Kael's footsteps echoed through the cold halls of the Imperial Palace as he followed Darth Vader. The faint hum of the dark side pulsed around him like a heartbeat, heavier now after his confrontation with the Emperor. Though Kael had proven himself, the weight of his encounter with Palpatine lingered in his mind. The Emperor's gaze had been both piercing and calculating, as though peeling back every layer of Kael's soul.
He remained silent, his face calm as he matched Vader's pace. The Dark Lord had not spoken since they departed the throne room, but Kael could sense the subtle tension in the air between them. It wasn't fear—it was something deeper, something unspoken.
At last, they stepped into a secluded chamber in the lower levels of the palace. The room was barren except for a single viewport that overlooked the sprawling cityscape of Coruscant. Vader turned to face Kael, his mechanical breathing filling the silence.
"You performed well," Vader said finally, his tone cold but laced with a trace of approval. "The Emperor is satisfied… for now."
Kael inclined his head. "I am honored to have proven myself."
Vader's helmet tilted slightly, his gaze fixed on Kael. "Do not mistake his satisfaction for trust. The Emperor rewards strength, but he also fears it. The stronger you become, the more he
will see you as a threat. Always be vigilant, Kael. The dark side is not just a tool—it is a weapon against those who would seek to control you, even those you serve."
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly at Vader's words. He had long suspected the precarious balance between master and servant within the Sith hierarchy. Strength was a double-edged sword; it elevated you, but it also painted a target on your back.
"I understand, Master," Kael replied, his voice steady.
Vader stepped closer, his imposing figure casting a shadow over Kael. "Do you? The Emperor will use you as he uses me, and one day, he will turn on you as he did on countless others before us. But I have plans, Kael. Plans that will ensure our survival—and our rise."
Kael felt a flicker of intrigue but kept his expression neutral. "What do you ask of me?"
"For now, obedience," Vader said, turning toward the viewport. "But be prepared. Your loyalty to me must be absolute when the time comes."
Kael nodded, though questions swirled in his mind. He had always known that betrayal was a part of the Sith way, but hearing it so plainly from Vader unsettled him. It wasn't fear that gnawed at him—it was the realization that the path he walked was even more treacherous than he had imagined.
Later that evening, Kael returned to his quarters aboard Vader's Star Destroyer, the Executor. He sat cross-legged on the floor, his eyes closed as he meditated. The dark side swirled around him, a constant current of energy that he had learned to manipulate with increasing skill.
His thoughts drifted to his lightsabers, resting on the ground before him. Each blade represented a piece of his journey—one gifted by Vader, the other taken from Lord Bane. Together, they were extensions of his will, instruments of the dark side.
Suddenly, his meditation was interrupted by the chime of the holocomm. Kael opened his eyes and stood, activating the device. Vader's image flickered to life, towering and foreboding even in holographic form.
"Kael," Vader said, his voice sharp. "You are to lead a strike team to the planet Ord Mantell. A Rebel cell has been discovered there, and they are harboring a Jedi fugitive. Your mission is to eliminate them all."
Kael's eyes darkened at the mention of a Jedi. He had encountered only a handful of them since his training began, but each battle had pushed him to his limits. Still, he relished the challenge.
"It will be done, my master," Kael replied.
Vader's image flickered as he leaned forward slightly. "Do not underestimate this Jedi. He has evaded capture for years, and his presence in the Force is strong. You will need every ounce of your training to succeed."
"I will not fail," Kael assured him.
Vader's image disappeared, leaving Kael alone with his thoughts. He reached for his lightsabers, clipping them to his belt as he prepared for the mission. The dark side was his ally, and he would wield it without hesitation.
The journey to Ord Mantell was uneventful, though Kael spent much of it reviewing the intelligence on the Rebel cell and their Jedi ally. The planet was a haven for smugglers and criminals, its sprawling junkyards and slums offering ample hiding places for those seeking to evade Imperial scrutiny.
As Kael's shuttle descended into the atmosphere, he extended his senses through the Force. The presence of the Jedi was faint but undeniable—a flicker of light in a sea of darkness. Kael smiled faintly. It wouldn't remain a light for long.
The shuttle landed in a remote clearing on the outskirts of a dense junkyard. Kael disembarked, followed by a squad of stormtroopers. He could feel the unease radiating from them; they knew this mission was dangerous.
"Secure the perimeter," Kael ordered, his tone sharp. "Leave the Jedi to me."
The troopers saluted and fanned out, their blaster rifles at the ready. Kael moved with purpose, his senses attuned to the faint trail of the Jedi's presence.
The junkyard was a maze of towering scrap heaps and derelict starships, the air thick with the stench of rust and decay. Kael moved silently, his lightsabers still clipped to his belt as he relied on the Force to guide him.
Suddenly, he felt a surge in the Force—a warning. Kael spun around just in time to deflect a blaster bolt with his bare hand, redirecting it into a pile of scrap.
"Ambush," he muttered, igniting one of his lightsabers.
Rebel soldiers emerged from the shadows, their blasters firing in unison. Kael moved like a shadow, his blade a crimson blur as he deflected shot after shot. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a wave of Force Push barreling into the nearest group, sending them sprawling.
He leaped forward, his lightsaber carving through the air with precision. One Rebel fell, then another, their cries drowned out by the hum of his blade. Kael reached out with the Force, pulling a third soldier toward him before slamming him into the ground with a Force Crush.
The remaining Rebels hesitated, their fear palpable. Kael extended his free hand, unleashing a crackling bolt of Force Lightning that arced through the air and struck them down.
As the last Rebel fell, Kael deactivated his lightsaber and closed his eyes, reaching out with the Force once more. The Jedi's presence was stronger now, a beacon in the darkness.
Kael pressed deeper into the junkyard, the oppressive silence broken only by the distant sounds of battle as his stormtroopers engaged other Rebels.
At last, he entered a wide clearing, the ground littered with rusted machinery and broken droids. Standing in the center was the Jedi—a tall man in his late thirties, his brown robes tattered and his green lightsaber already ignited.
"You've come far, Sith," the Jedi said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "But this is where your path ends."
Kael ignited both of his lightsabers, their crimson blades casting an eerie glow. "You speak of endings, Jedi, but I see only beginnings. Your death will mark the start of a new era—one without you."
The Jedi didn't reply. Instead, he charged, his lightsaber flashing in a precise arc. Kael met him head-on, their blades clashing with a thunderous crackle.
The battle was ferocious, their movements a blur as they struck and parried. Kael's dual blades gave him an edge in speed and unpredictability, but the Jedi's mastery of the Force kept him on the defensive.
Kael leaped backward, using the Force to hurl a pile of scrap at his opponent. The Jedi sliced through it with ease, but the distraction gave Kael enough time to unleash a surge of Force Lightning.
The Jedi raised his hand, absorbing the lightning with a shimmering Force barrier. He countered with a powerful Force Push, sending Kael skidding backward.
"You're strong," the Jedi admitted, his breathing labored. "But strength alone is not enough."
Kael smirked, his eyes glinting with dark amusement. "You sound like my master."
He extended his hand, using Force Choke to immobilize the Jedi. The man struggled, his lightsaber falling from his grasp as he clawed at his throat.
Kael tightened his grip, relishing the sensation of power. But the Jedi wasn't finished. With a desperate surge of the Force, he broke free, sending a wave of energy that knocked Kael off his feet.
Kael rose quickly, his lightsabers igniting once more. The Jedi was weakened, his movements slower, his resolve faltering. Kael advanced relentlessly, his blades cutting through the air with deadly precision.
In a final, brutal strike, Kael disarmed the Jedi, his lightsabers crossing at the man's neck. The Jedi knelt, defeated, his head bowed.
Kael hesitated for only a moment before delivering the killing blow.
As the Jedi's lifeless body crumpled to the ground, Kael deactivated his lightsabers and stood in silence. The dark side swirled around him, a storm of power and satisfaction.
The mission was complete, but Kael knew the challenges ahead would only grow. The Emperor and Vader had their plans, but so did he. The galaxy was a battlefield, and Kael intended to emerge victorious.