Death of the Sith

Chapter 14: Darth Plagueis and Emperor Palpatine

Long before chaos and mayhem consumed the galaxy, a Jedi Knight succumbed to the allure of the dark side. Gradually, he became synonymous with the very darkness he had once fought against. His birth name faded into obscurity over the ages, leaving no trace of his true identity. Isolated and enigmatic, he kept to the shadows, harboring a secret ambition.

News reached him of a powerful new device wielded by the Jedi Knights—one that granted them ever-growing abilities. The Knight coveted this power, envisioning its potential for conquest and domination. But he understood that he couldn't achieve his goals alone. To turn the tide in his favor, he needed an ally he could trust implicitly.

After an exhaustive search, he found that person: Sheev Palpatine. Plagueis, as he was now known, took Palpatine under his wing. He imparted his own twisted vision of the Force, molding Palpatine into an instrument of darkness. Together, they plotted to reshape the galaxy according to their malevolent desires. Little did anyone suspect that this seemingly unremarkable Jedi Knight would alter the course of history forever.

Consumed by the power of the dark side, he unleashed his apprentice to recruit others to his cause. By the time the Jedi realized the threat, it was too late. He had already molded a legion of followers in his twisted image. The galaxy plunged into war, the light and the dark clashing in a desperate struggle. The Jedi, blinded by their initial victories, believed they had secured the upper hand. They captured the mastermind, the fallen Chancellor Palpatine, and his cadre of dark acolytes.

Plagueis remained elusive; he had not been captured. Only his apprentice was aware of his survival, harboring the knowledge that he could lead the Dark Jedi Knights himself. Following a trial, he escaped alongside the others, successfully convincing them of his rightful rule. Before embarking on his mission to eliminate his Master, he recognized the necessity of stealing the blueprints for the machine that generated the Force—the lifeblood of the Jedi Knights of the Light. The Dark Jedi committed themselves to this quest, laboriously hand-copying every detail. Despite their technological prowess, they lacked a printing device.

Heart pounding, the Jedi Council watched the blurry figures vanish from the security feed. Escapees. They'd been mere moments from securing the blueprints when the breach occurred. Frustration tightening his grip, a Jedi Master barked orders, dispatching a strike team to the coordinates. The air crackled with anticipation as they awaited news. It arrived swiftly, a grim report of a brutal confrontation. By the time the Jedi secured the plans, they'd cut a bloody swathe through the enemy, leaving a trail of fallen Dark Jedi Knights.

He felt no remorse, a chilling realization that sent a tremor through him. These were lives, beings who'd sworn allegiance to the same cause. Yet, their deaths were a mere footnote in his grand design. Power. The stolen blueprints were a key, a potential gateway to unimaginable strength. But it was a means to an end. Until the moment he could formulate the perfect strike against his Master, he would remain the loyal apprentice, a viper waiting to strike.

After Palpatine told him what had happened, Plagueis replied, "Superb. You have done well. Now my plans to conquer and destroy the Jedi Knight can come to pass."

"What plans, Master Plagueis?"

He gave a hearty laugh. "For you to become Emperor of the entire galaxy... what else."

He did all he could to keep from fainting. "What about you, Master?"

He gave another hearty laugh, "You cannot do it alone, my friend." He stepped off his throne and put his hands on his apprentice's shoulders. "My dear Palpatine, I have trained you as I have for this purpose. By the use of these blueprints, and when they create this machine, I will enter my soul into it." When I am part of this Force, I can use its energies to carry out my evil purposes, which we both share."