The Greatest Sith... That Never Lived
Posted by: Darth Danno 01.31.07 12:01am
Previously:

• CHAPTER I: MEDITATION and REFLECTION
• CHAPTER II: SEEKING THE SITH
• CHAPTER III: THE PLOT THICKENS (Part I)
• CHAPTER III: THE PLOT THICKENS (Part II)
• CHAPTER IV: THE LEGEND OF THE MASTER
• CHAPTER V: A PADAWAN FLEES
• CHAPTER VI: DEBACLE IN THE DOCKING BAY (Part I)
• CHAPTER VI: DEBACLE IN THE DOCKING BAY (Part II)
• CHAPTER VII: CONUNDRUM ON CORUSCANT (Part I)
• CHAPTER VII: CONUNDRUM ON CORUSCANT (Part II)
• CHAPTER VII: CONUNDRUM ON CORUSCANT (Part III)

CHAPTER VIII: THE PRODIGAL RETURNS (Part I)

The planet Rattatak. A small, red world on the far reaches of the Outer Rim. A planet so remote, it had yet to be discovered by the Republic. This suited the Sith just fine. Previous Sith-controlled worlds such as Korriban and Malachor V were kept under close watch by the Jedi, in case the Dark Side followers ever tried to return. Still too few to mount any sort of insurgence against the almighty Republic, the Dark Lords resolved themselves to remain on the fringes of the galaxy, honing their craft, and biding their time. Here on this obscure world, the Sith had managed to construct a crude but effective base of operations, complete with minimal roving security teams, about a half dozen mobile laser units, three surface-to -air missile launchers, and a substandard deflector shield.

Darth Ruin stood staring out a large window, gazing at the myriad stars surrounding their current homeworld. The apparent calmness of his exterior was in sharp contrast to the raging fires which burned within. For the moment though, all he could do was wait.

A door at the far end of the room silently slid open, and Darth Contagion entered. He was a Nikto, with tan, leathery skin and a flat face. He crossed the room to stand next to Darth Ruin, and joined him in staring out at the galaxy beyond.

"What news have you brought me?" Darth Ruin said, without turning to face his fellow Sith Lord.

"My extremely reliable sources confirm the deaths of two Jedi on Tatooine, and four masters on Coruscant," Master Contagion began. "As far as these acts being conducted by a Sith, that is still under investigation. The Jedi and the Senate are being very tight lipped on the matter. I'm still trying to gain intel on the veracity of the rumor regarding the Revan holocron."

"Perhaps or prodigal Sith has made his presence known once again," Master Ruin continued. "I never had gotten the sense he had been...destroyed."

"Perhaps," Contagion surmised. "I'd suggest we reserve our opinions until more evidence comes to light. I have..."

Darth Ruin finally turned to face his comrade. "Who else but a Sith could take down five Jedi masters, armed with lightsabers. No, Darth Danno has returned, the questions now are...where has he been, and what is he planning?"

"If you are correct," Contagion stated, "I am led to believe he did not act...alone."

"Darth Ruin's face showed genuine surprise. "Oh really? What information are you withholding from me that led you to this summation."

Darth Contagion opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted by the far door opening once again, and Darth Onslaught storming into the room. Onslaught was a Zabrak, with six short, bony horns protruding from the top of his skull. The top of his cranium was completely bald, but he had a long ponytail that started halfway down the back of his head and went all the way down to the base of his spine. His face was somewhat hideous in appearance as he had no nose, it had been cut off in some previous skirmish. It left him only being able to speak in a very nasal kind of tone. Many of his fellow Sith found his speech impediment quite humorous, though no one ever dared to laugh or snicker in his presence.

"I KNEW IT!!!!" Onslaught bellowed as he crossed the room towards the other Sith. "That son of a Dianoga Danno still breathes air!"

"Are you bragging or complaining? Darth Contagion queried snidely. Causing Lord Ruin to let out a slight chuckle.

"Go ahead," Onslaught retorted. "Crack wise. I'll be sure to do the same over your corpse once Danno has finished with you, just like he did those Sith on..."

"That will do, Onslaught." Ruin interrupted. "We were just discussing our next move."

"Our next move???" Onslaught questioned incredulously. "We find him, slaughter him and anyone who stands in our way. Who does he think he is? Going right into the heart of the Republic and killing Jedi like that. He's going to start a galaxywide Sithhunt. This may even upset the Senate so much they may enlist bounty hunters to help. But if we find him first..."

"At ease, friend. We do not have the resources to scour the galaxy and overturn every rock in the hopes we'll find him." Darth Contagion said. "He managed to stay hidden for this long without detection. If he doesn't want to be found..."

"I don't think he's going to go back into hiding now." Onslaught surmised, and began pacing back and forth in front of the two. "He's planning something, you can be sure of that. We just have to figure out what?"

"We were just thinking the same thing as you arrived." Ruin stated, then turned his gaze to Darth Contagion. "Lord Contagion here believes that our wayward Dark Lord has taken an apprentice."

With that, Lord Onslaught immediately stopped his pacing and also stared at his fellow Sith.

"I don't know if I would call him, or her, and apprentice." Contagion began, "but my sources believe he did not act alone in the killing of those Jedi on Coruscant. Also, Danno needed some assistance in getting off world as the ship he arrived in crashed upon landing."

"The sub-levels of Coruscant are rife with scum who would fly you anywhere you want to go..." Onslaught interjected. "Providing you've got enough creds."

"Darth Ruin simply turned away from the pair and stared out the enormous window pane. "We shall find out soon enough."

"How do you know?" Onslaught questioned.

"I'm not sure what kind of ship he escaped on," Ruin replied. "But I feel it's the same one that's heading our way at this very moment."

Darth Onslaught ran up to the glass and began wildly looking in every direction. "Ship? What ship? I don't see any..."

He was interrupted by a voice blaring over the comm system. "Alert! Alert! Long range scanners detect approaching spacecraft. Attempts at contacting vessel have so far proved unsuccessful. Commencing lockdown in t-minus three minutes. All security teams to their posts. I repeat, all security teams to their posts. Preparing to bring laser cannon defenses on line..."


Darth Danno