Private Shadows of Breath

[Darth Halitus]

WARNING! Mature Themes! Readers Discretion Advised

“I began as something else.”

The rumination was as ruinous as the riven form of his body. A patch work of cloth and mechanical components that made his form a twisted form of life.
The Dark Soul tethered to tubes like roots rising to the ceiling of black rock and to the copper earth below. His right eye blanketed by straight jet black locks, his skin a testament to life forsaking his nightmarish Shell.

There was no treatment, no cure for the fractured Shadow. His was a dry rot from within that had to finish so that he would be reborn.

The eyes of the Dark Soul were deep pools that a talented seeker could read. In them was ripples of a life that began in the basking sunlight. The smell of incense, the softness of his white tunic, and fine hair tamed into attentive needles with only one lock braided at his neckline. Already the Seers had marked Him for a great destiny, their prophecies weaving a tapestry that fed his zeal and ego. The Council despite the prognostications did not pair this Favored Lad with a Master, and so he spent his time at Academy while peers flew across the stars and returned with tales of gallantry.

In this vacuum of standstill the Humbled Soul heard the whisper of shadows. In the dark he saw the Seers and the Council conspiring, thinning the ranks with prophecies of greatness that were meant to serve as a test, one he had failed. Unaware of what had revealed this, the angry Youth fled for another Enclave, hoping that his passion for Ashla would serve another community. He was gravely mistaken. There was no place for his devotion, his zeal for the Light seen as liability rather than a lamp, and so despite his command of The Power, and his unmistakable connection to The Source, the Young Lad was once more exiled.

He hung on to the teachings of the Light. Certain that he could even without an Order do good. He brandished his saber as a knight in the cosmos, endeavoring to bring Justice and Peace. The first crack in the armor of this Paladin was passion. He felt strongly, and was drawn into romantic entanglements that he caste in nobler garb with his mind, in reality they served only his lusts. The Poor Soul could not be honest with himself, the image, the hero he had hewn into a fixture in his mind of himself was not easily discarded. Even if the Seers had lied, he knew he was destined for a purpose greater than ordinary Jedi. His skills seemed to support this delusion, until the time came that his cravings grew darker. Seeds had been planted in the crack in his heroic mail, passions grew contrary to the ruse and righteous call he had believed in. At first it was simple use of His power to achieve an outcome that favored him, then like a fissure forming his yearnings grew more twisted. His flesh began to reflect this transformation as he grew paler, and his injuries that once the Balm of Ashla had kept at bay, now festered and demanded apparatus. His once robust lungs that filtered incense and drank the wind now labored like a miner seeking to uncover the treasure of oxygen beneath stone.
At first the Shadow Power demanded nothing in return as he caste it upon his enemies, with glee he stole the breath of souls that crossed his path; now he was the one without breath. It became clearer the more he drew on the Dark Power that his own strength faded and was supplanted by it, in essence making him a slave, for now the Shadow demanded total dominion over Him, not merely of his body, but his soul. And so now he bargained with It, exchanging bits of himself for breaths and heart beats.

“I am a Stone that once was a Leaf.”

 

[Darth Halitus]

“Curiosity killed The Loth Cat.”

There in the Shadow Tree slept the Sorcerer. On the surface were tribes who tended to cattle and lived in tents, none of them venturing into deep earth save youths with something to prove. There The Dark Soul was left undisturbed, slumbering as his strength ebbed. On a fateful day some lads in an attempt to prove themselves brave descended into sarcophagus, there in the tunnels they tempted the tyranny that time would have taken.
One of the Lads saw a light, the amber glow drew him in as he made his way to the chamber. Beneath him was cables which like roots lead to the source of the light. There before innocent eyes was a scene from dark dreams, a figure held up by coil like tentacles, and great gusts of white smoke rising all about like geysers. The Lad should have retreated from the sight, his heart beating with great thumps which made the closed pale lids of The Dark Soul motion in tandem to the beat. It was too late, he felt it, the healthy beat, black tubes that suspended the Figure like vines began to sway and lower Him from the ceiling. The youth approached trembling, he came to a finger’s distance when the eyes of the Slumberer opened to reveal pools of fire that now fixed on the Lad. Suddenly the black piping began to break off like tails of eels from His back and chest as he fell on a knee, his breaths laborious, struggling to filter through a black mouth piece that was tied to a circuit on his chest. The draw for breath was unpleasant, his lungs pausing and sifting through what felt like grain. Choking on the flow of fresh oxygen, the Dark Soul turned his attention to the Young Lad that began to back away in vain, he felt his body tugged by some invisible hand that held him in place. Rising to his feet, the Darth looked down upon the frightened child. Motioning his hand, he lifted the boy with the Dark Power and looked the brimming new life in the eyes.
There was a scream and the other youths came running to amber tunnel, when they met the startled Lad who shouted and demanded they flee. Turning the gathering of great boasters who had on the surface claimed nothing in the cave could cause them cravenly retreat now all began to flee back towards the entrance where they sought out their fathers to tell of what devil they had found. As fathers are want to do, offering protection to their brood, there was suffice to say much distrust in the tale of the three youths. Determined to discern if the boys speak falsely or not, the fathers entered in. Each took a path, one coming across the amber light, which led him to find boxes of black steel and smoke rising in clouds, when then he was pulled into the steam with a scream. The two other tribsmen doubled back and made for the middle passage, where they found light and fumes. Entering into this cradle of doom, they saw suspended in the ductwork and cables their fellow mate, his body draped like a skinned Krath Hound. At their feet two round eye balls rolled, when the sound of a hiss and snap made them turn with their War Sticks. A him and then swirl of blood stained light cut one of the tribesmen’s heads clean off, while the other was met with another blood blade that tore through his abdomen and lifted him up to face two horrifying eyes of flame.

The exertion made The Dark Soul stagger and dip the two blades of burning blood downward as if into a quenching drum that put them out. Dizzy from this display of the Dark Power, The Darth took hold of the cave wall and drank what drops of oxygen he could from his respirator. He heard the cries of others no doubt calling for those he had felled. Steadying himself he prepared to meet more drawn in to his domain.

 

[Darth Halitus]

On the surface hills strewn with bodies, their faces disfigured and their eyes ruby and devoid of water. Walking in his dark black cloak the architect of this raven’s harvest crossed his arms as his breaths ascended loudly with each step like a metal drum.
The livestock which now scattered fell ill as if from some prestilence, their hides covered in black fungus. Gazing down at the once grazing beasts, he contemplated the carcass, its mouth ajar and its eyes bulging. Placing his hand down on the ram head he called to the quake inside, the creature stirring as it spewed foam of jade and began to make hedious movement, contorting its body as it moaned and its eyes fixed on the Dark Soul feeding it life. The Ram rose and purged another stream of green fluid as it let out as most disturbing growl and began to charge about, goring its horns on the felled corpses of men.
The Dark Lord watched as the violence was unbridled in this necroram, it treated the heads of the dead as targets. Its Master walked with indifference, these herdsmen had intruded on his slumber, and so now he saw to the tents, there within was the children that had brought the nightmare into the waking world, them and their mothers who held the kids tightly to their chadors. The Necroram charged in making loud growls at them, and kicked its hooves to charge when an invisible leash held it back. The Dark Soul looked at the lads who now shook in the shields of their mothers. Approaching the One who had awoken Him, the Darth took his gloved hand beneath the boy’s chin and said, “fear is the beginning of wisdom.”

Turning his glowing eyes of flame to the others he divined a purpose for them, a chance to learn how to turn that fear into something else…

 

[Darth Halitus]

The Dark Soul assembled thirteen of the lads and walked past them in his black cloak, arms crossed. He examined each face, painted with the shadow of fear.
“Your fathers are no more. I am your Father now. I will teach you to use your aggressive feelings and become Kvapas Bogan (Breath of the Darkness, Dark Breath). “
One of the boys vomited on the ground, the other Lads holding their hands over their mouths to prevent a gag reflex and muffle their laughter. The Darth drew closer to the One who had purged himself and reaching out his gloved hand raised the Child off the ground, suspending him there.

“A hound returns to its vomit..”
With that he slammed the Lad face down into puke.
“Until you are ready to be more than dumb beasts.. you can all wallow in your own bile!”
He then swept his hand across them all, triggering a purhlge, founts of putrid green chunks flying out of their mouths as they were then systematically forced by His power into the vomit, many of them held there choking in the rotting chunks, and as they felt themselves smothered in the stench ridden matter, they were released and The Dark Soul returned to the Cave.
His act of taking these fatherless lads as acolytes was not an act of benevolence. He wished them to be damned as he was, drowning on the dark fumes that stole his own breath. The truth is is he wanted to share his misery, the gnawing of bone, and ceaseless cold that not even the powers of immolation could repel.
There in The Chamber where he had slumbered, One of the Lads approached, his lips and cheek stained green. The Darth turned to him, who took a knee and bowed his head. The rest of the Kvapas joined him and took a knee, as the One Lad said,
“Teacher, show us how to be more than beasts.”
The Dark Soul’s eyes fixed on the Lad, and said,
“Rise Veikis, first of my sons.”
The Boy rose up and The Darth placed his hand on his shoulder.
“The first step is this.. ‘Peace is a Lie, There is Only Passion’.”
Veikis repeated the words, so did the rest of the Kvapas. Walking over to a wall of rock, Dark Soul removed a blade, a long Vibro Saord of obsidian colored steel ans handed it to Veikis.
“This belonged to a Lord of the Sith long ago. Bear it well my Son.”
The Lad raised the weapon and smiled as he pointed the edge at his brothers, a crass smile forming at his lips.

 

[Darth Halitus]

The Kvapas were clade in the robes of The Father. Through them The Dark Soul drew breath, releasing some of the burden on his lungs through theirs. Viekis lead his brothers of the brrath, hunting down game in fields and whetting his blade with blood. The Darth watched as each vied for dominance, wrestling, and testing one another. The time was coming for their first assignment.
The Sons gathered around their Father like stones, all knelt.
“Your skill is growing my sons, though you have yet to tap into your power. Your next test is to leave your home and strike an outpost of our enemy.”
Veikis raised his head,
“The Jedi?”
The Darth nodded his hooded head.
“An enclave posseses a relic, a holocron. Retrieve it and bring it to me.”
Veikis bowed his blond head.
“Yes, Father.”
The rest of the Kvapas said the same in unison. As they assembles in single file, Veikis approached Lord Halitus.
“Father, are we ready to face The Jedi? We have not constructed our lightsabers yet.”
The Dark Soul eyed his First Son,
“That is the idea. A Sith takes. You will forge your sabers from your enemy’s weapons, you will make their crystals run red with their own blood.”
Veikis bowed his head,
“I understand Father. ‘Peace is a Lie..”
The Dark Lord placed his hand on the First Son’s shoulder.
“You have the greatest potential of your brothers. However, unless you awaken the power inside you, you shall remain weak. And weakness is culled.”
Bowing his head once more, Veikis said, “Yes, Father.”
An Imperial Dropship from the Galatic Days sat with its ramp extended. The Thirteen boarded the old ship, inside a Black Metal Droid turned its rounded head.
“Mind the security rails. We depart at once.”
Veikis took his seat in jump seat as the engines hummed to life and the ramp retracted and the hatch closed. The ship soared into the air as The Father watchdd ij his black cloak, his cape flowing in the wind and his hood flapping. The Test was about to begin…

 

[Darth Halitus]

The Imperial Drop Ship entered the atmosphere, and landed in a field. The Dark Soul’s Craft lowered a ramp and his Children got off. Veikis looking as the ship headed towards the dark rock mountains. There Lord Halitus’ shop entered a cave system. Landing in a rocky terrain, the Darth lowered the ramp and raised his hands causing stalactites to break off and be hurled through the cave. Pieces of black rock fell as the mayhem of the Mad Lord let out rage, until once more his breath became shallow.
“Noomi.. Noomi!”
Suddenly he smashed stalagmite with his gauntlet, his voice shifting to a deep and bitter tone,
“She means nothing!”
A current of energy swirled around The Sith Lord as he let out bolts from his finger tips that tore through rock and stone.
Then the Sith became still, only his breaths echoing in that dark place. Raising to his feet he looked into the void and said,
“There is nothing left.. only Darkness…”

 

[Darth Halitus]

The next day the Kvapas were hard training in the field. Veikis charged Kravas, his cleaver meeting his mace in a loud clang of metal. None of them dared to disturb the Father who had not returned from the mountain. Though Veikis wondered, why had he called The Jedi his love? Clearly there was a history that the Sons knew nothing about. What had changed was them, many had made their first kill. They had done harm to the enemy, The Jedi. The Father had shown the Power that they could be capable of. Veikis recalled that he had awoken, he had summoned the Sith Sword into his hand and resisted the weight of The Witch. Did this mean he was to undergo more advanced training then these endless feats of melee skirmishes? Deciding he would intimidate Kravas, as they broke off from a lock up, he pointed his hand at the mace in Kav’s hand.
“Ohhh! Look at Veikis! He has mastered the pointed hand! Haha!”
At that Kravas felt the handle sliding out of his hand, his eyes looked down at it as he flew into the air and was now in Veikis free hand. The rest of the Sons gathered around and said, “he did it! He has the Power!”
Veikis smiled as many of them patted him on the back In congratulations. However, inside he felt that being able to retrieve a weapon was little to praise and that it meant he would have to undergo much harsher instruction. For the image of style Father was even before them, twisted in pipes and scars, His strength had its price. They all knew it would be worth it, to be Sith Warriors. What was uncertain is where it would take them. Their backwater planet was nothing special in the Unknown Regions, a term Veikis only now knew was the place their homeworld resided when he looked at the coordinates on the drop ship. How fitting that it was the Unknown, for that was how he felt, how most of them felt. Lost in a fog of a impending future that had little shape or form. They knew nothing of the larger conflicts happening in the galaxy, nor did they know there were other Sith.

 

[Halitus Veikis]

Time passed, the young lads had became men. The Father had been absent during those years, isolated in the mountain side. Veikis who now had become the de facto leader in The Father’s absence decided to scale the great mountain and find The Father. His form had changed with age, his face now bore a chiseled jaw., deep dark eyes like the pools of black water, and a height that made him stand out among his brothers.
Attempts had been made to contact The Father, to scale the Mountain over the years. It has resulted in the deaths of two more Sons, reducing the Thirteen to the Nine. The Darkness was thinning their ranks with each challenge, and now their Leader was risking himself.
Kravas sharpens is Vibroaxe, his long blond hair and beard in place of needle noggin. A scar ran from his eyebrow on his left eye to the lid, he raised his blue eyes to meet Veikis who was getting ready for his journey.
“I stand by what I said Brother. Father has abandoned us and we must now see to our own fate.”
Veikis draped his black hood over his head.
“You are wrong Kravas, these years have been a test. We have failed until now. Father will return, I promise you.”
Kravas spat on the ground.
“He is probably dead, you go to find a corpse.”
Veikis reached out his hand which caused Kravas’ airwaves to constrict, him coughing before it stopping.
Kravas’ face turned red and he raises up the axe.
“If it weren’t for your Power, I’d cut you in twain! But the others see you as a New Father. And now you abandon them too!”
Veikis placed his black gloves hand on his Brother’s shoulder.
“I will come back, I promise.”
He knew Kravas’ hostility was a sign of his concern and care. It was his way of showing feelings. One had to interpret the gruffness of his delivery.
Veikis made his way to the Dark Mountians, at the base was two mounds for the brothers who fell. He bowed his head in reverence to their sacrifice to find The Father. Now he would finish what they had started. Taking a grip he began to scale the rock, using footholds and rising upward. There was no harness or ropes to secure him, this was a free climb, with only The Dark Power as his ally, he saw which holes were sound and which were deceptions. There hanging above the world, the wind bitting at his body as if it was doing battle, he looked to an opening high above. Scaling he reached the bottom mouth of what appeared to be hollowed out mouth of a cave. He came across the Ship The Father had used those years ago, it seemed as if it had become one with the stone walls, the ramp was extended and entering he found nothing, no one. It was abandoned. Pressing on The Acolyte came to a scene of stalagmites all rising like rocky thorns in adoration of the shadows, a layer of mist hung over them. Walking carefully among the teeth, he explored the jawline path when small pebbles began to rise, then some boulders. He felt it, the familiar chill of the dark side. Each step brought him closer to the icy heart beat, where he found stones and crystals that shone with great light, and among them a skeleton. The First Son examined the bones, had a Kravas been right after all? The light crystals were arranged like candles, as if this was indeed a vigil for the dead. Bowing his head, he then turned back making his way in jawline of the teeth, above him hung the upper fangs of rock, when suddenly the ground began to shake, and stone arrows began to fall, Veikis began to evade, dodging the impact of the stones. One jiggled above his head and snapped from the cieling and began to spin as if to dig into him like a drill. The Acolyte raised both hands and as it dropped he pushed against it with that invisible command that held just above his head, the stone spinning, when he realized that there was a resistance, something was controlling it. He leapt away as it smashed into the ground, and fell in mist when he heard a snap hiss and suddenly a blade of glowing red cut into the rock tooth neatest him, it flew about as a fan, whirling over head. He began to run amongst the teeth as it came again and again, and again, till finally when barreled through the teeth of stone like a saw and as it cut rock asunder he lead it to a thick wall where it dug into the slab and began to carve upward to his arm, which he folded to his chest and then grabbed the hilt of the saber, trying to pluck it from the wall, it resisted as it burned a great hole of magma drip sparks and liquid flame. The resistance was fierce and he felt it he let go it would pluck from the wall and cleave his head clean off. Fighting this, he began to cry out in a voice of angst and anger, till he pulled it free and held on to it as it tried to tug away, he poured his fury into his fingers and slammed the burning blade into the ground, with pummel upright, as he did this, the resistance faded and he now held the weapon steady, having tamed it.
As he sat there on bended knees holding the lightsaber, he felt a presence standing just behind Him. A towering Shadow that waited as he rose up and pointed the blade at it. The Shadow had tubes and piping like tentacles all about the chest and a face of pale white stone, two eyes of magma flame and long black locks flowing from the forehead and back nape.
“Father?!”

 

[Darth Halitus]

The Father had watched his First Son wrestle with the saber. It was at his command, aiming to strike down Veilis like a viper. In this trial, the Dark Soul watched as his Favored Son used The Power to resist a earlier funeral. Then in the crucial moment he plucked the blade from the stone wall, a rite of passage complete as he claimed the weapon as his own. Walking in mist, The Darth came to his kneeling Son, who sensing the Pater rose and turned.
Veikis was a man, the sands of time had shaped him into a formidable frame with eyes of shadow that belied this connection to the Power differed than his own.
When the Young Man asked, “Father?!”
The Dark Soul gave a nod, maintaining a silence of years for a while longer. He could see the tremble in the eyes of this First Son, and he knew he had many questions.
“Ask and I will answer.”
He turned to the stones which gave their white light, and wave of a hand and they brightened. He then took a seat in a raised stone with stalagmites that rose behind him and formed two protruding spikes for arm rests, a throne of stone.

 

[Halitus Veikis]

The confirmation by a nod frustrated The First Son. All this time had passed and The Gather offered no words, no explanstion, metsly a tilt of the head as if nothing has happened, that he had not abandoned them all these years.
Then he spoke, offering to answer the questions racing in Veikis’ mind. He gripped the saber hilt he had claimed, and felt an overwhelming urge to strike, to commit patricide. If he struck true, none of his brothers would know, he could claim he found a corpse and nothing more.
He saw a smile on The Father’s face, no doubt he was reading his thoughts, not that if mattered, his expressions betrayed his feelings.
“Why have you hid yourself here? Why did you abandon us!”
With each question bus voice raised, as if years of pent up angst was boiling over,
“Your Sons have been want for instruction! They have wasted years waiting for you to complete their training!”
Now he was being untruthful, in his heart he was angry that his potential was stagnating, for he had finally accessed the Power and then The Master had gone away.
“You have seen I have awoken! I command the Power! I can move rocks and still the voices of my brothers! But I know there are greater things! I saw you command the bolt!”
Veikis made a fist with his free hand.
“I want to know why.. why you have remained here all these years..” his voice raised as his liquid eyes shook violently like tiny black pools, “explain it it me!”

 

[Darth Halitus]

The Dark Lord on his throne listened as the First Son forged his questions into a litany of anger. There was only one gnawing one, why.. a word that propelled great Sith to discovery. Unfortunately, the clouds of attachment kept this Son from seeing.
“Every action I take is for your good. My absence wounded you, a lesson you needed. If you are to climb to the heights of power, you must shed your bonds.. your chains..”
The Dark Soul’s words were cold, like the wind at the mouth of the cave, biting and offering no comfort.
“You must decide my Son, are you willing to do what is required to become transcendent? You cannot raise your brothers with you to the precipice, you tried did you not? And they died.”
The Darth rose up to his feet,
“You will have to kill me oneday. The rite of passing the mantel. To do that you must learn to hate.”
Turning his head and mouthpiece that beat with the sound of deep breaths.
“Why not make it now? Strike me down. Become The Father and all the secrets you seek will be revealed to you.”
The Father raised his arms outward and turned his back.
He could feel the conflict inside His Acolyte.
“If that will not do, I showed weakness in front of The Jedi, making me unfit for lordship.”
The Lord wanted this to be set free from the agonizing breaths. The question is would the Son have the strength to take the throne?

 

[Halitus Veikis]

Veikis was taken aback when The Father expressed this abandonment was intentional. It was not as he had hoped, some layer that could be explained as something else. No it was to be spurned! He wanted to hurt his children. The First Son felt an overwhelming desire to strike, to smite this wretched man He called Father. Then he was confronted with words he did not want to hear, that his role of big brother and his quest for power were divergent paths. He was saying it without saying it, help the others and become a Jedi, help oneself and become a Sith. Before he could even contemplate this rebuke, he was confronted with a new revelation, that he must slay his Father! And now his Lord was bidding him do it, baiting him to take his new weapon and take his place. As The Father stretched out his arms and bore his back he kept giving reasons to do it, to cut him down! How incredulous! Now he would abandon his Sons forever at the hand of His First!
Veikis took up his lightsaber hilt, and held it tightly as he took a stance. The secrets he said in one swipe. Raising the hilt back with his elbow and his finger on the activation switch, he swung and..
the hilt hit the back of The Father and fell to rocky floor. The First Son then stepped past him with eyes full of tears and a face painted with rage, he turned to look at him and said,
“I’ll take your head another day. Until then you will finish what you started! You will train us and suffer with your humiliation until you can bare it no longer, then and only then will I let you abandon us.”
There was a confidence to his words that had never marked them. He then walked to the mouth of the cave.

 

[Noomi Ishaati]

Lord Halitus and his Children had fled the Outpost, but not before Knight Noomi had the ship outfitted with a tracker. The Jedi Healer and Scientist had been struck by the bolt of lightning, and now she was the patient in her own lab. Medical staff tended to her, as she swiped a datapad looking at the ping of where Halitus had gone.
A nurse with pale white skin and topaz glowing eyes approached.
“Dr. Ishaati, you really should be resting, you have sustained 30,000 amps.”
The Doctor turned and gave a smile,
“I appreciate your concern Vera, The Force and these magnificent regimes have done the trick of puttibf me in the mend.”
Vers nodded,
“I understand Doctor, but your blood pressure is still slightly elevated.”
Noomi laughed,
“We doctors make the worst patients.”
Laying down her Datapad and a report she was compiling she let the Nurse conduct her examination. Once some Amlodipine was administered orally, The Nurse checked her other vitals.
“Well, I find no residue damage. Other than the blood pressure, I clear you to be discharged.” M
Taking a drink of water Noomi Gave a smile, her long blood hair flowing as she said, “You know its been five years since I saw him.”
Vera finishing collating informatiin laid her datapad aside, “excuse me, you mean the Sith?”
Noomi nodded,
“I suppose that is what he is now. It wasn’t always so. He was once a brave Jedi, an exemplary warrior who we could rely on.”
Vera took a seat on a swivel chair,
“What happened?”
Noomi looked off to the corner of the room and then back to Vera,
“We were in love. He was the dashing soldier with unflinching zeal and I the healer who could prescribe a balm for both the wounds of his flesh and his soul.”
Vera smiled as Noomi continued,
“But then he became.. erratic, paranoid delusions took hold as he believed The Jedi Council was conspiring to deny him the rank of Master. I tried to mitigate his mania, but.. when he used the dark side for the first time, it exasperated his symptomns till he had a complete psychological break..”
Noomi’s eyes started welling up with moisture, she grabbing a piece of cloth to dab them.
“I thought that our love could guide him back.. but I was wrong. He grew more manic and violent. So The Council expelled Him from the Order which confirmed his delusions.”
Vera sighed,
“I am so sorry Doctor Ishaati.”
Trying to put on a brave face, Noomi replied, “It’s alright, ancient history till today. Still I need to relay this incident to The Council.”

——————————————————

Years Later….

Doctor Ishaati was aboard the Mystiko which now was in orbit near Argos IV, the craft was cloaked in the rings of Argos III.
Two Jedi Knights in armor entered The Lab, and bowed to The Blond Scientist,
“Master Noomi, we have recieved orders from The Council, for your eyes only.”
Noomi took the drive from the Knight, and plugged it into her datapad and read the data.
“We have a green light to engage the enemy.”
Both Knights raised their fists and placed them on their chest plates.
“Prepare my vessel, and ready your drop ships.”
The two Ritters gave a bow in unison as they left. Noomi sighed, another Jedi with purple skin approached,
“You are anxious, isn’t this the news you have waited for?”
Noomi nodded, “Yes, but I had made my case to retrieve them when they were still children, now they are men and less amenable to deprogramming from the dark side.”
The Lavander Lady smiled,
“The Force is with us, I know all will be sorted.”
Noomi looked at the optimism of her friend with a smirk,
“I hope your right.”
Her thoughts dwelt on Jairus or Darth as he went by these days. Sith Lords were not to be trifld with, especially those who have been trained in the Jedi Arts and know the tactics of Lightsiders.
She looked out the window at the golden planet,
“My love, at last, I have come..”

The hangar was bustling with movement as drop ships filled with Jedi in brown mantels and troopers in blue armor. Doctor Ishaati headed to the Med Shuttle with three great round thrusters:

The Balm began its descent towards the surfsce with gunships .

 

[Darth Halitus]

The Dark Lord slept in his chamber in the cave. Steam rode around him as incense to the Shadow. Orange lights bathed the entire structure that held him in stasis. His Sons were hard at work training, Kravas assailed Jega who somersaulted with his bone knife, thrusting for his throat.
The noise of The Vrapas did not carry to his Chamber, and as he slumbered his brow furled and his closed eye lid motioned as if to open.
In stasis he dreamt of nothing, all was a black void that he forgot himself in. In The Shadow Realm he rested, when this time a great light danced in the dark, he saw the approach of a luminous being that seemed to glow with white fire from within, the figure familair till it drew close enough to reveal a face.
“Noomi..”
She smiled,
“Jairus, I have come.”
The Dark Soul rustled,
“To take me to become One with The Force?”
She shook her head,
“No, to take you home, to Dantooine.”
The Darth’s voice croaked,
“Dantooine.. that place has no meaning to me.”
Noomi reached for him,
“Take my hand, remember our love and come away from this Shadow. I can mend what is broken.”
The Dark Lord reach out his hand, and then paused.
“Wait..”
The Doctor Jedi reach further,
“Let go of these delusions, and come with me.”
His eyes squinted over his jet respirator mouth piece.
“Delusions? No..”
He recoiled his hand,
“You are the one who is deluded! You shall know the true nature of the Force!l”
With that he pointed his fingers and bolts of blood red stuck Noomi and made her burst like a star, sending shards of light in all directions.
“Jairus!”
The tubes feeding him oxygen broke off with a rush of steam, the apparatus that held him under his arms, hanging him in the air lowered the floor. A Med Droid of obsidian adjusted his respirstor pack and turned the red light to green when his eyes popped open with hot coals.
“Veikis! Kravas! Jega! Naile! Turva! Guvest! Horil! Uruda! Mardan!”
He called to his children.

 

[Halitus Veikis]

The Call of the Father rippled all the way to Veikis who in a grove near black waters was focusing his anger in a meditative state. The First Son stirred, his eyes opening as he levitated ovrr the pool of shadow water. He directed himself across with crossed legs and then set down his black boots and called to his cloak and cape on a nearby gnarled branch. He could feel the tension in the summoning of The Father. Making his way up a steep hill, he crosded an open valley and saw two gunships swooping across with a medical frigate, they left jet trails of clear liquid. The First Son felt something, a presence that tugged at memory.
Making his way to The Crypt, so his brothers called it, the cave system was potent with death. There Veikis had experienced not only the death pf his biological father, but his life prior to being First Son.
He approached the Chamber of blood orange light where Lord Halitus had removed his restraints and was brooding with those deep breaths. Steeping on to a dark metal circle, The First Son bowed on one knee.
“Father, I am here.”
The almost statuesque titan seemed as if he was still in stasis, when those molten eyes shifted to fix on him.

 

[Darth Halitus]

The Dark Lord was deep in thought when The First Son at last answered his Call. Fixing his eyes on Veikis, he said,
“The Jedi have come. All your training is about to be tested. Many of your brothers will die. I hope you have practiced what I taught you on the mountain, to let go of these bonds and shed their chains. I shall do the same.”
The Father in those last words spoke with a great heaviness to his voice. The confrontation at hand would be the final bell of the death of his former self. He had demanded his disciples face their weaknesses and turn them into strengths, and until now he had not done the same. Reaching for two saber hilts he clipped them to his belt and took a step looking at His First Son intently with those infernal eyes,
“The dark side demands absolute devotion. Yours will be tested when they die, mine when she dies. Remember this, all that begins ends, save for those who have the courage to seek the way of rebirth. I believe you will find it Veikis, the path to immortality so that your reign will be everlasting as dark lord.”
With those words he marched our of the Crypt and out into the open where his other Children assembled. Kravas held his vibroaxe and a shoto saber, Jega and Naile had their knives and belts with smoke bombs, the rest had various arms. Lord Halitus looked at his Vrapas, each provided him with breath. Only Veikis had he ceased to draw on, leaving him untouched by the drain.
“My Sons, our great enemy is here. The time has come to show them the power of the dark side!”
With that they all gave a battle cry as they raised their weapons above their heads. This was their home and the presence of followers of the Light a desecration.
They began their march toward the Field of Infirmity where the transports had last been seen.

 

[Noomi Ishaati]

The Medical ship landed near the edge of a slope of the mountain, there Doctor Ishaati took command, the gunships circling and sending chatter,
“Hostiles on approach, ten infantry.”
Master Noomi took the comm,
“Do not engage the tall one, and use stun weaponry as primary.”
The Pilot replied,
“Copy that. Switching to none lethals.”
Dr. Ishaati took out her datapad and looked at the map, two drone like probs of silver orb shape flew out of the medical ship to assess things from above.
The Gunships swooped towards the Field of Infirmity, blue bolts flying from openings on the sides and raining down on The Sons and their Father. The bolts of blue when making comtact with the soil created a electrical field that expanded, some of them hitting the bodies of the Sith Acolytes who fell on their knees. So far the first sortie was promising.
Doctor Ishaati could see now with her prob Lord Hailtus at the front, him lifting his hands, her eyes dilating with concern.
“Oh no!”
She shouted on the comm,
“Evasive measures! Evade!”

 

[Halitus Veikis]

The First Son watched as the blue rain fell, he dodged the drops which when touched the ground spread in a field of energy, he used his meditative training to levitate above it and then dropped back down. He turned to see brothers fall as if into slumber, they seemed to still breath, which was a relief, then things began to escalate as The Father was seen reaching his hands into air. He had seen His Master’s power, to command the bolts of the immortal gods in the heavens. Now he waited with anticipation to see what The Father would do.

 

[Darth Halitus]

The Master of Darkness seeing the gunships drown his Sons with stun bursts raised both hands into the air, he took hold of the nearest gunship and nudges it into its companion, causinf it to tail spin into a dive, it threw out troopers from a great height, them screaming the scream of the damned. Two Jedi in brown robes rolled out and landed on their feet, snapping their green and blue blades to life, the other gunship was then siezed by The Father’s touch who then sent it into a straight down motion thay slammed the bottom on a oak, sparks flew out as troopers leapt from the wreckage and Jedi in whote mantels leapt on to the branches and climbed down as a flame rose from the ship. The other gunship was still spinning until it dead sticked into a mound, and black trail of smoke rose from it like the mouth of the mountains of Mustafar.
Lord Hailitus watchdd the Knights forming with their topaz and peridot blades, they moved as one to meet his Sons. Kravas charged a Jedi Knight with his axe, which the blue blade wielding warrior clove in twain and then the fierce Son had tp resort to his shoto and fist which he struck the head of the Paladin with. Jega and Naile moved like phantoms, throwing their smoke bombs that created a fog of gray, inside the cloud they moved in their hoods and dug their fanged blades in the necks of troopers who shouted and dropped to the earth.
Mardan raising a light pike engaged a Knight with emerald blade, who as he threw the pike, and the Jedi raised up a felled log to catch the saber edge, and then tumbled with the warrior in a grapple.
They engaged like two waves in the sea of this field, one calm and the other chaotic. So far only the soldiers fell and drew final breath, The Jedi were trained as his Sons were, using their skills fo match one another. Only Veikis showed an edge as he now moved against a Jedi. The Father watched his First Son, the rest of his children a shield, Veikis the sword.

 

[Noomi Ishaati]

Doctor Ishaati watched as the gunships fell and the two sides enagaged. She sent an alert to the Med Lab to prepare for wounded. She observed Jairus’ Disciples, they met well trained Jedi Knights with form and strategy. These were not the brash and brutish youths she knew from their attack on the Outpost, they were calculated and cruel, a clear reflection of their Master.
Her eyes fixed on Jairus with her prob, his eyes look at the camera as he raised his hand and the screen went black. She gave a smile as one of Med Staff said,
“How many wounded?”
Doctor Ishaati turned to her staff,
“There will not be many wounded.. expect to fill the morgue.”
Her voice was cold, sterile, it had to be. This mission was doomed from the beginning, The Council had indulged her in the hopes of pacifying another Sith remnant rising in these dark times. Already the Dark Side was calling legions up to wage war, to throw the galaxy into the furnace. If there was a chance to disband or destroy a fringe sect of Boganists, it was a risk worth taking. Master Noomi wasn’t do sure if her presence was wise. She had an edge on knowing The Leader, and thus could possibly expose a weakness, but she doubted she could reach Jairus, his body which was mutilated with scars and mechanical piping was a physical manifestation of his inner evolution. She feared all that remained was The Darth, and the man she had loved, and still loves was gone.