Darth Nox: The Master of the Force

Chapter 23: Beneath the Surface of Balmorra

The vast expanse of Balmorra stretched out below as Darth Nox's interceptor descended through the planet's atmosphere. From his vantage point in the cockpit, he could see the rugged landscape scarred by decades of industrialization and war. Though the world was relatively at peace for the moment, Balmorra was a place of constant tension, its people caught in an unending struggle over resources and production rights. Every few decades, the planet descended into conflict once again, and the Republic—indifferent to the suffering—left it to resolve its own problems.

As his ship glided toward the designated landing zone, Nox's thoughts were on the mission at hand. Scorpio had provided him with a detailed report on the location of his hidden cache.

The ship touched down on a barren stretch of land just outside the entrance to the mine where the cache lay hidden. Nox could feel the steady pulse of the Force emanating from the planet's surface, but it was muted, like the slow rumble of distant thunder. He stood from the pilot's seat and gathered his black robes around him, striding toward the ramp as it descended with a hiss of hydraulics. The air outside was thick with dust and the faint scent of industrial chemicals, a reminder of the planet's long history of war and exploitation.

A small, cloaked figure awaited him near the entrance to the mine. It was one of the droids Scorpio had sent ahead to gather preliminary data, its sleek, insect-like body designed for recon missions. The droid approached, its voice modulated and precise.

"Lord Nox, the cache you seek is located deep within the mine, but the area is heavily infested with Killiks. The entrance is secure for now, but the deeper tunnels are crawling with the hive creatures. I have marked the location of the vault on your map."

Nox inclined his head slightly. "The Killiks are of no concern to me. The cache will be retrieved."

Without another word, the droid stepped aside, and Nox walked forward into the mouth of the mine. The cavern loomed before him, its jagged walls slick with moisture. The air grew colder as he descended, the light from the surface fading quickly until only the faint red glow of his lightsaber illuminated the darkness. His hand rested on the hilt of his weapon, ready for whatever might lie ahead.

As he moved deeper into the mine, Nox could feel the presence of the Killiks. The creatures were drawn to the dark, to the quiet, to places where the Force pulsed through the ground in subtle waves. He could sense them scurrying through the walls, their primitive minds connected by the hive consciousness. Though not a significant threat to him, their sheer numbers could be overwhelming if he was not careful.

Suddenly, the tunnel opened into a larger chamber, its walls lined with mineral veins that glistened faintly in the dim light. The sound of clicking mandibles and the rustling of chitinous legs echoed through the cavern. Nox's lips curled into a faint sneer as he ignited his lightsaber, its crimson blade casting an eerie glow over the scene.

The first Killiks emerged from the shadows—large, insectoid creatures with armored bodies and sharp mandibles that could tear through flesh and bone with ease. They moved with a strange, hive-driven coordination, their many legs skittering across the stone floor as they approached in waves.

Nox did not hesitate.

With a flick of his wrist, he sent a surge of the Force through the chamber, slamming several of the creatures against the far wall with bone-crushing force. His lightsaber cut through the air in a fluid arc, cleaving through the exoskeleton of the nearest Killik, its body collapsing in a lifeless heap. Another charged at him from the side, but Nox was already moving, his speed enhanced by the Force. He spun, his lightsaber a blur of red light as it severed the creature's legs from its body, sending it crashing to the ground with a sickening thud.

The hive responded with increasing aggression. More Killiks poured from the tunnel entrances, their bodies glistening with dark carapaces and glowing eyes. They surged forward, seeking to overwhelm Nox with their numbers, but the Sith Lord stood his ground, unyielding. He raised his hand and unleashed a storm of Force lightning, the crimson bolts arcing through the air and striking several Killiks at once. The creatures convulsed as the electricity tore through their bodies, leaving smoking, charred remains in its wake.

Nox moved with the deadly grace of a predator. His lightsaber carved through the swarming creatures, his mastery of the Force allowing him to anticipate their movements, to strike with precision and efficiency. Each step he took forward was met with the sickening crunch of Killik bodies beneath his boots, their lifeless forms piling up around him as he advanced deeper into the mine.

At the far end of the chamber, Nox could see the vault embedded into the stone wall—a heavy, reinforced door that had remained undisturbed for centuries. The Killiks, despite their numbers, posed no threat to the integrity of the cache. But before he could reach it, a massive form lumbered out of the shadows, its eyes glowing with malevolent intelligence.

A Killik hive queen.

The queen was larger than the others, her body armored with thick chitin plates and her mandibles dripping with venom. She let out a piercing screech, and the hive responded in kind, the smaller Killiks swarming toward Nox with renewed fury. But the Sith Lord did not falter. He extended his hand and focused his will on the queen, feeling the force swell within him.

With a savage twist of his wrist, he seized the queen with the Force, lifting her massive form into the air as she thrashed and struggled against his power. The hive screeched in response, but Nox's grip was unrelenting. He tightened his hold, and with a sharp, decisive motion, he crushed the queen's body, sending a shower of chitin and ichor raining down on the cavern floor.

The hive's connection shattered. The smaller Killiks, disoriented and leaderless, scurried away in a frenzy, their minds no longer bound to the queen's will. Nox deactivated his lightsaber, its crimson blade disappearing with a soft hiss, and walked calmly toward the vault.

The door was exactly where Scorpio's data had indicated, hidden at the end of the mine.

He placed his hand on the door, focusing his mind as he channeled the Force into the ancient mechanism. And with a deep, grinding sound, the door slid open, revealing the cache within. The chamber beyond was small but filled with crates, each one stamped with the insignia of the Eternal Alliance. Inside were credits, weapons, and other valuable resources that Theron had stored away for safekeeping.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. The wealth within these walls would serve him well in his efforts to rebuild, to reclaim his rightful place as a ruler of the galaxy. He gathered the contents of the vault, securing them in a transport container before making his way back to the surface.

As Nox emerged from the mine, the harsh light of Balmorra's sun greeted him once again. The landscape around him was as bleak as ever, a reminder of the planet's long history of struggle. But as he boarded his interceptor, his thoughts began to drift.

Balmorra was a planet of conflict—its people divided, its resources fought over by corporate interests and local factions. Every few decades, war would break out again, and the Republic would turn a blind eye, leaving the planet to tear itself apart. But could Balmorra rise above this cycle of violence and become something more?

Nox pondered the question as his ship ascended into the sky. Balmorra had potential—its industrial output was immense, and its people, though divided, were strong and resilient. If they could be united, if their resources could be harnessed and directed toward a common goal, the planet could become a valuable asset. But unity would not come easily, and without the guidance of a powerful leader, Balmorra would likely continue its pattern of internal conflict and stagnation.

As his ship broke through the atmosphere andinto the void of space, Nox considered his next move. He had what he had comefor—the credits, the resources that would fuel his efforts to rebuild—butBalmorra's future remained uncertain. He could intervene, bring the planetunder his control, and mold it into a bastion of strength. Or he could leave itto its fate, allowing it to continue its endless cycle of war and recovery.