Postliminium

[Carden Mannux]

*For months on end, the self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness remained on Mustafar in solemn hermitage immersed in the darkness that was the twisted and sadistic side of the Force. The only company he had were the rats and occasional Mustafarian he would sacrifice for an experiment. He had been forced to give up his first successful experiment he called Damien Starkiller, though in eighteen years it would return.

Deep within the unfathomable abyss of the catacombs within his unholy base, the former Dark Lord of the Sith tirelessly slaved over his satanic studies into the nature of the invidious and corrupt side of the great mystery that was the Force. Interrupting him from his studies was the dark and ominous voice of an abhorrence he knew all too well: fate, summoning him back to Korriban. For what, he knew not. For a time, he ignored it, but the voice grew louder until it forced him to agree.

After landing on the Sith homeworld, he placed his calumnious manifesto safely in his vessel and stepped onto the macabre surface of the temple. As he stepped around a corner into the main hall, he saw no one. He expected someone to be there, having summoned him. The anger coursed within him, as no one interrupted the studies of Carden Mannux.*

“My hermitage has been disturbed, yet no one is here to answer my bidding? Where is this Dark Lord of the Sith that claims to be thy leader?”

 

[Enishi]

Something had seemed very familiar; yet it was painfull. Lukor felt this presence before; a great time ago. It worked as an echo in the halls, calling Lukor to follow the poisonous presence. It soon turned to a voice; one he had not heard in a great many years. His excitement dragged him to the main hall where a sight penetrated his very soul. The man who was the dark lord years ago; his master, thought to be long forgotten. Falling to his knees, hanging his head low, Lukor kept his lips shut untill spoken to. His proud attitude had drained into a cowering pet.

 

[Michael Vereaux]

Something was different. Sakiharu could sense it before it came even close to the planet. Someone was now on the planet and it was a presence he has never felt before. At first, he thought nothing of it, continuing to lift the heavy stone blocks he had been using before on another day, studying something that only Sakiharu knew about at the moment from his position. But as the time passed, the presence came closer and closer and it was like pressing the tip of a blade against his skin because he was so curious about who it was.

No longer able to take the feeling after Carden had spoken in the main hall, many loud thuds and crashing sounds came from the room Sakiharu was in, having lowered the stones down to the ground but was not the quietest of movements. With his thoughts going like mad, he went outside of the room just as a few Sith Knights or Acolytes poked their heads out, wondering what the sound was. Sakiharu walked on for several minutes, going down the hallway. His pace slowed down however the more he went on, the view of Carden and Lukor coming into view.

Barely even five meters away from both of them, Sakiharu stopped his pace, the dark red pupils of his eyes watching them. Looking from Lukor, he then looked to Carden, then back to Lukor and back again, switching between them every few seconds. He wore a calm and collective, intense expression, a look of thinking upon his face. Sakiharu, in all of his time training Lukor, had never seen him kneel before someone. A Sith Lord might be given such respect but in all honesty, Sakiharu has never known Lukor to do that to anyone. Didn't seem the type to anyway.

Then another thought crossed his mind, about a conversation he and Lukor had before training, about the Son of Suns prophecy. Lukor had mentioned the name Carden Mannux, saying that because he wasn't Dark Lord of the Sith was blasphemous. That had given Sakiharu the impression he highly regarded Carden with respect, though he didn't think this much. Looking over at Carden one last time, he watched silently, a small smile now coming to his face. "Former Dark Lord of the Sith...Carden Izar Mannux...I assume," he said, giving a gentle and polite bow to the Former Lord, keeping his head up to watch, the bow to show a sign of curtsy.

 

[Wing]

*Commander Janson of the Sith Navy looked at Carden Mannux. He was intrigued to see another Chiss here. He realized this was the former Dark Lord of the Sith, the position currently held by another now. He went up to greet him. He arrived and saluted him.*

"Commander Janson of the Sith Navy."

 

[Hue]

Darth Demonous knew that the others could feel this new being. He could hear their thoughts as they reacted in any way they thought was fitting. People rushed out of their rooms, searching for the source of the power, not knowing what they might find. Demonous stood from the floor, slowly moving towards the door, making sure he had his lightsaber on hand. The door slid open in front of him and he instantly saw and heard a flood of people. Sith from every rank wondering what was happening, unless they had remembered this power. An old Dark Lord. It slightly confused Demonous that this Carden Mannux would have left instead of being killed. But He would soon find the reason behind that. Demonous located Lukor and began navigating through the people, carving a way towards the location of the former Dark Lord.

As Demonous walked he saw the prison guards from his training trying to find out what was happening. When they saw him, they both instantly backed away, not showing fear, but returning to their post before he could punish them for neglecting their duties. Demonous was nearing the source of the power now, using Lukor's thoughts as a guide. As he neared the Dark Lord Darth Demonous saw Lukor kneeling on the other side. Demonous was directly behind the Dark Lord, and he noticed that tis was the only place in the building that was not crowded. The inhabitants had formed a sort of bubble around the higher ranking Sith, who were kneeling in a line. Demonous joined them, not walking too close to the Dark Lord, but close enough to examine him. He kneeled next to Lukor, completing the line of Sith Lords. His lower hands were hidden inside his cloak, and his upper hands were resting on his knee, showing a sort of relaxed respect. Demonous carefully examined the Former Dark Lord, wondering what he could be doing here, at the beginning of Darth Provin's rule.

 

[Carden Mannux]

*He threw up his nose at the injustice, and what an injustice it was! His red eyes became narrower as he partially closed them in anger and disgust, what with children speaking to him. Mere Sith Knights and Naval Commanders speaking to him was an insult, though it could have stung at them far worse than it stung at him. Had he not have had been overcome by a brief sense of mercy upon the unsuspecting disciples, they surely would have been dead already. At least he had the sense to teach his former disciple respect, however brief a time he may have trained them. Being spoken to by underlings was a testament to the failures of the Sith Empire. It was a testament to his way being the correct way of things.*

“Is this what the Sith have to offer me? Children? Where is your Dark Lord, children?”

 

[Wing]

*Janson was shocked by the Chiss Lord's request. He had shown him respect, and he call him a child. He knew this man could kill him, but not as easily when his men arrived. He pressed a button concealed in his uniform sleave, and two platoons of Sith soldiers arrived and formed a circle around Janson, weapons locked and loaded, on attack and safety off. He did not care for the Sith Knights safety, only his own.*

"Back down! I am no child! I merely show you respect, and this is how I am treated. You are Dark Lord of the Sith no longer, we need no obey you. The Dark Lord will come to you, you don't go to him."

*Janson then turned to the captain of his security platoons, and whispered to him.*

"If he within two meters of our perimeter, open up and fire."

 

[Carden Mannux]

*For a brief moment, Carden wanted nothing more than to gut the foolish soldier like a fish. Even when he was Dark Lord of the Sith, soldiers acted as if they were better than those who actually were considered worthy by the Dark Side, though he had never seen any soldier tell his men to prepare to open fire on one as powerful as he. However, his amusment forbid him from destroying the naval officer. He wished to continue being amused.

Ranks meant nothing to Carden; it was respect and power that meant everything. The military was comprised of the scum that was sucked up by pond sucking scum and he had reminded them as such every time he had the chance to. However, there was no sense in starting a bloodbath when mere children were involved. The Dark Lord would be most displeased when he learned of the behavior of his disciples.*

"Coward."

OOC: Carden’s not the only one who’s never seen someone tell their men to open fire on someone this powerful. You’re lucky I’m amused.

 

[Wing]

((Where are we exactly?))

*Janson was surprised at what this fellow Chiss just called him. A "coward".*

"You know just as well as I do, you would have no problem butchering up all of my men and myself.
Why are you here? Do you expect us to bow before you? I don't really understand who you are, but the Dark Lord easily defeated his predecessor, my former master. I doubt you could handle him."

 

[Carden Mannux]

*And with that statement, it all made sense. History was not something that was required study during his reign, and he assumed it was not during the recent Dark Lord’s reigns as well.*

“I do not expect anyone to bow before me, nor do I even wish to challenge your Dark Lord for the throne once more. Beating him would not be worth my time. I simply ask for respect. Saluting is not my idea of it, as I am not a member of your military.”

 

[Wing]

*Janson allowed the Sith's words to absorb into his brain. Maybe this Sith wasn't here to fight, but only for respect and honor. This Sith probably did deserve it, he was once Dark Lord of the Sith. Janson looked to the two platoons of thirty men each around him.*

"Soldiers, throw down your weapons and kneel."

*The soldiers gently placed their weapons on the floor in front of them, and placed one knee on the ground, kneeling before Carden. Janson then also placed his pistol sidearm on the ground, and knelt also, in front of his men.*

 

[Green Ranger]

At that, a dark, booming laugh echoed through the hall, making everyone in the chamber stop, if only for a moment. It seemed to come from all directions, surrounding, swallowing them all. But it was a mocking laugh, a cackle of amusement at the actions of the commander.

Oh, how the Dark Lord would relish hearing of such an action...but Khavaal was not on friendly terms with the Dark Lord, and so they tended to avoid each other. Korriban was and always would be Khavaal's home, and so Xiantos would have to learn to deal with that. If not, well...there was always the Sith way of dealing with problems...

 

[Wing]

*Janson and his men turned around and saw Khavaal laughing. They all got up, and formed a circle around Janson, weapons armed and ready, aimed in all directions. Janson looked at Carden.*

"Sorry, your Lordship. It seems we have another guest."

 

[Hue]

Darth Demonous remained kneeling as he telepathically spoke to Janson. "Put down your weapons, fool. You have no power over Khavaal. He would slaughter you where you stand. And I'm truly surprised that the former Dark Lord spared you. Stand aside and give him what he wants. Take him to Darth Provin."

 

[Wing]

*Janson looked at Darth Demonous. He was right, any attack on Khavaal would be a useless.*

"As you wish my lord."

*Janson then turned to Carden.*

"If you will follow me Lord Mannux, I will have a shuttle ready to take us to the Dark Lord."

 

[Carden Mannux]

*The insignificant Lord of the Sith issued his insignificant orders and the military scum blindly obeyed it, clearly neither of them having seen the larger picture. His honor had been spat upon with a simple laughter. He would tolerate it no further.*

“Step away from me, swine.”

*The laughter was faint at first, but it’s deep and ominous sounds rolled through the chambers and bellowed into a booming echo. Carden looked up and then to his sides, hoping to ascertain where it came from. Ignoring the scum who had finally bowed before him, he stepped forward past all of the other Sith. His rage beckoned to be set free, to send the hyena deep into the Corellian Hell, though his newfound good sense prevented it. That good sense, however, was not something that would last long in every situation.*

“Who dares?”

 

[Green Ranger]

'Now, that would give away the surprise, Mannux.'

Wherever Khavaal was, he was well concealed, and his position within the hall allowed the maximum echo, so that the sound seemed to come from all directions. He would not give away his position easily. It was not a matter of him not wanting to face the Sith Lord, it was a matter that Mannux would become more unstable as he grew more frustrated. And that, Khavaal wanted to see.

 

[Carden Mannux]

*His anger grew and grew until he remembered his newfound good sense in tense situations such as these. He calmed himself, using the Dark Side to bathe a sense of dark peace over him. He looked up down the catacombs, his red eyes nearly glowing in the dark, and smiled.*

“If you expect me to grow angry, fool, you will be waiting for some time.”

 

[Wing]

*Above the city, was a squadron of Sith fighters known as Longhorn Squadron. The squadron composed of fifteen fighters. They flew their fighters through the cloudy night sky. They received orders from Commander Janson to arrive, if Janson activated a beacon. Upon activation of the beacon, the fighters would arrive at the building he was in and await orders.

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*Janson was disgusted. He showed this fellow Chiss respect and loyalty, and he called him a swine, almost as worse as a child. He would not be insulted anymore. Janson activated a concealed beacon that was attached to the back of his rank insignia that was on his left upper chest. He ordered that the fighters not attack, but remain on standby. He then looked at Carden. This man wasn't worthy of an audience with the Dark Lord.*

"Open fire!"

*The Sith soldiers fired their weapons at Carden. Janson jumped and ran behind a column, and drew his sidearm. He looked over the column, watching his men fire upon Carden.*

 

[Green Ranger]

OOC: We're indoors, aren't we?