The Greatest Sith... That Never Lived
Posted by: Darth Danno 05.09.07 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)
• CHAPTER VIII: THE PRODIGAL RETURNS (Part III)
• CHAPTER IX: ENTER THE APPRENTICE
• CHAPTER X: AN UNEASY ALLIANCE BEGINS
• CHAPTER XI: THE APPRENTICE REVEALED
• CHAPTER XII: SUSPICION GROWS
• CHAPTER XIII: STALEMATE (Part I)
• CHAPTER XIII: STALEMATE (Part II)
• CHAPTER XIV: THE PIECES COME TOGETHER
• CHAPTER XV: THE SEEDS OF SUSPICION
• CHAPTER XVI: THE BEGINNING OF THE END (Part I)
• CHAPTER XVI: THE BEGINNING OF THE END (Part II)
• CHAPTER XVII: A THIRD SITH?

CHAPTER XVIII: IT ALL BOILS OVER

The cantina was to open soon and the Besialisk had a few things to do before opening for business, so the Jedi bid their farewells and left. Outside, every race throughout the galaxy seemed to be filling the Mos Eisley marketplace this afternoon. Buying, selling, hawking, trading, bartering, stealing, eating, gambling, paying, collecting, or just trying to avoid the heat. No one paid the three masters any mind; all had more important things to attend to. The deaths of the two Jedi were old news, and nothing had occurred to change that, so everyone continued to go about their daily business.

“What now?” Issew questioned.

“The appearance of this…droid certainly raises some questions.” Dychud added.

“We all know that droids can’t be Force sensitive.” Beyorel said. “There must have been another Sith around.”

Dychud pulled his hood up to protect his eyes against the twin sun’s glare. “Yes, yes, but all this has brought us is more questions, instead of answering the ones we already have.”

Issew reiterated, “So I say again, what now?”

Dychud glanced around at the myriad groups of passers by, collecting his thoughts. Then returned his attention to his two companions. “Master Issew, I believe you have some contacts in the seedier sections of Tatooine, See if any of them know where to find this…Devaronian.”

“And myself?” Beyorel asked.

“Contact Master Dovarchi and see what he’s heard from Coruscant. Then contact Master Burin and let them know our findings.”

“What are you going to do?” Issew wanted to know.

“I’m going back and ask Ferhen if he knows where we can locate this Jawa. See if he can tell us anything more about this droid. Remember, if anyone senses or sees the Sith, do not engage him or them until we regroup. Now lets be off, and may the Force be with us all.”

The afternoon heat didn’t just affect Mos Eisley and Mos Espa. The twin suns were especially grueling out on the fringes of civilization, where there was little shade and only moisture farmers, Jawas, and Tusken Raiders dared to venture. The nooks and crevasses that lined the Krayt Dragon Pass provided some comfort, that is, if you didn’t mind hunching over, standing on one leg, or bending ones body into positions they were never meant to form. Danno made due with what was available, while Lord Mortis found the accommodations most unsatisfactory. Stepping out from his semi-shady alcove, he stretched, bent, and tried to get circulation back into over ninety percent of his body. Pulling up his cowl to help deflect some of the glare, he made his way over to where his master was positioned, a few meters away.

“Master, this heat is intolerable! Can’t we return to the ship and leave a probe here to notify us when our, your…informant arrives?”

Danno gazed upon his apprentice with considerable disdain. “By the time the probe alerts us and we arrive, our contact would be long gone, as well as our opportunity to meet with the Jedi. Patience, Lord Mortis. You need to learn…patience.”

Mortis eyes widened as he snapped back. “I KNOW PATIENCE!!! This is something else entirely!” He then began to pace back and forth. “Fine! You stay here, Master. I’m going into town and look around.” Then he proceeded to walk toward his speeder.

Danno rose and called after him, “You most certainly will NOT! I give the orders here, not you. You will remain as long as I deem fit!”

Mortis whirled around and strode back toward Danno. “A-HA! So we’re not to meet anyone at all, is it? This is just some sort of cruel punishment to weaken my resolve!”

Danno’s expression was one of true bewilderment. “What in the name of the twin suns are you blathering on about???”

“Before we came here, I had an interesting talk with Lord Contagion.”

Danno’s eyes opened wide in understanding. “I…see. And what lies did he fill your head with this time?”

Mortis snarled, “Not lies, the truth! You’re going to turn me over to the Jedi! We’re actually supposed to meet our contact in…”

“Why would I turn you over to the Jedi?” Danno replied with genuine concern.

“You knew the Jedi wouldn’t take you at your word. You’d have to give them something, a peace offering as it were. What better sacrifice, than to pin all you’ve done on me, and then turn me over to them! Which is why we’ve been out here most of the blasted day! Not to…meet someone, as you said, but to let the heat work me over until I’m weak and malleable. Then, and only then, would you reveal the true nature of this… mission. You just didn’t count on me finding out so soon.”

Lord Danno shook his head in pity. “I am truly sorry, Lord Mortis. It seems the climate here has actually fried your brain, and you are no longer capable of logical or rational thought.”

Mortis sneered evilly as his hand slowly went to his belt. “I beg to differ, Master. My thinking has never been clearer!” He grasped the hilt of his lightsaber, but was unable to draw it, as waves of Force lightning washed over his body. He let out a foul scream that reverberated off the canyon walls, yet he refused to go down.

Danno ceased the attack long enough to say, “Don’t make me destroy you, Lord Mortis. I’ve taught you much, but far from everything.”

Still recovering from the recent blast, Mortis feebly replied, “And I have learned things from Sith other than yourself…master.”

Mortis once again reached for his belt, but this time found himself flying backward into the far rock face, then falling to the ground. He groaned as a sharp stone pierced his side. Refusing to admit defeat, he slowly rose to his feet and called back toward Danno. “Is this how it is to be then? Or do you realize that if it were to come down to lightsaber combat, you have met your better!”

Danno smirked, and let out a slight chuckle as his hands went to his sabers at his belt. “So be it then. You wish to test your mettle against a TRUE Master, I’m only too happy to oblige.”

Mortis was finally able to grasp his own hilt, detach and ignite it, and advance toward his opponent, a look of stern resolve in his eyes. Neither happened to notice the small probe droid that observed them from high atop the canyon wall. It hovered there momentarily before zooming off into the desert wastes.

Darth Danno