Continued from - Blood Red Crimson




-- The driving rain turned dirt to mud and if Yinchorr had one thing to offer, it was dirt. Everything was slowed by the rain. His men, and their captured Imperial prisoners, struggled against the muck to load their cargo skiffs. In the distance, landed neatly between two peaks, Dioan Silk could see the ship that would be his peoples salvation. The Action IV transport would free them from their isolation on this godless rock.

Silk was still grappling with the dream that had stolen his memory of the battle. He remembered the Imperial attack and getting his men prepared for battle. Everything was clear right up until the moment he had opened himself to the Force. They had with them a presence strong in the Force, a presence he had tried to seek out. Whatever it was had overcome him. He remembered the face.

In the far west a patch of blue sky opened. Silk and his men hoped it was a sign of clearing weather. Against the storm a thunderclap echoed across the basin.

Most of the Imperials lucky enough to have survived the battle had since been summarily executed save for those few officers they would require in getting off the planet. A hand full had quickly sworn allegiance to Silk on the threat of death. None of them would survive long.

He turned away from the basin towards the Temple where a muddy stream of men toiled to empty the caves of anything of value. A convoy of cargo lifters then followed the supplies over the ridge to their waiting vessel. Most of the hard labor had been assigned to the prisoners with a few Guardsmen set along their path to see that none escaped... though a few had tried.

"Another hour," spoke a red robed figure to Silks left. "We should make preparations at the ship."

Dioan Silk shook his head softly and pointed to the horizon.

"They destroyed our outpost. If this is a trap we have no way of knowing it. We will not be devided and felled."

The guardsmen bowed and departed. They would no more question him then they would have countered an order from Palpatine himself. There had been times of dissention during their long interment on Yinchorr. Not one mutiny had gone unpunished. Some had to be broken.

Though injured in the battle he now showed no signs of weakness or frailty. The Dark Lord Maim had instructed Dioan Silk in the art of draining the energy of others; consuming for ones own use. He now opened himself fully and drank in the life force of everyone around him. Soon he would be as strong as ever, if not stronger. Unlike the days of old it would be Dioan Silk who would keep that power for himself.

Five hundred of his men had gone into battle with the Imperials. Just under two hundred of his brothers had survived the battle. The enemy had even fewer survivors. Their prisoners were their slaves.

Most of the dead had been those brothers who had been assigned as replacements just before the Lord Maim imprisoned them on this rock. Unlike the Royal Guard under the rule of Emperor Palpatine these soldiers had been selected from thinner stock.

Confident in with the way matters were being handled, Dioan Silk moved into the deeper levels of the Temple.


***


He sat with his legs tucked neatly under himself, palms on his knees, and opened himself to the Dark Side.

The Temple had been home to Silks' Royal Guard for some time. It served as barracks, training facility and, spiritual center. Over the years they had developed a love/hate relationship with the place which they saw as their prison and sanctuary. It was carved from the very rock of Yinchorr itself. A series of warren-like caves dug deep into the planet with room enough for individual quarters for each man.

The place they called 'the Chamber' was to be found in the deepest levels of the Temple. This was their place of meditation. No sound could penetrate these walls, nor ambient light or smell. The Chamber was cherished.

Dioan Silk focused on the anger within himself and, using it, sought out the confusion that mocked him from inside. Through the darkness of his own soul images danced across his perceptions. None of it made any sense. He saw moments of carnage, he felt disembodied as he watched himself killing soldiers in blurry white armor. Smells and sounds came next but without any sense of chronology.

He began to feel frustrated at himself. Though he tried he could not force his anger to work against the impossible block that weighed upon him. Dioan Silk formed the image of a fist within his minds-eye and brought it crashing down on the invisible force that fought against him.

"You are not ready," spoke a voice in the darkness. Streaks of light spun frantically around him before resolving into a face.

"You," he declared.

"Do not be confused." The voice replied. "This is not about who I am."

Hands formed from the astral nothingness and closed around his metaphysical throat. A face loomed over him and it was not the face of his mysterious tormentor but the face of Dark Lord Maim. It opened its mouth and swallowed him whole. A million teeth closed around his limbs and split his skin. Intangible pain rocketed through his projected self.

A parade of shapes moved around him on the edges of perception. He knew these to be the ghostly shapes of those he'd killed in the name of Lord Maim. They cursed him with silent voices. Their lips moved and his soul burned.

He struggled against the biting teeth but gained no purchase. His hands grasped at nothingness.

"You are nothing without me," spoke the imagined voice of Maim. "I created you. I shaped you. Without me you are empty."

A flash of red, a beam of solid light, shot across him and split Dioan Silk in two. Each half reached for the other. The more they tried to rejoin one another the further apart they were dragged.

"Give up. Forget your plans to leave this place. You will wait for my return until the ends of the galaxy. You cannot escape me."

Lightning rippled across the broken halves of Dioan Silk ushered from the astral fingers of Lord Maim. The smell of burning flesh filled his nostrils.

"Your perceptions are flawed." The Sith Lord kicked at Silk. "You believe only what I tell you to."

"You will die before you abandon me!"

His tormentors attacked and Dioan Silk fell.


***


"Brother, you must wake."

The voice of another Guardsmen penetrated the darkness that had swallowed him up. Dioan Silk forced open his eyes and gazed up at the ceiling of the Chamber. Smoke had filled the room. His armor felt hot against his flesh and looking upon it he was puzzled to see streaks of burnt ash.

He had not changed since the attack. His cape was tattered and torn, burnt in places and smeared with blood in others. Blaster burns pock-marked his chest plate and, in some cases, left the burnt flesh below exposed to the open air.

"Brother, you must stand."

In spite of his haggard appearance Silk had to admit he had not felt so invigorated in a long time. His vision was still fresh in his mind and it confused him that such a horrible nightmare should give so much strength. He struck his blade against the stone and stood.

"Brother, we are prepared."

He nodded and followed the other out of the Chamber and back into the warrens. As they walked the other doffed his helmet and offered it to Silk in place of his broken shell. They exchanged no words. Before stepping from the tunnels into the Temple proper the other moved off along a side corridor leaving Silk to appear before them alone.

They roared. They cheered and shouted their approval. They praised Lord Silk.

"My brothers," declared the Sovereign Protector finding his voice strong. "Today we leave Yinchorr forever."

With that they began their exodus out across the open Yinchorri soil, bound for the ship that would ferry them off planet. Lord Silk walked at their head.

Thankfully, the rain had stopped.

Korriban Takeoff
Korriban

Continuation of Skull Session I


The different landscape of Korriban had taught Pravus many things, survival topping the list. The temple ruins on Korriban had taught Pravus many of the Sith’s secrets that he would soon unlock, even the artifacts that how filled a quarter of the cargo back. The cargo bay now had one holocron, ancient tablets, and books that he had taken from the temple’s on Korriban. Though, the greatest thing he got on Korriban was the young boy Eric Lancer. The boy was a banished Jedi youngling and managed to sneak on board with Pravus. He had… magical powers that amazed Pravus and soon he to learned from the small child.


Now with both of them taking all they needed from Korriban they would venture off into another world… Yinchorr.


A week before leaving Korriban, Pravus had been experiencing different vision’s. Telling him to go to Yinchorr to study under a man… he didn’t know his name. Only that the man was some sort of Guardian.


And now that they were leaving Korriban with everything they both learned they would aim to complete their training, or rather Pravus would. They boy brought to him a sense of responsibility that helped Pravus through those endless night’s of the terror that was Korriban. Even during their stay on Korriban, the boy had saved Pravus at least five times. Indeed, they had formed a strong bong together since they first met the day he landed on the dark planet. Pravus had taught the boy to be somewhat of a pilot and now he sat in the co-pilot chair of the YT-2400.


“Lets bring her up steady…” said, Pravus as they lifted from the surface.


They soon lifted off into the lower atmosphere. Pravus and Eric looked out the cockpit window and watched the church they were living in get smaller. The Valley of the Dark Lord’s were seen in the distance, an area all to familiar with both of them. In the distance you could see the scattered temple’s and church’s where they had set up camp when they would journey into the abyss. Eric turned to Pravus as he spoke…


“Pravus, this has been our home… will we ever come back?” said, Eric in a soft voice. Hoping for Pravus to answer his question with a sincere; Yes. Pravus turned back to Eric and smiled.


“Of course. Wherever we go is our home, and wherever we go we will come back to.” said, Pravus as the boy smiled and turned back to the controls. The ship began to pick up speed as they were nearing the outer-atmosphere. The heat began to surge throughout the hull of the ship.


“Initiate full thrusters.” said Pravus.


“Initiated” replied, Eric.


The once blue sky and beautiful white clouds now began to disappear as they entered the nothingness of space. The cold dark black of the abyss, many a few who would never even see the journey around the galaxy…. But now Pravus and Eric, they wanted to travel to all the worlds that possessed Dark and Light knowledge. They wanted to learn from everything in the galaxy. Now the ship began to float into the

abyss of space as Pravus and Eric unbuckled their seat strap.


“Alright. Eric, check the blaster shields are working properly. Many pirates storm these trade ways, never can be to sure. You three!” said Pravus as he motioned to the set of droids in the back of the cockpit.


“See to it that the hull isn’t damaged and check the hyperspace generator. We took a little beating on this old ship on take-off. And we need to get out of here soon before another ship spots us. Speed it up guys!” yelled Pravus as he sat back down checking the controls around him.


“Blaster Shields are working, Pravus.” replied Eric.


“Hull is proper, and hyperspace generator is working properly sir.” replied the droids.


“Well, then lets get the hell out of here. Set location to Yinchorr! Strap yourselves in, this is going to be a head rush!” yelled, Pravus.


Pravus grabbed the control stick as he wedged it forward to activate the hyperspace generator. The forward motion knocked their heads back into the headrest. Eric seemed to be enjoying the stars streak by the ship’s hull, his eye’s were clued to the class. Pravus just smiled as he watched Eric place his hands on the glass and follow the stars, using his imagination. Pravus un - strapped himself from the seat as he began to walk back into the innards of the ship.


“We have about one hour before we reach Yinchorr. You three droids! Go to the cargo hold clean & catalogue all the artifacts, there should be an artifact that is in a triangular shape… bring that directly to me before we land.” said Pravus as the droids nodded and began their task.


Eric soon got up as the star’s were no long in his imagination, he started to walk towards Pravus who was now preparing something for lunch. Eric had a smile as he watched Pravus make two sandwiches for them. The young boy was always using his imagination, something robbed from Pravus. Amazingly, the boy was wise beyond his young years. Teaching Pravus the Jedi technique of mediation, and telekinesis.


“Pravus, what are we going to find on Yinchorr?” said Eric with his wondering eye’s.


“Well… I’ve been having a lot of vision’s of Yinchorr, and finding a man who can help our quest for knowledge. I know it seems silly and stupid to rely on these vision’s… but we really have no other place to turn to, if you know what I mean. If the Agri Corporation finds us then we’ll be sent back to Bandomeer and then execution. Everyone other Empire should have some sort of contract with Agri Corps. And they would definitely side with the Corporation then us. And the Jedi would be outraged about you leaving Bandomeer.” said Pravus in a soft voice. The word Jedi really bothered Eric as they abandoned him after no master would accept him.


Pravus brought the food to the center table where they both sat down and began to eat. Moments later one of the three droids walked up to Pravus as he placed the red triangular object on the table.


“Sir, the artifact you requested has been cleaned and catalogued.” said the droid.


“good work.” replied Pravus as he just continued to eat. The object was a Holocron that he had found in the Valley of the Dark Lords or rather Eric had found. It would indeed help him through his ever lasting quench for knowledge.


“Pravus? I don’t know… I have a bad feeling about Yinchorr, like we will experience pain and suffering.” said Eric.


“I don’t think so Eric, I mean were totally safe if we go to Yinchorr. It might just be nothing, and it’s a planet not owned by the Empire or the Corporation. So were technically safe from any danger.” replied Pravus.


“Yeah, I guess your right.” said Eric.


The two finished eating as Pravus let out a burp. He wiped his hands with a napkin and picked up the holocron. It was almost transparent red, weird. However, Pravus had yet to figure out how to unlock its secrets within. Though, eventually he would. He placed the Holocron in his front pocket. Suddenly a beep came from the control panel, they were nearing Yinchorr in a few minutes.


“Eric, strap yourself in. You three (droids) ready for landing.” yelled Pravus as he started walking towards the captain’s seat. He quickly strapped himself into the chair. The once empty nothingness of space was soon filled with a planet of brown color. Storms were racing across the planet surface as they stopped out of hyperspace. The jolt of stopping had knocked their head’s back yet again.


“Well we made it. It seems a lot of storms are in this area, its going to be hard for us to make a safe landing…” said Pravus.


“Pravus, there! Its an opening in the clouds. We should be able to make it through there!” said Eric with enthusiasm.


“Good job, Eric. Lets bring her down.”

“It’s hard to imagine,” spoke one Imperial captive to another as they marched in file across the Yinchorr wasteland. “This place used to be alive and green; trees and plants.”

The younger officer turned looked out across the dust and dirt covered ridges they walked on. Nothing but desolate isolation surrounded them as far as the eye could see. In the distance he could spy the last edges of the Guard Temple, now little more then rubble and roiling smoke. The Royal Guard had blown it up as they made to leave for the cruiser.

“There was a city here,” added the more senior of the two. “Now there’s nothing for a thousand kilometers. They saw to it that the Yinchorri would never came back to this side of the globe.”

Still silent, the young soldier simply nodded.

“It started with the Emperor. They built the Squall here. He blasted them into submission.”

The young solider, his eyes fixed on the horizon, seemed to have lost interest in the history lesson. His eager warriors’ spirit did not handle captivity well.

“Then the Dark Lord came along and finished the job. He had his Imperial Guard dominate the system in true Imperial fashion.” The old man rambled on. “They razed the whole continent and put up picket blockades around their remaining cities. Too bad they’d no idea they were making a prison for themselves.”

Were he paying closer attention the younger officer would have balked at his superior. He would have called him on his near-traitorous tone. His attention remained on the distant horizon.

“Now we’re going back to the ship where these guys will probably kill us. Sure, they’ll use us to offload their supplies and get an idea of the ships systems but no matter how you slice it; we’re as good as bantha tracks now, kid.”

“I don’t think so,” mumbled the younger of the two. “We attacked them. They’re Imperial just like us.”

Since the attack the young solider had not spoken. In captivity he had remained utterly silent and reverent when facing his captors. The others had begun to worry. The boy was clearly struggling to rationalize his loyalties.

“No, kid, they’re not.” He sighed. “These guys don’t respect order. They’re a splinter faction of the real Royal Guard loyal to a heretic. Dark Lord Maim was never my Emperor.”

“Shut up, old man,” snapped the younger. “You’ll get yourself killed, and probably me too. You do what you want to. Me; I’m getting a new job.”

He turned towards the nearest Guardsmen walking patrol on the edge of their file.

“I don’t think you’re alone.” He spoke to the helmeted figure while gesturing with bound hands at the next ridge. “Someone is up there.”

***

Dioan Silk tucked his body behind a rocky outcropping. His ceremonial armor, smeared with mud, blended well with the terrain. He had left both helmet and cape behind. A glaive and blaster were his only backup.

Beyond the rocks on the far side of a broken up riverbed two bodies lurked. He had tracked them through the force using methods taught him by the Dark Lord. His own signature within the force remained masked; virtually beyond the perceptions of his prey. A strong presence told him that they too were attuned to the force.

He fingered the activation toggle on his force glaive. Twenty meters of difficult, rocky terrain separated them and for all he knew they too would be hunting him. Echoes of the prisoner train echoed into the valley.

No one option seemed preferable to the next and no matter how he imagined it, even with the force as his ally, he could not see a way across the riverbed that would not reveal his position. There was simply nothing for it.

He would simply have to sit and wait.

“Good job, Eric. Lets bring her down.”


Those seven words soon echoed into the minds of both Pravus an Eric as they soon found themselves far from help. The journey into Yinchorr had been a disaster. The ship’s landing gear had malfunctioned and shields hadn’t held up into the atmosphere. The heat was nearly unbearable as their ship turned into an oven to which they were trapped. It would be better to die in the wreckage then burning inside the now created oven that was there ship.





A loud sound came booming from the main computer of the ship.


“ALERT! ALERT! ALL SYSTEM’S FAIL! ALERT! ALERT”


“What’s going on Pravus?” said, Eric in a hysterical tone of voice.


“The ships system has failed! Shit!” replied Pravus.


Pravus tried diverting what was left of the energy to the front of the ships hull, only to be unsuccessful. They were nearing a crash and death in under two minutes. Man did this suck. Pravus released the fuel cells as he continuously tried to open the bay hatches to slow the decline into the cold hard ground of death.


With the fuel cells drained from their tanks it would ensure no combustion when they crash landed… if they survived.


“PRAVUS! I… I… I…” said, Eric in a scared and frightened voice.


“SHUT UP, BOY! If we are to survive your panic will not help whatsoever! So, calm the fuck down so I can get this ship to work!” Replied Pravus in an angry and powerful voice.


It was now nearing under a minute and the ground was getting awfully clearly to Pravus. In a swift moment the flaps that reduced the speed of the ship for landing came open which slowed the decent down, but crashing now was inevitable. It’s a hard galaxy, that’s what comes to mind when your in a shit situation like the one Pravus & Eric are in right at this very moment.


Pravus quickly grabbed a hold of Eric as he strapped both of them into one seat. He held onto Eric as he covered him, hoping that his body would take most of the punishment and that Eric would at least survive to see the next day. Whoever was on that god forsaken planet might be able to help the boy if Pravus didn’t survive.


An then it was.


A loud BOOM! Had hit the muddy ground that was Yinchorr. The ship’s hadn’t slammed down, it had glided down as it found its stop from a large tree trunk that faced a river. With the fuel released, flames hadn’t engulfed the small ship.


Pravus body had broken through the glass shield upon impact. He was thrown away from Eric, his body was tossed around the ship at least five times before it came to a stop outside the small ship. Eric was soon to follow. His impact was not the least bit hard as Pravus took most of the beating. Both of them soon found themselves outside the ship, laying in mud.


Pravus nose was now bleeding as was his mouth. A few cuts here and there throughout his body as he was tossed around. The boy was in stationary condition as he could remain semi-consciousness. The man however could barely keep his eye’s open as he just glanzed at the boy to his side and smiled. He soon became unconscious as the bleeding continued from his nose and mouth. He would some sort of medical attention if he was to survive this disaster.