In the Name of Power

Darth Malice · In the Name of Power

Gabriel sat at the bar, pacing his drink. Lately, he found himself coming here more frequently. It wasn't that the drinks were great, or cheap. It wasn't even that the company was great. It was something else, something he could feel, rather than see that drew him in.

Six months had passed before he even thought about how long he'd actually been on Apatros. The atmosphere seemed to consume his thoughts and he often found himself just staring at some random object. He had been tracking a bounty throughout most of the Outer Rim, when he came across the desolate planet. He wasn't sure what had initially drawn him in, but before he knew it, he was touching down.

About a week after he arrived he met a miner named Gax. He was a large man, however, still much smaller than Gabriel, as most men were. Gax was middle-aged, and by his worn skin and wrinkled face you could tell that he had spent the majority of his life in the mines. Never-the-less, Gax loved trading stories, and he had an unlimited amount of them, so many, Gabriel found it hard to believe they could all be true, but went along anyway.

Over the weeks Gax slowly sold Gabriel on picking up a couple shifts workin' the mines. Gabriel knew Gax would receive a bonus for recruting someone like him, but the truth was, he was getting bored just roaming this seemingly unappealing planet.

During his first shift in the mines, Gabriel struggled with the work. His body wasn't used to the constant labor over the extended time, but as he continued he found his struggle turned into tolerance, which eventually turned into immunity, and finally, he felt unsatisfied if his body wasn't under strain or some sort of pain. The feeling he got when he was alone, consumed by the darkness of the vast mines, was igniting something else inside as well. Something he thought he'd never feel again.

Now, he was back again. Back in the present. Still pacing his drink. He turned his head as he heard the creak of the door. Gax slid through the entrance and took the seat next to him. He didn't acknowledge Gabriel as he ordered a drink.

"Long day?" Gabriel asked as he took a long draw from his drink

"Same as every other day on the Godforsaken planet." Gax returned as he withdrew his credits to pay the barkeep.

As the night continued, the drinks continued. At this point, they were sharing stories like they had known each other for years.

"So come on......let's hear one you don't use as a bedtime story." Gabriel smirked as he finished off another ale.

Gax sat back in his chair and placed a large hand under his chin. "Well, there is one I haven't told in awhile. Some say it's a myth, but I know it to be true." He sat forward again and took another drink from the cup in front of him. "There was a miner a while back that ran into some "Republic" trouble here at the bar that wounded up in murder......and that's the least of it. His name was Dessel."

As Gax continued with the story, Gabriel couldn't help but be drawn into the amazing rise of this Dark Lord. Despite Gax's usually far-fetched tales, this one felt different. Darker, and more powerful. When Gax mentioned the name he had taken once at the Sith Academy, Gabriel's mind played it over and over. Bane. It felt as though he had been waiting his entire life to hear this story.

When Gax finished, Gabriel was already out of his chair and paying for his drinks.

"Well I didn't think my stories were that bad. Enough to drive a man out of a bar?" Gax took the last drink of his brew and slammed it down on the bartop.

Gabriel turned his attention back to the large man. "I'm leaving tonight.....It's time."

Gax looked back at him, somewhat shocked as Gabriel walked out of the cantina.

That was what he had come to this place for. The story of Darth Bane. He felt the heat rising up inside of him. It felt as if he were on fire. The same feeling he had felt back on Dantooine, not 10 years ago. This time however, the feeling was intoxicating, and he wanted it to stay.

Once back at the barracks he threw his things together and headed for the docking bay. The whole way there he couldn't get that name out of his head......Bane. He finally reached the Eclipse and set the coordinates for Korriban. He had to see the grounds where this Dark Lord of Power had realized his destiny. He hoped, he too may find some of the answers he was seeking. As he lifted off and crossed the planet's atmosphere he felt himself declare....."I am Bane."