A/N: I don't have anything to do with Star Wars, except being a big fan of the movies.
Many thanks to BlackRoseRaven for betaing this story.
White Knights and Dark Apprentices
Prologue
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
"The Sith killed each other, victims of their own greed. But from the ashes of destruction, I was the last survivor. I hereby institute this rule: There shall be only two Sith at any given time; a Dark Lord of the Sith to embody power, and an apprentice to crave it. He among us who breaks this rule will once more witness the destruction of our Order."
Darth Plagueis put down the ancient volume he had quoted from, and sized up his apprentice, keenly awaiting his reaction.
Lord Sidious faced away from his master, looking through the large windows. Before him the glorious, steep mountains of Moraband stretched out, past the valley of the Sith Lords' tombs. Far behind the valley he could see the thick, reddish waves of sand rise menacingly, driven by an incoming storm. That was fitting, he thought, taking into account what was about to happen.
"Why quote Lord Bane's teachings so suddenly, my master?" Sidious asked, his voice perfectly controlled. He did not turn around, a slight smile tugging at his thin lips.
"I thought a reminder might be appropriate, to make you once more aware of the consequences of breaking Lord Bane's rule," Plagueis said. "Know that I am perfectly aware of your actions, my apprentice. If you think you can hide anything from me, then you are deeply mistaken."
He sensed Sidious hesitate for a moment, before the apprentice replied: "Master, if you are worried because my daughter, please set your mind at ease. She does not want our power. She will never become a Sith. She poses no threat to you, or me, for that matter."
Plagueis chuckled. "It's not her who worries me," he said, and abruptly dropped the topic as they were interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. Then the automatic doors hissed open, and a young woman stepped in, her eyes sweeping over the two Sith in the library, immediately sensing the tense atmosphere.
"Good afternoon, Lord Plagueis. I hear you have asked for my presence," she said.
"You know how much I enjoy your company, Deanna. Please come in. I'd like you to continue reading from the volume you read to me yesterday."
Lord Sidious stepped away from the windows, and gave a warning look to his daughter. If Plagueis had found out that he had taken Darth Maul as an apprentice, confrontation between them would be unavoidable. Unless he sped up his plans, and prevented that in the first place.
"I bid you good evening then, my master. I shall retire," Sidious said, his eyes locking with his daughter's once more.
The young woman averted her eyes after a moment, and gracefully sat on a chair at Darth Plagueis' side, quietly summoning an old volume and opening it.
Lord Sidious stepped out, the doors hissing shut behind him. He removed his lightsaber from his belt and took a few steps down the corridor, holding his breath, his attention still fully focused on what was going on in the room behind him...
When he switched on his weapon, he held no doubt as to his master's demise.