Star Wars Jedi Knight IV: Sith Empire

Chapter 4: Korriban

"Do not underestimate the Sith. Though quaint, they will do whatever it takes to survive."

―Lord Vitiate

"Preparing for final approach," Ben said to Jaden sitting next to him in the copilot's seat. "I've got a really bad feeling about this." Truth be told, that was a vast understatement. It seemed like every cell in his body was revolting this trip.

"Do you think I feel any better?" Jaden asked. "Last time I was here I fought Marka Ragnos. That doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling coming back here."

Yes, I actually do think you feel better. Ben thought to himself. "Not really." he lied. 

"We'll be fine, Ben." Jaden said, not quite believing it himself. "Korriban is mostly deserted except for a few locals that run a spaceport."

"And demons. And monsters. And traps. And--"

Jaden put his hand up. "Okay, okay. Neither one of us likes this place, but we have to go here. It'll be worth the brief discomfort to get that Dagger back to Shedu Maad."

Ben sighed. "I know. And we're entering atmosphere." A few moments later he set the Lambada down in one of the few clearings in the Valley of the Dark Lords.

Jaden lowered the ramp. Hot air washed over both the Jedi. It was almost stifling. But they stepped out onto the blazing sand regardless. Jaden stretched, and Ben tried to get his bearings. Looked like they were just outside the tomb of Marka Ragnos. 

"Okay, let's see," Jaden said. He pointed to Ragnos' tomb. "I know what that is, and I'm pretty sure the Dagger's not there." He continued looking at the tomb for a moment, gazing toward the entrance at the top. 

"You okay Jaden?" Ben asked. 

"Yeah, I'm fine...I think." Jaden said. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the tomb again. "Something's off about that tomb..." He stroked his chin for a few seconds, determined to figure this out.

"Looks like a normal Sith tomb to me." Ben said, and turned to keep walking.

"No, wait." Jaden said. "The entrance, it's clear."

"Any reason why it shouldn't be?" Ben asked.

"Yes, actually." Jaden remarked. "I blocked it off."

Ben looked up at the tomb entrance. It looked pristine. "Really?"

"Yeah," Jaden said, now starting to get concerned. "Back when I killed Tavion, I threw my lightsaber up at the head there, cut off several large chunks, and dropped them in front of the entrance."

"But the head is intact." Ben observed.

"Sure looks that way." Jaden said.

"Let's just find that Dagger and get out of here." Ben said. He didn't want to spend any more time on this planet than was absolutely necessary.

"Agreed." Jaden said, still perplexed. The Jedi Knights started walking at a brisk pace. "You said we were looking for the tomb of Darth Vader? I had no idea that even existed."

"Yeah," Ben said. "I had the misfortune of reading that as a part of a study I did on Vader while Jacen was on his rampage."

"How much farther?"

"If my bearings are right, it should just be a few klicks out, beyond that stone wall over there."

That stone wall was the one of the walls of the Citadel. They needed to get past that to get to the tomb of Darth Vader. Ben had been at the Citadel before with his father Luke, Jaina, and...Vestara. Years later that girl managed to upset him. Ben started getting angry all over again, and found it almost effortless. He remembered where he was: Korriban. That would do it. Letting his anger get the better of him here could be fatal.