EPILOGUE
Shadow watched as the stars streaked past the viewport of his ship's cockpit as it jumped into hyperspace. His failure to kill Lumiya and Carnor Jax was most unfortunate. The Watcher would not be pleased with him.
He stared at his armless shoulder. He would have to find a replacement arm in order to continue his mission, but it would be rather difficult to find a prosthetic that was compatible with Glorian biology. But he would find a way...
His ship's communications device beeped and Shadow accepted the call. Umbra's holographic figure soon appeared before him.
"Greetings, Agent Shadow. Did you succeed in tracking down Lumiya?"
"Yes, but I was...defeated before I could kill either her or her apprentice."
Umbra inclined his head in mock pity. "I am...sorry to hear that. The Watcher won't be too pleased...nor will the Emperor."
"I know," Shadow snapped. "That's why I will simply inform them that my mission is still in progress. I...will not say anything of Lumiya and her apprentice."
Umbra's eyes widened in genuine surprise. "You...you are actually going to withhold information from the Watcher? That is unwise and very risky, you know..."
"I am aware of the consequences if either the Watcher or the Emperor sees through my lie," Shadow said. "Nevertheless, I am going to take my chances. Besides, once I heal my...injuries, I will make up for my failure and deal with the two Sith."
"I see," Umbra muttered. "Well then, with that, I wish you luck. Agent Umbra, signing off."
The hologram vanished and Shadow was left alone to stare out into the seemingly endless tunnel of hypserspace, plotting his next course of action.
* * *
Stalker- having abandoned his 'Darth' title years ago- stared at the motionless body of the Nikto Jedi he had just slain. Although the Jedi Knight was skilled, his prowess in the lightsaber arts were no match for Stalker's, and he was easily killed.
Hearing the roar of the Rogue Shadow's engines as it flew overhead, the former Sith Lord assumed that Kyle Katarn and his companions had managed to escape. An unfortunate loss, but one that could be compensated.
Sitting down cross-legged besides the deceased Jedi's body, Stalker began to muse over the recent events of his life. After Darth Vorath's death nine years ago, Darth Stalker retreated from the Battle of Coruscant along with the rest of the Sith Council. However, unlike most of them, Stalker chose not to head for Korriban, knowing that the Jedi Order would find them there, and instead made a trip to the Unknown Regions.
There he found a device he had heard of in his studies of the ancient Infinite Empire; a Rakatan mindspear, which could transfer one's memories into another body. After retrieving the device, he headed for Kamino- his place of 'birth'- and threatened the Kaminoan scientists into making him a group of clone bodies. Once the bodies were finished, he had the Kaminoans use the mindspear to transfer the memories from his old, rapidly aging body, into a new, younger clone one.
Thus, Stalker realized with satisfaction, he had accomplished what Sith Lords like Darths Bane and Sidious had dreamed of; to prolong death, without needing to learn essence transfer. Of course, Stalker was unsure how effective his plan would turn out to be...but for now, it would do.
His musings were interrupted when he sensed his apprentice approach him from behind.
"Master," the apprentice began to say before Stalker cut him off with the raise of a hand.
"I am aware of their escape. Don't worry, we shall-"
"It's not that," his apprentice said. "Someone wishes to speak with you."
Stalker turned to see his crimson armored apprentice standing beside another man, who wore black and red armor with a unique mask that was vaguely reminiscent of those worn by the Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders of ancient times.
The stranger crossed his arms. "Greetings, 'Lord' Stalker. I am the Revanchist. I would like to make an offer for you..."
TO BE CONTINUED...
EPISODE III COMING IN LATE FEBRUARY/EARLY MARCH
*
*
Author's note (6/25/13)- as of now, I've changed Darth Stalker's story post-Battle of Coruscant. See Episode 5, Chapter Four for details. (Basically, just ignore the stuff about the Rakatan thingamajig)
No comments:
Post a Comment