Chapter LIV: ACTS OF DESPERATION

Back on Torenth, the rain continued to fall as Diprava and the Aurals remained hidden in a military loadmaster for the time being.  It was parked in front of the Sith Fleet HQ where even now Ground Commander Max-Voyor was receiving his orders to reinforce the Sith forces attacking TaBora. He was to board the Vospyr-Class Heavy Cruiser Defiler and rendezvous with the Abadon-Class Destroyer Firestorm, joining the Sith strike force that now included the notorious SAT teams.

A shuttle had been prepared and was waiting…

As Voyor exited the Fleet HQ entrance, Diprava made her move. She instructed the Aurals to remain silent and hidden within the loadmaster as she made contact with her benefactor. Running in the rain, Diprava caught up to Voyor and was almost out of breath as she reached for his shoulder.

Max-Voyor was an exceptionally bright Sith officer who commanded respect wherever he was posted. He had fought in the Outer Rim Wars of Attrition and also in the Guideway Battles. Twice wounded in combat, he was decorated with the Sith military honors of  Servant of the Sith and the highly coveted Bearer of the Black Stone. He was a Sith military professional, but had just one weakness- the admiration of beautiful women. Unlike other Sith military war heroes Voyor, however, sought the forbidden. Twice reprimanded for making advances towards an Aural, Voyor coveted the Sith Seers and had noticed Diprava many years ago. How he fantasized about her and now…

… was stunned to see this crimson-haired beauty staring him in the face in utter desperation. He tried to speak, but Diprava silenced him with her right index finger at his lips. She spoke softly but determinedly about the need to escape Tirahnna with the Aurals, of the danger they were in. Voyor responded in a harsh military tone, “ do you realize that you are wanted for sedition and murder? The entire Sith military command as well as the Ethada are to arrest you on sight and take you to Lord Rexor immediately. Diprava stood with her head down for a moment and then raised it in defiance. “Lord Rexor is a traitor to the Sith and seeks to kill the Seers and Aurals. He has knowledge of the darker side of the living life force Lady Kaliah spoke of and has been hiding this knowledge from the Sith. I foresee great pain and destruction facing our people. He therefore wants me dead and will kill the Aurals as well. I appeal to you to save us and will do anything for you up to giving myself over for your pleasure, if you will rescue us”.

Voyor was taken aback and coldly replied, “what you ask is treason and I would betray everything I ever fought for. You cannot ask this of me.” “But I beg you, cried Diprava, for the sake of the Sith Seers and the young Aurals whose lives are at stake.”

Voyor thought for a moment as visions of Diprava seductively entered his mind. Diprava was manipulating him even as she feigned fear and despair. In his lust, Voyor made the wrong choice and agreed to help Diprava with intent to ravish her the first chance he got. “Quickly, where are the Aurals?” “In the loadmaster parked across the street” Diprava said with urgency. 

Grabbing Diprava by the arm, Voyor said, let’s get moving before the Ethada spots you.” They crossed the rain-soaked street and hopped into the loadmaster. Voyor sped past the main gate and rushed to the shuttle awaiting him. Un-holstering his sidearm, Voyor ordered Diprava out and then the Aurals. As he approached the Sith Kyrie guarding the shuttle, he explained that he had Diprava and the Aurals in custody and would personally be escorting them to Lord Rexor. The Kyrie began to call for the Ethada, but Voyor shot him point-blank in the face before ushering everyone into the cramped shuttle and taking off without waiting for proper authorization. He set a course for Defiler knowing full well that the SAT team transports were heading there too. Diprava knew the risks, but assured Voyor that she had a plan and would guide him when the time was right.

Meanwhile, back at Torenth, alarms sounded at Voyor’s unauthorized departure and the dead Kyrie raised suspicions that something was terribly wrong. Fleet HQ attempted to contact Voyor; but when no response was received, ordered Defiler to deny access to his shuttle.

Voyor was not focusing on the task at hand and figured he could bluff his way onboard Defiler since it was to be his command ship. But the MD-13 onboard had strict orders to deny him access to a landing bay until the Ethada ship Myrmidon made the intercept. Diprava knew Voyor would ultimately fail her and thus had become dispensible.

Coming to the bridge, Diprava carefully came around Voyor’s seat and straddled him. Voyor had the shuttle on autopilot, so he thought his dream was finally going to be fulfilled. Diprava slid her arms around Voyor and leaned forward for a very passionate kiss… Voyor’s last. As Max-Voyor, decorated hero of the Sith Dark Fleet, was enraptured by Diprava’s kiss, he gasped in sudden pain- a searing lightning pain before all life was gone from his body. Diprava removed both her blood-stained lips from his and the serpa dagger from between his ears as blood gushed out the sides.

Time for a change in plans…

Taking the absent co-pilot’s seat, Diprava took the shuttle off autopilot and altered course straight for the SAT team transports. Her plan was to mix in with the wolves, her small shuttle masked by the powerful reflected signals of the heavy SAT transports and their support ships of many classes. She eased in among the mining transports and gas carriers.

Aboard EVO-ONE Lord rexor was appraised of the situation by K-LOK. MASTER, SITH FLEET HEADQUARTERS AT TORENTH REPORTS THAT DIPRAVA AND THE AURALS ARE STILL MISSING BUT THAT MAX-VOYOR WAS LAST SEEN IN A LOADMASTER BEFORE APPROACHING HIS SHUTTLE. THE KYRIE GUARDING THE SHUTTLE HAS BEEN KILLED AND MAX-VOYOR TOOK OFF WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION. HE IS HEADING FOR DEFILER, BUT THE ETHADA SHIP MYRMIDON IS ON AN INTERCEPT COURSE. THEY BELIEVE HE HAS DIPRAVA AND THE AURALS ONBOARD. YOUR INSTRUCTIONS?

Lord Rexor did not rise in fury this time but was perplexed by this unanticipated move by a Seer. He instructed the Ethada ship to capture, but not to harm, the Seer and Aurals. He had to know what these psychic disturbances were that were plaguing him- at all cost. He sensed something was wrong and now that his time had come to reveal the Superweapon, he could not afford another disaster. “Tell the Ethada to engage, but to bring all suspects to me for questioning. No one is to interrogate them on Myrmidon. Make sure that is understood.” CERTAINLY, LORD MASTER replied K-LOK in automated conformity, repeating the Dark Master's explicit instructions.

Myrmidon responded that the shuttle’s transmissions had been lost and that they were presently trying to relocate the vessel. Defiler was maintaining position above Tirahnna and starting to take on the SAT transports.

Lord Rexor’s blood boiled with fury, “YOU IDIOTS, VOYOR IS SMUGGLING DIPRAVA AND THE AURALS IN WITH THE HEAVY TRANSPORTS. STOP ALL TRAFFIC TO DEFILER AND ORDER DEFILER TO CLOSE ALL LANDING BAYS IMMEDIATELY!”

But it was too late. The shuttle landed amongst two heavy SAT transports and remained idle as the SAT troops debarked with their equipment. Diprava would have to wait until it was safe to move stealthily through the ship and take control.

Meanwhile, Coldeth the G’yir’s ship Carrion was approaching Tirahnna and was vectored through Sith territorial space through a coded disc that Lord Rexor had personally given to him for the completion of his mission. Carrion was automatically slowing once EVO-ONE came into view and Coldeth viewed the heavily armed Sith warship with intense curiosity befitting a G’yir before another ominous ship came alongside. This was the Ethada patrol ship Ravenous, a large black and red-striped wedge shaped craft that opened up its rear bay with signal lights flashing for boarding. Coldeth set the landing sequencer and let Carrion gently float into the Sith vessel. Coldeth had no need to fear the Ethada, he was on official business with the Master himself. This must be a high security protocol. Lord Rexor must be engaged in covert activity.

Carrion landed and immediately the ship was surrounded by the Ethada- black-clad armed State Security troops. Coldeth recognized their “hellhound” insignia instantly. Exiting his craft, Coldeth met Territorial Inspector Vazarim and handed over the two Whill light sabers and security disc before being made to pass through the “veil”- a multi-spectral, bio-analytic, and molecular scanning system. No words were spoken. Coldeth was registered as G’yir, Sith Citizen, and current operative of Lord Rexor. His security disc confirmed this and he was cleared for escort to EVO-ONE. Coldeth was accustomed to such procedures and inconveniences, but was used to Sith thoroughness and efficiency in these matters. He was not offended, just impatient for his reward.

The Whill light sabers were encased, Coldeth was given back his security disc, and then escorted to a seat while Ravenous docked to a secured port disguised to look like an emergency exit. The passage between ships was most narrow- no normal warship or even a normal civilian vessel could dock with this particular port. As the Ethada and Coldeth squeezed through, Territorial Inspector Vazarim halted Coldeth as he walked alone through the “lightning hall” and laid the light saber case down on the other side. He entered a coded disc and then walked back through. Coldeth had 10 seconds to walk the hall to safety before the lightning field went up. With legs twice the length of a human’s, this was easily accomplished. The Ethada returned back to their ship and Coldeth was instructed by K-LOK via comlink to follow the flash corridor lights up to the bridge. Lord Rexor would be waiting.

For Lord Rexor this was the first good news of the day and a reassurance that all was going to plan. Coldeth had delivered on his promise and on time. He would be rewarded well. What secrets would the Whill light saber hold Lord rexor wondered as Syrenia had not given up the secret of the Sith fire blade. Now, NW-7 could analyse the weapon and replicate it back on Tirahnna. Lord Rexor would learn its ways and master it before teaching his new apprentice. The Sith shall reign supreme…

Still, Lord Rexor had taken precautions prior to Coldeth’s arrival.

As Coldeth entered the bridge he was amazed by the sophistication of this latest Sith design. He studied every console with the precision of a professional eidetiker. Lord Rexor appeared in a somewhat larger scarnet robe and hood; in fact, Lord Rexor looked more imposing than ever- like a mighty statue of himself. Coldeth bowed and then rose with a , “Hail Master”. The Dark Master spoke with clarity, “Do you have what I have requested?” “Yes, my master” replied Coldeth as he presented Lord Rexor with the case. Lord Rexor opened the case to see two shining Whill light sabers and was astounded by their elegance. Who would have thought such a deadly weapon could be fashioned so exquisitely . It was far more advanced than Syrenia’s crude modular weapon and when he switched one on, the power and brilliance of the shaft blinded him. Yet he held it firmly and swung it about himself responding to the rhythmic humming of the weapon before shutting it off.

Lord Rexor was overjoyed and proclaimed, “two Whill light sabers, incredible”. At this, Coldeth took offense and snatched the second saber from the case before Lord Rexor could even blink. “Correction my Lord, but your request was for one light saber, the other conquest is mine as G’yir”. Lord Rexor could not believe yet another betrayal and ordered Coldeth to surrender the weapon. “YOU INSOLENT FOOL, DARE YOU INSULT YOUR MASTER? I WILL TAKE WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY MINE AND YOU HAVE JUST FORFEITED YOUR REWARD!” Coldeth stepped back and raised up the light saber. “Do you wish to claim a property dispute, my master?” With that, Lord Rexor exclaimed, “YOU HAVE JUST FORFEITED YOUR LIFE!”

But before Lord Rexor could ignite his saber, Coldeth with the reflexes and agility of a mighty raptor slashed his long talons across Lord Rexor’s scarnet robe and right arm. His garments were shredded and the saber had dropped… yet the Dark Master only turned slowly around, away from Coldeth. Coldeth made a second swipe and shredded Lord Rexor’s back. His scarnet robe had become tattered rags and yet the Dark Master still stood. No blood poured from the shredded material. Like the Varmins on Elysia, Lord Rexor should have been killed outright. But he stood motionless on the bridge, like a stone statue.

With head bowed low, Lord Rexor finally spoke. “Coldeth, you are indeed a skilled hunter, but a poor assassin. I knew that treachery is everywhere at this moment and assumed no less from you. I have awaited your coming and to witness for myself the power of the Whill light saber. I knew you would provide the test. Your puny talons cannot harm me. I expected you to test the blade.” With that said, Lord Rexor dropped the scarnet robe and hood and revealed a suit of what could only be described as mythical armor- the fabled scaled red skin of the Devalion Blood Dragon. To a G’yir this was priceless, worth much more than the Whill saber.

Coldeth took up the challenge as worthy and struck out at Lord Rexor who was defenseless at the moment. Lord Rexor did not reach for his saber at all; in fact, he drew closer to Coldeth to see what the saber could do. Coldeth struck across the chest and arms and tried to lacerate Lord Rexor’s legs- all to no avail. The Blood Dragon suit was scorthced, but not cut at all. Coldeth even lunged the saber into Lord Rexor’s chest piece and it glowed hot on the outside while the Master was cool on the inside. The saber did not work against it and Coldeth decided that the only way to kill the Dark Master would be decapitation as his head was unprotected.

Coldeth swung the saber around with precision and this time was met by another weapon of unknown origin. It met the saber and sparks flew with a loud crackling noise. Yet the sword, like the suit, failed to burn or be destroyed. Coldeth switched the saber off as useless.  “Keep the second saber, but tell me what this sword is made of. I have never come across anything remotely like it my master. Obviously, you knew in advance of this “test” and I have now provided you with two sabers and verification of your defensive capabilities. I trust that I am still in your service."

Lord Rexor paused for a moment as he moved forward with the sword aimed at the G’yir’s chest. “It is from Devalion where we, the Sith, originated from many millennia ago in the blackness of the void. Our people specialized in making weapons of every type, but could not defeat the roaming blood dragons that stalked our villages in broad daylight, spraying molten fire over everything and consuming our people alive. Finally, we drew a group of the dragons into a trap. We dug deep pits and set large falling rock traps. We drew the dragons in and they all fell or were crushed to death. After that, we could slowly dissect them and fashion armor from their scaled red skin… and yet we had no offensive weapon against them until we dug into the ground and discovered a strange liquid that when heated for many days and then cold-filtered could be forged into various weapons. We soon discovered that this metal, once set, could never be deformed nor destroyed. We had discovered Viktalen, in the ancient tongue “frozen smoke”. It is a rather dull-looking gray metal, but cannot be scanned nor destroyed.

The weapon you see before you is our Apocalypse sword- the Asatha. It is solid Viktalen metal with candrium supports for a thrusting mechanism internally held in the primary handle with the two support arms to activate it. In this way, we could fight the blood dragons and pierce their scaled armor just enough to allow the thruster to pierce the beast’s heart.  It has been long-forgotten in the age of turbo pulse guns, but will be useful again for combat this day.”

“Notice the slender curve and length of the blade”. Coldeth leaned forward out of blind G’yir curiosity as Lord Rexor rammed the sword into Coldeth’s chest without mercy. Coldeth fell forward and as he spoke his last word, “magnificent”, the Dark Master pulled the thruster arms inward and the sword rammed forward and out Coldeth’s back. The beastly master then turned the sword around and then cleft the reptilian bird in two, spilling its remains all over the bridge floor. A harbinger of carnage to come.

The Ethada were then ordered to destroy Carrion and keep alert for other threats.

Lord Rexor only looked down at the dead G'yir and wondered how well Viktalen would do against obsidian hyperplating once Tirahn boarded EVO-ONE... those psychic disturbances were becoming stronger by the moment.

Death was on the move...