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NATHEMA... OVER 3000 YEARS AGO ...
The skies, As black as night, crackled with bolts of red lightning that coursed through clouds as thick as smog.
Dreadnoughts littering the skies as far as could see slung fire towards the mountains even as red bolts dropped from the skies, dropping ship after ship under the cataclysmic storm that ravaged both sky and land.
Mountains rumbled, Fissures opened up in the surface of the earthen shelves. Geysers of magma spewed into the skies, walls of lava splattering and flattening entire swathes of land.
The oceans boiled, under the pressure they were forced to endure , Acrid clouds exploding from the churning waters to boil the very air itself .
The force, That had returned to the planet not ten years earlier, was once more crying out. A black miasma, darker than the void that was the darkside. More vile than what had been cast apon the galaxy than vitiate itself. A Gargantuan presence felt far and wide across the galaxy, From padawan to the greatest jedi asters and the darkest of sith lords... they all quaked as the presence spewed waves of malevolence into the force.
But it wasn't just this presence that caused the very air to darken. Several other signatures stood dauntless infront of this colossal blackness.
Sparks, of not just light but the dark stood, braving the mind numbing shadow that stretched outwards.
Jedi and sith alike, the greatest duellist of the era came together to face one ... and the battle was far greater than they could have ever predicted .
...
" This isn't good " The Wrath collapsed to one knee, One arm missing his hand planted against his stomach as he nummed the pain with the force.
Vawrawn, sliding back from a Gargantuan earth shattering force push, came up to wraths side, His pure face marred with burns from sith lightning .
" Tell me about it my old friend " They both bore the scars of their treachery, But their eyes never wavered from the battle unfolding infront of them.
" AHHHHAHAHAHA " Cackles of joyous laughed echoed behind a wall of lightsabers.
A purple barrier erupted to catch three sabers Jabbing at their target , Halting their charge as his mocking smile turned left and right.
A light saber as twisted as he was, His ancestors own, modified to have an exposed chamber, Cried out as the dual crystals within gave the blade a shroud of black and purple, with red bolts of lightning coursing through the purple shroud on black.
The saber didn't hiss, Instead it gave a bestiary cry as it's weilder closed their eyes, smiled and opened them again.
" You lot ... " Eyes as pitch black as the night, Flecked with stars that glistened like the galaxy beyond, Pinned the task force meant to destroy him with a look of complete and utter contempt.
" Traitors all " He was the emperor, The best emperor they ever had. Yet his own dreadnaughts hung suspended in the skies, their weapons trained on his position.
He was Emperor kallig, Descendant of tulak horde and aloysius kallig. Vanquisher of spirits, Slayer of revan and devourer of vitiate himself. He ruled the sith empire with grace and mercy. And yet here they were, betraying him for what, because they feared the power he weilded.
The purple barrier blurred away as he stepped forward, Instent on neutralising the force of allies turned enemies.
" Forgive us ... but we cannot allow you to grow further " Satelle closed her eyes, And her double saber flared as she sprinted at Kallig once again.
" Forgiveness is beyond you " His saber carved an arc through the air, A wall of purple and black that caught satellite thrust, Blocked the follow up and diverted a spinning thrust at his abdomen down to the side.
Satellite wasn't the only one to leap at him, The jedi knight came from behind. Blue saber thrusting at his back to sever his spine.
" Pathetic lot of you ... " A second saber blared to life in his grip, Sliding from within the sleeve of his robes as am orange blade caught the knights saber. While not as twisted or evil as his origional blade , this saber was recognisable none the less , the saber of tulak hord.
The onslaught began anew, As not only the jedi but the sith gathered to fell this formidable opponent.
The consular latched onto the Wrath , Healing his injuring with but a fleeting touch as her stern features twisted under the quaking shadow that was Darth Nox's presence.
" Appreciated " Wrath and vawrawn charged again " AAAAAAHHH"
He dropped onto Nox's position, Saber flashing as Nox simple leant left , ducked a thrust and caught the Wraths arm through the crook of his elbow.
" Always telegraphing .... " Nox's head crashed against the wraths own, the Wrath falling to the ground and rolling out of the way of a would he decapitating slash.
" I grow tired of your antics " Foir sabers we're halted by a force barrier thrown up by a wave of his hand, as he leapt forward , His saber suspended in the air by the force and suddenly grabbed vawrawn by the neck.
" Perish " Space folded around vawrawn and in a haze of purple, the dark council member vanished with a burst of spacial rending .
" VAWRAWN " Wrath cried out at the siths dissapearance, Yet they were given no slack as torrents of red lightning surged from Nox's finger tips.
The air burnt under the sudden barrage and the strike team was forced to block lest they be singed to ash.
Wraths saber screamed as red bolts struck its surface ,Teeth grit and arms wavering as his feet slowly slid back under that barrage of energy .
They could feel it as they all shielded themselves, Satelles double bladed saber shaking violently as it struggled to contain the energy being pushed into it.
The knight himself almost failed to raise his blade in time, The torrents of energy nearly overwhelming him entirely.
The storm coursed both far and wide from Nox's fingers. Once more spewing world rending energies into the air with power they had seldom seen before.
With a crackling boom, The last thunderous beam of red fell away as Nox lowered his fingers. The entire area around him a burning hissing mess of dead ground.
He stared then down with a hate filled glare, His empire ... no longer accepted him as their emperor. His wife ... he could feel she had turned her back on him. For she was reluctantly at the head of the fleet gathering in the heavens above.
' Lana ... ' She had steeled her heart in the belief they were doing the right thing. That they had to put her husband down for the fate of the galaxy.
' I'm sorry ' Her whisper came through the force as he looked up towards his own flagship above the atmosphere .
' I love you ' Her whisper caused his anger to flare, His teeth grinding together as blood began to fill his mouth.
' But you love them more ... what did I do ... what have I done for you to turn against me ' He knew the answer ... it was fear . He had done nothing but be a good ruler. But fear drove civilisations to do drastic things . He hadn't known she feared him ... it stung to finally feel the fear she had hidden from him .
' I loved you.. ' His black eyes lowered for a moment, before a cold steel chipped his moment display of vulnerability , the small second long conversation giving the strike team around him little time to recover.
" You stand here before me ... because you lack understanding" The force erupted with a visible miasma of pitch black that swept over everyone present. From the ships above the atmosphere to the core of the planet, The force swept over it all.
The mountains in the distance exploded upwards, Thrown into the skies as he struck at the fleet in the sky with a mountain of stone.
His hands gripped and dragged downward, Dragging the fleet downwards from space and into the atmosphere towards the mountain that was rising to meet them.
" NO ... " Wrath cried as their bewildered eyes saw the mountain rise , Only for lightning to catch his form, His scream echoing before he was thrown back off of the ledge they were fighting apon.
Explosions rocked the air itself, As several ships slammed into the sheer face of stone that rose to them, crumbling their daunting forms into a wreckage of death and mangled steel that fell towards the earth.
" BRAAAACE " She could feel his anger from here, Regret and anguish plaguing her. She hadn't wanted this but she knew what would happen, When the empire moved to oust their own emperor, He would retaliate.
And as his own flagship fell towards the earth below, She grabbed ahold of the nearest console.
The ship screamed and groaned, The ground nearby the cataclysmic battle approaching, growing closer against the ships will .
' Forgive me ... my love ' Everything went black as she slammed into the console, The ship slamming into the earth .
Nox stood as the explosion that followed swallowed everything around , His hand rising to shield himself with laughable effort. Shedding a single tear that ran down his cheek.
" You're forgiven ... but " He reached out toward the ship, And made a dragging gesture " But you will always be with me "
This was the reason they feared him , As streams of energy snaked through the air towards Nox. The souls of those about to pass, Wailed and screamed as they were forcefully dragged from the clutches of the cosmic force, And dragged into the limitless vessel that was Nox himself .
One by one , A thousand souls screamed as they were dragged from the force, Forced to be anchors for a being they couldn't comprehend.
Satelle cried out behind him , As the barsenthor tried in vein to stop the shackling of those who betrayed him. But none of them had the will to stand as the force pressed them Into the ground, an ocean of power forcing them down .
Until the spirit of Lana herself, the last one to be dragged before him ,Settled infront of him.
" You need not shackle me love ... I give my power willingly" In death there was no reason to try and resist, Atleast she got to stay alongside the man whom held her heart .
Nox didn't respond , His eyes benefit of the love he had gifted her not twelve hours ago. Instead her spiritual form flowed into his body.
' You want me gone ... You think that you can maintain your peace without me ' His eyes locked onto places through the galaxy, seeing the planets as his presence snaked through every person's mind.
' IT WAS BECAUSE OF ME THIS GALAXY KNOWS PEACE ... BECAUSE OF MY POWER, BECAUSE I OFFERED MERCY TO THE UNDISERVING. I DID MY BEST FOR YOU ALL , AND YOU BETRAY ME ' Noxs head lowered for a moment, the desire to fight the strike team fading with the wind ' Very well '
There was no use ruling a people who hated you.
He turned to the remainder of the strike team, contemplating his next actions.
" Goodbye " He vanished in a burst of purple energy, Foldong space around himself as he hurtled across the galaxy towards the planet that housed the head of the retaliatory forces.
Satelle , About to sigh, Panicked as soon as she saw the barsenthor clutch their chest, only for them to collapse to the ground as if they were a puppet to have their strings cut .
...
Arcann stood with his arms crossed, glare fixed on the hologram that showed the destroyed fleets over nathema...
" Mother I... " Arcann froze as a presence suddenly appeared between himself and his dearest parent.
They didn't have time to reach as both he and acina had a hand latch onto their faces, And their souls were torn from their body and anchored to Nox himself.
" Traitors all " One by one ... his previous closest allies who turned against him were eradicated, Consumed and devoured as Nox flashed across the galaxy in moments, Leaving uncountable bodies in his wake.
Until finally ... he stood alone ... on a Planet unknown to the rest of the galaxy. Lips curled downwards into a frown as every person he had ever cared about now rested within him.... fuel , in their traitorous scheming.
He collapsed to his knees, Hand raking the ground as his forehead pressed into the cold surface of the plateau he knelt on .
" AHHHHHHHH " The force crumbled, Newfound power that shook space itself ripping from him as tears ran down his cheeks.
' Why did they have to do this ... why did they force my hand ' His teeth grit, His hood staining as droplets fell apon it's form .
But it was done , As is sniffles settled and rose, A shimmering silhouette phased into existence as perhaps the only person to truly be on his sidd came up to him.
" Flesh of my flesh ... time for regret has passed " Aloysius kallig stood beside the man who had raised their name from the pits of would be slaves to the seat of gods.
" You're right ' He crushed his anguish, Raising his head as his hood settled over his head.
" Freedom is ours now. No more empire to rule, No apprentices or master ... perhaps ... for the first time... your path is your own" Kallig gestured to Nox, Who listened to his ancestors words.
And so Nox rose , Robes of black billowing in the winds of the unknown planet untouched by the galaxy.
" I think ... I'll stay here for a while " And so he stepped into the under brush. Dissapearing into the shrubs .
The galaxy would strike his name from all records. The survivors, those who betrayed him would pay dearly for their betrayal, The eternal peace he offered gone with him . And so war Raged a thousand years more .
But the force would never heal, As the presence that snaked under the currents of the force grew regardless of how many years passed. An eternal life that refused to die .
It was subtle ... sinister and growing. Different was it from the darkside, Nor did it identify with the light. Instead it was ... devouring ... consuming the force to create something ... new .
....28 BBY....
A Planet, Dull and grey loomed in the distance. It's crust torn assunder, the skies it once held peeled of colour. It's shadow cast a looming chill even through the space that surrounded it. There was something wrong with it, with the ancient space stations derelict and destroyed that circled its atmosphere .
Debris of battles, ships a thousand years old circled the world like an orbital ring.
The stars were silent, dim against the vacuum they hung suspended against .
Space itself twisted, Wrong in ways many couldn't describe.
A single ship floated in the vacuum, A star research vessel floated aimlessly through the vacuum of space. It's sirens blaring constantly as the distant sun bore down apon it's grey form with its eldritch light .
The ship was still, and silent. It's halls bare of all signs of life. There were nobodies nor blood splatters. A ghost ship for all intents and purposes. It should have been, save for the lights that still shone through the decks. The sirens that blared throughout the vessel and the meals sitting apon tables within the cafeteria.
The ship was dreary as it was esoteric.
From the cabins to the towers , The ship sailed crew less through the void. Unmanned, A thousand crew members vanished into the wind, leaving the ship adrift with sirens blaring.
A ship approached, a passenger barge damaged from a badly calculated jump.
" Republic research vessel dauntless ... do you copy "The vessel called over open comms, the vessel accepted the call but yet no voice tesponded " This is republic civilian barge calico, Requesting permission to dock, We have suffered extensive damages to our hyperdrive and are in need of immediate assistance "
Silence reigned from the vessel, With no response, not from the crew nor automated systems.
The crew of the barge vessel listening to nothing but crackling silence of comms .
" Research vessel dauntless ... do you copy " The man on comms felt his brow furrow" Is anyone there "
" Sir their com is up, But there's no response " He leant back and looked to the vessels captain, With both then and the rest of the bridge command turning to face the looming giant, completely unresponsive to any and all hails .
Walking over to comms, the commander leant down .
" This is commander brigg of the calico. As of the repeated failure to acknowledge our distress call , I hear by authorised the salvage of your ship , Prepare to be boarded" But once more silence reigned.
With such an eerie sign, With scans of the vessel giving strange signals, Nobody wanted to so much as approach the derelict vessel.
The crew aboard looked at the commander with Pleading near fearful eyes, His breath escaping in a long releasing breath before he turned to the operations commander .
" Prepare for boarding" And just like that, Silence reigned , The ghost ship looming over the crew casting the crew into a deep eerie silence .
" Oh pull yourselves together "
....
They boarded without so much as a hiccup , With a group of twelve individuals staring down the empty hall, Glowing red as the annoying siren assaulted their ears .
" Praga to bridge ... ship is on lock down ... orders " There was a cold to the air, Despite the sirens... it felt ... empty. Well not empty, Like there was a suffocating oppression to the air itself, as shadows stretched and their footsteps echoed longer than they should have.
" Move to bridge and shut down the lock down then we'll initiate repairs " The commanders voice crackled, His orders absolute despite the unease .
" Copy that " Praga raised her pistol as a contingency of guards walked alongside her .
They crept forward , Halls echoing with their steps as an astromech guided them down the halls.
" Wait " A hissing stopped their movements, And the guards rounded, taking point at a corner Junction before they aimed their weapons down the hall where the noise originated from .
" Its just a door malfunction " A door at the end of the hall hissed open, and hissed shut moments later. Doing the exact same thing several times in a row before the crew relaxed ever so slightly.
" Let's just get this over with" They moved through the vessel slowly, Taking great care to scour ever room, Every chamber they crossed on their way to the elevator that lead to the bridge.
One by one they crammed into the elevator, Their nerves frayed and their tensions at an all time high. They were fortunate to all fit, As the elevator door closed and began to ascend through the ship.
" This place gives me the creeps" A guard uttered under his breath, Shivering slightly as the cold atmosphere that had choked them since their arrival refused to abate even for a moment.
" Me too " The nodded to eachother, going on about what might be wrong with the ship and where it's crew could have gone. The people listened grew more irate with each passing theory, worse than the last .
" Can you guys just shut up, You're not helping" A third whispered just as the elevator slid to a halt, It's door opening .
" entering the bridge "praga whispered into comms , Her nerves at an all time high . Not once had they seen any signs of life during their treck here . The astromech guiding them provided no answers. A ship of over five thousand people didn't just lose its crew to thin air, that's not how that worked. Their arrival to the bridge didn't help matters .
It was empty when they entered, The controls active yet idle, The same red sirens and alarms that had accompanied them on their way through the ship wailed even now.
" Spread out" They did as ordered , fanning out into the bridge with praga moving forward to the emergency shut down controls .
" Ending lockdown procedures " Praga announced to the commander, With the sirens ceasing the next moment, Leaving the entire vessel in a state of sheer silence.
" Very good, Find the location of the supplies we need and make your way back . We'll report the ships location back to the empire apon our return" The commander announced and praga felt like pulling her hair out .
They wanted nothing more than to vacate back to the prisoner barge , And flee this derelict vessel .
" Affirmative" Praga whispered as another of their team began to go through the communication logs . Yet strangely enough , There was nothing apart from the norm .
The standard incoming and outgoing calls, Conversation that was the norm for imperial forces. Until it all ceased not a month before ... like nobody bothered to update .... complete radio silence .
" There's... " A forth began, Staring again the security screens that showed nothing but glitching monitors and blackened screens" Nothing ... "
" Ignore it ... we have our mission "
....
They re-entered the barge , Thirteen people striding into the ship as the airlock closed behind them . The repairs they saught finally completed and their supplies refilled .
Praga paused as the people that accompanied her back onto the prison vessel strode through the ship away from where she stood.
She couldn't place her fingers on it , But as a group of guards passed by, A chill far worse than that of the ship passed by as the twelve that accompanied moved and vanished around the corner .
" Commander , airlock closed and ready to depart " The barge then moved away from the looming ship of silence. Her shoulders slacking as the air lock of the other vessel grew farther and farther away .
" Report back to the bridge immediately " The commanders harsh tone gave little time for dally, and so she rushed to join her captain with haste.
..Naboo ...
The barge touched down on the landing pad with a hiss of its hydraulic gear. Clanking across the pad as guards moved up to the boarding ramp, Ready to escort the prisoners off the barge.
" Initiate off boarding" The ramp lowered as several groups of civilians were shunted pff of the ship , The nabooian people watched in confusion as some appeared to almost flee the barge in silent terror.
" What happened to these people " One of the guard captions raised an eyebrow as the vessels captain approached and came to a stop at his side .
" Tensions on board the ship have been ... rather high recently. Talk of ghosts and spirits. They're all going mental" It wasn't just the civilian class acting that way, Many of the crew were uttering the same whispers. Talking amongst themselves about a phantom on board the vessel. Many were happy to simply vacate the vessel and whatever stalked the ships halls.
" Ghosts " The guard raised an eyebrow, The civilians finally fully disembarked and being moved into facility behind them.
" Crazy talk, I intend to have my team under go a psych evaluation before we depart " The captain frowned as the rest of the staff and on board crew disembarked, ready to clock off and live their lives on the beautiful planet they found themselves on .
" Good luck with that " He shrugged, Turning back to the rest of the spaceport, gauging the security terminals for any odd behaviours..
" I hope you enjoy your stay at... captain " He turned away, arms crossed behind his back as he stormed back towards his office
" That I will ... " The captain whispered , turning back to the ship that now seemed to loom over him like a daunting shadow, cursing under his breath for a moment before approaching the open ramp once more .
The skeleton crew that take the ship back to coruscant remained on board as he entered, With a suffocating silence surrounding the now mostly empty vessel . Nome wanted to speak, They knew something was amiss. None of them wanted to name it, But the uneasy eyes everyone fixed eachother spoke volumes of the terror that gripped their hearts.
" Prepare to disembark "
" Can't we just get another ship "
....CORUSCANT ....
He strode away from the spaceport that the calico had landed apon, Hood drawn over his head as he kept to himself.
' Welcome back ' A thousand voices echoed around within his head, Innumerable yet one ' Back to the galaxy '
His eyes strayed upwards, Deep pits of pitch black, Flecked with Colliding stars and rippling energy, He peered at the looming senate building where the veil of the darkside seemed to stretch outwards.
' Strange... ' He could feel the difference in the force, The radiance of the jedi temple in the distance and the creeping shadow that seeped from the senate.
' I had thought them extinct ' Clearly he was wrong, He was neither pleased nor upset. The livelihood of the sith didn't matter to him , Nor did the existence of the jedi ... he was beyind their petty squabbles.
The sweet stench of coruscants sub levels sunk into his nose as he drifted like a phantom across the walkways available to the public.
Though they strayed from his path, His stride was neither too fast nor too slow. Simply ... neutral. A bar sat lit in the dim under shadows of the towering highlife levels overhead. Up there the people knew riches beyond any others found throughout the galaxy , but down here in the sub levels. Everyone fought to simply exist .
A gangster stood in his way as he approached the bar entrance, A nitko with a sneer looking him up and down .
" Not until you pay the toll bu" Black cleaved him in two, From hip to shoulder, The purple shroud of his black lightsaber screamed for a moment before shutting off with a hiss. Nobody screamed but the nearby gangster knelt low , Fleeing away from Nox into the shadows as the bisected gangster fell to the ground, mouth still agape as the life left his eyes.
Nox didn't bother with the mess , Simply lowered his arm , hiding his saber back into his robes as his looming darkness strode through the door of the pub.
The atmosphere was ... homely, Not unlike those cantinas back in imperial territory so long ago.
Aliens of all races and sizes sat lounging about, Enjoying spice and other illicit substances. Some stared him down as he approached the bar counter, Pthers hung their heads to remain hidden .
" We don't serve your kind here " Though the bar tender couldn't see the face behind the black hood , His finger jabbed towards nox with a disdainful hiss.
Several patrons looked towards, Quaking whether to intervene as the shadow of a man simply stood at the bar in complete and utter silence.
" Didn't you hear me jedi we don't... " His words locked in his throat, His head suddenly twisting 360 degrees before he simply collapsed to the ground.
A single scream echoed through the bar, As the patrons present froze at the occurrence.
A single hand slithered from within the robes tapestries, Calling a bottle of jet juice, The man draped in black looking at the almost glowing orange bottle with curiosity before turning away and striding to a corner of the pub.
Patrons cleared his way in silence, Shuffling into booths, cramming the rest of the pub whilst he commandeered an entire empty corner to himself .
Sitting himself down, Nox called a glass from the counter to his hand, Catching It with a flick of the wrist before pouring himself a drink.
He didn't lower his hood, instead brought the glass of jet juice to his lips . Tasting the bumbling,near fuel like consistency sunk down his throat, yet the flavour wasn't entirely unpleasant.
The glass lowered to the table with a resounding clank, that made the surrounding patrons flinch at the echoing noise.
" You ... " Their heads ached as a pale finger rose from within the sleeves of the black robes , Pointing to a human sat at the bar who tried their best to blend in . The thousand voices that dropped from this man's maw turned to one, As if the thousand were unused to speaking at all ... the syllabuls came out broken , crashing against eachother like a child's drawl .
Nobody laughed however, As the young human male slid off the bar stood , head bowed before striding across the bar to stand infront of the stranger.
" Your name " For the first time , This young man saw down the hood of those pitch black robes, and felt terror grip his soul in a way he had never felt. Not when he was stranded in hyperspace, Not when faced with the barrel of a blaster . But those unblinking star flecked eyes Pinned a part of him that refused to calm .
" Y...yes , what can I do for you " His voice came a whisper, His body visibly shaking the longer he stared down this creatures hood.
" I need documents ... you will help me " The same hand that had beckoned him over reached out and touched his hand ... amd everything he knew faded to black.
....12 hours later ....
His vision suddenly returned. Confusion marring his features as he stood in the exact same place he had been in before going unconscious. The same robed stranger sat , This time not only with jet juice but several other bottles littering the table, along with foods and credits.
" Thank you " The hand stretched out in expectancy . It was then that the young man became aware he was now holding an identification chip he had not held earlier.
" Um ... no worries " He dropped the chip in the strangers hand, and all but fled the scene with terror , leaving behind the quiet patrons ... different from the ones that had been present half a day earlier .
For over half a day thus creature had haunted that corner , as the young man strode out of the business as if possessed . Nobody spoke up, nobody argued. They came and went in silence . And yet it stayed .
Until now that is, with the identification chip in hand, it rose much to the terror of the surrounding patrons .
" Thank you for having me " It spoke to Nobody in particular, and left with the same shadowed presence as when it came . Stepping out into the night covered city of coruscant .
Nox approached a couple leaning over a speeder , His hand radiating a pulse of force enervy thay lifted and tossed them over the side of the walkway where their screams echoed as they plummeted through the levels below before silence reigned.
" I appreciate your consideration " He slung his leg over the speeder saddle , and with a bark, the speeder ascended through the levels of coruscant, away from the sub levels towards the surface where the privelliged belonged.
....
' So ... different ' He stood at the base of the senate building, His gaze lifting to the sheer monolith that remained dauntless through millennia.
Though the senate was the same , The surroundings were the drastically different . Gone were the military fortifications like orbital cannons . Dreadnaughts hanging in the skies or fighters flying through covered airspaces.
Instead towers of life teamed , bustling eith the smiling ignorant who lived luxurious lives better than anywhere else in the galaxy.
" Out of the way " A senator guard growled as they approached the base of the senate building apon a hovercraft.
Several guards stepping down as they formed a wall around the man they were to guard.
" I beg your pardon " Noxs tone came out low and dangerous, The guards turning their sweeping attention to him again where two more stepped forward, levelling their rifles toward him .
" Please vacate ... we must attend the senate at once " The tone shift was clear, As the senator was guided past nox who gave him a passing eye , The guards relaxed at his lack of movement .
" Is the senate in right now " The guards nodded and nox chose to act .
His hands flee up as the force responded, twisting their thoughts to his will , not only the guards but the senator himself .
" Esteemed guest , Please come we have much to discuss " Mee deechi inclined his head and gestured for nox to follow .
" my thanks " Nox didn't bother hiding his disdain, As he strode up to Mee deechi's side , The force worming into their minds. Creating false memories, twisting their very minds to express what Nox desired them to .
" I'm glad you could join us today, I feared you wouldn't make it " Deechi, looming at his long time friend felt elated at Nox's presence .
" Tell me , What is the state of the senate ... "
....
" Always the same bureaucratic spiel that leads to nothing " He stood on deechi's senator pod , As the man at the centre of the collosal chamber radiated the darkside into the chamber like few of those pathetic sith had ever managed to .
' A sith in charge ... how amusing ' He knew this man to be sith, There was no way some one would he so steeped in the shadows of the darkside and not be sith .
' The jedi truly are ignorant ' His lips curled under his hood, As he spotted the jedi chatting in their own booth in the far distance, Ignorant of his own and this soths presence ' Dogmatic dogs of the senate '
Deechi spoke at length about how the senate was imposing sanctions on the outer rim territories , giving corporations further power to exploit the distant worlds that the central worlds cared little for .
He could feel it , taste the animosity In the air radiating from these outer rim worlds.
This was of course, Until a semators pod flew forward.
" Senators surely you can see that such highly imposed taxes will do nothing but annex further struggle to these already limited worlds " A woman's voice , Young by her tone and innocence, Spoke against the imposal of taxes to trade goods coming from these outer rim worlds.
" The senate does not recognise senator Armidale at this time " Mass ameda spoke, Hands curled into fists as he glared at the newly imposed senator of the chommell sector .
" Forgive me chancellor but nobody else is speaking up on behalf of these worlds" Padme looked up to palpating whose lips silently thinned, before he graced her with a grandfatherly smile and a slow nod .
" The floor is yours senator amidala " The banking class rep growled as amidalas pod rose, Floating to the central point of focus amongst the senators.
" Thank you chancellor " She studied everyone present, from the central worlds to the farthest planets just about out of reach .
" Imposing higher taxes... " Nox listened to her speech with a raised eyebrow, Leaning back into his chair and crossing his legs.
" Does nothing but bring further hardship and grievance to those already having their resources funnelled for use by other planets ... naboo itself " She went on to talk about the plasma trade, how in the past worlds tried to apply heavy sanctions to their selling of plasma , however naboo was a world lucky enough not to have such sanctions placed .
Nox leant to the side to senator deechi " When did that happen "
" About twenty years ago, some in the senate attempted to get profit for themselves from naboos plasma monopoly. But when naboo threatened to withdraw from the market , Several worlds put a stop to the proposal " Deechi informed Nox whom hummed and leant back just as payment finished her speech.
From where he sat, he could see she was hopeful, Attempting to reach into the hearts of the greedy to alleviate the heavily burdened .
He smiled and shook his head at the naivete.
" To sway the greedy ... you need to have the power to garner their interest ... " But what padme had just done was attempt to discourage them from filling their own pockets ... a foolish gamble.
And it showed, As the senate remained almost entirely silent in disdainful judgement.
" Moving on ... " It was rude and all but dismissing, As palmer's head hung, stung by failure. The senate moved as if they hadn't even heard what the new senator had said entirely.
" Hm ... Haha how touching " Deechi mocked as he and Nox returned to talking about the latest history of the senate .
From the trade fedarations attempt at taking over naboo, to the way the jedi were getting closer and closer to the senate political body over the last couple of hundred years .
And by the time the senate meeting wrapped up, Nox was left in deep thought about the more recent history as they strode through the senate halls, several senators passing by in their clicks .
" Ah there she is ... star of the senate herself " Deechi stopped padme in the halls of the senate with a mocking jab " Slinking away in Shame "
" Senator deechi " Despite his rude demeanour, Padme met the man with a small greeting despite the overall atmosphere .
" You shouldn't do that you know , The senate doesn't like when people plunge their hands into their wallets ... makes them mad " Deechi waggled a finger with a sneer " Just a friendly admonishing ... "
" As rude ... " Padme's attention was dragged to a rather tall individual draped in black at deechi's side, Her brow knitting as his voice came out deep and rumbling" As deechi's words are "
Under the stare of the man in black , Deechi seemed to stumble over his words in stuttering for a moment .
" He isn't entirely wrong. Many senators would rather turn a blind eye and rake in profits, than worry about a people not their own. It's an unfortunate truth " Deechi crossed his arms and looked away with a jutted out chin, But the stranger in black ignored his attitude and continued on speaking.
" But it's..."
" Its wrong ... yes . It is " The stranger agreed " But in the face of personal power and gain ... few can turn away from it. Next time senator ... I would advise coming in from a different angle . Draw their attention to something else they could gain , make their attention be drawn to something they might place value in. Then guide them along until you have reached the goal you desire... that ... is how you win the game of politics "
Padme's brow knit as deechi nodded his head along in agreement, Smiling to himself , not Noticing the man draped in black had turned away and was currently leaving the two semators behind .
" Ah senator ... " The man in black simply crossed his arms at the small of his back and continued to match through the crowd, a solid head taller than the rest of the people who parted from his path as if pulled by an unseen force .
" Senator deechi " The pale umbaran senator turned his attention to padme who tilted her head in curiosity.
" Yes senator "
"Who was that man " Padme asked as typho scanned the back of the man who was fading into the distance, only for his cybernetics to malfunction and spark.
" What man " In confusion deechi blinked , Just as everyone else present , Deechi's entire party looking at eachother in confusion.
" The man who just accompanied you from the senate chamber " Padme pressed as the nabooian guards and herself studied the confused deechi with great intensity.
" I beg your pardon senator amidala ... but I have no recollection of a man accompanying me to the senate chamber . You must be mistaken ... now if you would excuse me " Deechi pushed past , His previously cheerful demeanour shifting to a more unfriendly one, Leaving padme and the rest of her enterage watching his departure in confusion .
" What was that about " Padme turned to typho who hadn't looked away from the direction of the man who had already vanished .
" I believe there may be more to what just occurred.. than meets the eye " Typho grunted out , The pain in his eye socket lessening after his cybernetics lost track of the man .
" Let's go check with security then "With that padme and typho turned direction and began walking to the security kiosk , intent on finding out what just happened. It wasn't everyday someone had a conversation with a person amd simply forgot about them the moment their back was turned .
...
' Even with three millennia of growth ... they're still monkeys babbling on about nonsense, Pathetic ' His anger flared around him for a single moment . Shaking his head in silence wrapped in disappointment, He strode across the patio Infront of the senate building.
' how disappointing , though not unexpected' Even during the time of the old republic, the republic had been marred by a thousand voices with different desires. all selfish, all dragging the republic to destruction.
Such was why, as the galactic emperor whilst he sat on the Throne of Zakuul, he had more often thaan not pondered abolishing the senate under his rule and imposing a more rigid rule akin to the dark council.
' Too little too late' Nox grunted during his approach of a waiting taxi speeder , stepping in with a flurry of his robes, hands placed neatly on his legs as he regarded the droid piloting the speeder.
" to the spaceport " His desire to remain on coruscant faded the longer he remained, his dissatisfaction with the state of the galaxy stinging him greatly .
...SITH SPACE...
He stepped out of a rippling burst of purple energy, feet settling into burning orange sands that jostled harshly at his arrival. harsh winds crashed against his robes as a tower of sand spread far and wide. The sand storm he stepped into pelted against his blackened robes, yet he was unphased , simply stepping forward with long nestled memories of the path to walk .
Korriban , the start of his journey so long ago , wept at his return. phantoms in the storm crying as whispers permeated the ancient dunes . Stone monoliths of ancient design la half buried in the sand, lost to the annals of time. H walked by the towering stone heads towards the ghostly remains of his people .
'how ... sad ' his mocking smirk accompanied him all the way toward the looming sith academy, half crumbled, though still standing despite the march of time.
' is this all that remains , memories buried in sand' shades of what used to be flittered in and out of vision. Ghosts refusing to rest guarded the holy lands as he strode on through. They did not approach their forgotten emperor, simply watched him march into the temple like it was still his home, and it was for all intents and purposes.
the halls were silent, banners worn by time still hung from the walls. monoliths of sith knowledge still stood, seeped deeply in the darkside.
his hallowed steps echoed through the silence as he marched into the dark council chambers. face set with a wide smile as he finally came to a stop at the center of the council chamber.
skeletons sat on the seats, pretentious lords who thought to sit apon the seats of his dark council.
" poor little wrath, so narrow minded... just like the rest of the council ... did it turn out how you expected " He spoke to nobody in particular, mocking ghosts of times past.
He then turned to a spot where a person he had once loved used to work as the councils advisor.
' lana ' bitter mauling anger flared in his mind, even now three thousand years of growth and ponderance left his anger and hatred nothing but a boiling anger. Sparks of red leapt from his fingers, torrential blasts of crimson light annihilated the seat and advisors position, turning them to molten slag before he reigned in his anger.
whispers of what might have been an apology were ruthlessly crushed. ghosts of the past should remain that, dead.
' this place no longer holds any meaning for me , though ' He vanished in a ripple of purple once more as he leapt from korriban across the galaxy to investigate what had become of his people .
From the sunken city and dark temple on Dromund kaas and their little organization known as the prophets of the darkside whom thought themselves smart enough to hide from him. To the sprawling temples of malachor. Every planet in sith space lay sparsely populated, ghost words seeping in darkness with little more than outpost villages serving as capital cities . Ziost itself remained frozen in time, the ancient citadel a city of stone statues from when vitiate had consumed the planet with his alchemical ritual .
He explored every sith world , his gaze penetrating every veil, every secret. And by the time he stood on what remained yavin, He knew without a shadow of a doubt, that anything relating to his empire was nothing but history .
He didn't gloat at the predicament of the worlds he once ruled, rather felt a sense of what he could discern to be melancholy settled itself as a pit within his stomach.
"i had wandered what came of you , oh great destroyer " The ancient sith entity known as marka ragnos , Floated into view atop yavins sith temple.
" so not all facets of my old empire have faded " Nox turned his black eyes to what was perhaps the greatest emperor of his once bustling empire .
" what remains is little more than phantoms refusing to pass , all except for you of course " Ragnos was not mad , spectral gaze peering apon the one who had assimilated vitiate into himself. Even now he could feel the presence of vitiate radiating from Nox much like the other assortment of consumed beings that melded together to make the long lived being of Nox " it was their own choices that lead to our ruin , and now what remains moves on with you of sithari "
" sithari " Noxs brow rose with amusment , an ancient title few would ever lay claim to .
" is that not what you are at this very moment "Ragnos, his tone flat and missing any hint of joking, gazed apon the sith emperor .
" have you not freed yourself from all restrictions , restrictions of the flesh , of the mind, of power , of time. Have you not ascended beyond the grasp of fate . Did you not lay the groundwork for the death and destruction of the sith , Have you not brought the sith back stronger thanever before in yourself . You " Ragnos pointed at Nox , whom the force seemed to boil around " are Sith'ari , oh great emperor of the stars "
" enough of the pleasantries ragnos , it doesnt suit you . what do you want " Sith even in spirit didnt praise anyone .
" let me persist , i do not wish to be consumed " ragnos, in a rare display of humility , bowed his head to Nox , not out of simply respect, but fear .
" dont fret, there is need for fear . i gain nothing from devouring you but a droplet of energy in sea of raging power , you hold no use to me " Nox sniffed and turned away , starinng out at the gathering storm clouds with thunder beginning to roll across the sky .
" thank you , sithari " Ragnos took the moment to fade away, leaving Nox to stare out emotionlessly even as rain began to fall apon his form .
' Sith'ari ... not a bad title ' seeing as he had already been crowned such a title by the greatest sith ruler in history , he saw no reason not to claim the mantle thrust apon him .
But now , where did that leave him . In a galaxy that had long forgotten both his empire and name. A man with no history thrust onto the page of the present .
" i guess i truly am ... free of restriction" his fate was his own as it had been for millenia . with the dust of his people underfoot , his eyes turned to the skies in thought .
" what was it that vitiate once claimed to aspire to do ... oh yes ... experience all things . That doesn't sound so bad right now ... does it " And so he left Yavin in a flash of space rending energy , Leaving ragnos tolet out a breath o relief . whilst nox himself moved to do just that , experience everything this new galaxy had to offer .
....
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK .