Chapter 2: Darkness arrives
"Begin our descent." I ordered Andronikos, receiving a nod of acknowledgement from the pirate in the front right seat of the bridge. The bald ageing man with a bird tattoo surrounding his left eye and upper left head. He wasn't wearing his old pirate outfit that he liked instead going for a more heavily built armour, something he's choosing ro do more since the fall of the empire.
I turned my eyes to the occupant of the front left seat, the woman that sat there being the only reason I still have a shred of good within me. The orange skinned togruta beauty wearing a custom golden armour set adorned with an eagle pauldron. The armour resembled that of a jedi but showed her status as a lord of the sith, even if she refuses the traditional sith colours.
Smiling below my ancestors' skeletal mask when she sensed me looking at her and visibly relaxing as a result.
My angel if anything were to ever happen to you I would make sure the galaxy burns with my righteous fury. Not that you would know my dear.
Composing myself as the putrid miasma of anger from even the thought starts to affect the non force users on the ship. "When you drop me and 6 eradicators off we will head to the nearest town. The rest of you will go to our new city and oversee its construction."
Xalek and Ashara looked like they wanted to oppose but with a stern look I made it clear that my mind was made. Understandable I suppose, Ashara hates it when I do things alone and Xalek would rather be there so he could throw himself in front of an attack. But they have far more value to be away from this admittingly dangerous mission. They are my two halfs my mercy and my ruthlessness and one cannot rule without the other.
Briefly explaining the need for them to experience ruling as a secondary reason I came up with mid speech as well as how they are the only people I trust to oversee the construction. A lie, one both of them knew but chose not to argue any longer.
I was expecting the hooded khaleesh to simply accept it even if the traditionally armoured sith disagreed afterall he can't argue with his god. But Ashara goes along with it, now that's unheard of normally she would say she is coming and that's that. Hmm better get her a gift as appeasement.
"Big boss, we will be arriving at the landing zone your lackeys chose soon." Andronikos said in his rough voice that sounded as if he smoked 30 deathsticks a day… okay maybe that is actually the reason.
"Big Boss, what happened to me just being called boss?" I asked in a slightly jovial tone. Andronikos seemed to mentally chuckle at my reaction but his outward appearance remained completely stone faced.
"Since you became emperor everyone's had to update how they address you figured I should too." He responded with hidden mirth. "By the way, big boss, how is that translator feeling?" Unconsciously I moved my hand to my helmet which now contained a translation module since the cybernetics weren't ready yet.
"It feels strange but if it helps me achieve my goals then so be it." This was also the reason I'm only taking six eradicators since only six have had it implemented.
Smiling beneath my mask I began to plan out the trip in my head. It would take a few days to reach a population centre for which I can begin the diplomatic element. The Land of Fire it will be interesting to see if they live up to their name or if they are but a bit of timber for our inferno. Feeling the jolt of the landing gears hitting the ground knocked me out of my thoughts.
Without having to say anything, everyone got out of their seats or in Xalek's case moved from where he was standing and moved into the central room. Time to be an emperor.
Giving them a few moments before following I found what I suspected. Everyone on the ship kneeling to me and awaiting my instruction.
"You know your orders, you six with me, your job is my personal guard." I said pointing at the six sith clad in eradicator armour that Darth Malgus fashioned his sith during the sacking of Coruscant. My eradicators are an order of sith I created to help me hunt down and eradicate every single jedi. A warning to all that dare oppose me.
Nodding their acknowledgement, the eradicators followed me down the ramp, briefly checking a holo map on the direction we needed to go. We started our march.
A few minutes after leaving we heard the demonic screech of the fury class's engines come to life before eventually fading into the distance. "My lord emperor, may this humble one ask a question?" I was tempted to say you already did but it's rare for my eradicators to question anything I do. Nodding my approval. "Thank you my lord emperor. I was just wondering why it is that you are doing this and not some diplomat?" The eradicator asked with genuine curiosity something that shined both in his voice and in the force.
"Because we don't know what their customs are, so if we sent a diplomat but it's expected that the leader does negotiations then it would be us on the back foot forcing us to make concessions. But if I arrive when diplomats are expected then they know how serious we are about making this alliance." I answered truthfully.
The eradicators didn't seem convinced by my explanation but seemed to be more relaxed now. Deciding to be charitable I went into heavy detail and into hundreds of different scenarios that could play out. Not noticing the hours went by.
I only snapped out of my explanation when I heard a scream for help. Looking up the dirt road we apparently have been following, I saw a elderly man and a young woman getting attacked by what I can only assume to be bandits. Or at least I hope so considering their horribly ragged clothes.
Spreading out my senses to see if there are any others I sensed four force sensitive individuals, even if the force is disfigured within them, moving rapidly towards us. Guess that's the bandits reinforcements in case something goes wrong.
"What is happening here?!" I called out fully aware that my mask makes me sound far more demonic than I normally would. The five bandits froze before turning to me, three of them filled with dread whilst the other two only had momentary fear.
"Knock them out." The slightly better dressed man, who I can only assume to be the leader said. Although maybe my idea of bandits was wrong since they dressed worse than I did when I was a slave.
The rest of his group complied and in a truly amateurish fashion succeeded. "Are you escaped slaves?" I asked.
"Slaves ha. We are the Iron woods group, the only slaves you'll see are ours." Slavers. A hatred burned throughout me, how unfortunate for them… that they are not allies of the sith empire. Oh this is going to be fun.
My eradicators made some comment about them dealing with the rabble but my anger didn't care.
Gathering the needed power for the torment I was about to induce caused a rush that sprang from the depths of my spine.
Letting out the full fury of my lightning, it travelled faster than most can see scorching the ground as it approached the scum. Burning into each of their feet. The initial scream was euphoric. But their screams of agony and fear as each of their cells burned would be a sound I relished for the rest of my life.
Dodge.
Quickly moving to the left an action my eradicators followed. I avoided the star shaped throwables. Not knowing if they were grenades or some other form of explosive we continued to back up.
Taking that as their cue three masked people appeared next to the civilians. They wore white masks with various patterns outlining different animals. They were extremely light in equipment wearing only grey shinguards, arm guards and a thin grey flak vest for armour. Underneath they each wore black. Each of them were doing something different showing they were experienced. Something to look out for in these force users.
The only female wore a bird that had a flat face. (A/N an owl) She was seemingly checking whether or not the civilians were hurt. Before flashing her hands in sign language, probably saying they were fine.
A well built male that wore a sharclaw mask.(A/N crab mask) was checking the corpses of his fellow bandits. Just like the woman he flashed sign language before turning to us.
The one that was seemingly the leader wore a bird of prey mask.(A/N hawk mask) He stood in the middle of the other two keeping a close eye on me. His hand on a small sword.
Their presence in the force is certainly strong but mute kind of like there in a constant force shroud. How interesting. Now where…
The sound of a thousand chirping birds answered my unasked question.
A few minutes before.
Team Ro moved as fast they could after hearing rumours of a demonic roar in the east of the land of fire.
Hawk is worried that it might be a tailed beast. Something the still recovering land of fire cannot support nor suffer at the moment.
So it was to my surprise when we came to a stop to help a couple of travellers being attacked by bandits.
Hawk signed to me to wait behind and act as backup. Signing back my acknowledgement I did exactly that.
Watching as my team jumped down to the travellers that were surrounded by ash. What could have caused this much damage? A high level fire jutsu? Following the scorch marks to the cause, what I saw made my heart miss a beat.
It wasn't because of the lead…individuals black armour covered by red robes leading down to a long skirt like robe with detailed visagery depicting demons and people screaming. It wasn't because of his skull helmet that's eyes look like a gateway to the void itself. It wasn't the six all black armoured and cloaked people behind it.
It was its presence; it felt like I was staring at death itself. This killing intent was just too strong for any person to do.
Snap out of it Kakashi your an anbu and you can't let anymore of your teammates die because of demons. Or in this case demon worshipping cultists as that is all they could be.
Carefully I moved around the group and put myself in position to attack the back of the leader.
Doing one last look over for threats. His spiked pauldrons can be used against him but just as easily as me. The claws on his gauntlet are sharp enough to pierce deep. Avoid at all costs. For some reason he has a metal cylinder attached to his belt that looks like it could easily be the hilt of a sword.
Noticing an opening I launched myself forward. Chidori encased my hand but as I was about to pierce his robe. He simply disappeared, I only learnt where he was from the sound of metal tearing at flesh.
Looking up I saw him standing behind crab, his entire gauntlet breaching through the anbu's chest. Just next to the heart, a non kill shot. But there was a far more dangerous concern. He teleported like Minato-Sensei. No better he didn't need a marker.
One feeling fuelled me, one thought. We needed to leave to let Minato know. We needed to have left yesterday.
Hawk realised this as well and signed to retreat. Reluctantly we did, fleeing as fast as we could. Luckily they didn't chase. Whoever that was, they are going to bring chaos to the world if we don't stop them.
Two days later
Team Ro have just finished giving their report. Were simply breathless and barely standing at attention giving them a gesture to sit.
If what they see is true. No it is. Then there is someone who can beat me in speed. We have to eliminate this threat now.
Snapping my fingers, several anbu appeared. Giving them my instructions I patiently waited still thinking of the implications.
I didn't have to wait long as the room filled with people. Team Ro and all the anbu captains in Konoha were again standing at attention, as was Shikaku Nara the Jonin commander. The only one that wasn't was Danzo although he showed me more respect than the third.
Asking for Team Ro to give their report again. I watched everyone, even Danzo, visibly pale.
"I want every available Jonin , Anbu and Root agent to join me in hunting this person down; they are too dangerous to be allowed to live."
And thats chapter 2, took longer than expected. Next chapter will be the confrontation between the emperor and the hokage will there be bloodshed or will words prevail.
If you have any questions feel free to pm or ask in reviews and I'll get back as soon as possible. To answer one I know a few people will have. No I'm not giving nox random powers so that he is stronger, teleporation or phantom stride is a ability in SWTOR which the inquistor can have. (I should know I love using it.)