Theron walked amongst the burned and broken remains of the Lehon archaeological dig. The scent of death that surrounded him seemed to awaken the hunger that he had buried deep within himself, and he could feel it thirsting to kill, to devour, to make nothingness. With an almost physical exertion, Theron was able to stuff the darkness back down and continue to investigate. "Remnants of human, Twi'lek, and unidentifiable DNA strains," the mask told Theron as it scanned a few burnt corpses. "Trace remnants of Rakatan DNA signature."
Theron stood up from his crouch and followed the directions his mask was giving him. He paused at a charred, three fingered hand and knelt down. He picked up the burnt limb and the mask initiated a deeper scan. "Complete. Rakatan DNA confirmed."
So there is more than one, Revan groaned in Theron's head. Theron noted that it almost felt like his skull was rattling when the dead Force user did that. It doesn't look like they've outgrown their bloodlust yet.
Theron nodded in reply. He looked up at the large structure in the distance, a Temple made of gleaming white stone. The air surrounding the massive building seemed to tug at his subconscious, like the call of a siren that bade him to approach it. He steeled himself for a moment, then followed the tantalizing call of the Force.
The entrance to the Temple was a simple stone entrance, a rectangular hole in the wall that led to a ramp that continued downward. Brown stone was laid into the floor with a white symbol – a circle with four arched prongs sticking out on the top and bottom – at carefully placed intervals. A symbol, Theron noted, that was eerily reminiscent of the ancient Ordo battle flag he had once seen in the museum during a job.
Theron walked down the hallway, slowly exploring the Temple. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks as a feeling of alien rage ran through him. He glanced around where he stood, searching for the source of this hatred, this bloodlust. As he saw that the source was not present in his immediate physical vicinity, Theron expanded the walls of his mind. His consciousness began to brush against every living thing on Lehon: rancors, nexu, gizka... Rakata. The minds of the alien beings were like cyclones of rage and evil, beyond anything Theron had seen in the mind of the Zeltron Sith. They were a race that hungered for destruction, and Theron could feel that bloodlust echoing through the stolen memories of the Rakatan scout. "I guess I won't be trading them the Seed," Theron muttered to himself. He drew his saber and began to walk further into the Temple.
Theron turned into a nearby room, desperate to find a computer of some sort that he could use to map his way around the Temple. As luck – or, perhaps, the Force – would have it, the room contained a single computer. Theron deactivated his saber and placed the cylinder on his hip before staring down at the symbols. While they were completely alien to him, the memories he had torn from the scout's mind were useful in decoding them. Eventually, Theron was able to completely access the stolen information and the language became like second nature to him.
"Well, well, well," the computer said as Theron found the command menu for which he had been searching. "It's been a long time since a non-Builder knew how to access me. You wear the mask of that non-slave, even."
Theron smiled. Another pre-sentient artificial intelligence that the Rakata seemed to rely on. "And I take it you understand basic, then? Your language is too hard on my vocal cords."
"The Revan. It has been some time," the computer replied. The keys on its face flashed. "What are you doing here? The coincidence that the Revan's mask and the Builders appear here, simultaneously after so many eons, is too great for my logic processors to calculate. Which means you are here because of them."
"Well, aren't you the observant little calculator," Theron replied. He looked down at the screen again, moving to access the blueprints of the temple. He plugged his datapad in and began to copy files. "Yes, I am here. Preferably to talk to your karking ugly creators."
"You seem unafraid by the return of the Infinite Empire," the computer replied as Theron finished downloading the data he needed. The human turned to walk away. "Why?"
Theron laughed and turned back to the machine. "Because I already have my own Empire, little calculator," he responded. He raised his hand and waved goodbye. "I think we'll meet again."
Theron left the computer alone after that, wandering through the temple and following the map on his datapad. His red blade was again in his right hand, prepared to defend against whatever attack may have been coming. He followed the map to a ramp that went upward, a steep grade that seemed to soar further towards the sky than the entrance had gone into the planet's crust. Theron felt the shudder of rage echo once more down the ramp and immediately knew that he had come to the right place. He put his datapad back into the folds of his jacket and took a deep breath. He put one foot in front of the other and began to ascend the steep ramp.
SWSWSWSWSW
He had seen the scene play out before, in his dreams. Or, at least, he had assumed they were dreams. It was becoming more and more apparent to Theron that many of his dreams in the past months had been gifts from the Force, visions meant to guide him towards the future.
Despite the eery familiarity of the events he had just seen unfold, there were some differences. Theron was no Darth Revan, for one. Darkness had yet to take his soul in such a drastic manner. Also, it was not a true legion of military might that stood before Theron Fel, but an advance force, small and suited for scouting more than battle.
Theron stood before the aliens with his grip on his now red saber so tight his knuckles burned white beneath his gloves. His overcoat quivered violently with the rage and fear running through his body. "You are the Revan," the leader of the beings said. It stared at him with rage-filled eye stalks that stuck out from either side of its huge head. Sharp teeth clacked in its alien language that echoed the deep hate in its soul.
"I am Theron Fel, not Revan... You are the Rakata. It has been millenia since your presence in this galaxy has been felt," Theron replied. He made no movements against the Rakata leader, but neither did he make a move to allow the Rakata space to advance towards him. "And the first thing you did when you came back from the dead was murder all the innocents on this planet!"
The leader of the amphibious aliens growled with humor at the young human before him. "Death does not stop the conquest of an Empire endless and Infinite. And as to the lives of those slaves? Their lives are forfeit to the Infinite Empire."
Theron snarled at the creature's callous disregard for life. Theron thought, briefly, about silencing the creature forever, but soon decided against it. He could perhaps learn more from the being before him before killing it. "Is that what you believe? Your empire was far from Infinite. And I doubt it would ever return to such a status," Revan mocked, cruel laughter running through his voice. The Rakata snarled in response and a few even drew blasters and Force-sabers. "Your empire will not rise again – not while I have anything to say about it."
The Rakata leader laughed, a noise crossed between a string of hiccups and coughs. "Slave-born societies die quickly," the Rakata leader taunted.
"As have Rakatan ones – in fact, the Republic lasted longer than your Infinity, hm?" Revan shot back. He leveled his saber at the throat of the Rakatan leader. "And so will my family's Empire." The red blade of plasma ran through the Rakatan general's midsection, drawing a surprised grunt from the evil creature. The small squadrons of aliens behind him grunted in their language, surprised and terrified.
"The Revan attacks!" one screamed as Revan advanced on them. He raised one hand and unleashed a torrent of lightning upon the fleeing Rakata before crossing blades with another and decapitating it.
Leave one alive, Theron, Revan demanded. They're planning something, and you need to find out what.
Theron nodded imperceptibly as he continued his assault. He slashed his saber through the torso of another Rakatan, causing its upper body to slide apart at the diagonal cut. He grabbed another with the Force and strangled it to death while effortlessly parrying the incoming blades of three other Rakatan warriors. Of those three who assaulted Theron, only one was allowed to survive. Red plasma slashed through the wrists of the Rakatan, and it fell to the ground. Bloodcurdling screams erupted from the creature's maw until Theron delivered a hard kick to the creature's head. He looked around, noting that the only living beings left in the temple were the unconscious Rakata and himself.
With a start, Theron noted that the influx of hatred and the flow of the Force in the area were still distorted. He gazed towards the other end of the temple's roof and saw what looked like a staff, one that he had seen before. He remembered a vision from the mind of Nihilus and narrowed his eyes; perhaps his fr – allies had not seen or had forgotten the visions he had observed. Theron approached the tool cautiously and examined it. The staff was about one point six meters long, bronze colored, with a cruel, evil looking nest of spikes present at the top. Theron reached his left hand towards the staff slowly, afraid to lose his arm. His heart beat in his ears as he finally grasped the handle of the staff... and nothing happened. He frowned and began to explore the inner workings of his mind. He retreated as soon as he began to feel the Hunger encroaching on his sanity. "Why isn't it working?" he asked.
Why not ask the prisoner you have over there before he runs away? Revan suggested. Theron turned back to the Rakatan and pulled at the fleeing alien's body with the Force. The creature sailed through the air and collided with the stone at Theron's feet.
"You would do well t-to flee, slave," the Rakatan snapped at Theron.
Theron smiled behind his mask. The alien was really putting on its best effort to appear terrifying and proud. But Theron could feel the fear beckoning to his Hunger. It was taking no small amount of effort to keep himself from killing the pitiable creature at his feet. "Look around you," Theron told the alien. "Does it look like I am the one who should be afraid?"
The alien stared at Theron's mask, fear becoming clear on its features. "I see you understand now," Theron said. He nodded. "Well then, I suppose we'll start with... what are your plans for the galaxy beyond your crazy little Empire?"
"The Infinite Empire shall expand across all galaxies and all races shall be the slaves of the Builders. You will all bow to us for an eternity!" the Rakatan shouted.
"No, no," Theron laughed. Then he glared, seriously, down at the Rakatan. His eyes flashed red. "Not the propaganda. What. Are. You. Planning?"
The Rakatan remained quiet. Then: "We will destroy you all."
"Now that's just a waste," Theron said. He sighed and shook his head. He gestured at the staff. "How does this thing work?"
"It restored our power! It sated the hunger of the Forge that long ago destroyed us," the alien explained.
"So it actually can help me," Theron muttered. He grinned. "How do I use it? How do I fix my Force?"
"It devours the... Force of others," the alien said, cautiously choosing its words.
"Ah. How?"
"The blades atop the staff," the Rakatan explained. "They harness the energy present in the slaves so that the Builders can gain even greater power."
"Hm..." Theron grunted. He shrugged. "Well, I guess that's all I'll get from you." Theron reached out with his mind and began to scan the creature's consciousness for any specifics on the invasion that he could tear from its mind. No such luck. "Well, I guess you can still have a use." Theron raised the staff.
"No! No, don't!" the Rakatan screamed. It raised its stumps of wrists defensively and stared up at Revan with fear so palpable Theron could have cut it with a lightsaber.
Theron sneered with contempt behind his mask. "I wonder if that's what those archaeologists begged of you when you killed them?" he asked. Theron felt around the staff for an activator and smiled when a beam of purple light plummeted downward. Soon, the Rakatan was no more than ash on the ground. Theron felt a jolt of energy run through his body, an electricity that seemed to fill the very darkest parts of his being with energy and power. After the feeling began to disappear, Theron searched within himself once again. The Hunger was gone. "Well, that was anticlimactic."
Theron gripped the staff tightly. He had to find a way for the galaxy to defend against such technology; he had to take it back to be studied. Theron looked up at the sky. "To Dromund Kaas," he told himself. He sighed and looked at the ground. It would have been nice for his friends – allies to be there.
If you forgive them, then why don't you reactivate the tracking transponder? Revan suggested.
Theron nodded. "Not a bad idea, Rev," he said, grinning. "Not a bad idea at all."
SWSWSWSWSW
Ana sat alone in the freighter's cargo hold. Just days earlier, the crystal had done something strange – well, more so than usual. It had glowed, bright enough to light the entire freighter up with its light. Then, just a few seconds later, the crystal had returned to normal. Ana, Rhen, and Van all believed that it was a sign that Theron was not as far gone as they had feared. Grand Master Horn had taken it as a sign that Darth Revan had become terrifyingly more powerful.
Since that day, however, the ship had been drifting from port to port looking for some clue as to Theron Fel's whereabouts. Since that day, there had been zero clues to point the crew in the right direction. It was beginning to look like the hunt for Theron Fel had become a cold case destined to waste away until Theron decided to reveal himself. The crew had resigned themselves, then, to a sort of half-defeat. They would keep looking for their friend, who probably hated them for what he perceived as betrayal, but their hope seemed to be gone.
That hope seemed to return in a single moment as a machine in the cockpit beeped. The tracking transponder, which Theron had deactivated after leaving Nar Shaddaa, had just sent a set of coordinates. Ana rushed towards the cockpit, followed closely by Horn and Rhen. "Where is he?" Ana breathed.
"Your boyfriend," Van mocked happily in a singsong voice, "is..." Van's face fell.
"What is it?" Horn asked, concern – but not surprise – flashing across her face. She leaned forward to examine the coordinates and the planetary designation that went along with it. "Dromund Kaas, ancient capital of the Sith." Horn turned to Ana and Rhen. "Do you need any more confirmation that the boy is no more; Darth Revan has destroyed anything left of Theron Fel."
Ana shook her head. "No," she said firmly. "I can't believe that. None of us can. He's our friend: we would know if he had Fallen."
"I hope – though do not expect – that you are right," Horn told the three. She turned towards the navcomputer. "Set course, Commander Taas, for Dromund Kaas."