CHAPTER SIX
Things had become complicated for Shadow. Although he was satisfied in knowing who currently- or, at least, recently- held King Adas' holocron, it was close to impossible to locate Lumiya and the holocron. Searching through copies of files recorded by and given to him by the Watcher's agents, Shadow traced the name 'Lumiya' to an Imperial agent named Shira Elan Colla Brie.
Due to her status as a spy for Emperor Palpatine, Imperial records on Brie's activities were nearly nonexistent. However, the Watcher's agents were able to discover that Darth Vader had trained Brie as a secret Sith apprentice, along with her future apprentice Flint, although ultimately she was just another dark side pawn to both Vader and Palpatine.
After the Battle of Endor, while seeking to become the next Dark Lord of the Sith, Shira Brie, now known as Lumiya, was 'recruited' by Atha Prime- an alias of Finis Valorum- to 'serve' in the Dark Empire, which, as the Watcher's agents had perceived, was part of Darth Vorath's plot.
The records did not say anything beyond that, for agents had lost track of Lumiya after Vorath's death, having been last sighted on the planet Vjun twenty-three years ago.
Shadow sighed out of exasperation. Although he was certain that Lumiya was likely on one of the many Sith worlds, so she could gain knowledge necessary in becoming Dark Lord of the Sith, it would take forever to find out which one she was on.
He gazed endlessly through his ship's viewport, staring at the stars that blinked through the darkness of space. For what seemed like hours, he sat there, as motionless as a corpse. Finally, he reached into his travel pouch, which was placed right next to his pilot's seat, and brought out the holocron he had taken from Remulus Horne on Nar Shaddaa.
Without activating the device, he wrapped his hand around the holocron and tightened his grip on it. Before him, the transparisteel viewport that showed the blackness of space dissolved and began to reshape all around him...
*More than two centuries ago*
Standing on a balcony that oversaw a Sun Guard academy on Thyrsus, Darth Erebus watched with great intrigue as his son went through the training course repeatedly, performing better and better with every powered punch, every flip over the pit of fire, and every Echani move he made. The more he saw his son train, the more doubtful he became on having kept Darth Furor as his apprentice.
But, alas, he had made a deal with the Sun Guard. In exchange for their services, he had given them all the credits he had inherited from his master's estate, as well as giving them his son for the Sun Guard to raise and train as one of their own. And the deal was sealed.
He sensed the approach of his son's mentor and he turned to face the Sun Guard commander.
"I am impressed by the results of your training, commander," Darth Erebus said. "I am sure my son will be a worthy member of the Sun Guard."
"The pleasure is all mine, my lord," the commander replied, bowing to the Sith Lord. "Do you wish to speak with him one last time before you leave?"
Erebus shook his head. "No. Enough words have been spoken. But I do want you to give him this."
He reached into his cloak and brought out a pyramid-shaped object, which glowed with red energy. He gingerly placed it in the Sun Guard commander's hand, as if it was very fragile, and told the man through his eyes to be careful with it.
"I shall give it to him as you wish, my lord," the commander said, bowing his head out of respect.
Erebus nodded. "Very good. Farewell, commander."
* * *
The scene vanished and reshaped itself again. Shadow soon found himself on Coruscant, most likely during the Galactic Empire's reign, for he saw Emperor Palpatine himself sitting atop his throne, somewhere within the Imperial Palace. Shadow leaned back in his seat as he watched the scene take place.
*Roughly forty years ago*
Fingers interlaced, his scarred face hidden beneath the rim of his hood, Palpatine sat in contemplation. Placed on top of a desk set before him was a Sith holocron he had 'inherited' from Darth Plagueis many years ago. It was likely his master was given the holocron by the Sun Guard while they were under the Muun's services.
Darth Sidious finally reached across the desk and took the holocron into his hands, activating it with the Force. The miniature pyramid opened up and the holocron's gatekeeper- a small, holographic robed man- appeared before him.
"Greetings, Lord of the Sith," the gatekeeper said. "If you are of Darth Bane's legacy, then that tells me the Order of the Sith Lords continues to thrive. If you are not, then what has happened to it?"
"Worry not, Lord Erebus. I am of Darth Bane's Sith Order," Sidious replied calmly. "The Grand Plan he initiated has finally succeeded."
A small, partially mirthful smile appeared on the gatekeeper's holographic face and he gave what appeared to be a respectful nod to Sidious. "I am proud to hear that. What is it you require of me?"
"Your birth name," the Emperor said simply. "It has come to my knowledge that you had a son who trained under the Sun Guards. It is my belief that a descendant of his is currently serving me as a guard, and I seek confirmation of his heritage."
Darth Erebus laughed without mirth. "Is that so? Well then, I hope that he is powerful and worthy enough to be your apprentice. As for the name I was born with..."
The gatekeeper smiled. "In my past life, before I became a Dark Lord of the Sith, I was known as Thanor Jax."
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