[Short Stories] - Rise Of The New ...

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STAR WARSRising StarsBy Brendon J.WahlbergThe fires of revolution sweep across the galaxy, calling all freedom fighters to stand against the Empire. Alliance agents Tank Boma and Shally Edrin are ready to embark on a mission to save vital new starships for the Rebellion.But there are other, darker calls to be answered. For too long, the Order of the Sith has lain dormant. A voice from the past summons Darth Vader to resurrect the ancient evil.Above the ocean world of Calamari, the stage is set for the confrontation between the forces of freedom and the students of darkness�PROLOGUEThe vast arrowhead shape of the Super Star Destroyer Executor hung in space above the verdant moon of Yavin, its cityscape hull glittering with thousands of lights. One tiny light detached itself from the rest and fell away towards the cloudy jungle world below. The tri-winged shape of the Imperial Lambda-class shuttle gave it the aspect of an improbable bird, hunting for metallic prey in the misty trees blurring past beneath it. The shuttle's destination was a large clearing next to a cluster of towering stone ruins. The predatory ship cleared the last of the great trees and gently drifted down among an orderly group of assault shuttles and TIE fighters. The clearing was a hive of activity, full of stormtroopers and officers hurrying to pick up the pieces of the recent Imperial fiasco. The ancient temple which hulked above all of them had been the main Rebel base from which a successful attack on the Death Star had been launched. By all rights, it should have been the Rebels' tomb as well.After the battle of Yavin, an Imperial blockade commanded by Admiral Griff had pinned the Rebels down while the Executor was completed. It had suited Lord Vader to annihilate them personally with his impressive new flagship. But the Rebels had had two strokes of good fortune. First, the planet of Calamari had gone into open revolt and attacked Griff's blockade while Yavin base was evacuated. Second, Griff had obstructed Lord Vader's attack on the Rebel fleet, seeking to win the glory for himself. The Admiral had paid for his foolishness with his life, but the Rebel fleet had escaped from Yavin.The Executor had proceeded to the Yavin system to sift the ruins for some clue to the Rebels' destination. Stormtrooper boots now echoed in the stone hallways and empty hangars of the Massassi Great Temple, where once alien feet had walked. A signal alert suddenly brought the soldiers to attention and sent them moving briskly out of the Temple and into the clearing, where they lined up in a precise formation. The ramp of the shuttle that had just landed lowered with a hiss of steam that mingled with the ground mists. Out of the billowing whiteness strode a figure of absolute blackness. Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, stood at the bottom of the ramp in silence, looking not at the ranks of troopers, but over their heads at the enormous ruins. He was pensive. Something stirred in him at the sight of the huge stepped pyramid. There was a sense of familiarity to it that disturbed him.The approach of General Veers distracted Vader. Veers was an eminently calm and practical man, who felt that as long as he did his duty efficiently, he had nothing to fear, not even the angry Sith Lord whose will had been so recently thwarted. Veers stepped up to gaze dispassionately at Vader's black breath mask."My Lord, the Rebel base is completely deserted," said Veers. "The computer banks have been swept clean of any information, and we have found no clues as to the destination of the Rebel fleet." Veers gestured at two stormtroopers who were holding a filthy, aged human slumped unconscious between them. "We found this survivor in a smaller temple across the river. He evidently stayed behind to set off concussion charges that destroyed a TIE bomber flight as it came in. We found him barely alive in the rubble of the building."Vader looked closely at the bleeding, gaunt old man in question, and felt a surprised recognition. "This is Jan Dodonna, one of the most important military commanders in the Alliance. There is a standing order for his execution. No doubt the Emperor will wish to speak with him. See that he remains alive, General."Veers saluted. "Yes, My Lord."Vader strode past as Dodonna was taken to a waiting assault shuttle. He was focused on the ruins again. There was something familiar about them. He could pick out vast carvings, eroded with time and barely visible amongst the crawling vines on the steep walls. Vader's eyes widened behind his polished mask. The carvings were old Sith symbols. But Vader had not heard of a Sith outpost existing in the Yavin system. The troops moving around him were unaware of their Commander's astonishment. Nor did they hear it when a low voice, sounding like the rumblings of a distant storm, spoke Darth Vader's name.Vader looked up sharply and reached out with the Force. He immediately pinpointed the source of the call, a long rectangular palace ruin across the river, its fallen stone blocks buried in the under growth. The Dark Lord left the clearing and the Imperial forces behind, and walked decisively into the jungle. The lush plant life parted before him at a touch of his mind, revealing the choked, muddy river just ahead. Before even a smear of mud could soil his gleaming boots, the Sith Lord rose silently into the air and glided over the meandering watercourse, settling in front of the foreboding palace entryway. He hesitated at the absolute darkness beyond, but something within it knew him and was calling to its own.Soon after he entered, he left the light behind. He found himself in a cold chamber, the great size of which was only felt. The small lights of his life support controls did nothing to illuminate the space around him. For a moment, there was only the slow sound of his mechanized breathing, then a bleak voice intoned, "Welcome, Lord Vader." There was a ripple in the darkness, and a purple glow was born there. The light grew, and condensed into a detailed human shape. It was a large man in archaic armor. His majestic face bore three parallel scars, and an odd symbol was on his forehead. The shimmering apparition regarded Vader with a hint of disdain. "So, this is what has become of the Dark Lord of the Sith," he said, staring at Vader's armor. "A cyborg, a cripple, kept alive only by machines. You're as much of a prisoner as I am, forced to exist in these four thousand year old ruins."Vader's lightsaber ignited at the same moment as his anger. The crimson blade pulsed hotly in front of the cold mocking spirit, dimming the figure's radiance with its own. "Who are you!" Vader demanded, his deep voice full of danger."I warn you, Lord Vader, do not think to attack me with that weapon in this place. I can channel enough power back through it to destroy you. This structure does more than maintain my existence; it is a focus for Sith magic that I myself constructed four thousand years ago, when I was Dark Lord of the Sith."Vader lifted his blade away. "You are Exar Kun.""Yes, it's good to be remembered," Kun smiled darkly. I have been wanting to speak with you about the order of the Sith, Lord Vader." The smile became a frown. "In particular, why it no longer exists!"Vader shut down his lightsaber. The purple light thrown off by Exar Kun glinted on his highly polished helmet as he stood immobile, his stare fixed on the accusing face before him. "They are all dead," he began, "killed in battle with the Jedi during the Emperor's purge-""Not killed," interrupted Kun sharply, "sacrificed by Palpatine for his own ends! And that left you alone, Dark Lord over no one!"Vader recoiled, offended at Kun's words, then collected his own dark dignity. "History teaches that your own defeat left nothing of the Sith either. The survivors went into hiding and their descendants lost much of your fabled knowledge and power. When I came to them, they were merely an order of monk archivists, keeping the remaining books of Sith lore...do not speak to me of failure, Exar Kun."Kun looked sullenly at Vader. "I know what happened to the Sith. I watched events transpire over the millennia, while I was trapped here. I know how far my followers fell. But because they didn't forget their former glory, they still had farther to fall. They had a prophecy that one day, a new Dark Lord would come to lead them to triumph.""They believed I was the one foretold," Vader said. "When I was saved by my Master and given a new body, they helped me to recover." He touched his mask. "They created this, in the image of the helm of a great Sith Warlord of the past.""That was Sar Maland, long before my time," said Kun impatiently, "a name to conjure lost conquests with. I am aware of what they hoped you would be. The problem was that some of the Sith became impatient for the prophecy to be fulfilled. Before you ever arrived, they went out from their monastery on Horuz and followed the guidance of the Force to find a young boy named Espaa. They took him, raised him, and trained him in the ways of the Sith." Kun paused, looking closely at Vader for any hint that he already knew this, and finding none. "That boy was not the one they had hoped for," Kun said flatly, turning away from Vader. "He surpassed the Sith quickly, but his goals were never to lead them. In some real way...the Force chose Espaa as the agent it wanted to work through. He became the greatest Master of the dark side. After that, he wanted no competition while he conquered the galaxy. He decided to use and destroy the Sith. You know I'm talking about Palpatine, don't you," demanded Kun, facing Vader once more.Vader struggled with what he was hearing. ... [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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