STAR WARS THE OLD REPUBLIC: TIDES OF WAR

Chapter 5: THE EMPEROR

I raised the hood of my cloak as I stepped off the shuttle, a shield against the drenching rain and the wind that was a constant presence on Dromund Kaas. Dark clouds heavy with rain constantly blocked out the sun, making phrases such as night and day irrelevant. The only main source of light came from the constant flashed of lightning that flickered across the storm ridden skies.
But the glow from the spaceport and Kaas City nearby provided ample illumination.
A flash of lightning illuminated the massive citadel that stood guard over Kaas City. The citadel had been built by both slaves and devoted followers, and stood as a seat of power for the Emperor and his hand selected twelve members that made up the Dark Council.
The dark side of the Force emanated strongly from the massive building, and provided a comfort zone.
I stood on the landing pad for a moment, drinking in the energy and power radiating from the citadel. The Sith would win against the Republic and rule the galaxy for eternity.
As was typical of most spaceports found on many worlds across the galaxy, a huge crowd was gathered at the base of the landing pad. My goal was a smaller landing pad not far from the one I had landed on where a constant stream of hovercabs landed to ferry passengers to and from the spaceport.
I had no need to step in line. The crowd parted before me like a stream around a stone. Most were slaves running errands for their masters, and as thus they kept their eyes downcast. A few were minor Sith Lords or apprentices, but they too parted before me.
As I drew closer to the pad where the hovercabs were I felt a tug through the Force. Thats when I noticed a small cloaked figure standing at the base of the pad.
I felt power radiate from the figure, as well as a strong connection to the Force, even a bit of sharp determination.
"Welcome back Master. I heard of your resounding victory on Utapau."
The young female Zabrak fell into step beside me as I walked up the ramp to the hovercabs.
I climbed into the back of an enclosed speeder and my apprentice Darth Kalix sat down beside me.
The pilot closed the door from the cockpit then spoke.
"Where to my Lords?"
"The Citadel." I responded in a clipped tone.
The driver nodded and the speeder took off in the air. It would be a short ride, but we was in privacy at last.
"My apprentice, how goes your training since I've been away?"
Kalix's tattooed face tightened a bit, and I sensed a sudden unease flare through my apprentice.
"Someone sent an assassin to kill your wife not long after you left on campaign. I had sensed something was going to happen, and I placed myself in the path of the assassin's plans. It was a young Sith apprentice. I defeated him in combat."
"Did you get any information from the assassin?" I asked, suddenly angry that someone would try to kill my beloved wife.
"Not really. I didnt kill him outright, knowing you as well as I would want answers. But whoever the apprentice answered to, he would not give up the details." Kalix paused for a moment before staring at me. "When I knew I wasn't going to get anything else out of him, I killed the apprentice. Ever since I've kept a distant but watchful eye over your wife. She never knew about the attempt on her life."
I channeled my anger, letting it flow through me, but I kept my voice calm.
"So someone is trying to get to me. Its not uncommon, as we always make power plays if we think we can get the upper hand on a rival Sith Lord."
I paused as I considered who may could have made this foolish move. I would have to rely on my resources at my disposal.
The speeder began to lower down to the ground in front of the citadel. The driver opened the door, but I motioned for my apprentice to remain inside.
"Do you have it?" I asked quietly.
Kalix nodded as she slipped something into my robes.
"See if you can find out who is responsible. Use whatever resources you have to, but remain undetected. I need to know who exactly targeted my wife."
Kalix nodded once, and I stepped out of the speeder. I walked up the steps to the palace doors as the speeder took off. At the top of the steps I was greeted by two Sith troopers wearing red armor. They were the famed Imperial Guard. They were an army of elite soldiers, and were fanatically loyal zealots to the Emperor.
"What is your business here?" One of the guards said, barring my way with their electrostaff.
"I am here on personal business with our Emperor." I replied with a sneer.
"Only the esteemed members of the Dark Council are permitted beyond these doors to see the Emperor." The second guard replied, his tone brisk and offical.
"I am Darth Vorgas, the right hand to the Emperor. I will see the Emperor now." I replied as my hand started to drift down to my lightsaber hanging on my side.
The guards looked at one another, and I sensed the confusion flooding through them. That confusion quickly turned to strength and determination as both guards turned back to me and activated their electrostaffs.
My lightsaber ignited with a snap-hiss, the red blade glowing fiercely. Lightning flashed behind me, and thunder rolled in the dark clouds above.
The Sith guards were powerful and strong, and I would be hard pressed to beat two of them, but in the end I would be triumphant.
Fortunately I would not be leaving two headless corpses as the doors burst outward and a third Sith warrior stepped out. He was dressed in the same red armor as the other guards, but was more elaborate.
"Sorry for the delay my Lord. Things are busy around here right now, and the Emperor has a great many things he has to deal with."
I nodded once, and slowly eased out of my ready position. I did not deactivate my lightsaber though until the guards lowered their electrostaffs.
"Please, if you will follow me my Lord."
The Sith Captain turned and dissapeared back inside the citadel.
I followed suit, noticing the six guards standing inside the entryway. They took up positions around me, effectively trapping me in a sea of red.
The interior of the citadel was a maze of corridors and turn offs, with the massive stone walls punctuated by equally heavy wooden doors leading off to who knows where. There were hardly any statues, and there was a scattering of wall hangings dulled by the dim lighting.
The captain lead the entourage through twisting corridors, turning left and right, and it was a long moment before the trail ended in a pair of large durasteel doors.
"The throne room is beyond my Lord." The Captain spoke, his voice low.
I nodded once, and the Captain motioned with his hand and two of the guards moved forward and leaned into the massive doors.
They grunted with exertion, pushing the doors inward, then they stepped to the side and snapped to crisp attention, waiting for me to step through.
I did so without hesitation, taking long strides into the throne room.
The throne room was utterly massive.
It was at least twenty meters wide and close to forty meters long, with an arched ceiling that rose above me about fifteen meters. And besides the single throne in the center of the room, it was empty and silent.
I approached the elevated throne, noticing it was turned away from me, and I went down on my knee and bowed my head deeply.
I waited patiently, letting the Force flow through me as I did. After what seemed like an eternity, a voice spoke.
But the voice was different, as if a great number of voices spoke in perfect harmony. The Emperor didn't speak loud, but his voice echoed around the room, giving a presence to his power.
"Rise, Lord Vorgas."
I rose and straightened up to stare at the Emperor, catching my first ever look at the person behind the Sith Empire.
The Emperor had his hood back, his humanoid features strong lined. But his eyes were pitch black, so black it reminded me of the Void of nothingness.
"You did well securing Utapau for the Empire. Securing Utapau will provide a valuable route into Republic territory and put them on the Back foot. I have plans in motion now, that will soon come to fruition."
I remained silent as the Emperor spoke, keeping my eyes downcast in respect.
"But I will not lie to you either my child. The Empire is failing. Too much infighting and bickering without getting any conclusive results. Now I know rivalries are commonplace, that is how we know where our strength lies. The Republic will inevitably win this war."
These words brought some surprise to me, but I had also assumed that what the Emperor spoke was true. I had seen the signs. Felt the subtle flows in the Force. Felt the turning of the tide.
"What is thy bidding, Master?" I asked, keeping my voice neutral and my attention sharp to the Emperor.
"It is simple my child. I need you to take your fleet to the Monacami sector. There is a Republic fleet there massing for a push into our territory we won in the Outer Rim. I need you to go there and eliminate the fleet. Leave no survivors." The Emperor paused and turned to face me directly.
"I have a gift for you for your victory at Utapau. A new heavy cruiser has just been launched and is in need of a new commander." The Emperor paused as he gazed at me. It felt as though the Emperor was looking deep inside me. Through me even.
"But I had promised the cruiser to another Sith Lord. However you show promise my child." The Emperor waved a hand and a door opened from a side chamber.
Two figures emerged from the deep shadows and strolled to stand near the Emperor.
The figures threw their hoods back to reveal the taller one was a male pure blood Sith and the smaller figure was a young human female. Both had Sith tattoos adorning their faces, and their eyes glared hungrily at me.
I felt the anger rolling off the Master and apprentice, and I relished in it.
"A duel will commence shortly. The survivor will recieve command of the new cruiser." The Emperor continued.
"You may begin when ready."
Immediately both of the pair leapt at me, igniting their lightsabers as they did.
I took one step back and reached into my robes and pulled out my double bladed lightsaber. It had been the item that Kalix had handed to me earlier.
Both blades ignited with a snap-hiss as both Sith brought their blades down. I back pedaled, keeping my blades spinning as I let my rage flow through me. Outwardly I appeared calm, but inside my blood boiled as I drew the rival Sith in.
The apprentice struck low and I blocked the strike, spinning on the impact, delivering a powerful kick to the apprentice's midsection.
The apprentice retreated momentarily, trying to catch her breath.
But the Sith Master was immediately upon me. His rage matched my own. His strength nearly so. The Sith master pressed his advantage, driving me back. It felt as if I was facing a mirror. The speed. The power. The hate.
Thats when I realized that this wasn't just a random duel the Emperor had orchestrated, but a test. A test of will. A test of power. A test of strength. And there was to only be one victor.
I glanced at the Emperor as the apprentice leapt back into the duel, screaming as she did so.
The Emperor remained calm as he observed the duel, watching me closely.
I sent a blast of Force Lightning into the apprentice as I blocked a strike aimed at my midsection. I then drew power from the Emperor himself. Adding it it my own. Enhancing my strength.
The Sith master was still upon me, snarling as he drove his advantage.
I flipped over a low strike aimed to take out my legs, Force pushing the master across the throne room as I sprung off of my leap and launched at the apprentice.
I kept my blades in a blur, roaring as I rained down my rage and hate upon the apprentice.
I watched as fear flashed through the apprentice's eyes as I beat her down to her knees. I forced the lightsaber from the apprentice's grip, and as the lightsaber hilt skidded across the floor, deactivating as it did, I poured a powerful blast of Force Lightning into the apprentice.
Smoke began to roll off of the apprentice's robes as the lightning burned her skin.
I was about to deliver the killing blow when I felt a presence behind me. I turned to see the Master charging at me, his mouth twisted in a snarl.
The overhead strike came down hard, forcing me to bend backwards to absorb the heavy strike. I pressed back, forcing the master back a few steps as I sent another burst of Force lightning into the apprentice.
The apprentice fell over onto her back, moaning in agony as powerful electrical currents still tore though her body.
Flesh burned as the screams of the apprentice echoed across the throne room. I turned back to face the master, advancing quickly.
My blade was a blur as I delivered repeated strikes, forcing the pure blooded Sith back.
I blocked a strike aimed at my head, and as we locked blades I delivered a powerful punch into the Sith Master's chest.
The master retreated backwards as I felt his strength and willpower beginning to fade. Urged on by the growing weakness, I pressed my advantage harder, keeping my strikes wild and unpredictable.
The Sith master tried in vain to block the rain of unpredictable blows, but it wasnt long before his defense failed and my blade found a weak spot, delivering a deep cut to the inner thigh.
The master cried out as he fell to a knee, and I watched the fear flash through his eyes.
"You thought me weak. You thought you could destroy me. You are nothing more than a stain upon the Sith Empire." I spoke, keeping my voice calm as I began to pace in front of the defeated master.
"You and your apprentice will die here, in shame in front of the Emperor. You will not be buried in the krypts on Korriban. Your bodies will be destroyed. There will be no memories of you to echo through history. You die by my hand."
The Sith Master tried to get up to challenge me, but I sent a burst of Force Lighting into him, forcing him back on his knees.
The lightsaber dropped from his weakened grasp, and his head lowered in shame and defeat.
I spun my blade once, turning away as I did to face the Emperor.
Suddenly a wail echoed across the throne room as the apprentice managed to get to her feet. She ignited her lightsaber and began to run toward me.
I turned sideways to the new threat, keeping my head lowered and lightsaber limp as I reached deep into the Dark Side of the Force. The apprentice vaulted in the air toward me, rage and pain fueling her fire. As she brought her blade down toward my throat, I reacted.
My blade snapped up to block the deadly strike, channeling the force of the blow into my own energy.
I turned to face the apprentice, blocking every hate filled blow aimed at me. I casually flicked my blade, effortlessly blocking each strike.
"You my child are weak. Pathetic. Your master was the same. And you will die just like he did."
I advanced at a steady pace, forcing the apprentice back. "I will show you no mercy, and I will kill you where you stand."
The apprentice roared again and charged at me, and thats when I made my move. My blade made three moves, and the apprentice fell.
I turned to the mutilated apprentice on the floor, noticing the legs having been completely cut free as well as the right arm.
I then turned to the Emperor and kneeled.
"You have proven yourself beyond expectations my child." The Emperor soothed as he laid a hand on my shoulder. Power coursed through my veins as if I had been struck by lightning.
"You have won your new command. I have a mission for you however once you take your new command. I will contact you with the details when you are ready." The Emperor paused as he indicated for me to stand.
I rose, and lifted my head up to look directly at the Emperor, pride swelling my breast.
"For now my child, take up your new command. Your fleet is ready and in orbit over the first moon."
I nodded once, then turned to the fallen apprentice. Surprisingly she was still alive somehow, panting heavily.
"May I have her?" I asked, an idea forming in my mind as I turned back to the Emperor.
"I dont see why not. She has fallen to your blade. You may do whatever you wish to her."
I bowed deeply, then turned on my heel as I reached for my comlink.
I contacted the Silencer, but it was a few moments before the captain finally hailed my call.
"How may I serve you my Lord?"
"I need you to send down a medical team to the citadel. There is someone who needs to be recovered from the Emperor's throne room. While that is being taken care of, I need you to start transporting important people over to my new command vessel. Im sending you the data now." I paused to hit a button on my comlink, then continued.
"Get my new vessel ready to leave the system once I am on board."
"At once my Lord."
I turned my comlink off and strolled out of the throne room without looking back, headed for my future.

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