It was now nothing more than a waiting game, though Nox wasn't the kind of person to sit around and wait on results they might not recieve.
So as the Gargantuan constructs of the Gree were placed on repurposed districts of Iokath, he approached the largest and oldest of these technological marvels, hands touching their cold dark blue surfaces.
He reached for the Grand Hypergate, Now located in a gargantuan chamber on Iokaths surface, more a pit in Iokaths surface where it sat, several observatories lay around this pit, with machines and drones moving to and from the Hypergate now fused with Iokaths surface.
The machines intended to scan and study the Hypergate, intending to begin the early stages of reverse engineering the technological marvels.
And as they did this, Nox stood before the machine of awe and mystery.
With technology so old, still intact without reviewing any damages, the difference in quality from his Psychometry was comparable to the difference between heaven and earth compared to the relics he had previously uncovered.
As untold amounts of time burst forward to Nox, he leapt back several hundred thousand years into the past, past their entanglement with the galactic empire, past the wars waged by the infinite empire, until the found what he sought to bear witness to.
" Ah ... " His eyes rolled back as he dove into the memory, almost collapsing from the feedback imposed by the memory.
....
Before the grand hypergate, the great first council of the grand masters stood before its alien structure, stating apon the mechanical marvel with regret and forlorn anguish. They spoke in their eldritch tongue, yet as Nox watched the memory, he was able to understand as if he was Gree himself.
" we've been instructed by the of the firstborn races to destroy our gates" The greatest of their number scuttled forward, tentacles touching the frame of the hypergate, feeling its tonal resonance echoing through the air.
" This is ridiculous, our gates are no more dangerous than any other creation made by those sneaky lizards" Another hissed at the news, pride in their creations winning out against the reasoning imposed by the other first races.
" These are our pride, the greatest of our machines, and they would call them dangerous, preposterous" Another of the first grand masters hissed, seeing through the tricks of their rival architects, seeing the desires of the council of firstborn seemed to be targeting them uniquely.
" Those conniving Kwa seek to have our Hypergates destroyed, they wish for their own infinity gates to be the marvel that be used, snubbing our great creations" The grand master of technological design hissed angrily.
"They've already moved to our worlds to destroy the others, they're asking to know if there are others " The lead architectural designer whispered.
" What of the Kwa, what of their infinity gates" Solemnly their leead architect and designer shook his head as he answered .
" They say that the various races still need many of them to travel between worlds " His words were met by strange noises, their words became unintelligible as their envy radiated their bodies .
" They want to know of any other gates we've made... " There was a hint of treachery in the lead architects beady eyes, an idea brokered not from wisdom nor giving, but from jealousy and vanity. They thought they knew better than those of all the first races.
" I will not tell them ,I won't let them simply unmake what we've spent tireless years making " And so they spoke, for the first time of secrecy, of keeping knowledge to themselves, something that would forever scar their kind until they became a race of idiots.
" I agree " The greatest of these architects finally imposed his agreement, and the Gree reached a consensus amongst their kind, betraying the rest of the firstborn races in their moment of hubris.
And so they hid one last Hypergate from the eyes of the first-born races, The Grand Hypergate remaining within their personal territory, hidden even as the others they had made were destroyed, under guard and careful watch, this one would remain in secret.
...
Nox opened his eyes, rubbing the headache that rose within his head, stepping away from the looming pylons and floating squares and shapes circling the structure of the hypergate. Blue lightning jumped from these floating squares as he stepped away, approaching the observatory at the rim of the pit where Scyva stood, conducting and controlling the drones moving through the pit, circling the hypergate.
" Did you find that which you sought master" Nox came to stand at her side as the drones, blue beams of light spearing from them and scanning the strange shapes up and down, recorded their data.
" I did ... We now have several leads to look into, but mainly we will be seeking out a race of aliens called the Kwa ... from what i understand they appear to originate on dathomir" Garnered from other ancient artefacts of the Gree, he came to understand the basis of their general location, though he retained little to nothing else, he atleast understood where he had to go to seek the next step of the journey for the answers he sought.
" How goes the genetic mapping and data extraction " Nox questioned, he knew it would be a long process to restoring the Gree intelligence and teaching them how to use their old technology, but the potential rewards far outweighed any sort of hesitance.
" We have successfully extracted ninety nine percent of data and knowledge stored within their minds and have successfully implemented the combined data into a single matrix. Genetic sequencing has allowed us to grow a batch of several million Gree embryo's with the grand masters serving as templates. The first batch should be ready in three months, accelerated growth and direct implementation of the codex of their knowledge into their minds will skip the need to teach them, we will be able to immediately begin making them relearn how to harness their technology ad soon as they reach the age where their minds can contain the knowledge of the codex without backlash" Scyva explained as she projected a hologram of several thousand tanks, each one filled with a single embryo growing within the centre of each one.
" Perfect, in that time I leave you to conduct these experiments " Scyva wished to join her master in his journeys but understood the importance of what she was undertaking at this moment, and so chose not to argue, instead she provided an alternative to ensure his safety.
" I will have Aivela reactivated and provided a suitable body to travel with you whilst I remain to finish this monumental task" Nox nodded at her suggestion, with a new ancient droid wearing a new body the same size as Scyva entering.
Aivela stood, her golden crown in place over her head whilst gold and grey embroidery remained etched into her new form. It was a picture perfect replica of her larger form, just compressed much the same way as Scyva had done.
And as she beheld Nox, she dropped to her knees vowing untold loyalties to the emperor of Iokath.
...DATHOMIR...
" I have heard tell of witches living on this world " He stared at the blood red planet as Aivela guided the ship through the sulphuric clouds in the skies, red canyons and mountains and strange flora opening up to them as they saw the forests open before them.
" It appears it wasn't simply lies and fear " He felt the strangeness of the darkside around them, it's twisted nature made into something odd and new that encircled the planet.
Before they had even landed, it felt as if they were being watched, from the air, from the ground below, it felt like there was something not quite there monitoring them. It wasn't another force user present in a physical sense, for Nox would have been able to discern their location, instead it felt like.
" Spirits...." Black eyes flared as he made the realisation, spirits of the force were watching them all around.
" Is everything alright master" Aivela spoke as emotionlessly as a robot was supposed to, yellow lenses scanning the horizon for a suitable location to land. Finding what she sought, a barren risen mountaintop with a flattened tip, she guided the ship towards the very top of the mountain.
" Nothing you'd be able to understand, organic halucinations i believe you would call it" Nox stated, Crossing his arms over his white and gold embroidered shirt.
The ship landed with a hiss, his desire to contact and devour the spirits watching rising with each passing moment as he moved towards the ships exit ramp.
" Shall I accompany you milord" Aivela rose, pausing as Nox shook his head, clipping his own saber to the right side of his hip and Tulak Horde's to his left.
" There's no need " He adjusted the straps to his wrappings, pulling his cloak over his tunic and raising the hood, the interior of his hood became pitch black with nothing but his chin jutting from the base of the hood." I'm right at home"
" However, I ask you to begin scanning the surface, any technological constructs or strange formations, I want to know about, send me their locations" His parting words registered as he stepped down from the ship onto the oddly humid world.
The moment his feet touched the ground, he felt the strange force in their air physically recoiled at his presence, a deep almost beastial screech rippling over the lands, a thousand cries singing into the air before whatever they originated from seemed to flee from his presence entirely.
' Hm... so they flee me the moment they can sense me ' Nox smirked as he turned in the direction one such spirit unseen by his eye but felt through the force had fled' I always did like a good hunt'
He sprinted at the mountains edge before leaping high into the air, his robes shifting, growing longer as they pressed to him. Like a great beast the force erupted around him, the darkside sticking to him like a jealous lover as his body morphed into another. As the darkside erupted, Nox turning into a cloud of pitch black malevolent energy that surged across the skies like a falling meteor, colasecing around him and trailing behind him as he pursued the fleeing spirits with great mirth and joy, his laughter echoing across the lands and mountains.
...
They arrived mere minutes before he did, crying to those that could listen. A woman with white face and a red dress that flowed into the wind listening with great curiosity and care.
All around, females wearing red hoods with pale skin and bows ran to the red witch, waiting for what she was to say.
" There is a predator in our midst, we must prepare for their arrival" She could hear it even now, the way the spirits seemed to vacate in the distance as something approached." It is coming quickly"
" Yes mother talzin" They bowed amd rushed through the village that they called home, tens of these witches leaping to the defences of their home, ready to engage with the thing that was soon to arrive.
They didn't have to wait long, as mother Talzin stood at the front gates to their precious community, she watched as a great black cloud speeding through the skies suddenly diverted apon noticing their little village.
It curved through the air, having been aimed at their mountain home, until now, where it crashed onto the ground Infront of their village with ground rupturing force.
" Well ... " The shadowed cloud sucked in on itself to form that of a man, A man of black robes smiliar to another figure who stole a son of coven.
But this one differed greatly, strong... powerful forces rolled off of this figure, almost visible to the eye.
' This one will be trouble' The black robes of this figure shifted, as they took a step forward now that the entire cloud that had encircled them had sucked intonthem completely. Where as darth Sidious who had once met her was gifted in the force, forcing it to obey his will, with the darkside answering to his call.
This one's presence was different, he didn't call to the darkside, it threw itself at his feet, jealously swirling around him as it pushed everything else away. A thousand voices screamed from their mere presence, spirits ancient, Innumerable, allcried out from deep within this creature, and she came to understand why the spirits of dathomir had fled this devourer. Simply staring into the hood of its robes made her head ache, as if that shadow was attempting to draw her attention in and never allow it to return anywhere else, this creature was more entity than man, of which she was sure.
" And ... " The ground rumbled as a thousand crashing screams merged into one demented voice" Just who might you be"
" I am .... mother Talzin" Her voice rumbled and echoed as she spoke, making no aggressive movements even as the night sisters around all aimed their bows at this entity.
" How ... interesting ... are you one of these witches I've heard tell of" Those lips under the hood spread wide into a smile of glistening teeth.
" Not just I ... but we are the night sisters" Her arms spread to the coven gathered behind her. " United clans who rule over dathomir"
Nox sniffed the air as the darkside curled around him, whispering him answer to the confounding presence of the night mother.
" Your sorceries are impressive witch, I can taste how your rituals cling to you and the very land around" He strode forward confidently even as the witches maintained their aim.
" May I know the identity of our visitor" Names had power, and to have power over someone else, one needed a name.
" I am ... nothing but a forgotten memory, let's keep it that way" Nox he stood directly before mother Talzin, yet try as she might, she couldn't see within its hood.
The hood turned up slightly into her eyes, Tilting slightly as she winced. What felt like fingers crawling through her head caused her to almost cry out in pain, as the invader rudely broke into her mind, her mental defences crumbling like wet tissue paper.
" How interesting... " The tongue of this man stuck out, almost kicking his lips as he leant up and seemed to sniff the air." You know the location of what I seek"
" And what is it you seek creature" Talzin hissed, ignoring the blood that began to trickle down her nose, she would show no weakness.
" You may understand it as an infinity gate, a technological construct far older than your coven of witches. Do not lie to me, i see it in your memories that you have seen it , And it's makers, I do hope those blue lizards you killed are intact... I have use of them" Her eyes widened in alarm at his words." Take you to this construct, and I may teach you magic's of my own understanding"
" You trully know of magic's " Talzin narrowed her features, signalling to the sisters to lower her weapons.
" Of many kinds... " Talzin stepped to the side, Tilting her head in the direction of the gates, motioning him peaceful entry, this beast she gauged could destroy them, especially if his magic's proved as potent as her own.
" Come ... we have much to discuss" The gates finally opened as the night sisters jumped down and entered their village.
....
They stood within a circular chamber with a glowing green orb at its centre.
" You're not sith... like that other one" Talzin walked slowly across to the other side of the stone table they were to conduct their meeting at. Her question in the air as the robed figure shook their head.
" Do not be so narrow minded sister ... you're smarter than that, i see you for your true self... as seen through your memories... i was once stih, but I have evolved beyond such confining titles" Talzin and this beast sat down." I am surprised you met me with so little hostility"
" I am not a moron, to invite your wrath would he to invite annihilation... " Talzin extended her long fingers , green erupting between her fingers as a talisman fell into her grasp.
" This talisman will guide you to the site you seek, in turn... I wish for one favour... to be cast at a time of my choosing" Talzin held out the talisman for Nox to take, for her, gaining the help of this beast was worth so much more than the locations of a half destroyed temple.
" Deal ... " Nox accepted the talisman, turning it in random directions before it began to heat up when pointed to the east.
" I would ask for a lock of your hair ... to reach out to you in my time of need and desire"
" You don't need anything from me" The black robes shifted as pale hands slunk out and pressed down on the table, a great gathering of darkside energy slamming into the table, a visible swirling miasma that refused to disperse even after the robed man stepped back" simply reach out to me through the force... i shall come to your side from across the stars in an instant, shall this suffice"
" It will "Talzin watched as Nox stored the talisman into his robes, regarding the witch in silence for some time.
" Would you be interested in a tour of my clan" Talzin offered, rising from her chair now that they had come to the very basics of their agreement, hoping to gleam knowledge about the magic's she wasn't privy too.
" I would " Nox nodded, sliding his hands into the sleeves of his robes as he and talzin began to walk through the mountain.
He observed the green icor that flooded the mountains interior, head tilting to the side as the strange presence they released.
" Is this the source of your powers witch " His hand rose as a swirling ball of the icor levitated into the air and began to float infront of them, not a single drop spilled as he studied it.
" It is the spirit icor of dathomir, the foundation of our magic's" Nox hummed at her answer, allowing it to fall back into the green flowing river that flowed to destinations unknown.
" I can feel it's presence in the force" It was the source of the strange alterations to the force on dathomir, though it didn't reject the force, it did interact with it strangely." It is a most astounding substance, am i rigjt to assume it loses function when leaving dathomir"
" The spirit icor does lose it potency and properties when leaving its birthplace" Talzin affirmed as they stepped into the evening of the village outside, the night sisters watching them closely as they strode past several huts.
' So it's connected to the Nexus I feel radiating from this planet' He could feel it, the darkside nexus of dathomir, how it interwove itself into every facet of dathomir itself.
Reaching out, Nox began to absorb this nexus into himself, drawing its energies that rolled under his skin loke smooth tentacles crakwing just under the surface of his flesh.
' It feels strange... connecting to this planet in such a way' Though it felt no weirder than connecting to nathema or zakuul, each planets nexus had a unique feel to it. From the almost suffocating void rhat threatened to absorb everything a person was on Nathema, to the overwhelming radiance of a blackened star in the darkside that was korriban, each one reacted different and was felt differently by each individual who sensed them.
Though he felt it would take considerable time to drain this nexus naturally, he could do so in mere days if he performed cerrain rituals, but doing so would no doubt alert evey force user far and wide across the galaxy that something was happening. Dealing with all that attention wasn't currently on his agenda, whether he doubted they would be able to locate him as the source or not, it was better to er on the side of caution during these moments of deliberation.
' Consider yourselves lucky witches, that I have decided not to rip your world out from under you' Under the hood of his robe, he cast a disdainful sneer at the night sisters watching him as if they could do anything other than serve as fuel.
The witch mother Talzin introduced him to their coven, though no names were spoken, he was given the impression they were feircely devoted to each other member of their coven.
" Some of our number and brothers have joined with those in the stars , our sisters remain here" Nox turned to face Talzin.
" Brothers ... you mean the Zabrak" His senses spread far and wide, causing a whiplash of air as the force proceeded to blanket the planet once it burst out of him" The ones in their little village"
" Our lesser brethren are kept safe in their village until we have use for them" Talzin didn't hide her near absolute dismissal of the night brother clans, they had little use other than warriors or builders and mates when needed.
As they passed through the rustic village, they returned to the source of icor within the mountain, walking on the few paths that spread through the cavernous interior.
" Your magic is impressive witch... " Watching her conjure objects out of thin air, augmentation ... teleportation, it was an impressive arrangement for someone not trained in sith magic." I am curious how it compares to my own "
" Our magic's are long to learn and difficult to master , alas time we do not have ... perhaps apon your return" The subtle but easily interpreted refusal, she would no doubt reject his offer of exchange apon his return as well.
' You believe you have purview to keep the knowledge I seek from me' His silence at her words made talzin guage this dark entity with quiet caution.
" Perhaps ... " And so he turned away, his sweeping robes passing across the red bathed ground, moving towards the gates of the village.
" I must warn you of ... a complication on your travels. A clan of heretical night sisters have taken up with the spiders and their caverns, their den lays between you and your destination... they will seek your destruction" Talzin warned as the gates howled open with a hiss, the hooded man staring at her in silence once more before the hood nodded a single slow motion.
" I will keep that in mind" He turned away from the united night sister clans, they sisters standing all over the architecture, the tips of buildings and even against walls, watched as Nox departed the village.
" I'm sure you will" Talzin smirked as she watched Nox's back fade into the under brush" I'm sure you will "
It wasn't until Nox had fully departed and was out of hearing range that Talzin turned to her young assistant Tahlia.
...
Talzin appeared from a burst of green flame in a cavern comprised of sill and nests, with black garbed night sisters taking up weapon apon her arrival.
She did not attack, straying her hand as she beheld a gargantuan spider looming through the cave, with a single woman dressed in similar garbs to her own standing below the great spider.
" Matron negasa" Talzin inclined her head as this black covered matron approached..
" What brings the great leader of the night sisters into my caverns" The matron spread her arms wide, voice echoing in mocking as laughter echoed from within along with the calls of clicking spiders." I have felt the arrival off an offworlder "
" This offworlder shakes the spirits with every movement they make, Dathomir calls for their removal... I would have you deal with him" She spoke with the authority of the one who linked the splintered clans.
The black covered matron across from her listened before breaking into mocking laughter once more, turning to the spider like assassins at her side who nodded and began to sprint along the spider webs that covered the cavern, heading towards the tunnels that lead to the surface.
" Of course oh night mother of dathomir " The matron mocked but ultimately listened, the sheer disparity in their power made Talzin a threat despite being dead in the centre of their territory." Now what do I get for eliminating this beast "
No clan ever engaged or did the bidding of another, not without trade or agreements.
" Do this ... and I will reinstate your right to be called ... sister" Negasa rose at Talzin's proposal, studying the great matron for several long seconds.
" I will bring his head personally" And with a call that echoed from her mouth, the clan erupted in movement, the few assassins that had been sent earlier we immediately reinforced with their entire clan and a legion of spiders that dwelled in the caves.
" I have the utmost trust in your capability... sister , but first ... i must remove our conversation from your mind, this predator can read our thoughts" Talzin reached forward and touched the matron mothers head with her slender fingers, removing her presence and memory from the witches mind in a single moment before she burst to smoke and transported herself away to her clan, smiling to herself in victory. Now matter who won this comming altercation, she would win. Whether it be garnering Information about this mans capabilities or having him die, she would succeed either way.
...
Already a decent way to the location of the infinity temple, Nox froze as he sensed a shift in the air, his smoke cloud like form shifting as several arrows flung from the trees below towards his form.
' Hm ... ' He cut a jagged and harsh path straight down into the trees where the arrows came from, several more passing through his form before he became solid and grabbed the nearest night sister by the head.
" And just who ... " An arrow suddenly burst through the bottom of his jaw, spiking up into his head and brain as his movements ceased.
Yet contrary to the night sister of the spider clan who had just struck her opponent, his grip didn't go limp nor did her fall to the ground, Instead, the previously black hood of his robes illuminated by twin golden sun's of rage, the eyes of this creature shimmering and shining with molten gold as the arrow tip embedded from the base of thise creatures jaw into the top of their mouth broke apart as a swathe of black erupted from their throat, swallowing the sister up in one move that eviscerated her from existence.
Now with his hands empty, Nox reached up to the base of his jaw, his head and skull hammering as the arrow pierced the base of his brain.
" Ah ... " His speech slurred momentarily before he yanked and tore the arrow clean from his neck, the hole in his throat and mouth healing instantly whilst the damage his brain had sustained quickly repaired itself .
The darkside blast he had thrown from his mouth, which had turned the sister in his grip to little more than dust, burned a hope of death and Decay through the trees behind.
" That ... was rude" His shining eyes turned to the sisters hidden in the shadows and the spiders crawling from above, before his gaze landed on a woman dressed much the same as Talzin had been.
" You'll have to forgive me outsider, Dathomir calls for your death" A rancid grumbled escaped Nox's lips as he beheld the matron of the spider clan, Lowering himself like a stalking predator.
" Interesting, I thought Talzin to be the only clan leader of the Night sisters, it appears I was mistaken"
The matron mother of spiders had barely enough time to lean to the side as a bolt of superheated plasma burst forward from Nox's fingers, striking and annihilating where she stood previously.
" But after today... i suppose it really will be just Talzin to remain"
... CHAPTER COMPLETE ....
I HOPE YOU GUYS LIKED THIS CHAPTER , IF ANYONE HAS ANY THOUGHTS OR IDEAS OR JUST GENERAL FEEDBACK PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LEAVE A COMMENT, I LOVE HEARING FROM EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU
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