's relieving or - sad -

"It has been - nearly thirty years."

"I have claimed ghosts centuries gone. Though not Jedi."

She nods. "I've known Jedi to leave ghosts - including ones who can independently influence the world - but..."

She shakes her head. "I don't know why - that varies."

"There are many factors and potential complications."

"I suppose so..."

"It is a field of study in its own right. But it seems there is nothing for us here."

She nods.

"To Coruscant, then."

"Very well."

Back to the ship.

It's fortunately not much longer to Coruscant - and Luke and Leia should arrive about the same time they do... Assuming nothing else changes.

If change comes, it won't be from Occlus.

Luke and Leia make it back safely, diplomatic mission successful and uninterrupted by any further assassins, and no one interferes with their ship.

Luke's the only one with enough free time to meet them right after they land - Han and Leia are still tied up in debriefings.

Then he will be the first one she meets.

"Hey!" he says, hugging Ani, then grinning at Occlus. "You're Occlus, right?"

"Yes," she says, "I am. And you are?"

She's keeping her presence in the Force contained. Not hidden, but leashed.

A bit exasperated (and detangling herself some) - "He's Luke. My more full time student."

"A pleasure to meet you, I am sure."

"The pleasure's mine!" Slightly turning to Ani - "I haven't had any time to get Occlus somewhere to stay with minimal gossip attached. Still, we can talk in our suite for now."

"Is it so hard to rent an apartment in the capital?"

"Nearby, and if I have about an hour and don't know the market, yeah - I've been in debriefings since I landed."

"Very well."

"We can find somewhere easily enough ourselves." Still - to the old palace she, Luke, and Leia are all staying in.

Ani and Luke share a set of rooms - one bedroom for them both to sleep in, one converted bedroom for meditation and light exercise, and public areas. It's conveniently nearby, and well stocked with Ani's comfort foods and such -

Some of which Occlus might like. Ani still keeps things that'd reminded her of Elesse in stock...

Recipes have changed, but Occlus does indeed like most of these.

That's - good.

(A bit eerie, but... Good.)

So. What is there to talk about?

Luke has questions! At a glance from Ani he only does a few at a time. Who is she, and what did she used to do?

"I am Darth Occlus, a Dark Lord of the Sith. I sat on the Dark Council, the governing body of the Sith Empire at the head of the Pyramid of Ancient Knowledge. My charge was all our accumulated lore, and the traditions of the past."

"How did the Dark Council work?"

"It was divided into twelve areas of responsibility, or Spheres. My own, Ancient Knowledge, Sith Philosophy, Mysteries, Laws and Justice, Technology, Biotic Science, Production and Logistics, Expansion and Diplomacy, Intelligence, Military Strategy, Military Defense, and Military Offense. Each was headed by a Councilor who managed their subordinate Sith and any associated bureaucracy. Barring orders from the Emperor, overall direction was decided in council, and carried out separately."

"I'm guessing - better at delegation than the recent Empire's system, more prone to in fighting? Especially within overlapping spheres?"

"Being unfamiliar with the exact mechanics of the recent Empire's system of government, I cannot make that comparision. But yes, exact distribution of responsibilities was a... touchy subject."

"Ani knows more about how the Empire worked exactly - though we do have legal codes and stuff. Leia - my sister - she's been tearing apart every bit of documentation we have on how anyone's ever run a government..."

"If you are looking for hints, I have none to give you. The minutia of governance is an astonishing waste of my time. I have no intention of entering that trap again."

He smiles, a bit. "Fair enough."

"I am much more interested in the mysteries of the Force. Your mother may have mentioned this."

Ani's explained some of Force perception but it still somehow always surprises him.

He nods.

"That's more my field, too... Or, at least the social side. I want to learn enough to take students, preferably with a - more healthy and stable system than what's been tried before."

"A thousand years of complacency is not stability enough?"

"It was - mostly stable? But didn't work for everyone, and I'd rather skip the complacency part."

"I know little of Jedi practice. My collection was focused in other areas. Though I hope to remedy that lack."

"Ani said you were going to organize all the archives and stuff?"

"Yes. Catalog what remains and recover that which was lost, insofar as that is possible."

"Do you mind me asking you questions about Force stuff?"

"As long as you do not mind hearing my answers."

"Probably won't."

"We shall see."

"You weren't too impressed with my philosophizing when we met, Luke."

"Neither were you."

"...Fair." To Occlus: "I'll warn you, he's a brat."

"That much is plainly evident."

"He takes after me rather wonderfully there."

"I shall take your word for it."

She snorts. "I was - way worse, actually."

"Pity your poor teacher."

(That doesn't hurt as much as it should...)

"Keeping me busy helped a little."

"Too tired to talk back?"

"More distracted by the latest author I wanted to fight. Elesse was - good with giving me interesting questions to get me buried in reading for a bit. But getting excess energy out was also good for me."

"Clever."

"She was, yeah."

"I never took an apprentice that required that sort of management, myself."

"I don't think she ever had any other students than me."

"Mm."

She glances away, a bit. "Anyways - we should probably figure out what you're doing for money and an apartment, then archives?"

"Assuming Muunilinst is still an active financial center, funds should not be a problem."

"I believe it is."

"Then I will require Holonet access to confirm the status of my accounts."

She nods and shows Occlus the room's terminal.

Occlus opens a call to her bank there (one of the oldest in operation), giving a code that jumps her past the automated system to one of the Muun clerks. The account number she gives makes his eyes pop, and she's quickly transferred to someone more highly placed. After a complicated verification in a long-dead language, she has access to her money once again. Enough of it to buy a Coruscanti apartment block outright.

(Lucky. Ani just spends as much time as she possibly can off of Coruscant, to get away from this place.)

Ani, meanwhile, sorts out what she'll need to get Occlus access to the remnants of the Empire's and the Republic's archives.

All the remaining Jedi artifacts and books the New Republic found when they moved into the former Imperial Palace, along with anything of the Emperor's personal collection that both survived and looks weird, has technically been delegated to Luke to decide what to do with. Since he's, y'know, the Jedi in residence. There is a (small, overworked) staff that is supposed to be going through things, but it keeps bleeding off members to other areas, deemed more critical.

Ah yes that problem where they're admitting to absolutely no one that she's Vader.

That does make this officially Luke's problem! Learning about how to actually delegate and navigate bureaucracies will probably be good for him or something.

 - There's probably a form for this but he instead just calls someone and is very pleasantly excited at them about having found an actual scholar interested in this! Who'll be project head, and he'll plausibly be bringing in more outside help, and well, sure, they're not technically government workers yet - he is allowed to hire people for this, though, and yes he's aware of the budget, how about we put together a grant proposal, and I'll talk to the finance offices - 

Somehow he ends up with somebody else finding all the paperwork for him, a government ID for Occlus (...what name does she want it under), a slightly flustered promise from a pretty finance officer that of course more funding can be nudged to the archives, and reports on the current staff, all in the course of about thirty minutes.

Occlus will do, will it not?

As well as anything.

Then Occlus she shall be. Conveniently, that is who she has always been.

He thought usually Sith take on new names at some point?

Occlus smiles mysteriously.

"I did; it's an old tradition, though I think I would've said, once, that I was never Anakin, or would have said Anakin was dead."

"It signifies a change of nature. A break between past and future."

"Why I changed it again."

"Also a useful symbol."

"Mostly to myself."

"That's who counts."

"Generally so."

"Quite. Well then. I suppose I should ask when I start."

Usual work week starts day after tomorrow.

Then she has time to settle in first.

"Do you want help at all?"

"That would be appreciated. I am not terribly familiar with the geography of Coruscant."

"I have free time and - a rather strong familiarity."

"Thank you."

"Are there any details of recent history you're missing that you'd like to get caught up on?"

"I would like to hear about the defeat of Sidious."

"There was... A lot that went into that. The Rebel Alliance had been opposing him for a while, and started making major gains when they destroyed a super weapon he'd had built - the Death Star. Luke managed the actual final shot, after a task force organized by Leia - my daughter, and other student - had stolen the plans. The Rebels and the Empire struggled against each other for the next four years after that, the Empire mostly winning, though at cost."

"I'd tried to recruit Luke and Leia to fight against the Emperor as our own faction about six months after the Death Star's destruction. They both refused me. It was - a while, after that, before things came to a head again. Luke ended up confronting Sidious directly, and - lost. Sidious didn't kill him right away, and instead tried to turn Luke to the dark side."

"I killed Sidious for that. I was badly injured, but Luke got me to safety, and healed me. The empire's been dissolving ever since."

"Officially, the Emperor's death is Luke's accomplishment, and I'm - no one official, except possibly a prisoner he rescued. That was five years ago."

"I see."

"His death had been a long time coming."

"And well-deserved it was."

"Very much so."

"What of his pogrom against the Jedi? How did that play?"

She explains about the clone troopers, and the way the Jedi were drawn into war - and Order 66, and troopers turning on their generals.

She, too, played a role in that, helping the troopers assigned to the Temple clear it entirely.

"There was - a lot of propaganda, after, that the Jedi had tried to overthrow the Republic and assassinate him and so deserved their fate."

"That must have been a neat bit of misdirection."

"I think most people didn't buy it, but - the Empire had very thoroughly demonstrated you don't contradict it in public."

"That is almost a prerequisite for any government."

She laughs. "I think I agree with that, and would say 'that's why I'm an anarchist.'"

"A principled solution."

"I try for those. Though it is overridden by 'if my princess wants an empire for her birthday...'"

"The word for a person with no flaws is boring."

"Well, I'd loathe to be that. 'Interesting' is much better."

"I quite agree."

"I think we both manage."

"To be interesting?"

"I'd say so. You're certainly not boring."

"Kind of you to say so."

Gosh she's pretty.

"Definitely one of the most interesting people in the galaxy."

Luke tries to be unobtrusively busy at something else.

"The competition has been greatly reduced."

"I don't think there was ever much in the first place."

"Mm. Well, shall we go? I do not wish to trespass overlong on your hospitality."

"I don't feel trespassed on, but Luke might like the opportunity to be elsewhere."

"I wouldn't want to make anyone... uncomfortable."

"Oh, I think a bit of awkwardness every now and again is good for him."

"Perhaps another time."

"Seems reasonable. Where to, then?"

"The nearest residential district, first. I detest long commutes."

"They're a bit of a waste, yes."

Off, then, out of the old palace and to the - rather upscale - residential district nearest.

Occlus passes on the first building. Too many politicians. The second has no units available. The third's decor she finds aesthetically unappealing. The fourth has a penthouse suite availabe, which she takes, silencing the manager's protestations about needing to check her records by transferring the credits for the first three months on the spot.

...Ani's a bit distracted by how both familiar and slightly off Occlus's aesthetic preferences are.

Still, she likes the suite. It's nice.

"It will be better when I've changed the furnishings. All this faux wood," she sniffs disparagingly. "Ostentatious."

She laughs.

Teasingly: "Now I'm torn between sending you Jedi furnishings and sending you even more ridiculous furniture stolen from the palace."

"As long as you don't object to having it burned."

"I'll avoid creating a fire hazard, then."

"Good. Then I have more shopping to do today, if you are still interested."

"I am."

Then out they can go to look at furniture and appliances. Occlus's tastes run to the sleek.

Ani's run to the colorful - sleek, yes, aerodynamic, but also heavily patterned and striking. Still, she has a very good sense of what Occlus will actually like of modern furnishings.

She is, at the moment, less willing to indulge Ani's taste in decoration than Elesse was. It's not as though they'll be living together.

Of course; her own tastes are mostly evident in what catches her gaze - especially once she starts filtering her occasional suggestions to account for the influence of her own aesthetics on Elesse, and then of the modern age.

Then she can get what she wants with a minimum of fuss. Exactly as she likes it.

Good.

And after, Occlus feels like eating out. Does Ani know anywhere good?

A few places - she hasn't eaten out much in the last few decades, but...

She can suggest somewhere.

Does she care to join?

She'd like to, yes.

Wonderful.

To dinner.

Ani leans into comparing Force use traditions as a dinner conversation. (Which she's knowledgable about. She liked reading as a kid and teen, and read everything Sidious let her get her hands on as an adult. It was - distracting.) (She also has a lot of intuitive sense for and experience with the Force.)

Occlus has a very extensive theoretical knowledge of both ancient Sith and Jedi practices.

She's rather intelligent.

That's why she made it all the way to Dark Councilor.

A well deserved position, clearly.

Much more so than her predecessor.

Oh?

A stubborn old fool, too blind to see the future when it came for him. His death was slow, painful, and public.

"At least he got what was coming to him, in some small part."

"Stubborn old fools seem to be a bit of a theme."

"An unfortunate curse to labor under."

"One I fortunately don't need to deal with much anymore."

"Nor I. Here's to outliving the pests." She raises her glass.

She does as well. "To lives longer than our enemies'."

She drinks.

"I believe I like the future."

Drink. "It has its good points."

"Good food, technological convenience,a galaxy free of Sith and Jedi, tolerable company..."

"I'd say the company's gotten rather better, lately."

"That it has. This has been one the more enjoyable evenings I've had."

"I'm glad, and - same, for me. You're a delight to talk to."

"Indeed. Intelligent conversation that shares your areas of interest is to be treasured."

"It's a rare treat."

She smiles.

Pretty.

Ani is not a teenager so she doesn't melt into a puddle because a pretty girl like Elesse smiled at her, but she does grin back.

"I wouldn't object to future enjoyable evenings, either."

"Is that so? I shall have to see how my calendar fills."

"I'm sure you'll have quite a few intelligent, pretty girls clamoring for your attention."

"Though rather fewer who are Force-sensitive."

"That does narrow the field, yes."

"I suppose we must then ask how busy you are."

"I don't have much of a social life. There's some work, and my students - but they're often busy. As long as I'm on Coruscant I should have most evenings free."

"It sounds like we can mesh fairly easily, then."

"Good."

"So unwilling to let me go, already?"

"I think by now I'm pretty good at telling when I've got someone great in front of me."

"The benefits of long practice?"

"Exactly so. Helps separate out the best of the crowd."

"I won't deny I am the best."

"It'd be silly to; it's all quite self evident."

"And only such a short time you've known me."

"I can list quite a few good qualities that I think justify that."

"Oh?"

"Intelligent. Knowledgable. Powerful. Dangerous to your enemies, but not your allies. Perceptive. Good mastery of yourself. Good at actually applying your intelligence. Proud and self assured. Vicious and ruthless, when needed. Grounded. Not easily influenced by others. I suspect a touch sadistic."

"Keen observations."

"Some people are worth observing."

"I shall have to keep this tendency of yours in mind."

"Oh?"

"To looking closely. I must keep some secrets to myself."

"Seems true for all of us."

"Quite."

"Helps keep the air of mystery."

"That most elusive of all important qualities."

"Certainly hard to rebuild once it's been reduced."

"Which is why it must be jealously guarded."

"And pulled back only slowly and deliberately, if at all."

"If at all indeed."

Small smile. "Though I think tonight's held enough for me."

"Very well. I shall return to my apartments, then."

"Do you want to set a date to meet up again later?"

"Let us leave some mystery to it. You know where I live."

"I do!" Grin.

(She is... Not going to make Occlus regret giving her implicit permission to drop by whenever but she is going to abuse that permission merrily and frequently.)

"Until we meet again, then. Farewell." She stands to leave.

She does as well. "Until then."

Then back to their respective places.

Occlus spends the next day organizing her new purchases to her satisfaction. And the day after, she returns to the palace to meet her new staff and take charge of the archives. First she'll need reports on what they have gone through so far, the estimated extent of what they have not yet touched, their plan for approaching it. Then she explains what they've gotten wrong, why their cataloging system is insufficient to the nuances at play, and how she is going to rectify that.

They seem to be resigned to the new boss, and no one grumbles too loudly. They're tired and overworked, though Luke's left a report on the current budget (insufficient), tentative funding increases (moderately a good start, impressive for three days' work), and processes for getting people transferred out or in and hiring new staff, with a post script that he'll probably be able to get more budget next time that's actually renegotiated.

Ani stops by her apartment that afternoon.

Occlus not yet back. The door is locked.

She hums, and tries to figure out where Occlus is currently.

Still working. She sent the rest of the team home at the usual time.

...Of course.

She heads over to the rebuilt archives, stopping to get takeout - something not messy, fine eaten room temperature - on the way.

Does Occlus seem interruptible?

She's doing computer work, rather than anything with actual artifacts, so probably.

She heads in, leaning on the edge of the door frame to watch Occlus for a bit.

Occlus glances up.

"Hello."

"Hello. I was wondering if you wanted food, and possibly some help."

"How thoughtful. I will accept the food but decline the help. At this stage, I work best alone."

"Alright."

"I am frankly astonished that anything has gotten done with the system these people have thus far been using. Slapdash and inefficient."

"I think the organization's been getting worse with each regime."

"And now it falls to me to reverse the decline."

"Something you seem well equipped for."

"While you're starting organization - I have some materials of Sidious's that didn't make it into these archives initially, largely for political reasons. No one's paying attention anymore, though, about where this or that text is."

"I would be happy to include them, of course."

"I'll get the texts transferred, then."

She does so - including notes about possible locations of artifacts they don't have to hand. The Emperor tended to squirrel things away in sometimes odd places, apparently, and Ani hasn't finished tracking it all.

Some field expeditions may eventually be in order, then.

Probably, as well as wider efforts to identify anything Ani hadn't known to look for. Field expeditions have been largely Ani's job, lately, around training her students.