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Chapter 76: Home Upgrade, Locator Holocron
🕑 Added 2025-06-17 22:57:56 +0000 UTC[P]-[W]-[M]
Chapter 76: Home Upgrade, Locator Holocron
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Reality: Star Wars
Johnathan Grey
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I was back to being broke again after purchasing the [Essence of Home] upgrade, but it was an upgrade I wouldn’t regret. Honestly, the only thing that could be considered a drawback was probably spending too long in a place that offered immortality, as it can affect a person's decision-making.
[Essence of the Home Upgrade - Solar system]
[Description: You gain a personal, solar system with 1 earth-sized planet and sun that exists beyond reality in its own dimension, impervious to intrusion even by supreme beings and utterly loyal to you. It can be custom-designed to fit your needs and grow to accommodate changing requirements. The planet handles utilities autonomously, supplies an infinite amount of basic food, drink and animals, along with lifespan-immortality and disease prevention for you and your guests. However, unlike its Home counterpart, it cannot travel through the multiverse with the owner, and can only be accessed via a portal.]
[Can only be purchased after purchasing Essence of Home]
[Purchased for 8,000,000 SP] [Current Shop Points: 969,780 SP]
I subconsciously read through the description as Cortana finished her report, not really concerned with any other methods as they seemed highly efficient and even light, considering the crimes they committed.
“...and with the help of the I-Robot enforcers and a few targeted negotiations,” she concluded, “we successfully took over Hutt Space under your banner. Most systems offered surrender after minimal resistance. We’ve already begun implementing reforms: trade reorganisation, anti-slavery enforcement, and criminal dismantling. You’re officially Emperor of Grey Space.”
By now, I was off my seat, standing by the tall window of the office, arms folded as I absorbed everything she said in silence. After a moment, I nodded. “You did good work.” Cortana smiled as I turned to her. “Could you show the Flamels around Mos Espa? Give them the full tour. I need to work on something.”
The AI arched her android brow. “Something that requires you to vanish into your magical suitcase for a long period of time, I presume?”
“A Holocron,” I informed her, gaining confused looks from the Flamels, who had yet to hear the term. “One that can detect Force-sensitives at extremely long range. We’ll need it if I’m going to train up our own Order of Force users.”
“I suppose now would be a good time to bring up the fact that the Jedi sent ambassadors to negotiate a treaty,” she said as I placed the briefcase down on the floor. “They’re formally requesting permission to take Force-sensitive children to Coruscant for ‘proper Jedi training’... again."
I snorted, already heading in. “I’ll deal with the Jedi later.” I paused, glancing back over my shoulder. “My original order still stands. I won’t stop anyone from being a Jedi. But I won’t let them take children without consent, either from the child or the parents. When the Order is fully set up, the parents will only have themselves to blame when they choose to isolate their children from their family instead of just handing them over to us for education, as we will allow familial connection.”
“Understood,” Cortana said. “I’ll tell them you’re back but busy and will get back to them soon.”
With that, I delved inside, closing the lid behind me as I sensed Cortana guiding the old couple out of the room. Once inside a room for meditation, I palmed the [Resurrection Stone] and muttered, “Darth Nul.”
The spectral form of the former Jedi turned Sith shimmered into view, cloaked in robes with tattoos covering her cheeks. “What is this sorcery?” she asked, looking at her ethereal body in confusion. “I assumed a being’s Force ghost or mind could only be captured while they were still alive or attached to an object in any way, something that shouldn’t be the case for me.”
“Oh, I didn’t capture your soul,” I replied. “I’m using an object that allows me to converse beyond the mortal realm. I just want your knowledge, specifically on how to create a Holocron that detects Force-sensitives.”
The ghost’s hollow eyes narrowed, and then she nodded. “I will give you this, if only to see what you would do with it.”
I didn’t comment on the fact that she didn’t really have a choice. Instead, like the good student that I am, I let the teaching happen. After an unnecessarily long but structured lecture on techniques of ancient Force lore, I completed the creation of the glowing pentagonal dodecahedron. It had a black frame with transparent faces, showing the inactivated core, but I knew I had succeeded.
[Force Sensitive Locator - Holocron]
[Description - A Holocron created by Emperor Johnathan Grey, using knowledge gained from Darth Nul, specifically designed to locate Force users. Can also be used to educate a Force user on what Emperor Gre would consider basic Force abilities.]
Wait. What does it mean by ‘what I consider basic’? The lessons I included are basic techniques that Force users should be familiar with. Not unless they want to die early on the battlefield like cannon fodder.
“Cortana,” I muttered, subconsciously bringing my wristwatch next to my mouth on my way out of the briefcase, only to remember I was in my armour and could talk to her through the helmet. Luckily, no one was there to catch me lacking like that, so I didn't feel nearly as embarrassed at myself when I put my hand back down. “I’m done. Making my way over to you guys now.”
“Gotcha, boss. We’ll start heading back.”
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As the open-topped land speed came to a stop, the doors opened, and Cortana stepped out first, flanked by Nicolas and Perenelle, both looking notably windswept but delighted. The land speeder itself seemed to have been refined and redesigned, most likely by Cortana herself rather than a purchase using her recently obtained riches, if the much sleeker and stylish design was anything to go by.
Hands clasped behind my back, I approached from the side, watching the trio disembark. “Well?” I asked with a tone that indicated a raised brow. “How was your first day on another planet?”
Nicolas beamed, with his eyes practically sparkling. “Fascinating! The diversity of physiology across species is astounding! The Rodians, Twi’leks, and whatever that other thing was in the corner shop—I must study their biology. I’ve already started categorising the muscular and nervous systems I observed.”
“You can find all their biological data on the tablet I gave you,” I informed the chipper man, and without missing a beat, Nicolas immediately pulled out his tablet and began scrolling, already discarding our existence. Shaking my head in amusement, I turned to Cortana, holding out the Holocron.
“Here,” I said. “You can use it to find Force-sensitives worlds away. When you locate them, start setting up a school where they can study the Force freely, without dogma. It knows what to teach.”
Cortana accepted it with both hands, like it was an egg that could break with the smallest of pressure. The moment her fingers closed around the Holocron, it pulsed dully, then released a subtle and unnecessary click and projected a holographic image above itself.
The click was added to make people think it wasn’t collecting information while deactivated, inspired by a spying device the Sith placed in the Jedi Temple, which was never found.
A miniature version of me in armour shimmered into view with crossed arms and a deadpan tone. “With how many signatures I’ve found, most likely discarded by Jedi rather than declining the offer, I can tell this,” holo-me said dryly with a sigh, “is going to be a long couple of days.”
Perenelle blinked in surprise, leaning in to inspect the projection. “It’s like a magical portrait…”
The hologram turned smoothly to face her. “More advanced,” it replied. “Unlike portraits, I can perceive the environment on a functional level. Touch, movement, temperature, sound. I can even use and sense the Force, marginally, to assist in basic training exercises, though not at full sentience.”
Nicolas looked up from his tablet, eyes wide. “Wait, so you created a small ghost version of yourself?”
With a raised hand, I gestured for calm before Nicolas could start a spiral into a long list of questions. “Later,” I said, putting a stop to it for now as I turned to Cortana. “Let the Jedi Council know I’ll be visiting them soon. I just need to make a quick stop in the unknown region, then they’re next on the list.”
“Message already queued for the moment you leave Tatooine space,” Cortana replied, tucking the Holocron into a secure satchel she must have purposefully purchased for said object. “They’ve been persistent, but this should mollify their self-righteous Council.”
“Good,” I muttered, turning to the Flamels. “Now. You two ready for actual space travel?”
Nicolas stood up straighter, putting away his tablet as his grin turned borderline manic. “Oh, yes, definitely.”
Perenelle adjusted her coat and gave me a knowing smile. “Let’s just say our bags are already packed.”
“Alright,” I gave the couple a satisfied nod, reaching over to place a hand on their shoulders. “Then let's get to it.”
A moment later, we appeared just outside a sleek, hidden private spaceport nestled within a sandstone ridge near Mos Espa, one of Cortana’s designated off-world launch points for priority operations. From the details I was reading though in my helmet, I could see it was integrated with Halo styled stealth tech too, so departure, even if it were not the Gauntlet, would only be visibly and audibly detected after leaving the port, perfectly hidden from detection otherwise, aside from the Force, of course.
Materialising the Gauntlet from the [Hoard], I led the Flamels up the ramp and to the cockpit.
On the way, Nicolas paused to brush his hand on the interior. “Oh, this is exquisite… and I can feel the Philosopher Stone powering it too.”
“Yeah,” I responded over my shoulder. “I actually have a barren planet I plan to make rather hospitable soon. I plan to use a copious amount of Philosopher Stones to power the entire planet. Well, that and solar panels integrated in the roofs of most of the buildings.”
“Brilliant thought,” Nicolas praised as we stepped into the cockpit and I took my place at the pilot seat, gesturing for them to take their seats, which they did. He was speaking subconsciously at this point, preferring to join his wife in focusing his attention on the room and tech he just walked into. “One I’m a little confused you haven’t applied to your Bank, or Littletree Castle for that matter. An if it has been, then it's definitely not to this degree.”
“... Honestly, I have no excuse for that one. I’m just used to separating the dimensions I visit, for the most part.” I tapped a few the console, gently lifting the ship off the platform. “But first, there’s a parasite I need to destroy.”
Nicolas tilted his head, now turning to me. “Parasite?”
In response, I sent two holographic panels flickering to life in front of their seats. The display was filled with information, diagrams, surveillance captures, and combat notes, all compiled data on the Mnggal-Mnggal obtained during the [Resurrection Stone] study period.
As Nicolas skimmed the data, his expression paled while the details became more grotesque. “Merlin’s beard,” he muttered under his breath, wincing. “That thing is revolting.”
“More than that,” I added. “It’s dangerous in ways most dark wizards could only dream of. Honestly, calling it a worse Voldemort without magic wouldn’t be much of a stretch.”
Perenelle, still reading, glanced up. “And how exactly do you plan to deal with an entire planet of that? Or are you saying the Antivenom can cure it, like it does other diseases?”
That… was a good point, actually. I knew the Antivenom would definitely kick the Mggnal-Mggnal out of the user if it tried possession, but if I dropped it on the planet, shouldn’t it technically ‘cure’ the disease?
Shaking the thought out of my head for now, I retracted my helmet and gave my secretary a quiet, ominous smile as the ship passed through the last atmospheric layer, the stars stretching before them. “I made a spell. Specifically for this. And we won’t even need to make it to the planet, risking a portion of it attaching to the ship or our clothes like some cliché movie ending.”
As I pushed forward on the console, the black slispace portal appeared and I guided the ship through, vanishing from sight, only appearing a moment later into orbit above Csilla, the frozen blue world of the Chiss Ascendancy.
As I removed the ship’s stealth protocols, it didn’t take long for a ping to sound as a hologram message popped up, informing me of an incoming transmission. The voice that followed after I accepted was sharp and wary, wasting no time to get to the point. “Unidentified vessel, this is Chiss Ascendancy Patrol Ship G7-Theta. State your name and your purpose within our sovereign airspace.”
I pressed the comms tab on the screen. “This is Emperor Grey. I’m here to obtain the coordinates of Mugg Fallow. I have developed an ability with Magic and the Force that will allow me to eradicate the parasite that calls the planet home.”
There was an ominous pause. One that must have seemed heavy on their end, but we just treated it like being put on hold for customer service, sitting with bored expressions on our faces.
Moments later, the voice returned, much more respectful and less authoritative now. “Stand by…” he said, before putting us back on hold, most likely getting more information on us from their spies in Republic space. “...Please hold your position while we contact the High Command. Do not engage your ship’s stealth. Do not move your ship from its position.”
“Yeah, this is going to be a long day,“ I leaned back in my seat, arms folded, turning to Nicolas. “So anyway, Holocrons are basically the result of…”
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The high-domed Council Chamber of the Jedi Temple buzzed with low conversation as its members sat in a circle, bathed in the soft light of Curosant Prime. A subtle, unspoken tension lingered in the air, even as many in the room tried to suppress their worries.
“... and the Emperor of Hutt Space will be arriving within the week,” a Chalactan Master said in a calm voice, tinged with unease.
“That’s Grey Space now,” Plo Koon corrected with a mechanical hum of his mask, completely unconcerned with the new development due to lack of any news of vile deeds. “I believe the region has been somewhat officially renamed. The term ‘Hutt’ has been outlawed in several of the major settlements already, though, that much is said to be caused by freed slaves rather than actual laws put in place.”
Murmurs followed. Even for Jedi, such a swift upheaval of long-standing power structures was difficult to digest. Some had read how long the battles and wars lasted against the extinct Sith, who had been much more dangerous than the Hutts, yet they had done nothing against the crime syndicate, only for someone else to do their job for them.
Freed the slaves and removed the rot from the galaxy.
Mace Windu leaned forward slightly, narrowing his eyes. “The Republic Senate will want to speak with him. Sooner rather than later. If his intentions align with peace and justice, we may be able to persuade him to join the Senate.”
A soft tapping of a cane echoed across the chamber floor as Master Yoda closed his eyes in contemplation. “Good, that would be,” he agreed slowly. “But unlikely, I sense. From his actions, his people’s actions, so far, independent, strategic, unbound by tradition—join easily, he will not.”
A sigh escaped a Tholothian as she steepled her fingers. “It’s still hard to believe someone would refuse the Republic’s offer of food, technology, and advancement. Especially if his goal was to uplift the people after casting down the Hutts. You’d think partnership would strengthen his cause.”
Across the circle, Saesee Tiin, an Iktotch, folded his arms, tightening his horned expression. “Or perhaps it’s pride. Greed, even. He may want sole credit for liberating the region, and doesn’t want to owe the Republic anything in return for their help.”
“Especially not if it means sharing profits or paying debts,” a Nautolan added, sounding more bemused than critical.
Mace nodded slowly, though his frown deepened. “Or… it could be personal. It’s possible someone in the Republic wronged him, either in his past or during his rise, though I am leaning toward the former, considering his behaviour during our last meeting. That kind of history would sour any willingness to collaborate. I recommend we look through the recording of that meeting again, see if we can find a correlation, and continue looking for information on his past.”
It was then that Yoda’s eyes opened, slowly. “Speculate, we must not. Been through this topic, we have, many times,” he said firmly, sweeping his gaze across the room. “Important, it is, that we greet him as friends, not judges. A path forward, trust may create.”
He turned his head slightly and gave Ki-Adi-Mundi a subtle but unmistakable warning glance, taking little comfort he got his message across as the Jedi Master looked away with his lips pressed in a thin line, offering no objection but clearly bristling.
With that, the Grand Master of the Order rested both hands on his cane. “Summon Qui-Gon Jinn, we must. Strong-willed, the Emperor is. Willing to speak with someone more comfortably… who listens beyond the Council’s members, he may be.”
Mace raised a polite eyebrow. “You want Qui-Gon to act as mediator?”
Yoda nodded. “Unorthodox, Jinn may be. But, respect of Emperor Grey, he has earned. Trust, he has built. And balance, in the coming meeting... we will need.”
None questioned Yoda’s words as a silent agreement passed through the chamber. It didn’t take long as the maverick of the Jedi Order was summoned to meet the Council, separated from his student whom he had taken to teaching whenever the boy had free time.
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“One fact has always remained constant: The Chiss must be approached from a position of strength and respect.”
— Mitth'raw'nuruodo, aka Grand Admiral Thrawn.
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Hello There
John is just trying to get the points he’s spent back, and ridding the galaxy of the Mggnal-Mggnal seems like a good choice.
I know he had the briefcases, but an entire solar system in a separate dimension, where he doesn’t need to worry about annoyances getting on his nerves like the Republic or Jedi, just seemed better. I did think about a spell that could just terraform a planet, then have him take use it on other planets in the Potter Verse etc, but I ended up choosing this instead.
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Disclaimer: I own nothing except my original character and ideas. All credit goes to their respective owners.
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Thank you for reading.
As always, stay awesome.
Until next time, Light's out.
Comments
Sad Rain
Thank you for the chapter.
