STAR WARS: HAND OF PHRIKE

CHAPTER TWO: RISE OF HORROR

Coruscant, 3653 BBY

Jedi Temple Hangar Bay

"We're being followed," Master Kalm stated as he and his Padawan reached the hangar. "Get the ship ready, Rhett, while I hold them off."

"But what if they're with us?"

"They're not. Go."

Reluctantly, Rhett waved his hand to open Kalm's ship, a Defender-class light corvette. Custom-built by the Rendili Vehicle Corporation for the Order, it provided a mode of transportation for individual Jedi, along with meditation spaces for long trips.

Something told Rhett that neither he nor Kalm would be meditating anytime soon, though. There was a huge arc of lightning from the opposite site of the hangar door, almost all of which Kalm caught on his lightsaber. The caster of this lightning attack strode in soon after, a blue-skinned Chiss wearing what looked like a cross between Sith and Mandalorian armor sans the helmet. The Chiss' red eyes pierced into Rhett's soul, even though by this time he was in the cockpit of the corvette.

"So… that is the Jedi that the Emperor spoke of. In the name of the Empire, I demand that you hand him over!"

Kalm pointed his lightsaber at the Sith Lord, saying "You want him? You will have to go through me!"

The Sith Lord sighed. "Very well." Drawing a long-handled lightsaber – the hilt being triple the length of Kalm's own – he ignited the red blade and charged.

Acting on instinct, Rhett pulled the trigger to the corvette left laser cannon, sending a red bolt streaking into the Sith. Upon impact, the Sith was flung backwards, a trail of smoke following him out of the hanger.

Kalm stood there for a few moments, then turned to the corvette to shoot a questioning glance at his Padawan.

"I panicked!" Rhett shouted through the transparasteel window.

Shaking his head, Kalm trotted to the waiting ramp of the corvette, taking a seat next to Rhett. "What was that about giving into fear, Rhett?"

Rhett hung his head low. "I'm sorry, Master."

Now Kalm let out a long sigh. "I guess drastic measures must be taken in times of war."

"What're we going to do now?"

"We're going to Alderaan. We must tell the Republic of what happened here."

Rhett nodded. "Okay, Master."

Kalm turned to his Padawan and smiled. "How about you drive, Rhett?"

Dromund Kaas, 2 BBY

Ruins of the Imperial Citadel

At one time, Dromund Kaas was the thriving capital of the Sith Empire, home to legions of Sith and their military. Nowadays, however, it was home only to marshy swamps and misery.

Thus, it baffled Imperial Inquisitor Argon Ju why the Empire of his era would have any interest in the place. The Sith were ancient history, a mere memory of the dark side's immense power; why would the Emperor send him and his stormtroopers there?

One of his troopers came up to him and saluted. "Sir, we've found several chambers containing the statues that we came for. Shall we proceed?"

Argon sighed. The statues. Of course. "Yes, let us get this over with."

He followed the trooper down the stone hallway of the ruins, noting Sith inscriptions on the vine-covered walls. Proceeding through the first chamber, he and the trooper found the first of the strangely life-like statues, which two more troopers were examining with handheld scanners.

This one was of a Rodian in Sith robes, apparently a mere apprentice. Argon immediately wondered to himself why the great and mighty Sith Empire would venerate a lowly disciple like this.

In the next room, there was a statue of female Twi'lek wearing similar clothing, but only on the lower half of her body. She wore a simple halter top where she was otherwise bare; she would've been beautiful in Argon's eyes if it weren't for the blasted head-tails.

Next one over was a muscle-bound Cather male, again in Sith robes. The realism of each statue was starting to unnerve Argon, as if they could suddenly come alive at any moment.

The final room had a statue quite unlike the others. It was hard to identify the species, but it seemed to represent a humanoid. It was covered head to toe in what looked like a cross between a life-support suit and Mandalorian armor, with a T-shaped visor and an integrated breath mask in the helmet. Gripped in its left hand was a long-handled lightsaber, again with incredible realism.

It was at this point that the little voice in Argon's head was screaming. These statues… were they actually statues?

As if to answer his question, the statue in front of him started to crack. A sort of purplish mist seethed from the cracks, preceding the shattering of the statue – no, the shell – and releasing its occupant. Three more explosions sounded from behind him, and he realized that he had somehow awakened the Sith that were resting here.

The breathing of the armored Sith reminded Argon of Lord Vader in many ways. Like Vader, this being seemed to be suffering from terrible injuries and only the suit kept him alive.

The stormtrooper beside Argo raised his blaster to attack, but the Sith merely waved his hand and sent him spiraling into the wall. Motioning his hand down, he brought one of the stone blocks that made up the ceiling down upon the hapless soldier, crushing him completely.

Then he ignited his lightsaber and stepped towards Argon. In his panic, the Inquisitor fumbled for his blaster, but was quickly met with a blade to the gut. His last sight was of the Sith's helmet, the eyes from behind the T-visor glaring angrily at him. A single, simple thought entered his head, forced upon him by the Sith.

I am Darth Phrike.