With this final chapter, Blacknova's part in the DOTOR series comes to a close.
DISCLAIMER: I own most of the characters in this story. Any other names of characters or planets are owned by Lucasarts and Bioware.
Chapter 3:
An hour passed. The sparring chamber was crowded with Acolytes, who had heard rumors of an Overseer from Korriban coming to evaluate the current crop of Acolytes. The Overseer, a dark-skinned man with short black hair, stood at one side of the arena, watching all that unfolded alongside Overseer Ruzall.
Daemus paced about in the middle of the arena, waiting impatiently. Ziaku stood, arms crossed, on the sidelines, knowing that a fight was coming. That was the nature of Sith: ambition, racism, and a constant lust for violence.
Blacknova came in, silently walking into the arena. Immediately the crowd fell silent. Blacknova seemed to have quite an impact on the other Acolytes, which was something that the Korriban Overseer noticed.
"Who is that Acolyte?" the Korriban Overseer asked.
"Blacknova," Ruzall replied. "The experiment raised by Metarrid Leykott. It happens to be his first day here."
"Intriguing," the Korriban Overseer said, placing a hand to his chin.
"Don't get too excited just, Tremel," Ruzall said. "None of us has seen just what this experiment is capable of."
"Ah, Blacknova," Daemus said. "You have come. I trust you've made your decision?"
"I have," Blacknova said, "but first, I must ask you something. How exactly do you intend to strengthen the Empire?"
"Quite simply," Daemus began, "my father and I will be working from the inside. We shall exterminate the alien vermin, even if the Sith Emperor himself is an alien. We shall rebuild the old, flawed Empire into a glorious new one."
"If that is the case," Blacknova said, "then I refuse your offer."
"What?" Daemus cried. "Why would you reject such a great opportunity?"
Ziaku looked over to Blacknova with interest, also awaiting his answer.
"I am a weapon, whose purpose is to serve the Empire that you seek to destroy," Blacknova said. "I will not serve you."
Ziaku crossed his arms, unable to hide a smirk. For the first time in recent memory, the way of the Sith was actually pleasing to him.
"You will pay for your foolishness!" Daemus cried, he and Blacknova both drawing their training blades.
Overseer Ruzall made as if to intervene, but Tremel stopped her.
"Let them fight," Tremel said. "This could be quite interesting."
Daemus charged, screaming madly, bringing his blade over his head. He leapt into the air, saber at the ready, aiming to destroy the fool who had rejected his generous offer. Blacknova, however, quickly brought up his own training blade, blocking the blow. Daemus raised his blade for another attack, only for Blacknova to quickly jab his saber into Daemus' stomach. The white-haired human stumbled back for a moment, stunned.
Blacknova began a merciless assault, brutally striking Daemus' body in various points with his training blade. Grimacing, Daemus managed to block the latest strike with his training blade, following up with a kick to Blacknova's stomach. Despite being kicked in the stomach, Blacknova seemed as if he barely felt the blow. He then shoved his palm forward, knocking Daemus to the floor with a blast from the Force.
Daemus struggled to rise, only to be picked up with the Force as Blacknova cast him into a wall, scattering the Acolytes who had once been watching. The Sith Pureblood then advanced upon the fallen and groaning Daemus, training blade ready to strike. He raised his blade, but then something unexpected happened.
Overseer Ruzall ran to Daemus, throwing her body over him. Blacknova stopped, confusion dominating his mind.
"You have won, monster!" Ruzall cried. "Leave my son be!"
"Your…son?" Blacknova repeated.
"That would explain why she favored him," Ziaku said, approaching Blacknova. "So, what happens now?"
The sound of clapping rang through the arena. This was not applause from the audience, but from a single person. That person, coming through the crowd, was an elderly man with chalk white hair and golden-and-black robes.
"Well done, Blacknova," said the man. "You fought well…better than my own son."
"Darth Ranek," Ziaku said, barely attempting to hide his contempt.
"It seems my senses were right about you," Ranek said. "A shame you will not join us in our crusade…which my son so foolishly revealed to the entirety of Ziost."
"For-forgive me, Father," Daemus grunted.
"My Lord?" Ruzall said inquisitively.
"Move aside, Talla," Ranek said. "My son and I have places to be."
"Of…of course, my Lord," said Talla Ruzall, getting off of Daemus and bowing.
Daemus brought himself to his feet, and was led out by his father. Some of the Acolytes could hear words exchanged between father and son as they left.
"Please forgive me, Father," Daemus pleaded.
"Perhaps, my son," Ranek said. "Our plans will have to move ahead of schedule. But, come, let us train for the coming battles."
Ruzall stood in stunned silence for a moment before snapping to the nearest Acolyte.
"What are you looking at?" she demanded. "The fight is over, now leave!"
Meanwhile, Ziaku looked to Blacknova as the other Acolytes began to depart.
"So, why did you reject Daemus' offer?" Zaika said. "You can't be that devoted to the Empire."
"I am," Blacknova said. "But I remembered something my own master taught me."
"You mean Metarrid Leykott?" Ziaku asked.
"Yes," Blacknova said. "He taught me that racial purity means nothing. No single species is greater than any other…it is an individual from that species that proves his worth."
"Metarrid sounds quite wise," Ziaku remarked. "Ironic, then, that he is dead."
"Perhaps," Blacknova agreed, "but I am his legacy. I am power incarnate, and I will serve the Empire to my last breath."
"Well, good luck with that," Ziaku said with a joking smirk. "With that attitude, your last breath may be in the next few minutes."
Blacknova looked at him and, for the first time, gave the faintest hint of a smile.
Among the departing Acolytes was none other than Tremel, the Overseer from Korriban. Having seen the fight, his thoughts were now buzzing with plans of his own. As an Overseer with influence, he could succeed where Daemus had failed. And if Blacknova was truly the powerful living weapon that he claimed to be, he could be instrumental to Tremel's plans.
It was time to get to work.