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Star Wars AU The Triumph of Darth Plagueis: Episode Twenty-Six – Rebels Part I: Frankenstein's Monster
By
Celgress
5 BBY
Imperial Center
General Darth Grievous enjoyed few things in life. Amongst the scope of his limited passions were military miniatures. The Sith General boasted the finest collection of historical battle dioramas in the known systems. Each individual piece had been painstakingly hand crafted by Grievous himself. Along with his Jedi lightsabers, he'd bought back the collection earlier donated for propaganda reasons after the war, his miniatures were the only things Grievous cared about. The cyborg virulently hated most sentient and non-sentient beings alike. Grievous was busily working on his masterpiece a detailed rendering in six interlocking stages of the Great Battle of Crousant when the holo admitter beeped loudly.
"Yes", Grievous said gruffly opening the communication channel.
"Sir Imperial Headquarters on Corellia has suffered a major terrorist attack." The small hologram of a flustered human officer said.
"What", Grievous said squeezing one of his miniature battle cruisers so hard it shattered into powder.
"We think the terrorists used a speeder mounted bomb sir." The hologram of the human officer continued. "There is more the security recordings indicate the involvement of several force sensitive individuals."
"Jedi", Grievous said his voice taking on a dangerous edge. His electronic, neon red eyes burned more intensely than ever.
The next day Grievous, Vader, Cyrin and several lesser Sith gathered before Darth Plagueis. The old Muun was enraged his first vacation since becoming Emperor had been cut short by this affront to Imperial rule. Fuming Plagueis' withering gaze passed over his ensemble underlings.
"I divert my focus one standard day, one standard day." Plagueis said. "Tell me brethren how should we deal with this dire infraction?"
"Exterminate the inhabitants of Corellia?" A life sized hologram of Sith assassin Boba Fett offered.
"Wrong", Plagueis said. "Doing so would only increase resentment amongst an already agitated Imperial population."
"Enslave the inhabitants instead?" Another life sized hologram, this one of the now young adult, Darth Tropiheus offered hands behind his back.
"Wrong", Plagueis sighed heavily. "Once again doing so would only turn substantial segments of the Imperial population against our rule. Doesn't anyone know the proper answer?"
"We turn the population against the terrorists by blaming increased security measures on them." Darth Cyrin stated.
"Expanding upon what Lady Cyrin said. We take away the terrorists' moral high ground by showing we are not the villains. We use a measured punishment and reward system; punishing disloyal systems while rewarding loyal ones." Darth Vader said picking up the line of reasoning.
"Once socially and politically isolated we then crush the terrorists in slow increments. We avoid any overwhelming uses of force that might cause massive civilian casualties." Grievous said finishing the idea.
"Congratulations my three primary colleagues. For proving you're not brain dead, like I feared." Plagueis snapped.
"Master should we handle the foiled attacks on the droid factories of Geonosis and the cloning facilities of Kamino in the same manner?" A third life sized hologram this time of Darth Lumiya asked.
"The terrorists who attacked Kamino are in your custody, correct?" Plagueis said.
"They are master." The hologram of Lumiya answered.
"Execute them, once they make full confessions. I want the names of their co-conspirators. The same applies to those apprehended on Geonosis Tropiheus, torture them until they break." Plagueis said. "Your collective incompetence sickens me! Now leave my presence at once!" In an instant the room was empty.
Rubbing his temples with long slender fingers Plagueis practically collapsed onto this throne. A pair of stoic, saber staff wielding, gray armored Imperial Guards, one male the other female, stood to each side of the ornate chair. Plagueis dropped the staff, he'd been using more often for walking that appearance in recent years, to the floor. Plagueis felt old terribly old. In spite of his repeated manipulations of the Midi-chlorians, or perhaps he feared because of them, the Force had become increasingly resistant to his continued manipulations. In truth he hadn't been able to bend the Midi-chlorians to his will in years. A fact his fellow Sith could never learn. Sith valued strength above all the moment his weakness became known Plagueis entertained no illusions about his ultimate fate. Old yes old and sick he'd become. Plagueis knew with dreadful certainty his time on the material plane had grown short.
Plagueis only hoped he could complete his masterpiece before the end came. Many decades ago he'd began collecting traces of life, mainly consisting of molecules and even atoms, which had inexplicably survived direct exposure to powerful force attacks. These mutant sub-microscopic scraps constituted a type of void in the Force based upon an Anti-Force energy if you will. Slowly, painstakingly via scientific means he'd nurtured this matter coaxing it to replicate, to grow in the direction he desired. A lifetime later his most secret of laboratories contained a vaguely humanoid embryo. He'd created a being not only naturally resistant to the Force but one that could also absorb the force powers of others. He'd dubbed his creation Negativius (Nega-tiv-e-us). Negativius would be his legacy. Through the creature born of his genius the Force itself would be bypassed, rendered obsolete. The birth of future forefuls would become irrelevant Negativius would crush each and every one Jedi and Sith alike. The exploits of Negativius would set the name of it's creator, his name, Darth Plagueis up above the gods! He would be forever remembered as the being that created a new order. The being who singlehandedly overcame the Force!
A spaceship speeding away from Corellia
"What have I gotten myself into?" Twenty-four year old Han Solo muttered under his breath.
He'd been dating a cute raven haired girl, leading her on really, who he'd thought was from a wealthy family. The ruggedly handsome space rouge had been playing one of his typical long cons when everything had gone south. It turned out the girl's family was a band of Jedi linked terrorists! That had been using him to gain access to Imperial Headquarters, where he worked as a storm trooper. Imagine that somebody conning him the master of the con! The indignity of it all! Now he was fleeing with the girl and her family from Corellia following the destruction of Imperial Headquarters.
"Don't feel bad." Leia teased. "You're not my type plus you're way too old for me anyway."
"I'm not that much older you're what sixteen almost seventeen?" Han asked.
"Nah I lied I'm fourteen." Leia said smiling. "Besides like I said you're not my type."
"What does that mean?" Han growled angrily.
"She means she doesn't date imps." Luke said sticking his head between the two.
"My bratty brother is right. I would never consider a real relationship with Imperial scum, sorry." Leia said pushing Luke back into his seat.
"Scum am I. I'll have you know I only joined up because of economic reasons. I'm no ideologue." Han said.
"I'd starve before I'd work for monsters like Darth Vader, Darth Cyrin and General Grievous." Leia said folding her arms across her chest.
"You ever been starving princess? I have, trust me it isn't fun." Han asked. "Don't be so quick to judge. Besides the three people you named aren't so bad, once you get to know them."
"I'll pass on that." Leia said crinkling her nose in disgust.
"Children I hope you are treating our guest kindly?" Obi-wan said entering the passenger section of the medium sized ship.
"Leia has been arguing with him, but he deserves it stinking imp." Luke said.
"I'm sorry father." Leia said down casting her eyes in shame. "In my defense he was saying Grievous, Cyrin & Vader are nice people."
"If you give them half a chance you'd agree." Han said.
"Young man you are either incredibly naïve or a practiced liar." Obi-wan said. "I have encountered all three multiple times. I assure you they are anything but 'nice'."
"How long are you going to hold me here?" Han said unimpressed by Obi-wan's little speech.
"Once we reach Kashyyyk you're free to go wherever you wish." Obi-wan said.
"Not Kashyyyk", Han said slumping in his seat. "The place is full of stupid Wookiees! I hate Wookiees!"
"Hey Wookiees are cool." Luke said leaping to the defense of one of his favorite species.
"No they're not; they're stupid, they're clumsy, and they smell bad." Han said ticking off points on his fingers. "Additionally they shun most forms of technology. Do you know the entire planet of Kashyyyk doesn't have a single holo center or terminal gambling den? The place is a dump which is why the Empire doesn't waste a real garrison on it rather they use a contingent of battle droids supplemented by some MagnaGuards."
"Which is precisely why we're headed there", Obi-wan said smiling. "We must fly under the Empire's radar so to speak."
"Oh joy", Han groaned.
To Be Continued