The WOW Signal

[The Reclaiming One]

​

​

A silence hung over the throne room and a light blue shade covered the reflective marble floors, a result from the holographic map of the galaxy that was being conjured by a display system hanging from the ceiling like a chandelier. A throne sat in the middle of the room atop a large stairway and on it sat the ruler of the new Infinite Empire, Predor So'sha The Reclaiming One. His eyes scanned the map like a hawk, studying the areas of influence that each known faction held, Coruscant, Korriban, Corellia, Kashyyk just a handful of planets that had been torn from the grasp of the ancestors. The Reclaimer's stomach turned as he thought of how the lesser beings were defiling the once great empire's land like they had some right to it. These primitive beings had no idea who they were insulting with every breath they took from the air of these planets, according to information from the many travelers captured by the empire and the spies sent into the galaxy, they were not even positive the Infinite Empire ever existed. Such ignorance, they would soon learn that their place was under the Rakata fist...but this would take careful planning and time and The Reclaimer knew it.

Ever since the fall of the first great empire the Rakata had grown progressively weaker and now they were on the long road of reforging what was lost. They would need allies, people they could use to their advantage until they had rebuilt the entirety of their planet crushing military and regained the dark powers they had lost. To do this, they would need to meet with the leaders of the galactic stage and attempt to forge alliances with those who shared common goals. He would send them a message, one to every faction, even those who allied themselves with the wretched Jedi and Corellians and bring them to Rakata Beta for a meeting.

The Rakata leader looked to the head of his Praetorian Guard security, he sat on chair a few steps below his own. The head of security looked up to his Predor, giving a nod of respect. "Jo'Ark prepare my personal guard for the arrival of a few guests."

"It will be done my Predor." Jo'Ark responded, his fish like eyes shifting to a holoscreen on front of him as he began sending orders to the legion of Royal Guards charged with defending the Predor. Next, The Reclaimer brought his red eyes to bare on the human slave who stood, facing his master, with his head lowered to the floor.

"Slave, you will take a message to the communications room."

The human nodded, not making eye contact with his ruthless overlord "Yes master."

"Tell them to send it galaxy wide with the following words, be sure it is sent in their primitive tongues. Primitive lifeforms of the new galaxy, your masters have returned to deliver you from the chaos you have brought upon this era of history. For to long you have defiled the lands that we helped you build, forsaking our ancestors when they gave you the means to spread your meaningless civilizations across the stars. We have returned, bringing with us the divine powers of the gods that shall usher in a new era of infinite power and wisdom to all. We call you know to the place of new beginnings, the place that will be the beginning of the reclaiming of greatness that was lost to you all when our ancestors fell. Join us in a meeting of destiny and help us bring a new era of peace, power and prosperity to your civilization."


@[member="Monty Jusik"] @[member="Darron Wraith"] @[member="Lamia Quresh"]

 

[Onrai]

Lamia was awake. Something trembled through the Force... The emergence of a great darkness in the universe. She silently muttered a Sith incantation, hoping to find if the feeling as from her fellow Purebloods, warning her not to leave. It was not.

It was a call, beckoning for someone to answer it. The message was in Basic, but to her eyes, it seemed Sith. Quickly, her mind raced through the races that fit the criteria of the message: they believed themselves to be superior lifeforms, wield infinite power... There was only one race in the history of her species that had such capabilities, one that had enslaved her kind as nothing more than brutes and barbarians before being driven off of Korriban by the god-king Adas...

Rakata...

With haste, she hurredly worked at the controls of Ryloss's vessel, changing course to find the location of this signal's origin.

They have come to enslave me and my people again... only this time, we know their intentions. This time... we will fight.

And so the vessel entered hyperspace, on an encounter with the Sith's first and greatest enemy.

 

[The Reclaiming One]

There was a tremor in the darkside...someone was coming...someone filled with hate, anger and fear. The Predor smiled as he soaked in the energies of these emotions that were heading towards Rakata Beta, his eyes growing more and more red with each passing moment. His eyes stared blankly at the room in front of his throne, the pathway up to his seat was now lined with Royal guards, each a Rakata decked head to toe with cortosis armor and wielding a electrostaves.

"Infinite one, a craft is one approach." Jo'Ark notified from his seat on the stairs below his leader

"Yes...I know...direct the ship to a landing pad and be sure she is escorted here right away."

With a respectful nod, Jo'Ark went to work on his screen. Meanwhile, the predor bathed in the dark presence of the new comer...it was a female and he could tell she was young, at least by Rakata standards. He was nowhere near experienced with his dark powers yet, as no Rakata or slave thus far could train him properly, but the past century has given him time to learn very basic skills. He closed his eye and began sending a message to the Sith, not sure if the primitives mind would understand since all the Predor knew was Rakata.

"I can feel your anger...your hate for my people...you fear us...not many species still hold onto the history of the ancients. You...you are a pureblood from Korriiban...i've read much about your people."

 

[Onrai]

The Force provided a medium of communication that transcended language barriers, and Lamia picked it up quite clearly, kneeling forward in meditation as the ship began to land.

Your people enslaved mine so many years ago... But we resisted. We fought back. Adas led us to victory against your kind as the "Infinite Empire" fragmented into dust, your Force power lost, your skills in mechu-deru useless. And yet here you are, something that should not exist in the galaxy... Something like me.

The craft landed as the walkway lowered from the craft. She figured it was best to leave Ryloss inside. This was her conversation, not his. She turned to the nearest Rakata and forced a message into his mind.

Take me to your leader.
(Woops, wrong account)

 

[The Reclaiming One]

The predor sat patiently atop his throne, awaiting the one who came baring powers of the darkside. It took only a few minutes for the Rakata soldiers to bring this Sith into the chambers of the Predor who studied her with curiosity as she strode in. She was lead through the middle of a sea of guards who all watched her every move as she was brought within thirty feet of the first step of the stairway. To her right stood a human slave, one captured by empire years ago, who began to speak as the voice for the Predor

"Behold before you, the infinite and divine ruler of the Rakata people and the rightful ruler of the galaxy, Predor So'Sha the Reclaiming One. He demands that you bow in respect and aw of his glory."

@[member="Lamia Quresh"] @[member="Circe Savan"]

 

[Onrai]

So'Sha? Interesting name... But to bow is to be under submission to someone. Submission is against our way of life, as you know all too well.

The Pureblood ran a hand down her cheek tendrils, stroking them thoughtfully.

Tell me... Why have you and your race returned to the galaxy? All reports from smugglers and the like that I've heard say your kind disappeared into the void of the Unknown Regions a great many years ago.

Ardently, she focused upon herself, drawing on her species' natural connection to the Dark Side in case a conflict broke out. But she sensed little to no treachery from this Rakata, which was quite curious.

Aside from some who survived during the Great Galactic War, such as Soa, The Infernal One, your kind was believed extinct.

A smile grew on her face as she looked into the eyes of the Rakata, her crimson corneas peering into his very being.

Then again, so am I...

 

[The Reclaiming One]

The Predor listened as the slave translated the Sith's words into Rakataian, his eyes never leaving the form of the visitor in front of him. As soon as the translation was finished, the Predor sent the words he wished to be spoken to the slave through a mind link.

"Our kind are strong and resilient, we have rebuilt and returned to claim what is rightfully ours." The slave began as his master looked at the Sith without a hint of emotion "You may not bow to me now but, once you hear what powers I can grant to you, your legs will soon begin to feel heavy under the weight of my divinity." The Rakata Predor could feel that the Sith was readying herself for battle, but he felt that she was only doing so out of fear of conflict. The fact that the sith felt threatened enough to focus her energy brought a sick joy to the Rakata's heart. "Your primitive civilization has forgotten the privileges that my kind bestow upon those who willingly serve the Predor."

 

[Onrai]

I have no problem with allying myself with your cause. Rakatan technology has always been utilized best by those who can wield the Dark Side of the Force. My problem is that any sort of negotiation will turn into my enslavement. Your people enslaved mine. Never forget that.

The aura of darkness shimmered around her body almost visibly as she continued.

But there is much that you do not know. Your time as masters of the galaxy has come and gone, much as that of my own species. Millennia after your kind vanished, we Sith conquered the galaxy in the name of the Dark Side, only to break apart like your own empire. But it was not losing touch with the Force that damned us. No... it was treachery that killed the Sith Empire.

The aura of the Dark Side that flowed off of the Rakatan leader was surprisingly weak. It wasn't necessarily surprising, considering that their species had likely just regained Force Sensitivity after thousands of years of repairing their genetic code, reinvigorating themselves with midichlorians.

You are weak in the Force, yet there is a great deal of potential in you. For your weakness, you have the tremendous capacity for storing knowledge in your cranium. There are many things I can teach you about the Dark Side... things you can pass on to those stronger than you who will come after your death.

 

[The Reclaiming One]

The leader listened to the offer from the Sith, second hand from the slave who acted as his ears. This Sith was interesting, she spoke of how she disliked the Rakata for enslaving her people...yet she said she would join willingly. This could be something of use to the Rakata, perhaps he could enslave her race again without letting them know it. Controlling a species and letting them think they were equals was just a smart way to achieve superiority. If the Infinite Empire wished to rise again they would need to be smart with their trickery.

"Your offer is intriguing. It is not a secret our race is just now relearning the ways of the force. I have learned from the mistakes of our ancestors, it is obvious that we can not stand as the single power of the galaxy when we have not learned its new ways. Our technologies have adapted to run without the use of the force, for we can no longer sustain a military built around the use of the darkside." the slave explained for the Predor "However, there is one technology that we have been working on that will change the fate of our people...it will also change the fate of yours. We have been trying to regenerate our gene pool to its former glory, we are in the works of creating a machine capable of cloning DNA of species and intermixing it with artificial sequences to create new and individual bloodlines based on an individuals basic traits. For now it is not operable, but in time it will be complete. We can bring your people back, not as clones, but as a new generation of Sith. When Korriban is back in the hands of the Empire you will rule as Overlord, acting as a governor who will rule the planet as its leader." the slave paused for a second, letting the words sink in before continuing "Together, we can make Korriban and the purebloods strong again. All you must do is swear your loyalty to me and the Empire, you will never be treated as an equal to the Rakata...but if you do this you and your people will be hailed as great warriors and not as slaves. You will train me and yourself as a member of our dark temple and be forever remembered as the Sith who helped conquer a galaxy."

 

[Onrai]

Any knowledge you Rakata may have could likely be useful to me. I hereby agree to give my allegiance to you, ja'as ka.

The last two words were ancient Sith, something neither the slave nor the Rakata would understand the meaning of. They would likely consider it a title of master-ship, but translating them to Basic roughly equaled the words "for now."

For you to learn, you must come with me on my travels throughout the galaxy. I will teach you the secrets of the Dark Side, and you will teach your students. Together... She stood directly in front of him, faces a few inches apart and causing him to look cross-eyed at her. ...we will bring darkness to the galaxy once again.

Then she acted. With the Dark Side, she tore the knowledge of the Rakatan language from his mind, implanting that of Basic into his own.

Your first lesson: Those who wield the Dark Side do not need paltry "translators." We tear languages from the minds of others and implant our own into theirs, allowing perfect understanding. She looked at the slave with a somewhat sick smile. And now that he is worthless to you... shall we eliminate him?

 

[The Reclaiming One]

The slave's eyes got wide as the Predor recovered from the mental punishing that he had just taken. Everything the darksider said was perfectly clear now...was this the power that his ancestors had? The Predor looked to the slave, his red eyes looking him up and down as he considered this strange words that the Sith had spoken...

"This power is amazing, still the slave has proven loyal and adequate in his duties. I will keep him alive as long as he can still be used." The Predor looked back to the Sith, Jo"Ark was looking at him with aw...he never imagined that his leader would speak the primitive tongue "This primitive tongue is beneath me, however it is better than letting slaves speak my tongue and disgrace its existence. I will join you in the hope of regaining what was lost, but do not think that this means I consider myself subservient to you. I will have a group of my guard accompany us and if you attempt to prove yourself above me...you will die."

 

[Onrai]

Rule number two. Darksiders do not need anyone's assistance protecting them. Your ancestors would be insulted by you bringing guards with you, people who will hear my teachings and learn as you do... people who may grow disloyal towards you and who may eliminate you. Besides, you will grow powerful enough to deal with me should I betray you.

She hoped he would come alone. Just as she believed herself useful to him, so she believed he was useful to her. She couldn't let another Rakata kill him and ruin any progress in the Dark Side both of them would make, could she?

Besides, a single Rakata will only raise eyebrows. More than one will result in Jedi and impostor Sith on our backs faster than a Tuk'ata on a Shyrack, two Korriban creatures that loathe one another. I have no reason to eliminate you, after all.

 

[The Reclaiming One]

What the Sith sith said made sense, still he needed to be sure he was always in contact with the Empire so he could rule it from afar. This would also serve him well to make contact with the Empress of the Sith and try to form an alliance, or at least gain something from them. He would just need to be sure that the Sith knew who was in charge during this time...

"I see your point...I shall come alone with you. However, I will need to be in constant contact to assure my Empire stays on track. However, I will be the main decider on where and when we travel, I will have no lesser species commanding me. As soon as I have learned the ways of the darkside enough to gain control of it, I will return and this agreement of travel shall end. Just remember...without me your race shall remain an ancient stain on galactic history."

 

[Onrai]

I see no reason you cannot remain in constant contact with your Empire using the ship's holocoms. If you wish to choose where we travel, I have no problems with that. Perhaps we can meet the Empress of these so-called Sith together...

She spat the word "Sith" out of her mouth. If there was one thing she felt pure and unbridled hatred towards, it was the Sith. They had bred out her species, stolen their name and artifacts as pathetic relics to be spread across the galaxy. She would teach this Sith Empress what it truly meant to be Sith.

Once you feel you have learned enough of the Dark Side, we shall return you to a planet where the Infinite Empire will pick you up. So long as you continue your travel down the Dark path, never forget who it was that began your training. The Force does not allow debts to go unpaid.

And with that, their business was concluded. The two of them could return to the ship and begin their travels throughout the galaxy.

 

[The Reclaiming One]

The Predor nodded "You do not make demands of me, just remember your species will only return to thrive if your loyalty proves strong. You are free to stay in the guest quarters until we leave. I am expecting others to arrive after receiving my message, after I feel that I have met with all those I deem worthy enough to meet, we shall depart."


(This is an opportune time to come in to speak with the Predor since our business is done.)

 

[Onrai]

Very well. The Pureblood gave a relaxed look as she returned to her ship, poring over the Rakatan data archives for any form of Dark Side usage she could teach the Predor and herself...

Then she found something. References to technology fueled and controlled by the Dark Side. Mechu Deru... A fitting place for us to start. With that locked in her mind, she began to ravenously read through the information of Mechu Deru, practicing until she knew she would be able to teach him.

 

[Verim Lahn]

Verim woke to a message coming over the holotransmitter. It was some strange version of basic, but definitely not togruti. The only part he caught was: "...We call you know to the place of new beginnings, the place that will be the beginning of the reclaiming of greatness that was lost to you all when our ancestors fell. Join us in a meeting of destiny and help us bring a new era of peace, power and prosperity to your civilization."

What in Hell...?? The epicanthic Zeltron got out of his bed and played back the message. From what he could tell the transmission was not clear visually. The sentient looked humanoid, but species was difficult to tell.

All Verim could tell was that someone was claiming that the Rakata were returning to the galaxy. He had a sudden sense to head towards the unknown regions. He headed towards the cockpit and set coordinates for the Unknown Regions.

Within days the small freighter reached the general area of the origin of the signal. Verim looked at the spectacle before him and sent out a message on the frequency that the "Rakatan" message had come on. Greetings. This is Verim Lahn prophet and Lord of Dark Fire of the Torch of Darkness. I am here to speak with the rightful ruler of the galaxy.

 

[The Reclaiming One]

@[member="Verim Lahn"]

A few hours had past since the Sith had mad contact with the Rakata people. Now, a new visitor was on his way as transmission was played for the Predor "Greetings. This is Verim Lahn prophet and Lord of Dark Fire of the Torch of Darkness. I am here to speak with the rightful ruler of the galaxy."

Thanks to the Sith's efforts, the Rakata emperor no longer needed a translator to understand the message being played for him. "Direct him to a landing pad and have him brought before me." the Predor commanded to Jo'Ark

 

[Verim Lahn]

Verim landed on a landing pad, not exactly sure what to do when he landed. Verim opened the main door and walked down the ramp. As he exited his ship a Rakata appeared. Verim assumed this one was to take him to the Rakatan Emperor.

As he followed the Rakata, who said nothing Verim began to go over the words and phrases of Rakatan that he knew. It was hard to remember it all, but one thing he was sure of was that he would offer the daritha pieces of galactic history that he may not know. As they reached the "throne room", the closest term Verim could come up with for the somewhat glorious and yet primitive appearing room, he glanced at all those in the room. Even the Predor appeared more than just a standard Rakata of the latter years of the Infinite Empire. Verim bowed in respect to the Predor that sat high up before him.

 

[The Reclaiming One]

This was an interesting one indeed...he was dark and that fact pleased the Predor. "Behold primitive, for I am the Predor of this grand empire, rightful ruler of the galaxy and all she holds. Tell me, why have you answered the call of your divine king." this man was human, so So'Sha believed it was too bow at his feet as all the others who had been captured had.