CHAPTER SEVEN
After helping Remker and other fellow Jedi Knights bring the artifacts to Master Tionne's Jedi archives, Toah headed for the Council Chambers, where Luke Skywalker, Morin Tharr, Xanus Baran, and four other Jedi Masters awaited him.
"Toah Jarsan," Luke said in greeting. "We have important news for you."
Toah looked at each Jedi Master, confused. "What is it?" he asked.
The other councilors glanced at Luke. When he did not speak, a Kel Dor Jedi whom Toah knew to be Master Kro Sadoon spoke. "Shortly after you began your apprenticeship under Master Skywalker, we viewed your databanks and learned your father's name to be Aron Jarsan.
"Through further research, we discovered that the Jarsan family name went back to a Force-sensitive bloodline. A member of this bloodline was, we believe, a Sith Lord."
Toah's eyes widened at the news. "I'm...the descendant of a Sith Lord? What does this mean?"
"It means," Luke said, "that the Sith you met fourteen years ago might want to turn you to the dark side because of your heritage and use you as a way to conquer the galaxy."
Toah simply stood there, mouth slightly agape. He barely managed to speak. "So...what are going to do about this?"
Luke exchanged an uncertain glance with Morin Tharr. Turning back to Toah, he said, "When we set up the Jedi Praxeum here on Yavin Four, I sensed the presence of a long forgotten spirit. For a while, I simply belonged to a long-gone Jedi...but the other day I was proven wrong.
"I found the source of the presence I felt in an ancient temple located not far from here. I began to sense the dark side radiating from it, and spoke with the other councilors. According to Master Tharr, it is the tomb of a long-deceased Sith Lord named Exar Kun."
Toah recognized the name, having heard it in his vision on Ossus. "So you think I'm his descendant?"
"It is possible," Tharr replied. "Your ancestors had to have been human, of course. And Kun was one of the earliest known human Sith Lords."
"So, Toah," Luke said, putting a hand on Toah's shoulder. "What say we pay an old Sith ghost a visit?"
Toah gave his master an incredulous look as if to say "Are you serious?" Instead, the young Jedi Knight said, "Whatever you say, master."
* * *
A heavy silence followed when the projectile met its mark. For what seemed like forever, but was only a few seconds, Bastion stood still, seemingly not affected by the weapon. Suddenly, a flash of white sparked on the planet's surface and an explosion of white erupted, nearly engulfing the entire planet. The spectacle didn't last long, and when it ended, less then half of Bastion was left completely barren.
In spite of the deed being done, Wedge Antilles still kept a hold on his breath. He didn't let go of it until Captain Jal'daan's voice spoke through his headset.
"General Antilles? It's over. You may return to the Valiant."
"Yes, sir," Wedge said quietly, snapping back to reality. "I'm on my way..."
He maneuvered his fighter to turn around and head back for the Republic cruiser, wondering just jow well the Senators who had opposed this idea would react. And how it would affect him....
* * *
Loud, angry voices filled the Senate Chamber. In the center of the circular room sat Chief of State Jenssar SoBilles, his adviser, Verrinnefra B'Thog, and Vice Chair Trik Regan. Around them, angered senators shouted protests to both each other and to Jenssar, who hung his head slightly, uncertain on how to settle the outrage and respond to the senators' questions.
It took the booming voice of Regan to finally silence the chamber. After a brief moment of startled silence, the Ithorian spoke through his translator. "The Chief recognizes Senator Gavrisom of the Calib system."
The Calibop senator approached a loud speaker built into the marble balcony that he stood in. With a naturally high-pitched voice, Ponc Gavrisom spoke. "Chief SoBilles, many senators, including myself, are disappointed with the rushed decimation of Bastion. I thought we had come to a compromise by sending Senator Organa to negotiate a treaty with the Empire. If the offer was to be declined, Organa would've been escorted back to Coruscant and we would use the weapon.
"However, shortly after sending Senator Organa, the Chief of State sent the Fifth Fleet to use the weapon on Bastion...without escorting Senator Organa."
"On the contrary," the Quarren senator Pwoe protested, "Captain Jal'daan reported seeing the Millennium Falcon, the personal ship of Organa and her husband Han Solo, leaving Bastion.'
"True," Gavrisom replied. "But we never received a report from Organa Solo on how the negotiations went. They could have gone well for all we know, and that the Empire was falsely wiped out."
"And for all we know, the Empire could have killed Organa and Solo and stole their ship to escape." Pwoe crossed his arms defiantly. "We have no way to confirm Senator Organa's fate. She's either headed back for Coruscant or dead. Only time will tell."
Gavrisom opened his beak-shaped mouth to reply, but Jenssar held his hand up. "As Senator Pwoe has pointed out," the Duros Chief said, "we have no idea what happened to Senator Organa and Captain Solo on Bastion. I shall contact Captain Jal'daan and have him conduct a search."
"That would be a waste of time," Borsk Fey'lya said from his balcony. "It's best that we wait for Leia Organa Solo to return. If she is not back by at least the end of this month, we shall presume she is dead."
A majority of the Senate shouted in agreement, save for Gavrisom and a handful of others.
"It is agreed then," Borsk said, once the room had quieted down. He gave a pointed glance at Jenssar. "Isn't it?"
"Yes..." the Duros Chief murmured. "I suppose it is..."
* * *
Oricon's status as a moon was debatable. While it did indeed orbit another object, the said object was not in actuality a planet. At least not anymore.
The name Oricon once belonged to a world that was part of the Old Sith Empire during the reign of Darth Andeddu. On Oricon's moon, Andeddu's apprentice, Darth Vitus, tested experiments with Sith magic and alchemy.
The results of these experiments to this day remain unknown, but from the evidence gathered, they were catastrophic, enough to leave the planet of Oricon nothing but a large asteroid. As a result, today the satellite that orbited Oricon was given the planet's name, though some astronomers preferred its original name, Ori-Three.
Whatever it was called, Darth Vorath needed to find the compound of Darth Vitus, where the old Sith Lord tested his experiments. His ship slowly landed on Oricon's crater-covered surface. As he exited the ship, Vorath began to feel a strange presence in the Force, as if a phantom was lurking in the darkness of the craters. It didn't take long for him to figure out what he was sensing.
"Hello, Lord Vitus," the Dark Lord said.
A vapory mist began to form before Vorath, until it had taken the shape and image of a pure-blooded member of the Sith species.
"Welcome, stranger, to Oricon," the ghost said. "Few have come here, and none have left. What brings you here?"
"I am here for the armor of Valtheran," Vorath replied. "Your master said it was here on Oricon."
The ghost of Darth Vitus gave a malicious grin. "Indeed, it is..."
"Where is it?" Vorath demanded.
Vitus chuckled, his voice echoing throughout the moon. "If you want it, you will have to face my...children."
Suddenly, emerging from the craters came a swarm of humanoid, undead-looking beings. Vorath rose a curious eyebrow from beneath his hood. "They look quite similar to the descriptions of the undead beings that resulted from Darth Drear's experiments..."
Vitus laughed again. "Ah, I take it you've heard of him? They should look similar, seeing that I am the one who taught him how to create the virus."
Vorath said nothing as the zombies began to surround him, thirsty for blood. He ignited his lightsaber and stared coldly into Vitus' ghostly eyes. "I have braved many horrors in my life, Lord Vitus," he said. "This is nowhere near as horrific as any of them."
Vitus smiled. "We shall see about that now, won't we?"
At that moment, the zombies lunged towards Vorath....
No comments:
Post a Comment