Star Wars ; Silver Shadows

Khar Shian Moon

The steel door slid open with a Vshhhh. "This had better be important," a humanoid figure wearing a tall hat was consumed by darkness, both metaphorically and physically. There was hardly any light in the citadel chamber, save for the orb of souls in the center of the room. They were purple and black and they glowed in a magnificent manner. That was why Naga Sadow enjoyed them so much; they provided a dim light to the room. They were a pleasure to harvest from the previous owners. He joyously recalled the eyes of one man drying out like raisins right before he toppled to the floor. Fun times, fun times!

"It is of upmost importance, my lord," a low-tier Devoronian Sith was bowing at the doorway.

"Spit it out already!" Sadow boomed.

"My lord, we may want you to take a look at mthe progress of a trainee by the name of Eri Grail. His temporary master is called Rejik Haruuk.  They are centered on Corellia, and we've found information that Grail is showing great promise."

Sadow glanced sidewards to the Devoronian.  "Great promise," he repeated, in a questioning tone.

"Great promise." He confirmed.

"Are we going to copycat eachother like toddlers or move?!  Ready my shuttle!"

If a low level trainee had the nerve to interrupt Sadow in his meditative soul chamber, this Grail person may have to be the greatest trainee ever to walk Corellia, or else so help me they'll all be slaughtered.  Many thoughts fluttered through Sadow's mind.  There were always many thoughts.  Being a genius was not fun; you became aware of too many things at once.

Sadow was able to read the thoughts of others, usually subconsciously.  It was both a blessing and a curse.  It was intriguing to hear is colleagues opinion on his new wardrobe, but the male low-rankers tended to spend more time thinking about what lingerie their lovers would wear that night.  If there was lingerie at all.

Sadow found thoughts to be uncontrollable.  He noticed even his own thoughts growing sidetracked into dark tunnels of randomness.  Typically, it was about who to kill, how to kill them, and who to kill after that.  Other people were different.  During conferences about citadel protocol, Sadow found low-rankers daydreaming of playing dejarik at night clubs or dancing with scantily clad Twi'lek. 

"My lord," the Devoronian was back.  "Your shuttle is prepared and ready for launch at your command.  You may board at any time."  Sadow stepped into the light of the corridor.  "Thank you," he said, and grinned widely.  He looked into the yellow eyes of the horned creature before him.  He saw into his feelings.  He has really let himself go... the low-ranker remarked mentally.  That was all Sadow needed.

He placed the palm of his hand against the low-rankers forehead and watched his eyes roll back and his body lull into eversleep.  A twirling creature escaped from the dead figure's mouth, and with Force guidance from Sadow, it maneuvered to the sphere in the center of the room encasing dozens more souls. 

The body would stay until the janitor removed it.  It wasn't the first time, after all.  Sadow held his chest high as he marched up the bridge and into his shuttle, a developmental-stage Lambda Class.  Grey armor-plates soldiers toting black vibrostaves with eyes concealed by black tintedglass lined the walls.  As Sadow continued inward, the soldiers turned and began marching in two parallel lines behind Sadow.  Sadow hid a smile behind cheekbones.  His cape flowed behind him as he continued alone to his private meditation chamber in the bowels of the ship.

- ~ -

Sadow liked the quiet. He opted not to install lights in his private chamber. The dark was serene. He found peace in the unknown. For hours he would sit still, eyes shut, and allow the emptiness of space to swallow him.

It was here where he decided his plan. He knew very well the progress Grail and Haruuk had made; he had foreseen every outcome already. Grail seemed...off. He would run in some instances, and managed to evade every sensor in each independent outcome. In the few cases he did not run, he instead would die, usually at the hands of Sadow himself.

Sadow made a decision then. A calculated decision. To be prepared for every outcome, he had to be prepared for the worst one; a duel. Grail was trained with a training saber, which could easily be adjusted to full power mode. Sadow's standard electrostave would not be an ideal counter. In most instances he would still defeat Grail, but once again, Sadow's motto prevailed; prepare for the worst scenario.

Sadow opened a drawer and pulled out a silver cylinder. He ignited the saber and admired the shimmering crimson, before retracting it and removing the kyber crystal from within it.

"Worst scenario," he repeated aloud again and again. "Worst scenario. Worst scenario."

Why did he find himself nervous? Grail was only a boy, yet still Sadow found sweat beads dripping from his facial sags as he took his necklace ornament from under his cloak. A small gyroglass diamond shape contained a tormented soul, weeping and trying to escape. He removed the ornament from his neck and placed it where the kyber crystal was in his saber. He winced as he ignited it, hoping for the results he wanted.

The blade was magnificent. The center was black, and purple tendrils whirled up from the hull like sundogs. Sadow grinned.

"Worst scenario."

- ~ -

The hull of the ship shuddered as they were introduced to an atmosphere. They quickly stabilized and began descending to the Corellian surface. He felt the thoughts of Grail. He felt his strength in the Force. It was being wasted with a low-life such as Haruuk.

Steam billowed from pores on the ship as the door opened with a resounding kshhh. Sadow and his forces began their promenade across the bridge to the city. Sadow pretended not to know where the boy resided, and allowed his pilot to lead him.

Sadow smirked under his heavy face. He narrowed the possibilities down. Grail was making split-second decisions. He thought he was going to outsmart Sadow.

Sadow wasn't keen on being outsmarted.