The Roads We Travel
Disclaimer: I do not own and have never owned Star Wars. I do not intend to infringe on copyright laws. I do however, own the original characters and names of this story and the story itself.
With formalities out of the way, let's continue the story.
Chapter 4: The Declaration
Thirteen months later
302 ABY
Decatus' P.O.V
(On Korriban)
I look back on my life as I sit here, on my throne, and I wonder... Was it worth it? Was being the Dark Lord of an all but dead group worth what I have done? I killed my father and betrayed the Order... And Cadius. NO! They betrayed me, not the other way around. I was more powerful than any of them. I should have been the Grand Master, not Jo'Anna! It doesn't matter, I will destroy all of them and the Sith will rule again. I was dragged out of my thoughts as I heard footsteps coming towards my chamber. I look up to see my most trusted follower. "General Septis." I say as an acknowledgment that he was there. He bowed curtly as if he had important news and didn't have time for formality. "My lord. The spy that you placed within the Order wishes to speak with you in eight minutes. He said that it was important." My eye twitched and I replied angrily "And why didn't he just tell you the news if it is so important?" He pulled at the neck of his black tunic and fisted the side of his robes whilst replying "He says that you need to hear it yourself. Lord Daemon should as well. Where is he?" I shake my head and rub my forehead and reply "In the meditation chamber. Fetch him, will you. Once you get him, both of you will meet me at the meeting chamber. Is that clear?" He bowed and said "It shall be so, my lord." As he turned and walked away, I stood from my throne and walked towards the meeting room.
After waiting at the head of the table for about four minutes, Daemon and Septis walked through the double doors. Septis walked to the hologram emitter and sent in a call to our agent. Daemon sat on the first seat to my right and Septis sat at my left. The hologram came on and we saw the projection of the spy we've been talking to since the Akari Wars. "Kopel Rahn. What was it that you needed to tell us so very badly?" I said mockingly because he has been giving reports that hold no merit for years know. If he does it again, I will have Lord Daemon deal with him. Kopel cleared his throat and then finally spoke up "My lord. The Sith hunters are finished with their training." The three of us all looked at each other and I said "Is that all?.." He shook his head no and seemed to panic. "No... My lord. They have been promoted to the rank of Padawan. They will be going to the planet Ossus to find Adegan crystals." Daemon sat up straighter and said "We can intercept them. Captain Haelis owes us a favor or two." Septis scoffed at this and said "Pirates? Daemon, you'd have us work with pirates? They can't be trusted, they'll turn on you for a couple of credits." I was thinking on the topic when Daemon said "And you have better idea. Let's hear it then Septis." The General huffed at that and quieted down. I approved of my apprentice's plan and said "Daemon's right. I don't think they'd be stupid enough to cross us. Besides, once we take over, pirates won't be tolerated in our area of space." Septis looked between Daemon and I and said "He'll turn traitor if we let him live. No doubt fleeing to the Republic... Lord Daemon, can your squad wipe out their base?" My apprentice rolled his eyes at that and said "Of course they can, but we should do it smart... After or rather IF they catch the boys and bring them back here, we'll have gunners set up on the second floor looking down onto them. Once we have the boys we'll ambush the pirates. Then we storm their base, without their leader they will go into disarray and we can kill the survivors of the war that will surely break out." I almost smiled in pride at my apprentice's tactile genius. At this point I realize that we have forgotten about Kopel and ask "When are they going to be on Ossus?" He was looking around himself like he was scared that someone would walk in on him and replied "In three weeks my lord. The council has been talking and... They, along with the Republic, are preparing for war... Against you." My eyes widen a little at that and I was so filled with hate and anger that I could only ask "How?" He seemed to understand what I meant and said "The dark Jedi that arrived on Korriban was captured a couple of months ago and he eventually broke. He told them where you are based. They know of how many followers you have so they haven't attacked." I nodded slowly realizing that it isn't Kopel's fault and say "I admit that I wasn't expecting them to be ready for war so quickly. What of the dark Jedi?" He was quick to say "Dealt with... Discretely of course." I just sat for a moment because my decision right now will affect the whole galaxy.
I finally came up with an answer for the Jedi and their war. "If it is a war they want, it is a war they'll get." I whispered so that only those in the room would hear. "Goodbye Kopel. Your loyalty will be rewarded greatly, I assure you." I say and then end the transmission. We all just sat at the table because after a decade of waiting, we will finally have our chance to destroy the Order and the Republic. The silence was broken when Daemon said with a hint of joy in his voice "All in favor of cutting Kopel off, raise your hand and say I." I thought he was joking until Septis raised his hand and said 'I'. I looked between both of them and said "I as well. He has become a detriment to our organization." The General seemed to agree and said "Yes he has. He betrayed the Jedi easily enough as well. Who's to say he won't do the same to us?" Daemon nodded his head and swept his black hair out of his yellow eyes. "I can't get to him as long as he is on Coruscant. Should we somehow slip it to the Jedi that he is a traitor and let them deal with him?" I sat for a moment before deciding that that was our best option "Yes we should. The Jedi have taught Calorus how to use mental shields so I can't talk to him through that anymore... I've an idea. How soon can you set up a transmitter that can broadcast across the galaxy?" Septis nodded in understanding and said "It'll be done by the end of the week, Lord Decatus." I was pleased and smiled slightly whilst replying "Okay then. Get on that immediately please. Lord Daemon please contact Captain Haelis and tell him of what he has to do. Offer a thousand credits just to make sure he won't let them go for a couple of crystals. Get ready gentlemen... It is a new day for our Sith Empire!"
1 week later
Kail's P.O.V
(In a sitting room in the Temple on Coruscant)
18:00 Standard Time
I was crouched behind the couch in the middle of the room, waiting for my prey to walk through the door. I could feel the tension in the dark room, we've been waiting for an hour for him to walk through. I've been planning this for a month and with one wrong move it'll be over. I heard footsteps coming closer to the room and I nodded my head to Rebecca next to me, my partner in crime. I could hear the door open and then close as I blinked for just a moment. The lights flickered on and we all jumped from our hiding spots screaming "Surprise" to the shock of Calorus. Everyone put on their party hats and I gave Calorus one as well. "Happy twelfth birthday man. Follow me, I got you the coolest present." We walked towards an empty area of the room and I looked around just to make sure no one followed. I then pulled a box out of the cabinet behind me and opened it. "What the... Where in the hell did you get two blocks of Songsteel?" He whispered whilst closing the box and looking around frantically. I just laughed and opened the box again "Just take one. These are for when we build our lightsabers." He grabbed a block and studied it for a moment before putting it back in the box "Alright, keep that in the box. Hide it in our room somewhere. You still haven't answered my question. Where did you get those?" I chuckled and then whispered "The black market is a magical thing my friend". His eyes widened and he looked around again with beads of sweat forming on his forehead and whisper-screamed "Black Market?! How much were these things anyway?" I smirked proudly because I got a hell of a deal on these. "2000 credits for those that can't pull off a Jedi mind trick. 200 for those that can." He straightened and smirked a little and asked 'seriously?' with an almost insulting amount of disbelief. "Yeah, seriously. The guy was pretty weak minded though so I could have made him give me them for free but I didn't want to completely rob the guy." Calorus seemed much calmer now as he wiped the sweat from his eyebrows. "Alright, keep yours in your robe's pocket. I'll do the same... Now, let's go enjoy my party!" I just laughed as we went over to the small group that is celebrating my best friend's birthday.
It was about an hour later and most people had left and it was only Master Makarai and Zetra along with Sara, Rebecca, Calorus and myself remaining in the room. I was talking with my Master about my progress with the combat forms when the holographic projectors (TV's) came on and a man in a black cloak with deathly pale skin appeared. He looked directly into the HP with his saffron yellow eyes and said in a semi-deep yet very intimidating voice "Hello Jedi and the Republic, my name is Cathius Harnet and I am the Dark Lord of the Sith. A little birdy told me that the Jedi High Council and the Republic Generals are planning to start a war with me... Well listen here Republic scum, if any Republic or Jedi ships steps foot in the Esstran or Arkanis sectors, it will be blown to bits. Don't you even try to plot against me because I have spies within the Senate and the High Council itself. I hereby declare war on the Republic and the Jedi. To all my followers, commence Operation Back in Black. I am the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Decatus and this is my Declaration." The screen faded to black and the whole temple was quiet. It felt like the whole planet was quiet until Masters Makarai and Zetra rushed out of the room to the Council room.
Makarai's P.O.V
(Council Room on Coruscant)
19:02 Standard Time
All twelve members of the Jedi High Council were sitting silently in our seats looking at each other accusingly. My Master Jo'Anna broke the silence when she said "That was a lie, I think... I hope." I shook my head no and replied "I'd hope so too but it makes a lot of sense. During the Akari Wars, Decatus was always one step ahead... We didn't catch up to him until you sent Master Zetra and I on that secret reconnaissance mission. It was too late for the whole base to evacuate but once we got back and told the whole council of what happened and got a military force to invade, Decatus was gone. I think it's safe to say that the spy alerted Decatus of what was happening." Master Trek, an asian human male with a black goatee, said "That would mean that the traitor has been on the council since the Akari Wars. Counting Grand Master Jo'Anna, only five of the members have been around that long. That leaves four suspects." I looked at the four suspects and asked Trek "How will we find out which one it was?" He looked at the four and asked "Are you willing to submit to a mind reading?" Masters Chugnar (A male Wookie) and Ravel Ki (A female Nautolan) were the first to say that they would do it immediately. Master Vehya (A female Twilek) was saying yes when Master Rahn exclaimed "You have no right! That is an invasion of privacy!" Master Trek and I looked at each other and he said "That is why you have to agree to it. The other three have already agreed to it... You realize how that looks Kopel?" Master Rahn nodded and said "I'll do it... In a Republic court in front of my peers" Master Jo'Anna solemnly nodded and said "You may as well admit guilt now Kopel. If you get charged with high treason against the Republic the punishment is death." Master Chugnar growled and said "Maybe he deserves it. Countless of our brothers and sisters died in the Akari Wars. Not to mention the civilian casualties. You are a traitor Kopel and you deserve a traitor's fate." I was thinking on why he would want to be judged by the Republic when it came to me "You just want to go to a Republic court because Decatus has members of the Senate in his pocket!" The room went silent with realization when Kopel shot out of his chair and ran for the exit. The doors slammed shut and Kopel turned around and pulled out his Lightsaber. "Stay back!" He screamed as he ignited his blue blade. Master Jo'Anna shook her head in sadness and said "Dex." I knew what that meant and I got out of my chair and tossed my robes aside revealing my brown tunic and my twin silver plated curved Lightsabers. I was willing to fight but didn't want it to come to that so I did what any Jedi would do and negotiated. "Kopel... If you stand down we will make sure that you aren't executed. You don't even have to go to prison. Just take force suppressing drugs and stay in a house on Naboo." He was having none of that, knowing how Jedi negotiate and said "More Jedi lies! You'll put me in prison for life or have me executed. Or Master Chugnar will rip off my arms and beat me to death with them." Master Chugnar growled and said that he hoped that he got to do that. Kopel then did something unexpected and sent a torrent of force lightning my way. I absorbed it into my right hand and poured all of my anger into my own force lightning attack that I sent into his chest with my unbridled rage. After about five seconds, I realized that I couldn't keep up the attack for much longer without completely giving in to the dark side so I stopped.
He convulsed on the floor as the electricity flowed through his bones. After using the dark side for that attack I could still feel some anger flowing through me clawing to get out and I grabbed and then ignited my emerald blade and pointed it at him. "By the power invested in me I, Master Jedi Dex Makarai, place you, former Jedi Kopel Rahn, under arrest. The charges are high treason against the Republic, high treason against the Jedi Order and conspiracy against the Republic and the Jedi Order" I handcuffed him and then called in the guards. As they took him away, I sat back down in my seat and Grand Master Jo'Anna said "These turn of events sadden me so but it doesn't change that we are officially at war with the Sith once again. Dex and Emily, how are the boy's training going?" I smiled slightly at my apprentice's power and replied "Kail's is going great, he has mastered combat forms one and two and is working on form four currently. Like me, he takes to force lightning rather well." Master Jo'Anna nodded and looked towards Emily. "Calorus' training is going well. I admit that he takes to the force more than the Lightsaber but he has mastered form three. He can, however, perform mind tricks rivaling a Jedi Knight." Emily said with a proud smile on her face that only faltered when Master Trek declared more than asked "So much power in mere children. That is dangerous, no?" Zetra seemed annoyed at the statement and replied with an edge "They are not mere children though. They are Jedi." Master Jo'Anna tried to break the tension by asking when they were going to go get their crystals but you could still feel it in the air. "In five standard days they will leave for Ossus. They should be back a standard day after that." I replied quickly as it was getting uncomfortable in the room. "Good. Are you certain that they can fly that ship of theirs?" The Grand Master asked with a hint of worry. "Yes I am, my master. I taught them myself." I said with a nod and a smile. "Very well. Master Chugnar and Master Trek, you two are to go speak with General Dais about how we will proceed in the war. Until the spy has been found, the senate is not to be trusted. Dismissed."
Everyone stood up as we were dismissed and Emily and I left the room and went to our rooms. "The boys should be headed to their room by now. Good night Dex." Zetra said as she entered the room next to mine. "Good night Em." As I entered my room I started having premonitions of an invasion on Hoth, our base in the Outer Rim. I saw... Waru there and I could hear the screams of the workers there. The vision faded to black and I slumped against my dresser as it ended. I can't let that happen, I have to send the boys to stop it but when will this happen? I think I saw the Galactic Peace Meeting taking place. That only happens once every ten years. The next one will be in... Two standard months and six days. I pray to the force that the boys are truly ready to fight Sith. If they fail... The whole galaxy will feel the repercussions. No one else can do this because no one else wants to. They are our only hope.
Calorus' P.O.V
(Sitting room)
19:36 Standard Time
Kail and I were just sitting in silence and staring at the black screen. "So... That's your uncle. Right?" Kail asked uncomfortably as the room was just awkward. I nodded before saying "Yeah" and getting up to walk to the door. "I'm going to go to bed. Night Kail" I said without waiting for a reply and leaving the room. As I walked out I saw about five other kids outside staring at me, Aze and Veil among them. "So Calorus... Who was that? He had your name so he must be related to you. That your father?" Aze asked with a frown fixed on his face. "He's not my father" I said as I stood straight and glared right back at him. "He's my uncle and no, I haven't met him." I couldn't help but clench my fist as I said this because I could feel anger flowing through me as I sensed their thoughts. I heard "He's probably a spy" from Veil and "I'll never look at him the same" from Rebecca and worst of all "He's Sith Spawn" from Aze. "I am not Sith Spawn" I all but growled as these words came from my mouth. He reeled back and his eyes widened slightly, surprise clear on his face but he straightened up fast and replied "Yeah you are, you're related to the Dark Lord of all people. That makes you, your father and your mother..." I snapped at that and started squeezing his neck through the force, lifting him off the ground. "Don't you dare say a word about my mother you insignificant speck of dust" I let go and he fell to the ground clutching his throat and taking deep and rapid breaths. "I'd advise you to stay out of my way. I wouldn't want to unleash some of my Sith hunting training on a fellow Jedi. Veil, clean him up and get him to his room" Veil shook his head with a speed I would've thought impossible and grabbed Aze and started to lift him but he stopped when I called after him. "Oh and Veil? Stay away from me and my friends because if you mess with any of us again it will be the last thing do. Now that is my declaration." As I walked away I could hear their thoughts again and this time I heard things like "He stood up to Aze!" and "Was that a force choke?" and best of all "Wow!" I felt a mixture of emotions as I walked away, anger and pride being the main ones, but what I really felt right then... Was power, unlimited and unstoppable power. It's unleashing itself and with it my chains are truly broken. The force really does set you free.
