Chapter 10
(Yavin IV)
Vader reached the summit of the stairway and looked this supposed ancient Dark Lord in the eyes. They were a strong and narrowed gray as they peered back up to where Vader's eyes were planted upon his mask. His cloak and armor was strange as previously noted, and the man was tall enough. Though compared to himself, Vader knew he was hardly a man of great stature. He did take another instant between his foreboding breaths to note the man's belt. No sign of a lightsaber was found. That was most interesting to Vader.
"If you would please follow me, my Lord." 'Kun' offered with another sweeping motion of his hands towards Vader's left over his shoulder along the flat landing before the second level interior. The man began pacing ahead of Vader and he was sure to slowly tread on after him. His looming figure always watching and waiting for the 'shoe' to drop. His cloak whirling about his intimidating and hulking figure, and his hand itching to grasp at his waiting saber to cut down any fool daring enough to attack him.
"I am not one for trivial and idle chatter. I have come here by orders of the Emperor."
"Oh, and what were those orders exactly?" The man asked seeming unconcerned with Vader as he clasped his hands behind his cloak whirling the folds as he did so and peering out beyond the landing.
"Simply to ascertain the cause of the dark presence felt. You let off a beacon through the Force. A dark center for which to follow and come to. You did not give coordinates, of course, but you were no difficult thing to follow even from the deepest reaches of space." The man chuckled and tipped his head, still pacing as he went.
"An unfortunate side effect of my return I believe. I had not thought myself so small or so weak that my return wouldn't unleash my presence through the Force. However, I had not thought it so 'loud.' Alas, there's nothing I can do about it now. You are here, and so am I." He went on coming to a stop and turning to face outwards. Vader stopped and came to stand beside him. Gripping at his belt, and seeming to ease only somewhat. He looked outwards following 'Kun's' own vision. Where he was met by dozens of nearby temples. Small near imperceptible figures swarming beneath, before, and atop them as they worked and tended away to these ancient buildings.
Vader could easily sense them all. An inherent darkness lay within them all as these warriors, these Massassi did what they could to bring wonder back to their old homes. Very little could be seen done. Indeed Vader again noted some warriors just below the landing hacking away at tall brush and thickets. Easing and slowly tearing away at the great foliage and natural world that had eaten away at this place for thousands of years.
"Your 'return'" Vader began glancing to his left upon the man.
"You claim to be Exar Kun, but I haven't any evidence to show this to be true, 'dark one.'" Vader intoned mocking the man's own description of himself. The man shrugged his head and sighed.
"Hmm, let's see, what could I do to convince you of who I am? He asked more aloud to himself than Vader. He turned to the hulking dark obelisk of a Sith once more with a curious brow and inquisitive glint in his eyes.
"Firstly, I would like to know what you have heard of me? It's been...far too long since I've been active in this galaxy. Only the faint whispers of the Force. The flow of dark and light around me as I wasted away between life and death. Yet, you know my name?" He inquired and Vader waved his right hand somewhat dismissively.
"Your 'reputation' does not precede you, 'Dark Lord.' You memory is lost to all in the galaxy save those most acquainted with the history of the Jedi and Sith. Few of those remain as well. There are but two Sith, and you look upon one." His tone biting and final in manner. The man frowned some, his eyes darting about as if in thought.
"That...that must be a lie." He began.
"I can sense quite clearly as it stands. I could easily sense the Force when I was but a wandering spirit here. The galaxy teems with life! It is filled with those who can touch the Force, but more importantly I can sense...I could sense those who touched the dark side in many a number! You can lie to me if you wish but it will gain you nothing, Vader!" He barked back in terse and simmering a manner. Vader merely crossed his arms over his chest in response.
"You're mistaken, 'Kun.' The Sith orders have changed many times since your presence in the galaxy. Undoubtedly more times than necessary, and every time, save one, they have eaten themselves. Set themselves foolishly against the Jedi en-mass or enriched themselves in greed and self preservation. It is only by this order that the Sith have finally risen to power."
"And what 'Order' might that be?" He asked mirroring Vader and crossing his robed and armored arms over his chest.
"The Order of the Sith Lords. More commonly known as the 'Rule of Two.' Set down by a Dark Lord you wouldn't know, and fulfilled by myself...and my Master." The man narrowed his gaze when Vader spoke of his master. Internally he strengthened his defenses, noting his perceptible weakness and loosening of emotion when he mentioned the Emperor. The man remained silent only for a moment before he reared his head back and took in another great breath of air.
"I created the Brotherhood of the Sith. It must seem so long ago now that it means nothing. Perhaps it is fitting. There was no one to take up my mantel. No one deserving at least." Now it was his turn to sneer as old memories came to him. Vader, however, already knew of whom he spoke of. Indeed he had spoken to a holocron of the man once before. Now so long ago to himself within the caves of Rhen Var.
"Ulic Qel-Droma." To that the men looked back to Vader with harsh a glare, but it wasn't meant for him. Rather, whatever memory suddenly shot through his head unseen and unknown to Vader.
"Weakness, utter weakness and cowardice! A foolish thing it was to think that man could ever be a Sith Lord! Whatever Marka Ragnos had been thinking making him my second must have been the loss of nerve of a long since dead man! I curse the day I allowed myself to call him and his horrid witch of a lover my allies!" He seethed and the Force whirled hungrily around him. Vader had to admit, if the man were impersonating Exar Kun, he had his rage against his old apprentice down well. Including internalizing the raw hatred.
"He died."
"What?" The man whipped back to Vader.
"Qel-Droma, he died. Forgotten by all but a few even in 'your' time. Upon a frozen world of little value. Outcast by the Jedi, unremembered by the Republic, and a Sith no more. His destruction of importance and worth was complete. Perhaps that would satisfy you to hear?" Vader offered still testing the man's reactions. He visibly narrowed his eyes before making a low and thoughtful hum. A seemingly forced smile came upon his face then and Vader felt his own brow furrow in confusion.
"Well it was to be expected. The man was a fool. He had no business being a Sith. A pity I could not end him myself, but I made only one critical error when I took on my form as a wandering spirit." He then motioned out towards the temples.
"I used the thousands upon thousands of Massassi. The parents and grandparents of these servants you see before you. Their willing sacrifice, and my alchemy assured me that I could live in perpetuity. Yet, I had not fully understood what that would mean. So, I trapped myself to endless wandering and bouts of insanity."
"Yet, here you stand." Vader countered and the man smirked darkly.
"That I do, Lord Vader. That I do." He suddenly thrust both arms out at his sides, his smirk turning to a full blown and welcoming smile.
"Come then! You wish to know if I am indeed Exar Kun then ask me anything that may prove myself to you! If you are indeed one of the few who remember me and my exploits then something only you and a few others should know would surely be easy for myself to answer." Again Vader studied him. He seemed to be honestly inviting him to test him, and Vader was eager to see if this could indeed prove to be a Sith Lord of the ancient stock and manner. From times he couldn't even imagine himself. So, he contemplated for a moment. Allowing memories of Skywalker to reenter his mind, studies and boring classes of histories and warnings. Parables and the stern lectures of old men and women too afraid to reach out and seize the power of the Force for themselves.
"Certainly." Vader began, taking great care to not allow this man to see him flex his fists as that same old rage coursed up and down his spine.
"The name of your master?"
"Which?" The man countered and Vader felt his lips curl angrily before the man chuckled.
"I had both a Jedi Master and a Lord who...I suppose one could call my Master. Who opened me to the dark side before I sent him back into the chaos of it." Vader cooled himself, his eyes fluttering shut in barely controlled sudden wrath. He knew the man was far too sarcastic and coltish for his own good. He always wanted to thrash such men and women. But, he would control himself. For now.
"Then your Jedi Master. Whom was she?" Vader asked and immediately the man's smile turned to an amused grin.
"Oh Vader that is a good one. Alas, my master was no woman. He was Vodo-Siosk Baas, a Krevaaki male, and I his most prominent and prestigious student. Whom I slew upon Coruscant within the very chambers of the Galactic Senate of the...Republic." For just an instant Vader noted the man's demeanor shift. A memory flashed over his gray eyes as he recalled the incident that Vader knew relatively to be true. Although records only stated Kun killed his master. Time had long forgotten where, but within the senate chambers? That was interesting. Although his mood shift upon recalling the execution was strange. It seemed melancholy, and Vader wasn't sure what to make of that. For, he knew that were it himself he would be ecstatic whenever he replayed such memories. All he needed do was first find Kenobi.
"Very well. However, I am not yet convinced. You have been on Yavin IV for a time perhaps, and perhaps there were records previously undiscovered that gave you such information." He conjectured and Kun came back to attention before shrugging.
"Perhaps, but unlikely. Go on, give me another." Vader nodded.
"You mentioned your apprentice's 'witch.' What then was her name?" Kun soured near instantly before a strange dark smirk crossed his face.
"Why that would be Aleema Keto. Of the Keto family and royal dynasty of the Empress Teta star system. That was before I sent her into the Cron Cluster and to her doom. Perhaps the remnants of that great disaster still ring out, and perhaps Ossus is still recovering from it?" Vader said nothing. Indeed he had not known the answer to his own question. Such knowledge and memory of this 'Aleema' character had also been lost. However, Ossus...that struck him, and sounded all too plausible. No one seemed to know what had happened to the Cron Cluster. Save for that it annihilated itself in a chain reaction that caused the ancient Jedi world of Ossus to become untenable and unlivable. At least for a time.
"Very good." Vader controlled himself, and hid the fact he had not known the answer himself as he congratulated the man.
"This is fun, Lord Vader! Revisiting old memories and past victories! I had not in thousands of years thought that I would be able to recall and relieve my past glories with any but the dank and dark halls of my temples." He chuckled with a toothy smirk and eyes alight in joy.
"We shall see if you can maintain this victory streak." Vader intoned leaving the man to give another sly smile and simply bow his head expectantly.
"Your life upon Ossus as an apprentice, you utilized a green lightsaber correct?" Kun cocked his brow but remained smiling.
"Two at once, Lord Vader? Very well, I will play along. I did not train on Ossus. I had visited it several times with my Master Baas, however I was raised and trained primarily upon Dantooine. That, and I wielded a wondrous blue saber all my life. Including when I became the Dark Lord." Some of that wasn't fully known by Vader also, but what he did know he knew the man...Kun answered correctly.
"Very well. I suppose, barring some great discovery on my part, I shall acquiesce to your claim. For now, I suppose you are indeed Exar Kun." Vader conceded and tightened his folded arms over his chest doing what he could to maintain his towering and hulking figure. Kun smirked and bowed his head thankfully as he also waved his arms out in a bowing and ornate fashion.
"I thank you for finally relenting that I am myself."
"Yes, yet that begs the question-"
"As to how I am back?" Kun interjected and Vader nodded.
"It isn't so grand a tale or strange a thing actually." Kun again motioned for Vader to follow him along the outer bounds of the ledge leading off of the temple as he began pacing once more. The shining reddish glow of Yavin Prime falling upon them glinting Vader's armor and casting Kun in near persistent a shadow.
"In and out of consciousness. That is the best way I can describe what it was like in my state. I severed my spirit, my essence within the Force, from my body now...I am not even sure how long ago at this juncture." Exar went on espousing what details of his story he chose to speak on. Vader listened intently while glancing off and on again to those temples beyond and down to the grassy fields below them. Massassi roamed by grunting and growling or using that harsh language of theirs to give one another orders. He noted in that instant that all he saw then were males.
"Time and again I could sense those upon my moon. Coming and going committing whatever they wished. When I was first caught in the grips of that spiritual plane I could not 'see' anything as you...may call it." Kun paused again noting Vader's outfit. Something the Dark Lord realized and frowned behind his mask.
"Imperceptible time passed," He went on.
"Until I finally came to visualize my surroundings. I began to 'feel' the Force again and use it to see through and perceive. The mark of many trespassers remained upon my moon. Those deaf to and open to the Force, yet those open to it were nowhere to be found, and I would constantly lose myself to thought and reason, from time to time. It is difficult to explain...how one maintains any semblance of sanity when there is nothingness surrounding you, and no hope or dream of changing it. Despair, not the Force, nor the waking and material world, was my enemy." Vader felt a strange feeling prickle at him from within. Almost something akin to an understanding of what Kun meant. He glanced down flexing one of his hands and hearing the subtle whir of machines from within his suit of armor and support operations. It made him momentarily sick and the Force pulled in around him gnashing and howling in disgusted rage.
"My Lord?" He snapped back up as Kun glanced over his right shoulder looking towards him. Undoubtedly sensing the shift in the Force, and studying him. That too caused Vader to grimace.
"That does not yet answer how you've returned. It's been four thousand years since you have been even a contemplation in the minds of the galaxy." That caught his attention and took it away from eyeing up Vader.
"Four thousand years? I had known it to be long, but that is...long indeed." He intoned turning to Vader again.
"How many Sith factions have come since mine?" Vader crossed his arms, a shrug barely contained from loosing as he didn't really have an exact number. Such lore and knowledge of the past was not something he was too interested in beyond what pieces he had to learn as Skywalker, and that knowledge 'gifted' to him by his Master.
"Your Brotherhood died with you, and came some that are remembered and some that are not. Two Dark Lords named Revan and Malak formed an empire, though some would argue no order was truly established there. A resurgence of Sith is noted as well. An Empire of the forgotten peoples of Korriban flooded into the galaxy seeking revenge, though they fell more at the cost of their Emperor than anything else."
"How...depressing." Kun hummed and Vader again nodded his agreement.
"Beyond such you have fiefdoms, kingdoms, empires of warlords who declare themselves Sith, and then you have the Brotherhood of Darkness. The precursor to this Order or Two."
"A lie in and of itself." Exar interjected and Vader shrugged in concession. It was true, and it was infuriating on a degree. The Emperor had long ago dropped all pretense of maintaining the Rule of Two. Inquisitors, Hands, and even those strange Prophets he talked to from afar. All of them used the dark side, and Vader felt on some level they all thought themselves as Sith. Yet, they were but pale reflections of their Master, his Master, and his will. Admittedly even he was partially at fault for this. His mind flashing back to the boy who even now resided within an as of yet built warship.
"It matters not. What matters is that it was this Order, myself and my Master who brought the Jedi to their knees. Save but one or two hiding in the great expanse of the galaxy they are all but annihilated. Something neither your order nor those that came after could accomplish or can lay claim to." With an air of authority and superiority Vader declared and Kun though bowing his head Vader could sense a small trace of aggravation and annoyance spill off of him through the Force.
"True enough I suppose. Though perhaps loyalty to a cause and its foundations when they've already rotted away is somewhat dogmatic." He offered and without waiting for Vader's reply, turned and began walking again. Vader followed and again internally felt himself agreeing, and followed after him as the two nearly completed one full trek around the temple's ledge.
"So, the galaxy is run by the Sith?"
"Not so directly, but yes. The Emperor, and myself. The Empire is known as just that, the 'Galactic Empire.' No mention of the Sith or its ways save for the Emperor, myself and his many servants. It was he who toppled the Republic from within. Though I will not explore any more deeply than that of that matter." Vader declared and Exar again turned to him with a probing expression. Though with his suit it was a fruitless endeavor and through the Force, Vader maintained his shields.
"Very well, keep what mysteries I am sure to discover one way or another on my own. Though that still begs the question, as to why you're here, Lord Vader?" He questioned again.
"You set off a powerful reaction in the Force. It called to my Master, and I felt it as well. I was sent here to discover its cause, and to bring it before him if possible. Or, destroy it if need be. My Master suffers...no rivals."
"Is that right?" Kun retorted with another air of slyness to himself. Almost a dare so it seemed.
"Why then would he have me brought before him? After all, I was like a beacon in the Force. Certainly my power must've been felt. My strength and my return." He gloated and allowed for his arrogance to once more bleed through. Vader chose to ignore it though.
"He seeks many...opportunities. To both gain more power, and to test me."
"Test you?" He repeated causing Vader to grimace and frown further beneath his mask.
"He seeks more 'apprentices.' To supplement his power and his reach. He is hungry for the acquisition of followers and devotees. I am sent to find them, from time to time. To test me." Kun narrowed his eyes, but then in a flash they lit up and he smiled and knowing smile and nodded in understanding.
"Ah, so your Master does not like you in your current state!"
"I would watch your tone, Sith Lord." Vader sternly and immediately warned pointing a lazy finger out towards him. The Force rippling and pulsating with his power. Kun for his part held his hands up in a calming manner even though a chuckle looked perpetually stuck just about to loose itself from his mouth.
"Trust me, Lord Vader, I am not insulting you. I have felt your power through the Force. Both here, and when you arrived, and as you trekked through my endless forest." To that he did chuckle and Vader felt like grasping his throat, only barely containing himself again.
"Surely you can see, that I have, no real means of leaving this world. I am in no position to insult or demean one such as yourself. Especially seeing as you destroyed the Jedi."
"Flattery does not work on me, Kun." Vader again warned with another stern shake of his pointed finger.
"I hardly mean to flatter you, Lord Vader." Kun rebuffed.
"I earnestly am at a disadvantage here. Did you think I could not sense what loom in orbit?" He asked pointing skywards.
"Within an instant I would be where I was thousands of years ago. Alone trapped on a planet where your fleet could destroy me. And, I have no intention of returning to that half dead spiritual hell I lay in before. Yet, if I resist you here then your Master would surely expect you to kill me, correct?"
"Correct, Kun." Vader stated simply and coolly. Though in reply Kun simply smirked and held his hands out at his sides again.
"I have little in the way of advantage, but I have been given a free ride off world! After all, your Master wishes to meet with me, and he wishes to see if I am at all useful to him. Maybe even as a replacement of you!" Vader lowered his arms and again he pointed towards Kun though it was stern and jutting as his index finger extended out towards the ancient Lord. The Force trembling around Vader as his wrath grew and his mind flashed to a flash of motion where he whipped up his saber and cut down this arrogant whelp!
"Watch your impetuous tongue, Kun! Or, I shall remove it and drag you before my Master in chains!" Kun seemed unphased, however, and again dipped his head seemingly submissively.
"You take me too seriously, Lord Vader. Perhaps I am too freely spoken, but you fail to understand what I am trying to convey."
"And what exactly might that be?" Vader seethed through his mask, even past it one could tell the words were biting and leaked through clenched teeth as Vader felt that old near unstoppable apathetic, but simmering rage build inside of himself.
"Come now, certainly you've noted that your Master has no love for you. You have been sent here on an errand, like a kath hound, but I do not hold that against you. It is your Master who lacks the respect to come here and treat with me himself. Even you've admitted it, your Master has lied to you. This 'Rule of Two' is an abject joke. At least in the eyes of this Emperor." Exar went on, and Vader, again, didn't disagree with the man, but he didn't see where he was going with this still.
"The point Kun?"
"Very well," He began again showing only a trace of annoyance that Vader wished to be so blunt and forthcoming.
"I would gladly seek to take you and your Master up on your offers to leave this moon. Yavin IV is mine, but let's say I submit that it falls within this Empire's domain. Let's say I submit to the fact that your Master rules this galaxy, but let me also submit to the reality that stands before me. You have come here on behalf of your Master, but with a writhing hatred for him inside your very being. It burns bright, Lord Vader, and I've felt it throughout our entire conversation." Vader said nothing, but did curse to himself as he had thought his emotions had been more in check than they had obviously been. Still, he didn't think much of it and simply shrugged himself re-folding his arms over his chest.
"It matters little, Kun. Every apprentice among our kind seeks to eventually destroy their Master. Or, was that not clear to you when you became Dark Lord?" Vader asked in a mocking manner.
"Trust me Vader, I know what it is to deceive." Was his simple, although vague answer as he did cast something of a shadow of a frown Vader's way. Though it was quickly overtaken by his more chipper demeanor. How honest or faked it was though, Vader could not tell.
"Tell me, wouldn't it be much more fitting if you returned to your Master not with some prize for him to exploit and use as he saw fit, but rather a new found source of power for yourself?"
"A willing servant?" Vader asked though Exar chuckled quite strongly to that.
"No, I am no servant, and would prove to be a poor follower. Besides, I believe myself to at least be a rival in power to not only you but your Master whether," He cut Vader off before he could interject and rebuke.
"Whether you do or not, it is what I believe, but I do not wish to stir the wrath of the only one could could remove me from this moon and reintroduce me to the wider galaxy! After all, I've been lost to it for far too long as is. No, I wish to return, but not become an immediate fugitive in a galaxy not my own nor known to me. Though I would also rather not become a puppet and slave to your Master. Who, might I add, you've painted quite the picture of thus far." He chuckled on though Vader couldn't care less how those beyond himself thought of the Emperor. So long as they didn't do it in a situation where he need be bothered enough to kill them for his Master.
"I wish to rather than become such a servant or slave return and see this Empire. To see what could be done of it...for it even. However, I would be in need of...allies. Those willing enough to move with me and explore the greater options presented for us. Someone with enough power of their own to perhaps even match this Emperor, this rival Dark Lord. Perhaps someone who is in a state as such to be willing to ally with a Dark Lord such as myself. Who knows some of the intricate ways of the Force. The ways of Sith alchemy and powers perhaps lost to these Sith of the modern age." Now things were becoming clear and Vader still remained silent. Admittedly he could feel it. A sudden pulse of adrenaline and racing of his heart still beating hidden within this obstruction of a shell he called his life support suit. His breath simmered and cooled as he felt his eyes light even without seeing them.
Of course he had come seeking to take this power for his Master, but more importantly see if it was better suited for himself.
"Perhaps." Vader began.
"Though one would be hard pressed to trust a Sith Lord only recently returned to the galaxy from a long self induced slumber. One who did little to welcome any such helpful party to 'their' moon. Perhaps this Sith would be silver tonged and give allegiance to the Emperor upon meeting him to take his place at his side. Then, with time, only come to replace him. Perhaps, it would even be smarter for this interested party to kill this upstart Sith Lord now, before he becomes a nuisance later." Vader very bluntly put it and Kun for his part did nod. Fully aware of the game they now played openly with one another.
"True, but then there is no chance and no hope at all. What could have proven to be a fruitful relationship is never explored, and there was no risk taken. That is a sign of either blind loyalty to a man that sees this possible ally as nothing more than an enslaved kath hound, or a disloyal servant without the strength of will enough to actually take a chance and resist this Emperor." Kun went on with his pseudo sly remarks.
"Let us then, imagine for a moment what a galaxy like this would look like should this creature this Emperor be removed from power. Perhaps we may be allies even then or maybe we would then turn on one another, but that would take time and effort to see if that is what befalls us. A galaxy ruled by Sith who are not afraid to show their strength and their power. Sith unafraid to change things for what they know, and what they feel to be for the better. I've seen them, Lord Vader, I've seen those rebels, and your galaxy is not as secured as you would have me believe." To that Vader felt his brow raise curiously. Kun hadn't ever let on that he had met anyone besides himself so far. He glanced both left and right as though expecting to see ships or signs of a battle, or movement, but all he saw were temples in the shadow of the gas giant or Massassi lumbering around in the dark.
"It is a somewhat long story to explain that, Lord Vader. However, what's more important is this: your Master cares nothing for this Order you espouse, he has kindled the fires of rebellion even if sparsely throughout this galaxy, and he sees you as a hound to be toyed with. To run his errands and fetch his newest plaything, am I correct?" Kun asked, all pretense of coyly implying an alliance between two made up persons dropped and his demeanor showing a more serious aspect to him.
Vader still remained silent. His anger simmering ever as he thought back on every indignity he suffered at the hands and words of his Master. Every false sense of friendship, and every errand he indeed was sent upon for him. The lack of commitment to him as an apprentice, and refusal to follow the Rule of Two. His every move to try and topple the old man having amounted to nothing! Indeed his whole meaning in coming here, beyond his Master's wishes, was to see if this thing, this source of power could be used to his own ends. And, here he stands, openly willing to work with him, and something inside Vader fell away. Perhaps, he thought, it was his last bit of inhibition.
"What is it that you propose then, Kun?" Vader asked low but still quite powerful with his usual baritone. The man opposite him broke into a renewed and confident smirk that plastered itself firmly along his face as he clasped his hands together happily.
"Oh, so very much, Lord Vader. Though first you should send word to your fleet as to your progress, and then join me within my temple." Kun motioned to an opening leading into the second floor of this temple. Along its walls hung two torches and on either side had been standing two Massassi guardsmen.
"We have much to consider, and much to share, I should think." Exar ended as he turned and made his way towards the opening alone. Leaving Vader to turn up towards Yavin Prime. A sudden feeling coursing through him. A smirk crossing his face and his eyes glowing in their yellow unnatural display as he felt himself oddly relieved. Surely something had just happened, and he was more excited for what was to come then he had been in many long years.
Authors Note: If any grammatical errors are seen feel free to let me know and I will correct them otherwise just try to ignore them please.
Chapter Revised and Updated: 12/13/18