Private Eighth Lock [Borb]

[Darth Carnifex]

The Crestfallen emerged from hyperspace, engines firing red-hot as it swooped down towards the cluster of black holes known throughout the galaxy as the Maw. Swirling endlessly within the Akkadese Maelstrom, few dared to come within a parsec for fear of being swallowed whole by either the multiple black holes or the monstrous summa-verminoth that prowled the darkness. But these fears were beholden to the lesser beings that inhabited the galaxy. For a Dark Lord of the Sith, the Maw held no sway over him.

Thus, the Dark Lord's ship moved deeper into the maelstrom, jumping along a set of coordinates held inside its encrypted navi-computer. The journey through the Maw was fraught with peril, enough to overwhelm even the most seasoned of navigators. But the Dark Side of the Force guided the shuttle deeper, until at last the shuttle reverted into realspace above a planet; one that was almost indistinguishable from the darkness that surrounded it. Held aloft by the collision of various gravitational forces from the nearby black holes, the entire world stood stationary amidst chaos. Its surface was drowned in darkness, no light could ever reach it. The deepest cold permeated the entire world, lending to the name given to it by the Sith.

Cania.

The Crestfallen slipped into Cania's orbit, skimming along the flat, featureless surface until a structure began to rise over the horizon. Surrounding the citadel was an energy field that protected it from not only the sub-zero temperatures of Cania, but from the crushing gravitational forces that had smoothed Cania's surface. To walk beyond the field was to invite a swift death, for no organic being could survive such intensity. Because of its isolation and inhabitable conditions, Cania had been used as a secret prison by the Sith since the formation of the Tenth Sith Empire. Warden and prisoner alike were completely cut off from the galaxy, unaware of greater astropolitical changes, save for any information new arrivals could give them. No holonet signal was strong enough to breach the gravitational fluctuations of the Maw.

Landing within the citadel, the Crestfallen lowered its ramp to allow its passengers to disembark. Among them was Demiurge, his towering stature and regal demeanor unmistakable. Following him were several members of various cults and mystical circles that had aligned with the Sith. One of them was a Rishii dressed in brightly colored robes, a stark contrast against his more dreary companions. He had been given a place of importance next to Demiurge as they disembarked, allowed to walk ahead of the larger congregation of alchemists and sorcerers.

"Welcome to Ars-Neroth, Lord Ikrarbytec. The darkest prison you will ever find in the galaxy. Its laboratories have fallen into disuse since the Empire fell, but I imagine that you will find a great use for what remains."

Ikrarbytec ​

 

[Ikrarbytec]

The Rishii Sith Oracle glowing gaze would stare at the hellscape that was known as the Maw. A pity that the foolish organization known as the Brotherhood of the Maw had stolen the name and made it symbolize idiotic barbarism. The Maw was a dangerous place to be in but the Rishii placed his faith in the power of Lord Demiurge to drive them through this maelstrom of sorts. The Shuttle that carried the two would land down upon Cania as its swirling darkness drowned out the power of the light side. Emotions were the lifeblood of the darkside, feeding off their anger and their opponents to turn them into a powerful foe upon reckoning.

There landing on the planet was quiet and simple, as Demiurge and himself descended down the ramp. His bird feet clanking and shifting on the ramp as he finally touched the surface of the world.

The difference between them was obvious from their height to their clothing, each of them were different sith with their own goals. He himself had chosen bright heavy layer robes which made him appear stronger than he actually was due to his mostly fragile bones needed for flight. His beak twitched a little as he smelled the air for foul substances or an incoming trap. His graze turned away from the dreary atmosphere of the planet towards Demiurge. Listening to his words as they sunk into his mind, a prison planet unlike anything within the galaxy. Experiments could be carried out here without worry about jedi intervention although the capture of jedi was useful for testing purposes on powerful force sensitives.

<<I thank you for the introduction, Demiurge. A prison planet unlike any the galaxy has ever seen before or after, a monument to the power of the sith not ruined by the folly of the Brotherhood. Salvaging old technology is often the best in this case, less able to be tracked down by cross-referencing the model of the equipment here if someone managed to arrive on this world.>> The Rishii replied, staring up at Demiurge as he spoke with open and closing of his beak. His eyes scanned around like a predator might, looking for hidden signs of danger. Paranoid or not, one always had to be mindful of interactions with other sith. The infighting between them would lead to the downfall of everything. Although he had recently foreseen that the brotherhood would collapse in the same infighting with the Mongrel and Bloodsteel claiming leadership of the fragmented hordes.

<<There is one experiment that I am currently working on, a rust plague. A plague that can be spread to only starships, rusting the materials that they are made out off. Within a few short minutes the entire vessel will be rusted over and unoperational. Leaving them defenseless. I'm planning on modeling it after the highly corrosive substance called "Xenoboric Acid" if you have heard of it>> The Rishii further added, hinting at his future plan. Knowing that if the plan was leaked to the jedi or another organization within the galaxy. Demiurge would be the primary suspect for his wrath, although he figured that demiurge would keep this to himself until an opportunity came to reveal the information. Moving away from him for a minute to proceed to where they were headed.

Darth Carnifex

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"Fascinating, Lord Ikrarbytec. I should like to hear more of what you concoct."

The group made their way from the landing zone into Ars-Neroth. The entire prison was arranged as a series of towers, all conjoined by massive walls. Each tower was designed like a panopticon, with a large central structure rising up from the center of the tower's interior, and all the outer walls containing the individual cells. From the central tower, the Ars-Neroth wardens could visually monitor every cell and mete out punishment to any prisoner that stepped out of line. Various sensors were built into each cell to monitor the occupant's vital signs as well as any changes in air pressure.

Guarding the prison were mute stone sentries, known as Kageja iv Akmuo, that only obeyed the commands of powerful Sith. Because of this, every warden of Ars-Neroth were former Inquisitors of the Saaraishash; the Sith Empire's internal security apparatus. This allowed them to control the stone sentries and manipulate the prisoners through the Dark Side, extracting secrets and imposing their will upon them.

Demiurge led the Sith through many layers of Ars-Neroth, bypassing the stone sentries and briefly relaying commands to the wardens that met them along the way. Because of the prison's isolation from the wider galaxy, the wardens stilled referred to Demiurge as the Emperor; and he was not in any haste to correct them. In some ways, he was still the Emperor as there were many throughout the galaxy who still believed that the Sith Empire was not defeated, merely recuperating to one day destroy their enemies.

When they had reached the science wing of the prison, the group had passed through much of the prison and seen a great deal of its facilities. The laboratories were, as Demiurge described, in a state of disuse and neglect. He ushered Lord Ikrarbytec and the rest of the alchemists in so that they could survey the laboratories for themselves.

"It will take some time before these facilities are made fully operational once again. Fortunately, these laboratories are a blank canvas ready to be imprinted on by enterprising new minds. Ars-Neroth still retains a sizeable population of prisoners from the days of the Empire, and the wardens will comply with any requisition order they receive." Demiurge looked to his avian companion, "What better place to create and advance your experiments, Lord Ikrarbytec?"

Ikrarbytec ​

 

[Ikrarbytec]

<<You shall be the first to know, when a new experiment has been tested and proven effective>>


The Rishii Sith Lord replied, his eyes scanning the prison taking in every tiny detail from the towers to the massive walls. The Prison spared no expensive in terms of security and its hidden location within the galaxy made it perfect for experimentations. The Rishii gazed upon the Kagejia iv Akmuo sentries that made up the prison regiments along with feeling through the force the powerful beings within that controlled them. He had not yet reserved enough power within himself to summon anything of use although he was experimenting with the foul monsters of the Techno Magorum Tribe whose leader he absorbed into himself.

His clawed feet took him through the building as he made an interesting inquiry, the people within the complex referred to Demiurge as the Sith Emperor. No doubt unaware of the reign of the worm emperor. Such beings would be easy to manipulate due to their isolation from galactic events. The Rishii although a proclaimed oracle of the worm emperor did not bother to correct them as demiurge was an able leader so far. Although his views could change at any time during this tour. His loyalty to the worm emperor was unquestioned although like all sith, personal power was on his mind. His ability to foresee into the future and pick the events that he wanted to happen was a bonus. Allowing him to determine the results of duels before they even occurred.

The Rishii gazed ahead at the laboratory that was in disrepair, looking over the equipment left within the hall. He would have to bring some of his avaina servants to accompany him in restoration project. The laboratory would be the start of building up a powerbase among the sith order and positioning himself as an ally to the next dark lord of the sith.

<<The laboratory will be the start of a new reign of terror and poxes. Experimentation will happen with prisoners but starting with animals will allow me to better test the poxes before they are unleashed into the galaxy. My vision is to make a terror that overshadows the Gulag Plague that struck the galaxy so long ago. A plague so terrible that the galaxy will be crippled enough to allow the sith order to become dominant once again.>>

The Rishii further added, then turning around and staring directly at him.

<<What is the real reason for gifting me this workspace? It was not out of the kindness of your own heart.>>

The Rishii asked, knowing full well that other sith would not gift things to other sith without a reason. Every sith was advancing their own interest as was their nature. He would find out if he was being used simply as a means to an end or if Demiurge sought something more.

Darth Carnifex

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"No, it was not out of kindness." Admitted the Dark Lord, an unusual deliverance of candor for one so steeped in the mistrusting Machiavellian ways of the Sith. But the Dark Lord was rare among his kind for the fact that he rarely, if ever, lied. Oh, he was prone to omit certain details when it benefited him, but he never traded in any outright falsehoods. When the Dark Lord told you something, it was often the truth; albeit potentially modified to fit his designs.

"As Emperor, I sought out those who excelled in certain fields of science and mysticism. I moved them into positions where their talents and curiosities could flourish, so that they could bring their abilities to bear for the betterment of the Empire and the Sith. The Empire is gone, but the Sith are eternal. This prison once served at the behest of the Empire, but now it will serve at our behest, alone. Whatever you make here will serve the Sith, not any single Lord or Lady, but the Order itself."

This manner of placing the Order above the individual was prominent throughout the Sith Empire when Zambrano held the reins, but had waned in the Empire's twilight years; predominantly among the Sith who existed before the Empire's inception. Now that the Empire was gone, dozens of different Sith ideologies were allowed to roam free in the galaxy. The Kainate still held true to many teachings created and proliferated by Zambrano himself, as did several other small groups, but it was no longer the monolithic belief it once was.

It needed to evolve, as did the Sith. The Dark Lord had spent many months analyzing the history of the Sith Empire, its policies, its military campaigns, and the way in which it governed. All of these things could provide clues that would inform the next iteration of the Empire when it inevitably rose from the ashes. Perhaps then, it would be built upon a foundation stronger than before.

"We all have our own ambitions, Lord Ikrarbytec. But mine run in concert with those of the Sith Order, not in opposition. I see great potential in your mind, and I want to cultivate that. I will expend a many great resources in ensuring that this facility is greater than any in the galaxy, save perhaps for the sanctum of the Lady of Secrets." It was difficult to exceed what the Lady of Secrets possessed, but the attempt could be made regardless. "And in the end, it will bring about the return of the Sith."

Ikrarbytec ​

 

[Ikrarbytec]

The Rishii had hit the nail to the head in his suspicion regarding the actual context of their meeting. Demiurge had grander desires than the Rishii understood, but one thing was certain was that he was placing his faith in the revival of the sith as a whole not combining powerbases into a fragile alliance for bogan. Ikarabytec knew one thing when it came to the force, the light side was powerful but the dark side was the quickest pathway to such power. The Jedi were labeled as the keepers of the peace, but had engaged in warfare for so many millennia that they were slowly becoming corrupted to the dark side. Ikarabytec understood one aspect of the force, and that everyone will remain in balance. They could crush the jedi all that they liked, but they would never truly rid themselves. His motion of thought carried him through the lord's words, formulating his response with due accuracy.

"My projects will serve the entire sith order, as you claim. But I will make one thing certain between us. I am no one's pawn to be ordered around and then disposed off when I am no longer useful to you. Everything created within this laboratory will be for the revival of the order to new heights"

The Rishii said, making a firm stance that he was to be no one's pawn. His creations were for the entire sith order to benefit and not even demiurge would get special treatment from him. Although his plan was to avoid this outcome from even being possible by becoming irreplaceable. And if this effort failed then the rishii sith lord would gather blackmail material to ensure his safety was guaranteed. Such a ploy would no doubt be exposed but if he played his cards careful enough then it may slip through the cracks. He shielded his mind from intrusion by casting an image of thinking about something else. On top of this image he would shield his mind through the force. Those two would better allow him to think without being questioned by demiurge.

"This laboratory will be the greatest within the galaxy and will eclipse those of the Lady of Secrets. I've already planned out those that I wish to bring here with my own contacts within the Hutt Space Consortium. Scientist and Engineers that hold absolute loyalty to our order and no one else."

The Rishii explained, bringing the sith back from utter destruction would be difficult. Ikarabytec would have to position himself at the table as a leading expert on mysticism. His power within darksight allowed him to predict events and with such clarity, came the vision of his death. Picking and choosing what events he wanted to happen assured his survival within the galaxy as a whole.

Darth Carnifex