Author's Notes: The following chapter takes place during 'The False Emperor' flashpoint. Includes some canon divergent material.
Malgus was falling to his death.
The infamous Sith, the Empire's champion, the greatest warrior of his generation and – he was certain – very nearly the undisputed leader of a reborn Sith Empire, had known defeat before.
But it was different this time, he knew.
The last few minutes should have been a blur. Yet for Malgus, he remembered every second in excruciating detail.
He had been so close…
The strike team had barged into his throne room while he'd been in the midst of a massive naval battle. If Malgus and his New Empire could crush the Republic fleet in orbit over Ilum, that victory would grant him the credibility and momentum he needed to topple the Dark Council and to finally destroy the Republic once and for all.
The Jedi Barsen'thor, the Commander of Havoc Squad and some meddling smuggler captain and their small entourage – six combatants in total – had engaged two-dozen of his finest soldiers from his new Imperial Guard.
Malgus had ignored these meddlesome individuals. Given sufficient time, he had no doubt he could have wiped them out.
Of greater interest to Malgus had been the presence of Lord Scourge, the personal executioner of his predecessor. For whatever reason, Scourge had conspired against his old Master, had betrayed the Sith Empire, and had no doubt aided the strike team in reaching Malgus' inner sanctum. The former Emperor's Wrath was rumored to be three-hundred years old. If he had ever known defeat, it had not been during Malgus' lifetime. He now – begrudgingly – joined the other six in fighting his guard.
But even this powerful Sith Pureblood was merely a secondary concern to Malgus at this point. It was the eighth member who had drawn his focus.
Halcyon.
This young upstart had bypassed the guards and had come directly at Malgus, an aggressive approach the Sith Warrior had not witnessed from a Jedi in decades. Malgus remembered Halcyon's victory over Grand Moff Rycus Kilran at the Maelstrom Prison. Although he had eventually turned that fiasco to his advantage, Malgus had nevertheless been impressed with the young Jedi. Halcyon was the immediate threat. Once he had fallen, he could deal with the other interlopers. Once they had fallen, he could deal with the Republic fleet. Once the fleet had fallen, then the galaxy itself would be within his grasp. And if he could claim to have killed the one who had struck down the old Emperor, no one among the Sith would dare challenge him. Malgus had, of course, heard the stories from Dromund Kaas. True or not, those reports were the reason he had stepped up his timetable and claimed the throne.
The Sith Empire required strong leadership, tradition and oaths of loyalty be damned.
The duel with Halcyon had been brief, as Malgus had anticipated. The outcome, however, was unexpected.
Malgus had, years earlier, met and defeated the best the Jedi Order had to offer. Kao Cen Darach, Ven Zallow, Satele Shan – each had been a legendary champion of the light. Darach and Zallow had met their ends by his lightsaber, while Shan had been forced to flee from him at Korriban. Her later victory on Alderaan had only come when Malgus had been distracted by the heroics of some foolish Republic commando. Malgus had never doubted he would have slain the Jedi Grand Master once and for all had they ever met again.
He had gone into the fight with no doubt that he could best this whelp. This upstart. This so-called 'Hero of Tython'.
He had not anticipated Halcyon's power. He had not anticipated Halcyon's skill. He had not anticipated Halcyon to have somehow known Malgus' own combinations in lightsaber combat and seemed ready to counter them.
He had certainly not anticipated banter. Few Jedi bothered to speak while fighting, and nothing in his reports regarding Halcyon suggested that he was known for distracting opponents with that tactic.
Looking back, Malgus realized only now that he had been set-up.
Halcyon had not fought like Halcyon. He instead had adapted his tactics specifically to challenge Malgus. His maneuvers, his positioning, even his words. And it was clear he had studied the notorious Sith Lord carefully. Just when Malgus believed he had finally gained the upper hand and would slay this Jedi the same way he'd slain Zallow on Coruscant years ago, Halcyon's left saber had unexpectedly turned, evading the killing stroke and impaling Malgus through the chest. After that, simple momentum had seen the Sith Lord plummet down the reactor shaft even as the station – the dreaded Emperor's Fortress – had been rocked by a series of explosions as the self-destruct command went into effect.
Only now was it clear to him : Inexplicably, Halcyon had studied Malgus' fight with Zallow from twelve years prior. He had no idea how, but it was clear the Jedi had carefully prepared himself for this fight, possibly over the course of years.
Enraged though he was by this realization, part of Malgus felt impressed.
Perhaps this end had all been of his own making. Perhaps a generation of Jedi and Republic defenders born into the horrors of the Great Galactic War were prepared to do what their predecessors could not. Perhaps Malgus himself had helped create Halcyon and his ilk. The resolve of this generation of so-called Republic champions was profound.
Perhaps that would be Malgus' true legacy. Not in forging a new Empire, but in forging Republic 'heroes' who were not plagued by the weaknesses of their fellows.
It was a strange thought. Appropriate only in the moment of one's death.
And then – suddenly – there was nothing. He wasn't falling any longer, nor had he collided with the reactor.
Malgus instead found himself plunged into darkness. He might have wondered if he had finally died. The pain was the only indicator that he still lived.
For the first time in his life, he felt weak. Even the injuries he had suffered on Alderaan that had damaged his lungs had been nowhere this severe.
And then, unexpectedly, a voice cut through the darkness.
"Rest, Lord Malgus." The woman's voice slithered over him like a snake's skin. "Our master still has need of you, even now. Though it may take us years to rebuild you, you will rise again."
Malgus attempted to answer. To demand his rescuer identify themselves. But unconsciousness was rising to swallow him.
"And on that day, your true service can begin."
Author's Notes: Those of you who've read the novel Deceived are aware that Malgus' duel against Ven Zallow on Coruscant – the subject of the original SWTOR trailer – was recorded by Teeseven. If you think Corellan hasn't watched it dozens of times, then you don't know Corellan.
In terms of the showdown with Malgus, I head-canon that each of my four OCs brought one companion with them while the others secured the hangar for their escape. Ulannium Kaarz brought Qyzen Fess, Bas'riish brought Bowdarr, Illaynah Antilles brought Elara Dorne and Corellan – obviously – brought Scourge.
More on the voice in the darkness in future chapters of this series. We won't be seeing Malgus again for a while, but we will be seeing much more of her.