The dream ended, cut short as if by a lightsaber.
I lay for a while, staring at the ceiling of my quarters in the Citadel on Christophsis. Beyond the spacious windows that made up one of the walls, the starry night flowed without a hint of disturbance. Through it, without getting up from bed, I could make out the glow of the nocturnal city's lights.
Funny. The serenity of a sleeping metropolis in the midst of a bloody war raging across the galaxy. I wonder, among millions of worlds, how many have been untouched by the bloody harvest?
Carefully, so as not to disturb, I lifted Aayla's hand from my chest and slipped out from under the blanket. Finding my light shoes and robe in the dark bedroom, I silently made my way to the exit. The door panel slid aside noiselessly, letting me into a spacious, lavishly furnished living room.
Gesturing to Kenny and R3 that there was nothing to worry about, I shuffled quietly toward the kitchen.
"Well, some people just can't sleep," the dron droid replied to the astromech's quiet trill, lowering his vocabulator volume. "Why are you nagging me like a stripper on a pole?"
Smirking, I poured some caf brewed by the machine into a mug. Taking a sip, I walked with a slight smile to the sliding doors leading onto the mansard roof.
Unusually wide — my X-Wing could easily fit on it — it was surrounded by decorative railings made of an extremely rare mineral. Yeah, the construction had cost the Christophsis budget a pretty credit. But I liked it.
Good thing the inhabitants of this galaxy had short memories. Otherwise, they'd be asking why a Jedi was having a building constructed that once symbolized the evil power of the Emperor of the Sith. Now... if there was any distrust of the building, it was so quiet that even Christophsis counterintelligence couldn't dig anything up. And I was confident in their competence. Besides, what could threaten me here, in the heart of a small branch of my Empire? Right — nothing.
Even Kaili Omas, who'd suddenly turned out to be immune to mental conditioning, had ultimately made the right choice. Oh, how many secrets the ancient Sith knowledge held. Now I didn't have to bother with bed games with cute female specimens. A subtle mental intervention was enough. Along with the whisper that they, naively, perceived as revelations from the Force.
I wonder, did Valkorion amuse himself the same way, subjugating others?
From the roof of the Citadel — the top floors of which housed my residence and guest rooms for my lov... subordinate women — there was a breathtaking view. I leaned against the stone parapet, letting the cool night breeze wash over my face.
The city had been asleep for a long time. Still, military patrol gravcycles flickered between the majestic skyscrapers every now and then. Peaceful life was all well and good. But you couldn't forget about the citizens' safety. The very fact that an underground had been organized on the planet spoke for itself. I couldn't let that happen again.
Tilting my head back, I set about admiring the sparse clouds. Precipitation was very rare on Christophsis. There weren't enough open bodies of water here for the water cycle — familiar to everyone since childhood — to work like clockwork. So cloud cover over the planet's surface was a rare event.
The return to the headquarters of the Tenth Sector Army had gone rather mundanely. No celebrations, no bread and salt. Honestly, the lack of pomp suited me just fine. There was no need to sink to the level of those whom power had gone to their heads.
Taking a sip from the mug, I savored the taste. Strikingly similar to rich black coffee, caf in this universe had notes of spice. And it invigorated no less than that very cup of strong, freshly brewed ground coffee poured onto a stomach.
Despite the fact that night reigned all around, I knew perfectly well that I wouldn't be sleeping anymore. I'd stand, breathe the air, enjoy the scenery, then go down to my office and get to work. War never changes. And neither does a commander's work. Except I would have to act against the usual practice: "Punish the innocent, reward the uninvolved." That was a dead-end path, clearly not for the Eternal Empire of Zakuul.
Indulging in idle contemplation of the city's architecture, I felt a disturbance in the Force beside me.
"I must admit, I've been waiting. I kept wondering when you'd show yourself," I turned to the uninvited guest, a sly smile on my lips, and took a sip from the mug.
"I came to warn you," his voice sounded like an echo. And, I admit, if not for the bluish glow around this fellow's person, I might even have shown him some respect. Regretting that he wasn't among my supporters.
"Good thing you didn't come to negotiate. Speak, since you're here."
"You are making a great mistake by trusting the Emperor."
"That's a fresh take," I smirked. "Got any proof?"
"Vitiate has never shared power with anyone," the ghost in the spike-studded armor shook his head. "What makes you think you'll be an exception?"
"Why should I answer your questions? I'm not the one who barged in on you in the middle of the night."
"I pity you. A little boy, resentful of the whole world, who got his hands on power, gained enormous strength — and all thanks to Vitiate. No wonder you're bending over backward to live up to his vision."
"Boring," I took another sip. "Anything new in your repertoire?"
The ghost shook his head.
"You must have already figured out that if Vitiate were as omnipotent as he claims, he wouldn't limit his appearances to such brief episodes in your life."
The smirk on my face seemed to stump the ghost.
Fool. I didn't realize. I know perfectly well that the Emperor's power is limited. Of course, confirming this theory took a couple of walks along the edge of life and death, but… the truth always has its price.
"Will there be anything useful besides the pompous moralizing?"
"Don't let Vitiate gain the upper hand again. He's a monster obsessed solely with a mania for power in the galaxy. He will once again use the galactic war to feed on power and put his next mad plan into action," came the warning.
"Tell me something I don't know." Too bad the caf was running out. "I wonder why you didn't want to warn me before it all started. What, karma wouldn't let you?"
The ghost shook his head reproachfully.
"Vitiate, even in this state, is dangerous. Even for us — Force Ghosts."
"You know, a question has always bothered me. How do the Sith manage to preserve their consciousness after death? After all, existing as a ghost — that's mostly a Jedi thing."
"Strong will and a bit of Jedi knowledge," the guest replied.
"Ahh," a weary sigh escaped my lips. "Even you've been touched by the hand of Marxism-Jediism. Aren't you ashamed? You used to be such a kosher Sith…"
"You're being facetious," the ghost determined. "Perhaps my warning came too late, and you've been infected by Vitiate's corruption, just like the others before you."
"Most likely," I replied indifferently. "But, you know — there's nothing shameful about being an apprentice to a being like Valkorion."
"You don't understand…"
"No, Darth Marr." I made a quick lunge forward, letting the mug with the remaining caf shatter into shards upon contact with the attic floor. But the price of such an insignificant sacrifice bought me the element of surprise.
I didn't need to look at the ghost's face, hidden behind a mask. I could feel in the Force how taken aback he was. Well, of course. How many beings in the history of the Unknown Regions had allowed themselves to grab a Force Ghost by the throat with their bare hands? I think a single hand's fingers of an inattentive sapper would be enough to list them all.
"That's what you don't understand," I said, smiling. "All of you — Jedi, Sith, other Force adepts — consider yourselves the elite of this galaxy. Over and over you play out the same scenario, which leads to wars and incalculable casualties. One day, this was bound to happen. A being had to be born who was utterly fucking sick of it all. And to your misfortune — that intolerant man turned out to be me."
"You… are stronger than we thought," the ghost said.
"Believe me, Valkorion also has no idea how far I've advanced in my self-training," I revealed. "And he won't find out. But you, and all those Force Ghosts in the galaxy who are just waiting for their time to start causing fucking chaos — you'll feel everything I have in store for you in your own skin."
"You don't understand the power you wield…"
"I won't deny it — I still need to figure out what exactly that madman mixed into my body. But," I smiled, "you won't get to find out anymore."
And before the deceased Sith could say anything to me, the Force around me turned into a miniature black hole that tore the bluish figure apart, drawing the shreds of the once-powerful Sith into my fingertips.
Absorbing ancient Sith Ghosts had already become something routine. And if previous times it had been difficult and required all my concentration… but now it all went so quickly that I didn't even have time to think about potential problems.
"That's better," I declared, feeling pleasant warmth spreading through my body. Having let the trophy disseminate through my system, I returned to contemplating the night city.
Yes, Valkorion is not as strong now as he tries to make it seem to others. That is, to me.
However, he needs time to accumulate energy. And to intervene…
But who will let him go against my Plans?
Smiling at my own thoughts, I continued contemplating the serene city.
There can be only one Immortal Emperor in this galaxy.