The Rebel Faction

"Lord Xilen. I am to escort you to Korriban where my Master awaits."

Xilen's eyes shifted into the darkness, the crimson armor of the Sovereign Protector only partially within his view. He stroked his beard slightly, a brief nod preceeding his rise. He had heard rumors of the Sovereign Protectors, rumors that had lasted throughout generations of service each protector proving himself to be a worthy force. Nothing short of a walking leathal weapon, imposing to any that would challenge them, including a Sith Lord.

"I understand, Sovereign Protector. My Infiltrator rests on the outskirts of the fortress grounds."

Xilen's billowing robes flowed around his new body as he stepped forward into the brisk damp-darkness of the fortress followed by the Sovereign Protector, and the Dark aura of the Dark Lord of the Sith. The winding passages of the fortress seemed to extend forever, winding through the endlessness of the Ancient Fortress of Ziost. After what seemed to be hours, the eternal darkness of Ziost broke through, the dim lights of the Sith Infiltrator Black Widow glimmering against the cloak of darkness that had consumed the planet for thousands of years.

No words were spoken as Xilen continued to lead the way, up the docking ramp, and into the warmth, and light of the infiltrator. The blue haze of the engines ignited...

Sedriss stood resolute and unflinching before the pale faced sith female hovering before him. Flicking a deadly gaze at her blood red lightsaber, the mans intense blue eyes bore into hers, reflecting a fiery defiance. The gentle breeze rustled his short spiky black hair, peppering it with sand particles from the canyon floor. The woman echoed an aura of power, which radiated intensely from her cold black heart.

As he prepared to confront her she asked, "Lord Sedriss..."I've been expecting you...."

A puzzled and wary look crossed the younger mans face. In response he activated his own silver hued lighstaber.

"How do u know me?" he asked, "I hid my tracks well. No one knew of destination."

The breeze also brought another element; a sweet, sickly smell, that reminded him of the burning and rotting carcasses of his parents on Balmorra. His reflection of that painful time, caused Sedriss to lose focus of his surroundings, momentarily dropping his danger senses. Before he could bring them back to bear on his surroundings, the sith woman lunged forward with her lightsaber.

Yet Sedriss sensed loyalty in this being and stayed his hand. Somersaulting out of her way, he turned to witness her red blade deftly slicing a blue beast of unspeakable horror. Obviously the creature had been stalking him sense he left his ship. He grinned as the beast's wail echoed through the valley, astonished that its bloody entrails splashed harmlessly onto the ground.

Clarity siezed the moment and Sedriss made a conscious decision to trust this woman.

I am in your debt, but i must ask you who you are and how did you know i was coming to Korriban.

She replied softly "I advise you to prepare yourself, Lord Sedriss. Korriban is more heavily defended than you would suspect." Extending her hand, she continued. "Adriana Quinn, at your service."

Before he could answer, hordes of ancient skeletons, in the guise of dead Space pirates, assaulted them from hidden chambers in the temple. Weaving his lightsaber in a dazzling display of skill and acrobatics, Sedriss lept head on into the fray. A pile of skulls and dismembered joints littered the sandy ground, as him and his dark ally Adriana, fought furiously to fend of the attack. In an instant the skeletons retreated leaving behind chaos and destruction, but even more, a sense of impending doom. The worst was coming.

Standing silently at the base of Exar Kun's illustrious temple, Sedriss was almost mesmerized by the intricate designs and the cold, expressionless face of the mans statue.

His first warning was a glint of red. Aware of a sinister presence, Sedriss now saw the flowing red robes lined with gold and blood writing, a foreign script to Sedriss, but the mark of a dark lord. The dark man made his way towards Kun's Temple, navigating his way through the bone littered battlefield. Sedriss steeled himself for another fight, glancing over at Adrianna only to see the same grim determination. The siths approach was deliberate and disconcerting to Sedriss. Obviosuly he felt at home in this Valley and some inkling in the force told Sedriss he was responsible for both attacks.

The duo felt the mans cold mind envelop them as he came to stand directly in their path.

"What is your business on this sacred planet, brother and sister of darkness?" he commanded.

Adriana retorted "The Business of the Dark Lord of the Sith is the business of any Sith, for he has returned. We've come to prepare his temple for his arrival. Might I ask who you are, and what you are doing here, brother of the Darkness."

Seething with anger Sedriss had a somewhat different response.

"I am Sedriss from Balmorra. I am also here to pave the way for the coming of the Dark Lord of the Sith. I can't explain it fully but over the years I have had dark visions of a shadowy spirit, telling me to come to Korriban and fulfill my destiny. It is confusing, I know, but nothing human, beast, or sith will inhibit me from completing my task."

Pointing the tip of his lightsaber towards the mans heart he added, "Especially you, since you are responsible for the attempts on our lives".

Using his force powers Sedriss gestured with his free hand, hurling the dead blue beast and his entrails at the feet of the dark man. The stinking corpse hit him at his ankles, splattering its blood and guts on the ornate robes the man wore.

"If you know what is best for you, you will call of these attacks, before the blood at your feet is your own."

The flight from Ziost to Korriban had gone uneventfully and, during those times that Protector Silk was not on the bridge with Lord Xilen he remained in the hold with a close eye on the cargo bound for Maim.

Silk garnered little impression from Xilen during their time in transit, in all they spoke perhaps ten words to one another. It was clear that Xilen was someone of importance, power and prestige but, Silk could not draw any focused impressions from the Sith Lord. Perhaps it was purposeful.

Either way, it was not his place to worry about such trivial things. He sensed no danger towards his Lord and Master from this new Sith and, that was parliament in most situations.

Dioan had long been out of touch, away from the galactic pulse and as such he'd played very little attention to political changes in the galaxy at large.

The Crimson Empire had expired... Traitors had split from the fold and run amok calling themselves the Crimson Rebels. Well, at least that much was true. They were rebels from the word of their sovereign charge, the Dark Lord of the Sith. Or, at least, that was how Silk saw it. Minds fevered with loyalty often see things differently.

Otherwise, he knew nothing of political developments. He knew nothing of this Lord Xilen and did not know the purpose behind this ceremony as well as some. Again, he relied on the command of his Lord, and the Master before that.

Silk wished only to fulfill the order of Dark Lord Maim. He wished to see the living body of his Master vital again.

Soon, the craft would descend to the Korriban surface and to the reunion of his Dark Lord

Extending himself to the Dark Force he called to his Master...
And, there were more.

Lord Maim looked to his feet, then to the lightsaber pointed to his chest. He was not amused. Reaching out with his armored hand, the High Priest grabbed the blade and watched as it shut itself down. Cortosis ore gauntlets and shields doing the work for him. His eyes then fell upon the other.

"I created many of the beasts here, that is true. However, I did not send them against you. They attack any who do not belong on this planet. You three would normally have no business here.

That being said, I am Diete Somir the Third known as Lord Maim, son of the Dark Lord, High Priest of the Sith, protector of the Sith Religion, Keeper of the Ancient Secrets, and guardian of the temples of old."

Turning his eyes once more to Sedriss he spoke to him in particular.

".. and if you ever disrespect me or this place again, I will feed your dead body to my pets."

Turning abruptly, he headed from the temple of Exar Kun and out into the valley once more.

"Follow me... now."

Sedriss glared intensely at the dark figure, fuming that the man had deactivated his lightsaber. The cortosis ore in his armor had done the trick. The dark wind that was howling in Sedriss's mind was cut off by the mans voice.

"and if you ever disrespect me or this place again, I will feed your dead body to my pets."

And if you underestimate me or threaten me again I will take your life he thought silently.

The dark power seeped into Sedriss's cells, filling him with rage. Peace irritated him. Life was struggle, pain, and violence. He adhered to these principles, for they gave him the dark power he commanded. He challenged the dark lord.

"Follow you? Who gave you such authority evil one. I am here to prepare for the dark lords coming. If you wish to lead I demand to know what gives you this right. Fancy titles are nothing to me. My vision was through the force. A dark spirit commanded me to come to Korriban and destroy all traitors who might threaten the safety of the Dark Lord of the Sith. How do I know you are not one?"

Looking at the man who had come next to him he added

"And what about you? Thus far Adriana has shown her trust and intent. Neither of you have."

Sedriss looked to Adriana to insure her he was not causing trouble but merely being safe and certain of the path they were taking.

"Answer me or I will kill you both."