DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING, BUT OCs AND EVENT THEY TRIGGERED.
The cult
A starship was getting closer and closer to one of, if not the most, corrupted place in the Galaxy. Its surface covered entirely in urban sprawl. Its city lights were visible from space. The capital of Nar Shaddaa — Hutta Town. No matter where you try to look, everything was either tower blocks or skyslums to connect former. Every corner was filled with different types of criminals: starting from simple charlatans and ending with drug dealers.
People, like a river, moved in an endless stream from one market to another. And on a free space of one of promenades between this market stood two hooded figures, just recently arrived on another taxi.
After long hours of searching neither padawan nor master could find a trace of anything, that would be connected to the Dark Side of the Force, except intentions and emotions of local thugs. Tired Ahsoka put her hands on the railing, watching on statue of men in golden armor with huge halo behind his shoulders, spreading his arms in front of kneeling poor (or so it seems, because they are made of 'cheep' metals like iron and copper) people.
"Urgh… sith… why are they always want to make things more complicated than they should? Why for once in a while not just be like this guy – arms wide open and 'I am the sith you are looking for!'" — while announcing her frustration, padawan Tano failed to notice how master Yoda chuckled.
"Patience, young padawan. Called here by the Force you was. And guide you forward Force will."
"Master, forgive me for doubting, but our last option is to just ask people 'hey do you heard of one mist covered scary guy who likes to visit your dreams?' Even if there is some people who would try to answer, how many would just report about us?"
"Maybe just too focused we are to notice small details we searching for? Try to read about this person you are looking on."
With a sigh and actual doubts Ahsoka reads sign near statue loud enough so her master can hear.
"The Savior of Nar Shaddaa from The Rot disease and Last and only leader of The Cult of the Screaming Blade. Da..rth..Imperius.. 3608 BrS…"
Yodas' chuckle now was obvious to Ahsoka.
"Master, how long did you knew about this?"
"Read a sign I did, after you compared him to a sith" — plainly answered Yoda before he continued.
"So, young padawan, is this sith we are looking for or still a doubts you have?"
"I-I don't know… And aren't we going to do something with a sith cult?"
Before master could even answer, the third voice appeared from behind.
"According to article 1.48.115-2 of Republic statement №4 about religion, Jedi has no rights to declare what religion is bad or good, until actual harm provided." — voice belonged to a hutt. But if usual huts almost drowned in their own fat, this one is covered in muscles as hard as steel wire ropes.
"Apologies for such a rude interruption," — beefy hutt slides next to now revealed jedi, — "I am Globbo, current responsible representative of the Cult you seems to be interested in. How can I help you?"
"Uhm… Eh..," – Ahsoka was stunned by many things: sudden solution of searching, someone found that they are jedi, not suffering from overweight hutt; it was hard to focus on anything to support conversation. Gladly, master was not oblivious to disciples' struggle.
"For information we are looking for. To share it with us, would you kind?"
"Ho-ho-ho, of course! But it will take some time, perhaps we should go to a more pleasant place? And while we going, I can enlight you about why we so respect lord Imperius."
[…]
Both Ahsoka and Yoda were example listeners for Globbos' lecture. How an evil sith created this cult, fed his worshippers with lies and deceives, only to take the last credits from all of them. How new sith arrived, displeased with previous leader actions, to challenge him. How he cured a plague, guided people and was so powerful, that he make entire moon shake with his will.
"…And even now our Lords' teachings and wisdom guides the Cult and its people to greater future and true freedom." — Globbo finalized his story lesson.
Two jedi were genuinely interested in this story. They shared a look, while sitting in front of Cult representative in his private transport flying, how they were told, to palace where Screaming Blade is located. After a few seconds Ahsoka decided to break silence.
"It's really fascinating, but I didn't know that knowledge about sith was so easily accessible to public."
"O-ho-ho, of course it's not, Miss Tano! If such information would spread it will create a lot of unnecessary conflicts. We usually use terms like 'demon' and 'savior', there is just no need to hide it from you!"
"Yeah, it's actually reminds me, how do knew we are jedi?"
"Two figures in brown robes searching for nobody know what and there was not a single blaster shot. Even terrorists would try to wear robes with gray or dark colors to be hidden in city, so only someone as presumptuous as jedi is only option. Oh, no offence for that." — without a hesitation Globo gave an answer dumbfounding young padawan. Master Yoda thought that would be a good experience for his companion and gestured her to continue.
"If you are telling that public doesn't know about your…lord being a sith, how do you know it? And why telling it to us, technically your lords' blood enemies?"
"Ah, its indeed pleasing to hear when young generations asks a good questions… Answering to your first question: me and higher ranks of prophets know this, because even if unsafe, it's still an important part of our history and culture. And for the second – as far as I know, our Lord always considered himself as rival or opposition to Jedi Order, not jedi in particular. Actually it wa-" — Globbo had caught himself in time to not reveal something critical, — "*khm*, it is about time to our arrival, I suggest to continue our discussion at the dinner table."
With that words, doors of transport opened, revealing a giant floating palace decorated with different kinds of mosaics and banners. After Globbo instructed servant droid to accompany his guests to dinner hall, he went to opposite side, saying that he will be in time with some prophets to answer any questions jedi may possess.
While they followed a droid, Ahsoka and Yoda noticed how many different kind of races and people were in this palace. Servants were happy and not exhausted, how you may expect something like that from a hutt, politicians and traders are discussing their contracts and plans. Even palace itself, despite being decorated with expensive works of art, wasn't overly pompous, but radiated an aura of everyday comfort. Yet there was a strong dark presence, but padawan wrote it off since they were on Nar Shaddaa inside palace of sith cult, while master hided his concerns.
After some minutes of following droid, they finally were inside dinner hall. In middle there stood a large oval shaped table with food already served, as if they knew about coming guests. Few moments later, mount of muscles known as Globbo crawled next to jedi with four more persons behind him. After taking their sits, with Globbo and Ahsoka, to her disbelief, on opposing side of the table, hutt introduced jedi to, as they assumed, high ranks.
"This, "– Globbo gestured to young Kel dor, – "is Urith Chisza, she is my personal assistant."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." — Urith said and slightly bowed. Next, hutt gestured to old human.
"And this is Barret Rahn, our grand librarian."
"I hope I can help you." — he said with raspy voice
"Next to him is one of our prophets – Panthin-Dro" — Globbo slightly moved his hand to Voss, who just sat next to librarian.
"Prefer to be isolated your species I thought" — said master Yoda after solid time of being quite.
"Usually it is, but one of my ancestors personally vowed to serve to the leader of this Cult and I continue both his will and vision."
With smile of satisfaction Globbo gestured to armor-clad person, who stood behind {A/N: imagine or google Enhanced Assailant's Armor Set, but with Fearsome Harbringer Headgear on 3rd male body type}
"And last, but not the least – Xyer Garavis, one of our bodyguards, who showed personal interest in this conversation." — after introduction Xyer just crossed his arms, not saying a word.
"It is nice to meet you all, I am Ahsoka Tano and this is master Yoda. Forgive me asking, but isn't your cult, as Globbo told us, supposed to help poor and weak? It's just such palace and feast are bit… disorientating."
"Oh, it's completely fine," – Urith answered, –"We still do helping people, but since foundation millennia has passed. Our influence and funds had grown enough to make everything you see possible. It is hard to make working places without first investments and even harder to keep them without income, so we slowly accumulated some capital. And after of thousands years of course we can afford everything you saw and not turn ourselves into hypocrites."
"But could you please tell us, " – Voss prophet asked, after padawan digested previous answer, –" what exactly made you interested in our Cult? We do not recall to actually dragging jedi attention to us until today."
After looking on master Yoda and receiving his affirmative nod, Ahsoka honestly answered.
"I… had a dream. There was a man covered in mist and Dark Side. He only told me 'Nar Shaddaa' and we decided to search answers here." — after that, cultists looked on each other and Panthin-Dro continued.
"In your dream, by any chance, did you saw something like a great wall protecting all who inside from calamity?"
"Yes, I think that man created some sort of the wall made of lightning bolts and there also was another darkness, which tried to attack me. Why?" — confused padawan shared more about her dream and noticed how on the word 'lightning' other side showed various signs of excitement, even Xyer, who stood still the whole time.
"…She is." — stated prophet and Barret rushed out of dinner hall immediately. Before anybody could ask a question Globbo spoked.
"Jedi, remember when we spoke about Lord Imperius relationship with your order? There is more. After his death, a jedi knght visited us. She told us that:'When a great catastrophe would be on horizon, our Lord will come back'. And with this words she gave us part of his armor, helmet, to be precise, that contains a 'key' to his resurrection. For almost 4 thousand years we kept this relic, until Panthin-Dro had a vision."
"Blood of His blood, trying to run from calamity would arrive and search for his power for apprentice and wisdom for masters."
"W-wait… 'Blood of his blood'? Isn't it means descendant? That statue on promenade wasn't looking like togruta."
"Perhaps, with generation after generation some blood was mixed in interspecies relationships. Just as twi'lek and human can have kids, same could have happened to him and you." – to others surprise, Xyer was the one to answer Ahsokas' questions.
"But what about 'resurrection' you was told? Even Force can't bring dead people to live. Not after millennia passed!"
"Or being dead he never truly was." – Master Yoda shared some of his thoughts, looking to Globbo to answer.
"That… is also a theory we come with," – hutt stated, earning a silent question from padawan, – "We have records, which confirms, that during his time… Lord Imperius died at least three times. We think – he is immortal and for some reason sealed himself to 'die'."
Before room could dive into deeper thoughts, librarian came back, bringing a strange looking helmet [A/N: Citadel Force-healer Headger, painted in yellow]. It was obvious, that this piece of armor has been taken care of all these years, which earned a respect and interest from master Yoda. Ahsoka, on other side, starts to feel strange. As if this helmet was keeping his eyes on her, in protective meaning. That was a sign, she is a descendent of this sith and he is waiting for her.
