Chapter 10: Casting of Lots
Korriban, Valley of the Dark Lords:
Lord Daku knelt before the tomb of his ancestors. It was not the largest of the Sith memorials in the valley, but neither was it the smallest. Looking up, he gazed upon the faded red stone of the blocky structure. A simple portal provided entrance into the inner mausoleum. Two massive winged hounds flanked the entrance. Directly above the doorway was a sculpted bust of Daku's ancient forefather, Rosast Daku, Dark Lord of the Sith.
"I come to you for guidance, for strength, and for wisdom." His soft words rang clearly in the air and hung in the silence.
A breezed blew by, scattering a few gusts of fine sand. A kath hound screamed in the distance. Yet the Dark Lord did not reply. Most men, even Sith Lords, failed to understand the workings of the dark side and the afterlife. Many adventurers traveled to Korriban, the Sith grave planet, to seek answers from the dead and few were ever successful. But Daku was a true believer, and he was patient. He waited until the sun rose high in the sky, its sweltering heat engulfing him in sweat. His muscles ached from holding his submissive stance, his throat was parched, and his stomach roiled in place.
And then his answer came.
"Lord Daku, do you really think the dead can talk?" Tulak Hord's tone was thick with sarcasm. "And why would they bestow their wisdom to a traitor like yourself?"
Daku rose slowly, turning to meet his opponent. "This time has been long in coming Tulak."
"Yes, yes it has." A thoughtful look crossed Hord's face. "You never did forgive me for killing your friend, did you?"
Daku tensed. "No. Never."
His friend was the last contender for the title of Dark Lord of the Sith, long before Nechos' fall. When the last Lord died of old age, Hord quickly stepped up to take his place. Yet he was not without a challenger. Of all the Sith Lords in the council, only one dared to compete with Hord. He was the only other individual worthy of the title. Alas he fell to Hord's blade.
The last image Daku could remember was the glassy eyes of his friend staring at him from across the room. His friend was lying dead upon the floor while Hord was declaring himself the new Dark Lord of the Sith. It was a hated memory that would never still.
Daku focused on that thought as he drew his sword. Hord watched in glee.
The two dark beasts circled each other on the old stones before the tomb. It was a fitting place for battle, a place where all the old Lords could sit and watch.
Tulak plucked two cylinders from his belt and ignited the thrumming blades. One of gold, one of silver, both lethal and weightless. He swept them forward like coiled vipers leaping for the attack. Daku parried and withdrew.
"You fight like a coward Hord, no better than a common peasant. The power of the dark side lies in the Force, not petty tools." To emphasize his point Daku struck out with the Force.
A seismic blast slammed into Hord as he tried to block the blow. For the most part, he was able to block it, enough to remain on his feet. Yet the blow was not without damage. He could feel the bruises it had left on his chest and arms, the tingling numbness that threaten to paralyze his body.
Then, to his surprise, one of his lightsabers went out.
"Look at that." Chuckled Daku, "One of your lightsaber crystals broke."
Hord yelled as he charged forward, trying to blind himself to his pain with wild rage. Daku struggled to block the ferocious attacks. Each fell like ten sledge hammers jarring his arms as they struggled to hold on to his sword. The attacks didn't stop, they only intensified.
Daku was slipping.
Then fate intervened again. This time Hord's other lightsaber went out.
"First a crystal, now a dead battery." A daring smile slid across Daku's face. "I think the dead have spoken, Hord. They've chosen the one with more respect."
Dejected with the failings of his lightsabers, Hord threw them away in disgust. He drew two more from the four cylinders that still hanged from his belt. Both ignited with crisp hisses of electrical discharge.
Again the two warriors came to blows.
With strained patience, Daku sought to entwine Hord in his own blades. If he could get Hord to strike rapidly, without thought, he could tangle the Dark Lord up enough to land his own blow. And thus his sword clashed against one lightsaber, then another. Each time the pace quickened as Hord grasped for an opening. Wild swings fell low and high as thee blades twirled through the air. Tulak was beginning to loose his focus. Daku could see the strikes turning into sloppy desperation. Now was the time.
Turning half around, Daku swirled back with a full, two-handed blow leveled for Hord's head. The Dark Lord intercepted it, then unleashed a wild flurry of attacks. Closer and closer the blows followed each other until they were nearly linked in continuous motion. With a wide, circling parry, Daku wrapped the two blades together, controlling their motion. As he pushed them down and around, he pulled off his sword and lunged for the attack. Hord was momentarily caught off guard.
A cold thunderbolt of pain ruptured through his body. Every nerve and muscle seized in complete shock. His eyes gasped in pain as his mind struggled to perceive the unfolding events. One last image rolled into view. A shimmering red blade stuck through his abdomen, sizzling with vapor of his own black blood.
Daku fell to his knees upon the grounds of his ancestor's tomb. It was a fitting place for his death.
For Hord it was a moment of ecstasy. Another victim of his blade. He savored the thrill while it lasted.
Serq's fleet on the edge of Sith Space:
Adina carefully approached the Sith Lord. Serq was dressed in full battle armor and manning his post aboard his flag ship. There were no hostiles to conquer in this sector, only natives to subdue, nevertheless Serq fulfilled his duty with equal passion. Adina gathered his posture as he addressed Serq.
"Mazul, I've come with a proposition, one best discussed in private."
Serq looked around at his crew, nodded his head, and walked over to a private command room. Once inside the two lords talked in private.
"I was approached by Lord Daku and he brought up a very interesting point. Tulak Hord has become increasingly incensed with his lightsabers, to the point that they may be affecting his judgment. He proposed that we, the Sith Council, unite together to oppose any future challenges that Hord might issue."
Serq could see where this was going. "You think Hord will attack another Sith Lord just to satisfy his taste for combat. And you want me to stand by you and the others, to pose a united front against such a threat."
"Precisely."
"It is too late." Serq cast a solemn glance to the floor.
Adina waited in silence, not comprehending Mazul's meaning. "What is it?"
"Daku…he's dead. I just received a message from the capital informing me of the lord's passing. It said he died on Korriban when he tried to challenge Hord for the title of Dark Lord."
Adina couldn't believe it. Daku had been right. Hord had gone too far.
"If it is of any consequence, Lord Adina, I will still stand by you and the other lords. Tulak has lost his…focus." He carefully chose his words.
"If Daku is dead…should we…what…" Adina was at a loss for words. His mind struggled to grasp the next logical step. Too much had happened, all too fast.
Luckily Mazul stood as a guiding force. "If we let Hord go as he is, then nothing will change. Soon another will fall victim to his obsession. Thus we must act." He paused to convey the seriousness of his conclusion. "We must confront him in combat…and kill him. There is no other way."
Adina bounced the ideas around in his head. It was a simple plan. Straightforward. "Together we strike?"
Serq nodded his head.
The plan had been set. The end of the greatest swordsmen the Sith had ever seen was now cast in motion. The question was whether or not it would play out.