A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….
Darth Hatus forced his eyes open, not entirely awake. He turned his head to face the bedside table, upon which his chrono sat. He stared at it for a few seconds, waiting for his eyes to focus. Once he was able to read the time, he groaned. It was not yet dawn on Korriban, meaning something had woken him more than two hours early. But what?
Lord Hatus.
The Sith Lord sighed. More of those accursed voices. He had begun hearing them a few months prior, seemingly coming from all around him. He had inquired other Sith about the voices, but, apparently, he was the only one who could hear them. They had started out soft and indistinct, like nothing more than background noise, only being heard for a few minutes at a time, a few times a day. As time passed, they grew louder, longer, and more frequent.
Hatus had long ago concluded that the voices were related to the Sith Orb, the ancient artifact of dark Force energy from which he drew his power, and upon which he regularly fed. The orb had been created during the Seventh Battle of Ruusan, in which the ancient Sith had used a thought bomb in an attempt to destroy the Jedi Order. Their efforts had backfired, however, when the bomb destroyed the Sith, along with the other Sith Orbs and one hundred Jedi. The bomb left behind a single orb containing the combined Force essences of the victims.
The voices in Hatus' head were likely those of the victims who had been trapped within the orb for over a thousand years, doomed to an eternity of suffering. They cried, they wailed, they screamed, they shouted in pain and anger, yet they could never be freed, nor could Hatus silence them. He had asked himself, why had he not been able to hear the voices until well over a year after he had obtained the orb? The answer was simple; it was because that was how long it had been before he had begun to infuse the orb's power directly into his bloodstream. The more power he drank in, the more voices he would hear.
So, why did he not expel the orb from his body, or at least stop taking in more? Because the process caused an intense psychedelic high, in which he became separated from the physical world and immersed in a sea of beauty, warmth, and happiness. Hatus had quickly become addicted to this high, to the point that he could not go a full day without it. Besides, he could feel himself growing more and more powerful each time he infused more of the orb. The orb was capable of things that no Jedi or Sith had ever thought possible, such as converting matter, creating life, and causing destruction in the most awe-inspiring ways. Now, Hatus found that he was developing those same powers, without having to carry the orb everywhere he went.
Lord Hatus.
Ignoring the voice, Hatus settled back into his bed and closed his eyes, hoping to get at least some sleep before he had to wake up again. He opened his eyes again when he came to a realization; the voice had addressed him by name. How could the souls in the orb have known his name? They did not, which meant that this voice was not coming from the orb. Extending his awareness, Hatus reached out with the Force, searching for the source of the mysterious voice. There was no one else in the room, but he could feel… something. Something was radiating emotion through the Force. To Hatus, it seemed like… anticipation?
On his bedside table, his personal comlink began to chirp repeatedly. Why would anyone be calling him this early in the morning? Something must have been wrong, possibly related to whatever Hatus was sensing. He reached for the comlink, pulled it to his face, pressed the "answer" button, and asked, "What is it?"
A voice replied, "Sorry to disturb you, my lord, but an unidentified ship has just entered the atmosphere. All attempts to contact it have failed."
"I'm on my way," Hatus replied, before hanging up. Within minutes, he was dressed in a simple tunic, pants, and boots, and was on his way to the command center. As he walked through the corridors of the building, he observed some of the Sith hurrying to their stations, preparing for a possible attack. He had to admit, he greatly admired the warriors he had created. They were strong, fearless, loyal, and most were Force-sensitive to some degree, which gave them an edge in battle. Those with the most Force-sensitivity were forged into Sith Knights, whose powers rivaled even those of the Jedi.
Hatus had used the Sith Orb (and research by the finest geneticists in the galaxy) to revive the ancient Sith species, creating both males and females of different races. His efforts had paid off when the Sith had begun to mate with each other, resulting in the successful births of the first Sith babies. Some of the people who had allied with the Sith had connections to cloning facilities, and there had been discussion regarding cloning Sith warriors. Hatus, however, had insisted that each Sith be unique, so the scientists needed time to experiment with genetic manipulation to bring as much variety to the species as possible. Of course, even with growth acceleration, it would be years before the clones and infants could begin training, so Hatus still had to create Sith warriors using the orb.
The Sith headquarters on Korriban had expanded greatly over the past year, growing from a few buildings staffed by a couple hundred people, to dozens of buildings staffed by thousands. Some of these buildings included barracks in which the Sith troopers lived in modest comfort, and large tenements which housed the civilians and families that had begun to spring up. Warehouses and hangers were used to store cutting-edge ships, vehicles, armor, and weapons, all designed and manufactured by the finest engineers in the galaxy. The assembly itself took place offsite, at any of a dozen hidden slave camps throughout the Outer Rim, including the recently-destroyed Sith installation on Dromund Kaas.
When he arrived at the command center, Hatus saw that his three apprentices, Darths Sinestro, Volatis, and Masculous, were already gathered around the central holomap projector. Upon seeing the master approach, they bowed deeply to him. Similarly, every Sith in the room stood at attention and saluted. Hatus smiled in appreciation and nodded his head. "At ease." Everyone quickly returned to their appointed tasks. Hatus never grew tired of the respect shown to him by the Sith. Decades ago, when he had been Jedi Master Demood Elppirc, no one had ever shown him respect of any kind. Now, the old Jedi were dead, and Hatus was the ruler of the New Sith. It was amazing how fortunes could change so much.
Hatus stepped up to the holomap projector and asked, "What have we got?"
Sinestro replied, "We do not know yet. We are still waiting for scan data."
"Well, what do we know about it?"
"Not much, I'm afraid. Our sensors picked it up entering the planet's atmosphere. For reasons unknown, we did not detect it dropping out of hyperspace."
Hatus frowned. When a ship dropped out of hyperspace, its hyperdrive emitted a burst of energy that was easily picked up by sensors. So, why had the Sith not detected this ship's arrival? "Is there a problem with our sensors?"
Sinestro shook his head. "That was the first thing they checked for as soon as they detected the ship."
Just before the Sith Lord finished his sentence, a hologram of the unidentified ship appeared above the projector. To everyone's surprise, it did not appear to be a ship at all. The main body was roughly spherical, approximately ten meters in diameter, with a single white circle at the front. Stalactite-like projections extended from either side of the sphere, with four bat-like vertical wings attached to the tips – one above and one underneath each. The entire ship had a rusty red-orange color.
The three apprentices each had different reactions to seeing the ship. Sinestro's face visibly paled in either shock or fear. Masculous' face tightened and he squeezed his fists, as though trying to suppress an emotion. Volatis, the most outspoken of the three, cried out, "That's a Yuuzhan Vong ship! They've come back to destroy us!"
Hatus instantly understood what his apprentices were feeling. They were the only survivors of an old project to clone some of Emperor Palpatine's Force-sensitive servants. When the Yuuzhan Vong invaded the galaxy, they destroyed the facility where the clones had been raised. The apprentices had lost both their home and their family, and had been forced to roam the galaxy, fighting for survival and killing the Vong wherever possible. Hatus sympathized with their pain, although he would not admit it.
Sinestro, regaining his voice, ordered, "Launch all fighters and bring the cannons online! Blast that ship out of the sky!"
Lord Hatus, I am not your enemy.
It was that voice again. Where was it coming from?
I have come to serve you.
It only took a few seconds for Hatus to realize that the… ship… was communicating with him through the Force. To everyone in the room, hurrying to carry out Sinestro's command, he ordered, "Stand down!" The Sith immediately complied, but the apprentices stared at him in a mix of confusion and disbelief. Hatus explained, "It's speaking to me through the Force." Now, they were even more confused.
A question formed in Hatus' head. Can you hear me?
Yes, came the reply.
Hatus blinked in surprise. He had not actually expected an answer. He formed another question. Can my apprentices hear you?
For a moment, there was no reply. But Hatus could feel the ship's emotions through the Force. It was curious, and a little concerned, as though it doubted the apprentices. Then, it replied, They can now.
Hatus noted the sudden change in his apprentices' demeanors. They were obviously unsettled to hear a mysterious voice in their heads. He asked, Who are you?
I do not have a name. My previous masters called me "Ship." I am a Sith Meditation Sphere.
The four Sith Lords exchanged amazed glances. They had heard of Sith Meditation Spheres, but only in history. Used by the ancient Sith thousands of years ago, the spheres had served multiple functions – Starfighter, command ship, isolation chamber, advisor, teacher, protector. In some cases, they had also been conduits and amplifiers for a person's Force powers. History indicated that all of the spheres had been destroyed during the Great Hyperspace War.
Ship must have heard their thoughts, for it explained, I laid dormant on Ziost for thousands of years. When I awoke, I found that the Sith had been nearly destroyed, with only scattered fragments remaining. That is when I discovered my true purpose: to restore the Sith Order. I then set out in search of the remnants of the Sith, so that I might serve them in pursuit of my goal. The first among them was the Sith Lady Lumiya.
This was a surprising development. Lumiya had once been a servant of Darth Vader, trained to use the dark side to hunt down and assassinate Luke Skywalker. After her defeat by Skywalker and the fall of the Empire, she went into hiding and was presumed dead. Decades later, she was found by Sinestro, Volatis, and Masculous and trained them in the ways of the Sith. In time, she would also turn Jacen Solo, Skywalker's nephew, to the dark side and enlist his aid in their plight to rebuild the Sith. When Jacen, renamed Darth Caedus, killed Luke's wife, Mara Jade Skywalker, Lumiya allowed Luke to hold her responsible and kill her. Hatus wondered why Lumiya had not told her apprentices about Ship.
One of them must have been wondering the same thing, for Ship replied, Perhaps there are secrets that she wanted kept from you. In any case, I did not have a chance to serve her long before her death. After that, I resumed my search for other remnants of the Sith.
Concern overcame Hatus. If other Sith existed, they could be a threat to his plans. Throughout history, the Sith have often clashed with each other over conflicting ideologies and motives. Many historians viewed this infighting as the primary cause of the Sith's downfall. Hatus had to be sure that no other Sith would stand in the way of his rise to power. Did you find any?
Yes. There is a group that calls itself the Lost Tribe of the Sith. They had been stranded on a planet in Wild Space for five thousand years before I found them. I helped them capture ships to build their own armada, taught them the history that they have missed, so that they might reclaim control of the galaxy. However, when I sensed your growing power, I decided that you stood a better chance at success, so I sought you out.
Hatus was taken aback by this revelation. You can sense my power?
I heard the Sith Orb being awakened when it was first used to heal you. Over time, it continued to sing as it was used. But it was only ever noise in the background of the galaxy. Until recently, that is. Since you've begun to infuse its power into your bloodstream, its song has grown louder.
This explanation filled Hatus with pride. He had felt himself growing more powerful, and now, he had confirmation. Ship seemed to know much about the orb, including its power. For that reason alone, Hatus felt that it – he – would be useful to have around. Not only could Ship teach him about his newfound power, but his very presence would cement Hatus' right to rule the Sith. But, first, there was something he needed Ship to do. This Lost Tribe you speak of, do they know you're here?
They know that I left them, and they are very upset about it. They may try to come after me.
Then, I order you to take me to them, first.
A second later, the hologram showed Ship descending at an angle towards the Sith base. Through the Force, he radiated pride and excitement, eager to serve his new master. Hatus, equally eager to be served by this magnificent being, hurried outside to greet Ship as he touched down in the middle of the courtyard. Other Sith gathered around, gazing in wonder at the newcomer. They were even more amazed when a portal formed in the side of the central sphere, presumably acting as a boarding hatch. Ship said, Your wish is my command.
Ship's interior turned out to be completely bare, sporting no controls, viewscreens, nor even a chair. Instead, Hatus sat cross-legged in the middle of the floor, meditating and mentally communicating his commands to the Sith Meditation Sphere. In return, Ship granted him the ability to see everything surrounding him, including the Sith fleet following closely behind them, and the planet that they were approaching.
Kesh was located in a region of Wild Space, near the edge of the galaxy, where a strange magnetic field severely limited hyperspace travel and offworld communications. As such, it was effectively cut off from the rest of the galaxy. Through his bond with Ship, Hatus observed the terrestrial planet, comprised of mountains, plains, oceans, jungles, and tundra. He had to admire its versatility. It no doubt offered everything that a society like the Lost Tribe needed to survive for five thousand years. Of course, those resources are nothing to people who did not know how to use them. This Lost Tribe must have been very strong indeed.
As Ship descended towards a small mountainous continent in the southern hemisphere, Hatus was able to make out some of the finer details, including rivers, farms, and cities. A large temple, most likely constructed by the Lost Tribe, was situated near the peak of one of the tallest mountains. Large, winged reptiles flew all over the continent, often carrying people on their backs. With their large, membranous wings, long tails, and sharp claws and beaks, Hatus judged these creatures to be particularly fearsome. He made a mental note to see about incorporating them into his Sith army.
The largest feature of note was the capital city, which Ship identified as Tahv. The city was surrounded by tall, thick walls that may have once served a purpose, but now appeared purely decorative. In fact, most of the city appeared to be one giant work of art, replete with colorful paintings, levitating fountains, trees shaped by the Force, and ornate glass sculptures. Even the city's inhabitants wore fine clothing and makeup. While the buildings closest to the outer walls were plain, toward the center of the city, Tahv grew more luxurious. It disgusted Hatus. In his opinion, beauty was nothing more than a façade to conceal how truly unremarkable something really was. If these Sith were as powerful as they believed, they would not need to use art to make themselves appear better than they actually were.
While most of the Sith fleet remained in orbit above the planet, Ship and a single shuttle landed in a field just outside the city, amongst a ragtag armada of ships that had inadvertently ventured too close to Kesh and had been stolen by the Lost Tribe. Within minutes, they were greeted by a group consisting of not only humans, but also powerfully-built near-humans with purple skin and hair that ranged from brown to violet and, in some cases, silver. According to Ship, these were Keshiri, natives of the planet who had been dominated by the Lost Tribe. Those who displayed Force sensitivity joined the ranks of the Sith, while the others fell into poverty. Apparently, the Keshiri were satisfied with their lot in life. No matter what was about to happen, Hatus knew that they would prove very useful to him.
The visitors disembarked from their respective craft and approached the island's inhabitants. Hatus led the way, flanked by four Sith soldiers, four Force-wielding Sith Knights, and Darth Volatis. The soldiers were clad head-to-toe in black armor that was strong and light while allowing for greater mobility. Their helms completely obscured their faces except for the clear visors and removable pieces of cloth that covered their noses and mouths. They each wielded a blaster rifle with red energy ax blades on either side of the barrel. The Knights wore simple black robes and hooded cloaks, and were armed with standard lightsabers. Hatus knew that, in a battle, such a meager force would not be enough to repel the entire Lost Tribe. However, he was confident that they would not be necessary.
The "Lost Sith" who greeted the visitors eyed them suspiciously. The leader, a tall, gaunt man approaching middle age, asked, "Who are you?"
Hatus replied, "I am Darth Hatus, Dark Lord of the Sith. This is my apprentice, Darth Volatis."
"We were under the impression that the Sith had been defeated by the Jedi." The last word was spoken with obvious distaste.
"The old Sith were defeated," Hatus corrected him, "but we are the New Sith. And we request an audience with your leaders to propose an alliance."
The Lost Sith exchanged looks of confusion and concern. This was no doubt an unusual day for them. After taking a moment to discuss amongst themselves, they finally agreed to bring the visitors before the Circle of Lords. They led them into the city, down paved roads, across bridges, and past buildings. As they walked, pedestrian onlookers murmured in apprehension.
That was understandable, Hatus mused. These people had not had any offworld visitors in their lifetimes, or even in the lifetimes of their great-grandparents. They had lived a quiet life, oblivious to what was happening in the galaxy, until just a few years ago, when their world had been turned upside down by the arrival of Ship. They had spent 5,000 years believing that the Sith would conquer the galaxy and one day find them again. Then, Ship had shot down those hopes with the revelation that the Sith had been destroyed by the Jedi, for whom intense hatred had been ingrained into their very souls.
And yet, here the Sith were; but not the Sith of their history. These people had probably been expecting larger-than-life, beautiful people dressed in the finest clothes, wreathed in dark Force energy, gliding elegantly above the filthy ground. Hatus had to stifle a laugh at the thought of such a ridiculous image. He was well aware that he was neither beautiful, wealthy, finely dressed, nor radiating power. These people, who worshipped such a materialistic culture, would no doubt find his simplicity offensive. He did not care; they would learn the true extent of his power soon enough.
After several minutes of walking, the procession arrived at the capitol building. As they ascended the spiral staircase within the building, some of the Sith began to grow tired from the exertion of their hike. Hatus himself found that his legs, which had been regrown using the Sith Orb, were beginning to ache. Even though he had grown accustomed to them over the past year, they still did not operate at peak capacity. Drawing on the orb's power, he replenished his energy, and the energy of his followers, as well. If things did not go well, they all needed to be ready for a fight.
Finally, they reached the top floor of the building, where they were hindered by two large, beautifully carved stone doors. One of the Lost Sith pounded on the doors twice with his fist, and, a moment later, the doors swung open to reveal the Circle Chambers. The room was, as its name suggested, circular, much like the Jedi Council Chambers Demood Elppirc had often visited, albeit twice as large. Sunlight shone through a stained-glass dome ceiling, illuminating the room with vibrant colors. It nearly made Hatus sick.
To either side of the door, a couple dozen people in dark robes stood against the wall. A multi-tiered dais wrapped around the opposite half of the room, upon which twenty-one people sat in ornate chairs. These figures must have belonged to the Circle of Lords, while those on the floor were merely observing the proceedings. Thirteen chairs sat on the bottom tier, which was only a few steps high. Behind them, the second tier, no more than a meter high, supported eight more chairs, one of which was situated a few steps higher than the others. Apparently, a chair's distance above the floor signified its occupants rank within the Lost Tribe.
Presumably, that would make the man in the highest chair Grand Lord Darish Vol. One look at the leader of the Lost Tribe made Hatus wonder if the title was based solely on age. Grand Lord Vol appeared to be the oldest person in the room – Hatus estimated him to be nearly eighty years old – with wrinkled skin, a hairless scalp, and piercing dark eyes. His robes were black, except for a midnight-blue tabard. His face betrayed no hint of emotion.
Hatus and his party gathered in the center of the room. He bowed briefly, signaling the others to do the same. And then he addressed his hosts. "Greetings, Lords of the Sith. Thank you for receiving us. I am Darth Hatus, Ruler of the New Sith." He gestured to Volatis and said, "This is Darth Volatis, one of my apprentices."
For a moment, no one reacted. The Lost Sith simply studied the visitors with interest, and a hint of scorn. Finally, Grand Lord Vol spoke in a soft voice with an unfamiliar accent. "When Ship first came to us, he told us that the Sith had been destroyed. Yet, here you are. How can that be?"
Hatus explained, "It is true, the Sith were destroyed. We have created a new Sith Empire to seize control of the galaxy and restore order. We are building an army, the likes of which the galaxy has not seen since the last reign of the Sith. Soon, our conquest will begin, and we invite you to join us."
The lords exchanged looks, silently communicating with each other through the Force. Most of them were definitely intrigued by this proposal. Vol asked, "So, you call yourself Sith, yet you have not been trained by Sith?"
That was an unexpected question. "My apprentices were initially trained by a disciple of Emperor Palpatine. I presume you've heard of him."
Vol nodded. "Then your apprentices may assume the Sith title, but what gives you the right to do the same? What makes you Sith?"
Hatus was offended. How could this man question his title? He responded indignantly, "The light side, the Jedi, the Republic, they brought me nothing but pain and suffering! So, I turned to the dark side, and I have embraced it! Surely, you can sense it within me!"
"Being strong with the dark side does not make you Sith. You only wish you were Sith, to bring meaning to your otherwise worthless life."
Now, he was being outright insulting! "I have more claim to the Sith title than you! You sit here, a feeble old man on a throne, ruling over a single island, oblivious to the galaxy at large! You think you have power, but you have no idea just how meaningless your life is."
Vol stood up with surprising speed, sneering down at Hatus. "I am a descendant of the Sith of old! I rule over thousands who have Sith blood in their veins, have been taught Sith heritage, and have been trained in the Sith arts. What do you have but an army of Sith pretenders?"
Hatus wanted to argue further, but he knew there was nothing he could say to change Vol's mind. Except… "I have the Sith Orb."
That rendered Vol silent. For a few seconds, he simply stared in disbelief. The other lords were equally stunned. So, they knew what the Sith Orb was. Hatus had feared that their ancestors had been stranded on Kesh before the invention of the orbs, so they would have no knowledge of his only bargaining chip. Suddenly, Grand Lord Vol burst into laughter, prompting the other Lost Sith to follow suit. "If you were truly Sith, you would know that the Sith Orbs were nothing more than rumors designed to frighten enemies or fuel rivalries."
Hatus smiled smugly as he reached into a bag hidden beneath his cape and produced the glowing reddish-orange orb, holding it high for all to see. All laughter abruptly ceased as everyone in the room registered what they were seeing. They could sense the dark Force energy emanating from the orb, like heat from a lantern. They were entranced by the swirling red eddies, like dye in water. Their disbelief was evident, yet no one dared speak for fear of how the Grand Lord might react.
Vol, pale-faced, sank back into his chair and stammered, "T-the orbs… they're real?"
Hatus replied. "This is the last Sith Orb in existence, containing the combined Force essences of one hundred ancient Jedi, and hundreds of ancient Sith. I have used it to restore my sight, rejuvenate my body and mind, and regrow my legs. This orb has the power to convert matter, manipulate subatomic particles, and even create life itself." Turning towards his Sith Knights and warriors, he instructed them to remove their hoods and helmets. Upon doing so, they incited audible gasps from the Lost Sith.
Even the Lost Tribe knew that the ancient Sith species, the namesake of their order, had been extinct for thousands of years. And yet, the faces they were looking at were unmistakably Sith. Their skin colors ranged from dark red to pink, and their hair was either black or brown. Their most distinctive features, however, were their yellow eyes, cranial horns, and long tendrils that hung from their high cheekbones.
Hatus continued, "As you can see, I have used the Sith Orb to resurrect the extinct Sith species. They possess all of the fierceness, the strength, and, most of all, the Force sensitivity of the original Sith. Thousands of them populate our army, and they have even begun to breed. No one will be able to stand against them! So, I ask you, will you join us?"
The ambiance of the room was heavy with excitement. One did not even need the Force to know that the Sith Lords were thrilled at the prospect of having such a powerful weapon on their side. And how could they not? For all Sith, no matter where they originated, were attracted to power. Still, many of them were wary of an object that they had no knowledge of, except that it broke the natural laws of the Force. They were even warier of the person who possessed this object. Why should this man, with no Sith background, be allowed to call himself Sith and wield a Sith artifact? However, it was clear that the excitement outweighed the wariness.
Finally, Grand Lord Vol raised his hands in a call for silence. After the room had quieted down, he said, "Very well, Lord Hatus. We shall join you. With the Lost Tribe's warriors paired with your army, the Jedi shall be swiftly wiped from existence! And, together, you and I shall rule with an iron fist, restoring order to a galaxy long poisoned by their insolent dogma!" Even before he had finished speaking, the Lost Sith had begun to applaud and cheer, not just for the new alliance, but for the wisdom and inspiration of their ruler.
Hatus shook his head. "I'm afraid you're mistaken on one point. There will be only one ruler, and it shall be me."
The room fell silent, and tension permeated the air. No one ever dared to question Grand Lord Vol's right to rule. Judging by the intense ire in Vol's expression, it was easy to see why. He slowly rose from his chair and growled, "You? You think you are worthy to rule my people? My people, who have followed me loyally for decades? Who have more Sith blood in their veins than you?"
Calmly, Hatus responded, "I control the Sith Orb. Without it, none of this would have been possible. And it only responds to me."
A small smile crossed Vol's face. "What if I were to kill you and take the orb for myself? Then, it would respond only to me."
In response to the thinly-veiled death threat against their master, Volatis, the Sith Knights, and the warriors drew their weapons and held them in a ready stance. This prompted some of the other Sith in the room to draw their own weapons. Some of them wielded lightsabers that appeared to be millennia old, while others brandished unique swords, spears, daggers, pikes, and other primitive weapons. Everyone was ready for a fight, but none dared make the first move. For a few seconds, only the humming of multiple lightsabers could be heard.
Then, to everyone's surprise, Hatus laughed. "You think you could kill me? I would like to see you try."
Vol responded, "Do not mistake my age for frailty. I ascended to the rank of Grand Lord because my skills were unmatched. Whether it be in the Force or combat, I possess the greatest strength of everyone on this island. I have mastered ancient fighting styles that you never knew existed. The Force of everything on this planet flows through me. You are in unfamiliar territory. I have every advantage over you."
Hatus raised his eyebrows, intrigued. "Then let us make it a contest. You and I in one-on-one combat, with our people as witnesses. If you defeat me, I will give you the Sith Orb, and my army will pledge itself to you. If I win, the Lost Tribe swears allegiance to me. The winner reigns supreme."
Murmurs of surprise spread throughout the room. A contest? This was the last thing any of them had expected. Vol did nothing to hide his outrage. "You would decide the leadership of the Sith based on the outcome of a contest? You are a greater fool than I imagined. I will not play your little game!"
"Why not? Afraid you'll lose? You just said you were the most powerful person on the planet, so you should have no trouble defeating me. Unless you doubt yourself?" Shock rippled through the room like a torpedo explosion. The Sith of the Lost Tribe knew that Grand Lord Vol had an abnormally high opinion of himself, and anyone who dared to contradict him often found a knife in his or her own throat before one could even attempt to apologize. Given the way Darth Hatus was disrespecting him now, there was no doubt in their minds that a bloodbath was about to ensue.
However egotistical he was, Vol was also very wise. He knew he could not allow seeds of doubt to be planted in the minds of his fellow Sith. If they viewed him as weak, then they might decide that he was unfit to rule. And no Sith Lord ever ceded their title… not whilst they lived. While Vol was certain he could defeat any one of his lords in combat, he was less optimistic about his chances of surviving an assassination attempt. His hand had been forced, and he had no choice but to accept the challenge.
It was quickly decided that the contest would take place early that evening in the Tahv city square, which was a large, open area where public gatherings took place. Hundreds of spectators, representing both factions of Sith, crowded around the cobblestone circle in which the duel was set to occur. Warriors from both sides stood at the front of the crowd, ready to interfere if need be. Some of Tahv's civilians watched from open windows or balconies on the upper stories of the surrounding buildings, hoping for a better view of the fight. Practically the entire city had gathered to witness the triumph of thr Grand Lord of the Sith over the pretender who dared to insult him.
Darth Hatus shook his head in disgust. Lord Vol had turned this contest into a show. Did his vanity know no bounds? It did not matter to Hatus; he knew he was going to win. Anyone who believed otherwise was fooling themselves. Vol did not realize it yet, but he had sealed his own fate by allowing this public spectacle. Even though it had been made clear that neither combatant would be allowed to fatally harm one another, Vol's reputation would certainly be doomed by such a public defeat.
The sun had only recently set, leaving the city dimly illuminated by the darkening sky. Normally, the streetlamps would have been lit by then, but the city had decided to hold off until after the duel. They claimed that the lights would signify the Grand Lord's victory. Hatus could not help but roll his eyes upon hearing this. The Lost Tribe was becoming a nuisance, and Hatus was eager, now more than ever, to end this farce quickly so that he could leave this disgusting world and get back to the war at hand.
Vol unclipped a lightsaber from his belt. Even from a distance, Hatus could tell that it was an ancient weapon. It made sense, he supposed. Kesh was devoid of kyber crystals or any other parts needed to construct new lightsabers, so the Lost Tribe would have been forced to recycle the lightsabers used by their ancestors five thousand years ago. The lightsaber hilt Vol wielded appeared to have been made from carved and painted animal bone. He ignited the energy blade, illuminating the immediate vicinity with crimson light, and gracefully twirled the weapon around his body, as though to prove his confidence to the rest of the Sith. He finished the flourish by pointing the blade at his opponent.
Hatus responded to Vol's challenge by undoing the clasp at the front of his cape and shrugging the garment to the ground. In doing so, he revealed his own lightsaber clipped to the back of his belt. The half-a-meter-long hilt had a golden finish with thin black rubber bands every five centimeters to serve as grips. At either end, the hilt forked off into two angled cylinders which curved towards each other until they were parallel with a little over five centimeters of space between them. Each of those four cylinders then extended for another ten centimeters. Reaching behind his back, Hatus removed the hilt and pressed the ignition plate at one end. From the same end of the hilt, two energy blades sprang from the parallel emitters. Like Vol's, Hatus' blades were red, but with black cores instead of white, likely as a result of the power crystals having been synthesized using the Sith Orb.
Murmurs of confusion and stifled laughs rippled through the assembled crowd. Hatus knew that they were in response to the unusual design of his lightsaber. His own apprentices had questioned the benefit of the parallel blades when only one would suffice. He had waved off their criticisms, citing that the weapon held advantages that they were not yet aware of. Hatus flourished his lightsaber for a few seconds before assuming a ready stance.
Vol strode confidently towards his opponent, still pointing his lightsaber at him. Hatus stood his ground, waiting for Vol to come to him and steeling himself for the first attack. It came sooner than he had anticipated. Vol had unexpectedly darted forward the last few meters, and Hatus barely avoided being stabbed in the heart. Vol then attacked with a series of precise swings and thrusts, which left Hatus with very little time to defend against each blow. A moment later, while Vol hesitated briefly decide his next move, Hatus seized the opportunity to fight back.
Hatus attacked with determination, putting his strength behind each blow. He had been mislabeled as weak his entire life, so he made sure that his fighting style conveyed the opposite idea. Grunting softly with exertion, he swung hard to bat Vol's lightsaber aside, hoping for an opening to deliver a crippling blow. He did not need to kill Vol; he simply needed him to yield. Hatus judged that the best way to do that would be to wear him down. But Vol showed no signs of exhaustion. He deftly blocked Hatus' attacks without physically exerting himself, and then he struck back while Hatus was preparing for another blow.
It only took Hatus a minute to figure out his opponent's fighting style. Vol, in his old age, could not move as well as when he was in his prime. So, rather than overexert himself with strong or quick attacks, he fought with grace and precision to conserve his energy while his enemy wore himself out. Then, and only then, would Vol ramp up his attacks to finish him off. Keeping this in mind, Hatus decided to change his tactics. All he had to do to defeat Vol was overwhelm him.
Hatus pulled his lightsaber back for a horizontal swing at Vol's neck. While Vol prepared for the imminent attack, Hatus used the Force to throw his enemy backwards. The Lost Tribe spectators gasped as their Grand Lord hit the pavement, although their concern was unwarranted. An unharmed Vol stood up and prepared to continue the duel. As he did so, Hatus pushed a second ignition plate at the other end of his lightsaber hilt, causing two more blades to appear from the emitters at that end. He then adjusted his grip on the hilt of his now-double-ended lightsaber, and charged at Vol.
As Hatus had predicted, his change in tactics had caught Vol off-guard. Very few duelists chose to fight with a double-ended lightsaber; it was more difficult to control, and restricted the wielder's movements. However, a skilled fighter could not only negate these drawbacks, but use them to his advantage. Hatus had practiced enough to accept the four blades as an extension of his body. He knew where each one was at all times, and where he wanted them to go. Vol, on the other hand, had likely never fought against such a weapon, and he was clearly struggling to anticipate and defend against Hatus' attacks. He was quickly being worn down.
A loud gasp emanated from the audience as Vol's lightsaber flew into the crowd. The next thing they knew, the Grand Lord was on his knees with Hatus pointing two of his blades at his defeated opponent, the tips hovering mere centimeters from his neck. The same question rippled through the crowd: What had just happened? Those who had had the best view of the duel would later recount that both combatants had swung their lightsabers at the same time, and Vol's blade had become caught right in between two of Hatus'. Before Vol could register what had happened, Hatus had swung hard again, his blades pulling Vol's lightsaber out of his hand, leaving him defenseless.
Hatus smirked down at Vol and said, "Yield."
Vol, his face contorted in anger, replied, "Not to you." With alarming ferocity, he lashed out with the Force, throwing Hatus ten meters backwards. As he landed, Hatus twisted his body to perform a backwards roll and deftly land on his feet. Not expecting such a quick recovery, Vol raised his hands and fired blue Force lightning at him. Hatus immediately responded with his own lightning attack. Whereas most Force lightning was either blue or violet, Hatus' was, to everyone's surprise, the same red hue as the Sith Orb.
The lightning attacks met halfway between the two Sith, combining into a deadly light show and sending red and blue bolts arcing out in all directions. The onlookers literally tumbled over each other trying to get away from the lightning storm. And they were wise to do so. A single blast of Force lightning could have serious detrimental effects on a person's body. One could scarcely imagine the effect two combined barrages would have. As it was, the sheer amount of electricity caused the surrounding cobblestones to shatter, plants and grass to ignite, and air to superheat, allowing powerful gusts of wind to billow through the plaza.
What had begun as a lightsaber duel had turned into a battle of wills between Darth Hatus and Grand Lord Vol. Both Sith poured as much strength as they could into their lightning attacks, attempting to overpower each other. When two bolts of Force lightning met, whichever bolt was more powerful overtook the other, causing the union point of the bolts to move towards the person who fired the weaker one. Thanks to the difference in color, it was easy to tell who was winning. At first, neither Sith appeared to have the upper hand, but, as the red lightning began to overtake the blue, it became clear that Hatus' attack was stronger.
Vol watched with dismay as Hatus' red lightning crept ever closer. He redoubled his attack, calling on all of his power to try to defeat his enemy, but it was no use. His strength was spent, and Hatus was mere seconds from victory. If Vol did not surrender now, the combined lightning volleys would kill him. Summoning as much dignity as he could, he shouted, "I yield!"
Simultaneously, both Vol and Hatus halted their lightning attacks. The wind died down, and the spectators were stunned speechless by the show of power they had just witnessed. All was calm and quiet. Despite his best efforts, Vol had collapsed to his knees, panting heavily from exhaustion.
Hatus, on the other hand, did not appear tired at all. He stood tall and proud, proclaiming to all gathered, "You have all borne witness to this legendary victory! I have bested Grand Lord Vol in combat, both with a lightsaber, and with the Force! Who now can deny that I am more powerful than he?" When nobody answered, he continued, "I hereby claim my rightful place as ruler of the New Sith Alliance!" He held his lightsaber high above his head and ignited all four blades.
At first, no one moved. Then, the Sith slowly began to clap. As the applause grew faster and louder, Hatus' smile grew with it. With a single victory, through a show of power, he had forged an alliance between the Lost Tribe and the New Sith, effectively doubling the strength of his army. Not only that, but he had also cemented his position as the ruler of the Sith, putting to rest any doubts about his strength. All of the pieces were falling into place, and soon—
His thoughts were interrupted by a red-hot sense of danger in the Force. He had the feeling that he should raise his left arm behind him and create a Force shield that instant. And so, he did, just as dozens of cobblestones flew directly towards the back of his head at high speed. As they hit his Force shield, they disintegrated into coarse sediment. Hatus looked from the sand to Vol, whose arm was raised in his direction with an expression that quickly morphed from anger to shock. He lowered his arm, too late to prevent Hatus from realizing what he had tried to do.
Hatus' scowled at his defeated opponent. "Well, that's not very fair, is it? You yielded, remember? And now, you're trying to kill me after the contest has already ended?" He shook his head ruefully and addressed the crowd. "Behold – your Grand Lord, a cheater! Not a very good one, though." Using the Force, Hatus lifted the sand into the air, letting it hover above him like a gray cloud. "Let this be a lesson to you all; this is what becomes of those who defy me!" The cloud of sand coalesced into a solid rod, simultaneously transforming into metal.
A collective gasp emanated from the members of the Lost Tribe as they watched the spike sail through the air and plant itself firmly in Vol's chest. The former Grand Lord's eyes widened in shock, as he looked down at the object protruding from his chest. He wrapped his hands around the spike, attempting to pull it out, but his efforts were futile. Not only had it pierced his heart, but it was also sticking bloodily out of his back.
As the horrific realization of his impending death dawned on him, all Vol could think about was how unready he was. He had been the Grand Lord of the Sith at a time when the Lost Tribe was preparing to return to the galaxy and exact revenge on the insolent Jedi who had stolen it from them. He was supposed to lead the Sith in their conquest, kill Jedi Master Luke Skywalker himself, and rule over the entire galaxy. He was supposed to be a hero, a figure of legend! Now, it had all been taken from him by Darth Hatus, who was not even a real Sith. He would pass into obscurity, a footnote in the history books, known only for his defeat at the hands of a monster who would be remembered as a hero.
In other words, Darish Vol would become nothing.
He groaned softly as his final breath escaped his lungs, and then his dead body fell forward to the ground.
That night, after the duel, the Lost Tribe quickly organized and carried out a funeral for Grand Lord Vol. In accordance with tradition, he would be buried within the mountain that housed the Sith temple. As it turned out, the temple had been constructed around the wreckage of the Omen, the ancient ship that had brought the Sith to Kesh 5,000 years prior.
While the funeral was being held, Darth Hatus met with his three apprentices in the Tahv city spaceport, next to where Ship sat, seemingly in deep sleep. Hatus had no doubt that, contrary to appearance, the meditation sphere was awake and fully aware. He looked forward to learning more about his newest and, perhaps, most loyal servant.
Darth Sinestro smiled at his master with renewed admiration. "An astonishing victory, to be sure. Well done, Master."
Hatus modestly waved off the compliment. "It was inevitable. Grand Lord Vol was an old and foolish man who was leading his people to their destruction. In order for them to survive, he needed to be replaced by someone who is not bound by outdated laws and traditions. They are fortunate that that someone turned out to be me."
Sinestro nodded in agreement. "What now, Master?"
"We must begin to assimilate the Lost Tribe into our own ranks. We will have to adopt some of their traditions in order for them to trust us, so we'll have to compromise with their Circle of Lords. They may choose a new Grand Lord if they wish, so that they may have one of their own to rally behind, but we must make sure it is someone who is willing to work with us. We must also examine every person on this island to determine how they would best serve us; especially the non-Force-sensitive ones. They have been deemed inferior and forced into hard labor for too long. It's time they were given the opportunity to showcase their natural talents."
Masculous grunted. "That sounds like a lot of work. Can we do all that and fight this war at the same time?"
"As long as we divide and conquer," answered Hatus. "You and Sinestro will return to Korriban to continue the war and oversee the expansion of our army. Volatis and I will remain here to build our new alliance."
Volatis flinched in surprise and thinly-veiled disappointment. Obviously, she was not thrilled with the prospect of negotiating with new allies when she would much rather be on the front lines. In a modulated tone, she said, "With all due respect, My Lord, I'm sure you can handle this on your own. I would be more useful if I joined my siblings. With all three of us fighting, we have a better chance of success over the Jedi."
"Oh, I agree. But, once the negotiations have concluded, someone needs to stay behind to oversee the Lost Tribe and uphold the terms of our alliance. Obviously, that can't be me; I have an entire empire to run. That task will, therefore, fall to you. You will be my ambassador, so to speak."
Masculous snorted in amusement. The only thing he enjoyed more than killing was watching his sister throw a tantrum. He knew her well enough to know that a particularly big one was about to ensue. As it turned out, he had underestimated just how big it would be.
"Ambassador?" Volatis repeated angrily. "I'm not an ambassador – I'm a Sith! Why can't someone else do it?"
Hatus smiled in mock innocence. "There's no one more qualified than you."
"That's bantha poodoo and you know it! Just admit it; you're still punishing me for what happened on Dromund Kaas!"
Hatus' smile vanished and was quickly replaced by an angry frown. "Now, why would I still be punishing you for something that happened six months ago? It's not like you let a Jedi waltz around under your nose for two months, kill your guards, sabotage our manufacturing operation, lead the Galactic Alliance army to our secret base, liberate our workforce, and kill you. Oh, no wait – you did exactly that!"
"As I've repeatedly explained, none of that was my fault! It was General Dykes who let the Skywalker boy into the base in the first place! It was his subpar guards who failed to catch him! And it was your ill-conceived attack on the Jedi Temple that brought the Alliance to the base!"
"And yet, it was you who tried to catch Ben Skywalker on your own, refused to let me send reinforcements, and died in a lightsaber duel with a mere boy! I brought you back to life because, despite your failures, I still had use for you. If I was wrong, tell me, and I'll rectify that mistake!" To illustrate his point, Hatus held out the Sith Orb, reminding Volatis that the same instrument that had resurrected her had also caused widespread death and destruction.
Volatis, working hard to control her breathing, bowed her head in deference and answered calmly, "I will serve you in whatever way you wish, Lord Hatus."
Hatus lowered the orb, and his tone softened as he replied, "Good, because you are dangerously close to crossing a line that cannot be uncrossed. Mistakes, I can tolerate to a degree; but I hope, for your sake, that you never lose your temper with me again." Having dealt with one of his apprentices in a satisfactory way, he turned to address the other two. He was about to speak when he noticed Sinestro staring confusedly at the orb. "What are you looking at?"
Sinestro stiffened, surprised to have been noticed. Carefully, so as not to anger his master, he asked, "Forgive me, My Lord, but… has the orb shrunk?"
"Shrunk?" repeated Hatus. He looked down at the orb for a brief second and responded, "Of course it hasn't. Your eyes must be playing tricks on you."
Unconvincingly, Sinestro nodded in agreement. Regaining his composure, he stated, "Masculous and I have matters well in hand. Rest assured, Master, the war will be all but won when you return."
"That's what I like to hear!" Hatus chuckled and clapped his apprentice on the shoulder. "Keep me apprised."
After everyone had said their farewells, Sinestro and Masculous returned to their shuttle. As they did so, Hatus studied the Sith Orb further.
Upon closer inspection, it appeared as though it actually had shrunk. When Hatus had first acquired it, it had been a quarter of a meter in diameter. Now, to his best estimation, it was closer to twenty centimeters. How could that be? Hatus decided that it must have been a result of him infusing the orb into his bloodstream. The orb was comprised of pure dark side energy, so if the energy was going into him, it had to be leaving the orb. Therefore, it made sense that the orb would shrink. Besides, five centimeters was a negligible difference, so Hatus was unconcerned.
At the same moment, Sinestro was having a similar train of thought. Unlike Hatus, however, he was concerned. The way he saw it, the orb had shrunk to four-fifths of its initial diameter. Since its volume was proportional to its diameter cubed, it meant that the orb had actually shrunk to – Sinestro did a quick calculation in his head. Four-fifths cubed equals… sixty-four over… one hundred twenty-five, which is approximately equal to…
In the past six months, the orb had shrunk to half of its original size!
During the entire trip back to Korriban, Sinestro pondered over a single question:
What would happen in another six months, when the orb had been used up?
This is only a hint of what's to come in Star Wars: The Sith Orb: Part 3: Wrath of the Sith! For more information about this story, and a synopsis of the upcoming story, read the latest update on my profile page! If you have any comments or questions, please leave them in your reviews or private messages.
