Special Note 1: I have no idea how to go about requesting a beta. If anyone could help me or would care to be my beta, please drop me a private message. I would appreciate it.

Special Note 2: As many of you have probably deduced, I am a Star Wars fan and my joy goes beyond the movies, TV spin offs, and videogames. I love the books, comics, and graphic novels, which tell a deeper, more complex story than the movies. This is important because in this chapter I allude to a trait/aspiration of a major Star Wars character that is based on CANON.

I include this note only because a couple of my friends who previewed this chapter accused me of trying to foist a Potter plot point on the Star Wars universe. This is not the case and I don't want to alienate readers who do not want to see the Star Wars universe overly "Potter-fied."

My substandard writing style and plodding, mediocre plot will do that for me ;)

A/N 1: I do not own the characters of the Harry Potter or Star Wars universes, save those of my own creation.

The Dark Underlord

Chapter 5

Force is never more operative than when it is known to exist but is not brandished.

—Alfred Thayer Mahan—

In his chambers on board the Jedi starship Dantooine II, Harry meditated, trying to catch another glimpse of the savage exaltation he felt reverberate through the Force. He remembered the feeling whenever Voldemort murdered a prominent enemy or razed an innocent and unsuspecting village.

Try as he could, he could not recapture the feeling again. He sensed a cloak of darkness on the edge of his perception. He had no idea what it was or why it was there but he knew it was somehow protecting the source of that savage exaltation.

So consumed in his thoughts, he never sensed Yoda limping into his room.

"Harry," rasped Yoda, taking a seat next to Harry.

"Yes Master," Harry said, opening his eyes. "What is it?"

Yoda closed his eyes, a grave expression on his face. "Felt the joy of the Sith Lord you have. Retreated behind the shield of the Dark Side they have. Sense their presence, no longer can I either."

"Master, how do you know it is the Sith Lord?"

"Felt this presence, before I have. Identify it under normal circumstances, I cannot. Recognize it in extraordinary instances I can. No mistake I am sure. Happy the Sith Lord is. And why he is, I fear I do not know." Yoda looked suddenly very old, his shoulders all but collapsing.

"When did you first sense his happiness?"

"Perhaps before you, an hour by. A long story it is. Two standard days ago, sensed a Sand people civil war Padawan Granger did."

"How did she sense a civil war? She's never done anything like that before."

"Why, say I cannot. Sense it she did. Try to thwart it she did, along with Master Gallia." Yoda looked, if it were possible, even more somber. "Terrible causalities there were. Destroyed an old friend's tribe was. Kidnapped his son was, lost to the Sith he is."

Harry was confused. "Sir, you've skipped ahead a bit. Who is this old friend? And why is it important his son has been kidnapped, besides being lost to the Sith. Something more is bothering you."

"Seventeen years ago, into a self-imposed exile, a great Jedi knight went. Sharad Hett, one of the brightest in the Order. When heard pregnant his wife was, decided the Jedi Order was not to raise a child the best place. Return to Tatooine he did, and elected ruler of his wife's tribe he was, the first outsider that honor to hold."

"Friends with Master Mundi, Hett continued to be. Decided the Council did, since active the Sith undeniably are, recruit all the experienced Jedi we must. To recruit Hett Master Mundi did, and convince he son, A'Sharad, to join the Order as well. During their talks, invaded Hett's dominion was. And during the battle…"

"What happened," Harry asked, concerned for his friend.

"Murdered Sharad was. And kidnapped A'Sharad was, by the new Sith apprentice." Harry noticed that, when mentioning the new Sith apprentice, Yoda's eyes showed disappointment, not pain.

I wonder why Harry thought.

"Master, why would the Sith Lord want A'Sharad if he already has an apprentice? How can you be sure the person who kidnapped him is his new apprentice?"

"For sure, I am not. Still, little chance there is that wrong I am. A fallen Jedi, the new apprentice is. No denying that is. Incredibly skilled they are, abilities rivaling many Jedi Masters. Lastly, obviously not a life-long Sith they are. Few people that fit all those parameters there are."

"How can you be sure they are not a life-long Sith?"

"Reflect on the question Padawan. Find the answer you will."

Flustered—Harry was embarrassed he was missing something that must have been obvious—Harry thought about why the apprentice wouldn't be a life-long Sith. It didn't take long to think of one obvious reason.

"The old apprentice, the one Obi-Wan killed, was never a member of the Jedi. He probably wasn't much older than Ob-Wan himself. Odds are the Sith Lord took him at a young age and trained him from the beginning. He wouldn't be able to do that this time, at least not without substantially altering his plans, whatever they may be. So he corrupts a Jedi knight or master, appoints them to be his apprentice, and turns his eyes on a younger possible successor—A'Sharad. Until A'Sharad is trained, the older apprentice will serve in that capacity. If this Sith Lord operates like Voldemort, he or she will have A'Sharad prove himself ready to become a Sith Lord by killing the fallen Jedi."

Yoda nodded, pride briefly living in his eyes and in his smile. "Sound reasoning my young padawan." Then he became grave again. "Not sure if entirely right though, you are."

"How so?"

"Unsure I am if the Sith Lord wishes to take A'Sharad as his apprentice. Only apprentice, say I should."

"What do you mean master?"

Yoda shook his head. "Matter right now it does not. Reflect on this I will, and discuss with the Council too. Reflect on this strange situation, you should too. Remember what on Nar Shaddaa I said, about the Order of the Sith."

Harry bowed his head. "Of course master," he said formally. "Is there anything else?"

Yoda shook his head again. "No. Return to my chambers I will. Prepare yourself for Korriban you should. Unlike anything else experienced you have."

Twelve hours later, the Dantooine II dropped out of hyperspace in the Horuset system. Harry knew immediately when the ship did too, and not because the stars stopped shooting past in a blur. Even hundreds of thousands of miles from the surface of the planet, Harry felt a terrible coldness he never felt, even during that final battle with Voldemort. What sort of darkness was this planet born of, to so strongly radiate pain, hate, suffering, and—most potently—death?

"I can feel it," Harry said to Yoda when the Jedi master entered his chambers. "It's clinging to my robes. It's oppressive."

Yoda did not comment. He only nodded. "Land we will, in an old Czerka outpost. Wary of sentient beings you must be."

"Are there still people that call this planet home?"

Yoda shook his head. "No. Travelers unfortunate enough, find themselves stranded on this planet they sometimes do." Yoda frowned. "No chance of survival they have. Powerful enough to embrace the dark side they are not and trained to resist the illusions of the dark side they are not. Driven to madness they are. Wander the planet they do, until consumed by the beasts and specters that call this planet home they are. Several deaths this planet has suffered. Take many more, continues it does regardless."

As the ship descended, Harry looked out the window. What drew his eye particularly was a huge temple or church to the west of the outpost. The huge expanse south of the temple drew his eye too. Hundreds of half-bowed statues lined an area at least 300 square miles. In the south-southwest corner there was a huge mausoleum. Two huge statues with lightsabers crossed over their chests flanked the entrance. The feeling of death was stronger there than over any other part of the planet.

"Master, is that the Valley of the Dark Lords?"

"Yes. One of the places, visit we will. Get there, of course, pass through the academy first we must." As Yoda walked down the platform, Harry sensed him channeling the Force to protect himself from attack. Harry followed suit.

Even the few feet walk to the entrance of the outpost—half of which had been torn clean off and was thrown ten yards away—disturbed Harry. A gentle breeze was blowing, but he couldn't hear it. The planet was deathly silent, though he sensed eyes watching their every movement. It felt as if the planet itself was watching them.

Harry followed his master as he quietly proceeded through the former outpost. However, not ten yards from the entrance, Harry had a vision of three young sentiences being tortured by another, a Sith student. They wanted desperately to be accepted into the academy but their tormentor only scoffed and ridiculed them. Then a cat-like creature, a rusted-out droid, and an attractive if unassuming man entered the picture.

"What is happening here," the man said, not loudly but forcefully.

The tormentor looked at them. He smiled. "Ah good. I'll let you decide how to punish these fools. I am thinking a bit of humiliation is in order." He sneered at his victims. "Or perhaps a bit to torture." At this, his hand crackled with lightening. The three victims looked desperately as if they wanted to flee. Either terror or an unseen force was keeping them rooted in place.

"Why? What have they done wrong?"

"They are fools," the other man said simply. "The galaxy must be purged of these fools."

"Master, we should help this man," the droid said with what Harry heard as joy. Then it hefted its rifle. "A bolt through the stomach will do nicely."

"No," the man hissed in tones that brooked no argument. "Leave these people be," he said, turning his attention back on the Sith.

The Sith looked flummoxed. Then he smiled a dastardly smile, unsheathing his lightsaber. "Why would I do that? This is too much fun. When I'm through with them, I'll take care of you."

The other man waved his hand. "You do not want to do that. These people are not worth your time."

The Sith's eyes went still as glass. "I do not want to do that. These people are not worth my time," he said in a monotone. He shook his head. "What happened?" He sneered at his one-time victims. "You're lucky. Leave my sight." They did, needing no other encouragement. The Sith rounded on the Jedi. "And you…watch yourself. Korriban does not care for your kind."

Harry shook his head. Yoda was looking at him intently. "What did you see my young padawan?"

"I saw a man. He was protecting three people from a Sith. I'm not sure who the man was though."

Yoda nodded. "See more of him, before we leave you will."

"Who was the man?"

"Time for explanations, later there will be. Figure it out, on your own you may. Expect that I do. For now, gather yourself and follow me."

Harry followed Yoda deeper into the outpost, down a ramp, and past what Harry assumed was an information desk. It was centrally located and had the remnants of some kind of information board behind it.

As they passed the desk and proceeded down the adjacent hall, Harry heard several low guttural moans from deeper in the facility. Instinctively, his hands gripped his lightsabers. He tried to use the Force to expand his senses, but the more he tried to reach out, the denser the darkness got and the less he could see. And he couldn't see much to begin with.

They were ten yards past another room when a demon screech pierced the silence. Before Harry could react, something cold and clammy jumped on his back, beating and strangling him. He saw Yoda's lightsaber ignite out of the corner of his eye but he focused his attention on the monster.

He tried to grab the monster with his hands but his left hand couldn't find anyplace to grab. It was flailing wildly now, it's arm tightening around his throat so much so he couldn't breath at all.

"Di…dif…diffindo," Harry gagged, holding his left hand under some part of the monster's body. The spell cut something because Harry heard a hollow thunk and the monster bellowed in pain. Harry used the moment to grab it, fighting the urge to retch as his hand squeezed clammy, oozing flesh. With a burst of strength, he threw the monster against the far wall.

"Incendio," Harry yelled, setting the monster on fire. While it writhed, he threw his lightsabers. Manipulating them as they flew and when summoned them back, he cut the monster into four pieces, effectively silencing it.

Yoda—who had activated his lightsaber but did not look inclined to use it—sheathed his weapon and grabbed his cane. "Good Harry. Very good. Expect such good work, again I did not."

Harry needed a minute to calm his racing heart. "Was that one of the 'unfortunate travelers' you spoke of earlier?"

"Yes. Live in the shadows they do, to avoid darker creatures. More of them we will see before we reach the Valley of the Dark Lords." Yoda pointed out yet another set of doors, this time with one dangling at an unnatural angle. Beyond the door, over a bridge embedded in a mountain, was a door with the same symbol Harry saw over the academy on Nar Shaddaa. "First, traverse the academy we must. Strong your mental defenses must be. Powerful the Dark side is in the academy."

Harry nodded, taking a calming breath as he put his lightsabers back. "I'm ready master."

As the two Jedi approached the academy and walked over the bridge, an all mighty roar shook the ground. Harry's lightsabers were out without conscious thought. He spun on his heels, looking for any threat.

When he was sure nothing was coming, he put his lightsabers back in his belt. He needed a couple of tries; his hands were shaking a little. "Master Yoda, what was that?"

"A creature born in the core of this planet. Pray attack us this creature does not. Slay it, neither of us can. Now, close to me stay. Force entry to the academy we cannot. Fool the defenses we must."

"How can you fool them?"

Yoda pulled a round amulet out of his robes. "Simple. Taken this was by a great Jedi Knight many thousands of years ago. Knew he did that future Jedi, enter the academy they would need. Placed traps the Sith did. Worse the traps would be if forced entry a Jedi did." Yoda placed the amulet against the sand stone. "So fool them we must."

Nothing happened for a few seconds. Harry knew better than to assume nothing would. After a minute, the door started shaking and rattling. Age prevented it from opening all the way. A moderately gentle push with the Force by Yoda opened it enough for them to enter.

The smell inside the academy was thick with dead and rotting flesh. From the center of the room, there were 6 paths they could take. Down several of them, Harry heard distant braying and the clip-clop of hooves.

Harry, after briefly reorienting himself, started walking towards the northeast exit, the one that would take them to the Valley. "Wait my young padawan."

"Why Master Yoda?"

"Time to leave, it is not. Things in this academy, important it is you see. Down this hall, follow me." Yoda walked down the southeast corridor. After a minute, Harry realized this was the dormitory section of the academy.

Because he heard the braying earlier and made a point to pay close attention to it as they ventured through the academy, Harry made easy work of the goat-like creatures that attacked them. Yoda quickly handled the couple that attacked him as well. Harry was amazed how gracefully Yoda moved with a lightsaber. He did not envy the Sith Lords or Dark Jedi who presumed to challenge him.

After there were no more goat creatures left to kill, Yoda led them to large stone door. Dark magic protected the door, more so than anywhere else Harry had seen in this academy. "What is in this room? It is so well protected."

"Something you must see. A relic of the Sith. Only three other apprentices took to this planet I have. Like you, capable of handling the Dark power they were. Each time, destroyed this door they have. But protect its secrets Korriban does. Find a way to open this door you must, but without to any relics in the room bringing harm."

Yoda stepped back, motioning for Harry to go to work. He used all the techniques Bill taught him over a year and a half ago and several galaxies away. He also used a few rudimentary techniques Yoda and the other masters taught him and his friends back on Coruscant.

The wards and protections were, not surprisingly, unknown to Harry. However, they were not entirely alien. There were several similarities to wards from back home. And, while there were many wards, which gave the room protection in numbers, they were not high quality.

When Harry was sure he identified a "bulge" in the wards—Bill's term—he placed his hand over it. Sure enough, an invisible force kept him from touching the door. "Rilascio pressione creare apertura," he murmured. His hand fell through the wards, allowing him to touch the door. He turned his hand under the wards over and placed his free hand over it. "Distraho navitas."

Crackling and snapping around his hands, the wards disappeared. When they were gone, Harry used a cutting charm to cut a strip out of the middle of the door and levitated it into the room.

"Good work Harry," Yoda said, patting Harry on the upper thigh, the highest point on his body he could reach. "Once again, teach me the techniques from your home you need to."

"Of course master. Now, what is it you wanted me to see in this room," Harry asked. His master disappeared before his eyes in a wisp of smoke, replaced by a large man, at least 2 meters tall and built like a tank.

"Leave me to my meditation Ambria. I am not to be disturbed under any circumstances," the man commanded, his voice a deep baritone.

A woman, much shorter than he, bowed. "Of course master. I will handle academy business until your business is concluded." The woman—Ambria—left quickly.

When she was gone, the man closed his chamber doors and placed several protections over it to guard against interlopers. When he was sure he was well and truly protected from intrusion, he took a small pyramid out of his pocket and set it on the floor. He kneeled in front of it, his eyes closed.

"Milord?"

The pyramid emitted a red beam, projecting a small man, clad all in black wearing a red and black mask. "Bane, have you done as I instructed?"

"I have milord. Your original holocron has been destroyed."

The avatar nodded. "Excellent. You created you own holocron, imbued with my teachings and spirit then."

"Yes master. Once we are finished, I will hide this holocron, until one who is deserving, one who is ready to unleash the power of our new Sith Order on the galaxy can discover it."

"Good." The avatar removed its mask, smiling at Darth Bane. "You have done well Bane. Once more, the Sith will rule the galaxy. And we shall have peace."

The scene changed in a flash. Harry was in the same room, but it was identical in appearance to the room he first left, not like the sleek room Darth Bane had occupied. This was obviously some time after the collapse of the Sith.

A different man, wearing a billowing, if unobtrusive, black cloak strode into the room. His hood was pulled up, shielding most of his face. Harry could only make out his chin and mouth.

The new man dropped to his knees, hands clenched in anger. "This cannot be the methods to achieve everlasting power, to consolidate the galaxy under the banner of the Sith."

The power of the Sith—your power—is diluted if prudence and exclusion are not exercised boomed the room. Our history shows such. My predecessor was driven mad by his ambitions and his failure to protect, to jealously guard his power. Not to mention that the ancient Lords were torn asunder by civil war.

The man shook his head. "There must be another way. Darth Andeddu's holocron offers guidance. If consolidated under one ruler—one everlasting ruler—the knowledge of the Sith and of the Dark Side can be distributed and power still achieved. Only the one ever-lasting ruler knows the whole body of knowledge. What he deigns to reveal to his minions is at his discretion. Teach forty-nine methods of destruction but withhold the fiftieth. The usurper will perish when the rule of one is attacked.

But the ruler moves from the realm of power to the realm of politics. In time, the minions will band together, use their common strength to defeat the ruler.

"But not if the one ruler cannot be defeated, either in spirit or body. That is the lesson of Andeddu. You yourself sought his secrets."

But can you keep your secrets from your minions?

"I can," the man spoke confidently. "And I believe you misunderstand my intentions. I am not suggesting creating one Sith order, in the style of Lord Kaan. Resurrecting something older, the likes of which succeeded your mentor…yes that may at last grant the Sith mastery of the galaxy at long last.

Betrayal is the lifeline of the Sith. It is what ensures that the strongest will always remain in power. Even if you hold your secret, can you ensure no sentient being will ever betray you? How can you be sure the Force will not betray you in the end? Drive you into paranoid madness as it did Andeddu himself. He never fulfilled his ambitions and his teachings, his cherished holocron has never been found.

"I will find it," the man said. "I already possess the Telos holocron and have commenced studies into its wealth of knowledge. I will learn Andeddu's secrets. I will discover the power needed to destroy the Jedi and conquer the galaxy."

When the second vision ended, Harry found himself sitting on a bed. Yoda was standing in front of him. "Gone for a long time you were Harry. See what did you?"

"That man from the vision in the outpost was Revan, the redeemed Jedi Knight I read about not long after we were accepted into the Order. I didn't see much, but after what I saw, I am surprised he was ever redeemed. Bane revered him, and I got the impression only the darkest of Sith Lords could earn his respect."

"Correct you are. Learn more about Revan and Bane we must, if unravel the secrets of the Sith we hope one day to do."

"I don't understand how these visions help accomplish that."

"Patience you must have. I…wait." Yoda looked at him intently. "Visions you say. More than the one you saw."

"Yes master. There was a second vision. Another man, presumably another Sith Lord was discussing philosophy with Bane. Or rather, he was complaining about Bane's philosophy."

"Discussing what were exactly they," Yoda asked very intently.

"The Sith Lord, unless I am mistaken, wants to become immortal and hold all the power for himself. He and Bane talked about another Sith Lord—Andeddu his name was. Bane tried to achieve immortality but couldn't find Andeddu's holocron. He doubts the Dark Lord can either. The Sith Lord said he could, using something called the Telos holocron."

Yoda was quiet for several minutes, eyes closed grunting periodically. "Incredible this is my young padawan. Expected such a finding I did not. Another link in the chain, one understand we must if defeat the Sith we will."

"Do you think this Sith Lord is the one operating in the galaxy today?"

"Sure I am not. Possible it is. Possible it may be an old master he was, betrayed by his apprentice before achieved his vision. Of course, likely it is carrying out his agenda his apprentice or apprentice of his apprentice is. Ignore this vision, we cannot. Too great the risk is."

"Of course master. I understand the consequences of this vision. This is not unlike Voldemort's agenda back in my universe. And master, what is the view of the Jedi on immortality. Is it something you deal with often?"

Yoda nodded. "Yes, not common it is but often enough, occurs in history it does. Gross violation of the laws of the Force, striving for immortality is though. If too long a being lives by unnatural means—an exception I and others like me are because unnaturally prolong our lives we do not—a wound in the Force they become. Dangerous to the well-being of the galaxy and the Force itself they become."

"How can that be? And what is a 'wound' in the Force?"

"Discuss that later we will, after more training you have had. Great soul you have and fear falling I do not for you. Still, some things, wait they should be until understand the Force better you do."

"Follow me now. Explore the academy, more we will not. See what you need you have. To the Valley of the Dark Lords, going we are." Yoda took him back to the center room and then up a path with a small incline.

Several gadgets released a toxin in the air as they past. Yoda, so far as Harry could tell, hadn't cast any protective charm. The briefest whiff set Harry's lungs on fire. He managed to cast a bubblehead charm before passing out.

When they were at the top of the ramp, Yoda looked up at Harry. "Interesting way of protecting yourself that was my young padawan. Teach you something better, when back on Coruscant we are. Remove that spell you can. Safe now the air is to breath."

Yoda turned to the right, going into a small room six cages organized in a half circle. A starved goat creature growled and snapped at the two Jedi.

"What is this?"

"Entrance to the Valley, restricted it is. Earn your way, the planet demands. Guard its secrets, Korriban does," repeated Yoda. "On the console, only one option. Select it. Outside, wait for you I will when finished you are." The diminutive Jedi left. The doors sealed shut behind him.

Fingering his lightsaber, Harry went up to the console. As Yoda said, there was only one option:

BEGIN TRAINING EXERCISE

Immediately after touching the option, the cage doors opened and all six goat creatures charged him.

Harry waited until the last second and flipped over the creatures, all of which smacked into one another with a sickening crunch. While they were disoriented, Harry banished them into their cages and sealed the doors permanently. No muss. No fuss.

EXERCISE FAILED. IMPROPER TECHNIQUE USED. 6 OF 6 PRISONERS LEFT ALIVE. GO TO CORRECTIONAL CHAMBERS TO SCHEDULE PUNISHMENT.

Yoda was waiting outside for Harry, smiling. "Interesting choice Harry. Other two padawans, slay the creatures they did. Not with malice but nonetheless. Interesting how you work."

"Thank you master. Now, where do we go from here? The room said I need to schedule a punishment in the correctional chambers."

"Across the hall, the correctional chambers are. Schedule a punishment, naturally you will not. But unlock the way to the Valley, only on that console, possible it is. If you will…" he said, arm stretched at the door across the hall.

Harry used the console to unlock the doors to the Valley, ignoring the directive to schedule a punishment. He was a little surprised how easy, taken all in all, it was to go from the academy to the Valley. Of course, he and Yoda didn't explore the entire academy. Yoda didn't want them to dither, which probably meant they avoided most of the hot spots.

With the way to the Valley clear, Yoda and Harry left the academy. Three goat creatures were fighting two "travelers" in the chamber before the exit. Harry and Yoda dealt with them easily and passed through, into the Valley.

The one thing Harry noticed above all else was how much more oppressive the waves of dark energy were in the Valley, even in this winding path down to it.

What was more, Harry sensed several large, alligator-bear like crossovers monsters along the path. They weren't attacking, stalking invisibly, which surprised Harry.

When he commented on that to Yoda, his master nodded gravely. "Attack us, they will not, unless disturb the corpses strewn along the path we do. Expect you to sense them, I did not. Powerfully in tune with the Dark side energies of the planet they are. Masks their presence from most eyes it does. Nothing there is to gain by plundering the corpses, so unmolested we will be on the way to the Valley."

As they rounded the third turn in the path, they passed a cave. Harry heard terrible screeching from within. "After concluded our work in the Valley, enter that cave we will. Ready to brave the challenges, you are not."

Harry bristled. "How am I not ready," he said with quavering indignation.

"Peace my young apprentice. Matter of resolve it is not. Matter of preparation it is. Completely familiar with this planet and the magic of the Sith you are not. Experience it in select tombs you will. Prepare you for the tomb of Ludo Kressh it will."

Harry nodded. "Very well master. How many tombs will we be visiting?"

"Two of importance there are, including not the tomb of Ludo Kressh. The early beginnings of Bane and Revan, learn more about you must. And show you the location, of a third I will. Important later, suspect it will I do."

If Harry had thought the Dark side energies were oppressive thousands of miles above the surface of the planet, they were infinitely worse in the Valley. There were moments Harry could've sworn that the air was rippling, and not from heat but the radiating power of the Dark side. Yoda was absolutely right. Harry never experienced one such concentrated mass of dark energy on his home world.

The Valley was, by and large, a maze of stones, statues, and tombs. There were certain linear paths, such as the four tombs of Marka Ragnos, Naga Sadow, Ajunta Pall, and Tulak Hord, each flanked by bins of old materiel.

Yoda led him past these tombs, giving him a little back story about how these four, and several others, were dissatisfied with the Jedi teachings and their talk of a mystic "Dark Side." The Dark side was not what it was today because the Sith were not what they were today. The Sith were a species, the overwhelming majority of which lived beyond known space. A few, Revan among them, ventured into the darkness to meet the Sith Emperor, but only a few.

As the Sith Empire dwindled, fringe planets like Korriban and Malachor were politically abandoned, their inhabitants forgotten. When the fallen Jedi landed on these planets, the species had devolved into primitive tribes. They looked upon the fallen Jedi like gods. The fallen Jedi were quick to exploit their new congregants and, through their knowledge of the planet, unlocked the teachings of the Dark Side as it is known today.

However, as Bane told the Sith Lord in Harry's vision, the fallen Jedi—the new Sith Lords—distrusted one another just as they had once distrusted their Jedi Masters. Civil war ravaged their numbers, Lords fighting turf wars with one another to gain control of the planet. Only when Exar Kun and Ulic Qel-Droma established the Brotherhood of the Sith, uniting all of the fallen Jedi under their banner and aiming them at the Jedi in particular and the Republic in general, did the Sith emerge as a dominant force in the galaxy.

"Into none of these tombs, now we will go. Into the central mausoleum we will go, the Great Temple."

Harry kept a wary eye out in case of any of the marauding creatures decided to attack them. But Yoda must have been right. They hardly stirred as they passed.

The Sith Temple was about as large as his old Quidditch pitch. Half a dozen large statues, seated in thrones, loomed over them as they entered. Two of the thrones on the west end were conspicuously empty. Harry didn't know how they moved deeper into the temple though. There were no other doors.

"Approach the throne, furthest east first we will," Yoda said, leading him to a statue of a man in plain black robes, a sharp chin protruding out from under his hood.

Harry felt the planet watching him, or maybe the spirits of the past Sith were watching them. "Master, what is this place," he asked, trying to take his mind off the planet watching them.

"For sure, I am not. Powerful Sith Lords, entombed there are here. The true exploits of these Sith, all but unknown to the Jedi they are."

"The Jedi don't know of these Sith?"

"Yes and no," Yoda said, stopping in front of the throne. "History of the Sith, extremely difficult for the Jedi to learn it is. Unfortunately, share this problem with the Sith we do not. The lords buried here, kept themselves hidden from the galaxy they did."

"Then why do they have their own tomb? I would assume their lack of notoriety would be a point against them."

"Secrecy, the greatest weapon of the Sith, of any great warrior bent on conquest they are. Lords like Maul, fools they are, not only to the Jedi but also to their compeers. Like the Jedi, great Sith know the lighting of a lightsaber, terrible tragedy it is. Words my young Padawan, words mean everything. Possible, perhaps even likely it is that none of these Sith Lords, ignited their lightsabers in anger they did. And if light them they did, murdered every witness they did."

"Because of this, unknown to the Jedi these Sith are," Yoda repeated. "Great pains I—and Master Windu and Tu'un—have taken about them to learn what we can. Dreadfully incomplete our knowledge is though. And venture to Korriban, Master Tu'un will not and Master Windu can only infrequently do."

"Why won't Master Tu'un come to Korriban?" Harry had an idea, considering how stodgy the other master was.

And his hunch was right. "Dead Master Tu'un believes Korriban. Waste time venturing to a dead planet, he will not. Master Windu, handle the darkness of the planet, as well as I he cannot." Yoda gave Harry an appraising look. "Surprised I was at first, handle it you could. Further reflection, decided surprising it is not. Such terrible darkness, experience Master Windu has not. In the face of a Sith Lord, use the dark energy against his foe he can. But his method of transference, on a planet work as well it does not."

"But digress I do. Without interrogating contemporary Sith Lords or discovering forgotten Sith treasures, impossible it is to unravel the history of the Sith, including the history of these lords. By extension it is, natural to assume great importance these lords are to the forming of the Sith Order as it exists today. So learn as much as we can, about these lords we try. And help, you and the other padawans will."

"But ready for that, you are not. Now, into the tomb of Darth Plagueis we will go."

"Who was Darth Plagueis," Harry asked, trying not to think about the enormity of what Yoda had planned for him and his friends.

"A Muun Sith Lord he was, incredibly wise if accounts, correct they are. Focused on a mastery of all aspects of the Force he was. Dogmatic and narrow, believed the Jedi way he did. Still, devoted time to learning the light side of the Force he did."

"How do you know that? Who could tell you?"

"A former prisoner, taken when very early in his rule Darth Plagueis was. The son of a Jedi Knight this prisoner was. Manipulated by the Sith Lord, ravaged his mind was. Stolen as many secrets of the Jedi from his mind he did. When nothing left, discarded the boy. Found by Qui-Gon, then a knight he was, and his Master. To the best of our ability, the Council healed him. Not enough it was," Yoda said, ears drooping. "Lived scant hours past telling us his tale he managed. Discovered more we did, holding his body in stasis."

"Is that your only source of information?"

Yoda shook his head. "No, but our most reliable it is."

"How can you be confidant," Harry exclaimed. "What if Plagueis left the body on purpose?"

"Considered that we did. Tested it first we did. Possible it is that Plagueis wanted done just that. But not him it was who personally dumped his body on Ord Vaxal. Sloppy work they did, to not mention picking a planet in Hutt space."

"Okay Master. I can understand why you trust the memories and testimony of the prisoner. But why not trust your other sources?"

"Because inherently unreliable they are. Remember Harry, take only one apprentice a Sith Lord does under the Rule of Two. Mean that does not only two practitioners of the Dark Side in the galaxy there are. Captured many Sith acolytes, assassinations, and marauders there are. Still, no direct affiliation with the Sith Order they have. Presumption and supposition they have on the inner workings of the Sith Lord and his or her apprentice. Much of their testimony, disregard we do. Talks of midi-chlorian manipulation and using the Force to create life, flights of fancy those are. Useful it is though, to now his process of binding others to his rule and how to secure power."

"How is it important how Plagueis would secure power?"

"Because died only thirteen years ago he did. Almost certainly, the present Sith Lord, his former apprentice he once was. If that the case it is, an idea how this lord, operate he will. In fact, seen examples of Plagueis' ideas we have."

"In what ways? What was his methodology?"

"Incremental steps he believed in: master oneself, then another, then a group, an order, species, group of species, a world, a system, and the galaxy finally. Anything special, not do you Harry?"

Harry thought about that, trying to put Yoda's claim that this pattern as been demonstrated already. "To be honest, I'm not sure how an example of this process has already been demonstrated already," said Harry after thinking for a few minutes. "It is odd though that he never mentions destroying the Jedi, if that is what you're asking."

Yoda grunted with some satisfaction. "Indeed, to that I was driving. No mention of the Jedi he did. Possible it is mention the Jedi only to his apprentice. But suspect Master Windu and I do that Plagueis saw the conquest of the galaxy differently then previous lords. Earlier lords, Bane including, focus on the Jedi first, or concurrently at least. Organs of the Republic, the Jedi are, cleaning away the arterial filth. See differently the Jedi are by Plagueis. If turned against the Jedi the Republic is, no place to his there is. Easy prey the Jedi become. Master the galaxy then the Jedi exterminate."

"And what signs of this process have you seen?"

"The near conquest of Queen Amidala's home world. Master the Trade Federation the Sith Lord has—an order he has mastered in other words. Set his sights on a planet, of a system the capital planet. If fell Naboo did, almost sure a system fall it would. See now the pattern."

Harry nodded. "I do Master. I'm sorry, I didn't know the Sith Lord was manipulating the Trade Federation. But considering his apprentice nearly killed Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, I suppose that was foolish on my part."

"No matter my apprentice. Experience much you have, but not immune to ignorance you are. Immune to that nobody is." Yoda turned his attention to the base of the statue. "Now, enter this tomb we must." Yoda knocked on the edifice three times. A crease appeared as two stone slabs slid apart, revealing a hallway.

"That seemed too easy," Harry said.

"Hide its secrets, Korriban does. Unless already gone those secrets are. Raided his tomb, someone already has."

"So why do we need to go in?"

"Took everything the thief did not. Ignorant they were, secrets left behind they did."

Harry followed Yoda down the hall, hand clenched tight on his lightsabers. As they neared the central chamber, Harry felt colder and colder. He wondered if there was something like Dementors in this universe.

When they were within a few feet of the room, the walls started growling.

"Master, what is happening?" There was no response. "Master, what's happening," Harry said louder.

"Nearly there we are," Yoda said, but he sounded distant. For that matter, Harry couldn't understand how they weren't there yet. The hallway hadn't looked very long when Yoda first opened the chamber door. When they reached the door, Harry saw Yoda push it open. Harry walked past, his hands still on his lightsabers.

The burial chamber was almost unbearably cold. And the walls were growling all the fiercer. Harry was genuinely afraid.

"Master, where are you," he asked, not sensing his master.

You don't belong here.

Harry pulled out his lightsabers, basking in their light. He walked past the tomb, deeper into the chamber.

You don't belong here.

Get out of here.

Harry walked around the tomb, revolving as he walked, looking for the source of the voice or some other threat.

Get out of here!

Get out of here!

Harry quickly approached the exit, his stomach a brick of lead, knees shaking with fear.

Get out!

GET OUT!

Harry wrenched the door open and raced into the hallway. He took two steps before sliding to a stop. He wasn't in the hallway. He was still in the burial chamber. But now there wasn't one tomb. There were three. And they were muttering and shaking slightly.

"M…m…master," he said, voice trembling with fear.

No response.

Harry sheathed one lightsaber and tried to pull the door open again. His hand closed on nothing. The door was gone. He was trapped.

The muttering and shaking in the tombs was worse now. Knowing what he needed to do, Harry swallowed and approached the tomb on the front left. It started shaking frantically now, the muttering louder but still incomprehensible.

Harry groped for something to open it with, his hand finally finding a groove. He nearly fainted at the glossed over, white eyes staring at him.

"Dad," he whispered hoarsely.

You've disappointed me son. You should've protected Padfoot. You let him die.

His dad fell limp, though his lifeless eyes still stared at Harry. Heart racing from fear and sadness, he approached the second tomb. His hands quickly found a grove to open the lid.

"Mum," he said, using the tomb to keep from falling to his knees.

Help us Harry. Don't leave us alone. We can be together again.

Lily Potter fell limp, her eyes staring at her only son. There was only one tomb left. Harry looked to see if the door was back. It wasn't. He knew better.

Harry thought the final tomb was empty at first. Then the bottom blew out, sending Harry crashing to the floor. At the bottom of the tomb was a holocron.

Take it. Use my knowledge. Bring the ones you love back from the Force.

An animal instinct roared for Harry to grab the holocron, the part that was saddened by seeing his parents. Harry needed a mental force of will to ignore that instinct.

"No," he said, much to softly. "No, there dead, peacefully. I won't make the same mistake Cadmus made."

Is it a mistake? I can offer you the power to keep those you love from dying. The power to create new life and infuse that life with the spirits of your parents, godfather, and mentor. Would you deny yourself that chance. They would not be torn from the Force unnaturally. Their spirits would be given new vessels, ones created by their son. There is no greater way to honor their memory. How can you deny yourself the chance?

Harry shook his head, battling the demon that was demanding him to grab the holocron. "No. No I don't trust you. I won't give in to the Dark side."

Dark side? You say this as if it were something to fear. If you wish to become powerful, you must adopt a larger view of the Force, not only the narrow, dogmatic view of the Jedi. And if it will reunite you and your loved ones…well, where is the darkness in that.

"It is unnatural. It violates the laws of magic and of the Force."

There are now governing laws my young, ignorant friend. The Force is a tool, one to be wielded at the discretion of the user. Now go, take my holocron.

Against his will, Harry took a couple of steps towards the holocron and reached down to grab it. When he regained control of his body, he jumped back, unsheathing both lightsabers. "No, no I won't take it."

Use my knowledge. Take the holocron.

"No!"

Take it boy.

"No!"

TAKE IT NOW!

"NO!" Harry lunged at the holocron, thrusting his purple blade through the center, cutting it in half.

Out of the pieces, a cloud of dark smoke rose, rearranging into a ghost of Darth Plagueis. "You deny a power greater than any you can imagine. If you will not return you parents to the mortal plane, you must return them to the Force."

The two tombs exploded, knocking Harry back on his arse. The corpses of his parents advanced on him, growling gutturally. His dad was on top of him in a second, picking him up and throwing him across the room.

"Oof," he said, eyes watering. He barely had time to gasp before his mum yanked him to his feet, breathing hot, foul smelling breath into his face, and slapped him backhand and forehand.

Some part of Harry's brain realized it was time to fight back. He pulled his knees into his chest and kicked out with his feet, knocking his mum across the room. His dad bellowed and charged Harry, who cast a powerful blinding spell and jumped to the side a scant second before his dad rammed him into the wall.

He wanted to trap him under stone, but his mum recovered and started throwing punches wildly. It was all Harry could to do dodge her frenzy. He never saw his dad recovering and grab him from behind, holding his arms painfully behind his back.

His dad screamed in his ear while his mum beat him. Plagueis was watching calmly. "You see boy. This is what your foolish, ignorant determination begets. This is why you will lose."

Eyes burning, Harry jumped up, kicking the demon poising as he mum to the ground more forcefully than before. In a flash, boosted by the Force, Harry flipped over the other zombie, pulling his arms free in the process. He banished the monster on top of his mother and before either of them could rise, collapsed the stonewall on them.

"Those were not my parents," he said, addressing Plagueis. "And I'll stop your apprentice." Harry launched himself at the Dark Lord. The instant his lightsabers connected with him, he blacked out.

"Harry. Harry. Wake up my padawan."

Harry groaned, his head pounding painfully. "Where am I?"

"Still in the tomb of Darth Plagueis, in the burial chamber. What happened?"

Harry's mind didn't want to work at first. Then he remembered what he saw. He scowled at Yoda, jumping to his feet, towering over the diminutive Jedi. "Why didn't you tell me that would happen? You held the door open and just let me in that damn chamber without so much as a warning!"

Yoda looked alarmed at Harry's outburst. "Held no door did I my young padawan. Went blank your eyes did before we reached the door. Stood very still for several minutes, brandishing your lightsabers. When tried to make you sit I did, pushed me to the side and entered the chamber on your own. Locked behind you the doors did and only screaming did I hear after. Tell me, see what did you."

Harry needed a few minutes to reign in his anger and calm down. He apologized to Yoda for lashing out and explained what happened after they entered the hallway. Yoda looked very concerned for his padawan. More importantly, he looked sympathetic. "Sorry I am that see these images you did. Expect this I did not. Empty right now I'm sure find these words you will, but the will of the Force this was. Just one example of the power of the Dark side this is Harry. And something similar, see you will in the tomb of Ludo Kressh."

Harry sighed. "Damn it! Do we really have to go to that tomb now? Wasn't this enough?"

Yoda shook his head. "Sadly no my young apprentice. Experience the Dark side you must. Understand what we are up against you must if to defeat the Sith you wish to do. Your tragedies past, exacerbate the effects of the Sith tombs. Way of the Dark side it is to prey on your weakness. Horrible things happened in your past, fueling the Dark side. Incredible character you possess to stand up to these images an a regular basis."

Harry appreciated him echoing Remus' with that last statement, which tempered much of the anger he had left. "I understand your point master," he began. He was not completely over this episode though. "Some advance notice wouldn't upset me. As you said, I'm not familiar with this galaxy. A little forewarning wouldn't go amiss."

Yoda looked at his padawan. "Guarantee that I cannot. Hinder your growth it does, but also experience everything, not the same we will. My own experience when first in this tomb, very different than your own. No way prepare you for me to. Sorry I am, but part of your training this is. In your universe, charted your path to fight Voldemort, no one did after all."

That brought Harry up short, no pun intended. "You're right Master Yoda."

"Were it easier, I wish padawan. But you are an extraordinary Jedi and better you will become." Yoda patted his hip. "Now, visit the tomb of XoXaan, next we will."

Harry followed Yoda out of Plagueis' tomb, not sorry to see the tomb seal shut, hopefully for last time. Yoda led him done to the other end of the chamber, to the tomb of the only female Sith Lord in the mausoleum.

"Who was XoXaan," Harry said, hoping he didn't botch the unusual name too badly.

"An ancient Sith Lord, one of the first. Seven millennium ago, a faction of the Jedi, discontent with the Order they became. Believed the Dark side the true path to truth. A terrible 100 year war, devastated the Jedi Order and the galaxy. Defeated the dark Jedi, in the end they did. Banished to what was then the outer rim. Found Korriban they did and created the Sith Order." Yoda knocked three times again.

The door didn't open this time though.

Yoda tried again. "Unusual this is. Important to see this tomb it is. Step back my young padawan." With Harry out of the way, Yoda tried to Force push the door open. It refused to budge though, no matter what he did. "Strange," Yoda repeated. "Wonder I do…"

The world blew up in a rush of dust and thunder. Harry was thrown across the chamber and hit the wall hard.

"What the hell," he said, coughing up blood and clutching his side. He breath caught in his throat at the massive creature in front of him. It's mouth, all sharp fangs, looked larger than Harry. If this beast wanted to eat him, it could with ease. The two great tusks only reinforced the appearance that it could eat him whole

You are not welcome in my tomb Jedi screamed a voice from the tomb where the monster charged out. My baby will deal with you.

Harry found Yoda, standing behind the monster. "Take him together we must," he said. Harry nodded. As Yoda flipped over onto the back of the beast, Harry rushed it, trying to slash its claws and stomach.

The monster's claws were resistant to lightsabers, as was most of its hide because Yoda was having no luck on its back. Sharp spikes jutted out from its spine too, making it hard for Yoda to stay in any one spot without impaling himself.

Harry also quickly discovered it was immune to Force and magic assault. After another furious swipe that almost decapitated Harry, he pulled back, weighing his options.

This beast was immune to Force and magic attacks and the lightsaber was having a minimal effect, enraging the beast more than hurting it. If there were some way to strike it in the throat, which seemed the only exposed spot on its body.

In the throat…

Harry ran to the feet of the beast, careful to avoid it trying to squash him flat. He grabbed a handful of rocks. When he had maybe a dozen, he thrust his lightsabers into the monster's feet, using the Force to boost his strength and keep them bedded in the stone.

The monster bellowed and roared, trying to slash Harry but also pull itself free. It completely forgot about Yoda, who used the time to make his way for the head of the monster.

Once he was safely out of harms way, Harry transfigured the rocks and charmed them with an explosion hex.

Sensing his intentions, Yoda stabbed the monster quickly in both eyes and when it roared, used the Force try and keep it's mouth open. It wasn't easy but Harry managed to throw all twelve bombs down.

"Master, we may want to leave."

"I agree. Forget your lightsabers, you should not."

Harry actually had. He stopped at the door and summoned them. Free, the monster blindly punched and snapped, trying to kill them yet. The door to the mausoleum slammed shut, his nails scratching the stone.

"Work do you think your bombs will?"

Before he could voice his uncertainty, a massive explosion rocked their feet and cracked the doors.

"If that didn't kill it, nothing will."

"Agree I do. Good work again my young padawan. More than ready you are to enter the tomb of Ludo Kressh."

"Oh joy."

I know I do not deserve it, but please review. I love to hear from all of you, my wonderful readers. And please, if anyone would like to be my beta or can tell me how to request one, please let me know.