Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or anything Star Wars related.
PART ONE
The Beginning
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Located in the far reaches of the Outer Rim, the tiny planet of Mustafar was a fiery world where lava had once been mined like a precious natural resource. Its bleak landscape was a visual assault of jagged obsidian mountains with towering fountains of fire and molten magma that blasted from beneath the surface. This burning hot magma also streaked the landscape in huge winding rivers and plunging cataracts. Its skies were obscured by choking black clouds of ash, smoke and tephra. The intense geological activity created natural scanning interference that had kept prying eyes away for most of its history. However, not even the dangerous environment of the horrendous location could keep Padme Naberrie from discovering its long lost secrets.
For years Padme had dedicated herself to the family business. Like her mother, and her mothers' mother, she had become a prominent historian at a very early age. She had spent most of her life researching the origins of the Jedi and the Sith; two ancient orders that had destroyed one another long ago. It had been nearly two millennia since the Great War and little was known of either side. History had not documented the catastrophic conflict in detail, but during her short time in the field, Padme had uncovered a wealth of information regarding the legendary warriors. Now, on the dreadful planet of Mustafar, a monumental discovery had been made; for in a well hidden cave of slag and rock, what was believed to be ancient scriptures of the Sith had been found. Padme felt her heart beating rapidly in her chest as she approached the entrance to this very cave.
Two of her colleagues stood and waited for her to reach them.
"Aah, there you are," one of them greeted. "We've been waiting for you."
"Where are they?" Padme asked, too excited to exchange formalities.
Her consorts caught the hint and motioned for her to follow them inside. "Right this way, Miss Naberrie. Watch your step."
Walking at an accelerated pace, Padme's guides led her down a labyrinth of passageways until they eventually reached a large, round space filled with their fellow historians. It didn't take Padme long to spot her mother among the many faces and she eagerly pushed her way through the crowd.
"Padme, there you are!" Jobal exclaimed. "You're just in time."
"Just in time for what?" Padme questioned. "What have you found?"
Gesturing towards a small alcove at the far corner of the area, Jobal answered with an anxious smile. "We're just about to find that out."
Padme's gaze settled on a woman knelt down near the alcove. Even from behind, she immediately recognized her oldest and dearest friend Sabe.
"Quick, come here!" she called out over her shoulder. "You have to see this!"
Padme wasted no time, and in a matter of seconds she was at her friends side. "What is it?"
"It's about him!" Sabe answered. "It says a great battle was fought here…between a powerful Jedi and the Black Knight."
"We've found it," Padme replied in astonishment. "Proof that he existed. What else does it say?"
"It says…" Sabe trailed off, studying and analyzing the scriptures further. "Consumed by flames, born of the ashes, the Black Knight rises to lay waste…this last part is a little hard to decipher."
"Take your time, Sabe," Jobal spoke up from behind her daughter.
Sabe took a long moment before finishing. "To lay waste to the guardians of the light."
"It must be referring to the Jedi," Padme concluded.
"The light is lost, the darkness grows," Sabe continued without delay. "Wait…down here it says a great battle was fought; Jedi against Jedi. I don't understand. I must not be reading it right." Carefully brushing the gathered dust away, she squinted to better translate the writing. "It says one of them died and one of them lived. Maybe it means the Black Knight killed one of them. What do you think, Padme?"
"It could mean anything," Padme answered as she furrowed a brow. "Go on."
"Apparently, this is where the Black Knight was first created," Sabe explained. "Here on Mustafar. It doesn't say how, but it was definitely here. That's it."
"There's nothing else?" Padme asked, slightly disappointed.
"Well, it does mention the Horuset system," Sabe replied, intently inspecting the scriptures to make sure she had not missed anything important. "I'm not familiar with it."
"Korriban is the sole planet of the Horuset system," Padme elaborated. "It was a sacred world for the Sith back when their order was thriving. Many Sith Lords were buried there. In the past, it was feared throughout the galaxy."
"Not just in the past," Jobal corrected. "Why do you think the spice miners avoid entering the system?"
"Wait, what's this?" Sabe asked aloud. "It looks like coordinates."
"Coordinates?" Padme questioned, nearly leaping forward in anticipation. "Let me see." Taking a closer look, her eyes widened in shock. "Mom, look at this! These coordinates are on Korriban!"
Jobal knelt down beside Padme and Sabe, peering down at the scriptures and thoughtfully stroking her chin. "That is uncharted territory."
"Maybe it's time someone explores it," Padme retorted. "And I think I'm the perfect candidate…"
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