The small speeder shot through the Kuati sky, the dark clouds above rumbled loudly as their blue tongues flickered across the black horizon. Sitting quietly in the back of the vehicle was the Dark Lord, Prognie, his lifeless hues gazing out to to the view he could not see.
Looming in the distance was the Imperial Palace, the one structure that acted as the largest distribution of executive power with it being home to the Emperor of the Galaxy as well as the meeting place of the Moff and High Council. There was usually a sense of dread coming to the place, he hated the atmosphere and the arrogant individuals that usually inhabited the area.
The driver had received his landing authority at the palace where he was to meet with Lord Tarna before meeting finally with the Emperor. Another thing to dread, the thought flashed in his mind like a terrible memory. Meeting with the other Dark Lords, no matter how many, was usually as riveting as listening to a Chiss explain the complexity of their language.
"We've arrived, Lord Prognie," the driver said as the speeder finally set gently on the pad. Acknowledging the man with a nod, he patted him on the shoulder, "Take your leave now, I am positive I will find a new way out." The driver looked at him puzzled but new that any sort of question would result in a terrible backlash. Getting out of the vehicle Prognie opened his senses, engulfing the entire area of all its surrounding bodies and pin pointed the one that mattered.
"Lord Tarna, or is it Grand Moff? I have such a terrible time keeping up with your titles."
Sovereign Defender Tarna
The wind blew Tarna's hair in front of his face as he replied, "Lord Tarna will be fine, Lord Prognie." This day on Kuat was especially gloomy and morbid, grey clouds and lightning flashed across the sky. The wind blew his robes and long hair all around as he joined stride with his superior. "One of the burdens of being a Dark Lord is being given several titles to swap through. Am I correct, Grand Inquisitor and Darkest Knight?" Tarna chuckled.
Grand Inquisitor Prognie
(We'll ignore the second title since prognie technically isn't DK )
Prognie gave him a half smile, "Some times we feel the need to be acknowledged as a new persona just to feel different." The guards around the palace seemed on edge, and there were more of them than usual. The security of the Empire was more obviously in threat to more than one enemy.
"So the Emperor has summoned us for a little chat, not the most welcoming of moments for such a thing if you ask me." Prognie could feel the cold stare from Tarna, that was one thing that Prognie admired was his foolish loyalty. Perhaps in a new era he'd demonstrate that loyalty more wisely.
Stepping through the well guarded threshold, Prognie heard the doors of the palace shut and the clicking of the locks as they moved into place. Usually Prognie liked to have someone accompany him through the Palace as its direction was difficult to navigate when blind. Plus he some times liked the idea of the impression it gave us to see the Dark Lord being aided. "Lord Tarna, would you be a gentleman and lead the blind man on his way."
Supreme Prophet Praxeum
The long strides of the Supreme Prophet caused his bodyguards to break into a near run to stay by his side. These dark clad warriors never were seen in public with the Dark Lord; Aeon could not comprehend why he and Taleed were with him. The trio turned a sharp corner in the illustrious palace, and at the end of the long hall, Aeon could see a collection of Junior Moffs congregating around one another, speaking of their ideals and duties, while the older Moffs were spread throughout the foyer talking quietly to each other about deals and bargains to be made.
Aeon followed Praxeum right past the majority of the politicians and tread right towards Moff Nawtun, a purple Dornean Aeon recognized. The Coreillian stopped right in front of the Moff and said a few unintelligible words before quickly moving. Aeon quickly came to attention and hurried after the quickly-moving Supreme Prophet.
At the end of the hall, Aeon could see the particulars of the Dark Lords Tarna and Prognie moving down the halls together at a common pace. Praxeum’s momentum stayed the same; Aeon was confused. The Supreme Prophet normally would go and speak to his cousin and friend Tarna, but he seemed to be avoiding all the other Dark Lords.
Sovereign Defender Tarna
(( My bad, I keep forgetting. ))
Tarna chuckled ever so softly at the Dark Lord's quip. Prognie's motives and loyalties had always confused him. He seemed loyal enough, but not entirely devoted. He cooperated with the other Order Heads, but never truly meshed. And now, a fiercely proud and strong Dark Lord of the Sith; asking for help with walking down a hallway. Tarna always suspected that Prognie saw more than he let on, both figuratively and physically.
As he walked, Tarna felt a light brush on the back of his neck of a familiar aura. He couldn't decipher who or what, so he shook it off because he knew most everyone in the Palace. "From what his office told mine, it's more than tea and biscuits. Supposedly it's about the Emperor's security. Which is odd, considering the Darkest Knight is doing inspections in the 'sneeze', unless he's going to be holo-cammed in...but why couldn't it wait until he returned?" Tarna liked thinking out loud with others, he often did it in sessions of the Moff Council or Guard meetings. It invited others to offer suggestions or interject different thoughts.
Grand Inquisitor Prognie
Prognie listened to Tarna, "I assume that the Darkest Knight will not be present then, Lord Magisto's presence isn't entirely necessary other than for opinion. The Emperor is no fool though, he's kept himself alive a lot longer than we have, I am sure he has an idea of what to do for himself." Prognie much preferred to have the Darkest Knight far away, he made it very difficult to achieve things.
"It might just make the discussions go quickly as well," it pleased the Dark Lord that he could probably speed up the discussions and be out before he had wasted more valuable time. Now it was a matter of convincing Tarna to do the same, the less time spent with the Emperor allowed for more valuable time elsewhere.
Sovereign Defender Tarna
The two men arrived in the waiting area just outside the Emperor's personal office. The Emperor's secretary said politely, "I'll tell the Emperor you're here, my lords." Tarna nodded to her and sat down with Lord Prognie to wait.
Grand Inquisitor Prognie
Prognie found a seat outside in the waiting area, he was surprised to find himself actually coming to Shadow's office and not his throne room where he generally met with the Dark Lords, apparently the security risk of such a thing was taken into account or he was going for a more impersonal touch.
"The dreaded wait," Prognie said beneath his breath, he didn't like the idea of being told to wait to see someone who had requested his time. The insulting measure was probably something the Emperor took into consideration as well when he planned the meet.
"If you don't mind, I will just copy your notes today too Lord Tarna," throwing in whatever humor still resided in him, Prognie wasn't always the cold invidual that he was made out to be. But he still made sure to convince everyone that there was never any hope to convert him away from the way he already was.
Emperor Shadow
"Highness, Lords Tarna and Prognie are in the main chamber," his Chief of Staff's voice crackled in the speakers of his stately office. The expanse was decorated in beautiful purples and greys, quite unusual for a Sith Emperor. Shadow relished taking fashion tips from Lady Ducki, the galaxy's "Most Fashionable Sith" according to the HoloNet.
The office was an oval. No corners here, a calculated move he had insisted on when he redesigned the personal living wing of the palace. There were nooks in the walls, shelves, housing artifacts from every era in Sith history. So many of the items were considered by historians outside the most senior Sith officials to be "lost." Very few Sith, Shadow reflected, had been given access to his office. His Chief of Staff, the Grand Moff, select Dark Lords, and the charming Darth Eclipse.
He was lost in the egg shape of his office. The sunken center was a circle of couches. Along the perimeter, communication panels, low-lying leatherbound flimsi volumes, and refreshments. Shadow returned to his game. Prognie and Tarna could wait a little longer.
A sliding panel in the wall behind the Emperor's Old Kuati Royale desk opened. A man with a strikingly curious resembelance to the Emperor came through. He kneeled before his Master, and Shadow put his palms on both sides of the man's head. "Rise, Drex," the Emperor commanded.
"You are due in the throne room today. You shall be receiving the Queen of Naboo. She is a new player, treat her well, but remember your oath."
Drex bowed before his master. As the royal body double, he knew how to carry the wit, charm, scorn and edge of the true Emperor. "Something wrong?" It was an oddly personal question to ask the leader of the known galaxy, and yet he asked anyway.
"Enemies at the gate," Shadow reflected grimly.
The body double scowled. "We can have them killed."
The Emperor smiled. "Their boredom shall soften them. They have," he looked at his chrono, "four hours of waiting ahead of them."
And time passed slowly in the palace. Drex left his master to his game, the office empty except for the sound of clicking and the storm outside.
Grand Inquisitor Prognie
Prognie ran his fingers through a book, the small bumps transmitting information that he decoded back into the basic langauge he understood but could not read. Since the Emperor had chosen to not show up and was playing his game, Prognie took it upon himself to become comfortable. He had ordered for caf, a book, and a pillow for the comfort he needed on his neck. Tarna sat waiting with him, Prognie ignored him most of the time only making a comment here and there about something interesting he had just read.
Sovereign Defender Tarna
Tarna had to stifle a chuckle. Here, the Grand Inquisitor, was sipping caf and reading. Tarna glanced around the waiting area, and noticed the Dark Lord was very out of place. Government aides fidgeted and were quite nervous, given that they were about to meet the most powerful man in the universe. And here, one of the most powerful Dark Lords...sipping caf, and reading.
Tarna sat in the one position he knew: back rigid and straight. Occasionally, he checked the time. He had to catch a shuttle to Bastion tonight to oversee the election of the planet's new governor.
Emperor Shadow
The doors to the Emperor's office opened much to the surprise of his Chief of Staff. Shadow remained sitting at his desk, his fingers laced, his chin resting atop of them. The Emperor, normally preferring to remain hidden in the Force for obvious reasons, expanded his presence. He felt a collective shudder from the junior administration in this wing of the Palace. He was certain his Dark Lords had gotten the message.
The dimly lit office required no more light, the Emperor decided. Despite having lit hundreds of candles by hand in the four hours since Darths Prognie and Tarna had been waiting, the office still had an air of foreboding. Good, the Emperor liked it that way.
Deciding whether or not to receive his guests at the assembled chairs in front of his desk or in the sunken parlor in the middle of the posh expanse, Shadow stared at the entryway, waiting for the summoned to appear. Rather than invite them to sit, the Emperor decided to use to Force to slam the doors shut once they had cleared.
"That's far enough," the Emperor commanded. Almost smiling at the irony, Shadow lashed, "Well get on with it, do not waste my time."
Grand Inquisitor Prognie
Prognie was behind Tarna, he had to make sure he turned his pillow back in as well as insure he had more caf in his cup before entering. Stepping forward he passed Tarna who had halted in his place. Prognie stopped at the edge of the Emperor's sunken parlor, if he could stare at the Emperor he would but he was a victim of a strange design.
"I apologize your majesty, but I do believe you summoned us here." Prognie pulled out a data pad with information he had put together for the Emperor as well as taking time to remember some of the details that he anticipated the Emperor to bring up.
Emperor Shadow
"And as Dark Lords, should you not know the reason why you were summoned? Is it not in your power to anticipate me?" the Emperor spat.
There was no wind indoors, but this office had been specially designed, much like his throne room, to accomodate subtle theatrics. A cool gust was prickling the hairs on the back of the men's necks. It would not intimdate, only remind. Lesser men would break composure, but Darths Prognie and Tarna held firm to their spots at the edge, almost as if staring down a pit at the exterior of the parlor center.
Shadow did smile this time. He gently used the Force to take the datapad, his Telekinesis more refined than the average Sith. He made sure to drop it on his desk, causing a thud.
"Well?" he asked of the Dark Lords again. "Do not insult me by telling me I called and you leapt. You have your theories. Let us hear them. Why did the Emperor summon you both?"
Another gust, some of the candles flickered but did not extinguish. Shadow leaned back in his chair, a creak filling the noiseless office. Things were fine this way.
Grand Inquisitor Prognie
Prognie did not break or surrender any feelings that would displease Shadow. He simply bowed, "My apologies then, the datapad contains most if not all the information that I believe we were summoned here for but I will take a moment to highlight important details that my Order has found."
Waiting for interruptions he found none to his surprise so he continued, "The Empire is at constant threat, inside, outside, there are things attempting to topple us at this very moment. That's not the important information detailed in my report though, what is important is that we've narrowed down our results to top offices having been infiltrated and there are possibly some who are discovering ways to thwart the guards movements in the event of an attack against you."
"The Inquisitors and Guard are working tirelessly, we have both devoted a division of equal representatives from both sides to discover those that are possibly linked to what appears to be a weakening state of security in the palace as well as various other places you are anticipated to be."
Nudging the datapad forward toward shadow to attract his attention, a gesture he would feel in the force and see with his own eyes Prognie then addressed its importance, "What i have devised here is a new security plan in the event that you are attacked that uses both the Inquisitors and guards to safely keep you from harm's way. I have obviously not confirmed anything with Lord Tarna, that was simply what I put together with the assumption you would tear it apart where you see fit."
Prognie turned to Tarna, not to look at him but to let him take the floor. This was a great opportunity for Prognie, the plan he devised was nothing but perfect for him and Shadow, it was a matter of feeding it to them. The Emperor was not easy to fool, it was difficult to keep up the puzzles that kept him at bay but like any master of deceit, he would figure it out at some point but hopefully it would be too late.
Emperor Shadow
A gust of wind. The Emperor unlaced his fingers and laid his hands flat on his desk. “Enemies at the gate indeed” he said, more to himself than to either of the Dark Lords. Shadow let out a breath, gathering his thoughts in a semi-meditative state. His presence in the Force began to diminish to “normal.” Shadow rose, staying along the back arc of the office, he examined individual artifacts. He sensed an unspoken tension rising in the surrounding space. Try as they might, Prognie and Tarna felt confusion at the Emperor’s unusual presentation.
“You may send the results of your findings to Supreme Prophet Praxeum. I want independent confirmation. The Church has unique resources I want put into play before we strike.” The Emperor bent at the waist, his hands flat against a marble display. His back was hunched, his head lowered, a marked departure from royal posture. This and his chambers were the only places outside his retreat on Dantooine that he allowed his composure to falter. Weakness it was not, it was altogether too human. Shadow regained his footing and turned to the Dark Lords. He walked slowly, coming down their left around the sunken reception area. As he approached, every candle on both sides of the expanse went out, a product of the Force and not engineering.
Shadow paused halfway down the great walk. He turned again, this time to face the windows on the right hand side of the office. He looked out the windows at the storm. “No calm” he sighed and proceeded to turn back toward his desk, his back to the Dark Lords. “Did you know, Darth Tarna, that the Baran Do Sages will themselves to die when they feel most attuned to the Force?” Shadow smiled at the concept. “A Sage will lay down, tell himself its time, and then depart from the physical world. It’s very romantic, almost noble. I wonder, Darth Prognie, if your plan is necessary. I am certainly more than capable of defending myself in event of attack. Perhaps Shadow has become a fatalist in his old age.” He laughed a mirthless laugh, haunting even.
“The Baran Do have the right idea, I feel. It is best to leave the world on a high note rather than to wither and die. Your plans are rejected.” He hurled the datapad with the Force to their feet. “You can expect recommendations from my office within the day. They have been working tirelessly for a week on them. Spin your webs, play your games with the model presented. If there is anything Sith left in this empire at all, so be it.”
A pause. A gust of wind. This time, not from the office’s unique atmosphere. There was a disturbance in the Force. Shadow sensed no concern from either of the Sith in his doorway. He made note of the time and turned to Prognie. The Emperor’s voice, almost a whisper, begged “All things have their time.” A gust of wind. He turned and sat again. “Lord Tarna, you have been quiet. Give me your thoughts,” Shadow commanded.
Sovereign Defender Tarna
"My thoughts, sir? My thoughts on these matters ended with a chair thrown at me last time, if I recall sir." Tarna did not dare to chuckle. The Emperor knew exactly what Tarna was about to say, and was testing the Sith to see if he would speak his mind, and Tarna knew not to disappoint his master. "No one questions your ability to defend yourself. Not a soul in this whole Empire believes that there is a foe out there who could kill you. These plans are so that the theory is never tested. I never want to find out if that's true or not. Rumor has it you're a supernova with or without a lightsaber, but frankly...I don't want anyone to find that out."
Tarna took a deep breath and continued, "And as for sending the information to the Supreme Prophet, I would like to object. I trust my cousin deeply and appreciate his opinion. But the less people scattered across less organizations that know these plans, the safer you are. If you should want a third voice, ask the Darkest Knight to weigh in. Lord Magisto would know precisely what we're talking about. He was in the Military for years, Lord Acrimonus essentially taught him all he knows today, and he's also your chief advisor on military and combat areas. Lord Praxeum is a fine man, but he's not very well versed in intelligence or security matters." Tarna picked up the datapad slowly and held it towards the Emperor with the Force.
"These plans have been devised by a joint committee of Inquisitors and Guardsmen, the finest minds our Orders have to offer, and personally overseen by us. Men who have been doing this for years and have been doing it pretty damn well. And no disrespect to your Chief of Staff, but he couldn't recognize a security threat if it danced for him, not to mention his band of witless deputies." Tarna paused and waited for the Emperor's response, and when none came he continued, "So please, my lord, take another look at our plans."
Emperor Shadow
“Praxeum came to be at my hand. He is more well-versed than most in this empire in the matters I wish him to review. There shall be no debate. Transmit your proposals for review to the Supreme Prophet.”
Shadow’s eyes turned yellow for an instant, a change from their usual light green. Though he had lessened his presence in the Force, a surge of anger and hate radiated from him. The shudders around the palace were immense, the storm outside intensified, as if linked to the Emperor’s emotions. He regained composure a fraction of a second later, laying his hands on a priceless trinket from days of old. “Security, gentlemen, yes. That is why I called you here…” His voice was but a whisper as he reined in his presence once again.
“Your charges, your jobs as it is put in the HoloNet, is to safeguard my person, is that right?” Shadow breathed, allowing Prognie and Tarna to reflect for a long moment. “Lord Tarna, what if I told you there is a traitor in our midst? What if you knew that the biggest threat to the Emperor were mere centimeters from where you currently stand? Would you rise to defend your master or would you cross blades in friendship? I no longer know. There is so much to see, so much to do, I have lost many of the streams once leading to the future. I could wade in them all a year ago. My own shortsightedness, my own comfort… has led to this.”
The doors flanking the Emperor’s desk opened and a coordinated squad of Sith Masters and non-Force using intelligence operatives entered, standing rank-and-file in the oval office, the last in the line a mere meter from the Dark Lords on either side. “Fortunately,” Shadow said as he lowered himself into the seat behind his desk, his chin once again resting on laced fingers, “I have never solely relied on my own insights. These men and women represent handpicked soldiers, bred for loyalty and skill. They have been working on drawing our traitors in the Empire since, well, judging by the shocked expressions, I say you didn’t know they existed before now.”
“Lord Tarna, I know all,” the Emperor’s voice said coolly. “I do not need large agencies or my insights to tell me what goes on in my domain! A small contingent, a little band…” His voice was again a whisper. “You thought I didn’t know. You imagined I was clueless. Even now, Order 44 has been executed on Mon Calamari, Lord Prognie. Where will you run? The entire capital is now on high-alert. So, you may either fight… or flee.”
A pause, Shadow gathered his energies about him, the better to protect himself from Force attacks. “Soldiers, you answer to Lord Tarna for the time being. Arrest the Miraluka.”
Shadow’s back hit his chair, he surveyed Lord Prognie’s Force presence and his face. A true master, Prognie betrayed neither surprise nor intent. He simply listened, obviously formulating. No allies to his front, a planet on alert, and some of the most powerful Force users of all time in his proximity, the options were limited. But Shadow knew there was more to the Grand Inqusitor than appraisal of odds. This would not be simple. Under his breath, the Emperor muttered, “Move now.”
Grand Inquisitor Prognie
Prognie stood frozen, there were only a few times Prognie had to stop and this was it. The Emperor with all his might and glory could sense anything Prognie would let him if Prognie's defenses gave out now, no, the Dark Lord enveloped himself in the very mystery that shrouded him since the beginning. His face betrayed none of him other than the smile that laid so egostically on his face.
Shadow gave his speech, Prognie would have to reward the Emperor with something after his death for his efforts. Lord Prognie took another look at his surroundings, there was a large window behind Shadow, but to get to it was not a simple task. Still it was only a matter of getting past him and not all the Sith Lords and Masters moving through the palace straight for this room.
When Prognie heard the words, he could feel the movements of Shadow's men in the office. The first sith that launched himself at Prognie, the dark lord used the man's own momentum and the force to redirect him at Lord Tarna. The second one was wiser, he came at Prognie quickly but with preparation. Kicking his cane up to catch the red blade, Prognie parried the second effort before using both his technique and the force to break through the man's defenses and ignite his blade in the man's chest.
Now he had one shot. The other Sith masters came in after one another, blades ignited and their blows precise, the Emperor had chosen them well but they were not true masters of the force. Keeping a defensive stance Prognie met their blows with blocks and parries, his concern was laid in the non-force sensitives that were loading their weapons.
Wasting no other time Prognie forced the Sith back, providing himself some room before the sith came back in with more blows. This time he was ready, unleashing stored up energy the force expanded around Prognie as if it were a large gust of wind expanding out quickly and with such force as to destroy the room. The sith were knocked back and were going to recover, that wasn't his concern. Sensing them in the force the non-force sensitives were ready and their stream of blasters came at him like a storm.
Reaching up Prognie once again expanded his power around him, shielding himself in a sort of force bubble that absorbed the blasters, there was only so much he could take before it would break. Using the energy being absorbed he unleashed it toward the men knocking them and their weapons back.
"You chose well Shadow, but you anticipated this would have gone easier, another comfort you're used to." Prognie hadn't seen Tarna though, the Dark Lord took advantage of Prognie's negligence and hurled him across the room. Prognie crashed into paintings and landed on the floor with a thud, shaking his head he retrieved whatever consciousness was left.
Sovereign Defender Tarna
Tarna took a half second's pleasure in the satisfying thud caused by Prognie hitting the wall. Events were unraveling far too fast for him to think very quickly, but he knew two things; Prognie could not escape, and the Emperor needed to get out of this room. Tarna couldn't focus on the Grand Inquisitor and keeping an eye on the Emperor. As Prognie shook his head, two of the Emperor's security band jumped towards the Dark Lord. He quickly rose and shut down their attacks.
Tarna used the moment's distraction and hit the comlink on his belt. On the side of the device was a tiny yellow button that began to glow. Tarna could sense in the Force that his deputy had received the message. He also signaled one of the Force-using crew to go by the Emperor to make sure he stood out of harm's way. Feeling satisfied for the moment, Tarna advanced on his prey.
The Onderonian native stepped around one of the security crew as the soldier's neck was snapped in half. Tarna spun around and grabbed the dead soldier by the man's clothes and hurled him at Prognie. The traitor didn't expect a corpse to fly at him, and was forced to slide down against the wall. This left him perfectly available for Tarna's knee to meet his face with a sickening crunch.
High Defender Adenn
As Lord Tarna hit the Com-link on his belt, the High protector had declared a lock down of the Kuat. No ship was to leave or enter the atmosphere, no matter whom was on board. As this happened a band of the Royal Guard followed him as he ran down the hall of the Imperial Palace, toward the throne room. It was here that the advance was halted as the clerk had the throne room locked down. "You will open the door or I will open it with you." Adenn said, hinting that the clerk would be used as the tool of entrance.
It only took the clerk a moment to press the button, allowing Adenn and the Phoenix unit to catch the sight of Lord Tarna's knee smashing into Prognie's face with a most satisfying crack. As the blind man's head bounced off the wall, the phoenix unit rushed in, securing the area, and Adenn advancing to the Emperor. "Emperor Shadow, we will be transporting you to safety. Please come with us." Adenn said, firmly but cautious enough to show respect and discipline."
Grand Inquisitor Prognie
Prognie's face connected with the sharp knee belonging to the Shadow Protector, a crunch as his nose broke and blood gushed out. That was the least of his worries, the High Protector was now present. Prognie let out a laugh, the blood smearing his lips with a crimson glow. Tarna was slightly distracted by having to keep an eye on the Emperor as well as Prognie, grabbing a large statue held up by a column in the Emperor's office Prognie brought it against Tarna's face smacking him away with the heavy bronze piece of art.
Standing up, brushing himself off as if he had only just slipped and fell, the Dark Lord advanced on the remaining guards. "A misscalculation, don't expect the mistake again." The men ran at Prognie and before they could strike Prognie had reached into his robe and grabbed a small dagger and launched it with the force into the chest of one of the guards and moved away from the strike of another. Summoning his cane again he parried the next moves swiftly and with the precision of a sith lord. Cutting the man's hands off he then grabbed the guard by the throat and with the force threw him out the large window that stood tall behind the Emperor's desk.
Prognie turned his attention to the Emperor and the High Protector, he could swiftly kill the High Protector if he gave him the right surprise, the Emperor would not go down as easily. There was a grunt, turning to his side he saw Tarna rising and fingers extending, blue bolts forming from the tips before finally gushing out like a stream of energy toward Prognie. Preparing himself, the Dark Lord put his hand forward as if daring the lightning to strike him. The lightning hit his palm, using his own energy Prognie absorbed Tarna's stream of power, almost as if dancing Prognie moved around redirecting the lightning back at Tarna using his own power against him.
Emperor Shadow
Shadow was in a controlled rage. It was not his style to draw his lightsaber this early in a battle... or at all, actually, unless the situation demand it. This situation, however, did not. The Emperor let out a wounded cry as he ordered his troops to focus on the traitor and not him. He took mental note to punish the Shadow Protector for calling in his goons when he had had the situation under control. A variable the Emperor had not counted on. Prognie would make use ot it.
Hurling members of the Phoenix Unit toward the Miraluka, Shadow's eyes were a blazing yellow. He took a step toward Prognie, a Guardsman attempted to stop him. In his rage, he made a fist, the Sith's breathing obstructed. He could not bring himself to kill a loyal attendant... yet. So he rendered him unconscious and hurled him to the side. "Enough!" he bellowed. The former Grand Inquisitor was in the middle of neutralizing two non-Force Sensitives when Shadow had issued the command.
He could sense the Battle Melds forming, the pleas he withdraw to safety, the worry spreading across the palace... the other battles being waged on Kuat... The Emperor knew Darth Eclipse was by now leading the charge on the headquarters of the Inquisitors. The Emperor may have made a slight underestimation earlier when he told Prognie Order 44 had been localized on Mon Calamari... Across the galaxy, Inquisitors suspected of treason were being picked up by his agents.
Somehow he knew that would not stop the... the... rebellion. What had to happen would happen. For better or worse, there was a larger force and strategy at work. Shadow put his faith in that and he let himself go.
Blinded by rage, Shadow drew the energies of several of those around him, spun them like an energy spider on Kessel. A bright flash later, and he was gone. The traitor, his contingent of handpicked guards, his official Guard, and Tarna. His credits were even odds that Prognie had an escape route before Shadow made warrant for his arrest.
And he was gone. Waiting, he knew Prognie would be there shortly.
Grand Inquisitor Prognie
Prognie's eyes would have been blinded by the flash, but instead he took his chances Prognie grabbed the grappling hook from his belt and ran and jumped out of the window, using the force to twist his body he pointed his grappling hook at the palace walls where he shot the small device and hoped it embedded itself. Prognie then quickly let himself fall down holding onto the grappling hook tightly knowing that his fall would be unfortunate with nothing to brace himself from.
A security speeder doing rounds on the lawn of the palace came around toward Prognie, he could feel the lives in the vehicle coming closer. Stopping himself from falling he locked the grappling hook, placing his feet up against the wall, the Dark Lord used his own strength and the force to pull himself up the wall quickly and when the security vehicle was finally near him he pushed himself off the building into a back flip landing smoothly on top of the speeder, his weight pressed down on the speeder causing its repulsors to give out temporarily. The repulsors kicked back in and Prognie felt it shift beneath him, with only a small amount of reaction time the dark lord jumped off the vehicle before its repulsors would launch him back up.
Prognie hit the ground, guiding himself with the force to slow the impact and prevent any damage to his feet and legs. There wasn't time to look back, not that it mattered, Prognie could feel guards pouring out of the palace heading in his direction. Back where he had originally landed his ship and pilot were being held, Prognie unleashed his anger upon the guards grabbing one and snapping his neck without hesitation. The other was thrown far across the lawn. "Get in!" Prognie said to the pilot who quickly jumped into the speeder, Prognie was right behind.
"Get this thing out of here now," the pilot did not question, the speeder was brought to life, the respulsors jumped the ship into the air and soon it was flying off the palace's grounds with a stream of blasters firing at it. Some of the lasers hit the speeder, Prognie was attempting to redirect them away but there were too many for him to do without straining himself.
The speeder jumped into the crowded traffic of Kuat, speeders were leaving the palace and were soon trailing behind Prognie's, he sighed. "Turn up there quickly," the pilot nodded and as the pilot turned Prognie opened the speeder's top and jumped out. Free falling Prognie sensed a speeder coming, timing it correctly based off of what the force told him he landed on top of it causing its repulsors to also give out from the impact and his weight. The speeder dropped quickly, Prognie could feel the speeders that were chasing him not redirecting their attention as they turned the corner.
Before the speeder below him could have its repulsors come back Prognie jumped off to the next one timing his jumps carefully so that he wouldn't fall. Finally Prognie was able to sense a walkway with people on it, jumping to it he landed and continued his escape. He could feel the eyes on him, people shocked to see the Grand Inquisitor amongst the crowds running.
The entire planet was on alert, but not all the citizens had realized what happened, but they would ask questions when they began to realize that military vessels had no invaded the Kuati sky. Rounding the corner into an alley Prognie sensed a man sitting against a wall, his breath smelled of corellian ale and he was breathing slowly. Snapping his neck Prognie dragged him deeper into the shadows of the alley and stripped the man of his cloths.
Prognie walked out of the alley with a cloak around himself and a hat on his head, he removed his bandana that usually covered his eyes and replaced it with dark shaded glasses he had summoned from a person's hands. He blended into the crowd a bit more, but he had to keep their minds off of him or they would notice the similarities in appearance.
The sounds of tie fighters flying across the sky alarmed many people, most of them whispered between themselves regarding what was happening and all ships were now grounded besides the normal traffic. Space bound ships were not allowed, the sky was littered with military vessels.
Prognie found a garage with many speeders in it, it was not his preferred way of traveling and his blindness prevented him from accurately maneuvering through kuat but he had the force and his own senses. Breaking into one of the vehicles he did not have any struggle in acquiring it, the small vehicle was soon blending into the crowded lanes of Kuat with all the curious travelers.
Prognie brought the speeder into a deserted area of town, an area he suspected the military had not yet picked apart. Landing the speeder outside the hangar, he darted into the hangar where his decoy vessel was sitting already ready. He loved when a plan was well executed, not wasting time the dark lord made his way up the vessel of the ship and toward the front.
Prognie stopped at the door, all air in his lungs was pushed out as he was thrown quickly against the wall behind him. The pilot seat of the ship spun around revealing the Emperor, wearing nothing but his amused smile. "Are you missing a hydrospanner? No, well then... I'll leave." Prognie quickly rolled off the wall when the Emperor unleashed a telekinetic punch that dented the wall it connected with. Like a savage beast, Shadow came after Prognie, who met the Emperor as soon as he rounded the corner with lightning.
As he had anticipated the Emperor brought his bare hands to stop the stream of energy, absorbing it like a hungry child for more before he redirected Prognie's own energy back at him in another telekinetic attack. Prognie moved off the ship quickly knowing the restricted area of the ship would provide him no victory, instead he lured the Emperor out into the open.
Sovereign Defender Tarna
Tarna spat at Adenn and the other Guards, "I want you all working with city security and finding Prognie! High Protector, I want updated every ten minutes of your progress!" He turned around and started walking quickly down the hall in the Imperial Palace. His deputy yelled and asked, "Where are you going?" Tarna whispered it, knowing that Adenn's Force powers would hear; "My cousin." His steps quickened towards the Church offices in the Palace through crowded halls. The palace was still in lockdown, and so many people were getting frustrated. However, no one dare speak to him.
Any Sith or force-sensitives could feel his rage and fury billowing down the hall. Force-deaf aides could still detect that he was not to be messed with. He had a trickle of blood running down the side of his face from the traitor's attack, and his clothes were tattered. And of course, his eyes were somewhere in between brown and yellow, a dark shade of gold. One of the Emperor's lower aides walked up to him and started, "Lord Tarna, I see no apparant threat and I dema-" He would have finished his sentence, if not for Tarna's lightsaber slicing through his neck. The man's head hit the ground and someone in the hallway screamed.
Tarna shot lightning into the air with his hands, which prompted everyone to silence themselves. His eyes were now fully yellow and he shouted, "The Emperor was attacked by the Dark Lord Prognie, and now both men have gone missing! This building, and the entire planet, are locked down. You are all to stay where you are and cooperate. If you have any information, find a Royal Guard - and if you see any Inquisitors, please tell a Royal Guard immediately." He kicked the man's head aside and continued walking down the hall. Suddenly, he was knocked clear off his feet.
He slammed against the ground, and one of the Sith rushed to his side. "My lord, are you okay? I just felt a huge wave, but you are more attuned to such things, and it probably knocked you down." Tarna jumped up quickly and said to the man, "The emperor has engaged in combat, that was the wave." Tarna wheeled around and took off at a sprint towards the Church offices.
Sovereign Defender Tarna
(( Can whomever is controlling the Emperor or Prognie please step up? I want to keep this moving. ))
Supreme Commander Alor
((The Emperor said he'd make his own post. I'm being Prognie at the moment for the sake of getting this over with.))
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