The mines of Dorvalla were a soon-to-be tomb. A cold, hollow tomb where shadows danced, where the air was thick with dust and the heavy scent of metal. Leven Jeyd moved like a wraith through the darkened passages, her presence barely more than a whisper against the cold stone walls. Here, deep within the Lommite mines, far beneath the surface, the light was a stranger. Shadows ruled these depths, shadows and the certain promise of death.
She welcomed it.
The mines stretched on in every direction, a seemingly endless network of tunnels and shafts, jagged and twisted, spiraling downward into the unknown. The Sith had made this place a fortress, a stronghold carved into the bones of the planet. Heavy armor and machines of war could not follow here. This was a place for those who thrived in the dark, who knew the secrets hidden in the stone, who could turn the very earth itself into a weapon. For Leven, the mines were a perfect canvas. This was her element. She would paint it with blood and fear.
Her
mining droids moved swiftly around her, darting in and out of the shadows, their small forms almost imperceptible against the rocky terrain. They were more than machines; they were creatures of cunning, each with its own flavor of intelligence, a community bound by their shared purpose to serve their Master. They communicated in a blend of Huttese and Binary, their voices a strange symphony of clicks, beeps, and guttural phrases.
<<"Uba doe hatkocanh chu,">> one of the droids chattered, its words a mixture of curiosity and calculation.
"The new passage is complete."
<<"Bo shaywa nan si chuba!">> another replied, its tone sharp, almost mocking.
"You always take too long!"
A third droid, slightly larger with a more robust frame, stepped in between them, its tone authoritative, a leader among them.
<<"Nyeta coo,">> it hissed, the lights of its sensors flashing.
"Focus on the task. We have no time for petty squabbles."
They were competitive, always jockeying for position, vying for her favor, but they also worked together with an eerie synchronicity, driven by a collective desire to serve Leven and fulfill her dark will. She watched them carve out new passages with a precision that was almost surgical, their tools slicing through rock and ore as if it were butter. Every new path, every hidden tunnel they created was a piece of her plan. They would seal off entire sections, create hidden paths that snaked through the mines, intersecting with existing tunnels in ways that no map could ever capture. It was beautiful, in a way, the way the mines shifted and changed with every passing moment, like a living thing.
A trap that breathed.
Leven’s lips curved into a satisfied smile as she watched them work, her dark eyes gleaming with delight. She moved forward, her hand trailing along the rough wall, feeling the vibrations of their work beneath her fingertips. The Alliance thought they could storm these mines, wrest control from the Sith with the righteous light of their cause. They thought they could bring order to this chaos, free the oppressed, break the chains of darkness.
Fools.
She reached a newly dug tunnel, its entrance concealed behind a loose rock wall. With a subtle gesture, she directed a pair of droids to begin sealing it, leaving no trace of its existence. Their small, nimble hands moved quickly, carefully placing stones and rubble to blend the tunnel seamlessly with the natural wall. They chattered amongst themselves in low, conspiratorial tones, their voices carrying a mix of excitement and caution.
<<"Dobra uba sto neeyah,">> one of them whispered, its tone almost gleeful.
"We’re getting closer."
<<"Echu katha jee-jee,">> the other responded, its tone more subdued, almost anxious.
"The enemy approaches."
Leven allowed herself a moment to enjoy the anticipation, the thrill of the hunt. She had left messages in her wake, planting seeds of doubt and fear in their hearts. Pulling a can of spray paint from her belt, she moved to a bare section of wall, its surface smooth and untouched. She shook the can, listening to the rattle of the ball inside, and then pressed down, the hiss of paint cutting through the silence like a knife.
I see you.
She could imagine them finding it, these would-be heroes and liberators, stumbling across the cryptic message in the darkness. Would they think they were being watched? Hunted? Would it stir that primal fear that lurked in the hearts of all beings, the fear of the unseen, the unknown? She hoped so. She hoped they would feel their confidence crumble, piece by piece, as they ventured deeper into the mines.
<<"Yama uba konchi,">> one of the droids muttered in a low, conspiratorial tone.
"Another message? A distraction, yes?"
Leven nodded, her smile widening.
"A game," she whispered, her voice a soft caress.
"Let’s see how they play." The darkness could be a friend, a weapon sharper than any blade. She would let them stew in their thoughts, let them feel the chill of the mines wrap around them like a vice, squeezing tighter with every step.
She moved again, her droids following like shadows, their movements precise. They continued to dig, to carve out new paths, creating a web of unseen routes that only they knew. They worked quickly, sealing each tunnel behind them. Out of sight, out of mind. The Alliance would find themselves lost in a maze of their own making, blind to the traps that awaited them.
Another hiss of paint, another message left behind:
You’re not alone.
It was a simple thing, a few words scrawled in crimson, but it was enough. She knew how the mind worked, how fear could twist and warp, how it could make the strongest warrior doubt.
Leven continued her path, deeper and deeper, until she felt it. The subtle shift in the air, the distant rumble of footsteps, the approach of her prey. She crouched low, pressing herself against the cold stone, her senses sharp, every fiber of her being attuned to the mine around her.
Let them come.
The droids moved quickly, sealing the tunnel behind her, their movements quick, efficient. Their chatter stopped completely, and they each adopted an inconspicuous position and went to sleep. Just more mining droids within a mine.
Leven slipped into the darkness, her form blending seamlessly with the shadows. She was a ghost, a whisper of death, and she would not rest until every last one of them was dead.
She couldn't wait to hear them scream.
