Judgement Day
Main Theme- In the Year 2525 by Zager & Evans
A red curtain cuts the ballroom in half and hides the other half. Silver tinsel and black garlands decorate the ball room's white pillars. A chrome-plated ball hangs from the ceiling and slowly spins in the cinnamon-spiced air. The theme for this little party is vintage holofilms. However, Kreel feels that the décor is more appropriate for a funeral on Life Day than a Death Night party. Then again, he has no real knowledge of the holiday aside from what Brendol and Rama decide to dish out.
Zuke eats another toasted piece of fish bread with sweet chili butter on top. The crumbs hit the frothy neckerchief, and Mic quickly takes his napkin to bat the offending particles to the floor. Zuke just keeps eating, but Shrap avenges him.
"Why didn't you get us cheap-ass suits? You're just going to be flipping out for the rest of the night." The suits in question are black and double-breasted with tails. When Mic first showed them the suits, Misty asked sarcastically if they get white gloves to go with their butler get-up.
"Because these were the only suits available on such short notice!" Mic hisses and then immediately wipes some spittle from the froth.
"You didn't have to get suits." Aero pipes up and earns a withering glare from Mic.
"Vintage holofilms what else could we have possibly worn?" Mic levels.
"Black gowns like the lady on the viewscreen." Misty replies without taking his eyes off said lady on screen. She's feeding some man-eating plant some men.
"None of you have the hips to pull it off." Mic retorts acidly.
"It's not like you're any better." Shrap counters.
"You boys are far cattier than the society ladies I have to put up with." Maratelle cuts into the brewing feud. She's in a short, golden dress with glittering strings hanging down the hem; her shoes are pointed heels in matching gold. She wears an artificial daisy crown on her head, a Coruscanti fashion trend that took five months for Arkanis to import. All she's missing is a fancy cigarra holder.
"U-Uh hi, Maratelle!" Aero's voice goes up an octave when he gets flustered. "You look lovely!"
"And you look dapper." She replies with a disarming smile. Aero adjusts his white and black bowtie.
"So, is this your first Death Night?" Aero continues with an embarrassed blush. Shrap snickers, earning an elbow to the stomach by Cav.
"No, I haven't attended one since the first year."
"First year of what?"
"Rama's first year. Although, he was pregnant for his first Death Night."
"And how long did that take to happen?" Shrap raises an orange brow.
"It was halfway through the Empire's seventeenth year when Bren brought him home. They didn't hook up until the Festival of Love, so I'd say about eight months. Maybe nine if you count the conception."
"Maker, Bren doesn't shoot blanks." Shrap jokes and then wheezes thanks to Cav's awfully hard elbow.
"It would've happened much sooner if Rama was older."
"Older?" Misty asks for most of them.
"Yeah. How old do you think he is?" Maratelle asks all of them.
"Thirty-two." Misty replies.
"Thirty." Aero estimates.
"Thirty-five." Shrap proposes.
"Unknown." Mic states.
"Ageless." Zuke and Cav declare.
"Twenty-one." Kreel says.
"Sarge is correct! He is currently twenty-one going on twenty-two." She winces when all but Kreel shout their disbelief in a jumbled mess she could not follow.
And then, Rama strolls into the ballroom with a glass of Nabooian whiskey in one gloved hand and Armitage toddling after him. He's swathed in a thin robe of stardust that obscure the dark number underneath. His long, white hair is bound in a loose braid. Armitage is dressed in a silver suit with tails.
"Welcome to Death Night, one and all!" He flings his arms out wide and reveals the rest of his outfit. He's wearing a black suit of thin armor that highlights the sharpness of his lithe form. Kreel is reminded of Vader's armor if it was stripped of its lights and buttons.
"Are you a robot?" Zuke asks.
"This is from a holo I just finished shooting where I play an android trying to take over the world."
"And the kid?" Shrap inquires next.
"Armitage is just Armitage."
"Where's Brendol?" Kreel finally asks.
"Setting up the game."
"Game? Like a board game?" Cav proposes.
"Oh no. Tonight, we shall solve a murder."
Brendol washes the food coloring, corn syrup, and creamer from his hands. The kitchen sink gurgles pink bubbles and smells like curdled milk. He dries his hands thoroughly with the hand towel before getting into his costume. Until a few nights ago, he believed that he had no costume and would have to wear a suit of armor from his collection.
"I had some credits left and I wanted to spend it on you." Rama explained as he presented the black and white box with the red bow.
"What about Armitage?"
"I got him a suit with tails!"
"Fancy."
"And so, will you be." Rama pulled the bow apart and let it fall to the gray carpet. Brendol put his hands in and pulled out his costume. There was a white dress shirt, tan dress pants, and blue suspenders with silver buckles.
"What millennia did you find this in?"
"When the despotic royal family ruled Naboo, they banned suspenders for being unfashionable. Anti-royalist nobles would wear suspenders under their robes and show them to their fellow patriots. Once Naboo became an electoral monarchy, the ban was lifted, but none of the victors felt the need to don the suspenders anymore."
"What makes you think that a non-Naboo like me can pull this off?"
"You've killed plenty of despots; you've earned these suspenders more than some fainthearted nobleman."
"Why are they blue?"
"Because of your eyes." Rama caresses his face with his silky fingers.
It only takes him a few minutes to get the costume on. He gives his suspenders a quick snap before moving onto his hair. He slicks his red hair back with the Imperial-approved hair gel. He judges himself in the hallway mirror. With his clean-shaven face and clothes, he really does look like a noble frittering his time on Lake Country. He takes languid steps to the ballroom and walks past the propped open doors.
Aero and Maratelle are chatting by the food table. Misty is watching an old holo on the viewscreen. Cav and Zuke are being used as playground equipment by Armitage, and they good naturedly let the little boy have his fun. Shrap and Mic are in a heated argument over their tuxes from what Brendol could tell since both young men are gesturing at their clothes. Kreel is a column flower watching the party. Rama nurses his whiskey by the curtained-off section of the ballroom. He watches Armitage and smiles as their son bosses the SCAR troopers around like they were his plasticine figures.
Brendol goes to Rama and is received with an empty glass.
"I told you would look fancy."
"I feel spoiled."
"You deserve a little spoiling."
"How's the party going?"
"It's progressing. Is this scene ready?"
"Yes, shall we—"
And the lights go out.
"Is this part of the game?" Zuke asks as Armitage tightens his hold on his bicep.
"No." Rama replies warmly.
"The HoloNet is down too!" Mic shouts.
"I'm right here!" Shrap shouts back.
"Of course, it'd go down if there's no power." Misty says.
"In case you can't see the holoprojection, here it is!" Mic makes the holo on his wrist much bigger and giving some light in the dark room. It's just static.
"What am I looking at exactly?"
"Evidence that someone is jamming my equipment."
"Could this be a cover for an assassination?" Maratelle's voice goes squeaky like when one of her society friends spill tea right by her books.
"A body would've dropped by now." Brendol's voice becomes louder as he draws closer to the only light in the room like a giant moth. Everyone else goes to Mic and huddles around the mage.
"Okay, then what is this—"
"FOOLS!" The house comm system crackles to life.
"I, Supreme Prophet Kadann, and my Church of the Dark Side have you surrounded!"
"He sounds like one of those hokey cartoon villains!" Shrap sneers. "What's the Church of the Dark Side!?"
"Triclops, if you come outside of your own freewill, then I will spare your family!"
"Who the Maker is Triclops?"
"Me." Rama replies with a dryness that must've split his tongue.
"You have twenty minutes!" And then the broadcast ends with an unholy amount of screeching and scratching before turning into blissful silence.
"What in the sithspit was that all about?" Aero finally asks. Armitage watches his father's face harden like it does when he's dealing with a nightmare.
"It would appear that Rajah Ubooki has finally decided to divorce himself from the Empire." Rama huffs with exaggerated annoyance. "He was a Prophet in the Prophets of the Dark Side that got sent to the Unknown Regions by the Emperor along with a number of his Dark Acolytes. They were supposed to map out the Unknown Regions."
"And he decided that was beneath him, took people who felt the same way, and has decided to form his own Empire."
"Precisely, Bren, though I thought it would happen far sooner given the size of his ego."
"And he wants to use you as a figurehead Emperor?" Kreel crosses his arms.
"He does love collecting tools, and I'm quite powerful." Rama smirks.
"So, we just need to kill them before they can kill us? This will be simple."
"It would be if Ubooki and his ilk didn't have the Force. They'll be a little harder to kill."
"But he is rebelling against the Empire just like the Rebels. And our team is made to kill Rebels." Mic declares confidently.
"Sergeant Kreel, may I impose on you for Task Force 99's aid?"
"You may."
"All I ask is not get blood in my room or the library." Maratelle requests.
"Can do!" Aero promises.
"Let's get this operation under way."
"Father, why did you send so many acolytes to the Unknown Regions?"
"Is that what you saw?"
"Well, I saw a ship being bordered by your acolytes and heading to an undisclosed destination. It wasn't Byss or Thule, and there was a Bimm bitterly complaining about being sent away from the known galaxy."
"Ah, that would be Rajah Ubooki. He and his passel of brothers ran a successful emporium, but that wasn't enough for him. He wanted more than credits. He wanted power and rightly figured that I could give him power."
"And did you?"
"Oh, it's not wise to give anyone what they want. It's better to give them a taste, enough to keep their interest, but not too much to satisfy."
"He would forever be your tool."
"Not him. He has far too much of an ego. I suspect one day he'll rebel against me."
"Then, why keep him around?"
"He has talents I need for now. Once, I have everything from him, then I'll dispose of him before his little rebellion can commence."
Rama recalls the conversation from nearly ten years ago. He remembers all his conversations with his father; they would take place on his life day, the only day that his father would visit him. His father followed his rule, giving morsels of love and leaving him wanting more. He thought he was above discarding since he was his son. It wasn't until his enslavement on Kessel and violation when finally learned blood meant nothing to his father.
Freedom is a lie, father. Your Code lied to you just like your Master. Even after revenging yourself, you were never free. You will always be in service of your vision, no matter how mottled it became. I only hope that we never meet again.
He muses darkly over his whiskey glass. Task Force 99 and Bren busy themselves for battle, which, in his opinion, they are taking far too seriously. He could siphon the life out of these wannabe Imps and leave them as ice husks, save them from wasting blaster bolts. However, he doesn't want to reveal the full extent of his Force abilities to the SCAR troopers. He's fond of them, but they are still the Emperor's creatures.
They are better off never knowing the true face of the Emperor. I barely survived Sidious.
"Rama, are you ready?" Bren inquires softly. Concern shows true in those baby blues. Rama is so happy that Armitage inherit his blues from such a good man.
"Of course, my love. I know my part."
"It'll be over soon."
"I know."
The heretic leaves the house at exactly twenty minutes after the ultimatum. He's dressed like a melodramatic hero from the holofilms, right down to the expression of defeat on his pale face. Rajah Ubooki feels the Force smiling down upon him in this moment. Nearly twenty years ago, the real Kadann foretold his future right before his departure to the Unknown Regions.
"You will become Supreme Prophet when the Empire is on death's door." Then, Kadann speaks in Ancient Sith, which Ubooki barely understood.
"What will happen to you?"
"I will be dead." Kadann looks down at the toddler holding his hand. The toddler looks up at him with a serene dumbness that only children possess.
That toddler was Triclops, and he would cause Kadann's death. Something happened on Triclops's fifteenth life day which led to his disappearance and the Emperor subsequently ordering the massacre on Dromund Kaas. Ubooki believed the Palpatine bastard to be dead until he found pages from Kadann's journal in the ruined temple. They revealed Triclops's future up until this night.
Triclops has no future left. Once the Emperor and Vader die, I will present Palpatine's son before the Imperial Remnant, and they will accept him because they can't function without Palpatine. Even his three-eyed mutant spawn will do so long as he has the man's blood. He'll do whatever I ask since I will keep his family as my hostages. He'll make my Church legitimate and then I'll dispose of the rest of Palpatine's line. I will be the Divine Emperor!
He leers as Triclops is brought before him by two of his hooded followers. Because of their height difference, Triclops looks down at him.
"Do you remember Kadann's final words?"
"A question? No pleading for your family's safety? Not even for your misbegotten son?"
"Do you remember?" An unknown emotion flashes across that bird-like face.
"He said that I would be the Force."
"No. He said that you will be one with the Force."
"You impudent—"
And then a bolt hits him squarely between his beady eyes.
Armitage looks at Maratelle's hunting rifle. It's funnel nose leans onto her shoulder as she flips the pages of her book. The toilet's lid squeaks whenever she shifts her legs or just moves at all. It always makes him look away from his red datapad, but he always returns to his film. There's a lion in the film, but he's stone. He feels like the lion should be missing his front paws.
There's a knock at the door, and Maratelle tosses her book into the sink. She then picks up her rifle and aims it at the door.
"Maratelle, the vermin have been exterminated." He hears sire's voice through the door. She puts her rifle back down and then unlocks the door. Sire comes inside with red staining his nice white shirt. Father follows with red in his white hair.
"How much blood got into the house?"
"Aside from our clothes and hair, none. The rain is taking care of the blood outside as we speak." Sire proclaims as he takes off his ruined suspenders and tosses them into the laundry basket.
"What about the bodies?"
"Naturally recycled them into the bog!" His father grins proudly.
"And the troopers?"
"All fine except for Mic, he is never getting his deposit back."
"Perfect. When will the cake be ready?"
"Give me about ten minutes." Father looks at him now. "How did Armitage do?"
"Fine. He's been watching that Oz movie again. I hope he doesn't get nightmares."
"We'll see." Father goes over to the tub and picks him up. "Are you ready for some cake?"
"I love cake!" He says and then kisses his father on the nose.
And a little while later, the chocolate cake with peppermint frosting is served. Everyone got a slice, and Kreel even got two since he loves peppermint. Armitage went to bed with sweet dreams. He gave cake slices to all the magical creatures in the forest, even to a Skesis who turned out be very friendly. He wanted to give a slice to the lion, but he was trapped in stone. He left the slice there, hoping that one day the lion will become flesh again. And when he woke up, he couldn't remember much of anything except for the lion. He remembers distinctly that the lion had both his paws.
Author's Comments- Here are the links:
Here is the link to Sanjin's Zager & Evans - In the Year 2525 which inspired the title of this story and Metropolis (1927) also inspired the aesthetics of the costume party: a href=" watch?v=zKQfxi8V5FA"Link/a
Here is an image of the flapper dress that inspired Maratelle's dress: a href=" /images/I/81bfQQKn3bL._UY879_.jpg"Link/a
Here is an image of the outfit that inspired Brendol's costume. Unfortunately, the suspenders aren't that color like DiCaprio's Gatsby: a href=" . "Link/a
Here is an image of Rajah Ubooki aka the fake Kadann. He's a Bimm which are SW's version of Hobbits but without the large feet and the smoking. They also are born in litters, so it's quite normal to have large families: a href=" . /starwars/images/6/66/False_ "Link/a
Here is an image of Maratelle's hunting rifle which Luke has in ANH to shoot womp rats: a href=" . /starwars/images/a/a9/Czerka6-2Aug2_ "Link/a
In Legends/EU, there were many attempts for Imperials/Dark Siders to fill the power vacuum in the wake of the Emperor's and Darth Vader's deaths. One of them was Rajah Ubooki who masqueraded as Supreme Prophet Kadann and ran the Church of the Dark Side for Imperial Intelligence and then-acting emperor Sate Pestage because they wanted to use religion to control the populace. But he wanted more power and so he and his faction struck out on their own. He would use Trioculus, the three-eyed mutant Lord Overseer and Supreme Slavelord of the Kessel spice mines who posed as Palpatine's son after his death, to further divide the Imperial factions and proclaim him as Emperor when he found the Glove of Darth Vader. However, he recants and then proclaims himself Emperor. He would be eventually murdered by Grand Admiral Afsheen Makati and Dark Jedi Azrakel.
By the way, the stories going forward will be addressing the events of ESB. I recently found out through The Essential Atlas the starts of ESB and RoTJ are about nine months apart from each other. Plenty of time for Luke to stew on his recent traumas and for Vader to come to grips with having a chance at a family he thought he destroyed. Oh, and the search for Han in carbonite. What I'm going with this is that the future one-shots in this series will be addressing the events of ESB and heading to an alternate RoTJ if there is going to be one.
Next possible one-shot: Vader needs Rama's help and in return he must watch Armitage. Unfortunately, Armitage is very into dragons.