Tales of the Darkstar 2: The Blackened Trail 11
(3665 BBY, Dathomir, Academy of Sith Sorcery)(12 years before current timeline)
The academy sat alone stop a high bluff overlooking the sea. It was constructed of a dark stone and hideous images were carved along the stately pillars and doors. Halfway down the sheer cliff was a cavern that acted as the academies landing pads. The forest growing across the bluff had been burned back for a hundred yards from the stony citadel academy. From the edge of the brush a figure wrapped in a mottled green cloak raised a pair of binoculars to his eyes. The man who called himself Lord Kader Novar looked across the gap and counted sentries. “There are twelve guards at the main gate, all look to be at least Saber rank, and I see two with Masters knots.” He lowered his binoculars and glanced over at his companions. The woman on his left had a shaved head and wore a simple outfit of lizard skins that was common to the Dathomiri people. Her name was Losha and she was a member of the Shattered Trunk clan who were helping Kader run this mission. “Our best way in would be through the hanger.” She grunted. “We would still have to cross the open space.” Lord Novar shook his head, “No, we will have to deal with one of the doors. Have your scouts reported back from the north-east face yet?” Losha raised her hand to her earpiece and Kader heard her conversing quietly with someone on the other end. “Kirani says the section of wall you indicated is unguarded, but an active patrol passes every minute and a half.” “Good!” Kader nodded in satisfaction, “You were never aware of it, but Erinæ and I didn’t just sneak out the front door when we used to come visit you. That section of wall is a little known secret door that the students use to sneak out of the temple at night.” “Where would you go?” Losha asked incredulously, “There are no permanent settlements around here.” “But due to current treaties and alliances, one of the Dathomiri clans would pass through every week or two.” Kader smiled, remembering times long past. “We would sneak out and meet up with the Dathomiri youth and share our experience and knowledge.” “And much of your coin, if I remember right.” Losha smirked slyly. “To be fair, that fermented fruit juice you tribeswoman make is worth every credit us students ever spent.” Kader laughed, “The masters turn a blind eye to it because it is a tradition that goes back to their own master’s masters; if nothing else, the Sith love their tradition.” “So we sneak in through the secret passage, and then what?” Losha asked, “Do you even know what you’re looking for?” “I need to access the headmaster’s archives.” Kader said, “If the information is anywhere, it will be there. Your sisters will post outside in the surrounding forest and wait for your signal. Let’s go.” Kader Novar and his two companions made their way through the forests to the northeast face of the temple until they reached the patch of wall that Kader remembered. They waited until a payroll passed, then sprinted across the open field through the starlight. “Seventy-five seconds, sir.” The baritone voice of Lord Novar’s other companion said softly. Underneath the black cloak the figure was draped in was an E5-P3R Sith espionage droid that had belonged to Kader’s sister-in-law before she died. He had been in Kader’s possession for several years now, and had always been a steadfast soldier. Kader reached out with the force and let his awareness spread through the ancient rock, reaching the old cracks and pathways until he found a familiar trigger. A slight push through the force and a section of wall slid back and to the side revealing a doorway into darkness. As soon as the trio were through the door, Kader activated the mechanism once more and the door slid shut. “Great, we’re in,” Losha hissed, “now what?” “Esper, give me your cloaks.” The droid shed its cloak off to reveal it was wearing not one but two pitch black cloaks. Kader handed one to Losha while he donned the other. “Put that on and do not speak. If we are challenged let me handle it.” Kader started down the ancient passage, remembering the days of his youth. “This way!” Lord Novar led his companions through the darkened temple past the dormitories and the training grounds, past the main halls and the studies. He led them past the immense library and all the way to the foot of the tallest tower. “Up there is the Headmaster’s office.” Kader said, looking up into the night sky at the shadow that was the tower. “Are you sure you want to do this Losha?” “I told you already that I am dedicated to this.” Losha growled not looking at Kader, “You said this Exodus is responsible for Erinæ’s death, and that finding this relic will help you destroy him. Anything that quickens that monsters demise is worthwhile!” “Right Exodus…” Kader had not the heart to tell Losha that it had been he, with the very relic they sought, who had truly killed Erinæ and her brother Konnor. She didn’t need to know. “My Lord?” a light voice sounded from behind them. Kader whirled to see a young girl, perhaps ten years old standing staring at the two black cloaked figures and the bare droid. “It is late, Masters.” Kader gestured subtly to Losha, then stepped forward and kneeled in front of the small girl. “It is late, little one. But I am an adult and I have business with your headmaster. What might you be doing up this late?” The little girl looked into his hood and met his eyes, then turned to stare at Losha’s concealed form. “I’m watching.” She said matter of factly, “I don’t sleep much so I like to watch people. “What is your name apprentice?” Losha spoke from beneath her hood. “I don’t have a name yet.” The girl said turning to her. “I’m not an apprentice yet.” Kader smiled, he remembered being that age, not having an identity other than ‘boy’. It was a turning point in a young Sith’s life when they were claimed by a master and given a name. “But you do have a name,” he said with a smile. “It is in your heart and mind. You may not be called it yet, but we all have a name. What will they call you one day?” The girl blushed and looked away from the kneeling Lord Novar. for a moment she didn’t answer then mumbled something softly. “You must speak louder, girl.” Kader chided her, rewarding himself with another blush from the girl. “Be confident in everything you do, for you are the heir to an ancient power. You are a mighty sorcerers in training, and nothing can claim that power from you. Now tell me your name.” “One day,” she said, looking up to meet his emerald eyes with her own blue, “One day they’ll call me Shaid.” “Well, little Shaid,” kader said pinching her chin softly, “it is very late and you should head to bed.” “All right,” the small girl nodded, “Thank you, have a good night my Lord and Lady.” The trio watched the girl disappear around the corner and then entered the tower. Five minutes of climbing stairs at a run led them to a locked door. After a rapid assessment of the locking mechanism, Kader motioned the Droid forward. Esper stepped forward and reached out with its arm, a slender saber blade only three inches long emitted from its wrist. Esper quickly plunged the saber into the lock and a moment later the door slid open. They entered into a large space divided by wooden shelves full of records and exotic souvenirs creating winding pathways through the room. It didn’t take them long to find a console with a directory. A moment later, Kader had the coordinates he needed; an entry from a previous headmaster notating a trip he took with Lord Exodus into Madalorean territory. many years ago. It would be there that he would find his next clue to the Masque! An alarm blared throughout the room, deafening and momentarily stunning Kader and Losha. Esper leapt into action, spraying a volley of blaster bolts down the paths through the shelves. Kader shook his head, but that did nothing to stop the ringing. He tried to open his eyes and shut them tight after seeing the world spinning. What had they been hit with? some sort of sonic attack? Lord Novar felt something hard and unyielding grab him and a second later felt them smash through a pane of glass and was in free fall.
* * * * *
Espionage droid E5-P3R watched as his master collapsed under the sonic barrage. It was an unfortunate side effect of human physiology that they could not withstand a sonic barrage but E5-P3R didn’t blame Master Kader. E5-P3R’s scanners were picking up several thermal signatures approaching through the shelves, so he dove into a frontward roll and came up placing seven precisely aimed shots through the ancient wooden stacks. His scans reported six out of seven hits, and aE5-P3R made a mental notion to calibrate his blaster settings the next chance he got. His scanner still showed Master Kader and the dathomiri woman on the ground. more heat signatures were coming up the stairs and E5-P3R knew he could only save one of the two people in the room. When the calculations became that simple, there was only really one choice. E5-P3R leapt into a roll toward his master and, scooping the dazed human up in his arms, Leapt toward the large stained glass window depicting an ancient sith lord opening a portal to the realm of death itself. The two of them burst through the glass, and E5-P3r found them free-falling down the side of a cliff. A quick set of calculations and E5-P3R angled itself through the wind until it connected with the stone cliff. Gripping its master under its arm, the droid slid down the cliff until it dropped through the open entrance to the hanger. Two surprised techs cried out and were silenced by a crackling green saber-blade as it passed through their necks in quick succession. E5-P3R sprinted toward a land speeder and placed his master in the passenger seat. He knew the master would be angry later for leaving his companion, but the droids first priority was to get its wounded master to safety aboard the ship. A quick hotwire job later and the repulsers were whirring to life. They shot out over the ocean in their stolen skiff and within seconds were skimming over the sapphire waves away from the Sith academy.
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This isn’t the chapter I wanted to post, but that one isn’t finished yet, so you get to continue Kader’s mission without a break.
-Bill
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