Chapter S: "br"
As his ship approached Jaguada, Beldorion made the final adjustments to the nav computer, then checked his survival gear and facemask. The planet was an unhospitable desert world, hardly notable except for its history as a Sith colony, as well as the presence of a particular duo on it. In a matter of probably less than a year, a confrontation was likely to happen which constituted an unique opportunity for both him and the Jedi Order. Darth Bane's Rule of Two balanced on a knife's edge, and only by an extraordinary stroke of luck would it survive the coming crisis, as it seemed to do on so many possible futures.
Too many futures to blame luck, he considered, so perhaps it is the Will of the Force that is to blame. But if the Force wills that I fail, then why should I worry for the possibility? That way lies madness. Then again, perhaps as some had theorized, said Will was not so much a sentient mind so much as patterns that emerged when a sophont thought too hard about the unknowable. There was lore lost in the many years of the Galaxy that might never come to light again, and mysteries that not even the greatest minds might unveil in a million years more. In any case, this was an incredible opportunity to derail the so called "Grand Plan", and seeing how it tended to derail by itself half of the time, the Force was unlikely to make an issue of it.
Humming to himsef, he decided to spend the last minutes of flight in meditation. His own plan, incomplete as it might be, still felt right, like it was meant to be. Wishful thinking or predetermination? He smiled minutely, then breathed deeply. Ever in flux, the future is, as Master used to say. If time is a tumultuous river, you must be a master swimmer. He focused his senses outwards, looking for the Sith, and perceived their malice down in the planet. Gravid felt like a shifting vortex, flashes of light inside a spinning black hole, a violent phenomenon at war with itself. Gean, in contrast, was an understated evil, all-consuming hatred and envy, as well as some suspicion aimed at her companion. The danger of the Dark Side, and how well we know it. As his ship made landfall, he came out of his meditative state, and went over to the cockpit to talk with the crew. He gave them last minute instructions, then fastened his blades to his belt and adjusted his facemask as the ramp lowered. Jaguada beckoned.
After a couple hours of travel, he sighted the Sith outpost. It wasn't obvious from the air, but his advance knowledge of it and his land approach allowed him to notice the entrance. Slithering closer, he felt their presence change through the Force, signaling they'd noticed him. Beldorion crawled at a leisurely pace towards them, as Gean's suspicion spiked and Gravid seemed to spiral ever faster into instability. They would take skilled handling, but he was confident he could do it. Steeling himself, he waited for the concealed door to open, then confidently entered as it rose. After traversing a long corridor and passing several doors, he felt his hosts waiting behind an ornate entrance, likely leading to a larger room.
Beldorion knocked twice, surprise radiating from the duo inside. Gravid eventually replied, in a bemused tone of voice. "Come on in, Jedi." Beldorion smiled, then opened the doors, where a fierce looking Gean greeted him with a snarl and active lightsaber, while Gravid stood some meters behind her, looking relaxed and in control. Ah, the bad Sith/somewhat reasonable Sith routine it is, Bel thought, how quaint. He raised his palm towards them, and greeted them. "Peace, followers of Bane. I don't come here to hunt you. I wish only to parley." Gean scoffed, calling to Gravid with a sneer, "Master, a worthless slug presumes too much, let me crush it underfoot before it stinks up the whole planet." Gravid chuckled, then replied (yes, such a convincing act, thought Beldorion with an inner eye roll, I'm impressed for sure) "patience, my apprentice, he believes he has something of value, I sense, and we must know what... before we take it!"
Beldorion exercised all of his willpower to stop himself from laughing out loud, but allowed himself a small smile. "Of course, Darth Gravid. I am sure what I bring will be a prize you will find well worth my life. But your tail-head youngling is unlike to appreciate it." Darth Gean bristled, raising to the taunt as she realized she was being challenged. "Franged slug! Your schutta mother should have drowned you! None will take my place, specially a Jedi!" Her lightning quick attack would have been too fast for most Knights, Beldorion mused, but it was still slow enough for him to both draw his swords, and parry her with their crossed blades.
The widening of her eyes as she realized he wasn't holding lightsabers was a real treat, too. Her surprise almost allowed him to behead her as he retaliated, but then again, he conceded, that'd be too quick. She jumped away from him, avoiding his slashes by a hair's breadth (or a tiny fraction of a lekku). He let her gain distance as she grappled with the revelation. "Sith swords! But how? You are no Sith! Filthy thief!" Darth Gravid hmmed as his apprenticed screamed, deciding to correct her. "No dear, that is not quite it. They have no Dark Side presence, this is something new, neither Sith sword nor Jedi katana. You have bought your life, Beldorion. Slay her and take your place at my side." As Darth Gean screamed in rage, her power surging, Beldorion nodded to Darth Gravid, then smirked as Gean attacked again.
Beldorion parried Gean's attack with a flourish, then made minute, shallow cuts on both her forearms. Gean almost laughed in his faces before an unnatural cold spread from the wounds, and her strength ebbed. "Poison Jedi? A weaklings tool, but expected from a failure like you! The Dark Side burns inside me! It will burn your poison and then you!" It was a bit impressive, Beldorion conceded, that she could call a pitiful example of Convection. But there was no poison to counter, and as he cut her again and again, she realized her Force connection weakened as the cold increased. "Well, sorry to cut this short, 'dear', but you have served your purpose now." His mock commiseration, he noted, did little to calm her, but still, he had to take his fun where he could.
Darth Gravid noticed Gean's struggle, but his only reaction was a heightened interest in the showcased power, and he remained quiet as Beldorion dismantled the Twi'lek with methodical precision. When he decided he had whetted Gravid's curiosity enough, Beldorion bisected the apprentice, one quick vertical slice. No sense in prolonging her suffering anymore. It was time to take their first step into the future, and it would be a lengthy discourse.
Author's note:
Canon Darth Gravid went mad while trying to balance the Light and Dark sides, then got killed by his apprentice. Guess Bel has another plan
