Darth Tyrant: Fallen Peace

chapter 10

"You've come to visit me? What a surprise."

Corvex walked up to Hail's cell. "Stop the act. I don't know what you are but we both no you're not human." Corvex's face flashed with anger. "You'll tell me or I can make you quickly disappear. No one besides me and my Padawan will know you existed."

Hail grinned revealing his perfect teeth. "I don't know what you're talking about, but I do know one thing. Kill me and your former Padawan will be a Jedi no more."

Corvex relaxed his face. He thought about his next words carefully. If Hail really was a sith he would be a master mentalist with control over the force, if he really was a politician... He would be a sharp witted mentalist, with force sensitivity. He had to decide witch one Hail was, for both had completely different ways of being delt with.

"Fine then. Who are you, why were you on that planet, and what interest in my Padawan do you have?"

Hail's smile faded to a frown. "Oh, fun's over already? Such a shame, but how about I ask a question. What is peace?"

Corvex started to respond, "Peace is a..," then stopped. "Peace is knowledge, knowledge is serenity, serenity is harmony, and harmony is life."

Hail chuckled. "I almost got you. Oh how the sith do a good job brainwashing their followers. Sadly no one remembers the meaning."

"Enough!" Corvex reached his hand out and with a wave chanted. "You will tell me what I wa..."

"Jedi mind tricks don't work on me, you fool. Between me and you, I am a sith Lord. Well, not in this body." Corvex stood in confusion. "I see you don't understand. I am currently in side this body, my true form is gone, lost for thousands of years. My brothers feared me, the struck me down with their claws. I am Darth Hades, the first Human to hold power in the infinite empire."

Corvex closed is mouth and responded. "You were apart of the Rakatan army? You're dead. I heard of sith spirits but I thought they were a myth."

"No, Far from it. I found the power, but alas I have to have a willing host. This former diplomat allowed me to take over, but he's old and weak. Your Padawan will serve my needs much better."

"You will stay away from my Padawan!"

"Or what? You have no power here, even your little incantation of peace means nothing." Hail snapped back.

"I know more than your normal prey. You'll get no were as long as I'm still alive."

Hail started to chuckle. "Carful what you say. Because I'm not carful of what I wish, but enough about me. What do you wish for?"

Corvex relaxed. He realized that Hail had no power. He was trapped with no help. "You don't need to know, nor do you want to."

Hail smiled playfully. "Oh, but I do. Let me see, let me see all within your mind, and with it, all time can be your's."

Corvex laughed. "Your pathetic. Your host is what keeps you here. Using the force or attacking me would result in your death. The end outcome to it all is your death."

Hail grew pale, at least as pale as he could, before smiling. "I was a seer for the Rakata. With my help they for saw the future I designed. For thousands of years I wait to recreate my future, and end the Jedi's. Your Padawan is my tool, I for saw it."

Corvex walked out muttering curses under his breath. He knew all Hail said was doomed to happen, theoretically. He was going to talk to Astrie about Hail. By now he must have been worried about him. Which meant it was time to meet with Master Adriana.

Master Adriana stood there menacingly. She was small, though still taller then Corvex. And to Astrie that was enough. To his surprise Corvex had just arrived. He seemed concerned.

Master Adriana decided to break the ice. The wind picked up her short brown hair as she opened her mouth to speak. "Astrie, i- we have something to tell you."

Her worried expression became ten fold on Astrie's face. "What is it? What happened?"

Corvex sighed as he prepared to deal with Astrie's shock. "That old man you picked up, Hail. He died."

Astrie's face shifted form worried to emotionless. "That's understandable. He was old and injured. He's now one with the force."

Adriana frowned in disappointment. "He's been one with the force, for about fifty years. He died in the siege of Geonosis. His body was dug up and disappeared three years later."

Corvex now had to explain. "His body is a shell, filled to the brim with an ancient evil. One older than the sith. His name is Darth Hades."

Astrie's jaw dropped. "You mean the sith spirit I ran into. What was, how, this doesn't make sense."

Corvex and Adriana shared a moment in thought. Whatever they were thinking they thought the same thing. Adriana spoke knowing Corvex wouldn't. "We have to destroy the body. But we're afraid he'll try and possess you. You have to promise us you haven't asked him for anything. You have to grant him permission before he can possess you."

Astrie shook his head. "I haven't."

Corvex nodded. "Good. Then we'll start right away."

They walked into Hades' holding cell. It was dimly lit by a lamp. Hades sat there meditating, waiting for them. He smiled, eyes closed, as soon as Astrie entered.

"I've been awaiting your return. You have grown to be powerful. Though I sense a difference in you. I hope the Jedi have not tainted your mind. Before I answer or am questioned... Astrie must answer my question." Corvex took a step forward but was stopped my Astrie's arm. Astrie made a gesture signaling Hail, or Hades, to ask away. "What, is, peace?"

Adriana seemed puzzled, though Corvex knew where it was going. Astrie grew ready to respond. "Peace? Peace is... Peace is a state of mind. The complete absence of all conflicts. Not just of mind, but also of body. When there is no emotion, there is peace."

Hail smile grew crooked. "And what of knowledge, what is knowledge?"

Adriana and Corvex backed up. Astrie seemed to be handling it quite well. "Knowledge is power. Which it ends wars, battles, and conflicts. When conflict is quelled with knowledge, no blood is shed, and an agreement is met. Only the arrogant wish to fight with hands and not words."

Hail seemed pleased, but also annoyed. "And what of serenity?"

Astrie did not hesitate, instead he spoke the words he resited the words he had used every day of his life. "Serenity is a calmness that is always there, but only seen after we put aside our ambitions and passions."

"What is Harmony? And how does one obtain it?"

Astrie thought for a minute but responded when Corvex placed his hand on his shoulder. "Harmony is what it is. An accord between people. Ranging from master and apprentice, to everyone in the galaxy. Only obtained when one realizes their blessings. When they can look past the chaos of life."

Hail smile faded as he spoke. "And what of love?"

Astrie looked in surprise. "Nothing. A passion only meant to stray us from the path of the light."

Hail's smile returned. "You don't believe that. I sense it on you. You have feelings for someone, or the other way around. I sense fear of rejection and loss. That is were you will fail. I have for seen it. Love will be your downfall, and you don't even know it." Hail's body started to glow. "I have been in this body to long. Now I must go back to the temple. I await your return, my future apprentice." His body combusted in black flames, slowly glowing to a red, then dying out. All that was left was an unscathed skeleton.