While I do plan on updating more than once a month, this month was rather hectic. Hopefully my schedule is more forgiving for a bit, so I can push out another update faster. Until then, hopefully you enjoy reading this.

The Imperial Fleet was the hub of activity in its area of the galaxy. Be it Bounty Hunters searching out a contract, Sith Lords stopping in between missions, or merchants trying to get something started off-planet, everyone had a place on the Fleet. It was here that a young Darth could be found leading a group of children, showing them the paths he travelled some time ago. Tasked with the job of spreading knowledge, Darth Nox preferred a more direct approach.

"This way," Nox instructed the students, turning down one path.

This area of the fleet was reserved for armaments and combat training. Vendors sold armor and weapons, while various other sections were partitioned off for sparring. The children looked around in wonder, this being their first time on the Fleet. Two Sith clashed in one area, the buzzing and clashing of their lightsabers making for a truly captivating sight. Nox lead them down the path before stopping inside one of the cubicles.

"Lord Twintan," Nox said with a nod, addressing the person inside.

"Darth Nox," Twintan replied, bowing. "To what do I owe the pleasure, my lord?"

"I was giving a lecture on my ascendance to power to these apprentices," Nox explained, gesturing towards the crowd of young Sith. "I decided it would be a good idea to introduce them to you."

Lord Twintan was a pureblooded Sith, with very bold red skin. His eyes were yellow like other Sith, but quite awake and active. He was one of the trainers on the Fleet, specializing in the integration of Force techniques with lightsaber combat. This was a tough technique to fully appreciate, so Lord Twintan had few students, thus being one of the less popular trainers. It would explain why none of the students recognized him.

Twintan smiled. "You were truly an exceptional student," he told Nox. He turned towards the group. "Darth Nox was my first student in quite some time, and was more powerful than any student I've ever taught, before and since. I'm not surprised he found his way onto the Dark Council."

"It was Lord Twintan who advised me to get a double-bladed lightsaber," Nox added, taking his lightsaber from his belt. "That was the best advice anyone had ever given me."

I had been wandering around the fleet for some time, not sure what to do. I knew that there was a training area, but none of the teachers seemed to have appealing styles. There was a very powerful lightsaber combat instructor, but it seemed as if most of his students were using acrobatics and feats of strength in their combat. Some of them were even dual-wielding. I found another, but they appeared to specialize in raw Force abilities. While these would be great for taking out enemies in large areas, most of my ambushes had been in confined rooms. I needed some middle ground if I wanted this to work.

"You lost?" someone behind me asked.

I looked behind me and saw a pureblooded Sith Lord standing there. "No, my Lord. Forgive me," I said.

He smiled. "You've been staring at the lightsaber instructors for some time. Need to train a bit more?"

I nodded. "I recently passed my trials, but my Master seems to have some very powerful enemies," I explained to him. "Just before leaving, I was ambushed in her office and barely made it out alive."

"So are you looking to survive attacks?" he asked. "Or is there something more?"

I looked up at him. "I want power," I responded. "I want to be able to take on as many people as possible and still press the attack. I want people to know that trying to kill me is the last mistake they will ever make."

The Lord smiled again, then nodded. "I have just what you're looking for."

We returned to his area, which was currently unpopulated. Turns out he was a teacher of one of the most difficult techniques out there: double-bladed lightsabers. He gave me a training version and told me to use it on the dummy. I could see why nobody else was here; this was the weirdest thing I had tried to fight with. I spent a good portion of time fumbling around with it and lightly tapping the dummy before almost dropping the damn thing.

However, things slowly came together. As I progressed, I started naturally feeling some combinations appearing, allowing me to move from strike to strike in quick succession. I struck the dummy, spinning the saber and re-positioning my footwork before striking again. I repeated this process through many different forms, amazed at how quickly this was all coming together. It felt almost like dancing, the blade spinning around rapidly as I stepped and strafed. This was a feeling of certainty that I had not felt using the single bladed sabers back on Korriban.

"You're doing quite well," the instructor, Lord Twintan, told me. "What do you think?"

I deactivated the blade, holding it at my side. "It feels amazing," I said. "Fast, wide, and potent."

"Be mindful that you don't cut your own arm off with it," Twintan advised, chuckling.

"I'll be careful," I responded, not sure if I should join in on the laughing.

"You are truly my best student in recent memory," the instructor added. "As your reward, I shall help you construct your own lightsaber."

I nodded, and he took me to a table at the back of the room. There were three other tables near it, with different hilts, crystals, and various lightsaber components. The hilts looked different that conventional ones, due to them being made for double-bladed lightsabers. I gazed at the large mass of pieces, anxious to begin. I reached out to grab one, but was stopped by Twintan.

"Not like this," he said. "The Force must construct your weapon."

I nodded, sitting down in front of the central desk. I closed my eyes, and began to channel the Force. Various thoughts rushed through my head. I thought about my desire to prove myself to Lord Zash, and in turn to gain more power. I thought about taking that power and crushing Darth Skotia. That kill would gain me more favour with Zash, and the cycle repeats. I could faintly hear the lightsaber coming together but it was not my main concern. I pictured piles of Jedi and Sith corpses at my feet, me standing above them, possessing all the power in the world.

"It is done," Twintan announced.

I opened my eyes, and saw the completed lightsaber in front of me. It was grey, with small red attachments surrounding the ends. The crystal was visible, a darker red than the ones I had previously seen. It was encased in a small slot, protected by thin strands of metal. I stood up, held the blade out and ignited it. The center of the blade was black, with the familiar red outline of other Sith lightsabers. (for those of you who play SWTOR, think of the Vindicator's Saberstaff with a Black-Red crystal)

"Now that's a colour I haven't seen in a long time," Twintan said, staring at my blade.

I deactivated the weapon. "What does it mean?" I asked, clipping the weapon on my belt.

"It means you still have the same Force power and energy as other Sith," he explained, "but your rage is more focused. You wish to gain more power, but you have another goal."

I nodded. "I was a slave before I became Sith. I want to use my power to truly become free."

Twintan smiled. "I sense you will become powerful," he told me. "Now go, and use that blade to carve up some sorry whelps."

I nodded once again, and promptly left the room.

"And now you're back," Twintan said, smiling. "Just as powerful as I had imagined."

Nox nodded. "You provided me with the most powerful weapon I have ever wielded, and the confidence to do so with skill," he explained. "I am forever grateful."

Twintan nodded. He turned to face the group. "Listen to this man, for he has seen and done incredible things. Am I clear?"

"Yes, my Lord," the group said in unison.

"Excellent," Twintan said, pleased. "Alright my Lord, I wish you safe travels during the rest of your lecture."

"Much appreciated, Lord Twintan." Nox gestured down the hallway. "Come, we're off to Dromund Kaas."

The shuttle ride was fairly uneventful. Zash's name allowed me to get private transport for myself and Khem, so I spent most of the trip alone. I practiced a bit with my saberstaff, getting a feel for the double blades. It felt marvelous to spin around, to strike with both ends in multiple directions. That weapon made me feel like the most powerful person in the world, and I might have to be if I wanted to take on Darth Skotia.

The shuttle landed, and I got off, Khem following close behind. We had landed in the spaceport, where many other shuttles had parked. I made my way down the giant hangar, Imperial guards and citizens everywhere. As Dromund Kaas was the capital city of the Empire, it was no wonder that the spaceport was this crowded. I walked over to the Arrivals Console, to begin booking my flight down to the planet.

"My master! Isn't this soft-skinned one the toy of Zash, the golden-haired Lord?" I heard a Trandoshan say.

I looked up and saw who could only be Darth Skotia. He was a massive cyborg, with implants covering the majority of his face, including his right eye. He was almost the same size as Khem, probably due to the mechanical add-ons. He had two Trandoshans behind him, sneering at me. These were clearly his underlings. I stepped away from the console as Skotia and his entourage approached.

"Quiet, bodyguard. Save your hissing for your own kind," Skotia barked at the Trandoshan. The bodyguard took a step back, and bowed his head.

"As for you, slave," he said, turning back to me. "Darth Skotia is passing - best get out of his way."

"You sent that weakling apprentice to kill me," I told him, not budging. I could feel Khem's stare on the back of my neck, but I knew he would side with me.

"It looks like I didn't try hard enough. I won't make the same mistake twice," Skotia said, no longer trying to walk past me. "Give your master a message for me: my eye is on her, and I know. Tell her that. I know what she's trying to do here on Dromund Kaas."

I swallowed, getting somewhat nervous but holding my ground.

"You and her master have gotten this far - but it ends here, slave. I alone have the key." Skotia took a short pause. "Tell her that."

Skotia was the first person to call me slave since Harkun, which only helped to strengthen my resolve. My nervousness faded, replaced by anger. I furrowed my brow as I stared at him.

"You and your master have no future on Dromund Kaas or in the Sith Order," he continued. "Tell her that. Now, get out of my way."

"What do you think? Can you eat him?" I asked, turning to Khem.

"Is more machine than man, I think," Khem admitted. "Bad for the digestion."

"Ha! Fools," Skotia spat, walking past me. I stepped out of the way to let him pass, which didn't stop on of his bodyguards from bumping me with his shoulder as he walked.

I turned towards the elevator and left, not willing to deal with more of that garbage. My mission was to assist Lord Zash with her research, and I trusted that she would give me the power to crush that cyborg freak. I kept that in mind as I boarded the elevator to the main lobby.

"I never ended up learning why Skotia hated Zash so much," Nox admitted. "I do know that she wasn't really liked throughout the Order, so I'm not that surprised, but I never figured out the exact reason."

"Why did people not like Zash?" someone asked as they exited the shuttle, the group walking towards the planet's surface.

"I'll explain in a moment," Nox assured them. "Come, let me show you Dromund Kaas as I saw it."

The group moved towards the exit, murmuring with excitement.

I exited the building, finding myself on the surface of our homeworld. Dromund Kaas was dark, like I expected the Empire to be. Surprisingly, it looked to be full of wildlife, with various trees growing and animals roaming around. The air was thick, with the unmistakable feel of dark Force energy everywhere. This didn't bother me; I had to embrace the dark side if I wanted to succeed. I smiled, walking further out into the wilds.

Khem and I passed through the wilds undisturbed, the animals clearly used to people passing by. As I walked past many Imperial guards, they kept bowing and calling me "Lord." It was strange having that sort of recognition simply because of my lightsaber. I walked on, paying it little attention. Dark Skotia - and pretty much every enemy I'd ever face, presumably - wouldn't care about my title, so I didn't give it much thought.

I soon made it to Kaas City, which looked like an Imperial building without walls. It was grey everywhere, with the Imperial flag posted so frequently that you couldn't turn a corner without seeing another. I kept walking, Dashade in tow, silently commanding respect from everyone I passed. I boarded a taxi and, with Zash's name, traveled to the Sith Sanctum.

It was nice to see the massive structure dedicated to the Sith. The giant building was a fitting testament to the power of the Sith, which was completely filling my thoughts as I walked inside. I passed through the giant building, seeing Apprentices and Darths alike. Unlike outside, in here I was but another Sith, doing everything I could to claw my way to the top. I vowed that I would be at the very top, a thought that stuck with me as I entered Zash's chambers.

"Are you acquainted with a big, ugly, half-machine Dark Lord?" I asked, walking into Zash's main office. "He had a message for you."

"Damn Skotia!" Zash seethed, standing up. "What business has he, going behind my back, speaking to my apprentice? Trying to intimidate you, do doubt."

Zash walked in front of her desk, a fire in her eyes that could only mean she had a wicked plan ready.

"Wretched monster. More machine than man and dangerously powerful," she continued. "Ever since I arrived on Dromund Kaas as an apprentice, he's made every effort to stand in my way."

"He is flesh," Khem spoke up. "He can be killed."

Zash nodded, with a hint of a smile forming. "Ultimately, we cannot even begin the search for Tulak Hord's ancient power with Skotia's rattling breath on our necks," she declared.

"There must be something we can do," I said, knowing that Zash already had a plan.

"Yes, yes. There is something we can do - or rather, something you can do." Zash paused, drawing a breath. "You are going to kill Skotia for me."

I smiled. "Finally, a challenge worthy of me."

"Good. That's precisely the attitude you'll need," Zash responded, sounding very pleased. "I cannot be tied to Skotia's murder. Brazen power plays make the Dark Council nervous. But nobody will believe that a mere apprentice could defeat Skotia. It's impossible, and that's why it will work."

I nodded, understanding her reasoning. "The impossible's my specialty," I boasted, referring to the holocron and Khem.

Zash nodded. "So it seems."

I pictured how I would kill Skotia. His lightsaber would've already been cut in half, how his apprentice did it to mine. He kneels on the ground, begging for mercy. He raises his arm up to shield his face, and I send my blade through his arm, slicing it in two at the elbow. He howls in pain, but only for a brief second as my blade travels through his neck, dislodging his head from his body. I leave his head on his desk as I exit, my work complete. What a beautiful thought indeed.

"I've begun to piece together the puzzle for Darth Skotia's destruction - but some elements have yet to fall into place," Zash explained. "Out in the jungle, a group of slaves has recently revolted. They were working on a colossal statue that has since gone unfinished. I believe Skotia is hiding something of great importance near this statue. Get the archaeological plans to the area from one of the slaves and contact me by holocommunicator."

Khem suddenly spoke up. "This witch stinks of death," he said. "Give me the command and I will devour her."

I stepped in between them, Zash giving an amused smile. I gestured towards the door, and we left without another word.

"This is the Colossus," Nox explained, referencing the massive statue the group was standing near. "Originally ordered to be built by Lord Qet, the statue is of his master, Darth Vowrawn. He brought in offworld slaves to construct the statue, but the slaves ended up rebelling. Although said rebellion has since been quashed, it still proved to be quite a painful predicament."

"Who was Lord Qet?" someone asked.

"The reason you don't know Lord Qet and the reason why he ordered this statue built are probably connected," Nox responded. "This apprentice clearly was incapable of satisfying his master through conventional means, so he resorted to this."

"Wouldn't you be pleased if your apprentice built you a monument?" another person asked.

"It's not the monument that puts me off, it's the use of slaves," Nox admitted. "Seeing as the slave rebellion was not instantly dealt with, it gave the slaves a sense of freedom. Get too many of those and suddenly you have more of me running the Order."

There was a laugh amongst the group, which Nox quickly silenced. "Alright, this way. There's still much to tell about this place."

I passed by many Imperial soldiers, many of whom told me of the dangers within the Colossus slave grounds. I ignored them and kept walking, not worried about slaves at all. Upon entering the grounds, I saw the total carnage, slaves and Imperials tearing each other apart. I looked over, and saw a group of three without an Imperial to kill. They turned to me, and two of them grabbed blasters, firing at me.

In one motion, I pulled out and ignited one of my lightsaber blades. I deflected the shots, and they went sailing into a cliff face, dislodging some rocks. With reflexes faster than anyone anticipated, I extended my arm and Force pushed them into the path of the rocks. As the falling debris crushed the two of them, a third ran at me with a vibrosword drawn. I ignited my other blade as he slashed downwards. I deflected his attack with one blade, sidestepping and sending my other through his arm. Before he could scream, I circled around and sliced across his back.

I turned off my lightsaber, replacing it on my belt before inspecting the corpse. I found a fragment of the plans I was looking for. Looking up, I noticed another group of slaves standing there, more cautious than the last. I held up the shard, and they quickly threw a couple more on the ground, before turning and running. I smiled, knowing I had sent a message: do not make the Empire send the Sith after you.

I pulled out my holocommunicator, prepared to present the good news to Zash.

"Does this mean you found them?" Zash asked, turning on her holocommunicator. "You've found the archaeological plans?"

"Of course, my master," I responded, satisfied with my recovery efforts.

"Fantastic," Zash beamed. "I never doubted you."

I could feel Khem glaring behind me, but I paid it no mind. It was obvious that he didn't like Zash, but his opinions didn't really concern me.

"Now let me see… ah yes. How clever - there's a chamber hidden under the colossus itself!" Lord Zash exclaimed. "I'd bet my complete collection of Naga Sadow's Yavin Four writings that you'll find what we're looking for in this chamber."

I nodded. "Tell me how to access this chamber," I said, anxious to get going.

"There should be a hidden entrance near the colossus," Zash explained. "It looks like Skotia has an entire underground base. You're looking for a tablet."

Zash put up a picture of a Trandoshan, alongside a small tablet with illegible writing etched on to it.

"The tablet is the symbol of leadership of an obscure Trandoshan cult - the lizards believe it was a gift from their deity, the Scorekeeper," Zash explained. "Skotia stole the tablet and uses it to exert control over his Trandoshan bodyguards. Give them their relic, and Skotia's power over his bodyguards will turn to vapour."

I smiled. "We'll leave Skotia undefended," I surmised, understanding the connection.

"Exactly. You have a sharp mind, apprentice," Zash praised, smiling back. "The plans suggest Skotia's apprentices guard this base. I don't doubt they hold the keys to acquiring the Trandoshan tablet. Best kill them all to be sure."

"Command me and I will eat them," Khem growled.

I nodded, ending the call. Zash had sent me coordinates, so Khem and I made our way over there. I had to cut down a few more slaves, but after a bit they realized that I wasn't there for them, and they let me pass. Near the base of the Colossus, there was a small opening that we would've missed had we not been looking for it. I could see some Imperial walls just inside, so Khem and I ventured inside.

Zash was almost right about the security. Skotia's apprentices did guard the bunker, but also other low ranking Sith, as well as countless droids. Looking around, I spotted the Security Station on a platform above. I knew that if I disabled that, I could prevent reinforcements from coming in case something went wrong. I was able to sneak past everyone leading up to the station, but found one of Skotia's apprentices guarding it.

He saw me, then turned to use the Security Station. I blasted a shot of Force Lightning at the machine, and it sparked, temporarily disabled. The apprentice scowled, drawing and igniting his lightsaber as he turned to me. He ran at me as I drew my own. I held up my lightsaber to block a slash, but the apprentice pulled out a second lightsaber. Igniting it, he brought it down at a different angle. I sidestepped, adjusting the angle of my lightsaber so I could block both. I circled and shoved, launching him off my lightsaber.

It was quite clear that his defense was poor. As I spun my saberstaff around, it was quite clear that he could not keep up, even with a second lightsaber. One upwards slash went unblocked, swiping right through his midsection. I circled, delivering a sideways slash across his chest. He flew backwards, and hit the floor, dead. I quickly deactivated my lightsaber and disabled the Security Station, moving back downstairs.

I moved further into the bunker, and noticed there were certain rooms branching off to the sides. Inside each seemed to be a monitoring station, with various screens showing cameras set up around the planet. I dispatched the guards inside each room, along with the stations. With each kill, each explosion, I could feel my power growing, knowing full well that I still had to recover the tablet.

I made it into the room where the tablet was being kept. It was being guarded by a single Sith, who drew his lightsaber as we approached. His blade was purple, which was something I hadn't seen before. I looked at Khem, who nodded before drawing his vibrosword. He charged the Sith, who looked visibly shaken by the sight of a Dashade. I walked past them, hearing the sound of lightsaber colliding against vibrosword behind me. I picked up the tablet, hearing the scream that confirmed Khem's victory.

"The more I think about it," Nox mentioned, "the more I wonder why this room is so big."

Khem laughed. "Puny Sith really loved the magic stone," he joked.

"I can venture a guess as to why Skotia stored such a large object in this room," Nox said. "Like me, he was very power hungry, and this tablet solidified his influence over the Trandoshans. It was clear this was meant to be a temple of some sort."

"If Skotia was so powerful, why did he need bodyguards?" someone asked.

"He loved power, no matter who it was over," Nox explained. "Power over people was something Skotia desired, and having power over Skotia was key to me defeating him."

I stared intently at the tablet as I worked my way back to Zash's office. This small, insignificant stone was the only thing keeping Skotia's bodyguards with him. It almost seemed too easy, tearing down Skotia's primary defense without really breaking a sweat. I decided that Lord Zash knew what she was talking about, so it was in my best interests to continue following her. I felt more confident that I was making the right decision, carrying that confidence with the tablet into Zash's office.

"I've recovered the Trandoshan relic," I declared, setting it down on Zash's desk.

"Then we've both had success in our endeavors," Zash said. "But the Trandoshan bodyguards are only part of Skotia's defense. His greatest weakness is that he's mostly machine."

I nodded, the thought of Skotia's cybernetic body still fresh in my mind.

"The rogue Sith Lord Grathan is holding a cyborg expert named Dorotsech captive," Zash explained. "He has developed a neutralizer for me, the kind that should destroy Skotia's cyborg elements. Find Dorotsech, get him to tell you where the neutralizer is and then silence him."

I smiled, understanding what she meant. "Of course, my master," I responded, eager to get to work.

"Grathan's estate is in the jungle - interrogate the scientist," Zash instructed. "With any luck, Skotia will soon be out of our way. And then we'll be free to pursue Tulak Hord's power as we please."

"Ha. The power of Tulak Hord in the hands of a child," Khem muttered dejectedly. "What a mockery."

"In case it wasn't made clear, Khem was not a fan of Zash, or me for that matter," Nox pointed out. "However, his amazing combat abilities were no doubt a large reason why I'm able to give this presentation."

"That witch smelled of death," Khem repeated. "I do not regret my comments."

"Yes, I understand." Nox beckoned towards the giant array of buildings. "Now, here we are at Lord Grathan's estate."

The area was truly massive. There were buildings and bunkers and warehouses that seemed to go on for miles. The children walked around, Nox guiding them through various buildings and making notes. There were deactivated or destroyed droids everywhere, and the children even managed to find a few corpses. It was truly a strange place to walk through.

"Lord Grathan radically declared himself the 13th member of the Dark Council," Nox explained. "After receiving no support, he left the order and took his apprentices here. He captured scientists and forced them to work on his droid and cyborg army. The man was a borderline lunatic, but his powerbase was astonishingly powerful."

Nox sighed, approaching the front of a memorable building. "This room, more specifically the man within, provided me with the crucial tool I needed to survive Skotia."

I entered the building, a one-room shack. The usual Imperial banners decorated the walls, which was ironic given Grathan's disposition towards the Empire. There were computers and lab equipment everywhere, and seeing as I knew almost nothing about them, I left them alone. There was a sealed door at the back of the room, which I hoped contained my scientist. I walked over and pressed the button on the panel, opening the door.

Sitting in the middle of the room, on a mat, was Dorotsech. Although he barely looked 40, his head had gone bald and his brow looked permanently furrowed. His head was in his hands, and he muttered to himself nervously. It was quite clear that this man was Grathan's prisoner, and clearly not a fan of his accommodations. It almost felt merciful that Zash had given me orders to "silence him." I cleared my throat, getting Dorotsech's attention.

"Please tell me Lord Zash sent you. Please," Dorotsech begged. "I can't stand it here any longer. I don't want to die!"

I sneered at him. "I understand you've created a device that can harm cyborgs. Give it to me."

"The device? Oh,you mean the neutralizer, the cyber neutralizer," the scientist said, gathering himself. "My finest work yet - though I don't quite see what the use of it is."

"Why, to fell a Darth, my anxious friend," I responded, allowing myself an evil smile.

"But that's just what I'm saying - I don't know how useful it actually is," Dorotsech admitted. "Lord Zash commissioned this weapon against cyborgs - thing is, most cyborgs are only ten percent machine. You'd need someone at least fifty percent machine for the neutralizer to do any real damage."

"Oh, my mark's fifty percent machine," I said, looking at Khem. He nodded. "At least."

"I don't want to know! I don't want to know," Dorotsech muttered. "If you want it, take it. It's only a prototype, but I guess it'll work if there's one droid you really want to bash." He paused, before gulping loudly. "It's in the lab building, can't be missed. But Grathan wouldn't let me at the power cells I needed to power it. You'll need to steal those off his droids."

I quickly put the pieces together. I steal power cells off Grathan's droids, before stealing the cyber neutralizer. Once Grathan notices, he traces it back to Dorotsech, who could potentially give up the info about me. If he were in leagues with Skotia - which was somewhat plausible seeing Grathan's interest in droids - then suddenly our plan is exposed. I knew what I had to do.

I cracked my knuckles. "Looks like it's your turn to die now," I said flatly.

"No! Please! Lord Zash said she'd free me!" Dorotsech dropped to his knees and begged.

I used the Force to shut the door, severing Dorotsech's screams from the outside world. I turned back to him, on his knees and shielding his face. Extending my arm, I shot a small jolt of lightning at him. It connected, and he reeled, screaming at the pain. In one motion, I grabbed my lightsaber, ignited it, and slashed across his exposed chest. His screams were instantly deafened, and he was dead before he hit the ground. Expressionless, I deactivated my weapon and returned it to my belt, leaving the room.

Once outside the room, I took in my surroundings. There were droids everywhere, which would make recovering power cells rather easy. In addition, there were Sith roaming the area; presumably Grathan's apprentices' apprentices. The buildings, cliff faces and bushes made for plenty of cover, so Khem and I went about the task strategically. I hid in a bush or behind a building, while Khem rushed them from the front. Once their attention was on him, I could quickly dispatch the droids, and any remaining Sith were flanked and outmatched. We were quickly becoming quite the team.

I wasn't sure how many we needed, so I recovered a handful and shoved them in my pouch. Carefully hiding the bodies behind some bushes, we advanced towards the main bunker. The guards were rather lazy, so we were able to sneak past the majority of them. The ones that we couldn't, Khem was able to get in close enough to dispatch them quietly, allowing us to make a clean entrance. The whole time, I couldn't help but marvel at Grathan's incredibly large powerbase. Despite being a lunatic, the man certainly had influence.

Inside the bunker, we arrived at the entrance of a large room. There were computers and tech experts everywhere, clearly researching something or other. At the center of the room, there was an energy shield protecting a small device of some sort. Suspecting that was the neutralizer we were here for, I cautiously snuck by the scientists, towards the device. Looking around to make sure nobody spotted us, I deactivated the machine.

Alarms started going off, lights flashed. The scientists all screamed, panicked, and ran out the door I came in. Another door off to the side opened up, and three battle droids came rushing in. Nodding at Khem, he charged them, vibrosword in hand. I extended both arms, shooting two streams of lightning by either side of Khem, into the first two droids. He jumped, sailing over top of the first droids, bringing his vibrosword down through the third as he landed. I brought my hands together and the two droids slammed into each other, exploding violently.

I returned to the machine and grabbed the device. It looked simple enough to use; point the antenna at the other guy, then poof, no more cyborg. I put the power cells into the device as we left, throwing the excess cells onto the floor behind me. Just outside, I heard the scientists inside a storage room off to the side. I didn't bother with them, seeing as they weren't my problem. I smiled, relishing this power I had over life and death, and promptly exited the building.

Upon arriving at the Sith Sanctum, I found myself getting somewhat nervous. This entire adventure had all led up to me, in this building, killing Darth Skotia. When Zash first presented this idea to me, I was excited, thrilled at the chance to take down that freak machine. Now, it was starting to make me a bit uncomfortable. I was barely able to survive his apprentice on Korriban, yet Zash expected me to take him on personally. Even with the tools at my disposal, I was quite unsure.

"Not a moment too soon, apprentice," Lord Zash greeted as I entered her office. "Tell me we were successful. Tell me you have the tech we need to destroy Skotia."

I retrieved the device from my pouch, holding it out. "It's time to kill Skotia," I declared, less out of confidence and more knowing that it had to be done.

"Fantastic. Magnificent. Perfect." Zash marveled over the device like a young child. "Then the time to do the deed is now."

I rolled my shoulders, preparing myself mentally. Behind me, I heard Khem crack his knuckles.

"Skotia is in his chamber as we speak. Be ready," Zash warned. "Even with the power you have over him, he will be a frightful sight."

"The little Sith and I will feast," Khem said. I could practically feel the hatred he was generating.

"Set your nerves of cortosis; turn your fear into hatred," Zash instructed. "Remember - Skotia stands between us and glory."

Her words inspired a sudden confidence. "I feel as though I've lived my whole life for this moment," I said.

"Good," Zash responded with a smile. "Now listen closely - this is how you will kill Skotia."

I already knew the plan, however it was worth listening to again.

"The relic you found under the colossus is the key to Skotia's power over his Trandoshan bodyguards. Go to Skotia's chambers and show them the relic," she explained. "The Trandoshans should stand down, or attack him, or something - the confusion should be enough. This is the first step."

I grabbed the cyber neutralizer. "Then I use the anti-cyborg tech to disable him, right?" I asked.

"Exactly. With the bodyguards gone, you can get close enough to Skotia to use the prototype you stole from Grathan's," Zash confirmed. "But be mindful - Skotia may be more machine than man, but he's no weakling in the Force. Killing him will still be a challenge."

That small speck of doubt appeared again. I tried to push it aside, but it stayed. "Do you really think I'm ready for this?" I reluctantly asked.

"Of course," Zash answered, somewhat surprised. "You ravaged four tombs on Korriban and tamed a Dashade - what's a crippled Dark Lord to you?"

I allowed myself to relax somewhat, knowing that Zash had complete confidence in my abilities.

"Oh, I wish I could be there to see the contortions on Skotia's malformed face when you destroy him," she added. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm due to make an appearance at a party in the Nexus Room Cantina. Meet me there when you're done."

I bowed as she exited, walking briskly out. I took a second to grab the tablet and device, making sure they were both securely in my pouch. I also took a second and grabbed my lightsaber. Studying the hilt that I personally built, I paused to consider everything. Either I kill Skotia, and Zash leads me to greatness, or I die here, and Zash gets pinned for the attempted assassination of Skotia. My feelings didn't matter, for there was one thing I was sure of: I was not dying today.

I thought about Skotia's apprentice, Ortosin, who nearly had me killed before leaving Korriban. I thought about how, after the fight had concluded, I stuck a training blade through his head and stuck it to his corpse. I thought about how Skotia had intercepted me at the spaceport, and how his bodyguard had ever-so-noticeably bumped me as it walked past. I pictured their faces, their cries, as I stood over them, victorious. I smiled, knowing what I had to do.

Striding out of the office, Khem in tow, I sped towards Skotia's office. It was off to the side, just past a small hallway, very secluded. Two guard stood in front of the office, both pointing their blasters at me when I rounded the corner. With a surge of power, I swept my hand to the side, causing one guard to fly into the other. I continued walking as they collapsed into a crumpled heap. I entered Skotia's office, where the cyborg freak was talking to his bodyguards.

"My master," one of the guards, Skeesk, said. "The soft-skinned one, the toy of Zash approaches."

"I see," Skotia responded flatly.

"What would you have us do, my master?" Skeesk asked.

"Nothing, yet," Skotia ordered. He turned his attention to me. "What makes this slave so bold as to enter my chambers? Tell me, slave, are you insane or do you have a death wish?"

"I've been asked to kill you," I said, noting that he called me slave. "I hate to disappoint."

Skotia simply chuckled. "Heh. Skeesk?"

The bodyguard turned around. "Yes, my master."

"Kill him," Skotia commanded, pointing at me.

"It will be our pleasure, my master," Skeesk responded, nodding to his brother Skarsk. They both drew their blades.

I smiled, pulling the tablet out of my pouch. "I'm your master now," I said, holding it up to them.

Both Skeesk and Skarsk halted when they saw the tablet, lowering their weapons. "The tablet! It has the tablet!" Skeesk exclaimed, clearly confused.

"Skeesk, my brother, what should we do?" Skarsk asked.

"It has the tablet," Skeesk responded. "We must obey." Both of the Trandoshans bowed before me.

"Heh. Clever. Zash must have stayed up many a night to think of that one," Skotia said. "I suppose you'll be sending my bodyguards away now. Or maybe you'll order them to kill me?"

"It should at least be entertaining," I shrugged. I pointed at Skotia. "Tear him to pieces."

"As you wish, my master," Skeesk responded, both him and his brother drawing their blades again.

Skotia slowly stood up. With a sweep of his right hand, he sent Skeesk flying into a pillar, Force choking him. He turned his gaze to Skarsk, pure fury in his eyes. Skarsk turned to run, Skotia crushing Skeesk's windpipe. As Skeesk's lifeless body fell to the floor, Skotia swept with his left hand. Skarsk went flying headfirst into the wall. He collided with a horrible crunch, and fell to the ground, skull presumably in pieces.

"You shouldn't have done that," Skotia seethed. "The bodyguards - they're nothing. Show."

I stared at him, both of us gazing into the other's hate-filled eyes, though Skotia only had the one.

"But you subverted my authority - took my slaves from me. And that makes me angry," Skotia explained, slowly walking in front of his desk. "And killing you will be over too soon."

I gripped my lightsaber, but did not ignite it.

"No," Skotia said. "I think you're going to have to suffer first."

He drew his lightsaber, while I pulled out the device. His eye went wide with surprise as I activated it. Instantly, Skotia reeled as his mechanical components began to malfunction, sparks beginning to come off various parts. He began to breathe heavily, his robotic gasps piercing through the air. Standing up, he raised his blade to strike, and I reached for my own lightsaber. Igniting it, I deflected his strike, throwing his lightsaber to the side. Faster than I expected, he rotated and Force pushed me, sending me flying backwards. I braced for impact, slamming into a wall. I landed on one knee, unharmed.

Rushing him, I pressed the assault, knowing that the only way he'd make a move is with the Force. With this in mind, I kept up constant pressure, not allowing him any breathing room. I watched as his mechanical parts sparked and glitched with every move, as Skotia's mechanical half struggled to keep up. He ducked underneath a sideways slash, and jabbed at my legs. I jumped, and Skotia backpedaled. He tried to Force push, but I pushed back, overpowering him in his weakened state. The push sent his lightsaber flying out of his hand, crashing into the wall behind him.

Skotia stumbled backwards and braced up against a pillar. "What is this?" he struggled to ask, his mechanical components shutting down. "How… did you… Zash! Zash! You've killed me!"

I sneered. "Don't blame Zash. This is all me."

Skotia dropped to one knee. "Mindless… you don't know what Zash can do," he wheezed, his mechanics struggling to work. "Think - think of how many years she must have spent plotting my death."

I continued to stare at him, ignoring what he was saying, smiling at his pain.

"She will kill you. Just like… she's killed… me." Skotia let out one last gasp before collapsing, dead.

"If that day comes, I'll be ready for her," I said to nobody at all.

"Here's the Nexus-Room Cantina," Nox announced. The music and laughter could be heard from outside. "This is where I met Zash after killing Skotia."

The group of children murmured, none of them having ever been in a cantina.

"Skotia was the apprentice to Darth Thanaton, who ended up taking Zash - and eventually me - as his new apprentice. As head of the Pyramid of Ancient Knowledge, it became clear why Zash wanted Skotia dead." Nox chuckled. "Clearly, you'd all rather experience the cantina. Go ahead, but pay attention, I still have more to tell you."

The cantina scene wasn't really for me. As a slave, I had never been exposed to such luxuries, and as a Sith I had spent most of my time trying not to get killed. The sense of relaxation was not something I had grown accustomed too. Regardless, I came in, going to Zash's room on the second floor. It seemed to be a gathering of some sort, with other Sith Lords. Again, not really my thing.

"These prattling creatures call themselves Sith?" Khem asked. "The legacy of Tulak Hord is lost."

Tell me about it, I thought.

"I'm sorry, will you excuse me?" Zash asked, hearing me - or more likely, Khem - enter. "I need to have a quick chat with my apprentice."

"If you must," another Lord responded.

Zash stood up and walked over to me. "Thank the Emperor you've arrived," she said. "It doesn't matter how much one drinks - these parties are just dull dull dull dull dull." She gazed at me intensely. "I hope you've come to cheer me up."

I nodded. "I have done as you asked, and killed the Darth."

"Brilliant. Simply brilliant," Zash beamed. "You have performed magnificently, apprentice. None of this would've been possible without you."

I smiled. I was about to ask something, until Zash's holocommunicator came online. With a puzzled expression, she pulled it out and answered it. The person on the other end was an old Darth. Tall, slender and wrinkled, with a mechanical neck brace supporting his grey-haired head. I recognized his face, but couldn't remember the name. All i knew was that this man was recently promoted to the Dark Council, which meant that this call was serious business.

"Lord Zash," the man said sternly.

"Darth Thanaton!" Zash exclaimed, feigning intoxication. "I'm honored."

I slowly stepped back. "Don't let me interrupt you," I said.

"Don't go anywhere just yet, apprentice," Zash told me. "This call won't take long, and I have some further instructions for you." She turned her attention back to Thanaton. "As I said, my Lord, I'm honored, but why call me?"

"You have nerve, Zash - nerve. But I thought you were smarter," he said.

"With all respect, Darth Thanaton, I don't know what you're talking about," she responded.

"Don't play ignorant with me, Zash," Thanaton demanded. "Skotia's dead, and you killed him."

That didn't take long, I thought.

"Skotia?" Zash asked, surprised. "Dead? That's the first I've heard of it. When did this happen?"

"Just now, Zash - and you know it," Thanaton said impatiently. "What did you expect to gain? His position? His title? You know it doesn't work that way. Where's your discretion?"

"Discretion? I've been at this party for ages." Zash giggled. "I may have had a little much to drink, but I'm fairly certain I haven't murdered anyone." She paused. "Though I have always fancied Skotia's chambers - so much more shelf space."

"Zash!" Thanaton interrupted, visibly annoyed. "I don't want to have this conversation by holo. Report to my chambers immediately."

"Yes, Darth Thanaton. "It will be my pleasure," Zash cheerily responded as Thanton disconnected.

I frowned. "Are we in trouble?" I asked.

"Give me time to talk to Thanaton and then meet me in Darth Skotia's chambers," Zash instructed. "And don't worry - you've played your part, now it's time for me to play mine." She smiled, and put a hand on my shoulder. "We did it, apprentice."

I bowed as she left, before taking a seat at the bar. Ordering a drink, I took a minute to reflect on what I'd done. Skotia was probably right, Zash had spent years planning his death. Sending me into the slave camps to find a Trandoshan relic, storming Lord Grathan's estate to obtain a cybernetics neutralizer, neither of those could just be concocted on a whim. Despite all of that planning, I still had to take him down myself, which was somewhat disappointing. Had I already grown that strong, or was Skotia not as challenging an opponent as Zash had made him out to be? I had no idea.

"Zash was smart," Nox declared, taking a sip of his drink. "She was unliked, yes, but she was smart. She could create crazy plans, negotiate with skill and grace, and found all sorts of forbidden knowledge." He sighed. "I almost miss her."

Khem glared at Nox. "It had better stay 'almost.'" he demanded.

Nox smiled. "If there was ever any doubt, you wouldn't be standing here right now."

"What's the story behind Khem's problems with Zash?" someone asked.

Nox finished his drink. "At first, the same problem everyone else had with her: she was anti-tradition, an outcast of sorts. Khem had fond memories of his time with Tulak Hord, so anything that deviated from that perfection was seen as a liability," Nox explained. "There are more reasons, but I'll get to those later. More immediately, there's the story of how Zash handled her meeting with Thanaton."

I entered Skotia's old chambers, only to find two unknown Sith Lords skulking around. One wore red robes, with short-cut black hair. The other wore purple robes, with slightly longer brown hair. If they were here, it meant word of Skotia's death had travelled faster than I expected, and these two were here to find out more about it. I calmly strode inside, hoping to find out more.

"There!" the purple-robed one, Lord Kirnon, said. "There he is! Lord Zash's apprentice. Surely he knows."

"He wouldn't tell us if he did," the other one, Calaverous, responded.

Khem shook his head. "More prattle. It hurts the ears."

Kirnon shrugged. "Still, it doesn't hurt to ask, does it?"

'Let it rest, Kirnon," Lord Calaverous sighed.

He shook his head. "I will not let it rest. Everyone knows Lord Zash was at the party when Skotia was killed, and yet everyone knows she killed him." Kirnon paced uncomfortably. "She somehow devised a way of being in two places at once. If I let it rest, we'll all be dead."

"Don't be silly," I said, with a malicious smile. "I'm the one who killed Skotia."

"Now you're the one who's being silly," Kirnon sighed.

"I wouldn't underestimate him, Kirnon," Calaverous admitted, looking at me. "He looks dangerous enough to me."

"But a Dark Lord of the Sith!" Kirnon exclaimed. "He's only an apprentice, Calaverous." Kirnon turned back to me. "Please, you must tell me - how did Zash kill Darth Skotia?"

I shook my head. "Lord Zash is innocent," I said flatly.

"Clearly he's not saying anything, Kirnon," Lord Calaverous pointed out. "Let it rest."

"Fine, then. Fine. But I'm warning you, Calaverous," Kirnon said. "Lord Zash is becoming too powerful, too quickly."

I smiled. She's not the one you should be worried about.

"Since when has anyone in the history of the Sith committed a murder so brazenly, yet make it appear that she was somewhere else the entire time?" Kirnon shook his head, as the two Lords walked out of the room. "It's enough to wake the Emperor, I tell you."

I was amazed at how much chaos Zash's bold plan had caused. Her rival was dead, and no matter how hard people tried to pin the murder on her, nobody could. I knew then, more than ever, that I was extremely lucky to be Zash's apprentice. I had to remind myself that this was only a preliminary plan, and that Zash's true goals would be explained soon. Satisfied, I continued into Zash's office.

"Perfect timing, apprentice," Zash said. "I just met with that insufferable Thanaton, and I have good news."

I smiled. "Everyone's talking about how you killed Skotia," I said.

"Good. Let them talk," Zash responded. "They can't prove anything - and it'll drive them mad." She smiled back at me. "And my meeting went exactly as I planned. You would've been proud of me. I went in to a reprimand - but I emerged a Darth."

I nodded. "You've certainly earned it," I told her.

"I did more than you realize," Zash said. "Nevertheless, what's important is that we are finally free to act."

And I'm one step closer to obtaining this power I've been promised, I thought.

"Remember that map you found on Korriban that pointed us to the power of Tulak Hord?" she asked. "The first piece of that artifact, that power, is here on Dromund Kaas. This piece is in the deepest chamber of the Dark Temple. Skotia always hoarded the key to the chamber like a Hutt hoards his credits." She paused, admiring the Skotia-less view. "Now I have Skotia's title, his chambers, his research and his key. He always said I would enter the Dark Temple over his rusting corpse."

I smiled, appreciating the irony of the situation.

"However," she continued. "I won't be the one to go into the Dark Temple - you will."

My smile faded. "Why me?" I asked.

"Her breath stinks of Sith lies," Khem answered.

"Before I went to Korriban to choose an apprentice," Zash explained, ignoring Khem, "A furious apparition awakened in the Dark Temple, implacable in its anger, murdering all who trespassed on the innermost chamber. But I had a dream. An apprentice of low origin humbled himself before the apparition, pacifying it. That's why you and your peers were singled out."

"Wait," I interjected. "You want me to bow to this apparition?"

"You must go into the Temple and face the apparition, and when you do, I believe that your humility will be the key," Zash continued. "Still, I want you to know - I'm not certain you're the one from my dream. I fear I may be sending you to your death."

"Don't worry about me, master," I said, feeling no fear from the notion of this spirit.

"You're right. You retrieved the holocron on Korriban when no one else could - if that's not proof of your destiny, I don't know what is." Zash breathed a sigh of relief. "Tulak Hord's power awaits us both. We must not lose sight of this goal."

I nodded, and Zash picked something up off her desk.

"Use this glyph to enter the innermost chamber of the Dark Temple," Zash instructed. "Humble yourself before the apparition, and bring back the piece of the artifact."

"Even the great Tulak Hord did not tangle with spirits," Khem warned. "Tread lightly, little Sith."

I nodded at Khem and bowed to Zash, before leaving.

On the shuttle to the Imperial Outpost near the Dark Temple, I tried to think about what I knew about the location. Unfortunately, that wasn't much. The only thing I could think of was it, like many others, was a place of tremendous dark Force power. From this I determined that there would definitely be people guarding it, also infused with dark side energy. I sighed, and shook my head. It looked like this was going to be another one of those missions.

Upon arrival, I could see many worried Imperial soldiers and officers standing around. They told me that this was as far as they could safely expand before the Temple's dark Force energy was able to corrupt them. Despite multiple warnings to not press forward, I continued down the path. At first, I noticed nothing, seeing as the entire planet radiated dark Force energy. However, when I got closer to the Temple entrance, I saw the corrupted.

There were hundreds, maybe thousands of corrupted Imperials, bandits, even a few Sith. They all seemed to be in a trance, their minds completely overwhelmed by the aura. Khem, to my surprise, was able to use the dark Force powers he possessed to hide us from view, allowing us to sneak past the corrupted. I looked around and saw that even some of Dromund Kaas' wildlife was under the influence, and shuddered. What kind of death trap was Zash trying to lure me into?

We approached the final stairway that led to the Temple's entrance, and finally got to see it in person. Its size was larger than that of the Korriban Academy, however its colours much less vivid. A single shade of grey seemed to envelop the building, statues and ground surrounding it. As we walked up to the doorway, a single Sith in our path seemed to look right at us. My suspicions were confirmed when it activated two lightsabers and leapt right at me. As I reached for my weapon, I saw Khem's vibrosword go flying towards our attacker. It impaled its chest, sending it flying backwards, until it hit the ground, dead. We continued walking, Khem retrieving his vibrosword as we went.

The inside of the Temple had an ominous green glow. I could see the lanterns hanging from the ceiling, though I did not know what powered them. The inner chamber was filled with more statues, some of which were falling apart, and even more corrupted people. The dark side energy was so strong in here, however, that Khem's manipulation of it rendered us completely invisible. The chamber Zash talked about was on the second floor, so we went up another flight of stairs, then into the corridor.

As we walked down the hallway, mysterious voices whispered all around us. I could not sense a direction; these voices must be coming from the apparition I came here to appease. With slight difficulty, we pressed forward, the voices refusing to stop. The corridor ended in a dead end, a wall obstructing the path. Retrieving the glyph Zash gave me, I held it out towards the wall. It rose up into the ceiling, the secret chamber now available. The voices suddenly stopped, which worried me the most.

The chamber was mostly empty, save for a chest in the center, surrounded by some runes. While I had no doubt that the artifact was in there, I saw no spirit. I looked around, trying to find it, but the Temple's energy made it hard to feel with the Force. Uncomfortable, I walked towards the chest. As I passed into the inner ring, I felt a cold breeze from behind me. Turning around, I saw only Khem, guarding the entrance. However, when I turned back around, I saw the spirit.

Its armor and mask were unrecognizable, presumably from a different time. Without hesitation, the spirit raised its arms, and the Force threw me into the air. Floating for only a moment, I could feel the Force pulling me down, and my body slammed into the ground. Khem ran towards me, the spirit standing in front of the chest. Pushing myself up onto one knee, I extended my arms, throwing rage-fueled lightning at the spirit. It passed right through, crashing into the wall behind it. The spirit raised its hand again, and I could feel the air escaping my lungs. Rising off the ground, I clutched my neck, the spirit using Force choke.

"Yes - yes! I have been waiting for you," the spirit said. "I felt your movements in the Force, and they stirred me from my nightmare."

The spirit lowered its hand, and I dropped to the ground. Gasping for air, I could barely stand up.

"I am still to weak to leave, but I knew if I made myself enough of a nuisance, you would eventually come," the spirit continued. "The Sith throw flesh endlessly at what they cannot control. And here you are, blood of my blood. Here you are."

I slowly stood up, my entire body in terrible pain. "What are you talking about?" I asked, barely able to breathe.

"Ah, you don't know me," the spirit sighed, sounding disappointed. "Has our family fallen so far that the son of my sons does not know the name of Kallig, the name so revered in the annals of the Sith?"

I had heard the name Kallig before, while doing some research into the Sith. However, I didn't remember the name from reading texts, but from somewhere long before that.

"You are my descendant - by how many generations, I do not know," the spirit told me. "But know this: Your strength in the Force has awakened me from my stupor."

Of course! Lord Kallig was the Sith that my father always talked about, back when we were still slaves. He was an immensely powerful Sith Lord, strong in lightsaber and Force. However, he was betrayed, his name forgotten, and his family sold into slavery. My father always told me that some of Kallig's power remained in one of his descendants, and that they would possess more power than anyone could have ever imagined. Perhaps my father was on to something.

"What do you mean I awakened you?" I asked, still somewhat unsure.

"When the weaklings of this planet trespassed my tomb, I rose, resuming my former life. This Temple became my kingdom, and I was once more a Lord of the Sith," Kallig explained, seeming much more amiable now. "But when you first grasped the hilt of your lightsaber, I knew that my hour had come and gone - that your strength, not mine, would return our family to glory."

"But I'm a former slave!" I exclaimed. While I really wanted to believe this spirit, I still had many doubts about who he was - or even who I was.

"That is my shame," Kallig admitted. "I was once one of the greatest Lords of the Sith. If I'd been wiser, I could have secured my family's greatness." He looked away from me, unable to keep eye contact. "But I let down my guard and was betrayed by a man called Tulak Hord, whom I trusted as a friend."

"And yet you speak as if alive," Khem growled. "I would serve my master well to correct that."

"Ha! Your master is dead, beast. You serve the child of Kallig now." He turned to face me. "Flesh of my flesh, you should teach your servant to obey."

If Kallig and Tulak Hord really were at odds, then it would do me well to keep Khem in my service. "I defeated him once. I can control him," I responded.

"Such confidence. Such pride." Kallig shook his head. "In restoring our bloodline to glory, you must not make the same mistake. Treachery is the Sith's endless game - you must win it."

I nodded. "Don't worry about me."

Kallig nodded back. "Beware your master, beware your apprentice. Never be taken by surprise. Do these things, and you will be unstoppable," he told me. "But you have not come to see me: you have come for the artifact I managed to wrest from Tulak Hord before he died."

Kallig Force lifted the artifact from the chest, and tossed it to me. I caught it, looking over the markings etched into it.

"Take the artifact, but be careful," Kallig warned. "I know not what it does. Only that betrayal follows it everywhere."

I looked up at Kallig. "I'll use caution," I responded.

"I hunger for the day when our power will be restored. We will meet again." Kallig slowly faded into the Force after finishing.

"Ironically, Kallig was the source of the massive dark Force energy within the Temple," Nox explained. "Now that he's stopped, I'm working on creating an expedition within the Temple, hopefully to educate certain people on the history of the Sith."

"Can we go see the Temple?" someone asked. The rest of the group buzzed with excitement.

"Kallig's influence still possesses most of the inhabitants of the Temple," Nox responded. "I've sent a request to the Dark Council head of the military division, however I don't know when the Temple will be cleared out."

The buzz died, and the group became much less enthusiastic.

"Don't worry, I have one more surprise for you all," Nox said. "We're heading back to the spaceport, so keep listening."

As I left the Temple, I felt my holocomm buzz. I turned it on to see Darth Zash.

"Apprentice! Do you have the artifact yet?" she asked.

I nodded. "I have the artifact in hand."

"Of course. Brilliant. Magnificent!" Zash sounded genuinely excited. "Hurry back to Skotia's - I mean, my - chambers. I cannot wait to see this artifact, and I have a surprise for you."

I raised my eyebrows. 'What kind of surprise?" I asked.

"Trust me - you'll love it," Zash reassured me. "Now, hurry back with the artifact! I can't wait!"

I had a lot to think about on the way back to Zash's office. If Kallig really was my ancestor, and I was truly destined for unimaginable power, then what role did Zash play in it all? She couldn't be on good terms with Kallig, otherwise he would know what the artifact did, and wouldn't have guarded it so violently. So far, the exercises Zash had sent me on were making me stronger, so I continued to trust her. Hopefully I wasn't leading myself into a trap.

"Fantastic, apprentice. You're just in time for my surprise," Zash said as I entered. "Since you left for the Dark Temple, I've been reading and reading and reading. Skotia's chambers are a treasure trove of research. Who would've thought a man like that had such a curious intellect?"

I stood there, waiting. While I appreciated information as much as the next guy, I didn't quite share Zash's enthusiasm.

"It almost makes me regret that we had to kill him," Zash continued. "But let me see this wonderful artifact you found!"

"If you knew what I had to go through to get this…" I muttered.

"It was a challenge, and you overcame it wonderfully," Zash reassured me. "But tell me, how did you manage to pacify the apparition?"

I decided it was best to protect Kallig's identity for the time being. " First I took a magnet, and then a chance cube…" I lied.

"Fair enough. Your secrets are your own. I, however, will not be so guarded," Zash responded. "I have been studying Tulak Hord's artifacts for some time, and this one you've brought back confirms everything I've suspected." She looked at it, then nodded. "These artifacts will change everything, apprentice - you, especially. They will make you more powerful than you could imagine. I have foreseen it."

'I don't know," I responded, thinking back to what Kallig told me. "I can imagine quite a bit of power."

"Never such as this," Zash told me. "This artifact is one of five that together describe a peculiar ritual used by the great Tulak Hord when he conquered the Dromund system. Until I have all the artifacts, I cannot understand the full nature of the ritual, but I have foreseen that you alone will wield the ritual's power."

I could feel Khem seething behind me, hearing Zash talk about his old master.

"The artifacts are scattered across the galaxy; some hidden by Tulak Hord himself, and some wrenched from his hands by betrayers," Zash explained. "Document's in Skotia's effects points to Balmorra and Nar Shaddaa, but I will need to do more research to locate the other two."

I nodded. "I'll get started right away," I told her.

"It's not much to go on, but I'll continue to do more research behind the scenes to get you more information," Zash promised. "But first - I believe I mentioned a surprise earlier. If you're going to find these artifacts, you'll need a ship and so I have ordered you one. All you need to do is pick it up."

"For me?" I asked, very much surprised. "You're too kind."

"Yes, you've earned it," Zash smiled. "You'll find your ship at the spaceport. Then, the galaxy is yours to explore. "Don't forget to contact me when you reach each planet for more information on the artifacts' locations. Good luck, and good hunting."

"She will never command the power of Tulak Hord," Khem declared. "Remember, little Sith, I am always hungry."

"And here it is," Nox announced, gesturing towards the ship. "A Fury-class interceptor, this ship has served me well."

"And it's yours?" one apprentice asked.

"Can we go inside?" another one also asked.

"Go inside, get prepared for travel," Nox instructed. 'But don't touch anything, or Andronikos will have your head."

The children excitedly ran towards the ship, eager to explore. Nox stood back, chuckling.

I was their age once, Nox thought. If they all have as much of an appetite for knowledge as I do, the Sith might yet survive.

The thought comforted Nox as he followed the children onto the ship.