Shadows Of Lehon - Chapter Three

 Chapter Three

Darth Mainyu watched the rising sun from the balcony of his private chambers within the temple of the ancients on Lehon. A hot, humid breeze already stifled the morning and it wasn’t even mid day. Sand piled up anywhere it was able to cling.  Collected a handful, Darth Mainyu let his thoughts drift, slowly crushing the sand as if trying to make glass as he reflected on the events that lead to his current situation.

Like all Sith, he fought bravely for the Sith Emperor. He has the scars to prove it. Eventually he rose to prominence, becoming a Sith Lord and earning his Darth title. When he did, he decided to alter his appearance to inspire the appropriate ‘fear’ that came with his title. Painting his face with black and white dye to resemble a skull, the face of death itself to remind his enemies what awaited them if they challenged him. His robes went up over his face and squared off at the top, outlining his grizzly appearance even more.

When the war ended, and the Sith started to negotiate with the Republic, Mainyu was outraged. ‘A Sith Does NOT negotiate with his enemies, he conquers them!’ He told the council. But they ignored his plea and made their deal anyway. Soon, he was all but shunned from the Sith, nobody taking him very seriously. Eventually, he was transferred here, to Lehon. They said it was to keep a look out for Rakata insurgencies, but Mainyu was no fool. He knew that this was just to keep him quiet and out of the way.

This was all the more insulting by the fact that the Empire would send someone to check on his progress every month, like a troublesome child. That time was quickly approaching. They usually arrive after the latest supply shipments arrive. He often purchased items that helped him in his research, into the mysterious art of Sith Alchemy. 

Brushing off the sand, Darth Mainyu returned to the temple to begin his morning routines. 

First he would visit the loading bay.  He needed to ensure the rif-raf crewmen didn’t damage any of the supplies. Then he could prepare for his monthly "review" for the Empire. This time they will listen, this time he was resolved to make his feelings known.

 

Mainyu walked quickly through the halls of the temple. Passing many Sith minions and acolytes that joined him in this exile. Although there was no official hierarchy on Lehon, Mainyu held the highest rank, therefore most of the inhabitants of the temple treated him like their superior. Perhaps they feel that he could help them escape somehow. Maybe they feared his power. It could simply be that old habits are hard to break. Whatever the reason, in the walls of the temple he had considerable respect.

Despite this, Mainyu kept himself in top physical condition. Training hours on end every day. Determined to remind all that he is to be feared and respected. Even going so far as to test his alchemy experiments on anyone who flashed him a defiant eye, usually in front of everyone. But it still wasn't enough, he needed more. He needed to get off this planet.

About halfway to the loading docks, he sensed an unusual disturbance in the Force. At first he thought it was one of the Sith that the council sent. But he dismissed that out of hand, this person - whoever it is, has no control over their power. From the feel of it, this person's connection with the Force seemed a product of survival, not of training. And it seemed to be trying to keep her alive. Perhaps he could use this person. If nothing else, it could provide him another minion to test his alchemy on. He dismissed that idea also, whoever this was, it had too much raw potential to be wasted in such a way. No, perhaps it was time to fashion himself an apprentice. If this did work out, then he not only gains a successor - but also something he could show off to the council and prove that he has some worth. 

Picking up his pace, he followed the disturbance past closed dock doors. Six…three…. There, dock two! A group of dock workers, carrying tools and other blunt objects proceeded to beat what appeared to be a girl to a pulp. How annoying. She isn't even putting up a good fight, 'tis a shame, he was going to have to work on that. Oh well, to the matter at hand. 

Calmly, Darth Mainyu walked behind one of the assailants, grabbed the side of his head and slammed it into one of the crates nearby. 

All that was conscious, froze in an instant. 

"My, my… what a mess you all are making," Mainyu said, his voice sending a chilling grip to the souls of those present, even the emerald green eyes of the victim blinked dazedly at him in stunned shock, fear and pain.  " Am I paying you to fool around or to do your job? Worthless, pathetic huttspawn."

“Oy!” One of them scowled at the insult, the one that currently held onto the girl. Letting her go, he angrily advanced towards Mainyu, allowing the child's weight to carry her back to the floor acting just as Mainyu wanted. In this day and age, powers such as Force lightning could be replicated using machinery. And Mainyu knew he had to whet the girl's appetite for the dark side, he had to show her it's awesome power. So, Instead, he stretched out his hand and streaks of orange light engulfed the dock worker. Since the fool was not force sensitive, the power drawn from him was barely worth the effort, except, perhaps… to display the power of the dark side. Within a matter of seconds the body of the dock worker dried up and shriveled into something resembling a corpse of a long dead mummy. Once Mainyu got his fill he released the fool, the corpse crumpling to the ground and scattering away with the sands in the tropical breeze.

Triss watched with wide, horrified green eyes - her entire body frozen as she witnessed the most frightening and amazing display of power. 

Beside her, the last remaining fool did the only logical thing after witnessing a display like that, turning on the heels of his feet, he took off in the opposite direction. Mainyu however, had other plans.

"Did I give you permission to flee?" The Sith again stretched his hand. This time he used the Force to pull the fool toward him violently. "How pathetic," Mainyu unclipped his saber, and held it out, just in time for the fleeing worker to be impaled by the Sith's crimson blade. 

Deactivating his blade and allowing the corpse to collapse onto the deck, Darth Mainyu stepped over him and walked toward the girl who was now motionless in disbelief. Even running away was apparently useless! How could this go from bad to worse in such a short amount of time? Why, why did she run onto that freighter? Why did she have to steal those credits from that club? Why did it all have to lead to here? Her first adventure off world and this was it?! Was this really even happening right now?

Red Sith eyes locked with the girl, he could tell that she was frightened beyond words. “What is the matter, girl? Haven’t you ever seen a Sith before?” Mainyu asked her.

The words were jumbled to the girl, she could hear a loud screeching sound ringing in her ears, she felt sick to her stomach. But even in light of her pain something prompted her to reply to this terrifying man, to say something, anything...but all she could get out was a shaky “..wh-whats…a…Si...” before everything vanished into a red haze.

“Hmph, We’ll have to work on that.”

Just then, one of his acolytes arrived, a human around average height, he wore a bodysuit and a cloth that nearly covered his face, save for his eyes, “Late again, I see Keiji.”

“I’m sorry, My Lord.” He said, “It won’t happen again.”

“See that it doesn’t” The Sith ordered “For now, carry this girl up to my chambers, she looks damaged - so treat her wounds and clean her up. I am already late for my meeting.”

“Yes, my lord. Anything else?” Keiji asked, as Mainyu walked away.

“Just this” The Sith said, remembering Keiji’s sadistic streak, “If she is damaged any further, You won’t live to regret it.”