Star Wars: Rebels: The Rising Darkness
Disclaimer: Star Wars Rebels and all Star Wars characters and Lore are not my property, as they are all owned by Lucasfilm and the Walt Disney Company.
A/N: A rewrite of my first Star Wars Rebels story, which I decided didn't go the way I had envisioned. Set after The Forgotten Droid but before The Mystery of Chopper Base. This story will center around a separate mission that does not affect the continuity of the show.
I figured that a few months is more than enough time for the Imperial Inquisition to select a new Grand Inquisitor, so I created my own. The general plot will be his introduction into the series combined with an equal level of development with the more familiar faces on the Ghost, including both the pairings Ezrabine and Kanera as the story progresses.
I also will be introducing familiar characters on both sides from the Original Trilogy and popular EU content including but not limited to the famed Heir to the Empire novels by Timothy Zahn.
Warning: The flashback in this chapter contains depictions of character death as well as blood and gore. Be advised if you are sensitive to such content.
Conflict in the Outer Rim! As the growing Rebellion continues its difficult task of freeing the galaxy from the tyranny of the Galactic Empire, a daring and bloody prison riot erupted on the mining colony of Kessel. Prisoners from across the galaxy attempted to overthrow their Imperial overseers, and it was all for naught. The arrival of a relentless and gifted enforcer of the Sith saw the uprising mercilessly thwarted, the sheer swiftness and brutality outstanding even by Imperial standards. With yet another victory chalked up, this masked champion of the Dark Side returns to his fleet over the colony…
Chapter 1: Converging Paths
Many years prior:
In the dungeons of a Hutt palace deep in the swamps of Hutta, Evocii slaves wasted away in chains down in the dark, damp dungeons that made up the basement levels. In a lone cell, a lone child, a boy, sat on a narrow bench, looking down at his feet in silence. He wore tattered beige and brown rags, bore deep red eyes, had golden yellow skin, and dirtied black hair upon his scalp. His gaze turned up as the door flew open, a Gamorrean guard tossing in an older man, the boy's father. Rising to his feet and dusting himself off, the older slave gave his son a sad smile as the guard behind him snorted and closed the door before leaving. The boy spoke up.
"Since you don't have any new scars, papa, that means you completed your work?"
"I did, son. Don't worry, you know Master Droda only has slaves who fail him tortured," The older man sad reassuringly, as best he could. His son merely frowned.
"Mama should have been done by now, she started her shift before you did."
Walking over to his son and sitting down on the bench beside him, the older slave rubbed the back of the boy's unkempt mane, attempting to soothe his worry.
"I'm sure she'll be back soon. You know how much she can't stand to be apart from you." He gave his son a genuine smile, and the boy returned the gesture weakly.
Both Evocii turned their attention to the door as it flew open again. This time two Weequay thugs had arrived, and they said nothing as they clapped both slaves in shackles before pulling them along and out of the cell. The two slaves said nothing, this was the routine when Droda the Hutt wanted to have his living property brought before him. This time, however, they were being led to the beast pens. Recognizing the hallways they were being led down, the older man spoke up.
"What's going on? Where are you taking us?"
"Silence, worm! Behave, and maybe you'll live," one of the thugs barked back, harshly.
"Was Master Droda displeased with my labor? Please, allow me the chance to correct my mistake, and spare my son any harm!" The second of the thugs turned around and bashed the slave over the head with the hilt of his vibroblade, knocking him to the floor in a yelp of pain.
"Papa!" the boy cried. The thug who felled his father yanked said parent up by the collar and spat in his face.
"Keep that filthy hole in your face shut, you walking piece of trash! You'll obey, or be fed to the Gundarks!"
The slave merely nodded in affirmation, even as blood from the blunt wound to the head ran down his face. The two slaves were led to the beast pens, and forced to their knees in front of one of the barred doors that led into the arena floor. Both of their eyes widened as they saw a woman Evocii, beaten and bloodied as she lay on the floor in the ring. She was the boy's mother.
"Mama! No!" The child called out to his mother, who was just conscious enough to turn to face her child. She was unable to utter a word.
"What's this about?! Please, don't do this! Spare her, I'll do anything! Send me in her place!" The father pleaded with the thugs, who merely detached his chains from his son before grabbing him. The first one wasted little time voicing his ire.
"We have a better idea, you join her and your precious little child gets to watch!" The second of the thugs drew his blade and slashed the older man's throat as the door lifted up.
The boy shrieked in horror before the first thug kicked him back. The second one hurled the dying older slave into the beast pen before the door closed again, and this time the other doors opened. The two thugs grinned and laughed at the sight. Starving Gundarks swarmed into the arena, devouring the tortured Evocii parents alive as their son was forced to watch the carnage. The boy began crying hysterically as tears poured from his eyes, much to the irritation of the two Weequay thugs. The first one grabbed the boy's chains and dragged him to the door as it opened again.
"Your turn, you pathetic little vermin!"
The boy was thrown into the pit as the Gundarks finished consuming the flesh of his parents. The door closed again as both thugs resumed their laughing. Tears streaming down his face, the child lifted himself up slowly as the Gundarks turned their attention to him. His sorrowful and fearful expression shifted as the creatures neared. His face morphed into pure rage as his eyes turned golden yellow with black pupils. The boy yelled out in a heart stopping scream of anguish and fury. The Gundarks stopped and the thugs behind the door stopped their laughing as they observed with wide eyes, startled at this turn of events.
Dark Force energy surged all around the boy, the intensity so great the shackles and chains broke apart, freeing the enraged child. Glaring at the Gundarks, he wordlessly inserted his maddening torrent of emotions into them, and they took on enraged expressions that eerily echoed his own. He then turned back to face the two thugs, who began to walk backwards in shock as the Gundarks moved to flank the little child they were attempting to dispose of only moments prior.
Outstretching his right hand, the boy gave his silent commands, and the Gundarks swarmed the door, infused with Dark Side energies. The extra power was all the creatures needed to tear through the durasteel bars and lunge at the two thugs, who cried out in horror as they were quickly set upon, their weapons insufficient to deal with the hungry and enraged pack. They were torn apart and devoured alive, and the boy watched as a twisted and satisfied grin took shape on his face. This was only the beginning. Seizing a gladiator's halberd stored on a weapon rack in the arena through the Force, the boy commanded the frenzied Gundarks to seek out a feast. The entire palace would be purged before the vengeful boy was done. His eyes radiated nothing but hatred and lust for blood. He would have the crazed Gundarks feast until the creatures burst apart from within.
The Present:
Amongst the stars over the war-torn prison and mining colony of Kessel, a large asteroid with a dark history of slave labor under an artificial atmosphere in the Outer Rim of the galaxy, drifted the Imperial Fourth Fleet, a formation made up of Resurgence Star Destroyers, Victory Frigates, and Marauder Corvettes. The impressive and formidable armada had just received word of total victory on the surface below, full suppression of a violent revolt that had been ruthlessly crushed by the Empire and its immensely overwhelming military supremacy. At the head of the fleet was a top of the line Star Destroyer named the Furious Vengeance, and a lone shuttle approached the central hangar bay under armed escort from two TIE fighters.
The fighters dispersed as the shuttle entered the force field and landed in the aft hanger, its ramp extending to allow a contingent of troopers wearing black painted markings on their otherwise all-white armor to disembark and stand at attention on either side of the bottom of the ramp, forming a small pathway between their two formations. A lone man walked down the ramp next. He was clad in dark black robes with matching cape, gloves, and boots. His hood was up and a matching half-mask covered the lower half of his face, leaving only his crimson eyes, pitch-black eyebrows, and the paled yellow skin around them visible. A custom-constructed lightsaber was clasped on his belt at the left hip, while a familiar second lightsaber with a curved handle was clasped on his right. Once between the two formations of troopers, the man was met by an officer in the familiar grey and black uniform of the Imperial higher-ups, who immediately stood at attention and saluted in respect, his gloved hand on the brim of his grey cap. The male human spoke as he proceeded to place his hands behind his back while remaining at attention.
"Grand Inquisitor, sir, welcome back to your flagship. We just received an urgent transmission from Coruscant, and Vice Admiral Thrawn asked me to tell you are needed at the main control room immediately, sir."
"Very good, Commander Piett. I shall make my way there immediately. I can sense who requires my presence from here," the man replied in a voice that was a mixture of calm, emotionless, and knowing.
Within a few minutes, the Grand Inquisitor had arrived at the control room behind the bridge, greeted by blue-skinned and red-eyed Chiss male with neat, jet black hair. He wore a similar uniform to Piett but more decorated and missing any headwear, signifying his own higher rank. He saluted the Grand Inquisitor as well and spoke up.
"Sir, welcome back aboard. Soon after your shuttle left the surface we received a transmission from the capital. Sir, it's from Lord Vader."
"Thank you, Vice Admiral Thrawn. Indeed it is… my master summons me, I can sense him even all the way out here. Clear the control room immediately, Admiral. This is between him and myself, alone."
"Of course, sir, as you command."
With the Vice Admiral gone and the doors sealed, the Grand Inquisitor kneeled as the holoprojector activated, revealing the individual on the other line, Darth Vader. His eerie, mechanized breathing echoed through the room as she Sith Lord stood back at the Imperial Palace on Coruscant. The Grand Inquisitor addressed him, first.
"Lord Vader, you honor me. What is the will of our Emperor?"
"Grand Inquisitor Nachtgeist, word has already reached Coruscant of your success in crushing the revolt on Kessel. The Emperor is most pleased, and asked me to give you his gratitude," as Lord Vader spoke, the Grand Inquisitor grinned beneath his mask.
"Praise from the Emperor himself is high praise indeed. I was certain to make a thorough example of those degenerate, treacherous swine who dared resist our order. But if I may, my master, would I be correct in assuming there is more to this than just a commendation of my work?"
"You would be, because there is. Tell me, are you aware of the situation on Ord Mantell?" Vader asked his esteemed subordinate.
"Many of the locals began protesting Imperial military presence in their system, and these demonstrations began to turn into full-scale riots against our garrison in their capital."
"That was the situation before you left for Kessel. Things have further deteriorated. The slack-jawed wannabe-revolutionaries took it upon themselves to overthrow the governor and take both him and his staff hostage. They are issuing demands under threat of further violence and secession. It goes without saying that the Emperor did not take kindly to this turn of events. He wants the dissident hill folk suppressed and brought to heel, and he wants you to do it," as Vader finished, the Grand Inquisitor took a moment to contemplate his first move before replying.
"A delicate situation like a hostage crisis requires precision… I have an idea in mind. Did the Emperor give any specifics for this operation?"
"The Emperor would prefer that the governor be recovered alive, so that his failure can be addressed in person. That aside, you are free to use any methods you deem necessary. The local garrison is holding out against the uprising at the moment, but they are trapped within their base in the capital. You are to break through the insurgents and rendezvous with the base's commanders, both two decorated officers by the names of General Jan Dodonna and Colonel Maximillian Veers. Coordinate the counterassault with them however you see fit."
"I will leave as soon as we finish up here, before the rotation ends, my lord. Tell our Emperor that the Fourth Fleet will be in orbit of Ord Mantell before the end of the week."
"Very well."
And with that, the Sith Lord and the Grand Inquisitor finished their holocall, and the latter activated the commlink built into the table to summon the attention of the Moff and the Fleet Commander.
"Gentlemen, we have new orders from the top. Vice Admiral Thrawn, report in at once and call up the ISB. Premiere Director Isard and his staff have the full list of contacts I intend to reach out to. Commander Piett, alert the fleet and recall all ground forces. Make haste, we'll be departing for Ord Mantell within one standard hour."
Across the stars on the remote, Far Rim world of Atollon, the growing Rebellion had just broke ground on construction of their first planetary military base. The barren, desert planet that they had found courtesy of an Imperial protocol droid who defected with the help of Chopper and the rest of their compatriots on the Ghost was far from any hyperspace trade lanes, and the accompanying Imperial patrols along with them. Construction of the main facility was underway, as were the various landing pads, the first two constructed for the Liberator and the Ghost.
As various welding droids and laborers continued to tunnel and piece together the facility, build into a cliff face not far from a scouted source of groundwater, a certain teenaged, blue-haired padawan found himself in the medical bay on board the Liberator. The base's own medical facility still in the early stages of construction and far from ready to treat any patients. After a medical droid had finished cleaning and patching up the young man's wound, his master, Jedi Knight Kanan Jarrus, entered the room. Ezra had sensed the approach of his teacher, and gave him a sheepish smile as he entered.
"Oh hey Kanan, how're things going outside?"
"Construction is proceeding at a steady pace, same as yesterday. Now, as for you, just what trouble did you get yourself into this time?" Kanan asked his apprentice as his voice took on a serious tone.
"Oh, nothing major. Hypernailer accident, that's all," Ezra tried to write off his mishap while attempting to help in the building as no big deal, but Kanan merely crossed his arms as the medical droid cut in from where he was typing on the diagnostic console.
"The young organic was fortunate the nails went into him just under the ribcage. If they'd been forced in just a little higher, or lower, he would have been in much worse shape," naturally, the padawan didn't take kindly to being ratted out.
"Hey! I didn't ask for you to explain it to him!" Ezra barked while sharply turning his head to glare at the droid.
"My programming is to diagnose and provide treatment for organic patients, not keep secrets," the droid explained as-a-matter-of-fact. Ezra groaned as he lay back down. He looked back over to Kanan who merely sighed before walking over to the bedside.
"Ezra, having confidence in oneself is good, but pride can often blind the mind to reason. If we let our own perception of ourselves cloud our judgement, we're only risking more harm than good."
"So we're starting Jedi training earlier today?" Ezra teased.
"I'm serious!" Kanan snapped in irritation. Ezra merely chuckled at how easy it was to push the buttons of his master.
"Whatever happened to, 'there is no emotion, there is peace'?" Ezra prodded further as he recited that verse of the Jedi Code with a devious grin. Kanan grumbled as he rubbed his temples in frustration before turning to speak to the medical droid.
"How long will it be until he's ready to leave?"
"Oh come on, Kanan, really, I'm fine," Ezra tried to reassure his master, but the droid made his recommendation known.
"The young organic, Patient: 2210: Ezra Bridger, will need to remain in bedrest and under surveillance until 06:00 hours precisely, tomorrow morning, local planetary rotation time. Any strenuous activity runs the risk of his injury reopening until the all clear is given."
"Ugh! Seriously?" Ezra griped in an impatient tone.
"Sorry Ezra, medic's orders," Kanan agreed with the droid.
"Can he at least have something to eat and drink?" the three looked over to see Sabine entering the room, carrying a tray with a meal from the Liberator's galley. The droid replied as she did so.
"Yes, that is acceptable within diagnostic parameters."
With the go ahead, the young Mandalorian handed the Padawan the tray, and she didn't miss the way his face shifted to a delighted grin.
"Hey, thanks Sabine. Didn't expect this to happen."
"Don't read too much into it, kid. I was on my own lunch break over at the mess hall and figured you might want something, too," Sabine told her slightly younger friend flatly, who wasn't ready to let this go, yet.
"You do know you're only about a year older than me, right?" once he finished speaking as he leered at her, the teenaged Mandalorian merely rolled her eyes and turned to exit the way she came.
"And you do know I'm leaving now, right?" she called back to Ezra from over her shoulder, and then she was gone.
As Ezra dug into his lunch, Kanan leaned back against the wall, having kept his head angled off to the side with his arms crossed once again. The droid took notice and turned to ask the Jedi Knight a question while the former remained stationary at the wall terminal.
"Was that what organics commonly refer to as 'awkward'?"
"Yes, yes it was," Kanan replied.
"I see, very well then," and with that, the medical droid returned to his routine.
Later that day as the sun began to set, Kanan was summoned to the command room on the Liberator, where Hera, Ahsoka Tano, and Fleet Commander Jun Sato were waiting for him by the holotable. As they turned to face him, Hera chose to address her teammate first. Her voice carried both seriousness and a bit of uncertainty.
"Glad you could make it, we just received an important, encoded message. Ahsoka succeeded in cracking the security, and we found something kinda big," as the Twi'lek pilot finished, the Human commander chimed in next.
"Tell me, Kanan Jarrus, are you familiar with the name Jan Dodonna?"
"Jan Dodonna? I've heard the name. He was a Republic military strategist during the Clone Wars, and promptly gave his loyalty to the Empire when the war ended," Kanan explained, not sure where this was going. Ahsoka elaborated for him, next.
"Well, his loyalty to the Empire may be at an end, if the message is truthful. Supposedly it is from the man himself, currently in charge of the Imperial garrison on Ord Mantell. It says he wants to defect from the Empire and bring vital intelligence along with him. However, Ord Mantell is at the moment currently embroiled in an open revolt against the Empire and the capital city of Worlport, where his base is located, has descended into open warfare in the streets."
"I think I know where this is going," Kanan sighed as the words registered in his mind. Sato confirmed his suspicions immediately.
"General Dodonna is a brilliant strategist and a respected military leader throughout the Empire. Such a defection could be instrumental in discrediting Imperial officials across the galaxy, and perhaps even inspiring like-minded individuals in the Empire to join us," as the Rebel commander finished, Kanan noticed a flaw in the plan.
"What are we supposed to do? Just storm an entire Imperial base already under siege to search for one officer who may or may not want to join us?" with his concerns voiced, he listened as Hera clarified for him.
"Not quite. The message says to contact the leader of the growing resistance movement, a former advisor to the Imperial governor by the name of Eiten Aygo. Supposedly Dodonna has been in contact with him and giving him information on how to keep Imperial forces off-balance throughout the planet. Dodonna has trusted him to aid in his defection. We have the coordinates of Aygo's primary hideout in the capital. We should be able to infiltrate the area without too much trouble given the chaos."
Kanan merely sighed again, but Hera smiled knowingly. The man wouldn't be turning this down even if he could.
"When are we leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning, so get some rest dear," the Twi'lek pilot told the Jedi Knight with a smile, to which he nodded in a likewise expression.
Tomorrow was when it all would begin…
A/N: Please review, I welcome all feedback. I put considerable thought into each chapter and thus I value the thoughts of my readers. :)