Star Wars: The Tale of Darth Aolroth Book I - Birth of Darkness

Chapter Ten

 In Darth Jahl's Sith warship, the newly appointed Sith apprentice Jaric has basked in his victory. Everything that had gotten in his way had been crushed. Jaric approached his new master on the bridge of the ship.

Jaric: You wished to see me master?

Darth Jahl: What does it mean to be Sith?

The question puzzled Jaric. It took a moment to think up a response.

Jaric: To be strong in the Dark Side?

Darth Jahl: Strength! This is what separates us from the Jedi. Where they seek to fight, we seek to crush! They do not have the strength to do what is necessary to ensure victory! For you, I sense weakness in you.

 Darth Jahl's words cut deep into Jaric. He was left even more confused than before.

Jaric: What do you mean master? How am I weak?

Darth Jahl: I sense remorse and uncertainty. You have doubt.

Jaric couldn't believe it, but deep down he knew his master was right. He was speechless.

Darth Jahl: To truly become Sith, you must ascend from your weaknesses. You must abandon everything that you doubt. They will hinder you otherwise.

Jaric knew that Darth Jahl was right. He had to abandon everything that holds him down in order to become strong in the Dark Side. To become Sith. To become free.

Jaric: What must I do master?

Darth Jahl: You will have to die.

Without warning, Darth Jahl unleashed a torrent of Force Lightning upon Jaric. The pain was indescribable. He could feel intense pain all over his body. Everything turned black before his eyes. Hours later, Jaric woke in what seemed like Darth Jahl's  quarters. The air was thick with a mysterious gas. The gas flowed down his nostrils as he slowly got up. He couldn't understand what was going on. As he exited the room, he entered to what appeared to be an abyss of darkness. Jaric then saw a mysterious figure out in the distance. His face was covered in a veil of shadows.

Jaric: Who are you?

The figure simply walked away. Jaric chased the figure through the darkness. Suddenly, the darkness turned to his old home in Balmorra. He saw his father beating his mother.

Jayant: That'll teach you not to talk back you stupid bitch!

Katelea could not defend herself as Jayant continued to beat on her. Jaric then saw a younger version of himself rushing to his mother.

Young Jaric: LEAVE HER ALONE!

The young Jaric tried to push Jayant, but was met with a slap in the face.

Jayant: You want to defend this whore, you little shit!? Time to teach you a lesson on respecting your elders!

Then turned his wrath onto Jaric as he beat down the young boy. The apprentice could do nothing but watch this memory unfold. He remembers every punch that landed that day. He remembers the pain he suffered. But more importantly, he remembers the hatred he stored in himself on his father.

Katalea: NO!!! LEAVE HIM ALONE!!

Katelea ripped the boy away from his father's beating. Just as the memory faded away, the mysterious figure lunged at Jaric with a black colored lightsaber. Jaric's quick reflexes allowed him to use his lightsaber to lock blades with the attacker.

Jaric: WHO ARE YOU?!

Jaric angrily pushed on the attacker, managing to kick him away. The figure dispersed into shadows and Jaric continued to look for the figure with his lightsaber still on. The abyss then turned to the moment where Jaric had Elron at his mercy in the tomb of Tulak Hord.

Elron: What are you waiting for? If you want to kill me, then go ahead and do it! I will not give you the satisfaction of me begging for my life!

Jaric: Then know this Elron! I shall become Darth Jahl's apprentice and you will die here a worthless failure!

Elron: Damn you....

Jaric watched as he watched himself killing Elron. But instead of the pride and relief he felt before, Jaric felt something else. Something Jaric couldn't name. The vision faded away as the figure attacked again. Both locked blades for the second time.

Jaric: YOU WON'T ESCAPE ME THIS TIME!

Jaric used his strength to overpower the attacker and plunge his lightsaber into the attacker's chest. Jaric looked down at the figure's corpse as the veil of shadows dissipated and revealed his face. Jaric then saw his own face on the attacker's body. But then he experienced an unspeakable pain as he let out an unearthly roar and the shadow abyss turned to what appeared to be the bridge of the warship.  Jaric looked around frantically only to find Darth Jahl standing there.

Darth Jahl: Welcome my apprentice.

Jaric: What did you do to me?!

Darth Jahl: I gave you the means to destroy what hindered you. As my master did for me.

The stress of it made Jaric fall to his knees. The Dark Lord walked to his apprentice.

Darth Jahl: Jaric Orotekt is dead. All his weaknesses have been washed away! Only the Sith remains! From this day on, you shall be forever known as.....

Darth Jahl paused as he closed his eyes, looking to the Force.

Darth Jahl: .......Darth Aolroth!

The young Sith could feel his rebirth and learned his new name.

Darth Aolroth: Yes, my master.

Darth Jahl: Rise my apprentice.

The two Sith stood side by side aboard the bridge.

Darth Jahl: The Dark Side is strong in you! The Force is strong in you! With my teachings, you shall more powerful than any other Sith that came before you! We shall accomplish many things together!

Darth Aolroth: Yes, my master.

Darth Aolroth looked to the stars in from of him on the bridge. Jaric Orotekt was dead. Darth Aolroth was born.