The Greatest Sith... That Never Lived
Posted by: Darth Danno 01.17.07 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)

CHAPTER VIII: THE PRODIGAL RETURNS (Part II)

Sirens blared throughout the complex. Doors were sealed, troops hurried to their appointed positions, cannons brought to bear, and all interior lighting switched to a dark crimson. Ruin and his two Sith companions hurried to their makeshift command center, buried deep within the structure. Upon entering, the door slid closed behind them, and Ruin gave word to those following him to close the blast door as well.

The Sith's head of security was a bear of a human called Darth Rancor. He got his name because he was big, brawny, mean, ugly, and about as dumb. He could bark out orders well enough on the battlefield, but was severely lacking intelligence in the acts of such things as subterfuge or strategic planning. Considering it didn't take much know-how to shut some doors, activate some weaponry, and tell the soldiers to initiate defensive maneuvers, he was quite adequate for the job.

"Ship coming in fast, sir!" Rancor barked to Ruin. "Permission to open fire!"

Darth Onslaught was just about to grant the request when Ruin, sensing his fellow Dark Lord was about to speak, held up a hand. "Do we see any indication the craft is arming, or has armed it's weapons?"

Rancor checked the readouts, re-checked them, them slowly turned to Lord Ruin. "No sir, not even any signs he's brought up his shields."

Ruin nodded, then asked another question. "Any success in establishing contact?"

"Numerous attempts made," Rancor continued. "But no reply."

Ruin drummed his fingers against his mouth, planning his next words carefully. "Radio the ship once more, and ONLY once. "Tell him we will allow him to land in the docking bay. He is to remain on his present course, any change, however slight, will result in us blowing him from the sky." He then turned to Contagion and Onslaught. "Danno is back, I'm sure of it. Once he's inside, seal the bay off completely. Get some more of our brothers to join us. I want to be sure we give him a...warm reception."

Darth Contagion nodded, turned, punched a few buttons into the door pad, heard the blast door re-open, then depressed the button to open the command center hatch. He and Onslaught took off down the hall, as Ruin turned and listened to Darth Rancor transmit the orders. "...You are to remain on your preset course. Any deviation will result in your immediate termination. Danno is back, I'm sure of it. Once he's inside, seal the..."

Ruin smacked him hard across the head. "NO, YOU FOOL!! THOSE LAST COMMANDS WERE NOT FOR...Oh, never mind." Ruin simply whirled around and stomped off down the hallway, contemplating who was more dangerous to the cause, Danno or Rancor.

Arriving in the docking bay, he was greeted by an impressive sight. Soldiers stood at the ready in various parts of the hold. The upper catwalks were filled with troops as well, strapping laser cannons to the railings, or preparing their sniper rifles for action. Darth Onslaught and Darth Contagion were joined by Darths: Gore (Gand), Bloodbath (Human), Gallows (Muun), Vikuru (Weequay), Rage (Human), and Fury (Trandoshan).

"I radioed Rancor," Darth Contagion announced as Ruin approached. "He states the craft should be landing shortly. Everyone stands at the ready, waiting for your word..." He bowed, and Ruin nodded his approval.

Shortly thereafter, the craft could be seen lowering itself on its repulsorlift engines to be even with the bay doors. It glided effortlessly into the enclosed space, and touched down with nary a sound.

Fingers twitched on triggers, and hands went to lightsaber hilts as precious seconds ticked by. If the craft opened fire now, there would be little room to run, and even less to hide. Furtive glances exchanged between the assembled Sith, trying to determine their next move, or more importantly, their new arrivals next move.

Then, the hatch on the ship slid open, and the boarding ramp extended with a whirr and a hiss. A single figure emerged from the ship, walked down the ramp, and toward the gathered Dark Lords. The figure wore the customary Sith robes with the hood up, so his features were not visible. If he carried a lightsaber, it remained on his belt as his hands appeared empty. His walk was more of a stroll than anything else, as if he had not a care in the world, despite all the weaponry aimed at his person at this particular moment. Finally, Ruin held up his hand and the approaching figure stopped his advance.

"Darth Danno..." Ruin began. "You have precisely 10 seconds to give me a reason why I shouldn't end your life here and now."

Onslaught, only too happy to get this whole ordeal over and done with, started the count. "1...2...3...4..."

The figure, if it was Danno, made no sound, voiced no objection, nor made no move to stop Lord Onslaught. Troops braced their weapons for the inevitable "fire" command. Contagion surmised that perhaps the renegade Sith came here to atone for his crimes on Umbara, and since he was not begging for mercy, realized the only acceptable course of action would be for us to terminate him.

"7...8..." Onslaught counted, his smile growing wider with each number that went unopposed. "9..."

Then the figure simply stated, "The Revan holocron..."



Darth Danno