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(7.24) The Root of Evil
(7.24) The Root of Evil
Hidden Crusade Facility
Outer Rim World of Cyout
19th September, 1938
The darkened corridors of the facility only added to the mysterious nature of this long forgotten piece of Galactic history. Long ago, these corridors were filled with such horrors that only a nightmare could contain. From here, the Crusade would launch its secret attacks against the Jedi, the Sith, or any other Force using tradition that threatened to tip the balance between normals and Force Users. It was all part of the very secret war that the Crusade had started against the Forces over twenty thousand years ago. A war that saw millions of lives lost and not one hint to the media or any other public agency. While most powerful organizations like the Jedi and the Republic had some evidence to the existence of the Crusade. None could prove beyond doubt that the organization actually existed. This didn't stop some whistle blowers from attempting to let the cat out of the bag. However, with no real evidence and a organized effort to discredit the whistle blower, these reports passed to crazed conspiracy theories. Soon it reached the point that even the most liberal of Media Outlets would not even touch the story without something solid to go off of. So facilities like this one were allowed to operate in the shadows completely.
It was actually this facility that saw the creation of the Jedi Master Bevern'age bot. And only one of few centers were Crusade scientist worked to cure Force User from the decease. During these top secret research projects, Force Users, nearly all of whom had been kidnapped and brought here against their wills, were subjected to an endless number of tests and experiments to better understand the nature of the decease. It was within these large laboratories that the powerful and uncontrollable Naga Virus was created. The Naga Virus was found during testing to be so powerful that it could eliminate all life on an entire world. While the Crusade wanted to end the decease that is known as the Force, it was not waging war on all life. The Naga Program was deemed too dangerous and shut down. But that did not stop other work from being conducted on this remote outpost in an unimportant corner of the galaxy. This site for nearly a thousand years from when it was formed was the center of all Crusade research. However it was replaced as a center of research and its highly valuable laboratories and research centers were moved to other sites. Its role against Force Users and training was not over however.
Here, the elite Shadow Stalkers trained to take the Crusades war right to the Jedi. Like everything the Crusade did, training was very brutal and often ended in the death of a captured Force User or Jedi. The Sith Lord, Carmish would meet his fate at the hands of training Shadow Stalkers. Captured and brought here to help train up the second generation Shadow Stalkers, Carmish taught the Crusade a valuable lesson in fighting Force Users. Always be prepared for the unexpected and train for what ever an enemy could possible throw at you. This well earned lesson became just one of the core training philosophies that all later generation Shadow Stalkers would be taught. Most notable would be the massive effect that this single site would have on the entire galaxy. For it was here that the Jedi Civil War would be born in concept. Here, during one of very few secret meetings of the Chamber, the ruling body of the Crusade, and the man behind the Crusade, the Puppet Master. It was time to strike a blow at the Jedi that would send them in to a tail spin that they would never be able to recover from. A war that in design would push their philosophies past the breaking point. The Jedi Civil War would also set the ground work for the fall of the Republic as a whole. A side effect that no one in the meeting even considered possible.
During the fall of the Republic, this site was hit four times by the Church in attempts to end its use in the region by the Crusade. After the fourth time, the site was finally abandoned. A small band of pirates moved in to use it to hit worlds in the local region. However they were crushed by a raid from the Church once their activities were detected in the region. Smugglers, pirates and criminals all used the site from time to time till the Republic space line transponder failed. Cyout and the secret base slipped in to the darkened pages of history. There were rumors that the Church actually destroyed the transponder to prevent further criminals from using the base. Though there is no evidence of that. Now, the wind which blows through this long abandoned base whispers of the horrors of the past. Those whispers beg for others to listen. 'pay heed, or else the horrors of the past shall be relived once more.' Through the Force, one could feel the cold dark presence of the Dark Side flowing through these tunnels. This was indeed a place of darkness on a world of light. And its shadows have already started to stretch outward across the region.
The six heavily armed and armored guards escorted Xan down the long twisting dark tunnels of the base. Xan was able to smile as he walked and reflected on the recent missions. The mission to Lotra had been a resounding success in his mind. Aola was finally dead, and a clear message had been sent to the others about trying to run away. No matter what happens, no matter how long, they will be found. They will be murdered as well as those that they care about. More importantly, he would be able to report four confirmed independent reports that Sha and her elite team were on there way to Cyout. Nothing could have been better news than those reports. Because not only was Sha coming to meet her fate, she was bringing Dia back home. This would surely make up for all of those mistakes back on the Mercenary Star. During his very first mission with the organization, he had accidentally allowed himself to be identified. However, he was sure that Tiny had not been able to tell anyone about who he was. He made sure that Tiny's death would be framed on that Bounty Hunter who was delivering a message for Sha. Now that Bounty Hunter is waiting trail on the Mercenary Star and relations between the two powerful guilds has never been lower.
The small group turned a corner and walked through a large set of blast doors as they entered a large command room. The entire room was bathed in a bluish glow as everything in the room was only a projection from somewhere else. The chairs, the armored soldiers and the consoles were all projections of another room somewhere else. In the center of the room was a large throne like command chair. As the group entered, the chair spun around revealing a much younger Xan Zall. He was dressed in white robes with gold markings across it. His hair lacked the signs of age and his skin was smooth once more. The man walking in with the guards had never seen anything like this room before. His mouth hung open like a fish trying to get a gulp of water as it laid dying on the dock. The younger Xan snapped his fingers as the look of frustration crossed his face. The man with the guards knew that this could go very badly for him if he was not careful.
"There can only be one Son" The younger Xan said motioning his hands outward and to the side. Based on his clothes, it was clear that Xan considered himself some kind of god or something.
The man disguised as Xan shape shifted in to a normal human, "I am sorry My Lord" he said bowing in respect. "Have you heard the reports Master?" He was going to add more but he was cut off.
Xan facial expression didn't change, "I did. I heard of your failure on the Mercenary Star. I heard of your mission to Lorta and how you were able to confirm Aola's death. I heard how your people failed to recover the book. I also heard how you were able to confirm that Dia remains with Sha. Most importantly, I have not heard if you were able to confirm that Dia has the books or not. Were they cataloged with the evidence from the suite?"
The shapesifter looked nervous as he stepped backwards, "Sir I can explain that. I was able to identify that there was indeed a locked book safe hidden in the closet. The police were able to open the safe but found nothing of note worthy within it. I can only assume that the books are with Dia."
"I know you are new to our organization. And I have such high hopes for you. When I first met you, I could tell that you were someone special that I could depend on. However, I can not tolerate failures" Xan said looking down from his throne. "I must maintain standards no matter how much they hurt me to enforce."
On that cryptic command, the three guards made their attacks. The first guard spun as if to attack. The seasoned Bounty Hunter moved to block the incoming attack as he was trained to do. However this was only a diversionary attack with the goal of grappling his right arm. Even before the Bounty Hunter had a chance to react to the first attack, the second guard spun and knocked the Bounty Hunter's legs out from under him. The First guard held fast to the Bounty Hunters arm as he twisted it. The Guard right behind the Bounty Hunter started to stump the Bounty Hunter over and over again. The Bounty Hunter attempted to break the grapple with little success. However, he was able to land a successful kick on the guard holding his hand. The second Guard took this opportunity ram his armored boot in to the Bounty Hunter's back. There was a loud cracking sound of ribs being broken. The third Guard continued his kicking attack as well. It was not long till the Bounty Hunter could do nothing else but attempt to block the incoming attacks with his one free arm. Finally he let out a scream of anguish, "please mercy!"
Xan waved off the guards, "tell me why I should spare you. You have failed me already a number of times. What worth do you have Changeling?"
He tried to get to his hands and knees, "The mission to the Mercenary Star was a success. Tiny is dead and I was able to successfully frame the Bounty Hunters for the murder. Its only a matter of time before the two turn on each other."
"True, but I still had to send a team to help you clean up your mess. That mistake nearly cost me the over all operation." Xan's anger flowed as he reached out through the Force and lifted him off the ground. The man started to choke. "I shall not go in to detail how you failed me on Lorta. So you better come bigger than that bounty hunter."
He choke and struggled to break the invisible grip on his neck, "I" he fought to say. "I got something" he struggled to say, "you have to hear this." His breath was becoming more and more labored as he was choked through the Force. "Please listen to this."
Xan got up from his bluish image of a chair and walked over as the shape shifting bounty hunter fought for air. "You better impress me bounty hunter or else I shall kill you right here where you lay." With that Xan let go his grip through the Force.
The bounty hunter fell back to the floor. He coughed and struggled to regain his breath. "I have made a new friend." He coughed out. "She doesn't trust Sha. She feels Sha is a loss cannon who has shown a clear paranoia syndrome. She is not the only one either, they all do not trust Sha and feel that Sha will bring an end to the Kingdom of Lorta. She believes that I work for the parliament so she gave me something. She gave me a set of interrogation recordings where she felt Sha's abusive behavior violated the law and went too far."
Xan cut him off, "you are boring me, bounty hunter." He reached through the Force once more and started to choke the former bounty hunter turned villain.
The bounty hunter fought for breath once more then was released. "Yes My Lord" the bounty hunter said than pulled out a data pad. "Here, see for yourself" he said while activating recording. He fell to his side as Xan continued to choke the life out of him.
Xan watched as Sha and Dia confronted a friend of the late Aola. Xan knew him well and had thought to have the young man murdered but decided to turn the man to evil instead. The report of the murders indicated that Xan's plan was working. It was only a matter of time till grief brought Haly to the dark side. He watched and his eye widened as he heard Sha told the man that Cas was not Aola's sister. A fact that Xan already knew. What Xan didn't know, was that Cas was Aola's daughter. "Sha you foolish stupid lizard. Your brutal honesty has finally paid off for me." Xan watched with great excitement as shortly there after Dia stepped forward and confirmed that Cas was in fact Aola's daughter. Xan stumbled backward to his chair in shock as the realization finally set in. He saw that Dia did have the book. It was safe to assume that Dia still held the book with her. He leaned against the chair in shock as he image continued to play out.
"Every thing had indicated that Aola's unborn child was still birthed." Xan said in disbelief, "I even searched through the Force and saw that my child was born lifeless." He knew that Sha would not have said it unless she truly believed it to be so. Which meant that Dia had the evidence and it was somewhere in that book. "But now, I know that my daughter is alive. And both Dia and Sha knows where she is.
"My Lord" the bounty hunter said as he recovered from the choking. "You are pleased," there was still the possible issue of his untimely death hovering in the air.
Xan once more rose from his chair, "oh yes" he said walking towards the frozen image of Dia holding open a book. "Look in her eyes," he said pointing to Dia, "she believes this to be true. My daughter" Xan said with a smile, "My Daughter is alive after all!" There was both vile darkness and delight in his voice. Xan turned his gaze from the frozen image and back to the bounty hunter, "new orders. Bring Dia home. Capture Sha. We will break them both. They both know where my daughter is being hid. I want my child returned to me. As for the rest, I have no use for any of them. Kill them all."
"Yes My Lord" the bounty hunter said. "Um, Sir," he said as if he was unsure of asking this next question, "why did you order us to kill Cas in the first place?"
Xan turned and walked back to his chair, "that was meant as a message to Dia and the others, once I returned her home safely. So that they would know what happens to those who run away. More importantly, what happens to those close them. I want them to see the cost of running on everyone around them." He turned to one of the men working at a set of controls, "Contact Jin, inform her that I will need her for a special mission. Have her return home at once. Also, send a message to Pessk. Message is as follows, don't leave Lorta just yet. Uncover all there is regarding Aola's sister Cas." Xan was pleased with the current turn of events. He walked back over to the bounty hunter. His bluish hologram image seemed almost like a ghost before the seasoned bounty hunter.
"I will allow you to live for now, Changeling. However let me make this clear to you. Fail me again, and I will assure you that your death will be slow, painful and time consuming." he leaned in close, "Make no mistake, you are on borrowed time Changeling. Don't push your luck. Find Dia and bring her home, safely. Hand Sha over to the interrogators and kill the rest of them."
There was a bit of confusion in his eyes, however the bounty hunter opted to keep his neck intact and his mouth closed. With a nod he uttered, "Yes My Lord."
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