Power Undivided

[Mak Manto]

Tapping his fingers slowly upon the arm of his throne, he looked down at the assembled crowd in his throne room, quietly contemplating what had caused for the event to occur. A Muun came forward, bowing on one knee as he quivered as Skirax looked at him. This was his one of his closest advisers, a man who was as cowardly as he was brilliant.

"Sire, your top assassin has reported that he dealt with the rebels personally. He and his team managed to find their hidden base and destroyed it. He also stated he killed roughly thirty people before the rest escaped..."

"Thirty people..."

It wasn't a question but a statement as the deep voice boomed out, seeming disappointed at what he had been told. Shaking at the word, the Muun nodded again.

"Yes, your most divine luminous. He didn't expect for them to be so armed and prepared, which he believes was the reason for their escape..."

"Thirty people, and a team of assassins that I handpicked isn't able to kill every single member of this ragtag assortment of untrained civilians...?"

The room grew deathly silent as Skirax stood up, walking down to meet where the Muun was still bowing. As the rest of the hall stepped back, looking nervous as Skirax stood next to his adviser, he looked down at his adviser and then back to the crowd.

"It seems I haven't made the point clear enough to you people... We control this star system and yet these rebels continue to outmaneuver my greatest soldiers, my most lethal assassins. We are in the final stage of my plan, to meet the Galaxy once more. They do not know of what is coming, of what I have ready to use. Yet, how can I go against the rest of the Galaxy if you people CAN'T STOP SOME REBELS?"

As the hall quaked for a second, the courtesans, politicians and military officials all looked down, all afraid that they perhaps would be blamed. However, a man stepped forward, a Shistavanen, a general in his military as he also bowed.

"Grand Emperor, we will defeat these rebels. We are prepared to do what is necessary so that you can fulfill your plans. We are here for you, ready to serve your every whim, happy to-"

"Do not grovel to me, Volis! None of you should expect to curry favor this way if you think some words will help this situation..."

Stepping back up to his seat, he looked over the crowd one more time before he raised a hand.

"Leave for the time being..."

As both his adviser and general stood up to leave, they gave one more bow before the entire hall emptied out, leaving Skirax alone.

 

[Mak Manto]

Getting up slowly, Skirax walked slowly out to his balcony, overlooking his palace grounds and the city that nested almost entirely in it, eligible only for the wealthiest and the powerful.

He could feel he was close to completing his plans, of removing the final element that wasn't allowing him to move out into the rest of Wild Space and eventually the Galaxy. The rebels had given him a show that he hadn't expected, but soon enough, they would be dead.

There was no one who could come to rescue them...

Coming back inside, he moved back to his seat, tapping the side panel, speaking quietly to the voices listening.

"Bring Captain Firtz immediately to the throne room..."

 

[Mak Manto]

It had only taken several minutes before a woman came in, a young military officer who had to be in her mid-20s. As she walked quickly across the floor, her feet the only audible sound in the empty room, she seemed to tense up as she approached him, but when she reached the first steps, she took a knee, bowing.

"I am here to serve you, your divine luminous."

"Rise."

Looking up, she stood up, her back now rigid as Skirax decided to stay in his seat, looking at her.

"Tell me, captain, how long have you been serving in my military?"

She took a quick breath before she nodded. "Eight years, your majesty. Five serving in the army and the last three serving within the assassins."

"I see, and tell me, you're a native of this world, how do you view Dosuun? What are your feelings to it?"

Looking down at her feet for only a second, she looked back up, afraid of what she would say to anger the emperor. "I love this world. It's the only one I've ever known, one I want to defend with my life."

Now, he got back up, walking slowly to where she was, and without even meaning to, her skin changed slightly, a pale pink now coming out instead of the redder hue she had been adorning for the last month.

"Interesting... You're a shapeshifter. You can change the appearance of your body at will. A valued trait for someone who would want to be an assassin. Tell me, what is your species?"

"I'm a Homanan, your highness."

"You see, I find it interesting of what you are, not because of your abilities but of why you're here. Not you, specifically, but all of the people of this world. There are five billion beings who live under my rule, yet there are over 200 different species who live here. And it's not as if one species is the majority and the rest have fewer numbers, no, each species is roughly around the same population numbers as each other."

"In general terms, there's around 25 million beings for each species..."

"I've been alive for a very long time, but before I called this world my home, I visited many planets in the Galaxy, yet there has never been one like this..."

Looking at her, her gaze went back to the ground for another second before she looked at the armored mask.

"Well, after the Gulag Virus finally disappeared, your highness, many species wanted to find a new world to live on, and many different aliens found Dosuun to be a good planet..."

"Yes, but it presents an interesting problem. The rebels, you see, are not comprised of just one majority of species, the same as my military. Both armies are fighting with different species who wield different powers."

"How do you think we deal with this problem, captain?"

This would be the moment whether she was leaving the palace alive or dead. As she quietly thought on what answer he wanted to hear, it finally dawned on her why she had been brought in.

"We... use my ability to shapeshift and bring down the rebels from the inside..."

"Precisely, captain... Inform General Parst you will be leading the next operation against the rebels. Your superiors will be given the parameters of your mission when the time comes."

Giving one more bow, inwardly she took a sigh as she saluted the emperor. "Yes, your divine luminous."

Seeing him not speak again, she turned, trying to move quickly as she could without giving the appearance that she was running. Watching her go, Skirax gave a chuckle, watching her leave in fright.

 

[Mak Manto]

It was all too perfect...

Fear always allowed him to direct his will, the populace too afraid to go against any whim he desired. Few even dared to come close to him, afraid that if they approached his figure, they would be obliterated just by his presence. It hadn't always been like this, though. No, he had to crawl his way up to gain the power he rightfully deserved, to punish himself beyond anything few could imagine.

And it had all started over a simple attack...

 

[Mak Manto]

270 Years Ago

Bodies surrounded him as he breathed slowly, laughing inwardly at the carnage he had caused for only a second before a deep seated panic set in, understanding that his people would now come after him. It had to be done, though. The settlement he had attacked had been pushing for the rest of his people to rise against him, to kill him for the battles he had started, for almost inciting a civil war.

However, they would seek him out at all costs...

As he exited the building he was in, a second later, flames began to erupt from within, a fire meant to burn everything down, a sign that he had been there. It would infuriate his world, but now it no longer mattered.

While he had never left the planet, the Galaxy was beckoning him, calling for him to escape his death. He needed more, to find a way to become stronger and eventually bring his homeworld under his rule. Heading to his ship, it shot into the sky and only took several minutes before it blasted off into hyperspace, sending him into an unknown future.

 

[Mak Manto]

He had been wandering for months, killing to gain the necessary food and shelter to keep him alive. This had not been what he had expected, what he had envisioned he would be doing, but he was alive. He was been in the Outer Rim for only a few weeks, moving from planet to planet often enough so he wouldn't be recognized and followed. It had only been two weeks before that he had gained information from a spacer of the ensuing crisis on his homeworld, of those looking for him.

Due to his inherent ability to use the Force, just as the rest of his people, he constantly had a disguise through the Force, constantly paranoid of trusting anyone he met. He wasn't sure of how much longer he could handle this, of feeling this fear that someone from his planet would discover him and try to kill him. There had to be a planet that he could go to, one that would allow him to become stronger and stay safe for the time being...

 

[Mak Manto]

Planet - Tatooine
City - Mos Eisley

It had been eight months since his attack on his homeworld and finally he was gaining some answers. He was in a cantina of ill repute, surrounded by bounty hunters, spacers, smugglers and other denizens of the criminal underworld. None were paying him any attention, though, nursing their drinks and speaking to each other as he sat across from an older spacer, the man downing his drink as he laughed at Skirax.

"Few people know of the area, but I've passed by Tund several times. Dangerous world because of the Sorcerers and that's the reason I've never gone there. They rarely leave, but I've heard stories of ships going to the world and never return."

"So, the Sorcerers of Tund do exist..."

"Damn straight they do. Why are you so interested in them? Got some of them Jedi powers in you, want them to train you to use your powers?"

"In a way... How do you get to Tund from here?"

"Very hard to get there. No major hyperspace lane passes through the Centrality, the sector Tund is in. Though, best way to get there would be to take the Triellus Trade Route from Tatooine to the Cadma Conduit. That would take you to Tund directly. Though, fair warning, I don't think the Sorcerers like uninvited visitors."

Smiling to himself, Skirax looked at the spacer.

"I'm hoping for it..."

 

[Mak Manto]

Tund

As his ship landed, he immediately came out, taking in the view, glad to see that nobody was around him. He had wanted to see what the Sorcerers were like first on his own, to spy on them and witness their power before he made a move. It seemed they didn't have any amount of technology in terms to tracking ships.

Moving slowly, it took several hours before he came to see a Sorcerer, a tall man who was meditating in the Force. Skirax stopped, watching him for a few minutes before the man spoke, his quiet voice breaking the silence.

"I know you're there, you fool. If you believed you were hidden from me, you are mistaken..."

Feeling fear go up his neck, he wasn't sure what to do, whether to run or attack, but the man was still focused in the Force. Moving out slowly, Skirax nodded to his statement.

"I wanted to see if the legends were true, if the Sorcerers actually existed. I didn't think anyone could survive on this world after what happened to it hundreds of years ago..."

"There are spots on this world capable of sustaining life... While it would be more beneficial for us to find another world that is thriving, Tund is the home of the Sorcerers. However, this is not your home. You're a trespasser on my planet, and you must've heard what we do to trespassers."

"WAIT! I can control the Force too! That is why I came, to study from the Masters of the Dark Side! I am no mere visitor!"

As he finally got up, Skirax didn't breathe as the man swept forward, looking at him.

"And why should we accept you?"

"I have killed many... But I need more power, and you are the holders of true power. I want to merely learn from your hands, to see how far I can go, to know what I can learn..."

Looking at him silently, Skirax felt pride, knowing he had managed to convince the Sorcerer. However, a second later, electrical bolts danced over his body as he writhed in pain, screaming.

"Here is your first lesson, then. Pain is the only truth in this galaxy, and by understanding and accepting this, you can break free from any other illusion that you may have. Few, though, can accept it. I wonder if you can..."

"I CAN! I CAME THIS FAR!"

Screaming in torment, he thought it was about to end when the lightning stopped, Skirax breathing hard. Looking at the Sorcerer, there was a smirk on his face.

"Perhaps you can be taught..."

 

[Mak Manto]

Over the next two years, he began studying the Force in ways he had never thought possible. Illusions and deceitful powers became his own tricks, capable of sending an enemy mad, of utilizing fear and paranoia against those who were against him. The Sorcerers taught him the usefulness of studying the Force at every aspect, of understanding its hidden meanings and subtle changes.

From there, he also began to know how to handle a lightsaber, of becoming adept at Djem So. Whatever he was before, he had now reached a new level of power unavailable to any of his people. He dreamed of the moment of bringing pain and death upon their heads, of subjugating them.

Though, the Sorcerers had begun to ask more from him...

 

[Mak Manto]

He was soon dealing in assassinations, collecting information on the Sith and Jedi, constantly focusing on dreams that the other Sorcerers had, to discern its meaning. He had merely done their will, becoming more powerful but still bowing these magicians, who were merely losing their minds over matters that were not important. Eventually, by the time of his 225th birthday, after spending the last twenty years serving their whims, he had grown tired of it.

It was the day everything changed...

"Master, I am now also a master of the Dark Side and the fact we aren't looking at the bigger picture is unsettling. We could be conquering worlds, taking the Galaxy in our own hands..."

"We could, but the Galaxy has far too many enemies. There's a reason why we don't leave, Skirax. You should keep that in mind. Our lives are not interrupted by anyone else..."

Seething, he eventually made up his mind, leaving the Sorcerers on their dying world, heading back out into the Galaxy. He knew they wouldn't search for him, seeing he had not harmed them and they wished to merely focus on the Dark Side.

However, he had his own plans...

 

[Mak Manto]

His powers that been taught to him had come at a price...

It had been apathy...

The Sorcerers had no concerns of a far larger picture, one he couldn't stop dreaming of. He had stayed on Tund, doing their work in the nearby star systems, all on their whim, but as he made his way back to his homeworld, Skirax demanded vengeance, slaughtering hundreds who stood up against him. However, a world he hated meant absolutely nothing.

No, what he needed was his own world...

Though, the Sorcerers had been correct with one thing. There were too many enemies out there for him to deal with alone, and if he came against the wrong faction, it would mean death. What he needed was a world not controlled by anyone, one he could shape it into...

 

[Mak Manto]

It had been a long time...

35 years passed with Skirax still searching, all the while becoming even stronger in the Force. The rare worlds that held knowledge of the Force were fed to him, learning of greater powers. He eventually became adept in altering the environment and controlling the minds of others. His lightsaber skills soon surpassed what he had thought was the limit.

However, still no world...

He wasn't sure if he would ever find the perfect one...

 

[Mak Manto]

Planet - Fhost
City - Farpoint

Just as he did back all of those years ago on Tatooine, he was sitting in a cantina across from a spacer who was talking to him of his exploits around Wild Space.

"Not that many safe worlds in Wild Space, but I will tell you this, there's one world few ever go to but that has done real nice for itself ever since the Gulag Virus disappeared. Dosuun is the name, and there a bunch of different species on it, hundreds of them!"

"Why's that?"

"Well, many species fled from the populated areas of the Republic and drifted off into space, to stop the virus from killing them. Many came to Dosuun because of what the planet offers: rich atmosphere, good food, great water. Eventually, all of these species come together and made this planet great. Since the virus is over and the Galaxy's doing better, no one needs to go to Dosuun, but the people there work together, despite being different species."

"And who's in control of the world? The Republic, the Sith?"

"No one. Like I said, they work together to make their world good, they don't need anybody to help them..."

Smiling to himself, he looked at the spacer.

"You don't say..."

 

[Mak Manto]

Planet - Dosuun

It had come without a warning...

His ship, which had streaked through the atmosphere had been detected by the planet's citizens, but before they could intercept their visitor, he had unleashed with his powers a massive groundquake, destroying one of their cities. As people died from his powers, he made his way into subjugating the city's inhabitants, controlling the minds of some of the more influential to bend the others to his plans.

Eventually, an army came from those who were afraid of his power, fighting in his name. As the world responded with their own, it became a brutal battle, thousands dying over the course of several months as Skirax conquered city after city, bringing entire continents down before only a small rebel force was left to try to fight against him, finally disappearing underground, not to be seen again.

As a palace was made in his honor, soon his army became even more powerful, a network of assassins being created to do his will. For the next sixty years, his power grew as he used the other planets of the star system for resources and military uses. It soon became known that he was a power that would never be defeated.

He was finally emperor...

 

[Mak Manto]

Present Day

Looking across his palace floor, he was now thinking on how to stop the rebels completely. While the plan he was now contemplating with the assassin girl should work, it would be prudent to have another option ready in case they failed again.

If that were to happen, heads would roll.

"Your majesty?"

It was the voice of one of his aides through his side panel on his throne. Anger began to bristle as they knew he never liked to be interrupted when alone, only for them to answer him.

"WHAT IS IT? This better be good!"

"Sire, General Volis and Sye Hill need to speak to you right away. They say it's of an urgent business."

As he opened the doors with the Force, the Shistavanen general and his Muun adviser came running to him, not even bowing as they looked at him, both with scared faces. The Muun was the first to reach as he wrung his hands together.

"Sire, the rebels just managed to send a message out into the Galaxy! They took control of one of our communication towers to relay the message before they were killed! However, they blew up the room and there's no way to know where the message was sent!"

Staring at them silently, his mask was the only thing separating them from seeing a face full of seething rage as he understood the implications of what was happening...

"Prepare the military right now..."