Araxsis rolled Kallig's helmet in between his hands, as he pondered what his next move. The holocron that Skotia had given him had detailed everything that Zash was planning. The artifacts of Tulak Hord that he had been sent all over the galaxy to retrieve, were key in the ritual that Zash was using in order to steal his body. The young Sith was angry, yet not at Zash. He was angered at himself for not looking into the nature of what this ritual of his Master's detailed.
Araxsis now he had a choice. He could go to a member of the Dark Council. Someone like Thanaton could put a stop to his Master's plan. Or he could deal with Zash himself, though that would mean playing right into her hands. Yet who was the one fighting all over the Galaxy, while the other sat in comfortable decadence? Who was the one gathering powerful allies, and strengthening their power in the Force? It was him. He, Araxsis was the one doing all the work and growing ever stronger, while Zash sat around on Dromund Kaas doing nothing.
"So what's the plan?" Andronikos asked, as he walked up to the young Sith.
"Zash doesn't want you in that temple." Araxsis began. "But I do. So you'll be going with Khem and I, just not into the tomb."
"If I'm not going into the tomb, why am I going into the temple?" Andronikos asked, his brows knitted together.
"There's a nice little overlook just before you enter the tomb." Araxsis began, as a sniper rifle flew across the room, into Araxsis' outstretched hand. "You'll be up there with this. If Zash does anything suspicious before I engage her, shoot her in the head."
"That I can do." Andronikos replied smiling as he took the rifle. "We've almost reached Dromund Kaas, so I'd get yourself ready."
"Ah, but that's the thing." Araxsis said, as he placed Kallig's helmet over his head. When he spoke next, his voice was that same half whisper that Kallig's spirit always spoke in. "I'm always ready."
As the Nightingale touched down outside the Dark Temple, Araxsis couldn't help but feel a small sense of dread wash over him. He was about to go in there and face off against his Master. But it had to be done, as it was either he killed Zash or Zash stole his body through this ritual she was planning. He gripped his lightsaber tightly, and slowly made his way into the tomb. He walked the familiar path towards Kallig's tomb, Andronikos splitting off from him and Khem to take his position on the overlook that gave the pirate a perfect view of the tomb.
Zash was easy enough to find. She was the only person in Kallig's tomb when Araxsis entered. She was facing away from him. Staring at Kallig's stone coffin, though despite knowing what she was attempting to do, he did wonder why she kept her hood up.
"Such marvelous power radiates from you now." Zash said, still keeping her back turned to Araxsis. "Clear, strong, you have truly come into your own."
"A Sith follows his heart." Araxsis replied.
"Yes indeed. 'There is only passion'." Zash began pacing as she spoke. "But do not forget: 'through passion I gain strength. Through strength, power. Through power, victory. And through victory my chains are broken'."
"'The Force shall set me free'." Araxsis finished.
"Yes apprentice. Though let's not get ahead of ourselves, as there is still the ritual to undergo. And I warn you, it may prove a trying experience. But once it's done, you will be truly powerful, truly great."
"If by powerful you mean dead." Araxsis snarled.
"Apprentice, where did you ever get an idea like that?" Zash asked in a tone that positively oozed mock surprise, though she still kept her back turned to him. "When have I ever led you astray?"
This entire mission was leading me astray! The young Sith thought viciously, as Zash turned to face him.
"The truth is, I've not been entirely honest with you. I wish I could have been, but the timing was not right." Zash said, before she removed her hood. What was under it, made Araxsis step back in shock. Zash's hair was now a dark grey, where before it was blonde. Her once youthful face was now stretched, so she resembled more of a walking skeleton than anything else.
"Wow, you make rodians look kissable." Araxsis scoffed.
"Listen to me apprentice." Zash began. "Various Force rituals have allowed me to keep my youthful appearance, and some of my vitality. But life fades. I'm dying apprentice. My intelect, my spirit, my will are as lively as ever. But this body is dying."
"A shame really." Araxsis began, as he grasped his lightsaber. "A real shame that you can't simply order a new one."
"Oh but don't you see? That's exactly what I've-" Zash never finished her sentence. Araxsis had activated his lightsaber, and swung at his Master's head who barely got out of the way of the swing. He followed up with a diagonal swing with the lightsaber he had taken when he killed Skotia. Again Zash barely got out of the way of this swing, and to her lightsaber.
For what seemed like an eternity, the two Sith's starred at each other. The only sound came from the three humming lightsabers, and Khem's vibro-blade. Araxsis then brought both of his lightsabers up, and down with a flourish in a double Makashi Salute. The younger Sith felt the Force surge, as Zash struck out. Though her push with the Force was not directed at Araxsis, but at his Dashade who was sent flying across the large tomb.
When Araxsis was distracted due to Zash's Force strike, that's when the elder Sith struck. She aimed a stab at her apprentice's sword arm, and it was only dumb luck that he sidestepped and parried the strike with the lightsaber in his off hand in time to keep his right arm. The two Sith's ended up back to back, and Zash struck again in an attempt to bisect him. Araxsis brought both blades up to defend himself, and ended up catching Zash's lightsaber in both of his. Araxsis then brought his blades up in a wide arc, going from right to left, and taking Zash's blade with both of his.
Araxsis disengaged his blue lightsaber from the saber lock, and brought it up once more. This time severing the upper portion of Zash's weapon. Now it was his turn to strike. Bringing both blades up, his arms crossed across his chest, and both lightsabers tucked under opposite arms, Araxsis intended to decapitate Zash. Yet despite her body being near death, Zash was still agile enough to duck under her apprentice's strike.
"You won't stop this ritual from happening!" Zash hissed, before striking out with the Force once again. The push caught Araxsis in the chest, and sent him hurling back into Kallig's stone coffin, knocking him out cold.
Araxsis' vision was incredibly blurry when he regained consciousness. Though his skull was aching from a splitting headache. He shakily made his way to his feet, not feeling any different from before he was rendered unconscious.
"Apprentice what have you done to me!?" Zash's voice cried out. Araxsis whirled around, calling both of his lightsabers to his hands with the Force, and activating them the moment they touched his hands. Though he was surprised to find Khem standing in front of him instead of Zash, whose body was lying in a heap several yards away. "Why couldn't you have stayed still for a moment longer!? Why couldn't you have called your monster off!?"
Araxsis' silver eyes widened in shock, when he heard Zash's voice come from Khem's mouth. It seemed her ritual had backfired drastically. Khem must have stepped in, and taken Araxsis' place. Zash's consciousness must have been transferred to Khem instead of Araxsis.
"Five years!" Zash's voice cried out. "Five years! Finding the right person, training them, locating the artifacts! All ruined!"
"Well that's your problem." Araxsis shrugged, as he deactivated his lightsabers. "Yet you never took Khem's loyalty to me into equation. Now, you have a new problem. Since Khem is bonded to me, that means you are as well."
"That bond." Zash's voice snarled. "That damned bond! How can this be possible!? How can your will be stronger than my own!?"
Araxsis chuckled, and crossed his arms. "This is what you call a classic reversal of fortune."
Khem's body seized up for a moment, as if there was an internal battle going on. A moment later, the Dashade straightened up, and Araxsis had a feeling that his Force eating assassin was back in control of his body.
"Is that you my morose monster?" Araxsis asked, his arms still crossed.
"It is master." Khem growled in his ancient dialect. "Yet what happened? It seemed though I was in the voice of your master."
"Think about it flesh of my flesh." Kallig's spirit said as he appeared before his descendant. "Zash claimed to have wanted to steal your body for herself, and just now spoke to you through the Dashade. And protest all you like Khem Val, servant of Tulak Hord. However your ancient master's artifact has been turned against you. And through some strange and miraculous trick, neither of you are in full control."
"This is some sort of dream right?" The young Sith asked. "I'm still unconscious, and this is all a dream."
"The Force is complex. A mystery. There are none who understand it completely. Be content in your victory flesh of my flesh. The great danger that I had feared has passed. Your rise to glory complete. I don't know wether we will chance to meet again on this side of death, but I am at peace. I came to say goodbye, and good luck. You are lord Kallig now. It was a glorious name once. Use it well."
Kallig's spirit vanished, as Andronikos raced up to the two of them. "What the hell was all that about!? I saw you hit the coffin, your Dashade knock Zash to the ground, and the next thing I know you're talking to a ghost!"
"It's incredibly complicated." Araxsis began. "The simple version is that Zash and Khem are sharing the same body, and that ghost was my ancestor I told you about. He had one final gift for me. His name. My new title is now Lord Kallig."
…
Araxsis now Kallig strode into the chambers that were once Zash's, and Skotia's before they were hers. As he approached the large desk, the holo panel on it hummed to life. The same elderly Sith who had confronted Zash in the cantina after Kallig had killed Skotia, appeared slightly above the holo panel.
"Darth Thanaton." The elderly Sith said by means of introduction. "I don't believe we've met."
"Though I think I've seen you before." Kallig replied, still wearing his ancestors helmet.
"Yes, when I contacted your master while she was in the Nexus room Cantina just shortly after Skotia's death. If you'll be taking up Zash's work, we'll need to get to know each other. Meet me in the tomb of Darth Androu just outside of Kaas City."
"I don't like this one bit." Andronikos said as the hologram of Thanaton vanished. "It could be a trap."
"Oh it's a trap." Kallig replied nodding. "Get back to the ship Andronikos. We may have to get out of here in a hurry."
"Just watch your back." Andronikos said, as he left to prep the Nightingale, and Kallig and Khem went to go meet with Thanaton.
"Thank you for meeting me here." Thanaton said when Kallig finally approached the elder Sith outside the large tomb. "Respect for one's superiors is the mark of a good Sith. Though Zash would have disagreed with me. Did disagree with me passionately on point. But then Zash never respected tradishion."
Behind his mask, Kallig rolled his eyes. "Did you bring me here just to discuss philosophy?"
"Philosophy gives order to the delicately structured chaos of our Empire." Thanaton replied. "Tradishion, principles, history. The threads that compose our society. Zash refused to acknowledge how one little tug could ruin the whole tapestry. Your work was sloppy, brazen even. But the news of her death was sweet."
"I did what I could to clean up the blood stains." Kallig said shrugging.
"I speak in all seriousness." Thanaton said scowling. "Too many people saw you enter the Dark Temple. I trust you'll be more careful in the future. Nevertheless we're here to talk about you not Zash. You have demonstrated remarkable ability. Though I am a stricter master than Zash, you'll find that to loyal followers of our tradishions, I am not ungenerous."
"So if I agree to your every whim, you might not kill me?" Kallig scoffed, as his right hand lightly twitched. As if it yearned to go for his lightsaber.
"Suspicion can be a form of wisdom." Thanaton began. "As long as it doesn't lead to disrespect. Now I wish to see how you work. This tomb belonged to Darth Androu, a Sith scholar and alchemist. I am interested in his last writings which are located in the innermost chambers of this tomb. They were buried with him, and if you recover them for me, we can discuss your place within my power structure."
Oh this man is far too overconfident. Kallig thought as he strode past Thanaton, and headed deeper into the tomb of Darth Androu, though he felt as if whatever game Thanaton was playing at, it was going to end badly for him. Kallig flung an arm out to stop Khem from entering the inner tomb, as he had a very bad feeling about this particular tomb.
"Look around." Kallig said, pointing to the skeletons scattered around the tomb. "Thanaton sent us in here to die."
"Very perceptive flesh of my flesh." Kallig's spirit once again appeared before his descendant. "Yes, this is where Thanaton sends his enemies. Had you entered, you would have been destroyed by the vengeful spirit of Darth Androu. Yet I know of a way you can overcome Androu's spirit. Far deeper into this tomb you will find yet another Force spirit. The spirit of Darth Ergast knows a ritual that will allow you to bind a Force spirit to you. Go to Ergast and learn this ritual. Then return here to face the vengeful spirit of Darth Androu."
"Things just keep getting better and better." Kallig remarked, as his ancestor's spirit vanished.
The entrance to Ergast's tomb was blocked with remnants of the crumbling tomb, but that obstacle did not last longer than it took Kallig to lay eyes on it, before he blasted the obstruction away with the Force. Ergast's spirit seemed to be waiting for him, as the ghost smiled at the young Sith as he approached.
"Welcome descendant of Kallig." Ergast's spirit said still smiling. "Tell me what is it you seek?"
"I seek the ritual that allows me to bind the dead." Kallig replied.
"Very well. In this ritual you will learn to bind both life and death in what is known as the Force Walk."
"I will learn if you will teach me." Kallig replied.
"I will teach you this ritual, yet note the bones that lay around you. Not everyone is able to master the ritual of Force Walking. But if you are willing, then drink from the cup before you. It is poison, but it will not kill you."
Always a catch. Kallig thought to himself, as he removed his helmet. After placing it on the floor of the tomb next to the stone pedestal that the poison cup rested on, Kallig lifted the cup in both hands, and drank from it deeply.
"Very good child of Kallig." Ergast's spirit said. "Now the poison will take effect quickly. Once it does, we can begin."
Ergast's spirit was not lying. The poison acted quickly, and rendered Kallig unconscious. And during the young Sith's poison induced coma dream, Ergast's spirit guided and taught the Sith in the nature of the Force Walk ritual.
"Very good child of Kallig." Ergast's spirit said inside Kallig's mind. "There is one last test for you to complete. Bind me, and you will wake. Fail to do so, and you will die."
"You'll find that I don't fail." Kallig replied, and a massive surge of energy flooded through his body. The normal bright silver of Kallig's eyes turned a vivid and bright poisonous purple. At the same, Ergast's eyes glowed with the same light as the younger Sith's, before the spirit vanished. When Kallig next opened his eyes, he was lying on his side on the floor of Ergast's tomb. He had succeeded in binding the spirit to him. Now it was time to set his sites on Darth Androu's spirit.
"Venom toothed vipers, always slithering slithering. Up the walls along the floors." Kallig heard an incredibly angered voice come from all around him as he entered Darth Androu's tomb. As he stepped up to the large stone coffin at the far end of the tomb, Androu's spirit revealed itself.
"Venom toothed viper." Androu's spirit hissed.
Kallig struck out with the Force, his eyes behind his helmet that he had placed back over his head upon waking, were once again that bright poisonous purple. Androu's spirit staggered back, the same a living person would after having received an electric shock.
"What did you!? Wait… Wait. Yes I've heard of this, the ritual of Force Walk. I won't be so easy to bind little snake, and I won't go willingly."
"This isn't a permanent deal." Kallig replied. "You'll be freed when my foe has been killed."
"Yes, I sense the truth of your words little snake. Very well, I will lend you my power to help you destroy your enemy."
Kallig's eyes glowed that same bright poisonous purple once again, before Androu's spirit was lifted off its feet, vanishing moments later. Kallig shook his head several times, feeling the power from the two spirits he had bound fill him with their power. With this newfound power, Kallig believed that it was time to confront Thanaton for his deception. His boots echoed around the now empty tomb, as Kallig walked out of the deserted place, heading for the entrance.
The Elderly Sith seemed quite surprised to see the younger return. Even more so when he was handed the last writings of Darth Androu. "You've put me in a difficult position. When Zash disobeyed me, tradishion demanded that she be killed, and her power base destroyed. Believe me when I say that I wish you had stayed in that tomb. It will pain me to watch you die."
Kallig growled, and rolled his eyes behind his mask. "Spare me the false tears. I'm ready to fight you."
Thanaton scoffed. "You do not have the strength, nor the authority to defeat me." The elder Sith lashed out with a powerful blast of lightning, yet Kallig was ready. The Force wrapped itself around the young Sith, as his eyes glowed the now familiar poisonous purple.
"Astonishing. I was not prepared for someone as reckless as you to have prepared such a defense. Unfortunately for you, I am older and wiser, and have studied in rituals you can't even imagine."
The pain Kallig experienced next was indescribable, and so intense that it threw Kallig from his mind all the way across the galaxy, and into the mind of his twin brother.
Averos had gone numb. He could not take his eyes off of the large holo panel in front of him. The device displayed Darth Angral having been victorious over Master Orgus, who had been reduced to one knee.
"You like the rest of the Jedi have gone soft." Angral gloated, as he strode around Orgus.
"Do what you will Angral. My pupil will succeed where I have failed." Orgus panted. "There is no death. There is only the Force."
"If that is true." Angral hissed. "Then where is my son!?"
With those words, the Sith activated his lightsaber, and impaled Orgus from behind. Though he knew he was seeing through his brother's eyes, Kallig could not tell who it was between them, that had cried out in anguish upon witnessing the death of the Jedi Master.
