Two Weeks Later
Darth Cognus and Millennial sat in the office, watching as the hologram projector flickered to life. A group of investors appeared on the screen; their faces serious.
"Lady Cognus," one of the investors began, "we have received some concerns about the proposed lumber mill on Haruun Kal. There are reports that the deforestation of the planet's jungles could have a negative impact on the environment and the local population".
Cognus leaned forward, "I understand your concerns. However, let me assure you that there is no need to be concerned. We are the only lumber mill on the planet; therefore, we will be able to control the number of resources we take and make sure that we do it in a sustainable manner. We will also be replanting trees and we will be providing jobs and resources to the local population, helping to improve their standard of living".
The investors looked at each other, clearly considering her words. After a moment, one of them nodded, "We understand your point of view. We trust that you will handle the situation responsibly".
Cognus nodded, "Of course, we will keep you informed of our progress and address any concerns you may have".
The investors nodded and all of them began to flicker out, all except one. Cognus could make out a pair of individuals still on the line. Both women, one older and one younger, perhaps a mother and daughter. The older woman spoke first, "Cognus, my apologies for not introducing myself sooner. I am Adira Windu, the Queen of Haruun Kal. This is my daughter Hanan."
Cognus bowed her head, "Your majesty, it is an honour to speak with you. I assure you that we are committed to responsible and sustainable logging practices."
The Queen nodded, "I am glad to hear that. However, as the ruler of this planet, I must insist on a small contribution in exchange for the resources. I would like to propose that you give ten percent of the profits from the lumber mill to me."
Cognus considered this for a moment before nodding, "Very well, your majesty. We will agree to your terms".
The Queen smiled, "Excellent. I look forward to working with you. And please, do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any concerns or needs".
The hologram flickered off, and Cognus turned to Millennial, "You see, my apprentice, sometimes we must make concessions in order to achieve our goals".
Millennial nodded, "Yes, master. I understand".
Without saying it to his master, Millennial felt a faint connection to the force coming from Hanan, the Queen's daughter. Though it was nowhere near as strong as his own connection to the force, it was still there. He couldn't help but wonder if his master had also picked up on the girl's force-sensitive nature.
He knew that he could not reveal this to his master yet, not until he was certain. He didn't want to jump to conclusions and potentially cause trouble for the girl. He decided to keep a close eye on her and observe her for a while, to see if his suspicions were correct.
As the meeting ended and they moved on to other matters, Millennial couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. He knew that if Hanan was indeed force-sensitive, it would be his duty as a Sith Lord to bring her to the dark side and train her as his apprentice when the time came. He couldn't wait to see what the future held for him and the young girl.
As they left the office, Cognus couldn't help but shake her head in disappointment. She turned to Millennial and said, "You see, my apprentice, that woman is weak. She is nothing but a frail pawn, easily controlled and manipulated. I could have snuffed her out if I had wanted to".
Millennial looked at his master, unsure of how to respond. He knew that Cognus was powerful and dangerous, but he knew that she wouldn't harm someone live on holocom with a witness present, it was too risky. Still, the outburst caught him by surprise.
Cognus noticed his hesitation and smiled, "Do not worry, my apprentice. It is important to have willing pawns in high places, just in case they are needed. We must always be prepared for any eventuality".
Millennial nodded, understanding that his master's words were a reminder to always be on guard and ready for anything. He knew that as a Sith Lord, it was important to always have a plan and to be able to take advantage of any opportunity that presented itself.
Cognus smiled and clapped him on the shoulder, "Good. Now, let us continue with our plans and see what opportunities this planet holds for us".
As Cognus and Millennial made their way to the capital city, Oran Mas for supplies, they were horrified by the weak and dying on the streets. Despite this, Cognus feigned pity and offered some of them a job working for her.
She turned to Millennial once out of earshot of those she had hired and said, "You see, my apprentice, these people are weak and desperate. They are easily manipulated and exploitable. We can use them to our advantage".
Millennial looked at his master, unsure of how to feel about her words. He knew that as a Sith Lord, he had to be ruthless and use every opportunity to further his power, but he couldn't shake off the feeling of disgust at the thought of exploiting the vulnerable.
Cognus noticed his hesitation and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Do not let your emotions cloud your judgement, my apprentice. We are Sith, and we must do whatever it takes to achieve our goals".
Millennial nodded, understanding the harsh reality of their situation. He knew that he had to push aside his feelings of pity and guilt and do what was necessary to survive in the galaxy.
As they continued on their way to the market, Millennial couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He knew that he had a lot to learn and a lot to do, but he was determined to use his power to make a difference in the galaxy, even if it meant making difficult and morally questionable decisions.
Cognus and Millennial made their way to a seedy bar in the capital city. Cognus instructed Millennial to wait outside while she went looking for potential bodyguards to ensure that no unnecessary visitors interfered with their business.
As Millennial waited outside, he couldn't help but notice a homeless man being taken advantage of by a group of ruffians in an alleyway. The man was on the ground, his face bloodied and bruised as the group viciously assaulted him. Feeling his anger rising, the young boy was reminded of the hardships he had faced and couldn't take it anymore. Without hesitation, he disappeared into the alleyway after them.
Even if they weren't the same people who had turned their backs on him or looked down on him in disgust as he sat begging for credits, it didn't matter. They would do. They would satisfy his desire to inflict pain onto others.
The ruffians were caught off guard by the sudden intrusion, and they quickly turned their attention to Millennial.
The fight that followed was intense, and Millennial found himself giving into the dark side. He wanted to inflict the same pain and anguish onto the men as he had felt on the streets of Coruscant when he was left alone and forgotten after the death of his parents. He unleashed his anger and hatred, striking at the attackers with his lightsaber.
The ruffians, caught off guard by Millennial's ferocity, struggled to keep up with his attacks. They fought back with whatever weapons they had on hand, but their efforts were in vain. Millennial was relentless, his hatred fuelling his power.
As the fight continued, Millennial began to feel a sense of exhilaration. He revelled in the power he held over these men, relishing in their screams of pain as he struck them down one by one. He felt his anger and hatred consume him, and he knew that he was becoming more like his master with every strike.
But even as he stood victorious, with the last of the ruffians lying defeated at his feet, Millennial couldn't shake off the feeling of emptiness and guilt. He knew that he had given into the dark side and that he had lost a part of himself in the process.
As Millennial walked out of the alleyway, victorious over the ruffians, he passed the homeless man, still bruised and bloodied. The man looked up at him with gratitude in his eyes, but Millennial felt only disgust.
He turned to the man and sneered, "You should just lay down and die. The weak don't deserve to live in this galaxy".
The man looked at Millennial with shock and disappointment in his eyes. He couldn't believe that the person who had just defended him could be so callous and heartless.
Millennial didn't care about the man's reaction; he was consumed by the feeling of power and anger. He felt a sense of superiority over the man, seeing him as nothing but a weak and worthless being who would be dead shortly without his aid.
As Millennial returned to the bar, he found Cognus waiting outside for him. She raised an eyebrow, most likely sensing his actions through the force, but she said nothing. Instead, she informed Millennial that she was done for the day and instructed him to have a look around the city to familiarize himself with his surroundings.
As he walked through the city, Millennial couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt and shame. He had let his anger and hatred consume him and had become no better than the ruffians he had fought. He knew that he had a lot to learn and a lot to do, but he was determined to find a balance between the power of the dark side and his own moral code.
As he walked, he made a mental note of the different areas of the city, from the bustling marketplaces to the rundown slums. He knew that in order to survive in this galaxy, he had to be aware of his surroundings and be ready for any challenges that may come his way.
Millennial walked through the city, memories of his training with Cognus flooding his mind. He remembered her words, "A true Sith does not kill without reason". He scolded himself for striking down the men who had no connection to him or his previous life on Coruscant. He realized that he had let his anger and hatred consume him and that he had become no better than the ruffians he had fought. He had let his personal feelings cloud his judgement and had acted impulsively. He knew that a true Sith must always have a purpose, a goal, in their actions and not let their emotions control them. He knew that he had to strive to control his emotions and use the dark side for a greater purpose and not let it consume him like it did today.
While lost in thought, Millennial was snapped out of his trance by his stomach growling. He looked around and spotted a stall with what appeared to be freshly cooked meat, though he couldn't tell what kind it was at first. He walked over to the stall and was greeted by the owner, a friendly-looking man who offered him a sample of the meat.
Millennial took a piece of the meat and bit into it, surprised at the rich and savoury flavour. "What kind of meat is this?" he asked the owner.
The owner smiled and replied, "It's rot crows, a local delicacy. It's a bit of an acquired taste but once you try it, you'll never forget it".
Millennial was intrigued by the new taste and decided to buy a plate of it. As he ate, he couldn't help but think of how different it was from the food he had grown up eating on Coruscant. It was a reminder of how diverse the galaxy was and how much he still had to learn and experience.
As Millennial finished his plate, he caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye and turned to see a young woman being carried through the city in a palanquin by a group of well-defined men. The woman was Hanan, the daughter of Queen Adira whom he had seen earlier on the hologram.
The owner of the stall noticed Millennial's stare and said "That's Hanan, the daughter of Queen Adira. She's quite the beauty and quite a handful. She's always getting into trouble and causing a stir in the city. But she's also quite powerful, with a strong connection to the force. Rumours say she's being trained by a powerful Jedi master, but no one knows for sure".
Millennial was intrigued by this information and couldn't help but wonder what kind of person Hanan truly was. He knew that as a Sith, he should be wary of anyone with a strong connection to the force, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity and intrigue. He made a mental note to keep an eye out for Hanan and to learn more about her.
Though he knew that most force sensitive children were taken away from their family at a young age by the Jedi order for fear of the individual forming attachments to their parents, he wouldn't have been surprised if Hanan was being trained in secret by a Jedi Master. After all, with enough money and the right connections anything was possible, even the seemingly paragon of virtue that was the Jedi were not exempt from corruption within their own ranks.
Regardless of whether it were true or not Millennial knew that he should at least make his master aware that there may be a Jedi on Haruun Kal. It was better than not telling her and the information being true, the last thing he wanted was to catch his master by surprise and earn her scorn.