CHAPTER SIX
"I must say," C-3PO murmured as he, R2-D2, Han, Leia, and Chewbacca were led onto the Sith Lords' ship, "I can't recall how many times we've gotten ourselves into messes like this. More than twenty years and we still can't-"
"Shut up, droid," Lord Ravage snarled as he and the other darksiders followed their captives onto their ship. Turning to the Duros named Lord Mordus, the Zabrak said, "Set a course for the Dromund system. It's obscure enough that the Republic won't think to search for Organa there."
Mordus nodded and took the ship's controls. Just as the landing ramp raised up and Leia and the others were put in a small holding cell, the Miraluka darksider called from the cockpit. "A Republic fleet has been detected in the system. They're headed straight for Bastion."
Ravage smiled, turning to look at Leia. "I guess your benevolent Chief of State decided to go with his plan anyway. Makes you wonder how similar your Republic is to the Empire."
The Sith Lord turned away before Leia could say anything. He took out a handheld holoprojector, which turned on to show the blue, holographic replica of an armored figure. "Atha Prime," the Zabrak said, "we've captured Senator Organa, along with her husband, a Wookiee, and two droids. We are now headed for the Dromund system."
"Excellent work, Lord Ravage," Atha Prime replied. "The Dark Lord gives you less credit than you deserve."
"Thank you, sir," Ravage muttered, his voice lacking any sign of appreciation. "We shall be on Dromund Kaas in less than an hour."
The Zabrak Sith Lord turned off the projector and, after casting one last taunting glance at Leia and the others, walked towards the cockpit. The five captives remained silent, with only C-3PO breaking the silence.
"I believe I speak for everyone when I say that I have a bad feeling about this."
Han glared at the protocol droid. "Shut up, Goldenrod."
* * *
From the bridge of the Valiant, Captain Thrak Jal'daan observed the world of Bastion from afar. Long ago, he had once called the planet home during its time under the old Galactic Empire. And now he was about to witness its decimation.
Ahead of his ship was a lone, X-wing starfighter, armed with the weapon that was found on Had Abbadon, which had been dubbed 'the Decimator' by Supreme Commander Garm Bel Iblis. Escorting the X-wing was a squadron of B-wing and A-wing starfighters.
"I'm in range," said the pilot of the X-wing, Wedge Antilles. "Do you want to send a few fighters to make sure Senator Organa is clear of the targeted area?"
"I'm sure she's already off-planet," Thrak answered. "I see the Millennium Falcon leaving right now, in fact."
Indeed, the Corellian ship was shooting off into space and entering hyperspace. Leia Organa Solo was surely one her way back to Coruscant.
"You may fire when ready, General Antilles," Thrak finally said. Within a minute, a projectile had fired from the Decimator and was headed straight for Bastion...
* * *
Darth Andeddu lashed out at Vorath like an uncaged beast. The latter Sith Lord barely had enough time to evade the attack and make his move. Vorath swung his lightsaber at Andeddu's neck, but the ancient Sith blocked it with his own saber. Andeddu then sent Vorath flying away with a push of the Force.
Just as Vorath was getting back to his feet, Andeddu charged towards him, screaming in rage. Vorath summoned his lightsaber to his hand just as the ancient Dark Lord thrust his weapon to stab Vorath in the chest, but the younger Sith parried the attack. He then pushed Andeddu back by attacking the old one with a flurry of attacks, each one being countered by Andeddu.
For a moment, it seemed the two Sith had come to a stalemate when, unexpectedly, Andeddu kicked Vorath in the shin and brought him to the ground, seizing his weapon. Andeddu crossed the two scarlet blades at Vorath's neck and laughed.
"Did you really think you could beat me?" the old Dark Lord sneered. "I was the apprentice of Darth Trayus, I ruled the first Sith Empire for nearly two centuries, and I learned how to cheat Death itself by using the bodies of my followers to serve as my own."
Vorath's red eyes gazed into Andeddu's empty eye-sockets. "Transfer essence," he muttered. "One of the few techniques of immortality to be successfully achieved."
Andeddu laughed. "Yes, an ability I discovered from the writings of Karness Muur. That is why you cannot beat me. That is why I am the Immortal God-King of Prakith!"
Vorath smiled, though it was obscured by the unnatural shadow surrounding his face. "You know, Lord Andeddu...kings have been known to be overthrown..."
The ancient Dark Lord laughed again. "I cannot be dethroned. You may destroy my body, but I can simply transfer my spirit to another one of my followers."
"Not unless you have any bodies to transfer to," Vorath muttered.
Suddenly, the watching followers of Andeddu collapsed to the floor, gasping for air. Confused, Andeddu moved the two lightsabers away from Vorath's neck, looking from the younger Sith Lord to his followers.
"What are you doing to them?" the ancient Sith demanded. "What are you doing to them?!"
"Isn't it obvious?" Vorath said casually. "I'm killing them. Soon, you will have no bodies left to transfer your spirit to. Soon, the so-called 'Immortal God-King' of Prakith shall fall."
As the ancient Sith Lord's followers breathed their last, Andeddu began to breathe heavily in anger. He rose the two lightsabers that he held in his hands up in the air, prepared to bring the killing blow onto Vorath. Before he could, Vorath unleashed a blast of lightning from his fingertips into Andeddu's chest.
Andeddu dropped his weapons and fell to his knees, trying to resist the pain. Vorath summoned his and Andeddu's lightsabers into his own hands and, like the old Sith had done mere minutes ago, crossed them at the Dark Lord's neck.
"And so the king falls..." Vorath muttered as he uncrossed the blades, severing Andeddu's head from his shoulders. Surprisingly, the body and its severed head turned to dust as Andeddu's spirit rose from the ashes.
"Now," Vorath said to the now-deceased Sith Lord. "The armor of Valtheran."
A cruel smile crept onto the spirit's face. "I don't have it."
Vorath's eyes flared with anger. "What?! But you said-"
"I lied," Andeddu laughed. "From a certain point of view. While I have it in the sense that it belongs to me, I never said it was here on Prakith."
Vorath balled his hands into fists, boiling with fury. "Then where is it?" he growled through gritted teeth.
"It is within the former compound of my apprentice, Darth Vitus," Andeddu answered. "It is located in the Corva sector, on a moon called Oricon."
As the spirit began to fade away, the ancient Sith Lord added, "I doubt you'll survive Oricon. But if you do...the galaxy will have much to fear."
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