Note on the Rewriting of Interlude III: I was displeased with Interlude III: The Dark Lord of the Sith, as it focused on a character that was hardly relevant to the plotline of the story outside of a simple assassination attempt. Despite the fact that I thought Interlude III was horribly written, I have made a new one which will divulge some information on the Sith that is far more important than a character who gets 'offed' by the Dark Lord. While it will conclude with the Dark Lord, his apprentice, and the bounty hunter discussing their plans, it is much different and hopefully more pleasing to the eyes.
- Corde/Sabe error fixed in previous chapter
- Zem Wessell/Zam Wesell error fixed in current chapter
Note on the Rewriting of Story Notes: At the bottom of both the previous draft and this rewritten interlude are a few notes on Midichlorians, the Force, and Magic's relationship with it. Most of the information is taken directly from the Star Wars Universe while some of it has been molded for usage in my story. More importantly, this rewrite's notes are much more indepth and easier to undestand.
Interlude III
The Sith
They were a cult given over to the dark side of the Force.
They embraced, fully, the concept that power denied is power wasted.
And it all began several millenia ago with a single Jedi Knight who defied them all.
A single dissident in an order of harmonious followers - a rebel who understood from the beginning that the real power of the Force lay not in the Light but in the Dark. He failed to gain approval from the Council of the Jedi concerning his beliefs and had broken with the order, departing with his knowledge and skills, swearing in secret he could bring down those who dismissed him so easily.
And so the rogue Jedi was alone at first, traveling far and wide honing his already exceptional skills until he came upon a planet just outside of Republic space.
Sith.
And upon it, a warrior race who believed the fittest - the most powerful - shall rule.
The rogue watched from a distance, amazed by their immense prowess in combat - stunned by their control and usage of the Dark Side of the Force. Entranced by their barbarian caste of lords and knights they used to keep control. It was all too soon that he finally made himself present and just as quickly made a god amongst them.
It was he who became the first Dark Lord of the Sith.
Soon, knights from the Jedi who heard of his exploits outside the Republic boundaries followed him, believing as he did in his study of the Dark Side. Others were recruited, and soon the ranks of the Fallen swelled to more than fifty in number. Disdaining the concepts of cooperation and consensus, and relying on the belief that acquisition of power in any form lends strength and yields control, the Sith began building a cult to oppose the Jedi who continued to preach the Light Side was the only way to maintain control over one's self.
They ignored them, and they soon became a cult not created to serve, nor to maintain peace but an order created to dominate. It was only a few more years of fueling the hatred they held for the Jedi who believed them wayward and menacing before they finally struck and their war with the holy knights was vengeful and furious.
And ultimately their doom.
The rogue Jedi who founded the Sith Order was its nominal leader, but his ambition excluded any sharing of power. The fallen disciples of the rogue soon began to conspire against him and each other and their war they instigated was soon just as much with one another as was with the Jedi.
In the end, the Sith destroyed themselves.
First came the warrior race of the Sith - the true Sith born from the Dark Side of the Force who had been disrupted by the wayward Jedi. And when they fell, the Sith were no longer a race but an ideal; an ideal that was far from the original belief that the Dark Side and Light Side were merely powers, each capable of being utilized to help maintain peace and prosperity.
Next came the rogue Jedi who started it all. After that it was one another. The bloodbath continued for thousands of years; the endless cycle of fallen Jedi becoming Sith, the constant slaying of brothers and sisters, and the gloomy fact that each war that ended began yet another was repeated over and over and over.
It was a galaxy in turmoil. No one learned from their mistakes and their transgressions.
After a war that decimated the Sith population, the Jedi finally pushed them to the fringe worlds of the Galaxy and unto a planet of small repute and of similar size - Korriban. It was there they would make the last stand as the bloody cult. The Jedi, powered fully by the light by embracing emotion and care for the galaxy far too war torn, were able to easily defeat the wayward brethren in mere weeks.
The four thousand year Sith War was over, and the mighty Sith were killed.
That was, all but one.
Darth Bane would be his name, and when all of his fellows had died he had understood.
It would be not ruthless killing nor wars waged under a banner that got them control of the galaxy. No - no, it would be patience. Patience that would save the Sith Order in the end. Patience that would give them the victory over the Jedi they so despised.
For the next one thousand years, the Sith continued. A Master and an Apprentice was all - no more, no less. They hid using the Dark Side of the Force and clouded themselves from the evermore complacent Jedi Knights who had not seen battle and understood the emotions that played with it. The fittest always survived, and when the apprentice felt the master was weak, he would strike. And so it continued until the title of the Dark Lord of the Sith came upon one man who would finally make the presence of the Sith known within his lifetime.
And he sat upon his Dark Throne in his Dark Throne Room under an abandon warehouse long forgotten, contemplating his next move.
He wore sinister black robes forged with the very Dark Side of the Force that moved and flapped at his feet as if a current were making its way through the room. The man's entire body was masked by the Dark artefact save his face and even then, half of it from the nose up was clouded in the darkness afforded by the hood he wore, proudly.
"My Lord," spoke a voice to his right, bringing him out of his thoughts of Syfo-Dias, "Jango Fett will aide us in our situation."
The Dark Lord of the Sith looked up at his apprentice, another elder man, though much older than him, who stood wearing a dark attire much like his own save the he left his hood down. A long beard reached to his mid-chest and he also had a mustache and beard - all of which were of a grey that faded to white near the tips. Despite his age, the wrinkles he possessed drooped just barely and his eyes were a dark golden color with flecks of red, speckled within.
"Jango Fett," said the Dark Lord, calmly, his gaze now focused on said person.
The darkly-tanned man stood unflinchingly, his gaze leveled at the Dark Lord of the Sith. He wore perhaps the most elaborate armor in the galaxy. Sleek silver duracrete plated armor was what he donned, and in his hands was a helmet that caused any to cross his path to run: a shiny silver helmet with a black duraplast slit that was like a 't' upon the mask for seeing through. Along its sides and around the duraplast slit was dark blue paint signifying his Mandalorian warrior heritage.
"What would you have me do, my Lord?," inquired Jango Fett, a man renowned for being the best of the best when it came to fulfilling contracts. Thousands upon thousands of people had been felled by him in his many journeys and only in the last ten years had he crossed paths with the Sith Lords.
The Dark Lord of the Sith got up from his throne, his quick movement unnatural for one so old. If Jango Fett was in any way scared, he did not show it, though the Dark Lord felt it by merely gazing into the bounty hunter's hazel eyes. He stepped with the air of a king towards Jango who stood three meters from throne, and stopped when only one separated them from each another.
"You will dispose of three people," said the Dark Lord, his icy voice chilling the room. The warrior of the Dark reached within his robes and pulled out a holocom-cam and flicked it on, "Zam Wesell," while a holographic image of a young woman appeared. A second later, a dark alien creature of lanky stature and immense height appeared, and soon after that a Twi'lek.
"A changeling, my Lord?" inquired the bounty hunter. A changeling was one who could modify their appearance from alien to alien but could never alter their mass.
"Indeed. She was hired by my apprentice to assassinate Senator Amidala but failed. She has refused to respond to our transmissions and her knowledge of my apprentice's stature as a Sith Lord must be kept secret for the time being. She is swift and tireless as a bounty hunter and assassin but you should have no problem."
"Of course, my Lord," replied Jango, as the Dark Lord pressed a small button once more and the holograph changed to display a woman in an elaborate dress with hair did up in a esoteric bun that was nonetheless as breathtakingly beautiful as the woman who wore it.
"Senator Padmé Amidala," snarled the Dark Lord, losing his cool demeanor only momentarily, "She has been a nuisance ever since the Battle of Naboo a decade ago. I want her gone, and her head on a plate served to me well before she can speak out against the Cloning Bill."
"As you will."
Giving the bounty hunter a calculating glance for a moment before hitting the button once more to have the hologram change to a picture of a man in his early thirties wearing Jedi Garb, "Master Syfo-Dias."
The bounty hunter blanched and raised an eyebrow in confusion, momentarily losing his voice, "My Lord? Master Syfo-Dias? We disposed of him ten years ago... you are joking, right?"
"I do not jest, Fett," whispered the Dark Lord coolly, "He was seen within the Galactic Senate building earlier this day - he was capable of delaying the voting process for the Cloning Bill. Whether a changeling so strong in the Force has managed to elude me as of yet or if it is merely another one of the little troll's attempts to prevent war from happening, I do not know. You will dispose of him before he thwarts any more of my plans and I will do the checking on who he was," the Dark Lord finished, his reference of a troll being Master Yoda.
"Y-yes, my Lord," stammered the bounty hunter, only slightly.
"You must fulfill the contract upon Zam Wesell and Senator Amidala before the Senate meets again. Master Syfo-Dias's head before my throne in no more than a month. Dismissed."
The bounty hunter bowed deeply, turned and strode swiftly out of the room leaving the Master and Apprentice of the Sith to discuss the happenings of a day they were much displeased with.
"Do you think he will be able to bring down Master Syfo-Dias, my Lord?," inquired the Apprentice, stepping in front of his Master.
The Dark Lord of the Sith began pacing back and forth while talking, "No, he will not. I am merely gaging this new threat's ability in the Force. Jango Fett is the best non Force sensitive being alive but he is no match for a Jedi who's midichlorian count is equivalent to mine," he snarled, stopping and glaring at his apprentice who stood agape.
"Impossible, my Lord," he said, his eyes unblinking.
"You would think, would you not?," inquired the Dark Lord, turning swiftly, his Dark robes moving frighteningly as he unleashed a stream of lightning unto a droid that stood twenty meters away near a door leading towards another section of the underground facility. It exploded in a storm of electrical whirs and metal shards, "You would think having a pathetic child like Anakin Skywalker possess more power in the Force than I while being the Chosen One would be enough."
"Then what shall we do, my Lord? If this 'changeling' or whoever continues posing as Syfo-Dias than the Kaminoans will surely contact him as his name is the one we used to order the Clone Army. While they are excellent cloners, no doubt, and their intelligence surpasses most, their common sense is lacking and they are gullible. They will disobey my orders to remain silent until talked to."
"I surmised just as much, Lord Tyranus," said the Dark Lord, addressing his apprentice by the name he created and undertook as customary by all Sith Lords, "It is why I have a mission for you."
Lord Tyranus, apprentice to the Dark Lord dropped to his knees before the Dark Lord, "What is thy bidding, my Master?"
"You will travel to Rattatak. There, you will find a woman I have been having visions about. The Force is pushing me towards a meeting with her. While I would have done it after the war breaks out, I find it more prudent to do so now. We cannot wait idly with such a threat as this 'Master Syfo-Dias', who is capable of seeing through the cloak I have cast over us, being about, my apprentice. Search for her - her name is Asajj Ventress. She is of Cathar origins, from what I tell, and her skills are admirable."
"You will have me bend her to your will then, my Lord?"
"Almost. You will pose as the Dark Lord of the Sith," he said, as Lord Tyranus looked up with a questioning glance, "You will make her believe she is the apprentice, and you are the master. Teach her nothing of Sith doctrine but make sure she is learned well in the Dark Side for she will be used against this problem."
"While we continue to stay eluded."
"Always. Treachery and deceit, my apprentice - treachery and deceit. Our plans are too far in motion to be stopped now but I want no resistance! Hasten and be off!," he exclaimed, turning sharply and moving to his throne.
"As you will, my Lord Sidious," replied the apprentice, as he too turned and moved out of the Dark Lord Darth Sidious' Throne Room, his guileful mind already at work.
Story Notes - Midichlorians
Midichlorians, which are mentioned in this passage by Darth Sidious, are microscopic lifeforms that reside within all living cells and serve as a communicator of sorts with the Force. They also serve as a measurement to determine how strong your affinity with the Force is. As mentioned in previous chapters, the Force speaks to you, and the midichlorians are the actual speakers - they speak the will of the Force as well as whatever the person who has them wants said. The voice is a whisper within even the Jedi (although Anakin and Harry have larger whispers and communicate with the Force once they understand how to, quite well), and if you can hear it, it will guide you (then again, it could be the Dark Side of the Force - thats where choice and destiny comes in.)All that really matters isif the person listens, and it takes Jedi a long time to finally get the little hints the Force gives off.
Every living thing has atleast one midichlorian, for all living things are symbiont
Story Notes - Force Whispers, Guidance, and Nudges
As this story progress, you will see the 'Force' not only as a tool of preservation and destruction but as a sixth sense of sorts. When the Force is strong within someone and he is aligned with the Light Side of the Force (or the Dark Side) the Force will alert him if something within his vicinity threatens (or however the Dark Side can interpret its actions) his life or other people's lives. It can also nudge by forming bonds between two people (Jedi have bonds between Master and Apprentice which allow them to communicate through the mind at short distances as well as feel emotion). Nudges can move the character to somewhere he would never find in a million years. The character of course has a choice, but it may be difficult to resistthe Force's wishing if you are isolated with another person, feel every emotionthat personshas, and ironically enough are attracted, have like traits, etc.
Story Notes - Explanation of Magic within the Force
With Midichlorians, its simple to understand and create this explanation within the Star Wars Universe for Harry Potter magic. Wizards, who are stronger than Muggles and weaker than Jedi in the Force do have a decent amount of Midichlorians. Midichlorians serve as communicators with the Force. The word used to activate a spell (Serpentsortia/Avada Kedavara) is communicated through the Midichlorians to the Force and the spell is therefore activated. Spells are created by those who are strong within the Force and have many Midichlorians and the will to have spells with properties and effects created. Wands serve as channeling points (Wands are loaded with Midi)since Wizards do not possess enough midichlorians to communicate effectively with the Force. There are of course those who do not need wands and possess enough to level a barn with a wave of the hand.
With that said, the Avada Kedavara curse is a spell that dispels all Midichlorians from the target which leaves them dead yet with no signs of actually dying.
Story Notes - Midichlorian Counts for Characters Mentioned
Last Name, First Name - Midichlorian Count
Dumbledore, Albus - 7,000
Granger, Hermione - 3,000
Jinn, Qui-Gon - 8,000
Kenobi, Obi-Wan (Ben) - 10,000
Maul, Darth - 12,000
Midichlorians Needed for Jedi Training (AKA 'Force Sensative') - 7,000
Midichlorians Needed to Register as Squib - 500
Midichlorians Needed to Register as Wizard - 1,000
Naberrie, Padme (Amidala) - 6,000
Potter, Harry - 30,000
Potter, James - 3,000
Potter, Lily - 10,000
Shan, Bastila - 12,500
Sidious, Darth - 30,000
Skywalker, Anakin - 35,000
Syfo-Dias - 12,000
Tachi, Siri - 9,000
Took - 7,500
Tyranus, Darth - 15,000
Undomiel, Revan - 17,500
Ventress, Asajj - 12,000
Voldemort - 6,000
Weasley, Ronald - 3,000
Windu, Mace - 12,000
Yoda - 15,000
Bold signifies the person is deceased.
Just because a person has a specific amount of midichlorians, it does not mean they are incredibly weak or incredibly powerful. It means they have a possiblity to be however strong their midichlorians suggest but it is, until trained, little more than your connection with the Force. As you can see now, Harry is physically and mentally stronger than Anakin yet has 5,000 fewer midichlorians - he has tapped more of the power and abilities givenwhereas Anakin has not. Voldemort was the most experienced in the Dark Arts - he managed to unleash his full power whereas Dumbledore did not, and so on and so forth.