Millennial stood at the gates of the manor, watching as his master boarded the shuttle and took off into the unknown, the shuttle clearly visible in the sky despite the dense jungle around him. Despite his best efforts not to question her, he couldn't help but wonder what work was so important that she would need to leave Haruun Kal.
He knew that as a Sith apprentice, it was not his place to question his master's motives. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. He knew that his master was a powerful Sith Lord, but he also knew that she was not invincible.
He pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind and focused on his training. He knew that he needed to continue to hone his skills and master the ways of the dark side if he was to one day become a powerful Sith Lord like his master.
Taking a deep breath, Darth Millennial began to recite the Sith code, letting its words wash over him as he sat in a meditative position.
"Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me."
As he recited the code, he felt a sense of calm wash over him. The words of the code reminded him of his purpose and the path he had chosen to follow.
He knew that as a Sith, his path was not an easy one, but he was willing to do whatever it takes to gain power and achieve victory. He knew that his master would expect nothing less from him.
With his master absent, he decided that now would be a good time to train his Force shadow ability. It was a technique he had yet to inform his master about as he was still subpar in it compared to his other skills.
He knew that this ability, which allowed him to create a physical manifestation of himself using the force, could be a valuable tool in battle. He had been practicing this technique in secret, honing his skills and learning to control the power of the force to create a duplicate of himself.
He began his training by meditating, clearing his mind and focusing on the force. As he reached a state of calm, he visualized himself creating a duplicate of himself using the force.
He opened his eyes and began to channel the force through his body, and soon a duplicate of himself stood before him. The duplicate was not as solid as the real Millennial, but it was a good start.
His concentration in his force shadow ability was broken however, by the house protocol droid who informed him that there was a message of the utmost importance from Queen Adira. The message requested the presence of Cognus at her royal palace immediately.
Millennial knew that this must be a matter of great importance and he couldn't ignore it. He informed the droid that he would attend in his master's absence and to inform her majesty of the change.
He quickly made his way out of the estate, his mind racing with thoughts of what the queen could want with his master. He knew that his master had many connections and alliances, and he couldn't help but wonder what this meeting could be about.
As Millennial made his way through the jungle, he couldn't help but keep his guard up. He knew that the jungle was full of dangerous creatures and he had to be ready for anything.
As he walked, the occasional fever wasp, known for their venomous sting, got too close for comfort. But the young boy was quick to react, easily striking them down with his lightsaber. He was skilled with the weapon, and his training had made him a formidable opponent.
He continued on his journey, cutting through the thick foliage with ease and making his way closer to civilisation.
When he finally arrived at the Haruun Kal royal palace, Darth Millennial was escorted inside by two armed guards. He was directed to a rather spacious room with a few local delicacies laid out before him. Sitting opposite on the other side of the banquet was Queen Adira. She greeted him warmly and beckoned for him to take a seat.
"Welcome, Millennial. I apologize for the urgency of my request, but I assure you it is of the utmost importance," said the Queen as she gestured for him to take a seat.
Millennial sat down and helped himself to some of the delicacies laid out before him. He listened attentively as the Queen began to explain the situation.
"As you know, my kingdom is under threat from a powerful enemy, and I fear that they may try to invade soon. The threat to my throne comes from non-other than my brother Melech. Despite being the eldest and thus heiress to the throne of Haruun Kal, it has never stopped him from coveting my position".
Millennial was confused by why Adira would be asking his master or himself to take out a rival. He couldn't understand why a leader of a kingdom would turn to them for help. When he asked her about this, she laughed at him and told him that she was not so easily blinded like her people.
"You think I do not know what you and your master truly are? I may rule a kingdom, but I am not so naive to believe that the Jedi are the only ones who can protect us," said the Queen, her expression serious.
Millennial was taken aback by her revelation. He had not expected the Queen to know about his true identity as a Sith. But he was not surprised either, as he knew that there were always those who were aware of the true nature of the galaxy.
"I see. I understand why you would come to us for help," said Millennial, his tone serious.
"I know that you and your master have the power to protect my kingdom, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to ensure its safety. I need you to stop this threat, and I am willing to pay whatever price is necessary," said the Queen, her gaze steady.
Millennial contemplated striking down the Queen as he knew that having someone aware of the Sith's survival was dangerous. He knew that the Queen's knowledge of the Sith put not just himself but his master and the entire Sith Order at risk.
But he also knew that he could not fight his way out of the palace, and even if he did, no doubt the guards would remember his face. He was truly stuck with no other option but to agree.
He thought for a moment and decided to make a proposal to the Queen. "I will help you with this threat, but on one condition. That you re-evaluate your profits in the lumbermill business, bringing it down from ten percent to just five percent," Millennial said, his gaze steady.
The Queen considered his proposal for a moment before nodding. "Agreed, I will make the necessary changes," she said.
Millennial knew that this was a small victory, but it was better than nothing. He was now committed to helping the Queen and her kingdom, but he also knew that he had to be careful and not reveal too much about the Sith.
As he walked through the city streets back to the manor, Millennial was troubled by the fact that he had agreed to such a request without consulting his master. He knew that when Cognus found out, he would be punished severely.
But he also reasoned with himself that his master had entrusted him with the business while she was absent, and thus he had ensured a greater financial return on the business for them. This thought brought him some comfort, but he knew that he still had to inform his master about what had happened and face the consequences of his actions.
Millennial was broken out of his thoughts by a commotion in an alleyway. Though he intended to ignore it at first, from the corner of his third eye, he caught sight of Princess Hanan, hand over her mouth, trying desperately to fight off what appeared to be bounty hunters, a group of three in total. He guessed that they wanted to ransom the Princess off for a quick and easy supply of credits.
He was tempted to rush in and save her at first, but he wondered if this was a trap. Was it possible that the potential Jedi master was aware of the Sith's presence on this planet and was trying to lure him out? Reaching into the force, he scanned the surrounding area, but could only pick up on Hanan force sensitivity through the force.
Millennial knew that he had to act fast, he couldn't leave the Princess in the hands of the bounty hunters. He had to make a decision, he quickly weighed the pros and cons of the situation and decide that the best course of action was to act fast and save the Princess, regardless of the repercussions.
Darth Millennial raced towards the alleyway, his lightsaber ignited and ready for battle. The bounty hunters were caught off guard as he appeared out of nowhere, their blaster fire missing its mark as he expertly dodged and weaved his way through their shots.
He closed in on the first bounty hunter, who swung a vibroblade at him. Millennial easily blocked the attack with his lightsaber, the red blade clashing with the vibroblade's orange glow. He quickly struck back with a swift strike to the bounty hunter's chest, the lightsaber cutting through his armour with ease.
The second bounty hunter, noticing his companion's demise, unleashed a flurry of blaster fire at Millennial, but he was able to deflect the shots with his lightsaber. He used the force to push the bounty hunter back, sending him tumbling to the ground. The Sith apprentice took advantage of this and swiftly dispatched the second hunter with a swift strike to the chest.
The last bounty hunter panicked, seeing his companions fall and realizing that he was no match for Millennial. He tried to flee, but Millennial was too fast and too skilled. He chased after the bounty hunter, using the force to augment his speed and agility.
Darth Millennial decided to spare the final bounty hunter, knocking him out instead of killing him. He had planned to take him back to the manor for interrogation. Once the bounty hunter was unconscious, Millennial sent a holocall to the house's protocol droid, informing him to make up the "special" guestroom as they'll be having company over tonight.
He knew that it was important to find out as much information as possible from the bounty hunter, who might have information on who hired him and what their plans were.
Hanan thanked Millennial for saving her, but she couldn't help but ask him what he was. "I know you're not a Jedi," she said, her naivety showing through, revealing that she had likely had a sheltered upbringing.
Millennial knew that he had to be careful with what he revealed to her. He couldn't let her know that he was a Sith Lord, not only because it was dangerous for her to know but also because it would reveal the Sith's presence on Haruun Kal.
"I am a protector," he said simply, his tone leaving no room for further questioning.
The Princess seemed to accept this answer.
He hesitated for a moment. He knew that as a Sith apprentice, he could not take on an apprentice of his own, at least not until he killed his master. However, he felt it a waste to simply let what he perceived to be potential in the Dark Side to slip through his fingers. Could he manipulate her somehow? Keep her close?
He thought about it for a moment, considering the risks and benefits of taking on a secret apprentice. On one hand, it would be a violation of the Sith code and could lead to his own downfall. On the other hand, it could also be a great opportunity to have a loyal ally and potentially groom a powerful Sith Lord.
He knew that it would not be easy, but he also knew that nothing worth having ever was. He resolved to keep an eye on the Princess, to observe her and see if she truly had potential in the Dark Side. He would have to be careful, but he was confident that he could do it.
A sharp pain erupted through Darth Millennial's chest, and he turned around to see the bounty hunter's pistol raised, having fired a round into the apprentice when his back was turned. Had he been pretending to be unconscious? Millennial was momentarily stunned, as he stumbled another shot rang out from the hunter.
He watched as Princess Hanan, who had been watching from the side, called on the force to combat the hunter and protect Millennial from further harm. She was able to deflect the blaster shots with her own force powers and use the force to disarm the hunter.
Hanan was stunned by her own actions, using the force to snap the hunter's leg, causing a scream that Millennial just had time to stop from escaping as he jammed his hand over the bounty hunter's mouth. The sickening sound of bone snapping echoed off the alley walls. With one quick move, Millennial knocked the man out for certain this time.
She was horrified by what she had done, she tried to apologize to Millennial, but he stopped her. "Do not apologize," he said firmly. "You did what you had to do to protect yourself and others. That is the power of the Dark Side, to do what is necessary to survive and thrive".
As they walked back to the manor, Princess Hanan began to ask Millennial questions about the Dark Side, showing her clear lack of understanding. "How do I start training?" she asked. "I want to learn everything there is to know about the Dark Side".
Millennial explained to her that the path of the Sith was not easy and that there were strict rules to follow, starting with the Rule of Two, "The Sith Order follows the rule of two, where there is only one master and one apprentice. This way, the apprentice would eventually overthrow the master, and take on an apprentice of their own, to continue the cycle".
Hanan was taken aback by this, she didn't fully understand the concept of the rule of two. "What does that mean for me?" she asked.
Millennial explained to Hanan that the traditional teachings of the Sith often looked down on attachment to others, as it could potentially be seen as a weakness. He also mentioned that she could be seen as a weakness of his, as he had relied on her to save him during the fight with the bounty hunter.
Hanan listened intently and then spoke up, "I don't think relying on others is a weakness, I believe there is strength in numbers. We can support and help each other, and together we can become stronger".
Millennial considered Hanan's words and realized that she had a point. He had always followed the traditional teachings of the Sith, of the rule of two, but perhaps it was time to break with tradition and forge his own path. He knew that he had to be careful, but he also knew that Hanan could be a valuable asset to him in his quest for power.
He continued to explain the history of the Sith to her. "In the old order of the Sith, a Sith master would often have multiple apprentices. However, it was not uncommon for these apprentices to work together to take down their more powerful master and begin fighting among themselves until one remained, creating weaker Sith over time".
He went on to explain how the Rule of Two was established to prevent this from happening. By limiting the number of apprentices to one, the Sith could focus on training one apprentice to be the strongest than their master, overtime resulting in a Sith that was the pinacol of what the Sith order represented.
Hanan listened intently, understanding the logic behind the Rule of Two but she also points out flaws in its design. "But doesn't the old order, though flawed, still seem more efficient? With multiple apprentices, the master could train them all at once, and increase the chances of one of them becoming a powerful Sith Lord. It also allows for more diverse perspectives and ideas which could lead to more efficient ways of ruling and expanding the Sith empire".
Millennial paused, considering Hanan's words. He had always followed the traditional teachings of the Sith, but perhaps she was right, and the old order had its merits. He realized that the Rule of Two was not set in stone, and it was open to interpretation and adaptation.
He was forced to acknowledge that Hanan had a point, "You are right".
Hanan nodded, impressed that Millennial was open to her perspective. She further explained her point, "With only two Sith in the galaxy, we run the risk of the entire Sith order going extinct. Especially if the wrong people catch wind of our existence. With more to our ranks, the Sith stands a far greater chance of survival".
Millennial considered Hanan's words and realized that she was right. With only two Sith in the galaxy, the entire order was at risk of extinction. He knew that they needed to work together to create a new and improved Sith order, one that would be more efficient, powerful and secure.
"You're right, Hanan. The Sith need to find a way to increase our numbers without risking the extinction of our order". He thought for a moment and continued. "For now, I would consider taking you on as my secret apprentice for the time being. However, once you are fully trained I will require your aid in taking down my master as I doubt I will have the strength to take her down alone".
Hanan was excited by Millennial's proposal and agreed to learn under him. They understood that it would be a challenging task, but they were willing to do whatever it takes to ensure the survival and growth of the Sith order.
