EPISODE I
Epilogue: Revelation

After imprisoning Belluzub, Zolph Vaelor fought his way through more Valkoran personnel, but they were nothing compared to the Archfiend he had just fought minutes ago. He eventually reached the shield generators and cut down the pylons supporting it. He activated his comlink and contacted Admiral Cephal.

"Admiral. The shield is down and Belluzub has been neutralized."

"It's about time!" the Admiral responded. "We don't know how much longer we were going to last! Now get out of there before that finned Death Star look-a-like comes down on you!"

"Way ahead of you!" Zolph said as he was rushing out of the generator room. "I'll contact the surviving squads and tell them to get out too."

"We'd appreciate that. Good luck." The transmission then ended.


Zolph hadn't made it to main level since talking with Admiral Cephal and alerting the surviving squads to evacuate the station. Suddenly, a loud explosion rocked the station followed by a siren and an automated alert message.

"Alert. Primary stabilizers have been compromised. All personnel evacuate immediately."

Zolph was less than amused. "Oh, sure! Blow this place up before I get off, why don't ya!" he shouted to Cephal despite not being in hearing range.

He then continued to make his way towards the Blazing Manta's hangar, cutting down any Valkoran personnel that decided to attack him rather than evacuate.


Zolph eventually reached the Blazing Manta's hangar. However, he was also greeted to the sight of a character he had not seen and didn't want to see in six months: a man with four wings and black armor. Zolph naturally groaned in annoyance.

"You don't seem very happy to see me, Zolph," Maesterus said with a tone of disappointment.

"I am not in the mood, Maesterus!" Zolph yelled. "Between today's and yesterday's events, I just want to go home and call it a day!"

"I think that's exactly what you need. However…" Maesterus activated his lightsaber and extended his wings out. "As usual, you're going to have to fight me to get out of this one."

"Are you serious? This place is going to blow up! Shouldn't you be fleeing?!"

"Don't worry. We've got a lot of time before that happens."

"Oh, come on, Maesty. I have a clear getaway. What's stopping me from just flying out of here?"

Grein's voice then came from Zolph's comlink. "Sorry, Zolph, but I can't bail you out this time.
Maesterus is literally keeping the Manta grounded and the loading ramp shut. He's even disabled the defense systems."

"Your friend is right. You've gotten off easy the last three times we fought, so if you don't want to join me, you actually have to defeat me this time. And considering how those last three fights went, I don't see this encounter going in your favor."

Zolph realized Maesterus had a point. Every time he fought him, he always lost and last time, it cost him his right arm. Every time, he got lucky, whether it was because Luke Skywalker or Grein bailed him out or Maesterus just decided to give him a pass. Of course, he still didn't feel like siding with him.

Zolph drew out his lightsaber. "My answer is still no."

"I admire your persistence, but let's see if this persistence actually helps you this time."
Maesterus ascended into the air and fired three bone spikes at Zolph, but they were quickly cut down.

Maesterus then used the Force to slam several heavy cargo containers into Zolph, but he caught all of them and then hurled them back at Maesterus, who quickly cut them down. While Maesterus was distracted by the containers, Zolph jumped towards him and slashed at him, but his attacks were parried before Zolph fell back down to the floor.

"You're getting better!" Maesterus told him with amusement. He then got a look at Zolph's new lightsaber hilt, noticing the claw-like emitter similar to his. "I also see that I've rubbed off on you a bit."

"Don't get any ideas."

"However, we're not done yet!" he yelled as he swooped towards Zolph with his blade out. Zolph quickly jumped over him and then threw a docked Firaxa-class starfighter into him.

Maesterus then dashed out of the wreckage towards Zolph with only a few scratches and burns on his armor. He slashed at Zolph, but he quickly blocked those slashes and knocked
Maesterus's lightsaber from his hand.

Maesterus jabbed at Zolph with a bone spike coming from his left palm, but Zolph retaliated by grabbing his arm and then throwing him over his shoulders onto his back. Zolph then lowered his lightsaber blade towards Maesterus lying on the ground.

"Well, Zolph. You've finally beaten me. So, are you going to finish me off and avenge your parents, even if it falls in violation of the Jedi Code?"

"No." Zolph answered coolly as he deactivated his lightsaber. "I may have some resentment towards you for that, but I realized two things: revenge is overrated and that there are creatures far worse than you out there."

"You've learned well." Maesterus quickly got up on his feet and pulled his lightsaber back to his hand. Zolph naturally put his guard up in case he was going to pull a fast one. "No tricks. You've earned this victory. I will let you two leave, but I have another present for you, Zolph."

"Present? What are you up to now?"

"You've probably wondered who I really am."

"If you tell me you're my father, I am not going to be amused."

"If it's any reassurance, no, I am not your father. You saw both of us at the same place he died. However…" Maesterus then grabbed his helmet, deactivated the seals and removed it, revealing something Zolph was not expecting to see: a human with long brown hair and facial features similar to his own along with the usual symptoms of Forceless possession. "That's not to say we aren't related by blood."

Zolph was shocked. "Im-Impossible! Who are you?!" He then asked with a tone of annoyance. "And why the hell did you wait until now to tell me this?!"

"I would have told you sooner if you had just complied back during any of our previous encounters."

"You could have just told me right then and there without nailing me to a wall or cutting my limbs off!"

"Oh, please. Would you really buy it if I just told you 'Zolph, I am your distant ancestor' out of the blue, especially from a man who allegedly dresses like a Sith Lord and during military operations? What I look like underneath doesn't help either."

"Good point. And you say you're my distant ancestor? How distant are we talking?"

"More than 3,000 years."

"Well, that might explain your creepy obsession with drafting me. But how are you still alive? And why do you still look so young?"

"The Force can already allow someone to live longer than usual, but it's this symbiote that has made me partially immortal."

"Okay, now for a question I actually need to ask. If you really are related to me, then why did you kill my father?"

"I tried to tell you this back on Ossus, but you refused to listen: I didn't want to kill him. I tried to reason with him and when he refused, I merely attempted to incapacitate him. Of course, that symbiote hijacked my body and made me kill him."

"So what's stopped it from making you kill me the previous few times? From what I've gathered, if a Forceless possession victim does not willingly follow their cause, they are subject to being trapped in their own head."

"It can no longer control me. I became immune to it shortly after that event, while I still benefit from the mutations. I could explain more some other time, but you know what's going to take place not long from now, so we should leave." Maesterus then put his helmet back on.

"I guess Dynn was right after all. I've been blaming you for something that wasn't completely your fault, and that I'd learn pretty soon."

"Dynn told you this? When?"

"They were her last words. I don't know if you're aware of this yet, but she's dead, Maesterus."

Even with his helmet on, Zolph could tell through his red-tinted visor that he was shocked and somewhat heartbroken. "No! I could feel it, but I refused to believe it was true. Please tell me, how did she die?"

"That arm that was grafted on her took over and mutilated her body, while she was trapped in her own head. In the process, I was forced to kill her."

Maesterus then clenched his fist in anger. "Damn you, Valkor!"

"What is she to you? And why didn't you remove that arm?"

"She was like a student to me, and by extension, like family to me. I opted for a standard cybernetic arm when you cut off her original arm on Tatooine, but Valkor refused and Masochus grafted that abomination on her stump. Even as I saw the infection get worse, Valkor still kept me on his leash. I get the feeling he has it out for me since I refused to kill you or your parents."

Suddenly, the ceiling collapsed on Maesterus and knocked him out. Also coming from the ceiling was someone Zolph was not expecting to see: Belluzub, completely restored to full health and with his tongue and tail regenerated.

"I'm back!" the Archfiend yelled. "By the way, I forgot to mention I can regenerate."

"Damn it! He got out!" Zolph yelled. His comlink then rang and he answered. "Before you nag me for not killing him, Grein, I want to let you know that he tried to play on my insecurities and make me fall to the Dark Side, so I just decided to cripple him and lock him in a force cage to be blown up with the station."

"I could tell," Grein said observing the beast from within the Manta's cockpit. "Unfortunately, I'm still stuck in here, so I can't help you with this either." The comlink chat then ended.

Zolph turned his attention to Belluzub. "Well, looks like I'm going to have to kill you myself, after all. How did you get out of that cage?"

"The power to it went out, so I decided to enact some sweet vengeance! Of course, I had a few snacks along the way." Belluzub licked his main teeth and the head on the tongue then burped.

"I don't need to be reminded of that," Zolph said with some disgust. "Quick question: How do you plan on getting out of here? I don't see any ship big enough for you to fly out of on this station."

"Oh, I'm not worried at all. The vacuum of space has no effect on me."

"Then why didn't you just depressurize the room in our earlier fight?"

"I didn't want you to die too quickly."

"Like I said, you're very sadistic, but very stupid, too."

"I don't care about pragmatism as long as I can have fun. Anyway, back to Plan A. If I can't watch you go insane, I'll make your death as agonizing as possible!" Belluzub then tried to swipe at Zolph with his claws, but Zolph dodged back.

Zolph tried to slash the Archfiend, but he dodged back too. He then picked up a cargo contained and threw it at Zolph, but that was immediately cut down. He then tried to spray him with acid shortly after, but that was evaded in response.

Zolph slashed at him once more, but Belluzub blocked it with the blade on his tail. They clashed blades repeatedly and eventually locked. In the lock, Belluzub spit a small drop of his acid onto Zolph's leg, distracting him and allowing him to cut his mechanical arm off.

Belluzub then grabbed Zolph with his right claw and held him up to his face. "Hah! Not so powerful without your rage, are you, Vaelor?"

"If you're trying to make me mad, then you're only succeeding in annoying me." Zolph said as he struggled.

Belluzub then lightly squeezed him, but still enough to hurt Zolph's ribs. "As long as I live, I don't care if you're utterly broken, but that doesn't mean I can't have fun with how I kill you." He then continued to squeeze Zolph.

From the Blazing Manta, Grein watched helplessly as the Archfiend tortured him. The defense systems were disabled and she couldn't the exit the vessel. However, that also meant Maesterus was still alive and unconscious. Realizing she had no other options, she telepathically communicated with Maesterus.

"Hey, Seferin. Wake up!"

Maesterus was then coming to his senses. "Oh, it's just you, Ze'grein'aradi."

"Still referring to me by my full name, even in a telepathic conversation. That's one thing that hasn't changed about you."

"Yeah. Anyway, what do you want?"

"You see that monster holding Zolph? That is an Archfiend."

"I guess my suspicions have been confirmed."

"And now you know one of the reasons I left. So, where do your loyalties lie?"

Zolph was beginning to tire out from the squeezing, enough that he was running out of breath.

"Had enough, have you? Well, you can take a rest… in your grave!" Belluzub then readied his tongue to devour Zolph.

"How do you plan to torture me in there? I'll suffocate first."

"Oh, don't worry. I'll provide enough oxygen to make sure you feel every drop of my stomach acid until you die." The jaw on his tongue unhinged itself like a snake's and prepared to engulf him.

Before he could do so however, a red-bladed lightsaber was thrown and severed Belluzub's right arm, freeing Zolph. Belluzub then looked to see the sender: Maesterus.

"Get away from him!" Maesterus yelled to the Archfiend.

"What is the meaning of this, Maesterus?!" Belluzub yelled to him.

"You know my name? I'm flattered."

"You're one of Emperor Valkor's favorite lackeys…or rather, you will have been. You've really been a thorn in his side, recently. Now answer me: why have you betrayed him?"

"He is one of my descendants. Make me kill my own family, and I've got a problem with you."

"I've got a better idea of dealing with you two. Your symbiote has been dormant for too long! How about I make you watch yourself kill him!"

Maesterus then casually cut off the head on Belluzub's tongue.

"WHAT?! How is this possible?! Wait… I didn't really care until now, but now I get why Valkor wants that brat dead. His family line has developed an immunity to our possession! If he wasn't trying to be subtle and saw this threat sooner, we would have killed you and the rest of your kin!"

"Well, he really screwed up there, didn't he?" He then looked toward Zolph and lowered the Blazing Manta's loading ramp. "Leave me! This one is mine."

"Are you sure?" Zolph asked.

"I said go. Besides, you're in no condition to fight right now."

Zolph did as he said, retrieved his lightsaber and the rest of his arm, and headed up the Manta's ramp. The ramp closed and the Manta left the Forge's hangar.

Maesterus redirected his attention back to Belluzub. "Now, where were we?"

"Disposing of a traitor!"

"Yes, and you're it."

Belluzub slashed at Maesterus with his tail, but he flew over him, landed behind him, and cut his tail off. Belluzub then tried to swipe at him with this left claw, but that was cut off too. Belluzub then attempted to bite him, but all of his teeth and part of what was left of his tongue were trimmed down in a few slashes.

Maesterus then used the Force to lift Belluzub into standing on his hind legs. He put away his lightsaber while holding him, extended two bone spikes from his palms and pulled Belluzub's chest onto them.

"How about we take a trip, demon," Maesterus said before deactivating the hangar force field and flying out of it with him.

Upon exiting the hangar and with some assistance from the Force, Maesterus swooped downward with Belluzub towards Krantisi's sun.

"No! You wouldn't dare!" Belluzub panicked, realizing his impending doom.

"Oh, I'm doing exactly what you think I'm going to do."

Getting dangerously close to the sun after propelling himself some more, Belluzub continued panicking. "Are you mad?! Do you really intend to kill us both?!"

"No, just you." Maesterus then detached the spikes skewering the black beast and kicked off of him, propelling himself away and Belluzub into the sun to be incinerated to death.

Maesterus then flew towards one of the Valkoran ships getting ready to retreat and away from the space station as it exploded.


In hyperspace, the Blazing Manta was en route to Ossus.

Grein spoke to Zolph. "Congratulations. We've just dealt a crippling blow to both the Valkoran Empire and the Forceless Collective. In fact, word from Headmaster Skywalker has it that the Head of State is preparing an award ceremony for you on Coruscant. Looks like you'll actually be remembered for something other than an embarrassing accident."

Zolph had a saddened look on his face. "I dunno. This war is far from over, and I feel like I've lost more than I earned in the course of this mission. I don't feel like being there, right now."

"Still depressed about that, huh? Come on, Zolph, you've really earned this. It would be a disservice to the Alliance if the Hero of Krantisi didn't show up for his own award ceremony."

"Maybe I will show up, but right now, I just want to be alone." Zolph then headed towards the crew quarters.

"Take your time, Zolph. These past two days have been quite rough for you. Between losing a loved one and learning the truth about Maesterus, your life's taken quite a turn."

END OF EPISODE I