Chapter 1
Rise of an inquisitor
His hand was sunk deep into the dirt. It was as if the physical touch of the ground would enhance and connect him to his enemy. Low to the ground and breathing hard Sekaal could feel the force, stronger now than he ever had in his life. The dark side saturated him to the very core. He could feel it permeate every fibre of his being until he could feel himself drawn into it, instead it being drawn into him. Until now, such power was something he could only dream of. But at this moment in time he was more one with the force than any being. Even the emperor himself.
Standing tall, he brought his saber pike from his back, and into his left hand. And gripping it tight, engaged its extending mechanism which both lengthened the hilt and ignited the weapon to reveal its umbral toned crimson blade. And twirling it in a show of acrobatic finesse he launched into a direct attack towards his enemy. And at the last moment, he leapt into the air with the full power of the force behind him. Lifting him higher than he thought possible he spun a full turn and at the apex of his elevated spin, braced his weapon, blade pointed down and charged with a surge of force lightning and hurled it toward the ground where the jedi, already scorched and tattered from the onslaught, stood poised to take the blow which was tearing its way toward him like a bolt of lightning. And as the jedi leapt back to avoid the blow, was further hurled back when the weapon struck the ground and erupted its surged explosion which hurled the jedi back. Too quickly to shield himself from the blow, the jedi hit the ground head first, and within seconds his neck snapped and he lay dead.
Sekaal landed to the ground on one knee amidst the debris of the impact and using the force, brought his now inactive weapon to his hand. Examining the structure of the weapon he noticed he had perhaps brought too much to bear upon his trusted blade. But had he not he may have been left unarmed and perhaps it would have been he, who now lay lifeless upon the floor.
Once he replaced the weapon on its magna-steel harness and looking upon his fallen enemy, allowed himself a moments pause. And in that pause he suddenly felt heavy. And taking a seat on a risen slab of rock, he sat looking at the body for a moment.
"you fought honorably… For a Jedi." he said.
"but the battle it seems, was in my favour from the moment you engaged me."
Never before had Sekaal felt himself so drawn into his own power that he felt the surge of fatigue once he had come back to himself. And as he looked at his hand, marked and shaking from the tremor of power he had unleashed, knew for the first time that he was destined for greatness.
2 months later
Laden Maas, the otherwise unassuming guise which Sekaal took when visiting the core world of coruscant, was weaving his way through the sky rise platform's which connected the upper levels of the republics capital buildings. During his time here he was seen to be nothing more than a mining overseer and part time geologist. But when not in this guise he was known as Sekaal. Beyond that, he never revealed himself to others within the sith order. Knowing that revealing much of one's identity left you open to attacks both physical and otherwise at the hands of your enemies.
On this particular day Maas was under a covert mission to ascertain how much information had been gathered on him during his time within the mid rim. It was during one of his forays into the rocky terrain of Anghus Prime that he had encountered a lone Jedi stalking his trail. And after a furious battle which resulted in him needing to reconstruct his faithful lightsaber pike that he discovered several datapads documenting much of his history and current events within the systems of the empire and Republic. It was upon this discovery that he decided to restrict his movements and had adopted the persona he now wore as a means of covering his tracks.
He made his way down into one of the service descents at the underside of a nearby law building that he came to the rendezvous he had arranged a few days earlier on corellia.
"Foreman Maas." said Corvis Knole, a corellian sub agent of the cartels in the mid and outer rim worlds. He had acquainted himself to Sekaal two years prior and had become something of a confidant of Sekaals. Some might even say a friend of sorts.
"dispense with the pleasantries. I have little patience of late and lesser still for dealings such as these. Now kindly speak so that I can quit of this place."
Knole, visibly disgruntled by Sekaals remarks quickly sniffed, and exhaled before he spoke again.
"as you wish my lord. Its your credits after all. So the deal is this. From what I could get from the local Republic comm stations, and what little underworld Intel I can find, you're a sought out target by the Jedi themselves. So that Jedi you killed wasn't a hired blade like you assumed, but one of the interested party."
Sekaals eyes narrowed. And tightening his fist he spoke.
"and why precisely am I a target of the Jedi? Aside from being a member of the sith order I'm not affiliated with any of the visible threats posed. Or one of the dark council. What more have you found? Or have I wasted what few credits I could on such an endeavour?"
Corvis',corellian demeanor made him unsettled, and shifting in his position continued his report.
"well as it happens they do view you as a some sorta threat, at least potentially anyway. My informants in the Corp and the cartels told me they're interested in your ability with the force? I think that was the general jist. As well as your weapon. They think its unusual for a sith to use a weapon that's so long and unwieldy. But then I ain't a Jedi or a Sith, so what would I know about lightsabers and the force? "
Sekaal smirked.
"indeed. And it is precisely that reason that I chose you for this job. You have performed admirably. I find it odd however that they find my weapon of interest. When so many of their own possess similar weapons."
At this knoles ears pricked in realisation.
"well that's the thing, they're interested in how you came to master a weapon that's normally only ornamental rather than a practical one. Especially when you think that the sith don't use them. At least none I've ever heard of."
Sekaals eyes full of intrigue at so mundane a prospect drifted back to his apprenticeship under Darth Zash and her supposed 'lessons' which were in truth mere errands she had him run for her while she schemed to usurp power which she had no claim to.
How when he had been her apprentice for only a short while he had dreamt of the weapon. Its extending handle. The darkened blade. And how he would construct the weapon using the rarest metals known to the sith.
"the crystal." he said after a while.
"I found on the ecliptic world of Umbrasyl. A darkened world orbiting a star which was being consumed by a black hole. The exuding anti matter pouring into the crystalline caves imbued them with sith energy. Making them more potent than regular lightsaber crystals. Mine in particular-" he touched a hand on the hilt which he had concealed under an intricate poncho which he wore as Laden Maas.
"I found ensconced within a rather deep cave system in the Orthanax abyssal. I used a small vibro dagger to pry the pocket open, and out feel this particular crystal. And immediately the pocket dulled and calcified. Almost as if it would only allow the one ingot to be produced. And in that moment… Picking up this unassuming piece of crystal, I knew. I saw. That my destiny was not simply that of an ordinary sith apprentice. I was destined for more. And so I gathered all the materials I needed and I began the construction of my new lightsaber. And in so doing I forged myself anew. More than Zash ever believed I could be. And in the completion I found myself being guided by the force. And you're right. No other sith has bore a weapon as unique as this. And yet I do not recall any sith ever having branched into more than one area of expertise as I have. Delving into the sacred mysteries like the sorcerers, the cunning subvertive skill of the assassins. And the brute efficient strength of the juggernaut and marauder. All of my lessons culminating in the deadliness with which I have risen. The sith of this age are no more than prattling senators and back street rogues."
As he spoke, Knole began to notice some of the surrounding cannisters of fluid begin to creak and groan. And he knew that it was Sekaal, or rather the force exerting itself on the area in response to Sekaals growing anger and fury.
"something bothering you?" Knole said nervously.
"I am simply perturbed Knole. My movements are restricted, and for what? Technological envy? It seems odd that the jedi would concern themselves with such trivial matters. And if they wish to know the origin of my weapon they need but ask. And I shall demonstrate how intricate and powerful this blade of mine can be."
Turning, Sekaal began to pace toward the stairs leading back into the busy walkways above. Stopping short of the initial ascent he turned, and facing Knole said.
"gather more Intel Knole. Something tells me that this isn't the only time I shall be needing you. And it would be beneficial if you were to hand with advance knowledge should I need the upper hand in this situation."
Knole nodded. And began to make his way over to a small hatch which lead topside to where his sky car was waiting. And within moments Sekaal was alone. And taking a moment he closed his eyes and reached out with the force. What he was searching for he wasnt certain. Just that he knew he was in need of something.
Some time later, Sekaal was once again adorned in his more comfortable attire of hooded upper garments and trousers with knee high boots and short gloves which revealed two intelibands which fed him information from many corners of the known sectors. It was important now that he be kept apprised of the situation which now occupied his time. In the following hours since his departure from capital space, Sekaal had received three encrypted reports from Knole regarding any intel he could gather regarding Sekaal. And interestingly, it had become apparent that some of the Jedi had engaged in training to determine whether this newfound style could be replicated in a less aggressive manner. The notion amused Sekaal, for never had he heard of the Jedi attempting to copy sith methods before. Owing to the fact that all sith practices stemmed from passion and aggression.
As Sekaal rose from the chair in front of the terminal he began to make his way to the cockpit of the ship which was making its way through hyperspace to the remote planet of dantooine where, decades earlier the Jedi had established an academy. Little did they know that he had made a base of operations in a small valley region in the Eastern plains.
Setting his ship down within the open top cavern entrance he made his way down the ramp. And connecting a power conduit to the dormant generator, powered it on and suddenly the dark cavern became illuminated with a warm light and several holo devices, a holo terminal and storage computer activated.
"you have left me waiting some time." said an all too familiar voice.
Sekaal turned slowly. The voice always both chilled, and boiled his blood. The voice came from the imposing stature of his one time companion and friend, Alegras Korr. An old friend indeed. For in the early years of his solitude as a sith inquisitor, Sekaal and battled and debated with Alegras in an ever ending cycle of rivalry and submission. Mostly on Alegras' part. For though she was an adept student of the sith, she however lacked somewhat on the battlefield. For she had a handicap in the form of only having one eye. The other, Sekaal discovered had been forcibly removed by her master for failing to see an imminent attack on their ship and as a result was deprived of the eye. And though she was still exceptionally gifted, she had lost some of her prowess in the process.
"as ever alegras, your capacity for stealth is uncanny for one who has but one eye. How did you find me?" Sekaal said after aprasing her, observing a somewhat noticeable urgency in her tone and demeanour.
"something wieghs at your mind Alegras. Pray tell, enlighten me." He said as he sat atop a small cannister of durasteel ingots.
"the masters, Sekaal. They have sensed… something. coming from Anghus prime. A world they are told, you visited not too long ago. And before that they sensed a tremor coming from Umbrasyl. So I felt it prudent to seek you out. And believe me you've not made it easy." she said, dabbing away sweat from her brow.
"that was the idea. And for good reason Alegras. Are you certain no-one followed?" Sekaal replied.
"of course Sekaal. I'm no amateur after all. If I recall, it was I who taught you some of my methods. So if I may, where have you been all this time? True no one within the order has even noticed your absence, however sooner or later you will be noticed."
Sekaal sat silently for a moment before he responded. And Alegras knew he had something to say. But he hesitated, something he didn't normally do without cause.
"it would seem I already have, Alegras. It is not safe here. I must vacate this sanctum and find another. I would advise, not to follow me. Mine is a life of solitude and reflection my old friend. However it seems my meditations have been somewhat halted because of this unforeseen occurrence. And now you say even the sith masters are involving themselves? My my, who knew I was so popular? I find it flattering… If a little invasive." he chuckled.
"this is serious Sek. the dark council are already contacting some of the imperial Fleet in an effort to locate you for questioning." she snapped.
'Sek' was a name Alegras had for Sekaal. Simply because she was used to people who had more than one name. So in an effort of familiarity, she pronounced the first section of his name as a stand in for a first name. It was something he found curious at times. And irritating at others. Nonetheless he allowed her the habit.
"perhaps so my dear. However I must keep my movements to a minimum for now so that I may better understand what path I may take. This isn't as simple as hastily raising a lightsaber to defend my actions."
Sekaal stood up and made his way to a small chiller positioned on a small ledge alongside other instruments and implements. And as he did so, Alegras caught sight of his saber, which up until that moment she hadn't noticed. And in its full view she began to see why both the Jedi and the Sith masters were so intrigued by Sekaal and his unique saber staff. She couldn't take her eyes from the gleam of the metal, the intricacy of the design layered within it.
"is that… The saber the Jedi have been trying to replicate?" Alegras asked, unusually unnerved at its sight. Never had she been afraid of a lightsaber. Not even when her master, Darth Desaalus had used the tip of his own to scorch hers out. Making her once beautiful features a now mere memory.
"it is-" he replied.
And in a flash both metaphoric and literal, has the blade ignited and pointing at Alegras' chest. Immediately she drew her own blade. And at that the two sith were engaged in a sparring match. Sekaal launching himself with both unmitigated speed and ferocity. And Alegras able to do nothing except parry his blows, one after the other.
Sekaal lunged forward, sweeping his blade in a wide arc as Alegras swept under it and with the grace of ribbon, wound herself down and up as Sekaal spun and leapt into the air to follow up the sweep with an upward slice. Anticipating the move with mere seconds to spare, she spun to the side before raising one hand and with a push of her power, flung Sekaal back and into the nearby wall. Fortunately for Sekaal he managed to use the force to cushion and reorient himself so that he could hit the wall feet first and rebound into a front roll and back to his feet.
Rising to his full height he raised the blade so that one end pointed toward the wall. And began to twirl and spin in an almost perfect ball of black and red light. Alegras, poised and ready, brought her blade up in both hands at the side of her scarred face and pointed the blade at Sekaal as he advanced forward. And suddenly they both swung their blades and halted end to end in front of each others heads.
