Chapter Twelve:

A Hunter's Hunt for Shadows

9 BBY, Outer Rim

Ten years, it had been ten years since the Clone War ended.

Ten years since the Jedi Order fell.

And ten years since the Republic was reformed into the Empire.

With each passing day, more worlds across the galaxy were falling under the thumb of the Sith as Palpatine, secretly known as Darth Sidious, asserted his dominance over all.

Unbeknownst to those who resided in Imperial space, the former Sith apprentice Darth Maul and his loyal followers had stuck to the shadows within that time, undiscovered by the eye of the Empire, conspiring against the Imperial regime, and striking out against key targets connected to Palpatine's regime with each opportunity they had.

But, despite planning each move with precision, despite the gains Maul had made, the Empire remained strong and unbroken. Under most circumstances, the rogue Force-user would be frustrated, but he was satisfied with the chaos he was causing.

And, as long as Palpatine remained oblivious to the true mastermind behind the attacks, the Zabrak was more than happy to continue plotting against his master from the shadows.

The Dark Side was strong, and Maul knew it just as everyone else around him did. And, even on a world like Dathomir, there was no avoiding darkness let alone a sign of the Empire's activities.

Ominous shadows danced across the barren red ground, cast by desolate trees, while the moon rolled across the dark sky. An owl hooted somewhere amidst the trees, and, somewhere far off, a Rancor howled aggressively. Rancors were found on Dathomir, just as they could be found anywhere in the galaxy, just as a Sarlacc could be found on certain planets.

In the eerie evening air, a cloak flapped in the breeze as a dark figure walked the terrain of Dathomir, surveying their surroundings while a gloved hand gripped the hilt of a double-bladed lightsaber, which sported a very unique design that consisted of a retracted open disc capable of becoming a ring at any moment.

'Someone is here.' The figure thought, 'I can sense him, even from far away. The Shadow.'

This was the Eleventh Brother, one of the Empire's many Inquisitors, tasked with hunting down surviving Jedi along with other Force-sensitive beings. As the Empire's forces spread through the Outer Rim like with the rest of the galaxy, the Inquisitorious' mission spread through the region as well.

Initially, the Inquisitor had only been passing through the sector on a mission to find Sith artifacts for Emperor Palpatine. However, as he passed Dathomir, the Eleventh Brother sensed a presence in the Dark Side, and decided to investigate for himself.

Moment by moment, the lean Umbaran Dark Side adept surveyed the forest, and the hills in the distance, tuning into the Force to pinpoint where he would find the source of the shadowy presence. The Inquisitorious made very little errors in their line of work.

Someone was on Dathomir, and the Eleventh Brother was beginning to suspect The Shadow's identity.

'He survived.' Eleventh Brother thought, 'Of course he survived, just like the Jedi, and just as the Sith survived in the ashes of defeat... and I'm going to have the honor of facing him.'

On a world like Dathomir, a planet strong in the Dark Side, and where witches thrived, shadows were either an ally, or an enemy.

The Eleventh Brother proceeded forward.

But he wasn't alone on the desolate war-ravaged world of shadows and secrets. Boots clicked as black-armored Purge Troopers followed behind their commander, and half of them were part of the last generation of Clone Troopers in Imperial service.

The Eleventh Brother had called them as he touched down, and he'd waited until they arrived before he began his search. The specialized stormtroopers held their blasters steadily, prepared for battle at any given time. Coms buzzed every couple of seconds, and a few troopers murmured amongst themselves.

Eleventh Brother stepped around a fallen tree, and closed his eyes, tuning into the Force once more. The Shadow's presence was stronger than ever, and the Inquisitor felt the ominous ripple.

'He is close.'

"Establish a perimeter!" The Eleventh Brother ordered the troopers, "Make sure no one escapes, keep your weapons trained at all times! Our target must not be allowed to get away!"

'Good soldiers follow orders.'

Purge Troopers moved closer around their commander, and the Eleventh Brother stepped forward, ready to ignite his weapon. An old fortress lay ahead, the old den of the Nightsisters and their leader. With each passing moment he felt the power of the Dark Side, the Inquisitor could sense The Shadow lurking inside.

And, within the shadows of the Nightsisters' old lair, the Shadow could sense the presence of the Inquisitor. Deep inside Mother Talzin's home, Maul, seated cross-legged in meditation, opened his eyes with a snarl.

Sidious' agents had just discovered his location, and it was time to take action, to silence those who found him...