Author's Notes
Don't really have much to say here... I have a recommended background song for the ending scene of this chapter, its Mekanika by Marc Judgermann. That's just my own preference though.
stay safe everyone
We were being escorted deeper into the ruins until we reach a large cave entrance. This seemed to be where the survivors of the Republic escaped to. No doubt it had been several generations since those initial trying days, but thankfully by the professional manner of the soldiers I was thinking that they had not descended into barbarism.
"I'm not too comfortable with this, are you sure we should keep playing along." Kanos asked quietly as we were taken through caves lit up by a string of salvaged lab lights. They had taken all obvious weapons, and even a few hidden ones but not all. I had a few daggers and I believed Vette had a blaster still on her. Plus… there was the fact I was wearing a droid that could turn into what amounted to an entire armory.
"Just play along for now." I said as I subtly worked my wrist-pad, my helmet's HUD connected to it and allowing me to properly map out our path. Along with syncing up with the Chilling Sound to better get a full view of the tunnels they were taking us into.
"Quiet!" One of the soldiers said expectantly. Not very creative are they? Regardless, we were soon brought into a much more complete looking section of the caves. After passing through a triple seal reinforced gate, the rock and stone of the cave gave way to patchwork white walls that were clearly taken off the floating ruins. It looked like they were trying emulate the architecture of the past but lacked the time, resources, and tools to properly make it seamless. The hallways continued to go on, with several side doors likely leading who knows what. But what really got my attention was the several gun turrets and check points we past. Seems they were expecting to be attacked again by the Republic at any time. And I'm sure if the Republic cared at all they would return, but I have a feeling that this world is low on the priority list.
"You will only speak when spoken to, and no sudden movements." The lead soldier said as we approached another hydraulically reinforced gate. My guess we were about to enter the center of this vault-settlement. The lead soldier stood in front of the gate and several scans identified him and the other members of his squad. There was the hiss of the doors and then the disturbing grinding sound of them sliding open. They then escorted us into a massive open chamber that obviously was a natural formed caved but patched up with salvage to try and make it look as artificially made as possible. All around were more soldiers and at the center was a collection of Kaminoans in fancy robes… strange thing is… I didn't sense anything but worry from them. Not the prideful superiority of their kind or the false humility they tried to present to outsiders.
"Outsiders, why have you come to our world. We have determined that you are not from the Republic, thus saving you form immediate execution." The leader on the far right of the of the group sneered and that would have worked if it wasn't for the fact I could sense the utter terror he felt.
"Are you pirates or salvagers. Either way you have come to their world and will leave empty handed." The one on the center left said with a dismissive wave of her hand. They weren't acting like they should. Gray eyes… that was the Kaminoan ruling caste. They all had them but they were severely lacking in normal emotional control and outward demeanor.
"Regardless of your reasoning, you will order your ship to return and hand it over to us if you value your lives." I look at them, and though I still had my helmet on my posture was making obvious that I didn't believe a word these guys were spewing. I glanced back to Kanos… his story checks out with me. All I need to do to get him on my side is to prove that I'm a better alternative to the Republic when it comes to his values. My planning on creating a Clone army that has iron clad ties of brotherhood and loyalty, that should do it.
"Answer us!"
"Can you please dispense with the theater show. I wish to talk business and I can't do that until I am talking with someone with real authority. I have a big order that needs to be filled." I said dismissively and at once all of the grutns in the room gripped their blasters and leveled them at us. Oddly enough, the squad that had brought us here didn't. I then looked to the lead soldier that had caught us originally and smirked under my helmet. "It's you isn't it? They're afraid because they're in the same room as the person that's really pulling the strings." I said as I turned to the Kaminoan that stood differently than the rest, more composed and undeniably ready.
The eight or so Gray Eyed Kaminoans all did their species' equivalent of paled at my words. The some of the other soldiers looked to each other, not sure as what to do. Meanwhile the squad that surrounded us remained still. A soft chuckle escaped the lead soldier's helmet, then he reached up and unclasped it.
"The first visitor to Kamino in over three hundred years, and you're a customer?" He said with this amused yet soft tone. His voiced as aged as he looked. Several scars marred his face and there was obvious wear and tear from the years. But the most striking feature was his shinning green eyes. That hue would have marked him for death during normal times here on this world, one's eyes placed each Kaminoan in a set caste with green being undesirable. "Let us speak privately, since it is clear that you are no ordinary customer." Then with a wave of his hand the Gray Eyed Kaminoan's shuffled away and the old Green Eyed one began walking toward the back door.
"Stay back and watch for any sign of trouble." I said to Vette and Kanos who both nodded. Even when in a room filled with armed soldiers, I trusted Vette to come out of it alive and I trusted Havoc Squad to pick out someone with a equal measure of talent. I then followed the Kaminoan into a long meeting room, a stark white table likely lifted from one of the floating ruins was set in the middle, there were even the ceiling hung chairs.
"I must admit, as the years past by I did not expect to see a offworlder come, let alone one with intentions as yours." He said as he walked over to the chair at the head of the table. His body moved with a mix of the grace of his species but also a alert deliberateness of seasoned warrior. "My name is Ivuc Wa, I have been leading the remnants of my species for two hundred years now." He introduced himself as I sat down and took off my helmet, I didn't want to seem rude not showing him the same level of respect he had shown doing the same.
"My name is Naraiz Rhyhall, and it's difficult to put to words what I lead." I said knowing that it actually wasn't hard but it served the purpose for the moment to keep it vague. Ivuc however seemed to notice this as he seemed to hint a frown at my evasive reply. "As far as I'm aware, your species lives for roughly eighty years. Now how does someone like you go from what is possibly the worst genetic disposition on this world to leading your kind well past their normal expiration date?"
"I was born lucky." He answered with a coy yet confident tone. "I was born days before the Republic arrived and decimated our civilization. It was callous and uncaring, they bombed our cities from orbit and then did the same to the sections of the oceans where it had the most plentiful of food."
"Try and starve out any survivors. Clearly didn't work." It was sloppy, but then again it didn't need to be complete. Just work well enough so that the Kaminoans couldn't be a threat or make new threats for other enemies of the Republic. "But that still doesn't explain why you have lived three times the normal for your kind. Unless…" I said before I tossed out a hidden knife at the head of Ivuc and just as expected it simply hung in the air for a moment before getting sent back into my hand via the Force.
"And I can feel that you are no average human… though I don't have a baseline to compare. But I doubt that all humans have such a smothering presence in the Force." Ivuc remarked as I collected my knife and placed it back in its hidden compartment. Kaminoan Force Users were rare but not unheard of, my personal guess is that they are more often found in the Green Eyed trait of the species and the leadership of Gray Eyed feared the threat to their power and thus came the prejudice to green eyes. "But we have more important things to discuss than that. Business."
"Yes, do your people still have the knowledge of your ancestors. I would assume you would need it to keep up your population." They were still subject to the laws of genetics even if they weren't human. Too low a population and the gene pool would suffer, draconian laws would need to be enforced or genetic manipulation would have to be done to every child to ensure genetic diversity.
"We have the technology for gene therapy and controlled radiation doses to ensure stable generational growth. As for the Cloning you want… I know of a repository." He said with this serious look in his eye. Ah, so he was a shrew political animal as well. He knew the value and the situation of telling me that. That was his primary bargaining chip, and even just telling me of it was dangerous. "You want us to make you a army, I can only guess for what purpose."
"What other purpose is there, to wage war." I replied making the dance between us drag out a bit longer. He wanted me to state my true intentions. My real identity. I didn't find on Kamino a society willing to produce a army for the right price, I found a leader that only wanted the survival of his people and the will to carry it.
"On the Republic?" He asked, his eyes narrowed and I could tell we were coming to the crux of the talks.
"You felt it right? It happened awhile ago but I'm sure you felt it. When the Force was brought into Balance." I said and he nodded. Any Force Sensitive with a modicum of power in the Force likely felt that. And I could sense that while he was not classically trained in a Order, he was still quite powerful. On the level of Sith Darth or Jedi Master. "That is the war I am talking about. A war to bring a permanent Balance to the Force. Where anyone that opposes that is my enemy."
There was a long silence between us. I knew what he was debating in his head. And he knew likewise that this moment would determine his people's future. Three paths were laid before him; he could submit to me, tell me where the repository is and let me be on my way, or fight me to try and take my ship from me. They wanted my ship, likely so that they may now have the means to leave this world and possibly find a way relocate to some other more suitable world. He could also just have things return back to how they were, tell me where the repository is and avoid a fight or having to subjugate himself and his people to my rule. But that option had possibility, they were weak and had little resources. Tying themselves to a greater power meant protection and possibly status.
"I want proof that you could bring back my people from the brink of extinction." He finally said which I took as him taking option number uno. Subjugation. But he wanted something to rationalize this choice, something to tell himself that he made the right choice. This wasn't hard, Trogan was a bit of a trip from Kamino but I know it will be worth it. "Once you have proven that you have the power to save my people and bring them back from the brink, I will tell you of where the repository is, and then you will leave."
"Oh… it's like that is it?" I asked, surprised that he would take this little spin on option two. And it wasn't exactly what I wanted.
"My people are no longer the Cloners that you desire. Too many generations have passed, none from those days have lived and the knowledge they once possessed now only exists as data." I said and these were all very valid points. Even if the Kaminoans were brought into the Empire they would need to be trained in the arts that once defined them. It would take years… thankfully we have those years. We were still decades out from the start of the timeline where things would be moving in the ways where I would need a Clone Army. And that was without me possibly delaying things as I had recently begun planning too. While the Game of Thrones timeline I want as intact as possible up to a certain point, I'm far more liberal when it comes to the Star Wars one.
"Yes, that is true. I could just take the knowledge I want and hire out some other organization with the training and know how to produce my army." I said in a causal way that on the surface sounded like I had been planning that from the beginning but anyone with a brain could hear the sarcasm. "But I don't want that. As your people have something purely invaluable to my needs."
"And what would that be?" He asked skeptically.
"A grudge against the Republic."
"I have set the wards and will remain to watch over them until this threat has been dealt with." Talzin stated as she entered the Harrenhal meeting room. In it held Quinn, Pierce, Rathari, Fay, Melisandre, and lastly Jaesa with Pandora in her arms. The mother and daughter had not been separated in the week that had followed the attempted on the child's life. "I however had to set them only at around the edges of the keep, the high number of Forces Sensitives inside would create too many false positives for it to be effective."
"We'll be initiating a curfew and limiting the number of acolytes allowed outside the keep to further focus the net you have placed." Quinn said in his normal clam and orderly tone. Talzin could sense an unease behind it though, the attempt on his lord's child rattled him just as it did everyone else. "Are you sure your people can handle themselves in Valyria while you are gone? We do not know how long we may need you here."
"The Sisters and Brothers have already settled in, the ruins are a plentiful settlement for us. And they know my will, they will not descend into chaos." Her people had done well for themselves in the ruble of Valyria, having been collected and brought to this world by Cipher Nine's agents from Dathomir. She had been working hard on creating the Sith Crucibles and her sisters and brothers had been diligently constructing their new home on this world. Safely hidden away from any adventurous eyes and totally self-sufficient in terms of providing for itself.
"Let's all start telling the truth here, none of these measures are for Pandora. She already has the best defense against these Faceless Men." Fay said as they all looked to Jaesa. It was true, with her eyes she could easily pick out he true nature of anyone that approached her and her baby. Even if they were a Force Null, she would still be able to see that and be set on guard. "All of this is for the rest of us. Some little bit of protection against the threat of being killed and having our face stolen."
"The staff has thankfully bought our lie concerning Serona. That she ran off with some wealthy merchant prince. Joanna has been doing a good job and is much more liked anyways… sorry to say but Serona was a stuck up bitch at times." Pierce grumbled and no one seemed to argue that point. Serona was often ordering people around and there was even rumors that she told the lower servants that she was actually Naraiz's wife. "But is there something we can do? What info do we have on these guys?"
"Darth Nagash has been keeping files on nearly every significant person or organization in both Essos and Westeros, here's what he has on the Faceless Men." Rathari said as placed a holo-projector on the table and it flickered to life. Above it was blocks of text along with several drone acquired pic-caps of a large building and several people coming in and out of said building. "He theorized that they might have something to do with the Force Sensitives of Essos however he didn't have any conclusive evidence of it. Nor did he have any idea on their apparent Null status."
"I believe I have an answer for that." Talzin spoke up as she turned her eyes from Melisandre who had been staring at the advance technology, the woman had only been recently enlightened to the full extent of the galaxy and was still in a state of mild shock over things like the holo-projector. "Their ability to wear the faces of the dead is undoubtedly a power of the Force, however the likelihood of a person being born both imbued with the Force's power and being at the same time immune to it… it is the stuff of legends even among the Jedi and Sith. Much more likely is that they have an artifact or ritual capable of producing a similar effect."
"Is that even possible?" Fay asked and then she shrunk back a bit after the looks both Talzin and Rathari gave her. Both of them had seen things the Force could do that defied the Jedi belief of what and was not possible with the Force. And Darth Nagash had proven even further that the Force had never been used to its fullest since the Jedi and Sith had started their wars.
"What is our plan of attack?" Pierce asked as he looked to Quinn who was the in place leader while Darth Nagash was away. Rathari refused to take up the leadership role, partly for personal reasons and partly because Quinn was simply the better choice.
"Given the situation… we wait." Quinn said like that was the most obvious thing as he continued to jot down notes, looking like he was absorbed in the world of information on the Faceless Men. The rest however looked concerned over this. In his peripheral vision he saw this and with a sigh detached from his work to explain himself. "Currently given our resources this is our only option."
"It's not like we can send in troops." Pierce admitted as they only had about three hundred active soldiers and most of them were on duty to protect both Harrenhal and the surrounding lands. The Seekers were well trained but were also still doing their work. Plus, there was the massive issue of the Faceless Men weren't based in Westeros but Essos. "Could we get a Sell Sword company?"
"And ask them to besiege Braavos… one of the primary employers of Sell Swords, home of the Iron Bank, and is currently the most powerful Free City in Essos. No, I think not." Quinn retorted and Pierce sighed in defeat as it was looking like outright military campaign would not be an option. The Governor also decided to not mention the fact that doing just that would be a political nightmare for them as all they had was one encounter with a Faceless Man, whose existence was know to a select few, and who wasn't officially connected to Braavos but was deep inside the city. Attacking Braavos would likely drag the entirety of Westeros into a war with the Free City and its allies… namely the Iron Bank.
"Our clot in Essos is also severely lacking in comparison to Westeros." Rathari also reminded them. When Naraiz had first journeyed to Essos he made a good impression at first. But then his freeing the slaves from Lys and Volantis ruined much of that with the cities that had a heathy slave culture. Ironically it was probably Braavos that they had the best standing with, but not nearly enough for them to help in this current situation.
"We would need a strike force capable of infiltrating Braavos undetected and then eliminating or otherwise dealing with the assassin order. Such a force we do not have available to us at this time." Quinn explained and his words were true. While they did have several people, most who were in that room, that could make up that strike force all of them were currently occupied. But then Talzin spoke up.
"My sisters and brothers could be this strike force, we could handle these assassins." She offered and Quinn stopped in his writing and gave a hard look forward. They watched him think this option over before he turned to Talzin.
"No." He responded and both Talzin and Rathari looked like they wanted to object. But he continued on. "The Nightsister and Nightbrothers are too valuable to lose. You told us that you collected every supporter you could from Dathomir to set up your own tribe here. That means Darth Nagash's base back on Dathomir has been severely dwindled. He might he now revered as a god by your people, but it is Great Mother Gethzrion that controls them. By removing your people from that world, you have secured her grip on it like never before. You will be receiving a single sister or brother to replace the ones you lose in this operation."
"You think so little of our capabilities?" Talzin frowned but held back because she didn't think that was the case. Quinn was too logical and wasn't prone to bias when it came to tactical or strategic acumen.
"On the contrary, I believe your people would make for perfect agents elsewhere in the world once your hold on Valyria is finished. However, this foe is of a different caliber. We have only one example of their abilities beyond the legend and from that I can tell that they are exceptionally suited to countering your people exactly." Talzin didn't want to admit it but he was right. The Faceless Men were world class killers. They were reportedly expert fighters and even worse had little in the ways of morals when it came to how to go about their craft. Death was the goal for them and all else mattered little. As shadowy combatants who could and would employ all sorts of underhanded and deadly tactics, they also held unknown Force Powers along with an ability to create Force Nulls. The Dathomirain sorcery Talzin could utilize could be rendered ineffective but said ability.
"So… what? We wait until they send another and capture them?" Fay asked very concerned about the lives that would be caught in the crossfire.
"No, we wait until Darth Nagash returns. Then we assist him as he will singlehandedly slaughter the entire order of Faceless Men." Quinn said as he closed his notebook and stood up. Nobody said a word as he left until they all turned to Jaesa who started chuckling.
"I could have told you all that without a fancy meeting." She laughed as she too stood up and left.
"So spill it, how was working with the real Ulysses?" Katz asked as he hung in his hammock in the crew quarters of the ship. They had just left the Kamino system with the leader of the Kaminoans as their guest. The ship board crew was pretty surprised to see the away team return with a plus one and even more surprised when they found out who it was.
"Both what I expected and not." Kanos replied as he cleaned his blasters. He honestly had been expecting more fights, but at the same time was glad to be working under someone that knew the time and place for that. When they had been surrounded, the former soldier was ready for a shoot out, that's what Dalla would have done. But not this time, Naraiz had calmly surrendered and ended up coming out the victor in the very end.
"He was great wasn't he, because he is."
"He is great, you think that too right?" The twins parroted each other in their odd way and both the men dismissed their antics. They long held that the twins used this childish act to disarm people, or maybe they were really like that in which case that would make them even more scared of them.
"We don't need your opinion on him, we all know what it is." Dabai shouted from her corner of the room. It was one of the former side cargo spaces that ran the front half of the ship. It was a little cramped up with verticality and a few games of Sabacc to determine who got how much space they made it work.
"The exact same thing could be said about you bitch." Katz whispered quietly though both Kanos and the twins heard. "What about you Yensi? You've worked with the captain before, things just as good as you remember?" Katz called over to the Gran who was looking like he was trying to sleep but they all knew he was listening. The crew watched as the man grumbled a bit but then turned over to face them all.
"Last time, singular, he nearly got both the twins and Dalla killed because he wanted to bring along a drunken Jedi. And at the end we didn't even get our prize because that same Jedi was being hunted down by ICB hunter droids. The rest of the crew got captured by a Falleen psychopath so I only really spent the mission either in a bait trap camp or locked inside of my room." Yensi said bluntly before rolling back on his side and proceeded to ignore the rest of them for the rest of the night hours.
"Sounds like a party." Katz responded with a chuckle, eager to see where this crew was heading now.
I watched as hyperspace turned to the blackness of normal space. It had taken awhile but we were finally in the Trogan system. Soon enough the barren rock of Trogan was coming into view. It was nothing like it was supposed to be in canon or legends. Instead of a natural beauty with horrible weather… it was just a rock floating in space. Not inhabited as far as I could tell.
"And you say that this Infinity Engine is on this world." Ivuc asked as he too watched the would grow in size. During the travel period we had discussed things further. Though he was still very skeptical and was cagy about saying anything binding. In turn I hadn't given too much information other than I was plotting and scheming to rebel against the Republic. I'm pretty sure he would have figured out more if it wasn't for the fact he was largely ignorant to the galaxy and the players in it. He knew of the Republic and Jedi but that was about it.
"Yes, long ago the old Sith Empire placed it here. They were trying to study it and possibly replicate it's tech. Didn't work out the way they wanted." I answered, it wasn't part of my focus back during that time. Once I got into power as a Sith Lord in my own right I invested time and resources in several Imperial projects. Most famously the Gauntlet Project. But others as well, but the Infinity Engine didn't come into my orbit of interest until I became more devote to Revan's teachings and was looking for the products of his travels. By the time I had heard of the Infinity Engine, I had much bigger issues to deal with. "It's technology comes from the Star Forges of the Infinite Empire, which were capable of taking in the energy and plasma of a star and converting it into usable matter. The Infinity Engine uses a similar but totally different process, namely converting matter into other kinds of matter."
"And this would help my people how? It is impressive technology however it does not solve the issues that we face. Hunger and security are our primary problems. We are constantly having to ration our supplies as the oceans' ecology was destroyed by the Republic. Now apex predators fill the seas and consume what little is left while also threatening our limited fishing fleet." I had heard all of this before. Effectively the Kaminoans were trapped on that one island without the means to leave the world. It was just Ivuc explained, their world had become increasingly hostile and no longer livable in the state they were in. What he really wanted was the means to leave Kamino and find a new world.
"You're not thinking big enough. While just concerned with surviving you are forgoing thriving." Oh, it was hard to talk to him when he was already convinced of one and only one way of going forward. "Vette, take us to these coordinates and we'll prepare a landing party."
"No." Ivuc said suddenly as he turned away and started walking toward the elevator. "You and I will be the only ones to land on this world and see this miracle device of yours." He said with a not too pleased tone as the elevator doors closed behind him. He wasn't used to following orders, and I could tell he wanted nothing more than to get as much out of me and then return back to Kamino with how things were. As much as he claimed he only wanted what was best for his people, it was becoming clear that even if was subconscious he also really wanted the power he had.
"I'm surprised your letting this guy dick you around like that." Vette chuckled as she moved the ship to head toward the location of the Imperial Black Site that housed the Infinity Engine.
"He's a powerful Force User and leader that hasn't had to engage in diplomacy before. He's used to people just following him because of his power and natural intelligence. It's shocking he hasn't fallen to the Dark Side or become a despot." Ivuc Wa was a Kaminoan that was very typical and unusual for his kind. Despite his birth status he rose to the top of their society in middle of its collapse at the hands of the Republic. He was able to unite them and keep them safe for centuries but now was feeling the pressure of both age and the fact there wasn't a clear successor, meaning he was desperate to maintain control and to secure a future for all he had worked for. "But he's naïve and hasn't met a bigger fish… that he knew of."
"There's always a bigger fish." Vette said and I chuckled as she unknowingly quoted Episode One. I stayed into the cockpit as we traveled down to the surface of the planet, allowing me to get a better look of it. There was definitely evidence that this once had life and more than just barren rock. The landscape had curves and edges that suggested seas, lakes, and rivers. There were areas that were flatter and had groves that suggested settlements once were here.
Eventually we came to it, a massive crater where a imperial base once stood. Here had the only the signs that anyone ever stepped foot on this world. Large abandoned machines that lines the cater walls stood idle, rails and track lines all descended down into a pit at the center of all. Someone had found the Infinity Engine, I knew that given the state of the planet as the thing didn't function on its own but needed someone to operate it. With any luck whoever it was died at some point and all this shit will stay inactive.
The Chilling Sound flew down to a abandoned supply depot and hovered over what looked to be the most structurally sound section of it. Myself and Ivuc dropped from landing ramp as the ship however several feet in the air. It then flew off to scan the area for any recent activity. Personally I was feeling uneased by what I was seeing. The soil of the planet had turned bleach white, like all the color had been drained away. It was also extremely dirty, without any plant life to keep the soil together it all turned to dust storms and created layer of dust on everything.
"It all points to there." Ivuc said as we walked down a set of basic stairs. He was pointing at the hole in the middle of the crater, surrounding it was a ring of stilled automated cargo unloaders. All the rails that interconnected the mining operations led to that single point. All of it was meant to feed into the Infinity Engine but who knows how long since that purpose was being fulfilled. "How would my people benefit these those that were here clearly have fallen to dust? There could be any number of salvageable ships still on this world, there would certainly be the means to make a craft. Why should I not leave you here?"
"And like that I'm done playing." I said before pushing my head behind me and blasting Ivuc through the industrial infrastructure with the Force. I broke the supply depot and several other structures with my power, I pulle dbakc my hand and looked down at it and a stretched the fingers. "Hmm… still climbing that mountain to the peek."
I refocused my attention and stopped several shards of broken metal that had been sent back at me. I hadn't even turned back to see the attack and yet I held it back. The shards then started turning red hot with heat, in mid air they swirled together into one piece of molten metal. It stretched and pulled and then lashed out like a whip at where I sensed Ivuc to be at. When I felt my attack hit something but not flesh I finally turned my head. I then saw this Kaminoan's weapon of choice, a collapsible Bo staff but what made it interesting was the Force Lightning that arced close to the upper half of the staff. I pulled back the whip of fire and metal lashed it out away from us.
"You finally show your true colors!" He shouted, huh… I've never really pictured Kaminoans yelling. But Ivuc wasn't the typical Kaminoan, he was naturally elegant but that was covered up with a rough hard lived grit. He then shocked me even more and Force leapt all the way over to me, faster than I expected. With a swing of his staff he created a charred and partly melted line in the walkway that I was standing on. Not missing a beat eh went in for another swing, and another, his speed and skill with his weapon was impressive and honestly I would have been honored to fight him at his prime.
"Age is such a debilitating thing." I said as I reached out and grabbed ahold of his staff out from it's next attempt to hit me. The lightning that coursed through it snapped and fizzled out as my power in the Force smothered it. "Very interesting technique. By sacrificing its power you are able to create a lightsaber equivalent weapon with Force Lightning."
"Let go!" Ivuc said as he attempted to pull his weapon out of my grasp. Unfortunately for him BI-6 had already locked my hand onto the staff.
"You are indeed very powerful, certainly would give any Jedi Master a run for their money. I sense the Light is strong in you. But vengeance clouds your heart, allowing the Darkness a way in." I say before letting my hand go. Ivuc of course jumps back but now takes a defensive stance. I guess my words have peeked his interest. "Why should you stay with me? Why will the Infinity Engine save your people. In truth that's not what will do it, what it will do will provide your people the means to be useful again. And that's what will save you and the Kaminoan people."
"To be the slaves or the slave masters? Either way my people will once again be surrounded by chains." He countered as his Bo staff reignited, but his stance didn't change.
"All I can offer you is a vaulted place among the new Empire I am building. I will not make empty promises or outright lies like the Republic. I do not promise freedom and democracy in this galaxy. Only that those that have earned their place be given their rewards. Your people will create the armies that will conquer the galaxy, defend it from all threats both inside and out. Yours will be among the most rewarded." He wants power. The Light is as I said, strong in him. Now to achieve Balance he need to be tempted by greed and power, he needs to take it and not let it consume him. The fight for his people will help that. So long as he shares that power the Dark Side will not take him. I reach out to him, hand out stretched and open. "Submit to me, become my vassal and let your people experience all wealth and prosperity that their lineage is due."
"You promise that my people will be welcomed, and that they will provided for?" He said still unsure. This was unfamiliar to him, having a outsider reach out in friendship.
"Yours will be among the upper echelons of nobility… provided they don't become so fat on that privilege that they fall over themselves." I wasn't about to let incompetence infect my empire. I might be for a noble caste but I demand that they earn that status. Those that prove to be useless and/or too indulgent shall be cast down and left for the vultures and wolves to pick apart. "With the Infinity Engine and its seeds, we can create entire Cloning Complexes that can be hidden all across space. Whether in deep space or on wild worlds, legions will be created all under the nose of the Republic. And when it is time, they shall be my hammer to break the Republic."
"It will be an empire built on the backs of slaves." He countered and I guess I should have expected this from him. Being who he was, he likely saw their former business in a negative light simply because it was the business of the old society of Kamino, the society that would have killed him just because of his eye color.
"Do I really have to explain the detailed governmental plan I have for all members of my military. Two tours of duty and then ever clone can choose if they want stay in, training for civilian life and on and on… you really killed the mood I had going." I complained as I had a entire cool speech going on and now I have ruin it by talking about governmental reforms and grantees and stuff. I'm not going to be like the Canon Republic with no plan at all, although the plan was to just use them to kill the Jedi and Sidious didn't really care about the aftercare for the clones. Whatever I'm doing things right. "Just tell me if you want to take the deal. In exchange for you and your people submitting to my Empire and rule, I will vow to make the Kaminoan people in entirety a part of Imperial nobility upon the creation of the Empire."
He looked at he, his large green eyes only giving small shifts in movement to give away what he was thinking. I couldn't get a read off him, likely he started putting up a primitive shield but his strength in the Force was great enough to make up for it's lack of sophistication. Make the right choice Ivuc, your people will either be doomed to lives living underground threatened by an increasing dangerous world or be given lives pampered for their work creating soldiers for my empire.
"For my people… I will shallow my pride and kneel." He said reluctantly as he collapsed his staff and lowered himself onto a knee. There he stayed as I walked over, his head down and unable to see me changing into my true form.
"Then rise Darth Curunír, new apprentice of Emperor Nagash." I said flaring out as much of my power as I could, this moment too important to be given the least bit of caution. I was taking a gamble, but at the same time he was worthy. It wasn't like most apprentices, but he was naïve to much of the Force and the galaxy. He already had the sills in combat and leadership but he was still lacking in my vital areas. "You already walk the path of the Balance, I shall guide you to achieving it fully. And by my teachings you shall carve your name and your people's legacy onto the galaxy."
"Yes… my master." He said with a catch in his throat. I think he was only just now understanding what a being had come to his world. All his life he had fought to rise to the top, his very birth was saved only by the destruction of his people's society. Now a being as powerful as was validating it all by acknowledging him as worthy.
Darth Plagueis looked up from his desk on the Muunilinst IBC's headquarters. He felt the flare of Darth Nagash's power in the Force. It was very feint and likely only he recognized it as he had felt it prior and was still actively searching for it in the Force.
"Hmm…" I reached further and was able to locate this sudden well spring of power. It was relatively close by as far as galactically speaking so it was only moderately difficult to pinpoint it's exact location. "IG-99."
"Yes my lord." The Droid spoke as it had been standing behind the Sith Lord perfectly still for hours now.
"I am dispatching you to… disregard that order." Darth Plagueis said as he reconsidered this. It too obvious. A shrewd trap placed by his new foe. The Sith lord leaned back in his seat with a smile on his face, it was nice to have a foe to match wits with. The Jedi were unaware of him and as such made for poor foes, dangerous yes but not cunning. "Now it is my move, how shall I best utilize this. IG-99… remind later to call Calthina about our business venture."
"Just say what you have to say." I tell the thoughtful Kaminoan as we ventured deeper into the complex that had been built below the crater. I wonder, did the complex come first and the crater was made to collect resources or was the crater caused first and this place dug out to reach the Infinity engine. Might get answers might not… all that mattered was the Infinity Engine and its seeds.
"What… I guess I'm just a little confused as to what my place is now." Ivuc said and I'm sure that he was still shell shocked from what just happened. Once the awe had worn off and his wits came back to him, confusion took its place. He was unaware of the Sith, their customs, their history or their very existence and now he was one of their leaders. He only knew of the Jedi because of their impact on his people. The Sith weren't all that well known in the galaxy to begin with, the common man might vaguely recognize the term but not know it beyond a old wives tale.
"You are now my apprentice, you will learn from me and follow my lead. As the Apprentice of Balance you will be a example to all other Sith on how to achieve equality between the Dark Side and the Light Side. Something you are very close to… now all you need is that last little push." It didn't matter that he was centuries older than myself, a master apprentice relationship can come from anywhere. He had much to learn about the Force, all he had so far was basic experimentation and trial and error. No deeper lore or mysticism of the Force. He was also a very capable leader, hence why I gave him the Darth title, but at the same time entirely ignorant of the galaxy and its workings. Maybe he would live for another hundred or so years with modern medicine and me showing him how to properly rejuvenate his body, but by that time I will have found another to replace him and much of the galaxy will be under our control. In the end, he was a good choice and a unexpected find. "All you need to do is listen, and do what you think is right."
"I will do what is right by my people, nothing more." I sighed at this. He was going to need to let loose a bit, find his greed and desires. Find it within himself to find what fuels the Darkness, the emotion of life. Given Kaminoan biology being more tied to aquatic life I think they reproduce via eggs… though I could be wrong on that. So my means to the Dark Side in the form of sex and/or love is not going to fit for him. Maybe luxury, he's worked a hard life… perhaps giving him the chance to relax will bring out some desire for a easy life.
My thoughts on how to corrupt my newest apprentice were moved to the back of my mind as the we entered a new part of the complex. Namely a large tunnel that which was littered with skeletons, at the very back was a sealed vault door. I kneeled down at the furthest set of bones from the vault, like the rest it was positioned crawling away from the back. They were trying to escape but then died.
"Gas, they were killed with gas." I said as I glanced around and saw a lack of any blaster marks or any other signs that weapons had been used to kill these people. Their bones were pristine, only the entropy of time damaged them. Combining that fact with how they were laid out led me to conclusion that a gas had been used to kill them. "Bigger question is why weren't they taken back to the Infinity Engine to be recycled? Seems a waste of resources."
"Aversion to using their own people in such a way." I sensed that Ivuc was a little unnerved by my detached and uncaring words. Yeah, it was strange how experienced this man was and yet at the same time naive to reality.
"Gas is logical, and doesn't discriminate. Those are the bones of a infant." I said pointing to a set of bones cradled in the arms of another skeleton. "If whoever did this had the morals to not use their corpses… they wouldn't have used such a weapon in the first place."
"Then that would leave they couldn't access the bodies." Ivuc said as he stared around the boneyard. I'm sure he had to make hard choices as leader of his people, but something told me that he might have been making the wrong or more difficult choice. A true leader needs to be able to make the call to sacrifice and do things others would call heinous and not buckle. I'm sure soon enough he'll learn… as I doubt there be a perfect reception when he returns to Kamino with the news. "What if the gas is still behind that door?"
"Doubtful, and if it is then I'll just push it aside." I said so causally and I could sense that this awed the Kaminoan a bit. I continued to impress upon him that I was in command of powers he never even dreamed of. And I didn't plan on stopping. "But why take the chance." I said as I held up a hand and from it shot forward a beam of energy. It's violet light burning through the slab of metal that blocked our way along with whatever was behind it, solid or gas. With a flick of my hand, the energy cut off and there was a perfectly circular hole ready for us to walk through.
"That was…"
"We're being watched." I cut him off as my eyes glanced to an alert on my helmet's HUD. Something had moved in the walls after I had blasted the vault door open. Some sort of droid or else I would have sensed it in the Force. "It seems this place isn't as abandoned as we first thought."
"Should we call in the rest of your allies?" Ivuc asked and I thought about it. If there were people here then there is a chance that I could induct them into my Empire like Ivuc. That could be difficult to explain to the crew who I am still feeling out. Vette says that she trusts them but I'm still on the fence. Ivuc has zero reason to ever go to the Republic and Vette told me that neither do the others in the crew but Ivuc's reason is about as sure as you can get. I trusted my current abilities, Ivuc's own talents, and BI-6 to come out and save my ass should I need it.
"No, we can handle this. Unless there's a Force God waiting for us I don't see any situation that we can not deal with." I'm sure there was a look of concern on his face under his helmet at the mention of a Force God. I'm not planning on picking a fight with one of those for a very long time, and even then I will Batman the hell out of it and prepare like a madman. No more winging it when it comes to the gods.
With that said we started our way into the destroyed vault chamber. Several walls had new openings in them, all of them leading deeper and deeper… how convenient. We walked through slagged holes until we reach the point where my attack had reached its limit and all we were met with was a charred blast mark on a otherwise perfectly white wall. That had been a running theme here, the entire place was this sterile white with only the fallen ruble brought in by my energy blast breaking up the white. Though upon closer examination, I could tiny circuit like veins of silver in the white that was only seen by a close eye.
"How much further to the Infinite Engine?" Ivuc asked as we met the end of our initial probe into the complex.
"-You are closer than you should be intruder.-" A synthetic voice chattered into our ears, behind it was the sound of static that BI-6 recognized as audible code. She intercepted it as it contained hundreds of viruses and data worms, It was a good thing that I had her in my equipment and Ivuc's armor lacked an internal software system. "-I do not know how it is you came to find this world or know of its secret. But that does not mean you shall ever lay your feeble eyes upon its glory.-"
"Tech worship… I'm conflicted." On one hand I'm not at all surprised that someone would come to worship the Infinity Engine. It's reasonable outcome for a number of situations. Now… on one hand I would very much like to gain myself my own Mechanicus, though with a few changes in doctrine. But on the other hand, it's going to be a bitch convincing them to gimme the Infinity Engine. "It's an organic being, that wasn't a droid's voice there even if it sounded close to it."
"That means we should be able at sensing where he is." Ivuc picked up and I nodded. But before either of could start our search for any life forms in the Force, the sound of clanking metal hit our ears. We both turned and saw several mechanical monstrosities barreling down the hallway. Odd things that walked on blunt talons, had all across their bodies small optical lens, odd strings of metal rods and beads hung off their bodies, and they were vaguely resembling crosses between dangerous wildlife in the galaxy and humanoids. But more importantly… their numbers.
"Apprentice… it is time for me to teach you the valuable lesson of a tactical retreat." I said as I stared a the other side of the hall literally filled to the brim with droid bodies all in mad scramble towards us. Quite a few of them were equipped with either blasters or even just slug throwers, as they grew closer they started unloading their ammunition upon us. I quickly slammed a foot forward and cracked the tile floor, then pulled up the bedrock that this complex was embedded in to create a wall between us and the pursuing droids. "That's not going to last for long, we need to find the one controlling them now." I said before we started running down the other side of the hallway.
"Shouldn't we be returning to the ship?" Ivuc asked as he ran behind me. I groaned a bit as I heard the wall I had made get torn down and the familiar sound of metal rampaging after us return.
"And lead them back to the ship, risk coming back only to find this place fortified to a degree making it impossible to enter, and admitting defeat? No!" I sure hope that Ivuc was getting a good idea of what he had signed onto.
We ran down several halls, scrapping droids as they came at us. Most of them were alone or in pairs. Giving me the impression that the ones chasing us were the only ones. The rest were just on their normal patrol paths. Another thing I noticed was the lack of doors, was this entire place just hallways? It certainly was giving the impression that this place wasn't a high population center. There was no need to create these tunnels unless it was to make room for more usable space, but that was utterly lacking here. No doors to storage areas, living quarters, manufacturing centers. Though that last one was made redundant.
"I think I can sense it. It's feint but close." Ivuc said after he slammed another droid into the wall with his staff. These droids while intimidating and complex, weren't sturdy. Likely built for mobility rather than to take punishment. A poor choice in a closed off space like these halls. Ivuc took the lead and we ran down several more halls and down flights of stairs, as we got closer more and more droids came at us from all directions. They also started to act in a more coordinated, working in teams rather than just mindless attack bots. But then the assaults stopped as we pasted by several destroyed automated turrets that had been sliced in half by one of my energy attacks. "He's behind this door and they have stopped?"
"I think the one controlling them has realized how pointless it is to send the drones after us." I say and then watch as the hydraulic gate door begins to slowly click open. Steam hisses out as the heavy doors are pulled apart. Inside, we can see a dark contrast to the stark white of the halls. Ivuc and I both walk in and I can now finally see why this place was made so large.
The Infinity Engine hung in the middle of a great basin, we only saw the top fifth of it. It was the size of a Lucrehulk-Core. And all around it were copies of it, roughly only a sixth of the size but numbering in the dozens. All around them machines hissed and moved, a great choirs of mechanical parts interplayed with the Infinity Engines as they digitized parts upon conveyor belts. Assembly lines, smelting refineries, all kinds of industrial pieces played off each other with the great Infinity Engines at their core. Gone was shinning white of the hallways we had just been in, everything in her was covered in a blackened layer of smog or had the patina of metal.
"You walk in the alter of stagnation and the church of progress. You barbarous mongrels cannot hope to understand the majesty of what is before you." We both looked up to see descending down the machinery above a lone beacon of white among the darkness that we had entered. With thunderous clangs, a giant of machine and white robes descended down from the upper levels of this place and with a great thud dropped down to the floor below us. It stood in front of the edge of the basin that housed the original Infinity Engine whereas we stood on a wireframe causeway that wrapped around the walls of the massive chamber. "Lowly brutes such as yourself that fail to see the glory in the harmony of metal and oil shall be ground to paste in these cogs."
At the forefront of his body were two massive three pronged blunt claws that he used as front legs, behind them I could see a spider like body with a dozen smaller but still utilitarian talons that held the rest of the monster up. Above that and covered in a thick heavy white robe with silver trim was a hunched over humanoid figure though with odd proportions. His back was much to large and I could see several mechanical tendrils coming out of the back of his robes so I assume that they were centered on his back. His head, while shrouded by a large hood, was lower than it should suggesting a hunchback structure. Three arms extended out from his body, two on the right and one on the left. The duo on the right were long and thin, and had a myriad of attached implements, meanwhile the one on the left was about the only thing that looked normal. Neither of his arms were covered in the robes as it was sleeveless, likely made it easier to work with moving parts. Much of his face was shrouded but out from under the hood was many glowing white lights that were no doubt optics, as well as greasy silver hair that hung down far to his mechanical legs. From what I could see… he was an Arkanian.
"You are trespassing upon Imperial property, as the self proclaimed Emperor of the Sith Empire I decree that you submit yourself to my authority as penance for your crimes!" I shouted down to the monstrous cyborg. I had no belief that he would do as I say, I knew that all negotiating was off the table when I found a fanatic lunatic.
"Such impetuous rabble, they screech such absurd lies when faced with their death." He said before holding up his left hand. Glowing circuit lines lit up under his skin and me and Ivuc watched in shock as the Infinity Engines in the room all lit up too, then beams emitted by them shot toward his hand and formed in it a large barreled gun. "Die meat."
"Scatter!" I shouted and jumped up into the air while Ivuc Force Dash down the walkway just before the cyborg fired his weapon and completely destroyed the spot that we had been standing on. "Oh… great… he has an overpowered homefield advantage. This is going to be fun."
Author's Notes
A lot of this was planned out for a very long time however I guess the biggest thing wasn't. I hadn't really ever planned on giving Naraiz another apprentice for awhile, or for it to be a OC. But I really Ivuc, he's a big fish, ba dum tiss, in a small pound about to be taken into the ocean of the galaxy by a really big fish. Also I just like Kaminoans... they cool. Also if anyone is curious, Ivuc's Darth name is actually Suraman's name in Sindarin, it means man of skill and it fits pretty well for him.
Reviews
Starlord Master - yes it did, and now it's coming to its final years.
Gabe2000 - 0_0
ZhaWarudo - fair
Kalvernus - At the end of the day Naraiz just really wants Clones as he sees them as the best choice for his army and does not really care about the opinions of others on this. With Joanna, she see's it as dealt with and prefers to just let things go back to being peaceful and better for everyone. For Lyarra, its more about following Naraiz lead and since he said he just wanted to put this behind him and forget it happened she's going to do that. Vette sorta feels responsible for what happened as she thinks that her first time with Naraiz was sensed by empath Jaesa and just made everything worse for her, so she really see Pierce as the victim. Yes Serona was one of the former slaves of Lys and the fact you have to ask that is one of the reasons why I killed her off.
Black Magic99 it is currently 58BBY in the Star Wars timeline, Episode One takes place at 32BBY. There will several time skips coming up so its not horribly far away. I have a plan for Ashoka, that's all I'm going to say. Yes, this story will get there at some point.
AO Black - Naraiz had learned several lessons in rushing things... what happened with the Maidan being the biggest one. So while yes he is going to get super pissed, and the Faceless men will suffer. It's... he's going to be taking a page out of his master's playbook for this one.
