CHAPTER TWO
The ancient crypt was silent save for the howling winds that racked the stone walls of the chamber. Standing still and placid before the coffin placed in the center of the tomb was humanoid being clad in a black cloak and armor just as dark. His eyes, appearing only as an emerald glow from the slit visor of his helmet, were focused on the empty casket, which had clearly been rummaged through recently.
But by who? Rhen Var is a frozen, isolated world. Why would anyone have the desire to visit it?
Of course, the answer was already beginning to become clear to him...
"We're wasting our time, Shadow," said a nameless Glorian, who was standing nearby. "We should be at the Harbor, wiping out those pathetic Alliance vermin."
"You are free to join them," Shadow said without looking at him. "Just as soon as you translate the archaic Aurebesh text on the walls."
The Glorian scoffed. "This is a fruitless obsession of yours. These two wannabe Sith are no threat to the Empire's goals. Let them plot and scheme all they want."
"The Watcher gave me a mission and I must fulfill it," Shadow said. "Now, translate that text."
Despite being concealed by a helmet, the Glorian's face was clearly sneering. "The Watcher is nothing but an old fool plagued by senility. He simply gives you objectives just so he can sit back and laugh at your aimless quests and blind devotion."
Shadow looked at him and for a split-second, the other Glorian's defiant demeanor faltered, but he soon recovered and squared his shoulders, looking at the Watcher's agent directly in the eye.
"You know I'm right," the Glorian said. "Admit it. Admit that you only follow these pointless missions so you can avoid fighting in this war. You're a coward, Shadow. You hear me?"
"Loud and clear." In the blink of an eye, Shadow strode up to the Glorian and seized him by the throat. Before his victim could struggle against his grip, the agent lifted him off his feet and slammed his head into the wall, right where the Aurebesh text was carved in.
"You see that?" Shadow muttered. "Translate it for me. Then you may leave to join your friends at the Harbor. Does that sound fair to you?"
With a whimper, the Glorian nodded. Shadow then released him and returned his attention to the empty coffin. After staring at it for another minute, he slowly and carefully reached into the casket, searching its bottom with his hand. When he reached a corner, everything around him vanished.
For a brief moment, he could see two beings- one male, the other female- standing where he now stood. They were talking, but he could barely make out the words. He could only hear two clearly: 'Sarafur' and 'Killik'...
Realization dawned on him as he returned to the real world. Smiling to himself as he took his arm out of the coffin, he turned to the Glorian, who was still studying the ancient text.
"Anything yet?" Shadow asked.
The Glorian shook his head. "I was only able to translate a portion of it, and even then it might not be accurate."
"Read it out loud to me," Shadow snapped, his patience wearing thin.
Shuddering, the translator read aloud, "'In thy name of His Supremacy, in honor of His Cunning, here lies the Dark Lord Darth Eradicus. May the Sith Empire thrive in his wake.'"
"Ah, now it all makes sense." Turning from where he stood, Shadow headed for the crypt's exit. "Tell General Dalax that I'll be heading for the Moddell sector."
"As you wish," the still-cowering Glorian murmured. "Though I doubt he'll be requiring services from the likes of you."
Beneath his helmet, Shadow smiled. "He might wish he had."
* * *
There was rarely a day during which Amidral Vral Chaar did not feel nervous. Having been recently promoted to such a high rank, he felt like he was being pressured to live up to the legacy set up by his ancestor, Admiral Dral Chaar of the Old Republic.
Of course, he often had to remind himself, it's not like anyone remembers him.
A seasoned veteran who had fought in the Great Sith War and the Mandalorian Wars, Admiral Dral Chaar had sacrificed his life at the Battle of Jovax during the latter so that General Revan and his forces could defeat the Mandalorians stationed there.
In spite of this, however, the Chaar family had faded to obscurity by the end of the Old Sith Wars. And yet other admirals such as Jimas Veltraa and Saul Karath were still remembered for their actions, even though the former had made a similar sacrifice and the latter had went on to join Darth Revan's Sith Empire.
Chaar hung his large, scaly head. Perhaps he would share the same fate; to die and never be remembered.
"Sir?" The Vurk admiral's musings were interrupted by his Elomin advisor and captain. Like most members of her species, Zennefra (a shortened version of her otherwise needlessly long name) was, for lack of a better term, a neat-freak. She was always barking at her subordinates for managing untidy offices and was always appearing in her best uniforms in the cleanest state possible.
Ever since becoming overall commander of the Jan Dodonna and Eighth Fleet, Chaar had found this attitude rather annoying.
"Sir, it's been nearly an hour since Major Rolav last contacted us," Zennefra went on. "He said that he would contact us earlier than that."
Chaar waved a hand. "Do not worry, captain. It is possible they're stuck in a blizzard. Continue attempts to contact them. If word still hasn't been heard from them by the next hour or so, then we'll send reinforcements."
At that moment, a human officer called from their post. "Sir, I'm detecting a strange signal! It looks like a hyperspace portal, but...different."
"Where is it opening?" Chaar asked, walking across the bridge to stand at the man's monitor.
"It...seems to be in Rhen Var's atmosphere." The officer leaned in closer to study it better. "And...something's falling out of it."
"Can you tell what it is?" Zennefra asked.
The man scratched his head. "Er, the scanner says it's a Duinuogwuin...and about eight humanoid beings."
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