Episode 6 : Into the Void Prelude

DROMUND KAAS
The Emperor's Fortress



"He's Mine..."​

The Imperial Officer clasped his hands upon his face in horror... Two words were shown upon the subspace message from the Emperor.

Numerous Darkside Leviathans larger than any other type of corrupted creation since the dawn of the universe itself began to writhe with colossal speed towards each of the hyperspace lanes. The energy paled in comparison to what they sought. The spectrum nets were simply in the way, even though the great beasts were told that the energy they devoured was delicious. The Bloodcurdling screams echoed from the great beasts, caused cabin decompression in any ships within proximity.

All ships that were free to jump from the gaps in the spectrum nets did just that. Their firepower having no effect upon the creatures as they fed ravenously, as though their very existence depended upon the rate at which they indulged themselves. These Leviathans were much different than their predecessors. They were immune to Sith Lightening, due to their skin/hides being altered by Sith Alchemy for many years. This process couldn't be undone. Then the largest of the beasts appeared. Her great size shadowed all other Leviathans, as she opened her more than 12 miles wide mouth, and completely swallowed the entire birth of the largest of the network of spectrum nets.

Then she made her way unabated towards Fondor. Crackling with so much energy it was as though to the people of Fondor believed that they had another sun. Her great mouth acting as a vacuum as the energy of the net was sucked into her ominous void. Seeing in indulging themselves, the rest of the Leviathans began to fan out eating any trace of the nets in all areas. Several of them began to assault the Triad Ships destroying all but Lord Azarel's Flag Ship, and one plunging itself headfirst into the Yagyu Station. The living battering ram creating a huge explosion that crippled the massive space station. All of the Mandalorians that possessed the power jumped into now open hyperspace lanes or escape pods to avoid the gigantic monstrosities.

The energy net around Fondor had completely failed. And now the Leader of the Beasts turned its massive head towards Lord Azarel's Flagship itself. Her siblings instinctively all match her new target and begin to swarm Lord Azarel's Flagship. The monstrosities could sense the immense energy inside of the only fully functional Triad ship remaining within Fondor System. Its captain had two choices fire its superweapon again, and risk energizing the creatures more, or flee from Fondor Space...

​

The Emperor had grown tired of Lord Azrael, and his continuous impediment of his time.

The period had passed for the Emperor's thoughts to dwell elsewhere. Now the Jedi Knight, formally known as Emrys, had the most powerful being in the universe's full attention.

The Emperor was prepared to put an end to the "spec of sand" known as Emrys, once and for all. Suddenly, just as the spectrum nets surrounding Fondor completely failed, a huge fleet emerged within the Fondor System. As Lord Azrael waved his hand to tell his Officer to jump into hyperspace, the Sith Fleet had just jumped into his direct path. Hurrying, several officers began to work feverishly to adjust a heading appropriately for escape. Unfortunately, there just wasn't enough time.

The Mother of the Leviathans swung its massive head in a violent arc towards the bridge of the Sith Lord of the Triad. Because of the magnitude of Lord Azrael’s weapon an unprecedented explosion erupts from its compromised hull. The blast wave destroys planet Fondor, then passes even more swiftly through the imposing Sith Fleet.


Even with his immense power the energy needed to summon such monstrosities of the Darkside came at a cost to Lord Vitiate. Severely weakened the Emperor slumps back into his throne. For the first time in nearly 3000 years, the Emperor begins to slumber...

 

[Plagueis]

"My Lord we have another lifeform reported within our ship!"


"What do you mean we have been board--Prepare our--"


No Sir, they... the reports ready they are within our brig!


"What?! All stop. Remain here, I will deal with this myself."


Lord Scourge pulls his saber from his belt and moments later a crackling crimson beam erupts forth. Lord Scourge summons the Force as he methodically makes his way towards the containment area. His nonaging yellow eyes sweep left and right while his fingers tighten around his self-made durasteel hilt. Clearing the final corridor his eyes widen in astonishment as he beholds an aberration. A form he recognizes all to clearly. A form that he is ultimately responsible for...



"Lord Scourge..."

Before his eyes the brilliant visage of the Late Meetra Surik spun to face him...


"No, it cannot be..."

Lord Scourge staggers backwards and then drops to one knee with gaping mouth open. Shock and astonishment bombard his frontal lobe. He deactivates his saber fully understanding that nothing he could do could stop him from hearing what was about to be said.


"Why have you come... have you come for ME?"


"No Lord Scourge, I have not come to take your life, as you did my own. I have placed the Chosen One within your vessel. Now that I have done this it cannot be undone, and I can no longer interfere. You have a wrong to correct, and now the rest is up to you..."

 

[Plagueis]

“Yes, yes, I know. I-I will not fail...” His heart hurt from the decades of guilt seeing Meetra again and from what she had told him.



"You must not, because if you do the universe as you know it will cease to exist. Free him, and allow the Jedi to fulfill his destiny..."



Then as suddenly as she appeared the aberration known in life as Meetra Surik was gone. Lord Scourge punched in the code upon the data pad of the cell, a moment later the durasteel door slides back revealing the Jedi responsible for freeing Revan. And now the Jedi who would be ultimately responsible for saving the universe...

DELAYA
COMPLETE POPULATION CONTAMINATION
2 BILLION UNDEAD​

Very few experiences in life change a person. Most of the time you remain relatively the same. This was the not the case for the Jedi Knight once known as Accendo. For two years he had survived upon Delaya, the planet now fully taken over by reanimated creatures who sought nothing more but to devour all living things. Surviving off anything he could find; he had managed to avoid starvation. But his allotted rations were now no more, and what water he had found was beyond contamination. His huge frame required sustenance, he would not last long without any water, let alone food.

As he walked toward the marked location another collection of ravenous hordes noticed him but instead of running to devour him, they simply turned away and returned to their ceaseless laboring to find the living. Although he was still alive, the undead were not interested in him any longer. But this was not always the case. What changed these defilements of nature from tearing the masked Jedi apart? Accendo thought back to the fateful day when he had sacrificed his life to save Jedi Knight Pearl, children, and a stranger. He thought about the horde converging upon him, and right when he was about to be torn apart, he remembers hearing their bloodcurdling voices...




“Do... not..touch....him. You there... yes.... you will... tell... them this... planet... is ours!”

Accendo didn't bother asking them why. He didn't want whatever these things were to reconsider allowing him to be the bearer of bad news. Also, despite his intimidating gait, he did not want to hear those things ever speak again. He had called upon the Darkside of the Force several times during his duel with Pearl. He could feel it's longing for him to call upon it again. Even though the Darkside could sustain him without food, and water, even it needed something to feed on. And here in this desolate place, no one else was alive that the Darkside itself could torment. Only him. He had to leave soon or succumb fully to its madness.

Once he realized that the creatures wouldn't attack him any longer, he continued to go every day to the drop zone where both Jedi Knights Pearl, and children were picked up. Hoping that maybe a ship would return. Wishing that someone would. Anger had been building within the Dark Jedi. Anger for being sent to this hell in the first place, and more anger for those that did not do more to prepare them for what he had experienced. His mind thought about those that were in charge, the one who gave the order. And those in command who never came back for him.... then as his anger reached its boiling height, he heard the sound he had been longing to hear... his datapad emitted a holoimage...



“Hey there... eyes up here. I'm Captain Remara, and you are the only lifeform reading we are registering on this piece of bantha kriffling. I'm sending down a shuttle for you. Get in, and I'll take you to see your friends.”

Accendo thought if he would really call them that. But after two years, he had to admit, Captain Remara was precisely who he wanted to see...

 

[Plagueis]

TYTHON
Sith Fleet withdrawing from Orbit
​

A lone figure strides along the surface of the home of the Jedi Order. Bodies by the thousands lay scattered upon the cratered foray. Bunker missile caps found imbedded in below ground hiding places, along with the remains of the young and the old. Fires that would burn themselves for weeks begin to swirl in delight across the surrounding forests. For more than five months the Sith Fleet had peppered the entire planet with unrelenting force. All manner of sentient life had been extinguished. Satisfied from their scanning the Sith Fleet adjust their heading collectively and leave triumphant.



“Annihilation.... that is what's happened to Lord Azrael. All this time I have prepared for a final reckoning with him, to have the emperor snatch him from my clutches. The nerve of the petulant retch to believe himself worthy to become a Sith Lord, let alone Leader of the Triad. I had believed anyone strong enough to defeat Lord Baal had to be worthy of the mantle. Yet he never completely embraced the Darkside, always preferring to walk the line when it came to his Jedi... friends.

It would seem that the Jedi themselves now are on the brink of destruction. How could anything strong come from Tython before? Only now at the time of chaos could this planet bring forth a being forged with anger, pain, and purpose! The Jedi had their opportunity, but they succumbed to the type of weakness that often would occur to the Sith. Pride, Ego, arrogance. Eventually the price is always the same. Even for those who believed themselves better than the rest of us. Their skeletons are the same.

Rubbing his large gauntlet hands together. The Sith Lord knew exactly who he would see next. The only one left of their original Triad. The ex-lover of Lord Baal, and the defiler of the decadent arts. He had wasted enough time relishing the Jedi Order's demise. In a flash he disappeared. It was time to reestablish the Triad. The final pieces were now on the board, while the Jedi had been finally removed...”

 

[Plagueis]

THE TYRTAEUS
Unknown Location​

As Vilak sat aboard the large Inexpugnable class Capital Ship, he couldn't help but to allow his mind to drift back to earlier days. His Life upon Korriban was very difficult. Cruelty was a way of life. Power ruled over all things, and whatever it took to obtain it was encouraged to the highest degree. But something had shook his foundation to its core.

He had left his pursuit of Power for its sake only. He was now a Jedi Initiate, seeking to suppress his Dark nature... and embrace a new life. This was a very difficult task to achieve without guidance. The path of the Sith in this way is like the Jedi. During the process of reaching both goals a mentor must be found for inner growth to continue to be efficient.

Sure, he could try and just take his new found path alone, but choosing that course would raise the odds of him succumbing once again to the Darkside. Which one of these remaining Jedi were worthy enough to aid in his quest? No way was he becoming a Padawan, those days were over for him, but he did need guidance. He thought back to a Sith Tournament when he first met one of the Jedi from the Order of Guardians of the Legacy...

​

The inhuman roar of the Sith in unison made Errend’s hair stand on his arms and legs. The Darkside was truly strong here, and Errend could feel everyone there gathering their strength, preparing for what would be their time. Errend was awakened by the same Hooded Figure that led him to meet the Headmaster of Korriban. The figure's teeth sharp, and grisly could been seen near rotted gums, and blackened lips. Its eyes were gleaming yellow, as the power of the Darkside was more than present.

Errend didn't bother bathing, he quickly got out of his bed, and through water upon his face. Next he gathered his things, all that he had left from the Head Master and followed the hooded Figure though a chorus of stairs, and corridors. Finally, arriving at the apex of the walking area above the temple. This is the location of where the duels would take place.

Suddenly, all manner of Errend’s powers ceased. As his mind was assaulted from the depths of his worst fears. He fell to the ground in agony, clawing across his face violently. Spasms gripped his frame, sending him into violent convulsions, that made even some of the other Sith turn their heads in disgust. Blood began to pour from his eyes as his grasp upon reality had been shattered. The one that stood before him had been using his time to investigate the depths of all the other contestants, searching through their cerebral cortex to find their darkest fears, so that he could manipulate and destroy them. Errend however was different.

He noticed that the dark side didn't surround his aura as it ingulfed the others. And this made the Young One take serious notice, and rather than continuing to look into the minds of the rest of the combatants, he continued to look into only Errend's mind. Once he found what he was looking for, he still asserted his will inside Errend's mind, waiting for the best time to activate the images that would overcome him. He could sense his peppered past, and his strong will in the Force. Once he knew that Errend would be his opponent, by sensing the actions of the Hooded Figure, he began to build his energies to crush Errend's will.

Errend fell to the ground gripped by seizures from the unimaginable horrors that were made frighteningly real to him. Finally passing out, into a catatonic state. The small Form stood still, remaining in the same place he did from the start, without emotion, or expression. The Figure raised his finger, indicating the match was over, and allowed the Young Sith to leave. There would be no more duels today. A large hush engulfed the crowd of Sith, and dignitaries that witnessed the power of what appeared to be a Young Child. The Crowd of Sith parted, allowing him to walk through in stride. Two large Sith Warriors picked up the body of Errend and took it to bacta tank within the lower levels of the Korriban Temple.

There Errend remained with both his eyes open, emotionless, and expressionless....

​

Vilak visited the unconscious form as it floated within tank of failure. This so called "Errend" had become an example of what not to be. The epitome of disgrace to the Sith Order. A Sith that had become a Grey Jedi, even with strong ancient lineage to the Sith. And now he had almost died in his confrontation with the returning Champion, a young child who was very powerful in mental warfare.

Vilak would often walk to Errend's bacta tank, and contemplate why this individual chose to not use his powers and influence fully for the Sith? What compelled him to walk the revolting path of moderation? There had to be more to him then his defeat. The head instructor walked over to Vilak and informed him that he kept Errend alive because he knew that Errend would eventually embrace the Sith completely.

And he was right...

​

"Errend Duviel... (coughs) I told you; you would have to make a choice..."​

"The home world of the Sith, our true home world has been defiled by the Armies of the Grey! I didn't save your life for you to come to your planet to hide... (coughs) you are a warrior, I could feel your power then, and even now the Darkside beckons you to embrace it, completely. It is time for you to claim what is yours. The Legacy of the Duviel, the legacy of the Sith is now in your hands... You were only defeated before because you failed to give yourself fully, to the Darkside of the Force... (coughs) I have watched you, I know that your feelings have been conflicted, confused about whether to help your Jedi friends. (coughs badly) There can be no compromise in your pursuit of power, either they are with you, or they are against you! None of them have proven they are worthy of your gifts.

Make no mistake, they are not your friends, (coughs badly) they tried to kill you simply because they lack direction, they lack true leadership, but they are too weak to recognize it! (coughs badly) Too weak to see you for what you truly are. They are all beneath You! Rise, my friend... Rise and seize the Darkside of the Force! Join us, my ships will escort you to Korriban Defense Station 112-D.

There you will take command of a small fleet of ships, supported by Sith General Bass, and join the Battle at Fondor! (coughs badly) Prove yourself worthy... then we will have revenge, and strike back at the fools that desecrated Korriban! Do this for me, Lord Errend... and I will make certain that your name is known to the emperor himself! You are free to bring your own contingent of ships if you like, but choose now my friend, this is your final chance..."

Errend would use the full power of the Sith to kill Darth Malgus, and never be heard from again. One of the Sith's strongest warriors cut down in true Sith fashion, by using the element of surprise. Vilak shook his head in disgust. This was the ultimate weakness of the Sith! They would always succumb to infighting. One person's ambition would lead to the most powerful of the Order being destroyed, which would in turn weaken the entire Order.

Vilak was sick of this perpetual wheel of ambition and death. It was pointless! He remembered Kylix, and his hard taskmaster Tarek. He had risked everything for Kylix, and Tarek was responsible for preparing his mind and body for combat until he landed upon Korriban. Then the bombardment began...

​

Mysterious fleet of ships had reached Korriban's orbit. And without warning they began their attack. Korriban Defense Station 112-D was overwhelmed, then their fighters scorched our Temples with turbolaser fire. Our air defensive fleets were decimated. We were totally unprepared. Many of the Sith Academy Instructors had died in the battle. But Vilak remained. With no one left to question his intentions, Vilak took the only remaining shuttle and fled from Korriban...