EDITED 1/1/2020 Changed the Finalizer to an original Star Destroyer of the same model (in case I want to use the Finalizer in future stories)
CHAPTER FOUR
--The Resurgent--
Captain Redarn took long, quick strides down the corridor which led to the Dark Lord's quarters. Every few steps, he made sure his rank insignia was on straight and his cap firmly on his head. Having never met Darth Taral before, he did not know if the Sith would care for such formality -- but one could never be too careful.
Upon reaching the Dark Lord's chambers, Redarn was surprised to find the door already open, revealing a dark room with very little light; said light was emitting from a holoscreen displayed before a seated individual, their back turned to Redarn.
As the captain stepped in, a chilling voice came from the darkness. "Why do you disturb me, captain?"
Redarn cleared his throat. "My lord, we have arrived in the Dromund system, as per your orders."
"Has my shuttle been prepared?" Taral replied.
"Yes, my lord. It awaits you in Hangar 937."
"I'll be there shortly. Dismissed, captain."
Redarn gave a quick, crisp bow before turning on his heels and exiting the foreboding chamber. It closed with a loud hiss as soon as he left. Once it had, Redarn let out the breath he hadn't realize he'd been holding in. For a first meeting, it certainly could have gone a lot worse.
* * *
Darth Taral sat alone in darkness, numerous thoughts on his mind.
Years of planning were finally coming together. The pieces of the board were being set. The Imperial Remnant and Mandalorians were already under his control and the Alliance was being molded like putty. The stage of victory was all but set.
However, one challenge yet remained. One he had known was coming ever since his plan was set in motion. One he wasn't quite certain he was prepared to face.
Taral's eyes went down the list of reports sent to his datapad. Scorpius had succeeded in killing his master on Jakku, as had Sharik on Cheelit. However, Draida had failed to report in after reaching Cato Neimoidia and the others had yet to locate their own masters. And with Prodd dead, his master was also still left unaccounted for.
That left Taral's own master and Sedriss.
Even if Vossron had survived, Taral would have made sure that the Dark Lady was left for him to deal with. It was Sith tradition for the mantle of Dark Lord be taken by he who had slain the previous holder. As it was with Revan and Malak, as it was with Bane and Zannah, it would be so here.
Placing the datapad down, Taral turned in his chair and pressed a control on the armrest. Across the room, a door slid open and a set of ready-made armor hovered before him.
After today, there would only be one Dark Lord of the Sith -- and he would do everything in his power to make sure it was him.
--Dromund Kaas--
"He is here."
The ten remaining Sith Masters soon gathered in their antechamber -- eight transmitting via hologram while Darth Sedriss and Lord Paxis were physically present. Paxis looked nervous as he paced across the room, his white hair a disheveled mess.
"Your greatest failure has arrived, Paxis," Lord Tyran said smugly, arms folded across his chest. "Let's see if you can make amends within the next twenty minutes."
"Quiet, Valmar!" Paxis snapped, uttering his colleague's true name. "The last thing I need is you unctuous attitude!"
"Settle down, both of you," Sedriss commanded. "The last thing I want is to have the Sith be divided even further. We must have a level head if we wish to make an example of Varon."
Turning to the hologram of a Thisspiasian Sith, Sedriss said, "Lord Serpriss, head to Ossus with Lord Kallus. If Paxis and I fail to defeat Varon, the Jedi must know of the threat."
Lord Kallus raised an eyebrow. "You think the Jedi will trust us?"
"They know you, Viron. I'm sure you'll be able to convince them." The Dark Lady then turned to a Chagrian woman. "Saarai, I want you to burn your library on Jaguada."
Saarai gasped. "My... my library? You want me to... burn it?"
"If Varon were to get his hands on all the knowledge we've pertained, who knows what he would do with it. It's for the best, Saarai."
The Chagrian looked to be on the verge of tears but acquiesced to Sedriss' order. The Dark Lady then addressed the others.
"The rest of you, lay low and hide from your apprentices. Don't seek them out. If Acheron and Versutus' deaths are anything to go by, then Varon has somehow trained them to exceed our expectations."
Lord Saivus scoffed. "Masters should not fear the apprentice."
"No, they shouldn't," Sedriss agreed. "But Varon has given us a reason to."
With that, the eight holograms fizzled out of existence, leaving Sedriss and an anxious Paxis alone in the chamber.
"Tyran is correct," Paxis murmured, more to himself than Sedriss. "Varon is my failure. It's my fault any of this happened."
"Save your moping for later," Sedriss said, already headed outside. "We have company to welcome."
The two Sith Masters exited the temple that was their base and saw the vessel of their visitor hovering in the sky above: a Resurgent-class Star Destroyer, fresh out of the Kuat Drive Yards. Descending from the capital ship was an Imperial shuttle, its long wings folding up as it landed before the pair.
Paxis had his gaze focused on the Star Destroyer. "Why doesn't he just blast us now from the sky and get it over with?"
"He's your apprentice, Paxis," Sedriss said. "If you know him at all, you should already know the answer to that."
A ramp lowered from the shuttle, steam emitting from its pistons. A large figure descended from the ship, clad in black and gold armor with a long cloak billowing behind him. A helmet dominated his head, with a fearsome mask concealing his face.
The resemblance was clear to both masters. Neither said a word about it, instead waiting for Varon Krul to cross the distance between them, coming to a stop a mere nine feet from them.
"Hello, master," he said, his voice coming out as a mechanical rasp from behind his mask. "Hello, Lady Sedriss. Long time no see."
"What is this about, Varon?" Paxis asked, his voice shaky. "Why are you doing this?"
"This is about forging a new galaxy," Varon said. "About union. Peace."
"And you think you can achieve that by manipulating and executing people as you see fit?" Paxis said, not bothering to hide his indignation.
"The ends justify the means. When all has come to fruition, you will thank me."
Paxis opened his mouth to speak again, but Sedriss silenced him as she stepped forward. "Why are you here, Varon? Are you here to kill us?"
"No," Varon said. "I am here to claim what I believe to be mine: the title of Dark Lord of the Sith."
Sedriss clenched her fists. "It is not yours to have."
"This needn't end in blood," Varon said, unhooking his lightsaber hilt from his belt. "You can relinquish the title to me now and live. Or...." With a snap-hiss, a crimson blade extended from the hilt. "We could do this the old fashioned way."
Paxis glanced at Sedriss, who made her answer clear. She removed two lightsabers from her waist and ignited their blades, red and violet in color respectively. Paxis did the same, bringing out his scarlet-bladed lightsaber.
Varon raised his in salute. "Tradition it is then."
The three Sith then lunged at each other and their blades clashed, creating a bright flash in the midst of the darkness.
---
NOTE: The Star Destroyer is not actually in the sky but out in space. I'll try fixing this later.
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