Chapter Thirty Two

United by Hatred

Fury glowered at the Imperial capital world. Dromund Kaas seemed emptier than it typically was, and yet there was still a flurry of activity swarming the lower atmosphere, as well as the massive station that orbited the planet.

Control of this station, the prime hub for all Imperial communication in the Galaxy, was paramount for occupying and laying effective siege on the planet. Fury had already given his orders, and his fleet eagerly advanced, drawing the fire from the station and what few defensive spacecraft were left to Zhar's forces.

"Calamity will lead the ground force to take the station," Fury said, "while we turn our attention to landing troops in Neo Kaas City. Zhar may have the palace, but I will rip everything else out from under his control."

That had been some time ago, and while he had been in contact with his apprentice, Fury was concerned that his objective was taking far too long. Patience was not one of Fury's virtues, and he lifted the comlink to his chin once more, ready to call his apprentice and get another update.

He was interrupted by a brilliant flash of light from the station, and widened his eyes as the entire station tore itself apart in a violent explosion. "Calamity!" he called, activating the communication device. Nothing but static sounded on the other end, and Fury crushed the device in his hand.

Zhar had deafened and silenced the entire Empire in order to slay some of the Marauder's forces. There was no way they had known that his own apprentice would be there, but the sheer shock of the event turned to anger and bile in his chest.

"I want every available soldier on the ground within the hour." He ordered, seething, "move into position to bombard the city, and if we fail I want everything devastated."

None dared to question his orders, and Fury turned and marched to the hangar, his own revenge stirring his actions and focusing his vision to one singular goal. Shuttles were already launching as he arrived, and he claimed a spot in the next wave of shuttles.

It must have been obvious on his face the rage he was feeling, because none of his soldiers dared approached or even speak to him, simply going through their preparations for combat and triple checking their equipment as they launched into open space.

Even the pilot seemed to realize the danger that was brewing in his shuttle, and went full throttle into the atmosphere, eager to touch down as swiftly as possible and unload his passengers to the battlefield.

The landing zone was secured by the time they arrived regardless, at the outskirts of the city, but a good location for even more reinforcements to arrive. Fury stormed out, his mind already turning to how they would control the city as swiftly as possible. "I want snipers in those buildings," he ordered, gesturing at some tall apartment structures, "and marshal tanks through the main causeway. Zhar will not be able to withstand a direct assault."

The tactic was sound. Fury knew that they would need to expand slowly, and take control of the city piece by piece, working their way toward the palace. He expected Zhar to be doing much of the same, if he had not done so already. But the lack of soldiers on the Supreme Prophet's side would be his downfall.

"Fan out, and execute any loyalists to Zhar that you find!" he shouted, only to hear the massive explosion in response. Turning sharply, he watched as the towering building he had chosen for their snipers collapsed in a fiery wreck, crushing those soldiers he had sent to man it.

"But… how?" he started to ask aloud, when another shuddering blast heralded the destruction of their tank advance. It was as though Zhar had known beforehand that they would arrive at this exact spot, and every move that Fury would make since arriving in the system.

Snarling, he shouted, "I want every being in this city dead, now go!" storming off on his own after speaking, Fury took the most direct route to the palace. If every strategy he planned would end in failure due to the machinations of his rival and hated teacher, then Fury would use the most unorthodox plan possible.

"I'm coming for you Zhar," Fury seethed as he stalked through the streets, each saber hilt in his hand, and constantly checking around for ambushes.

He suspected that this too was part of the devastating plan that Zhar had prepared. What was it that the man had said as Fury approached through Hyperspace? Fury vaguely recollected that Zhar had mentioned already knowing that Fury would come…

Did that mean that the man had taken to foreseeing the future? Surely that was not the case. Outside of the Emperor himself Fury did not believe that any other Dark Adept could be strong enough to see the future with such accuracy.

And yet, here he was, every plan he started literally blowing up in his face. Unless he severed the head of the snake from the body, his forces were doomed. Grabbing the controls of a nearby speeder, Fury took off swiftly, heading toward one of the many landing platforms that circled the palace, where Veneficus once ruled their Empire out of.

Recalling those old days, when he had been a pathetic student of these insane teachers, Fury clenched his hands. His anger built in his veins, and through that he knew that his power would swell until he faced Zhar.

His advantage would only become apparent when he crossed sabers with his old master. And Fury could not wait for that happy moment when he could at last exact his revenge against the man who had forced him into this life.

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Filius felt nothing but supreme worry as their ship hurtled through Hyperspace. He had been rallying the last of their spare soldiers to reinforce the Coruscant attack when Severus had stormed up the ramp of his shuttle, carrying all manner of items and looking gravely at the Charms Master.

That fact alone, and that Severus wouldn't talk about why he had elected to join at the last minute, led Filius to believe that something very serious had happened at their destination, and he rushed to give out his orders and plot their course so that he could corner the Potions Master and pull the answers from him by any means necessary.

Severus had holed himself up in a side supply closet, transforming it into a potions lab, and was already furiously working on some concoction or another by the time Filius appeared. "Are you going to share what has you riled up so, or do I have to guess?" the Charms Master asked, feeling his worry shoot through the roof when Severus looked at him with a near-dead gaze.

"Ms. Granger demanded that I give her the formula for the poison I was developing," he said slowly, "and how to transform it into a gas to flood the planet with."

Filius' eye shot up. If that was in the atmosphere, no Mageborn would be able to set foot on the planet without a full body suit. "She took the special precautions right?" he asked, his blood freezing at Severus' downtrodden glance.

"I highly doubt that she did. She was always so headstrong, I'm surprised that she was in your house and not Gryffindor." The man said.

"So it's likely she had perished then," Filius affirmed.

"I've had no word since she contacted for it, and we know that the planet is under siege." The man replied.

"Then we will expect the worst…" Filius said, turning away. "I had better tell the men, they'll want to know."

"There's one more thing," Severus said, pulling a cloth wrapped object out of his robes as Filius faced him once more. The Charms Master recognized the Seer's Stone. "What have you seen?" he asked.

Severus did not even look ashamed to admit he had gone behind them all and peered into the dangerous object. "The Terrasque is there, attacking Weasley's ship."

It was just another massive complication in a series of already bad news. Filius nodded, putting his mind toward how they could defeat such a vessel. "I want you on the bridge in an hour, so that we can determine how to destroy that monster of a ship."

"Understood," the Potions Master replied, turning back to his cauldron as Filius departed. Severus might be able to bottle his emotions with ease, but the Charms Master needed some time to grieve.

Slowly he returned to the bridge, nodding as the men saluted him. "I have news from Coruscant." He said slowly, drawing all the officers' attention. "We have it on a highly respected source that something prompted Director Granger to use a powerful toxin as a weapon, meant to kill Mageborn that inhale or come into contact with it. While I myself do not know the specifics, I know the Director would not use such a weapon unless the need was dire."

Muttering sprung up all around him, and Filius waited for it to die down before continuing, "It is very likely that the use of the poison has killed the Director as well, sacrificing herself to defeat whatever force they were facing, and I have no doubt that many lives were saved by such a sacrifice. I hope to be proven wrong on the subject, but we must operate under the impression that the Rebellion stands leaderless at this moment."

Every face was grave, and Filius nodded, "There is more," he said, "I know now the ship we face once we arrive in orbit on Coruscant. The Empire has sent their finest to defend the planet and crush us once and for all. The Terrasque waits for us there."

Filius looked from face to face, "I know that our time seems dire, but we need to be strong. We have fought for so long to throw off the oppression of the Empire, and if we can destroy this one ship, as can send a powerful message to the rest that we are not to be underestimated."

"What are your orders, Commander?" Commodore Leehamm said, stepping forward. Every other being on the bridge had grown stern, steel in their eyes as they committed without words to this potential final fight for them.

"I want shields at double front when we arrive, weapons scanning for targets. Admiral Weasley is already there, fighting the ship, and I want us to be able to support him immediately upon arrival."

"I will forward the commands to the other ships," Leehamm acknowledged. "and send them the news."

"It is a dark time for the Rebellion," Filius admitted, "but I do believe that it is always darkest before the dawn. Things are changing, and whether it is to be our end, or the Empire's, I do not know as of yet."

Severus appeared, significantly earlier than Filius had asked, but the Dueling Champion was grateful for that. "Severus," he said, turning to face the pale man, "We shall use the Seer's Stone to find a way to destroy the Terrasque, and hopefully cripple the fleets of the Empire."

Severus said nothing for a long moment, looking around at the grim faces of the officers, and stiffly nodded.

Filius understood the hesitation. He himself had been the one to caution Ms. Granger from using the Stone for any reason, but he felt now that they were in most dire straits. Even as Severus withdrew the milky orb from his robes, Filius felt a sense of foreboding at what they were about to commit to. Every officer on the bridge paused to glance at the powerful artifact, before returning to their work as Filius placed a hand over it.

"How do we stop the Imperial fleets and destroy the Terrasque?" Filius asked, and removed his hand, looking deeply into the stone as it started to glow. The information of a terrible plan seeped into his and Severus' minds. It would most assuredly work, but the cost would be just as great.

As the vision died away, both Professors and commanders exchanged a horrified glance before they schooled their emotions. "There is no other way," Filius admitted, unhappy at the outcome of what they had seen.

"But if the Galaxy is to have a chance to return to justice and order, then we have to do it." Severus affirmed.

"Many innocents will die because of it…" Filius complained.

"Imperial citizens, and their supporters, hardly innocent," the former Death Eater said. Filius knew that his friend was right, but he still held reservation at what they had to do.

"At least there is a bit of time to prepare, and give orders to those who will remain afterward." He said. Severus said nothing, but the Charms Master knew that the pale man agreed with his assessment of their dire plan.

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Veneficus frowned as he arrived in orbit over Dathomir. His scanners indicated that there was a furious amount of activity across the planet, and yet in the Force he could not locate his long-hated rival and foe. "Where are you?" he asked, trying to focus his vision and determine where Lovegood was hiding.

But there was nothing. She had vanished completely from his sight. "You can't have escaped the planet, I would know if you did…" Veneficus said to himself aloud. There was no choice. He had to land and locate her on foot, even if he had to traverse the entire planet to do so.

Choosing a location near to the ruins of the old academy, Veneficus sent the shuttle into an automated landing sequence, even as he rose and moved into the cargo section of the shuttle.

A U-shaped speeder waited there for him, although the problem would be steering it with a single hand. Drawing the Elder Wand, Veneficus thought of what he desired and waved it carefully over the stump. A glowing hand appeared, shimmering like quicksilver and perfectly responsive to his desired movements.

It would do until his body was effectively regenerated. The shuttle started to tremble as it passed through the atmosphere and started toward its landing site. Producing a cuff-tracker from the seat of the bike, Veneficus fixed it to his real hand's wrist, powering it on and checking the status of the probes that were contained in the speeder. All five were in perfect condition, and waiting for the command to eject and search according to his programmed pattern.

The lights in the bay dimmed and changed, even as the shuttle lightly touched down on Dathomir, and the cargo ramp lowered automatically. The Sith Lord mounted the bike, and slowly guided it down to the planet's surface, before activating each of the probes and sending them in all directions.

If they found sentient life they were to start projecting their location to him and track whatever they found. Meanwhile, Veneficus himself was going to head back to where he last had seen Lovegood, the clearing between the hidden vault of Gor-lak and the academy.

Taking off at high speed, Veneficus relished the rush of wind and full control of both limbs, despite the still missing hand. He couldn't feel what the limb now was touching, but he had a sense about it nonetheless.

The slightest twitch of his mind would cause the hand to react, and the speeder was sensitive enough to guide subconsciously as he threw his mind forward, trying to locate where the woman was hiding.

When he arrived in the clearing, he immediately knew that Lovegood was no longer here. The ground seemed frosty and devoid of life; even the grass had decayed. That was unusual.

Movement outside of the clearing caught his eyes, and Veneficus rose up, drawing a crimson saber just as a rotting corpse staggered out of the dying undergrowth, charging him and howling incoherently.

Necromancy… Veneficus confirmed that the creature indeed was a reanimated creature as he dodged backward from its decayed, claw-like fingers. Two quick slashes of the saber felled the corpse, but Veneficus was now away of significantly more figures approaching his location rapidly.

How Lovegood had discovered that terribly dark secret of magic, Veneficus did not know, but it did not bode well for him. Another trio of corpses lunged out, and the Sith Lord cut them all down with a single heavy slash. He had to move before he was overwhelmed.

Quickly he returned to the speeder and took off, ramming into a fifth body and breaking it apart as he tore into the foliage. Piloting with one hand, Veneficus grasped his saber deftly with the other, cutting down bodies as he passed by. They all seemed to be coming from a single location, and Veneficus turned his speeder toward the north, away from the vault and into the mountains proper.

He might have made great time in getting there, if there hadn't been a massive nest of rotting corpses waiting in ambush for him. The horde charged, and while Veneficus hacked away at them with his saber, the mangled zombies threw themselves at his speeder, knocking it off course, and getting sucked into the engine.

Leaping from the speeder before it exploded, Veneficus landed with a grunt and rolled, dodging the swiping claws of the horde, and rose to his feet.

"Now you've made it so much worse for yourself Lovegood…" he seethed, lightning crackling from his living hand. Rushing headlong into the horde, Veneficus spun heavily, swinging his saber in a close circle, lopping off limbs and heads as the undead lunged for him once more.

Lightning blasted through the skulls of others, shattering corroded helmets and melting armor. One of the undead puppets managed to entangle its fingers into the heavy weave of the Emperor's robes, and he twisted sharply, apparating away and taking the limb with him. Glancing at the offending arm still clinging to him, Veneficus noticed the hissing green energy wafting from the severed end.

"Ah, I see…" Veneficus said, understanding dawning on him. This was magic more than he had expected. And it proved a complication. It was likely that, as he had initially desired, Lovegood had finally broken and fell into darkness. Ironic though it was that now it was that light she was so powerful in that Veneficus needed.

But one did not escape their initial training so easily. Veneficus would find it in her, and seize it for himself. The drifting green energy would lead him back to Lovegood more than any flow of the undead, which would eventually stop coming at him when all the bodies were destroyed.

And so, he took off on foot, sprinting through the faded undergrowth, and cutting down only the undead that got in his immediate way.

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Lord Berethon could sense the impending doom that was coming. The fate of the Galaxy was hanging by their actions as soon as the fleet arrived at Coruscant. Sitting in his repuslorchair on the bridge of one of the smaller cruisers, Berethon watched the last minutes of Hyperspace rush past them before they were due to emerge at their destination.

Commander Flitwick had half-heartedly tried to prevent them from coming, but Berethon would have none of it. "If this is to be our end, then the Jedi will be there!" he had said defiantly, and the Mage-born had smiled and sighed, replying that he should have known better.

The entire remnant of the Jedi Order was present therefore, barring a handful of Masters and Knights guarding their younglings and younger Padawans. They were spread between all ships, offering what aid they could to the commanders and soldiers, representing the hope of the Galaxy.

"All ships, prepare for battle, exiting Hyperspace in two minutes." the order of Commander Flitwick were broadcast through the ship, and Berethon felt the tension on the bridge tighten. Through the Force, Berethon exuded the peace of the Light, comforting those who feared for their lives, and reassuring those who doubted the need of their purpose.

If they struck this blow, and defeated the heart of the Imperial Navy, they would secure a powerful footing back in the Galaxy, and rally the rest of the former Republic to throw off the chains of the Empire forever.

"Exiting Hyperspace, Admiral," an officer declared after the minutes passed, and in a flash the stars slowed back to their normal places.

The gargantuan ship of the Terrasque appeared before them, heavily engaged with the Pursuit of Justice. The smaller ship was clearly taking a beating from the massive vessel, but was giving almost as much as it took.

The problem was, now that more targets had appeared, the Terrasque started to turn toward them, and from the belly of the monster a massive green glow was starting to form.

"It's targeting Commander Flitwick's ship with the planet cracker!" an officer shouted in horror.

Berethon knew that the devastating weapon, whose real name the Rebellion had never discovered, was completely unblockable, and would annihilate anything it came into contact with. The same weapon had been used only a handful of times in the course of the war, most notably to completely destroy the planet of New Terra, in a show of the Emperor's absolute martial power before the Republic Senate.

There was nothing that they could do, and Berethon felt despair start to overshadow them as the ship lined up its attack.

There was a flash of light, and the beam shot outward, screaming through space toward the lead ship of the Rebellion's reinforcements. Another flash, and a smoking wreck was left in space where the beam struck, but it was not one of their number.

Somehow, miraculously, the stolen Imperial craft had shifted in space, and intercepted the beam itself, sacrificing the warship and everyone aboard in order to protect the reinforcements.

Everyone on the bridge was stunned, but in moments Commander Flitwick's voice drummed over the interfleet communication channel, "All units, attack! Shuttles, funnel all troops down to the surface. Do not let their sacrifice be in vain!"

Berethon nodded, even as the officers rushed about their work, rallied from their stupor by their leader. "Commander, we are taking to the field," the Jedi Lord declared, and he turned to make his way to the hangar, and a shuttle waiting for him and the Jedi that were onboard.

They had a temple to liberate, and a planet to save.

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Severus couldn't believe what had just happened.

As though it had known that they were coming, the massive Imperial ship had turned, charging its most devastating weapon in order to obliterate them down to atomic matter. And then, just as swiftly as the ship actually fired, the Pursuit of Justice materialized in the path of the deadly beam.

Their ship had been in communication with Admiral Weasley as they arrived, and the view inside the command structure had been just as puzzling and unbelievable. The man had been welcoming them, stating the nature of the skirmish, and that all those on the planet were holed up in the Jedi Temple, when the event started.

Weasley had shouted for some special devise to be activated, and bid them farewell, as though he already knew exactly what was about to happen. Filius had been just as shocked, but recovered quicker and started initializing their final orders. Flooding the planet with ground forces and spreading out their small fleet to prevent the massive capital ship from going after more than one of them at a time with their superweapons.

Once that was accomplished, the Charms Master glanced at Severus, and nodded. It was time for their reckless and downright insane strategy. Severus sighed. He wanted nothing to do with this, but the vision in the stone was quite clear. And without any suitable plan otherwise, they had little choice but to believe and follow the madness that the stone had directed them toward.

The ship they were on charged the Terrasque, flying low under its belly to prevent any of its stronger weapons from striking them. Deflectors were diverted to layer over the top of them, and they pulled dangerously close to the enemy's hull.

Together, the two wizards closed their eyes, straining to see the same image that the stone had showed them, of a deserted corridor in the massive ship, and turned on their heels. There was a burst of awful freezing, before it passed, and they appeared, collapsed in the corridor shivering.

Severus quickly drew his wand, layering heating charms over them to stave off the cold of space. Filius also leapt to his feet, wand in hand and a determined look in his normally cheerful eyes.

"We'll need to move swiftly to take the bridge," he said, looking to their left, the direction that they had seen the bridge to be located in.

"Understood," Severus replied, and together the two elderly wizards made their way swiftly through the sterile corridors, deftly stunning and otherwise incapacitating every imperial they encountered.

Killing them would have served better, but they needed speed and stealth for this portion to succeed, and they had learned over their long campaign that there was life support chip implanted into many of the frontline troopers, which would notify the entire ship instantly if they perished.

Too many of those, and it would be clear that they had been boarded. They spiraled through the corridors, quickly finding a lift. After 'procuring' a key card from an officer nearby, the pair of wizard started their ascent to the command level of the ship.

The stone had already revealed that this would be the hardest part of their struggle. The Emperor had put somebeing in charge of the ship that was devastatingly loyal to him, and a Force user as well. They would have to fight this being directly, while at the same time clearing out the bridge and commandeering the vessel and its systems.

Luckily, Filius had prepared for this, and had a computer spike loaded with Ms. Granger's domination virus, which would automate the hacking needed to take over the ship itself, and make controlling it significantly simpler. He would insert it into the main console while Severus distracted the Dark Adept, and then focus him down while the virus did its work.

Wands out and spells at the forefront of their minds, Severus and Filius waited for the lift to stop and the doors to open. The armored troopers on the other side were the first to turn, and a pair of powerful blasting curses sent them flying into the far walls.

The entire bridge was alerted to their presence. "Keep working," a cloaked figured hissed from the center, "I will deal with these intruders. Pursue their fleet and destroy them."

Severus and Filius spread from each other, making sure that the unknown Force user couldn't attack both at once.

The figure cast his hood and robe aside, revealing the red skin and facial tentacles of a Pureblood Sith. Gleaming around his neck was a powerful metal collar, the device compelling his devotion to the Emperor. "I will destroy you both, and earn my freedom from the Emperor…" the figure said, smirking as he drew a double-ended lightsaber.

Severus initiated the fight, throwing a pair of dark curses and dodging backward. The adept predictably focused on him therefore, and slapped both spells aside and charged.

Filius took off around the edge of the bridge, stunning and disabling the officers as quickly as he could, while Severus used apparition, shields, and his repertoire of dark spells to hamper the advance of the powerful Force user.

He was well aware that there wouldn't be any clear opening to strike down the figure, as he was more than schooled in the methodology and tactics that Mage-born used when they dueled. Severus was only partially worried. While doubtlessly trained by the Emperor, this being couldn't be prepared for every tactic that two master duelist could think of with their spells.

Filius had clearly only a third of the room when the brute noticed what was going on. With a roar of anger, he attempted to leap through the air at the Charms Master, but Severus wouldn't permit it. A carefully place shield hammered the Pureblood in the face, when several blasting curses flew from Severus' wand.

He was glad that the inside of the bridge seemed to be warded against spells, or else the missed and reflected spells might have torn a hole in the hull and exposed them all to the vacuum of space. Nevertheless, one of his spells struck true, and hit the Dark Adpet, sending the being flying backward.

Granted, it certain did not put the red-skinned fugyre down, and he rose swiftly. Despite painful looking burns on his face and arms, the saber wielding foe started after Severus once more, carving through anything in his path.

Severus made use of the blind rage, and led the killing machine through the ranks of his own officers, making the uniformed beings run for cover or else be cut down by their own leader.

Filius, meanwhile, went for the primary console. Out of the corner of his eye, Severus spotted him thrust in the security spike, and turn to face their duel, his wand crackling with power.

Severus smirked. The odds had just turned in their favor. They just had to keep the mad creature away from the console long enough for full control of the ship to fall to that one console, and then sabotage everything they could.

As the creature lunged for them both, Severus realized that this would be easier said than done.

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Diábolis sensed his master on the surface of Dathomir, fluctuating and darkening as the man carved through an unknown army that was on the surface. Whatever the Sith was facing, Diábolis did not want to waste time fighting himself, and therefore was tracking his master to whatever destination he was surging toward.

It seemed that there was something in the nearby mountains, where the horde of beings was pouring from, but the Sith apprentice wanted to wait until he was certain it was safe for him to go and confront his master, as well as whatever powerful entity was facing off against Veneficus.

What he did not expect, was his communication device on the shuttle to suddenly spring to life. Static and unknown sounds filled the cockpit, and Diábolis flinched at the burst of sound.

And yet, in the midst of the unknown noise, the Sith could swear that a voice was trying to make it through the devise to him. Attempts to refine the signal went poorly, as it seemed a strange multi-toned voice trying to get through.

Diábolis had the impression that the problem did not lay with the mechanical equipment, but rather something less material. Through the Force, it was as if something was reaching clawed hands around the ship, trying to draw him toward the planet.

The moment he sensed that, the message changed drastically, becoming significantly clearer and intelligible. "If you want to see Veneficus defeated, you will bring the Scepter of Ragnos to me..." was the message, followed by a string of coordinates.

Diábolis did not know who the voice belonged to, nor did he particularly feel that it would make sense to trust something so clearly devious. But for an easy opportunity to get close to is former master, and finish the deed that he set out upon so long ago, he would gladly betray the strange, dark presence on the planet.

Turning the shuttle toward the coordinates he was given, Diábolis could tell that it was the same destination that Veneficus was slowly working his way toward. If he could skip past all of the madness with the strange army moving against the Sith Lord, he could lay in wait to assassinate Veneficus.

Glancing back at the rear of the cockpit, Diábolis studied the gleaming silver scepter that was the ancient artifact crafted by Marka Ragnos. The Devaronian knew the power that the tool held, and wondered what it would provide if he turned its power against Veneficus.

There was the threat of what the mysterious voice wanted with it, but he would deal with that problem when it became mandatory. Defeating his former master was the prime directive for him. Anything else was secondary until the madman lay dead at his feet.

Pulling his shuttle to land at the exact coordinates he was told, Diábolis gathered what he felt he might need and departed. The air was thick and oppressive outside the shuttle. Before the Devaronian was a gaping cavern, leading deep into the mountains. Diábolis felt drawn to that cave, and the wispy green energy flowing through the air hinted at the danger that waited for him inside, but he refused to give heed to that hesitation.

The darkness swallowed him, but the green magical energy grave him a direction to go, leading through winding possessed and into a grand chamber deep in the mountain.

"So, you came…" a voice said, echoing deeply despite its fair nature.

A figured turned toward him, clad in flowing crimson. The skull-like face was rather intimidating to behold, appearing like the warlike paint of some savage tribe.

"I am Mother Talzin…" the figure introduced herself, the echo indicating her great power of darkness. "And you will behold the end of Darth Veneficus, and my rise to power!"

Diábolis narrowed his eyes at the strange abomination before him. Aspects were familiar, but mixed between some manner of dark ability, and the Force was warped around her as she moved. All in all, it formed a quite disturbing sight.

"You've brought what I asked for?" the witch asked, her eyes glancing greedily at the Scepter in Diábolis' hand.

"I have, but I want to know your intentions with it before I simply hand it over," Diábolis countered.

"Of course…" the woman hissed, sending cold shivers down the Devaronian's spine as she spoke, "I intend to use its great power to ensnare and destroy Veneficus utterly, banishing his spirit to the netherworld of your Force, and siphoning his power into myself. The perfect revenge for everyone…" she laughed, the booming echo ringing around the cavern.

Diábolis had the information he needed. The woman was focused on revenge, much as he himself. Whatever plans she had for after were not yet completely formed. He would be able to slip away once the deed was done, leave her abandoned on this world, and reestablish the blockade here.

A prisoner to his master she had been, and would remain such for the reign of Diábolis.

"I see no problem with this arrangement then," he said, offering the powerful artifact to the woman. The scepter lifted out of his hand and flew across the room to the witch, who gleefully clasped it, relishing the power that it possessed.

Diábolis casually brushed the hilt of the Sith Sword at his waist, sensing that this being before his was stronger than she appeared.

"He comes…" the witch said, turning toward the opposite side of the cavern.

Diábolis turned, hearing the swinging of a lightsaber and the unearthly howls of creatures pursuing. Veneficus appeared, disheveled and very much angered, sabers activated and brandished against the pair of them.

Diábolis noticed that the man had replaced his severed hand with a magical construct, but had as of yet done anything regarding the missing eye. "It took you long enough, my old Master," the Devaronian sneered, smirking as Veneficus bristled.

"Lord Veneficus, we meet again after so long." Talzin said, stepping forward gingerly, the scepter in both hands warding off any potential attack.

"Lovegood…" Veneficus sneered, "I wouldn't have thought you'd fall so far so quickly…"

"Nothing you didn't want to have happen, I assure you…" Talzin smirked in reply.