Chapter 8

Commander CC-8826 of the now 91st Mobile Reconnaissance Corps watches as Darth Perfide, newly deemed Supreme Commander of the Galactic Empire, enters the Venator-Class Star Destroyer, the Trapper.

According to the Emperor, there has been a report of a lost Jedi, Master Eeth Koth of the destroyed Jedi Order and it appears that the Emperor is eager to test his lapdog against the Jedi that still spread their treacherous ways throughout the galaxy.

While nearly not as intimidating as the former Supreme Commander, Darth Vader, that being evident by the new Supreme Commander towering lower than himself but he can tell that he shouldn't be questioned. The armored man was larger than life itself, constantly intimidating and hunting down Jedi throughout the galaxy, going on endless occupations, leading up to his death by the remaining Jedi within the Jedi Order. Darth Vader never budged at the sight of Jedi, in a constant state of demonstrating his skill and earning the respect of many of the troopers under his command.

One thing that the new Supreme Commander is lacking is the sheer side that the mechanical machine lapdog of the Emperor possessed. He cannot tell the gender of Darth Perfide, but more likely than not; given the position and authority the Emperor gifted Darth Perfide, the mysterious figure is male. Like his predecessor, Perfide is clouded without chances of recognition, harboring armor in complete black but there is a black robe within, black cape, black mask, black tunic, and a hilt covered by the individual's cloak.

"Set coordinates," the booming voice of the Supreme Commander orders, causing the officers and admirals to follow said orders, not wishing to be killed immediately.

The commander has to give it to the Emperor. He certainly knows how to recruit authority figures to be at the head of the army, but hopefully, this one wouldn't die to the traitors of the old Republic.

Unbeknownst to 8826, Perfide is analyzing the military force that will now be his permanent army under the orders of the Emperor. While his Master claimed that his army would hardly be small, he suspected at least half of the Imperial Army. How wrong he have been in such dwellings, for if there is not an army that resides in the Trapper, then they are located and presiding within the two other Acclamators.

While they are no longer clones solely on the star destroyers, these men and women on board are trained, some have been since the beginning of the Empire while others have been involved with the Clone Wars in one way or another. Most of these soldiers if not all of them are battle hardened and prepared to go into battle.

He killed captured Jedi and Force Sensitive children who his Master deemed are not to be trained in his ruthless training under the Empire. Now, he is going to fight a Jedi who hasn't been tortured, relishing in the thought of battle, especially against that pathetic band of Order that stupidity has spread throughout the galaxy.

As the Trapper is carried off into hyperspace, the Dark Lord continues to think, knowing that is all he can since leaving Coruscant for the first time to commence with his first assignment, but his thoughts remain on the Jedi.

He hates the Jedi since they played a major development in his past which ultimately ruined his life and have taken everything from him. He will kill them all when he is done.

The death of that stupid Order to the final bone would be beyond satisfying.

"My lord," an admiral, who for the Force of him, he can't remember the name of. "We have dropped out of lightspeed."

"Good, commander, begin the bombardment. There are to be no prisoners. Leave the Jedi to me." the Supreme Commander demands, keeping both hands across his backs.

The turrent fire being send down to the surface causes a smirk to form on the Dark Lord's lips within the mask.


Eeth Koth hardly calls himself a lucky individual these days. Granted he have survived the Jedi purge but many of his friends have been extinguished from the face of the galaxy.

Eeth Koth resigned from the Order in the waning days of the Clone Wars, after being replaced on the Jedi Council. It is not explained, to my knowledge, exactly why he was replaced. Jedi Master Agen Kolar, another Zabrak Jedi Master, was chosen as his replacement.

His resignation ended up a blessing. Master Koth went on to survive Order 66, while his replacement, Master Kolar, is one of the two Jedi Masters almost immediately struck down in the attempt to arrest Chancellor Palpatine.

During the early years of the Empire, Koth became a priest with the Church of Ganthic Enlightenment. He took a wife, Mira, and for the past several years, they have been happy together, had not allowed the current life to get in their way, in spite of how the Jedi Order have fallen and the dark side and the Emperor taking over the galaxy.

There is a slight giggle from inside, and the former Jedi Master nearly smiles; his wife and newly borned child gives his life purpose. What's unfortunate is that the woman he married cannot know the truth of the Jedi Master, for out of fear that it would place her in danger and place her in sights of the Empire should he be discovered.

No; he promised himself many times, if the Empire ever attacks, his wife and child would be safe.

He is about to walk inside when suddenly the Force rings around him, clutching his head in agony as death makes itself known on the planet. So much violence. So cold.

He stares up and sees three Star Destroyers raiding fire upon the planet likely claiming hundreds of lives in under a second. Hundred of cries being swiftly silenced by one swift stroke.

Why now?! Why would they just so happen to attack when his wife is in a delicate position?

He runs inside, staring at Mira who is laying down while the droid is assuring the crib for their child is suitable before placing the girl laying on a blanket into the crib.

"Mira, we have to leave," the former Jedi Master orders in a calm cool tone, reaching down to the cylinder hilt that is on his belt, the weapon that he known for years he would have to call upon each passing day.

"Why?" She asks, ever the persistent. "Eeth, I'm tired. Maybe tomorrow."

"You don't understand! The Empire is attacking!" The former Jedi Master exclaims. "You will have to retreat!"

She nearly jolts out of bed and stares at him with shock. "Why would the Empire be here?" It isn't like she knows of his identity and his past nor the fact that he have been attempting to avoid the Empire's wrath and his acylotes who reigns supremely across the galaxy.

"I don't know but we have to go!" The Jedi Master exclaims, the dark side of the Force intensifying around his senses, along with the many deaths on the surface of the planet.

"You are not allowed in her-" the Medical Front Desk Assistant who allowed them in earlier appears to be protesting, follow swiftly by the sounds of blaster shots that makes the Jedi Master grimace ever-so-slightly as he have rarely heard such violent atrocities in over five years.

Suddenly, there are sounds of marching, and the Jedi Master tears out his cylinder hilt, activating the emerald green blade and holding it up protectively in front of him.

At the sight of his lightsaber, his wife lunges straight out of bed at seeing what her husband is wielding in his hand, despite the pain in her joints at just giving birth.

Most citizens don't even know the Jedi in the first place. For those who did, only a fraction would have seen or encountered a Jedi before. The Jedi are often viewed as a mystical, nonsense cult by many in the first place. For those entering the Imperial academies, they have to pass multiple rigorous exams, one of which being history. The Jedi are mentioned within the textbooks, but mostly as vagrants which disturbed the peace and caused strife within the galaxy. In fact, Mace Windu is specifically named as the leader of this "criminal gang", who interfered in a "legal execution" on Geonosis, thus sparking the Clone Wars.

"Eeth! Yo-you're a Jedi!" She exclaims, staring at him like he is a different man entirely. In some ways he is. She never knew he is - have been - a Jedi.

"I couldn't tell you," he apologizes somewhat solemnly, "but I will explain later. For now I will hold them off!"

As if on cue, Imperial troopers storms through the doors and begins opening fire on the Jedi Master who moves with swift speed, parrying every single shot back, not willing to allow his wife or child to be harmed.

In spite of his impressive skills with the Force, the Jedi Master feels himself getting backtrack and knows he would have to continue the battle elsewhere, while finding it a struggle at continuing to hacking away at each of the troopers, calling on the Force to ensure that they wouldn't be able to catch him off-guard.

Raising his hand, he blasts a few of the stormtroopers out of the corridors.

In the midst of the battle, he don't seen his wife demanding to the droids to hold the baby and her dashing straight out as being in the fray of battle would only result in death if he even divert his attention for one second. He is like a juggernaut, swining away at the troopers who dare to threaten his wife.

Eventually, all of the troopers lay dead or unconscious if lucky, but death rings through the Force in each strike the Jedi Master commences with either by those who he kill himself or the planet's natives constantly dying.

He walks out of the medical facility, lightsaber humming fiercely as he continues to cut through the troopers who attempt to stop him from proceeding onwards.

Clones are awaiting him, and they begin to take up position as they step forward. The Jedi Master lunges towards the clones, blocking the blaster fire of the constitution that he once fought for.

Gunships are around him in seconds, and the Jedi Master parries the blaster shots with his lightsaber back at the troopers in the gunship along with the ones on the ground, staggering some.

It isn't long before the gunships turns around and blasts the medical facility that his wife was in, his wife along with his child! Along with many others!

Baring his teeth like a predator, he raises his hand and seizes the gunship and slam the gunship onto the ground, watching as it is obliterated, allowing a shout of rage as he propels his lightsaber to the cockpit of the second gunship, causing the pilot to slump forward into his seat and the gunship to descend onto the ground near the rubble of the medical facility that they just destroyed, that one too decimating into a ball of flames.

Suddenly, the blaster fire seizes, and he stops in his assault, feeling a dark presence that claim many lives approaching in a lone Tie-Fighter. Suddenly, the troopers descend with essential cables, flank by a commander, each aiming their guns at him, the cooking sounds of the blasters making him raise his lightsaber as he is about to fight for his life.

However, none open fire as the TIE-Fighter descends with a calm hum. A lone figure, surrounded by the alluring calls of the dark side, ejects himself calmly as he begins approaching as the troopers clear away, not seeking to get in the way of the figure.

"Master Koth," the figure greets, tilting his head down in a false bow, "pleasure to meet you. It is quite a shame you must die."

"Your confidence in the dark side shall be your downfall," Koth snarls, recalling when Darth Vader's death was announced throughout the galaxy. "Darth Vader is evidence of this."

"You are deeply mistaken. There is no one left to challenge us. Even shall you best me, Jedi, your Order is dead. The galaxy is in control of the Empire. There is no one who would dare to oppose the Empire now." the figure replies, putting on a fake sympathetic voice which only makes the Jedi angrier, turning and outstretching his arms towards their surroundings to emphasize his point.

"There is always hope," the Jedi declares, aiming his lightsaber at the dark figure.

"Just like your pathetic Order. Always refusing the meaning of reality. Wake up, Jedi." The dark figure taunts, tearing out one lightsaber and then another, activating two crimson blades and twirling them into the air before positioning himself into a pouncing position, poised to strike.

Koth sneers as the figure dashes forward, and the Jedi Master returns the gesture, their blades interlocking of the arena formulated by the clones that still have their guns aimed at his back. The Jedi Master allows the light side to flow through him as the Sith Lord hacks away at him, him parrying each of the strikes with an impressive display, aided by years of training.

The Zabrak Jedi Master dodges one strike by the first blade just as the second blade crashes against his, provoking him in kicking the Sith Lord back and dashes towards him, attempting to chop the Sith's head off when he dodges, bringing his blade up just in time to block a blow send in his direction, their blades intercepting one another, and both tries to force each other back but it is not to be as they remain in conflict.

And throughout this battle, the clones watch, watch as the Jedi Master and Sith Lord appear to be blurs of emerald and crimson.

The Sith Lord sends deadly precise arcs that continue to hit too close to home, the Jedi blocking and parrying the blows send by him.

"You will not rule this galaxy, Sith. The Jedi will return. We will defeat you and your kind like we did with Darth Vader." The Jedi Master declares, parrying another blow and sliding to the side as the Sith Lord pursues him, not bothering to be merciful and continuing to hack away which sends him to short breath.

"How foolish you believe that sentence to be true, Jedi," the Sith Lord replies, lightsabers dancing off the Jedi Master's own lightsaber.

He reaches out his hand to Force Blast him. He is successful in bellowing the Sith's robes but there is no major way to gain the advantage and to decapitate one of the Sith's limbs as it appears there is no flaw in his form.

"Intimidated, Jedi?" The figure cackles, causing the Jedi Master to involuntarily clench his fist. "I have been taught in your impeccable Jedi ways for a time but Darth Sidious has shown me the true meaning of the Force. Your Order is foolish and soon you will join them. Did I ever tell you what Sidious has done to the Jedi? Those younglings. Oh those poor children being slayed mercilessly. I wonder if their heads are still within to the halls of the Jedi Templ-"

That is when he loses it. He rushes and begins cleaving away at the Sith Lord with impressive speed, his loss of breath not slowing him down. The Sith counters each blow with both lightsabers, moving around with dodges and attacks with almost a taunting ferocity, trained in dealing with Jedi.

The Sith manages to gain the advantage, and with blinding speed, he dashes past his defenses. There is a stinging sensation in his arm and the Jedi Master looks down, only to see his arm is decapitated and is across the ground, blood sprouting out.

He screams as a stinging pain connects with his torso, causing him to yelp slightly as he freezes in his tracks and he stares down, seeing the crimson lightsaber impaled deeply through his abdomen.

The Sith pulls the blade up, decimating his body and causing him to collapse onto the ground, eyes closed, a pool of blood surrounding the motionless decease Jedi.

The Sith stares down at the unmoving Jedi, eyeing the lightsaber that belongs to the Jedi he just murdered and seizing it with the Force and clasping it on his belt. It would be an impressive trophy of the first Jedi he killed in genuine battle instead of a pathetic training lackey that lacks skill, war, and battle in their blood, or were tortured endlessly.

"My Lord, we managed to get prisoners who assisted in the Force Sensitive and the mother's escape," a trooper reports, behind him a group of civilians in cuffs following, being watch closely by the troopers so they wouldn't be able to escape.

"Commander 8826," the Sith Lord states, turning to the commander, knowing they wouldn't serve their purposes since the wife of the Jedi likely did not inform the prisoners of their location, reverting his attention to the sniveling prisoners. "Deal with them."

"Please, we didn't do anything," a old man says, placing his hands in front of him fearfully.

"I believe you," 8826 replies coldly, a cruel smirk behind his lips as he motions for the troopers to place them into position. "Alright soldiers, load your weapons."

The Sith smirks. He likes this commander. He makes a mental note that this commander is behind his back at all times.

The troopers did as command, cocking their guns and aiming them at the whimpering and sniveling citizens. Among the natives are adults, elders, and children, who are beyond afraid of what would happen next, none wishing to die but are seal to their fate.

"Fire."

The Sith watches as the blaster bolts dance off of the civilians with what one could assume is a smirk, their bodies falling onto the ground by the sound of blaster fire, their pathetic pleads unheard. He relishes into the power of the dark side, relishes as it did at the death that feeds into its wielder.

"Turn those buildings into ash," the commander orders, pleasure evident in his voice as he speaks into his comm and to the men around him. The troopers follow as order, all of the starfighter pilots and the troopers on the ground blasting buildings until the buildings collapse, undoubtedly crushing all who are inside of each one.

The dark side rings with the scream, and behind the mask, he closes his eyes at the agony, pain, death. The troopers under his command would work perfectly with him.

"Destroy their artery," the commander orders, motioning to the speeders and ships of those who previously attempted to escape, all who are dead now, but there is a slim chance of there being several survivors. The troopers follow as order, grabbing several flamethrowers and beginning to disintegrate the vehicles, leaving nothing but flames that are consumed alongside the building.

"Disable their transmissions," he continues, now speaking into his comm in order for his men onboard the venator to do as direct.

Perfide turns and walks off, boards the TIE-Fighter, and takes off, leaving the troopers behind. His work here is finished and he must show the progress of his work to his Master to show he has made the right decision in training him and passing his teachings onto him for the past years since what happened with Darth Vader.

There is no hope left in the galaxy.