The Shadow of the Jedi

28. Dark Genesis

Given that the Son attempted to penetrate my mental defences, my capture was extremely inadequate. He torments me, putting me on the ground and increasing my power with each attempt. He wanted to control me because he recognised my potential and utility. I refuse to submit to someone like him in the future. I'm not sure I could hang on for much longer, though. Knowing the Jedi, even if they came to save me, I would have left them behind because I believed that the Sith's victory in the Great Hyperspace War stemmed from allowing them to destroy themselves.

Then, the son tormented me with images of a gloomy future in which I witnessed, one by one, the Jedi executing and killing people I had assumed to be my allies. The Jedi's gradual lust for power led them to overthrow the republic, which I didn't care for, but they used their might to order them to launch an assault on the Obsidian Order.

I was forced to watch as the republic merely laughed and celebrated as they tore down what I've been working on to protect the galaxy. Their Ignorance. Their powerlust.

The surroundings vanished into obscurity. My mind was filled with visions—pictures of a corrupt Jedi and Sith ruling over a galaxy engulfed in chaos. I imagined myself standing alone in the middle of the wreckage, facing an overwhelming swell of adversaries. The future looked gloomy, full of never-ending strife and agony.

The pain, the anger, and the hate fuel my passion, as now I understand what I will have to do. To avoid this future. I need to destroy the republic to avoid their deaths.

Sakura, Vexar Mor, Kaydron, Marcus, Ardus Kaine, Terrinald Screed, and Jan Dodonna. All of them were killed due to their serving me. My failure, my guilt.

There was a deafening silence as the dust settled. A menacing laugh shattered it, resonating through the sanctuary's hallways. His eyes narrowed, and mine turned to see a figure emerge from the darkness. Standing in front of me with a twisted smile on his lips was The Son, the personification of the dark side.

But I will not yield.

I will not kneel.

I will...

I will serve.

"Good," the son said, and he smiled. "We will begin immediately."

Over the following days, the Son subjected me to a relentless series of trials. Each one pushed me to the brink, forcing me to confront his deepest fears and darkest desires. The Son used his mastery of the dark side to induce visions, manipulating my mind and bending my will to continue.

One night, as Ko'Mirag lay in a restless sleep, the Son entered his dreams. He showed him a future where the Jedi and Sith had united against him, a galaxy-spanning alliance determined to destroy him. Ko'Mirag saw himself betrayed by those he once trusted, his empire crumbling around him. The fear and rage these visions invoked were overwhelming, eroding his resolve.

I was sleeping restlessly when the Son reappeared in my dream, tormenting me with images of the galaxy turning against me and witnessing the betrayal of many people I considered allies—every soldier, ship, and planet that had once served me had betrayed me as my conquered empire crumbled, which, after much fury, had weakened my resolve.

"You see?" the son whispered in my ear. "Without me, this is your fate. Alone, you cannot stand against the combined might of the Jedi and Sith. But with my guidance, you can become unstoppable."

The images from my dreams were still fresh in my mind as I woke up in a cold sweat. Even when I was awake, I could feel the Son's presence; it was a constant reminder of the darkness that lay ahead of me. As I started to rely on the Son's lessons, I was able to increase the potency of my force nihilism. I was becoming more powerful, and I could feel that, but it had a price.