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All characters appearing in Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek Deep Space Nine and Star Trek Voyager are copyright Paramount Pictures. All characters appearing in the Star Wars saga are copyright Lucas Arts and the Walt Disney Cooperation. No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder.
All original characters are the property of Celgress.
Star Trek/Star Wars – Galaxy at War: Interlude Three Darkness and Light Part II
by
Celgress
"Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven."
Khan Noonien Singh's parting words to Captain James T. Kirk
Space Seed - Star Trek (1967)
Somewhere Else Entirely
In a place that was not a place. Seated around a table that existed yet at the same time did not exist. There were a small group of beings engaged in what to all outward appearances was a game of Sabacc. A notorious card based challenge of uncertain origin from their native galaxy. While their surroundings consisted of fuzzy, pitch black ichor the beings themselves along with their cards and table were each surrounded by fiery auras of orange-red.
These entities were of both immense power and ancient lineage. Collectively and singularly their names struck fear into the hearts of those who heard them. They were Darth Vitiate, Darth Sion, Darth Nihilus, Darth Traya, Darth Bane, and Darth Zannah. They were among the greatest Dark Lords of the Sith Order old and new to have ever lived. Together they were known across many different realms as the "Seven Deadly Sinners", although at present they were short a member. In the Bajoran Religion they had another name. They were the dreaded "Kosst Amojan". A term which literally meant "to be banished" in the ancient Bajoran language. Some scholars also argued the term carried the dual meaning of "the accursed".
Darth Tenebrous appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He took the seats offered by Nihilus. Sion dealt him into the ongoing game without comment. Tenebrous slouched there eyeing his hand with disinterest until one of his companions, three turns later, at last spoke.
"Failed again I see eh Tenebrous?" Zannah said nonchalantly as she inspected her own cards.
"At least I am trying Zannah. Unlike the rest of you." Tenebrous sniped back. He was in no mood to be mocked so soon after his recent setback.
"The time has not yet come, as you well know Tenebrous." Sion reminded. Seated between Sion and Nihilus the stoic former self proclaimed ancient Sith Emperor Vitiate nodded but otherwise remained focused on his cards.
"Indeed, the game continues." Bane said.
"And the game only ends once," Nihilus stated evocatively.
"Until then nothing truly matters, our efforts are but practice for what is to come," Traya said.
"Perhaps, however, I content we should do more than merely observe until that time." Tenebrous said with conviction.
"Let our enemies dot upon their chosen pets unhindered by our attempted interference. Their blatant acts of favoritism will mean nothing in the end." Bane assured.
"Until then play your cards brother," Traya advised.
"Yes, I agree. We should continue the game." Zannah said a hint of irritation evident in her voice.
For the first time since sitting down, Tenebrous peered at the new cards he had been dealt. Two caught his attention immediately. One was a dark robed warrior woman with flowing pale hair and a fierce expression etched on her equally fair-skinned face. The other was an intimidating obsidian armored warrior, likely a male, whose helmeted visage closely resembled that of an ancient Sith battle droid. Most Interesting, most interesting indeed he thought.
Growing comfortable in the presence of his old chums Tenebrous became enamored by the familiar game once more. Unbidden his mind drifted back. He remembered how he came to be what he now was.
After his scheme to seize control of the body of his apprentice Darth Plagueis, via first transferring his consciousness to modified Midi-chlorians he had dubbed Maxi-chlorians and using them as a carrier, failed Tenebrous' mind was left adrift without form or substance. Being nothing more than a living virus with strictly limited Force sensitivity he was hopelessly trapped in an impotent existence, or so he at first assumed. After an unknown period of ceaseless experimentation, he escaped the bounds of the material world in totality. One by one he explored other realms without success he escaped his bonds and travel through the ether many termed subspace or hyperspace. Eventually, he was noticed by a higher being who was a member of a group who existed outside of normal space-time at the intersection of the Living and Cosmic aspects of the unifying Force. This entity who would someday be known as "Sarah Sisko" taught him much including how to truly ascend. Tenebrous thus became what those ignorant of the true nature of deeper reality might crudely term a "Force Ghost", a being of pure energy coupled with pure thought in tune with the unifying Force. In time, he would become as powerful as "Sarah" or any of her fellows. For innumerable eons by mortal reckoning he dwelt in what those beings called the "Celestial Temple".
Many would have been content with such an existence. Tenebrous was not one of those. He was still a Sith deep inside. He craved unfettered power about all else. He argued passionately that the mighty beings alongside those they helped elevate such as himself should directly guide lower planes as they saw fit. He seduced many to his cause among them six others who were once Sith Lords and Ladies. A terrible but brief conflict erupted. When the proverbial smoke cleared Tenebrous's army lay defeated. They were expelled from the "Celestial Temple". Cursed to forever wonder the Cosmos without home of security. Due to her role in elevating Tenebrous the being who would be Sarah Sisko was also banished, if only temporarily.
Since their defeat, those labelled "Pah'Wraiths" by their vanquishers entertained only one thought, vengeance. A vengeance Tenebrous would see they achieved. Yes, even if it took him a million years their shortsighted oppressors would pay. After all, what was time to an immortal?
"Hit me," Tenebrous said smiling a twinkle of twisted mirth in the deep pools of darkness which were his eyes. With the addition of his two newest cards, his hand was a hot one. There was no denying that fact.
To Be Continued