Tales From The BBS

presents:

Dark Lady Lumiya

By: dorkforcerising

Prologue

The darkness wrapped around her, chilling her to the bone, turning her skin to crust, her hair to dust. Space never hurt this much. She managed to open her eyes and she saw her precious TIE fighter, her life, mangled into an unrecognizable heap of metal. She tried to breathe, but nothing came in. She was dead, and certain of it. Suddenly, a spark of hope ignited in her mind: her O2 pack. It was right in front of her...if she could only reach it...almost...got it. She put the mouthpiece into her mouth and felt the pure oxygen sweep into her cold, lifeless lungs and let herself drift back into unconciousness.

She awoke with a start, Who am I? Where am I? Questions screamed back and forth in her mind. She realized that she was in a liquid and tried to kick up, but it was no use, she was being held down by a machine. Suddenly, the blue liquid drained out of the tank and she fell forward. She was caught by a medical droid and carried to a cot and set down. She looked around and realized that she was in a strange room with two people, a droid, and many machines that were unfamiliar. One of the people, tall, imposing, and clad in black, looked eerily familiar. He left the room leaving the confused woman alone with a droid and a young male no older than twenty.

"Shira, are you okay?" asked the boy. Shira, that was her name, thought the woman. It all started to come back. She was Shira Brie, fighter pilot for the Emperor, and agent for the Imperial Intelligence. This must be another Imperial, and the man who left must have been..the realization of who that was shocked her: Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith. What was he doing here? What does he want with me? Shira looked in a mirror and saw a mess, some of her skin was missing and she was contorted into a shape not humanly possible. Shira managed a squeak before falling back into a dark, restless slumber.

She was awoken three days later by a message droid. Shira got up, went to get dressed, looked at herself, and screamed. Her reflection showed a suit of cyborg casing. I am no longer human, she thought. What have they done to me? She no longer had a body, she was now just the inside of a metallic suit. She was no different than Darth Vader. After she recovererd from her shock, she went over to the droid and played the message. "Dark Lady Lumiya," there stood Darth Vader. "Report to the Emperor's Court immediately." Shira realized that her new name was Lumiya, a fitting name for someone not yet droid, but not quite human.

Shira entered the court with all the dignity and stature she could muster. There sat the leader of the galaxy, the dark master of the force, Emperor Palpatine. "Come Lumiya", he cackled. "You shall be an extension of my will..."

Chapter One

No, No, NOOOO!!!!! This can not be!, Lumiya mentally screamed. How can Vader, my master, die by the cause of his master, a dark Jedi Master? Lumiya frantically slashed her lightwhip at everything she encountered as she raced back to her hut in the middle of the snow-covered, barren world of Ziost. It was Skywalker's fault. If I had only killed him when I had the chance... Lumiya arrived at her hut where she was instructed by Vader to wait until his further instructions. She had done every whim he had asked of her, followed his every instruction, and now she was left without guidance in the middle of the uncharted regions of the galaxy. She traveled to Ziost, the planet that Naga Sadow used during his reign of power when the Golden Age of the Sith existed. She created a lightwhip, the ancient sith form on a lightsaber, by using Kaiburr crystals to inflict the most damage. She had stranded herself there and was forced to search for food and shelter, all because her master had requested it of her. Wait, Lumiya looked towards the distant horizon and saw an object setting down. What is that?

The giant man stepped out of his ship and got no more than ten feet before sensing a dark presence behind him. He whirled around and saw Lumiya, Dark Apprentice of the Sith, with her lightwhip poised, ready to strike. He ignited the yellow lightsaber that he held in his hand. A Jedi, smirked Lumiya, maybe I will have some fun. She charged at him, sensing his moves, steps, parries, and thrusts. To Lumiya, it was all a game of cat-and-mouse. Whatever step he took, she could think of two steps to take which would result in the loss of his head, but something stopped her from wanting to kill him. She felt an urge to let him live and to see who he was. Lumiya knew that this was too easy to be true. Suddenly the enormous, scarred man jumped back and ignited a second, red lightsaber. What!? cried Lumiya. Jedi aren't allowed to have two lightsabers. What is he? He rushed back at her with all the strength from the beginning of the duel and began to slash at her. Back and forth, Lumiya dodged every stroke, slash, and slice. Suddenly, the man jumped over her head and Lumiya stuck out her foot, catching him right in the chest. As he went flying back, Lumiya used the power of force levitation to call one of his lightsabers to her. She flipped through the air and landed right next to his fallen body as he lay stunned on the ground. She pointed his lightsaber at his throat and commanded, "Who sent you?"

"So you are one of the Emperor's Hands. Lumiya, is it?", the man said. Lumiya stood speechless. How does he know me? I thought only Lord Vader and Palpatine knew. "Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Jeng Droga. I am Master Palpatine's protector and servant. Yes," he said as if reading her mind "I am also one of his Hands." Uhhh, Lumiya felt sick. But, he told me I was the only one... "I also carry a message that Master Palpatine sent before he died at the hand of the cursed Skywalker..."

Chapter Two

Who knew that I could amount to something? Who bothered to think that I will be the deciding factor in the return of the Sith?, thought Lumiya as she sat on her Throne of Skulls on the distant planet of Wampadan. It had been three month since her meeting with Jeng Droga. He told her the next step in their plan to build up a new order of the Sith to crush Skywalker and his rebel friends. Lumiya had to be strong, so she traveled to a planet full of life to test her strength by making a rule of terror. She had grown evil and ruthless ever since the demise of her master, the powerful Lord Vader. Nobody was strong enough to fill the seat of power in the splitting Empire, so she decided to be the next Empress. She spent every day, every minute, plotting how to make the Rebels pay for destroying her mentor. She smiled under her mask, First, I will lure them here, trap them in, and destroy them one by one until only the Jedi Skywalker remained. Then I will demonstrate the true power of the Dark Side as I wrack his body with force lightning. Every day, she would sit in her throne, ruler of the primitive planet, and meditate on the force, growing stronger every day until she was more powerful than even Palpatine.

Suddenly, a giant man walked in with two lightsabers dangling from his belt on either side. Excellent, schemed Lumiya, Droga has returned. Droga stepped forward and bowed. "Your leige," he spoke softly, "I have come with news of sucess. The others have returned". 4 people, draped in black robes stepped out from behind the hallway into their chamber. Hmm, we are missing one Lumiya thought as she tried to sense the missing one. "Where is Arden Lyn?," Lumiya questioned Droga as she walked up to the robed figures. "There was a slight problem with her, my lady, and she had to be, err, removed." replied Droga, slightly nervous. This will do nicely. This will do very nicely, thought Lumiya. She turned to the four people and spoke. "You are the Empire's finest, the Emperor's Hands. Whether you were successful at your missions or not in the past, it does not matter. All of you, Maarek Stele, Roganda Ismaren, Sarcev Quest, and Blackhole, share a talent together far greater than any man-made object. You are weapons of destruction, for you can wield the dark side of the Force. You will not fail me, for if you do, you will wish you were dead far before I grant it. Together we will rebuild the Sith empire and crush any resistance we may encounter. Do I make myself clear?" The Hands, including Droga, bowed their head and replied, "We are yours to command."

Skywalker will pay, he will pay dearly with his life and the life of his pathetic friends, Lumiya pictured to look on Skywalker's face as she executed his friends one by one; and then when it was his turn...Oh my, what a perfect moment. Lumiya addressed the other Hands, "To each of you, a source of power will be granted. To you, Stele, you shall receive the planet of Neptas and the Glove of Darth Vader. Recovered from the wreckage of the second Death Star, it gives the user the power to send out shockwaves. To you, Ismaren, you shall recieve the planet of Dekira and a holoprojecting cloak. You will use it for infiltration and assassination. To you, Quest, you shall recieve the planet of Sans and a cortosis shield. Made from the strongest material in the galaxy, it will deactivate any power source it touches including a lightsaber. And to you, Blackhole, you shall receive the planet Despinto III and complete control over the entire Imperial Navy. You will have 100 Star Destroyers, Dreadnaughts, and Carraks at your disposal. And finally to you, Droga, you shall have to honor of my second in command." The Hands all shouted in unison, "Together, we will crush the alliance and restore the Sith!" Yes, Skywalker will pay dearly.

Chapter Three

It was a beautiful day on planet Wampadan. Lumiya hated it. "Do you think that the Hands will accomplish our mission?" asked Droga. "No, I do not. I think that they might get lucky and stall the Rebels and give us time to get into position." replied Lumiya as she turned to face the man who she owed her success to. "Jeng, I see great things in our future. When we conquer the galaxy, I will be the Empress of destruction and you shall be my tool." Droga bowed, "As you wish...Empress." Lumiya smiled, it was always nice to have allies. Soon, it will all be over soon.

Maarek sat, seething with anger in his training room. It was completey metallic and empty except for a switch and four doors. Anger was the quickest path to victory, and he was going to win. He put on the glove of the dark lord and felt its power surge through his body. I will win, Maarek repeated in his mind. He flipped the switch using the force and the doors all opened with a WOOSH simultaneously. Four combat training droids, set to kill, entered the room with a crash for each step. They were each over ten feet tall with blasters for arms and pulse cannons implanted on each side of their rectangular heads. One wrong step and I will be blasted from all four sides. I am ready for this. I will win. Without any warning, the droids opened fire in the man sitting in the middle of the room.

Sensing the blaster bolts coming towards him, Maarek jumped up and did a flip over the one right in front of him. He landed facing the massive droid's back. It swiveled around immediately. Very quick for a droid that size. Not that it matters, soon they will all be destroyed and I will walk away unscathed. Now, to try out the power of the glove. Stele pointed his hand at the droid and let all his fury, all his might flow through him to the glove. The garment seemed to surge with power for a split second and then the droid erupted in a bang and then all that was left of it were two flashing piles of circuits that used to be legs. Excellent, thought Maarek Stele. He ran, dodging blaster shots, up to the second firing droid and once again reached up his hand to obliterate it. The droid was blown against the wall and fell to the floor in five different places. There were two droids left and Stele decided to have some fun. He flipped over the head of one so he was facing the back of it, which was lined up with the last one. With one more burst of energy, he blasted the droid into the other, and they both shattered on impact, leaving nothing but what you would expect in a junkyard. Maarek walked out of the room, his training complete for the day.

Chapter Four

Roganda Ismaren paced back and forth nervously. She didn't know why she was nervous, just anxious to try out her holoprojecting cloak. She had heard tales about technology that could make you invisible, but she dismissed those as rumors for her own sanity. At 27 years old, she was already paranoid. Roganda grew up on the backwater planet of Hupon-Jen and every day there was a struggle to survive. There were many predators there, the worst being the "menace". It was a vicious beast with four arms with sharp, razor-thin claws on the end of each limb. This would be a worthy test: She had traveled back to her homeland to try out her new device, she could think of nowhere better to try it out. From what she had learned, a warlord had seized control of her planet operating from a stronghold in the middle of the dark forest. He allowed very little food to get into the cities, just enough to keep the peasants alive. Very few people dared to venture in to the woods to stop him, and even fewer made it to the fortress to get executed. Roganda was doing this for her master, to prove that she was worthy, but mostly for her family. She watched them from a distance when she returned and saw them huddled around a fire, trying to keep alive. The ruler will pay for destroying my world, though Roganda. The warlord, who's name was Putz (a rather stupid name for someone in power), kept maximum security, even though the swampy woods provided all the cover necessary.

As Roganda attached the cloaking object in the middle of her back, she felt an odd sensation, as though a gust of wind had blown right through her. She looked down and saw only the dirt and the footprints of where her feet still stood, protected from sight. Amazing, she muttered to herself as she started out down the misty path that would bring her to the woods. She traveled lightly, carrying only a blaster pistol, a couple concussion grenades, and a vibro-blade. When she reached the edge of the forest, she took one last look around and headed into the land unknown.

After about a mile, Roganda saw a sight that startled her. She sat down on a rock to watch a menace devour its prey, watching its every movement as it tore the meat off the bones as it ate. So this is what happens to the people who try to reach Putz, they end up like this. For this, the menace deserves to die, thought Ismaren as she unholstered her blaster and took careful aim at the beasts rear-side. PSHEW! The blaster roared as the bolt of sizzling electricity struck the animal in the back. The beast stood up and roared weakly, took one last look around, and fell on its side, legs twitching.

Ismaren walked off further into the forest until she came to a clearing. She was seething with hate, and the killing had only sparked her lust for bloodshed. As she peered down into the ditch in the middle of the clearing, she saw a nest of menaces, feeding and resting. Roganda smiled, thinking how wonderful it was to be unnoticed. She walked up to the edge of the ditch and counted the number of beasts there were. She counted 64 of them. How the villagers will love me if I get rid of a tyrant and more than half a hundred killers in one day. She picked a concussion grenade off her pouch, activated it, and dropped it into the ditch. She walked away, listening to the defiant BOOM in the background and the howling of the cursed beasts. Oh, how the villagers will love me.

Chapter Five

As Roganda made her way through the thick forest, she started to think of a plan of attack. The warlord, Putz, would most likely have heavily armed guards, being the typical scum-lord that he was. First, she would scan the perimeter, quietly disposing of all the security. Then she would scale the wall, find Putz's chambers, and finish him. The surprised look on their faces as they see a blaster bolt come out of nowhere to strike their leader dead will be priceless. My, I wish I had a holocamera, she thought as she came to the middle of the forest where the 100-foot tall fortress was located. She walked up to the wall and noted that it was made of durasteel. Not a man to take chances, thought Roganda as she walked around the perimeter. She snuck up behind a guard and quickly twisted his head until his fell to the ground dead. Every patroller shared that same fate, and only one actually stood his ground. He yelled, "I can't see you, but you still can't get in, it is locked from the inside." "What is your name? Mine is Roganda Ismaren and I will have the pleasure of killing you," she called back as she pulled the trigger. Hmm, locked from the inside. No problem, I can manipulate the force to my will, that is why I am a Hand and that is why I will succeed in my mission.

Roganda reached the locked gate and probed around using the force. She felt the switch, and used her telekinetic skills to turn it. The gate started to open with a moan. Roganda stepped inside and saw a long corridor, and at the end was a light. This is too easy, where is the catch? She started down the hallway and the lights came on. Not good. Out of a small door in the middle of the corridor stepped an IG series droid, a robot designed for one purpose: killing. It didnt help Roganda that she was trapped and the droid's sensors would pick up her noise if she moved. The droid looked around, seemingly confused, and turned back into the door from which it came. Phew, though Roganda as the lights turned back off and she continued walking down the corridor.

She came through the end of the corridor into a large room. In the middle of it was a bed, with Putz lying there, sound asleep. She walked up to the body, and as soon as the guard was looking the other direction, she dropped a remote activated concussion grenade under his sheets. As she left the fortress, she saw the main generator and decided to make it really exciting. She dropped the rest of her grenades off there and headed out of the building. As soon as she was at the edge of the forest, she turned to look at the fortress as she pressed the detonator. A brilliant flash of light and wind swept over her at first and then the resounding explosion followed. Roganda looked away to shield her eyes, and when she looked back, all that was left was the wall of the fortress, hollowed out and charred. Roganda walked away, her mission complete.

Chapter Six

As Jeng paced nervously in his chambers, he unhitched his lightsabers and set them down on the bedstand. He was very nervous, as well he should be. He failed Lumiya and there were most definitely going to be consequences. As he felt her presence nearing her chamber, he became uneasy and sat down to remember what had gone wrong.

He had tracked the renegade Hand all the way from Onderon to Korriban and confronted her on the tombed world of the Dark Lords of the Sith. The plan was to kill her so that she didn't screw up their plans. Droga had thought she was killed when he last battled her back on Coruscant. He came to her, informing her that Lumiya demanded her presence, but she refused and said she no longer had allegiance to anyone. Droga took out his lightsaber and slashed at her. Thinking she was dead, he walked away, waiting to inform Lumiya the Arden Lyn would not be present. But she was not dead, and she was back for blood.

When he found out she was alive, Droga told Lumiya as he rushed to apprehend her before she could jepardize Lumiya's plans. They met on Korriban, and without a sound charged at each other. Droga ignited his lightsabers and charged in a mad rush, letting all his dark side fury fill his body with power. What he did not expect was that she had a lightsaber also and at the last moment, she revealed it, ignited it, and slashed one of Droga's sabers into two pieces. Droga was horrified that she might defeat him, but the battle continued on. Lyn was faster, but her kicks barely even phased him, while whenever Droga landed a kick, she would go flying back a couple feet. Then, without any warning, a rock crashed right on top of Droga by Lyn's force levitation. Droga crumpled to the ground, barely able to stay awake. Lyn calmly sliced his remaining lightsaber in half and walked off.

That was why Jeng Droga, loyal servant to the Dark Side, aide to Lumiya, was scared. Lumiya walked in, stared at him and said, "I'm disappointed in you, Droga. Don't let it happen again. I will go after her, defeat her, and we will continue on with our plans." Jeng could only nod as Lumiya turned to leave the room.

Chapter Seven

Arden Lyn, still...alive? Can I rely on anyone besides myself? Droga said he killed her back on Coruscant, but now she appears and defeats him easily in combat. She is more that a nuisance, she is now a threat that will have to be exterminated. Lumiya boarded her starship, Vader's Eye, and took off to head back to Korriban to gather information. I hope the other hands are well into their training, maybe I will need their help. The ship left the atmosphere and headed into galaxy unknown to all but the Sith.

Lumiya stepped out of her ship onto the barren planet of Korriban, resting place of the Sith, perfect place for knowledge. Korriban and Ziost each housed the two of the most powerful competing Sith lords, Ludo Kreshh and Naga Sadow. Eventually, Sadow was crowned Dark Lord of the Sith and when Kreshh attempted a coup, he was disposed of. Exactly what will happen to Lyn. Only a fool could dare to challenge me, roared Lumiya as she walked up to the giant statues of Sith Lords where their remains, and spirits trapped within, lay.

"Masters of the Force, Leaders of the Sith, and Prophets of the Dark Side, hear my cry," shouted Lumiya to the tombs. "I come before you for the sake of the Sith Empire, we have a traitor in our midst. A rogue apprentice, Arden Lyn, has broken away from the Order of the Hands. She attacked another Hand and claimed allegiance to nobody. I come for insight."

A shadowy mist formed around Lumiya and voices whisper all around her. "You have been deceived, Dark Lady." "Lyn has other motives." "She has allegiance to only one, her Dark Master." This comment shocked Lumiya, "Who? Who is her master?" Voices faded away saying, "Flint, Flint, Flint..." FLINT! I should have known. He is the only one still alive...Damn, I will need the help of the Hands. I shall supervise their training from now on.

Chapter Eight

"My Empress, you have returned. Do you bear news of Lyn?" asked Droga as Lumiya stormed into her throne room. "I have worse news than you wish to hear, Droga. Lyn has allied herself with Flint, the exile," said Lumiya as she sat down on her dark throne. "My Lady, I am sorry, but I do not know of a Flint. Is he someone to be feared?" "I will explain it, Jeng Droga....

"When Palpatine began his rise to power, he had many servants, the most capable and known being Darth Vader. Among his minions, there was Jerec, Framson, Jade, and Flint. We were the original Hands. As you know, Jerec was hunted and killed by Kyle Katarn, Framson was poisoned by Rebel agents, Jade is to treacherous to be informed of our mission, and Flint was driven into exile. Flint tried to take over the Emperor's throne after the destruction of the first death star, but was stopped by Vader and was forced to flee. Palpatine knew that he was on Rakmal VII, but it was uninhabitable and everyone thought he would perish.

"So now he is on that planet and has an apprentice, Arden Lyn. This is a most unfortunate setback to our plans. Do you understand what we are dealing with Droga?" "Yes, my empress, I understand. They will have to be dealt with."

Halfway across the galaxy on the small planet of Sans, the dashing Hand, Sarcev Quest strapped his cortosis shield on his arm. Let's try this out and see if it works. He walked down his green hallway that seemed to squirm as he walked. It was made out of a plant native to Sans that would slither according to their owner's feelings. They were moving fast, for Quest was a very impatient man. He walked into a dark room and switched on the overhead light. A masked and chained figure was dragged into the room by two droids. They removed him mask to reveal a male twi'lek with heavy tattoos all over his head-tails. His name was not important, neither was his crime, but he was a madman and wanted revenge on Quest for locking him away.

"So, what have we here? A twi'lek?" said Quest, faking amusement. The twi'lek spat at him and Sarcev, sensing it before it even happened, moved out of the way. "You want to get back, you petty theif? Then attack me," yelled Quest, as he threw the insane alien a lightsaber.

The psycho looked at the instrument for a second before realizing how to turn it on. The green blade shimmered to life as he madly starting slashing at Sarcev. Hmm, this may be too easy. Fine, I'll do it with one hand behind my back. As soon as the twi'lek's blade was about to slash through him, Quest jumped and twisted through the air and kicked the alien right between the shoulder-blades. The alien turned around and started his mad rampage once again. The plants that surrounded the chamber stayed relatively still, relating to Quest's state of calmness as he landed kick after kick, blow after blow. Now to end it. Sarcev ran up right to him and right as the madman was about to slash wildly, Sarcev countered with a hit of his shield to the lightsaber. The shield passed right through the blade like a hot knife through butter and for a second, Quest was not sure if it worked or if his armed had been instantly cauterized. Then he turned to look as the alien stared at the handle of his lightsaber with a blank expression. Quest jumped into the air and kicked the twi'lek with all his might right at the side of his face and heard the creature's neck crack and the alien fall limp to the ground.

The lights went out, the droids came in and scooped up the man's corpse, and Sarcev Quest grabbed his lightsaber and walk out of the room, plants pulsing with excitement.