Maranguan checked his red scaly hand. His eyes widened at the sight of some of his scars fading away. They were replaced by new, clean skin. No! He could feel the light return to his heart. Had he really accepted the light, if not for a moment?
It had only been hours since he was fully turned to the Dark Side. He snarled out of anger and fury. How dare he attempt to go back to the light! And yet, the snarling stopped. It was pointless to deny that some part of the light festered in his heart. He snickered, realizing he could make use of the Light Side to suit his own means.
He may go rogue, but he wouldn't do it without tapping into the darkness, too. He was in charge of his destiny! Not the dog-minded Sith Lords who claimed they belonged to the darkness, when the evidence may yet lead to some Sith turning to the light, too. He had no idea if this claim was true. If it was, then he was sure to find out.
He smiled, feeling better about the situation. So, he wanted to forge his own destiny and his empire? Fine! Then he would do it with the title of Dark Lord, not Sith Lord. It was the closest thing he had to claiming himself as a lord, a lord who fled into the shadows and would use those shadows to his advantage.
All traitors would be dealt with properly! He would see to that right away!
"So Maranguan, what's your next move?" Qua'ra asked from the pilot's seat.
"It's Lord Maranguan now. Dark Lord Maranguan," Maranguan said, coaxingly.
Qua'ra chuckled. "Dark Lord Maranguan? You certainly moved up in rank, since being revoked as a Sith Lord."
"The Sith are nothing now. I am my own dragonoid," Maranguan said with full confidence.
"Ooh, fine. New title, same dragonoid." Qua'ra said, rolling her eyes.
"Would you like to become my apprentice? I heard that Vitiate was going to name you his next apprentice," Maranguan said with a chuckle.
"You're still an apprentice yourself," Qua'ra admitted, bluntly. "One apprentice to another, you've only fully tapped into the Dark Side this morning. One day of being a Dark Lord is not enough to make up years of service, which I know a lot of."
"Sure, you do," Maranguan shook his head. "Just like you know how form an army of scarred lions and lionesses, Scar-ra. Shall I call you Scar-ra?"
"Qua'ra is fine," Qua'ra said in defense. "I don't like that nickname. It literally says I have scars. And that's unfair."
"Come on, Scar-ra! You and I both know that you go by many names, many of which you've forgotten," Maranguan hinted at with pride. He received no response from her. He tried again. "So, where are we headed?"
"We're heading for Corellia," Qua'ra said, pressing on a button. "It's dangerous, I know, but there are some people I know who may help us build our empire from the ground up." She added, curtly, "We can be partners, not master and apprentice!"
"I really want you to be my apprentice," Maranguan said, interested in her now.
"I'll only be your apprentice if you agree to let me do the talking once we reach Corellia. After that, we're partners. Understood?" Qua'ra said, serious.
"Of course, Scar-ra," Maranguan said with a smirk. He leaned back, taking in her features. Oh, how he missed Eliza! Now that he didn't feel the Dark Side as strongly as he did before, he could see his wife, living out her life in peace. It wasn't a vision, it was a guess. Actually, what happened to his visions? Something was wrong.
"We're here," Qua'ra said, exiting hyperspace.
~o~
Corellia. The first time Maranguan looked out the cockpit window, he saw a lush terrain and a city by the coast. Blue oceans surrounded the landscape on the east and west, while the terrain proved to be filled with all sorts of things. From lush green forests to plains and mountain slopes, it was everything he could imagine a living planet being. The last time he'd been to a planet, such as this, was Earth – Earth? He cringed, wondering if now was a good time to bring up everything his light side self did, just before he turned dark. Qua'ra moved the ship towards the forest and docked it.
They weren't too far from a village, but Maranguan couldn't trust anyone. After what Vitiate nearly did to him, he was lucky to be alive. Ohhh! If only he could get his hands on the Sith Lord and cut him down! Then his revenge would be complete!
He smiled at that thought. It was nice being the Dark Lord! It was better than being called a Sith Lord!
He looked up at Qua'ra as she stowed a blaster or two on her belt. She gestured for him to follow, as she opened the metal ramp. "Come on!" Maranguan followed, not knowing what they would run into.
~o~
Grey walled houses lined up the village. All around the red, scarred dragonoid and the brunette-haired human woman were villagers, either returning from a hunt or chatting. The whispers became louder as the villagers pointed out Maranguan. The dragonoid snarled. He knew what it was like to be picked on! He couldn't stand it!
He brandished his red beamed lightsaber, ready to strike anyone on sight. Qua'ra waved her hands in the air, doing her best to move his muscular arm down.
"They aren't here to hurt you!" Qua'ra insisted. "Relax."
Maranguan hissed at her. "Don't get in my way again!" He walked on as if nothing happened. Qua'ra was stunned.
"You're welcome," Qua'ra said, stunned.
Maranguan moved on ahead, keeping his lightsaber turned on. If anyone so much as dared crossed his path, he would cut them down in an instant! Yes, revenge was sweet! Now, he could make those who caused him pain suffer for what they'd did to him! He smiled wickedly, glad to be in charge for once.
The moment passed as soon as a tanned-skinned man with short brunette hair and pale green eyes charged in front of him. This man held up his hands in defense, right as Qua'ra stepped in-between them, glaring at the scarred red dragonoid.
"He's not going to hurt you!" Qua'ra told the dragonoid, fiercely.
"Oh really? Then why is he acting like a coward?" Maranguan asked, testily.
"Please, don't hurt me!" The man added, frightened, "I work with Qua'ra! My name is Gore Holdo. I can help you!"
"We're something more than co-workers," Qua'ra added with a smile. She told Maranguan, plain and simple, "Gore and I have been married for two years now. We have little ones. My sister Kat'ka has been working with her boyfriend Valo Ensi for four years now. They'll be married soon." She told him further, "Please. If you want that empire started, we at this village can assist you. We've been looking for a fight against the Emperor and with you as our new emperor, it may be possible to take Lord Vitiate down.
"Please," Qua'ra pleaded with him, "I'm asking you as a friend to lower your weapon. We mean you no harm!"
Maranguan clicked off his lightsaber, stowing it on his belt. He sighed, realizing he might need allies. "If you promise to follow orders, to do what needs to be done, then I will guarantee you that we will get this empire started!"
"That's the spirit!" Qua'ra said, proudly. "Although, it would be nice if you treated this as an opportunity. We're supposed to be partners, right?"
"Just don't get in my way when I know I want to cut someone down," Maranguan admitted with a smirk.
"I wouldn't dream of it," Qua'ra rolled her eyes. "Typical Sith. Typical Dark Lords. What kind of sick, twisted monsters did you become?"
"You worry too much," Maranguan said, brushing the side of her lower jaw. "I know what I'm doing. It is you who needs to catch up."
Qua'ra jerked away.
"Oh, you don't need to pretend." Maranguan moved in closer, whispering in her ear, "I know you've been thinking about me. Well, let me tell you something: your tricks will only work for so long." He snickered. "You have no idea who you're dealing with, but we'll know soon enough. Won't we? After all, we're both married. So, let's leave it at that. Let bygones be bygones."
"Agreed," Qua'ra said, stunned. "You're quite the talker."
Maranguan faced her, eyeing her suspiciously. What was her game? Would he find out? He couldn't waste another opportunity. He had to try again, to get her to be his apprentice. He had to try something, right?
"Still, consider this, Qua'ra: you become my apprentice and nothing will happen to you and your family," Maranguan threatened her, softly.
"Even you can't see beneath your own lies," Qua'ra told him, seductive. "You let Corin go, which means there is still good in you. You're no Sith Lord, not even a Dark Lord. You're just Maranguan, the sad, twisted dragonoid who is now a loner." She smirked. "What do you have to say about that?" She said, as he circled around her, "I hear you're the best duelist, but you'll never prove that to me. Never—"
Maranguan raised his hand in the air. Qua'ra reached for her throat, attempting to draw breath. She couldn't! He was choking her!
"Maranguan, release her! You've done enough damage here for one day!" Gore spoke up, intensely.
"Oh, very well," Maranguan said, opening his hand. He watched Qua'ra cough and sputter. She was still alive. He sighed, waving his hand in front of her. The effort caused Qua'ra's pain to cease and be fully healed. He checked his hand again, three more scars disappeared, leaving him with clean skin. He looked up, surprised by what he saw, what he did. He needed to stop doing that – his Maranguan side told him to do wicked stuff, and yet he couldn't keep the good out for long.
Parker Dooley was still there, haunting his thoughts. He had to be stopped, so Maranguan could enjoy the darkness more.
"Why did you do that?" Qua'ra asked the dark dragonoid, curious. "You choked me and then you rescued me? Why?"
"I'm doing you a favor." Maranguan recovered, snaking his way towards her. "A favor upon which you bow down to me and I become the new Emperor of my kingdom. My empire will reign, and anyone who stands will get their just rewards! Do you understand?" He shook his head. "This isn't about being partners. There's only one Emperor. Everyone else just follows me. Do you understand? Partners indeed."
"Give her another chance," Parker's optimistic, caring thoughts protruded in the dark dragonoid's mind. Oh, how Maranguan hated that! He ignored these thoughts, returning to the present situation.
Qua'ra nodded in understanding. "Whatever you want, my lord. The world is in your hands." She bowed before the scarred red dragonoid, asking him promptly, "Where do we go next? We're taking my sister and her boyfriend with us, but also my husband and our children. I hope this is alright with you. Or am I not allowed to bring anyone?"
"You," Maranguan smirked at her again, "You and your family will be in charge of creating the scarred lions and lionesses. I need an army, and these scarred creatures will be the key to this new empire's survival. Do this and I shall reward you." He extended his scarred scaly red hand to her. "Do we have an accord?"
"Whatever you want, my lord," Qua'ra repeated, softly, shaking his hand.
"Good," Maranguan said, sniffing the air. "We're going to need a new planet, one where we will all have a fresh start. It will be our base. Oh, I assure you, this empire will last long. Even when other empires collapse, this empire will stay."
"Empires rise and fall every day, my lord," Qua'ra said, calmly. "This is nothing new to us, really."
"We'd best get moving," Maranguan said. "The sooner we leave, the better."
"We'll bring the ships around," Gore said, taking off at top speed towards the hangar.
"We'll take my ship," Qua'ra told Maranguan, calmly. "You and my family." She nodded, "I'll tell Gore at once before he rounds up the ships and sets sail." She ran off, meeting up with her husband and explaining the news. Maranguan watched the couple take off throughout the village, in search of Qua'ra's sister, her sister's fiancé, and her children.
Maranguan tapped his foot several times, forming his own dark tune. The waiting took forever. He really wanted to blast something. He stared at one vase, pulling out his lightsaber and slashing the vase in two. One of the villagers complained. He smirked, about ready to choke the man, when Qua'ra returned with her husband, her sister – a blonde-haired woman with blue eyes, and donned in a white dress –her sister's fiancé – an auburn-haired man with a full scruffy beard and donned in a red shirt and red pants – and hers and her husband's children, who all sported brown hair.
"What are you doing? Let's go!" Qua'ra told the scarred red dragonoid, heading to her ship. Maranguan sheathed his lightsaber, tossed a gold coin at the man he nearly choked and followed Qua'ra back to her ship. The red dragonoid looked at the village, wondering what he did to deserve this. Was it enough that he had to travel with some light-sided freaks? He sighed, shaking his head. Perhaps he would never know.
~o~
The interior of the Fury ship had lots of spacious rooms, filled with square and triangular grey and black walls. There was a stairway leading down to the exit door, as well as a cockpit and a holoterminal, a rounded terminal with lots of buttons and ready for holocommunications to take place. There was also a refresher, a few rooms, an engine room, and a storage room.
Maranguan was impressed with how this ship turned out. Exactly what he needed to see. "I hope this doesn't take too long." He entered the cockpit, taking a seat on one of the metal chairs, next to Qua'ra and her family. In seconds, they were back to the stars. Qua'ra pulled down on the grey lever, causing the ship was enter a blue wormhole.
It was the hyperspace route. Maranguan sighed. He didn't want to explore this galaxy further. He needed to get out of this galaxy and find another one. A galaxy that didn't know his name. That way, he could take the Emperor head on when he was stronger, more powerful. He hoped that Corin and Parker's wife Eliza didn't track him down first.
"We can't stay in this galaxy! We must leave! Find another galaxy, somewhere where we won't be spotted!" Maranguan warned her, sharply.
"You're asking for a new home," Qua'ra said, puzzled.
"Yes," Maranguan admitted. "This galaxy is not my home. We need to travel somewhere that hasn't been found. Now, what have we got?"
"We only have the coordinates for planets residing in this galaxy," Qua'ra said, moving the ship out of hyperspace. She argued with her new dark emperor, "I'm sorry, Maranguan. Unless you have the navigation charts, I'm afraid we're not leaving this system, let alone this galaxy. Unless you have powers capable of finding us a new galaxy, I'm afraid we're going nowhere."
"Hmm," Maranguan grunted, turning to the navicomputer, revealing a blue screen of the galaxy. He observed the planets. They weren't what he wanted to see. No. Instead, he needed to find a new galaxy, one that wasn't discovered yet. Surely, there must be one around here somewhere—
Ah! There was a new galaxy, appropriately titled The New Galaxy. He snickered, "Aslan did a good job summoning it. Right on cue."
"Yes. I am capable of doing that, as is the Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea, who knows more than me," Aslan's voice protruded in the air, startling the scarred red dragonoid.
"Aslan?" Maranguan shivered. "Oh, now I'm truly scared." No! He mustn't stray too far from the dark! He needed to focus. Where was he heading off to? What planet hadn't been explored yet. He zoomed in, revealing different planets orbiting around their own suns. At last, he spotted one! "The Centaurian System, located in the New Galaxy. This galaxy doesn't have a given name, but there's plenty of wildlife on the Centaurian System's seven planets. One of them is home to shapeshifters."
"Then I'm truly home," Qua'ra huffed, turning her attention to the galaxy map. "Okay, which planet are we going to?"
"The shapeshifter planet is called Zafna," Maranguan said, pressing the planet on the screen.
"Zafna it is," Qua'ra said, flying the ship through a purple spinning portal. The moment they went through the portal, Qua'ra stared at the rich, green planet, complete with crystal blue waters. She told her new emperor, intrigued by what she saw, "Welcome home."
"Just land somewhere safely," Maranguan said, directing her.
"Okay," Qua'ra said, descending to the planet's surface. They landed in a deep, lush forest. Maranguan looked out at the horizon from the cockpit window. It was mid-afternoon, the perfect time to escape from prying eyes. He just hoped the locals were friendly. Otherwise, things would end badly for them. And that would not be good for anyone.
*.*.*
References:
Aslan is the Great Lion from C.S. Lewis' book series, The Chronicles of Narnia.
