Cognus sat cross-legged on the rug in her bare, prefabricated living quarters that she had purchased upon her arrival to make her situation appear more authentic. . She had been on the arid, windswept planet of Aridax for several days but had yet to definitively find the precise location of the ancient subterranean temple. She knew from her investigations that it was situated in the deeper levels of a sprawling labyrinthine system of mining shafts but they could extend for miles so locating it exactly had proven elusive. She required someone familiar with the temple's specific coordinates.
So far, she knew a group of four explorers - two humans, an Iktochi, and an one of those Aridax lizard had discovered it. But she had only vague descriptions and no had been canvassing cantinas trying to gather information but with little success. She rose from her meditation, frustrated. It should not be taking her this long to locate a temple, but Gogron Mining kept a tight grip on information. When she started asking questions about the temple, no one would provide details and Gogron's enforcers warned her to stop asking or join the auction. Zannah had surely sent competitors to the auction, but Cognus was selected for her knowledge of the dark side. The temple could hold ancients artifacts dangerous for those ignorant of the dark side. Cognus needed to locate the group that discovered the temple, so she ventured into the city again to try and gather information.
As she walked the streets, she passed the spaceport and noticed a Republic Jedi cruiser docked at one of the landing pads. She was annoyed Zannah would not be pleased if Cognus had to kill Jedi, especially with the Sith supposedly extinguished after the Battle of Ruusan. The Jedi believed the Sith died with Kaan and his Brotherhood of Darkness when their thoughtbomb destroyed both armies. But Darth Bane survived and took Zannah as his apprentice, establishing the Rule of Two - only two Sith at a time, a Master and an apprentice. When the apprentice surpassed the Master, they were to duel and the victor would become the new Master. Zannah had challenged and defeated Bane, and now Cognus served as Zannah's apprentice. One day, when Cognus was ready, she too would challenge Zannah for the mantle of Dark Lord. But for now, Zannah was her Master and Cognus was not yet prepared to face her. There was still much Cognus did not know, but in time she knew it was her destiny to lead the Sith Order.
With determination, Cognus made her way to an unexplored part of the city it was much larger than she had expected. She entered her fourth cantina of the day as night fell, hoping to gather some valuable intelligence. She entered the cantina cautiously, scanning the dimly lit room for potential threats. It was crowded, loud and smoky, filled with all manner of unsavory characters. She made her way to the bar and ordered a drink, casually glancing around the room as she did so. As Cognus' eyes scanned the dimly lit cantina, a man sitting alone in a corner soon caught her attention. His worn explorer's clothing, weathered face and graying hair matched the description she had been given.
Without hesitation, Cognus made her way over to the man's table and sat down across from him. He looked up in surprise but Cognus spoke first. in a pleasant tone." I'm new to this planet and hoping to join an explorer's team."
The man interrupted. "No, I'm not looking for anyone."
Undeterred, Cognus pressed on. "But I'm an Iktochi. My species are well-suited for exploring. I heard there's a group that found an ancient temple here on Aridax. There may be other lost temples, filled with riches."
When Cognus mentioned the temple, the man visibly tensed. A flash of fear briefly registered in his eyes before he could hide it. In that instant, Cognus knew she had her mark, this man was one of the explorers who had discovered the temple. Cognus leaned forward intently, filling her voice with dark promise. "There are rumors of lost artifacts in those temples... relics worth fortune. With enough motivation, those secrets could be unearthed."
The man shifted nervously in his seat then abruptly the man rose and began to leave, but paused to say, "If you're new and haven't signed a contract with Gogron, leave this planet. Nothing good will be found here." Then he exited.
Once the door closed behind him, Cognus quickly followed. She trailed him stealthily until he reached a small, rundown house. He entered and she moved into position to observe through a window.
The humble abode consisted of a single small room. One corner filled with explorer's gear helmets, suits, battery packs and more. There was a door leading to a tiny refresher and another open door showing a narrow bedroom. The man began removing his worn work clothes as he made his way into the bedroom. Cognus strode purposefully to the front door and knocked firmly.
When the man answered, clearly surprised, Cognus swiftly leveled her blaster at his chest and indicated he should move back inside. The man held up his hands and backed into the main room as Cognus followed, keeping her weapon trained on him.
Despite his obvious fear, the man remained outwardly calm. "I have nothing of value," he said in a low voice. "Take what you want but leave me be."
Cognus replied with cold determination. "I want the location of the temple. That is all I seek."
The man looked taken aback but did not hesitate. "It's on the 86th floor," he answered evenly. "Follow the main tunnel to the end, then follow the ore vein. It will lead you there."
As the man inched slowly toward the bedroom, Cognus realized he intended to raise the alarm. Not wanting to risk the noise of a blaster, Cognus drew her vibroblade as the man jumped at her, trying to catch her off guard. However, he was no match for Cognus's reflexes and combat training as she quickly dodged his clumsy attack. In one swift motion, Cognus then slashed out with her vibroblade, hitting the man and causing him to fall to the ground wounded.
The man cried out as the vibroblade cut into his side. As he fell to his knees, Cognus quickly slapped her hand over his mouth to muffle any sound. In one fluid motion, she drew the blade across his throat.
The man's body slumped lifelessly to the floor. Wiping her blade clean on his clothes, she made her way to the window and scanned outside. No disturbance was evident. She exited the house and proceeded down the street, she knew the man's death would raise little suspicion. On a rough planet like Aridax, violent crime was common and people would simply assume he had owed money to the wrong sort.
Walking briskly now, she turned her thoughts to the task ahead. She needed to prepare thoroughly for her venture into the unexplored temple the next night. Reaching her own abode she would get as much rest as possible and Come nightfall, Cognus would descend into the mines's depths.
Zannah tossed and turned fitfully in the lavish bed of her secluded, opulent mansion. Sweat and dread mingled on her brow as the same nightmare gripped her mind once more. She found herself back on the barren plains of Ambria, facing her former Sith Master Darth Bane in a vile duel. Their crimson blades clashed as they dueled furiously. They fought until Zannah tripped over freshly dug grave, In desperation, Zannah called upon the power of the dark side, summoning dark tendrils of the Force to ensnare her Master. But this time, when Bane charged her, he stopped just outside the tendrils' reach. Zannah grew fearful as Bane grinned at her, saying "What's the matter, MASTER?" spitting the final word like a curse. She realized part of Bane remained within her since their duel was aiming to possess her body. As Bane charged, she barely dodged his blade. The duel resumed, blow countering blowZannah landed a kick that knocked Bane's lightsaber from his grasp, sending it skidding away, then severed his arm with her crimson blade, but Bane grabbed Zannah's wrist with his remaining hand, invoking the ritual of essence transfer once more.
Zannah lay panting, rage and desperation mingling within her. She cursed the name of her former Master, Darth Bane, yet again. It was Bane's meddling from beyond the grave that planted these recurring nightmares within her. Though Bane had been a great teacher in life, betraying the Rule of Two at the end and trying to possess her body through essence transfer made him a traitor in death, trying to deny Zannah her rightful destiny. Yet freeing herself from Bane's ghost that haunted her dreams seemed an increasingly impossible task. Each nightmare felt more vivid and real than the last, and Zannah could not risk falling asleep again lest Bane's insidious influence spread further within her mind and soul. Zannah rose from her bed, fear and determination warring within her. She knew Bane's Andeddu hologram held the key to banishing his spirit once and for all. But locating the holocron after Bane's disappearance from Ciutric IV seemed an impossible undertaking, one that filled Zannah with a growing sense of desperation.
An even more dreadful possibility emerged in Zannah's mind that Set Harth, her former apprentice and mistake, had somehow acquired the holocron. It would explain Set Harth's strange disappearance.
Zannah realized Bane may have taken the holocron with him to Doan. If Set Harth had discovered it there, gaining access to the knowledge of essence transfer contained within, it would certainly drive Set Harth to abandon Zannah in search of greater power for himself. The more Zannah contemplated this possibility, the more convinced she became that Set Harth possessed Andeddu's holocron. Set Harth had always been greedy and ambitious and Zannah's search for him had so far turned up no leads. Since his disappearance from Doan, her former apprentice seemed to have vanished without a trace, going to ground completely.
Zannah stiffened her resolve. She would not allow a dead sith lord to dictate her fate. Though finding the holocron seemed an impossible task, Zannah had no choice but to try.