CHAPTER TWO
Boots splashed against puddles of rain as Toah Jarsan went through the deserted streets of Deraln, capital city of Deralia. After the Imperial-Sith War and the encounter with his father on Dromund Kaas, Toah had decided to live the rest of his life here, away from most of galactic society. However, after a talk with Jaden Korr, he had decided to return and assist in ending the Glorian War.
Nowadays, he rarely visited Deralia, instead wandering around the galaxy, exploring new worlds and helping those in need whom the Galactic Alliance refused to. What brought him back here now was a meeting with a fellow Wanderer.
Entering an alleyway, Toah looked over his shoulder to make sure he wasn't being followed. He then looked up towards the rafters of a building and said, "Hello, Shadow."
Dropping down from the rafters was a humanoid figure clad in all black, the hood of his cloak obscuring his face.
"Jarsan," Shadow said in greeting. "What exactly prompts this meeting?"
"You're an expert on the Sith, aren't you?" Toah asked.
Shadow shrugged. "'Expert' may be too strong a term, but yes. Why?"
"About a week ago, I was in the Unknown Regions with a fellow Jedi when this ancient Sith dreadnaught appeared. It was carrying a Jedi Knight who, apparently, hails from the time of the Great Hyperspace War, over five millennia ago."
"How is that possible?" Shadow murmured in disbelief.
"Apparently the Sith dreadnaught went to lightspeed with a damaged hyperdrive. It had been stuck in hyperspace for this time until it finally dropped out. Anyway, after the Jedi Relin Druur told us his tale, we went back to the with Rogue Squadron and a few Jedi Knights to confront the ship's still-alive Sith captain."
"And?"
"We found nothing but debris." Toah then held up a charred piece of durasteel. "However, I was able to recover a part of the ship. Think you can use your psychometry to figure out who or what destroyed the dreadnaught?"
Shadow took the shard and examined it before saying, "I'm not infallible, Jarsan. It can sometimes be difficult zeroing in on a specific event."
Toah nodded. "Just do your best. That's all I ask."
Shadow nodded and fell silent, becoming stock still. After a few minutes, he looked up at Toah, green eyes glowing beneath his hood.
"I saw stormtroopers swarming in from the hangar. The captain-- a Kaleesh-- was apprehended. Then, a Super Star Destroyer fired upon the dreadnaught, destroying it."
Toah frowned. "So it was the Imperial Remnant's doing. Wonder how they knew about the dreadnaught...."
"No idea," Shadow said as he returned the steel fragment to him. "That's up to you to figure out. I don't want any part in whatever conflicts may arise between your two governments."
Toah smirked. "In that case, I wish you good luck."
* * *
"Why we here again? This place bad."
The Veknoid's complaints fell on deaf ears as Varon Krul meditated within the Sith citadel. The howling of wind could be heard beyond the stone walls, and the sound of hail echoed through the ceiling.
Sao was correct in that they had been here on Ziost not too long ago. It was here that Varon found records left behind by the ancient Sith Lord Naga Sadow. In them was the mention of the Harbinger, which carried the Lignan crystals he sought for his plans. A vision from the Force told him where and when the dreadnaught would be appearing after a five thousand year-long journey and eventually got what he desired.
However, the same records from Sadow mentioned a second ship, also carrying Lignan crystals, but not by name. After learning of the name Omen from the Harbinger's late captain, Varon had then returned to Ziost to find any mention of the Omen. After nearly a week of scouring, he had found nothing.
Thus, he meditated. Perhaps the Force would grant him another vision, just like it had for the Harbinger. Until then, he would wait patiently... even if it meant enduring Sao's insistent complaints.
"Much darkness here," the Veknoid murmured. "Not good place to be. Shadows watch you. Why--"
"Quiet," Varon hissed, suddenly snapping awake. "I sense something."
"The darkness?" Sao asked.
"We are not alone," the Sith apprentice said quietly. "Someone-- or something-- is here."
Rising to his feet, Varon moved towards a nearby window and peered through it. Something was moving amongst the frozen mountains; something gold that gleamed in the few dim rays of sunlight that escaped the clouded sky. Then, it emerged.
It was a large, golden sphere, an eye-like viewport in its center. On either side were two prongs with wings attached to them. It hovered several feet in the air and was slowly making its way towards the citadel.
A Sith Meditation Sphere. Yet another forgotten relic of the Old Sith Empire. How it had survived all these years-- and apparently moving on its own accord without a pilot-- was beyond Varon's understanding.
"Stay here," he said to Sao as he slid the window open before jumping out and up onto the rooftop. As the Sith Meditation Sphere came to a stop a few feet away from him, a raspy voice echoed in his mind.
You are Sith.
"Indeed," Varon said aloud. "You are a Sith Meditation Sphere, a relic that has been forgotten since the fall of Naga Sadow. How is that possible?"
The dark side of the Force works in ways beyond anyone's understanding. All that matters is that I am here to serve you.
"Serve me?"
I know what it is you seek. I do not know its exact, current location... but I can help you find it.
Varon raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? In that case, I would gladly appreciate your assistance. I must admit, though, I've never heard of a sentient Meditation Sphere."
And I've never heard of a Sith who appreciated anything.
The Sith apprentice smirked. "I suppose the dark side does indeed work in mysterious ways."
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