CHAPTER NINE
Gar-Ren-Jedi sat in his room watching the video. Some news program was on, but he wasn't paying attention. It had been two days since his meeting with Darth Taul and the others. They had told him to go back to his room, and that they would let him know when they made the arrangements for him to see his brother.
During the past two days he had hardly left his room. Twice a day he walked across the street to a little restaurant to get something to eat. He always made sure to sit near the window so that he could be easily seen. The rest of the time he spent in his room watching the video, though he rarely paid attention to the programs.
People walked past the restaurant while he ate. Occasionally a Darth Guardsmen, a Darth Knight, or a Sith Lord walked passed. They would casually look in the restaurant, but none seemed particularly interested in him. They moved on their way without giving him a second look.
It would soon be dark. The sun sank low on the horizon, and in the city, it would get dark earlier than in the country. Gar-Ren-Jedi had decided that it would be at least another day before they contacted him.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door. He had been daydreaming and the knock startled him. For a moment he simply sat looking at the door. The knock came again. He
stood up and walked over to the door. He turned the handle and opened the door expecting to see Sell-Nar.
Instead, a large ominous figure wearing the black robes and black gloves of a Sith Lord stood outside his room.
"Greetings," hissed the Sith Lord. "I am Sith Lord Crell. Am I correct in assuming you are the one known as Gar-Ren-Jedi?"
"Y . . . yes," stammered Gar-Ren-Jedi.
"Ah, fine," responded the Sith. "The Sith Master was correct. The Force is strong in you. Darth Knight Taul has told me that you asked him about an audience with the Sith Master."
"Yes," said Gar-Ren-Jedi. "It has been ten years since my brother and I spoke. I, uh, had to come to the capital on business. I figured as long as I was here, I'd stop by for a visit."
"I see," hissed the Sith. "Tell me. Why did you contact one of the Darth Knights? Why did you not contact a Sith Lord with your request? Surely, even in your village, you must know that only the Sith Lords speak with the Sith Master."
"Uh, yes," said Gar-Ren-Jedi, trying to think of something convincing. "Well, as I said, I came to the capital on business. I have to return to my village in a couple of days. Once I finished my business, I happened across Darth Taul. I wasn't sure when I would see a Sith Lord next. I figured if I told one of the Darth Knights, they could pass on my request to the Sith Lords."
"Of course," said Crell. "Well, it seems that the Sith Master has agreed to an audience. He is a very busy man. If you are not busy right now, he would be most pleased to meet with you."
"Great," said Gar-Ren-Jedi, picking up his coat. "I am free right now. I was just going to relax for a while. I'd be happy to meet with him."
"Excellent," said the Sith Lord. "If you will be kind enough to follow me please." He turned and left the room.
Gar-Ren-Jedi followed the Sith Lord out of the hotel and to the palace. It was a short walk and few people were out. As they entered the palace, Gar-Ren-Jedi noticed several Darth Guardsmen guarding the entrance to the palace.
Inside the palace, the hallways were empty. Only occasionally did anyone pass them. Usually it was a Darth Knight or a Sith Lord. Eventually, Gar-Ren-Jedi saw only Sith Lords. Apparently, only Sith Lords had admittance to this section of the palace. They
came to a door flanked by two Sith Lords. They simply nodded to Sith Lord Crell as he opened the door.
"The Sith Master is inside," he told Gar-Ren-Jedi. "When you have finished, I will be here to show you out." He stepped off to one side and motioned Gar-Ren-Jedi into the room.
It was a small room, simply adorned. It had a bed, a small table with two chairs, a small video unit, and another table piled with books and parchments. A single light provided very little illumination in the room. Sitting in a chair in a very dark corner was a figure dressed in all black robes.
"Good evening, brother."
Gar-Ren-Jedi looked at the figure. He recognized his brother's voice, but he could see no features on the figure. He debated trying to get a better look at his brother, but decided against it. He moved over to the table and took a seat.
"Hello, Jerroc-Sith," he said. "It's been a long time."
"Yes," said the Sith Master. "And I don't go by that name any longer. In the tradition of the Darth Guard, I have chosen a new name. I simply go by Sith now. Or Sith Master, if you prefer."
"I prefer Jerroc-Sith," said Gar-Ren-Jedi. "But I suppose you have the right to call yourself what you wish. Sith will be fine."
"The same old Gar-Ren-Jedi," said Sith. "You were always so diplomatic. I could use that ability. Many of my Sith Lords are so lacking in tact and diplomacy."
"It seems what they lack in diplomacy," returned Gar-Ren-Jedi, "they make up in other ways."
"Yes," said Sith. "I think I understand your meaning. Sith Lord Oper told me of your . . . encounter with him. He was wise to withdraw when he did."
"Yes," said Gar-Ren-Jedi. "Jerroc-Sith . . . Sith. What happened? I can sense the change in you. It's a dark, cold change. Your Sith Lords seem to have this same darkness."
"It's the Dark Side," said Sith. "That dark temptation which father would warn us about. There is a strength in the Dark Side which father never dreamed about. Remember how I used to say that the Force had greater power to it? Well, I was right. I discovered that power in the Dark Side.
"It's not so bad. I now realize how useless all those years of protecting ourselves from the Dark Side was. I realize now just how tiring that was. Funny that I never noticed it at the
time. Now I'm free of that. I have made so many changes in the province. You wouldn't believe all that I've been able to accomplish."
"Like stealing children from their parents?" asked Gar-Ren-Jedi.
"We must all make sacrifices," said Sith. "The Sith Lords must have their Padowan. There are so few candidates which are suitable."
"You mean those whom you can turn to the Dark Side," said Gar-Ren-Jedi. "Sith, father warned us constantly about the Dark Side. How could you give in to the seduction of the Dark Side?"
"It was easy," said Sith. "I knew that I needed to produce results with the Darth Guard quickly. The Prefect was waiting for the great power we had promised him."
"You promised him," Gar-Ren-Jedi corrected.
"I promised him," continued Sith. "It was clear that the meager skills we had mastered would not be that great power. So I figured I'd see what the Dark Side had to offer. It was a great decision. In practically no time at all, I was able to perform feats which I would never have been able to do otherwise."
"Sith," pleaded Gar-Ren-Jedi, "you have to stop this. The Dark Side is twisting you; making you evil. Already, many of the people in the capital are afraid of you. They're afraid of the Sith Lords, as well. To be honest, I'm frightened for your safety."
Sith laughed. Gar-Ren-Jedi noticed it was an evil, twisted laugh. It chilled his blood to hear it.
"My safety?" asked Sith. "I assure you, brother, you have no need to concern over my safety. I am very well protected here. Also, no one has mastery of the Force as I do."
"So I see," said Gar-Ren-Jedi, nervously. "Still, it is possible that . . . someone might make an attempt on your life. Who knows? They might even succeed."
"You mean those Darth Knights who are plotting against me?" asked Sith. "Don't look so surprised, brother. There isn't much that goes on in this city that I don't know about. I know of your meeting with Darth Knights Grimm and Taul and the others. I must confess that I am not privy to what exactly you discussed, however."
"To be honest," lied Gar-Ren-Jedi, "they asked if I might talk to you. See if I could change your mind about all this."
"Of course," said Sith. "I suspected as much. Darth Taul has always resented that I did not select him to join the Sith Lords. I'm afraid he still holds a grudge, even after all these years."
"Nonsense," said Gar-Ren-Jedi. "It's the changes that have taken place in the capital that concerns him. He's afraid that you might have lost sight of what's best for the people."
"I can assure you that is not the case. Sure, right now things are a bit tense. That's the way with all change at first. In a very short time, everyone will come to see that this is the best way. Then the resistance to the changes will cease. You'll see. This province will soon be the greatest, most prosperous province in the world."
Gar-Ren-Jedi sat patiently listening to The Sith Master. This was not his brother any longer. Evil exuded from Sith as if it were a sentient creature. Gar-Ren-Jedi searched Sith with the Force. He knew his brother would sense it, but he had no choice. He had to find out how far to the Dark Side Sith had turned.
He didn't like what he found. Any shred of what had once been Jerroc-Sith was absent. The carefree, impulsive, even sometimes reckless man he had grown up with on the farm no longer existed. Instead, before him sat a cold, manipulative, deliberate evil which was bent on accomplishing it's specific goal. Gar-Ren-Jedi was sure he knew what that goal was.
"So," he finally said, "there's nothing I can say or do that will change your mind?"
"No," said the Sith Master. "But you can join me, brother. My plans will take months, perhaps even years to be completed. With you at my side, we could accomplish them much more quickly. Imagine what we can accomplish together."
"Like ruling the entire galaxy?" asked Gar-Ren-Jedi.
"I see Darth Taul has told you a great deal," responded Sith.
"He didn't have to," lied Gar-Ren-Jedi. "It wasn't hard to figure out. I've heard of the new hyper drive. Considering you can reach virtually every corner of the galaxy with it, it was a simple matter to put the pieces together."
"You always were quite ingenious," said Sith. "But my more immediate plans are to unify this planet. The old hyper drive has already allowed us to colonize three planets. Once the new hyper drive is ready, we'll spread out to a thousand new worlds. Each world will bring new converts into the Sith Order."
"You can't be serious?" questioned Gar-Ren-Jedi. "It would be physically impossible for a single man to rule the entire galaxy. The sheer size of it makes that impossible."
"Oh, I know that," said Sith. "Instead, my Sith Lords will rule the various systems. I will rule them. I will build an empire the likes of which the galaxy has never seen."
"You're insane," said Gar-Ren-Jedi.
"Am I?" asked Sith, smiling. "I've already seen it, brother. I know you've never believed in my ability to see the future. It exists, I assure you. I've seen this future empire. It's vast. Huge ships called Star Destroyers enforce the peace. The Darth Guard control the Star Destroyers. I, of course, sit as emperor. It will come to pass."
Sith was right. Gar-Ren-Jedi did not believe in the precognitive ability he claimed to get from the Force. There could be only one explanation; turning to the Dark Side had driven his brother insane.
"Well," said Sith, "I suppose there isn't much chance of you joining me. I don't need to use the Force to see your hesitation. That's just as well. If you were to join me, I'm sure I would eventually have to destroy you."
Gar-Ren-Jedi stared at the Sith Master. He had no doubt that this simulacrum of his brother wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone who stood between him and his goals. That anyone included Gar-Ren-Jedi himself, if Sith saw him as a threat.
"Hear me, brother," said Sith. "It is only out of respect for father that I am allowing you to leave here. That, and the knowledge that your pathetic skills are no match for the Dark Side of the Force, which I command most affectively.
"Go back to the farm, brother. Return to your simple life and continue to build the farm. Stay out of the political affairs of your province and this planet. It can only come to no good for you if you do."
Gar-Ren-Jedi stood up. He had no delusions about the veiled threat Sith had issued. He also had no delusions that the reasons Sith had given for letting him leave were a total fabrication. There had to be another reason Sith was letting him leave. Perhaps he wasn't sure just how powerful Gar-Ren-Jedi was in the Force. He couldn't risk a confrontation until he was sure of Gar-Ren-Jedi's power.
As he left the room, Lord Sith Crell was waiting for him, just as he said he would. The two Sith Lords standing on guard outside the Sith Master's room did not acknowledge Gar-Ren-Jedi's presence.
"I trust your meeting was . . . beneficial?" questioned Crell.
"Let's just say," replied Gar-Ren-Jedi, "that we were able to work some things out."
"Excellent," said Crell. "The Sith Master has instructed me to aid you in any way I can. I assume you will be returning to your village in the morning?"
"No," said Gar-Ren-Jedi. "I still have a few things to compete before I leave."
"Oh? I was under the impression you had concluded your business here?"
"It is," lied Gar-Ren-Jedi. "But I have a few . . . personal things I'd like to do. Getting some souvenirs for friends and family members. Picking up items we don't have in our village. That sort of thing."
"Of course," hissed the Sith Lord. "If there is anything I can do to aid you, you have but to call on me. Any Sith Lord can get a message to me quickly."
"Certainly," said Gar-Ren-Jedi, smiling. "If I need your help, I'll let you know immediately."
"Excellent," said the Sith Lord.
He walked Gar-Ren-Jedi to the front door of his hotel, then, without a word, turned and returned to the Palace. Gar-Ren-Jedi watched as the Sith Lord disappeared into the darkness, then went to his room. He had just closed the door to his room when Darth Knight Taul stepped out of the shadows of his room.
"The Sith Master still lives," he said. It was a deliberate statement designed to let Gar-Ren-Jedi know he was aware of it.
"Yes," said Gar-Ren-Jedi.
"Then you were successful in turning him from the Dark Side?" questioned the Darth Knight. It was evident he could not believe that Gar-Ren-Jedi had been successful.
"No," said Gar-Ren-Jedi. "I believe my brother is beyond redemption. He has given himself over completely to the Dark Side."
"Damn," swore Taul, slamming his fist onto the table. "This may have been our only chance. Why did you not slay him when you had the opportunity?"
"Listen to me," said Gar-Ren-Jedi, anger suddenly flaring up inside him. "This is no stranger we're talking about. He's my brother. I simply cannot believe that the only way to stop him is to kill him."
"You fool," returned Taul. "You do not understand just how evil the Sith Master is. He is no longer your brother. Whatever part of him which was your brother died many years ago. Now, he is nothing more than an evil force which must be stopped. For the safety of the province and the entire planet."
"You sound just like him," retorted Gar-Ren-Jedi. "Do whatever it takes to protect the province, even cold blooded murder. He may be evil, but I can't just kill him."
"Everything the Sith Lords do is at his command," said Taul. "Do you know how many people the Sith Lords have killed or who simply disappear? There are dozens of them. It may be as many as hundreds. This is all at the command of the Sith Master."
"Maybe," said Gar-Ren-Jedi. "But I need time to sort this all out. It's all happening too fast."
"Of course," said Taul. He seemed to have calmed down. "I was out of line, Master. It was only that you haven't seen the things I've seen. The suffering, the despair, the anguish of those at the mercy of the Sith Lords. I was hoping that all might end tonight."
"Why do you call me 'Master'?" asked Gar-Ren-Jedi.
"Sell-Nar is my Master in teaching me the ways of the Force," said Taul. "You were his Master. It is only right that I address you with the respect due you."
"I see," said Gar-Ren-Jedi. "Still, I'm uncomfortable being called 'Master'. I was simply a teacher. Nothing more than that."
"I understand," said Taul. "When I became a Darth Guard, part of my duties included training the new initiates. It took me some time to get used to the Padowan calling me 'Master'. Now, after all these years, I don't give it a second thought."
"I do agree with you on one point, however," said Gar-Ren-Jedi. "My brother is not the same man I grew up with. He has changed considerably."
"What, if I may ask, did you discuss with the Sith Master?"
Gar-Ren-Jedi told Taul the entire conversation. Even though Jerroc-Sith had all but admitted he suspected Taul, Gar-Ren-Jedi felt that he should know everything they discussed. It was no secret that Jerroc-Sith would be even more suspicious of Taul now.
"I see," said Taul. "This changes things. We didn't think the Sith Master was that suspicious of us yet."
"I think he's suspicious of everyone, even his own Sith order," said Gar-Ren-Jedi. "Now, if you don't mind, I need a couple of days. Like I said, I need time to sort this all out."
"As you wish, Mas . . . Gar-Ren-Jedi," said Taul. "Perhaps in a couple of days we can talk again. The Darth Knights must now make plans. If the Sith Master is this suspicious of us, he might decide to move against us, to prevent us from interfering in his plans."
Gar-Ren-Jedi had thought of that as well. If Jerroc-Sith knew of his meeting with Taul and Grimm, he must also know who else had been there. This put them all at risk. Including Sell-Nar.
Sell-Nar had grown to be quite a young man, thought Gar-Ren-Jedi. Not only had he remembered all his training with the Force, he had even grown in the Force. Grown enough to teach others.
Perhaps that was the way of the Force. Once you are aware of it, it reveals itself to you. A little at a time so as not to inundate the wielder with more than he was capable of handling.
This might also explain the Dark Side. Perhaps it flooded the recipient with as much knowledge and power as it could. It would be like drinking too much wine too fast. It would be intoxicating. Releasing the inhibitions and fears of the recipient. Only unlike wine, the Dark Side of the Force would never diminish. That would explain how the Sith Lords could become such powerful wielders of the Force so quickly.
Gar-Ren-Jedi climbed into his bed. He had no idea what he would do in the next few days. What he had told Taul was not altogether the truth. He had said that he didn't believe that killing the Sith Lord was the only way to stop him.
That was not entirely accurate. As much as he thought about it, he couldn't see any way around it. If the province and even the planet wwere to be protected from the evil which was now his brother, the Sith Master might have to die.
Of all those who wielded the Force, only one man stood any chance of succeeding. Gar-Ren-Jedi began contemplating what might be the hardest task of his life. How to destroy his own brother.