CHAPTER NINE
The Invincible-Sedriss' flagship-slowly docked at an orbital docking station near the planet Byss, and the seven Dark Jedi led Han, Leia, Toah, Chewbacca, and C-3PO to a tall citadel in the middle of a large city. Their transport flew into the citadel's hangar, where beings clad in crimson armor awaited them.
"Welcome back, Lord Sedriss," one of the guards said. "Lord Sidious is waiting for you in his throne room."
"Thank you, Atha Prime," Sedriss replied coldly as the group continued their way through the citadel. They finally reached the throne room, which was covered in black steel walls and blood-red drapes. Sitting in the throne was a red-haired man in black robes, whose yellow eyes glowed from his colorless face.
"I am honored that you could join us," he said to the Dark Jedi and their captives. "As my apprentice Sedriss may have told you, I am Darth Sidious."
Han smirked. "You sure it's not Darth Hideous? Because you sure look like it."
The Corellian pilot felt the cold pummel of a lightsaber touch his neck.
"Insult the Emperor again," the one known as Katth growled, "and I shall sever what connects your head and shoulders."
"It's called a 'neck,'" Han muttered. Luckily for him, Katth did not hear him. Ignoring the insult, Darth Sidious continued.
"I do believe introductions are in order. I would like to have everyone know everyone." The Emperor cackled, sending chills down the back of Toah's neck.
"You've already met my apprentice and Executor Sedriss," Sidious said. "His friends are part of my Dark Side Elite. Their names are Zasm Katth-commander of the Invincible-Baddon Fass, Vill Goir-who already has an apprentice of his own, Kam Solusar-Kvag Gthull, and Krdys Mordi."
"Interesting party," Han muttered.
Sidious grinned, showing a row of unclean teeth. "I'm glad you like it. Now take a seat. We have much to discuss."
* * *
As Darth Nemesis and Morin Tharr's lightsaber blades locked, Aqinos, Kyle, and Remker could do nothing more but watch as the two fought; the Sith's moves filled with anger, the Jedi's with determination. The duel quickly ended when Nemesis' lightsaber flew out of his hand.
Unlike may who had faced the Jedi Master, Nemesis did not cower before Tharr's golden blade.
"Impressive," the Sith Lord murmured. "It seems I was wrong to myself, Master Jedi. I do have much to learn."
Tharr wrinkled his brows in confusion. "What are you talking about? Are you saying...?"
"Yes," Nemesis said, smiling. "I, like you, was among the handful of Jedi who survived the Empire's purge."
The Sith raised his crimson blade, his eyes filled with rage. "And now, I shall finish what they started."
* * *
The dark chamber in which the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vorath stood in could not hide the faint image of the Sith spirit before him.
"I have found your acolytes," the spirit said, his voice edged with disdain. "Now what?"
"I thought it was obvious," Vorath replied. "We are to go to Korriban and reawaken the other Dark Lords."
The spirit's image seemed to shift. "We? Last time I checked, I was the one doing all the work while you sat here doing nothing."
Vorath glared at the spirit but ignored its remark. "I wish to speak with the Dark Lords in person."
"In other words, you have a plan," the spirit said.
"Yes," Vorath said with a hidden grin. "Of course I do..."
* * *
Luke could hear Han and Leia's voices speaking with Palpatine, but he did not know what they were saying. He couldn't see anything at all, either. Whatever Palpatine did, it sent him to a pitch-black room with no walls or a ceiling.
Suddenly, a cold voice spoke. "Lost, Jedi?"
Luke turned around but saw no one there.
"Yes, you are lost," a second voice said. "We can tell."
"Who's there?" Luke demanded.
"We are," the first voice answered.
Luke sighed frustrated. "And just who is 'we?'"
The voices laughed. "We are Sith holocrons," they said in unison. "We belong to Darth Sidious, Dark Lord of the Sith. For years we have been teaching him the secrets of the dark side."
Slowly, cold, black tendrils began to wrap around Luke's legs. He reached for his lightsaber only to realize it was gone.
"We can teach you, Jedi," the voices said as scarlet lights began to glow. "You can learn more than your father did. You could be more powerful than he was!"
"No..." Luke muttered, as the tendrils tightened their grip. "I'll never turn. You should know that!"
For a moment, there was silence, unitl one of the voices finally said, "Yes, we do known that, Skywalker..."
The tendrils tightened even more around Luke's waist as the visages of hideous creatures appeared.
"...But that doesn't mean we can't have our fun!"
* * *
"No," Leia snapped at Sidious, startling even Han. "You know we would never surrender the Republic!"
"My dear, I'm not asking you to surrender," Sidious said calmly. "I'm simply saying that it may be possible for a...truce."
"You're joking," Han growled. getting up to his feet.
Sidious simply smiled. "No, I don't see myself as joking," he said as the seven Dark Jedi began to move from their positions against the wall. "Instead, I see myself as a...negotiator. A negotiator and a genius, yes. That' what I am. Or what I could be if you agree to a truce."
"And if we don't?" Leia asked, ignoring the surrounding Dark Jedi as they began to corner her and her compainions.
Sidious' smile slowly vanished. "Then I am simply the signer of your death warrant..."
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