CHAPTER 1: MISSION FAILURE
Disclaimer: All characters and names are the sole property of George Lucas. No money was made from this. This is only for enjoyment.
Darth Sidious was not one to consider retreat as a viable option. But apparently, this time it would have to be. He and his apprentice, Darth Thrax, had visited Nemodia to find out what domestic difficulties the Nemodians were having. However, they were sent with what the Republic knew them as: Senator Palpatine and Captain Dornwell. Noone, but the two of them and their immediate loyal troops, knew that they were the only two members of the Sith, arch enemies of the Jedi. For a Sith Master, Sidious was rather young, around 30-40. His master died of health complications just 5 years earlier. Due to Darth Bane's restructuring of the Sith organization, there would only be two Sith lords at a time. He had been training Darth Thrax for only 4 years, but was amazed at how Thrax was able to use the dark side of the Force so naturally. Truely, Thrax would be his successor.
However, the mission went wrong almost as soon as they had landed. They found the Nemodian delegation dead, and they faced the troops of the Hutts, vile gangsters and smugglers. The most feared Hutt, Jabba, was there waiting to also deliver a death blow to the Republic delegates. But, the two Sith had managed to detect the danger before they touched down. Little good it did them. Little did they realized that the Hutts had managed to seize control of all of Nemodia, including defense systems. That left little room for error for the Republic craft to get out of dodge.
"Lord Thrax, report," Sidious ordered over the intercraft comm system.
"Master, we're engaged in craft to craft fighting. My recommendation is you get back to the ship first. I'll be long as soon as I can escape these fighters," Thrax responded.
"Understood." Turning to the pilot, Sidious said, "Get us out of here." The Hutts will pay dearly for this one day. Indeed they will.
Meanwhile, Thrax's ship was encountering the most difficulty in escaping Nemodia. For some reason, the Hutts were focusing their attention on his ship and not his master's. He scowled as he read a report coming in on the computer console. "So, the blasted Nemodians were in on this too? They were allied with the Hutts!" Furious, he tried to contact his master's ship. But all that came back was static.
"What's happening?"
"We've lost all communications!" Thrax scowled when he heard this news. Blast, now his master will never know of the Nemodians' treachery. They will pay one day...but he never got to finish off his threatening thought. A blast struck the hull of the ship and caused the ship to begin a downward spiral back to the planet.
Far away, at a safe distance, Sidious merely looked on, somewhat helpless, as he watched his apprentice fall to his death. "Captain, set course for Coruscant. There is nothing more we can do here. Then, get me in contact with Chancellor Valcorn. The Hutts will pay for this," Sidious snarled.
Twenty-five years later, night had fallen over the city wide planet of Coruscant. The dark figure had just finished his daily meditations. Soon, it would be time to report back to his master, Darth Sidious. The eyes on the red and black face opened to reveal the evil look of Darth Maul. He became Sidious's next apprentice shortly after the failed mission at Nemodia. Twenty-five years later, Darth Maul was well trained and a full fledged Sith lord. Stealthily, but respectfully, he waited for his master's door to open. He was beckoned in.
"What is thy bidding, my master?" Maul asked, as he placed one knee on the ground.
"No tasks for you right now, my young apprentice. All I want is to mention that I'm pleased of how well you've trained over the years."
"Thank you, master. May I ask if it's time yet?" Maul inquired.
"To destroy the Jedi? Not yet. Patience. Indeed, the time is fast approaching. We need to w..." A sudden wave of nausia seemed to come over Darth Sidious. But if there was any discomfort, it was only momentary.
"What is it, my master?" Maul asked.
"I felt a grave disturbance in the Force," Sidious replied.
"The Jedi?"
"No, but worse. Far worse."
Disclaimer: All characters and names are the sole property of George Lucas. No money was made from this. This is only for enjoyment.
Darth Sidious was not one to consider retreat as a viable option. But apparently, this time it would have to be. He and his apprentice, Darth Thrax, had visited Nemodia to find out what domestic difficulties the Nemodians were having. However, they were sent with what the Republic knew them as: Senator Palpatine and Captain Dornwell. Noone, but the two of them and their immediate loyal troops, knew that they were the only two members of the Sith, arch enemies of the Jedi. For a Sith Master, Sidious was rather young, around 30-40. His master died of health complications just 5 years earlier. Due to Darth Bane's restructuring of the Sith organization, there would only be two Sith lords at a time. He had been training Darth Thrax for only 4 years, but was amazed at how Thrax was able to use the dark side of the Force so naturally. Truely, Thrax would be his successor.
However, the mission went wrong almost as soon as they had landed. They found the Nemodian delegation dead, and they faced the troops of the Hutts, vile gangsters and smugglers. The most feared Hutt, Jabba, was there waiting to also deliver a death blow to the Republic delegates. But, the two Sith had managed to detect the danger before they touched down. Little good it did them. Little did they realized that the Hutts had managed to seize control of all of Nemodia, including defense systems. That left little room for error for the Republic craft to get out of dodge.
"Lord Thrax, report," Sidious ordered over the intercraft comm system.
"Master, we're engaged in craft to craft fighting. My recommendation is you get back to the ship first. I'll be long as soon as I can escape these fighters," Thrax responded.
"Understood." Turning to the pilot, Sidious said, "Get us out of here." The Hutts will pay dearly for this one day. Indeed they will.
Meanwhile, Thrax's ship was encountering the most difficulty in escaping Nemodia. For some reason, the Hutts were focusing their attention on his ship and not his master's. He scowled as he read a report coming in on the computer console. "So, the blasted Nemodians were in on this too? They were allied with the Hutts!" Furious, he tried to contact his master's ship. But all that came back was static.
"What's happening?"
"We've lost all communications!" Thrax scowled when he heard this news. Blast, now his master will never know of the Nemodians' treachery. They will pay one day...but he never got to finish off his threatening thought. A blast struck the hull of the ship and caused the ship to begin a downward spiral back to the planet.
Far away, at a safe distance, Sidious merely looked on, somewhat helpless, as he watched his apprentice fall to his death. "Captain, set course for Coruscant. There is nothing more we can do here. Then, get me in contact with Chancellor Valcorn. The Hutts will pay for this," Sidious snarled.
Twenty-five years later, night had fallen over the city wide planet of Coruscant. The dark figure had just finished his daily meditations. Soon, it would be time to report back to his master, Darth Sidious. The eyes on the red and black face opened to reveal the evil look of Darth Maul. He became Sidious's next apprentice shortly after the failed mission at Nemodia. Twenty-five years later, Darth Maul was well trained and a full fledged Sith lord. Stealthily, but respectfully, he waited for his master's door to open. He was beckoned in.
"What is thy bidding, my master?" Maul asked, as he placed one knee on the ground.
"No tasks for you right now, my young apprentice. All I want is to mention that I'm pleased of how well you've trained over the years."
"Thank you, master. May I ask if it's time yet?" Maul inquired.
"To destroy the Jedi? Not yet. Patience. Indeed, the time is fast approaching. We need to w..." A sudden wave of nausia seemed to come over Darth Sidious. But if there was any discomfort, it was only momentary.
"What is it, my master?" Maul asked.
"I felt a grave disturbance in the Force," Sidious replied.
"The Jedi?"
"No, but worse. Far worse."