Disclaimer: I don't own the Star Wars universe, Walt Disney does. They also own all the characters and worlds contained therein. The characters created by me for this story are all that I own.
"Passion is not chaos. Passion is that driving force that inspires us to reach for the stars and pull them down from the heavens. So long as they do not consume us, our passions keep us free."
Prologue: Changing of the Guard
Dawn had come to the Sith world of Dromund Kaas. As the sun rose grudgingly over the landscape, the Sith Academy began to show signs of life. Soon, the sky was as light as was possible for Dromund Kaas, and the heat began to rise. The atmosphere all around was oddly tense, and while everyone could sense the fact, no one wished to discover why. Suddenly, one of the doors in the main room opened and an odd mist poured forth from the corridor. As the mist began to blanket the floor of the main room, the shadowy image of a figure standing in the corridor became apparent. For a few seconds, the figure stood perfectly still, as though he were rooted in place. When at last the figure moved, the image of Darth Malevolence was revealed. Darth Malevolence was the apprentice of Darth Inferis, the current Dark Lord. With an uncharacteristic swagger and a purpose that only he seemed to know, Darth Malevolence moved to a heavily runed circle in the center of the main room. The circle itself was a visual cue that any person standing within it was positioned at the direct center of the Academy. Once inside the circle and comfortable in his stance, Darth Malevolence stretched his arms out to his sides in a grand gesture. He then closed his eyes and his voice sounded in the minds of all who were currently inside the Academy.
"The time of Darth Inferis is over!" came his voice with a powerful boom. "His reign is ended! I take up his mantle as the Dark Lord! I, Darth Malevolence, now rule over all! One among you will become my new apprentice. That apprentice may someday surpass me as the Dark Lord."
As his declaration resounded in the minds of all the Sith inside the Academy, an odd wave of euphoria washed over them as well. Ambitions soared, and smiles appeared on more than a few faces. As the sense of joy all of them felt abated, thoughts of dread and uncertainty began to enter their minds. What exactly had become of Darth Inferis? Had Darth Malevolence killed him? Surely, he must have killed him. Had there been a duel between them? If it wasn't a duel, was it murder? Certainly, such a tactic was not unknown to the Sith. Regardless, no one currently in the Order thought it was possible for Darth Inferis to be overthrown or usurped, let alone by Darth Malevolence. What had happened?
To be continued…