Lyanna Starborn
Darth Fauste - Sith Lord of the Starborn Sect
The vastness of space stretched out before Darth Fauste, an endless canvas of dark and light. Her gaze was fixed on the frozen world below, Ilum, the a sacred site of the Jedi. Now, the system had fallen under her dominion, a jewel to be carved from the cold, a resource to be plundered.
She stood at the viewport of the SS Machiavellian, the flagship of the Migrant Fleet, the white folds of her robes catching faint reflections of the distant stars. Behind her, the muted hum of the ship resonated with an eerie calm. In the reflection of the window, she could see the familiar figures of her two trusted bodyguards—Ensign Tali’ra Korr and Lieutenant Sariah Voss—waiting patiently for her word.
"Ilum," Fauste whispered, almost as if speaking to the planet itself. "A world of secrets... and crystals."
"My Lord," Tali’ra said softly, stepping forward. Her red lekku twitched slightly as she spoke, revealing her eagerness. "We’ve completed our initial scans of the Jedi Temple. It's structurally sound, though ancient. There are no signs of recent activity."
"No surprises there," Fauste murmured, still staring down at the planet’s icy surface. "The Jedi haven’t stopped by in some time."
Sariah Voss, her voice calm and measured, added, "The kyber crystal deposits are as we expected—abundant and concentrated deep within the temple’s foundations. The scholars believe accessing the lower levels will be difficult but not impossible."
Fauste smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. "Nothing of value comes without effort."
She finally turned to face them, her silver-white hair cascading over her shoulders. Her face, striking and severe, was softened only by the faintest hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"I will lead the expedition personally," Fauste said. "Assemble the scholars and a small security detail. I want only those who are fully loyal—no one unproven. We begin within the hour."
"Yes, my Lord," Tali’ra said quickly, her red eyes glinting with determination. She turned and swiftly exited the room, leaving Fauste alone with Sariah.
Sariah studied her, the sharpness in her blue eyes unwavering. "Do you think we’ll find anything more than old relics and Jedi sermons? The temple’s been abandoned for decades."
Fauste chuckled, low and dark. "The Jedi were far more cunning than you give them credit for, Lieutenant. Their relics are keys—keys to understanding their weaknesses, their strengths. And the kyber crystals? They are more than mere fuel for weapons. They are conduits of the Force itself, capable of far more than the Jedi ever dared to realize."
Sariah nodded, though doubt flickered briefly across her face. "And if we encounter any... resistance? Ilum’s surface isn’t known for being forgiving."
Fauste’s smile widened, her presence commanding. "Then we will carve our way through. No matter the obstacle, the temple will yield its secrets."
With a subtle nod, Sariah bowed slightly and exited, leaving Fauste alone with her thoughts. Her mind wandered, not to the cold surface of Ilum, but to the more distant stars—the greater ambition. The kyber crystals on Ilum were only a stepping stone in her larger plan, her bid for control over the galaxy’s most precious resource. The refinery in orbit would soon be operational, and once the crystals were under her control, she would have the leverage to dictate who could and could not wield the Force’s most potent conduits.
For now, though, she had to focus on the present. The temple below was more than just a ruin; it was a symbol of everything the Jedi had built and lost. Their arrogance had blinded them, and in their absence, she would reclaim what they had foolishly left behind.
Just then, the door to the chamber opened again, and Advisor Elysia Ren entered with a graceful step. The Echani woman’s silver hair framed her pale face, her eyes as sharp and piercing as ever. Despite the years of separation, Elysia still carried an air of familiarity that Fauste could not shake.
"You’re preparing for the temple exploration," Elysia said, her voice a mixture of intrigue and something unspoken. "Do you expect to find something... significant?"
Fauste studied her, weighing the words. "I expect to find knowledge," she replied. "And with knowledge comes power."
Elysia moved closer, her gaze never leaving Fauste’s. "And yet, you tread carefully. Perhaps the Jedi left more than just crystals and ruins behind."
Fauste’s eyes narrowed, though she did not respond to the veiled warning. "I am not afraid of ghosts."
"No," Elysia agreed, her voice soft. "But sometimes the echoes of the past have a way of shaping the present."
Fauste turned back to the viewport, staring down at the white planet. "Let them try," she whispered. "Ilum will fall, just as the Jedi will."
With that, she dismissed Elysia with a wave of her hand. The time for talk was over. The time for action had begun.
As the hour approached, Fauste’s shuttle descended from the Machiavellian and began its slow journey toward the icy surface of Ilum. The planet’s cold radiated through the hull, but it only fueled Fauste’s resolve. She stood at the forefront of the shuttle, her bodyguards and scholars behind her, as the sprawling ruins of the Jedi Temple came into view.
She could feel it—the pulse of the Force, buried deep within the ancient walls. The crystals called to her, and she intended to answer.
The galaxy didn’t know it yet, but Darth Fauste was coming for everything.
And nothing would stand in her way.
She stood at the viewport of the SS Machiavellian, the flagship of the Migrant Fleet, the white folds of her robes catching faint reflections of the distant stars. Behind her, the muted hum of the ship resonated with an eerie calm. In the reflection of the window, she could see the familiar figures of her two trusted bodyguards—Ensign Tali’ra Korr and Lieutenant Sariah Voss—waiting patiently for her word.
"Ilum," Fauste whispered, almost as if speaking to the planet itself. "A world of secrets... and crystals."
"My Lord," Tali’ra said softly, stepping forward. Her red lekku twitched slightly as she spoke, revealing her eagerness. "We’ve completed our initial scans of the Jedi Temple. It's structurally sound, though ancient. There are no signs of recent activity."
"No surprises there," Fauste murmured, still staring down at the planet’s icy surface. "The Jedi haven’t stopped by in some time."
Sariah Voss, her voice calm and measured, added, "The kyber crystal deposits are as we expected—abundant and concentrated deep within the temple’s foundations. The scholars believe accessing the lower levels will be difficult but not impossible."
Fauste smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. "Nothing of value comes without effort."
She finally turned to face them, her silver-white hair cascading over her shoulders. Her face, striking and severe, was softened only by the faintest hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"I will lead the expedition personally," Fauste said. "Assemble the scholars and a small security detail. I want only those who are fully loyal—no one unproven. We begin within the hour."
"Yes, my Lord," Tali’ra said quickly, her red eyes glinting with determination. She turned and swiftly exited the room, leaving Fauste alone with Sariah.
Sariah studied her, the sharpness in her blue eyes unwavering. "Do you think we’ll find anything more than old relics and Jedi sermons? The temple’s been abandoned for decades."
Fauste chuckled, low and dark. "The Jedi were far more cunning than you give them credit for, Lieutenant. Their relics are keys—keys to understanding their weaknesses, their strengths. And the kyber crystals? They are more than mere fuel for weapons. They are conduits of the Force itself, capable of far more than the Jedi ever dared to realize."
Sariah nodded, though doubt flickered briefly across her face. "And if we encounter any... resistance? Ilum’s surface isn’t known for being forgiving."
Fauste’s smile widened, her presence commanding. "Then we will carve our way through. No matter the obstacle, the temple will yield its secrets."
With a subtle nod, Sariah bowed slightly and exited, leaving Fauste alone with her thoughts. Her mind wandered, not to the cold surface of Ilum, but to the more distant stars—the greater ambition. The kyber crystals on Ilum were only a stepping stone in her larger plan, her bid for control over the galaxy’s most precious resource. The refinery in orbit would soon be operational, and once the crystals were under her control, she would have the leverage to dictate who could and could not wield the Force’s most potent conduits.
For now, though, she had to focus on the present. The temple below was more than just a ruin; it was a symbol of everything the Jedi had built and lost. Their arrogance had blinded them, and in their absence, she would reclaim what they had foolishly left behind.
Just then, the door to the chamber opened again, and Advisor Elysia Ren entered with a graceful step. The Echani woman’s silver hair framed her pale face, her eyes as sharp and piercing as ever. Despite the years of separation, Elysia still carried an air of familiarity that Fauste could not shake.
"You’re preparing for the temple exploration," Elysia said, her voice a mixture of intrigue and something unspoken. "Do you expect to find something... significant?"
Fauste studied her, weighing the words. "I expect to find knowledge," she replied. "And with knowledge comes power."
Elysia moved closer, her gaze never leaving Fauste’s. "And yet, you tread carefully. Perhaps the Jedi left more than just crystals and ruins behind."
Fauste’s eyes narrowed, though she did not respond to the veiled warning. "I am not afraid of ghosts."
"No," Elysia agreed, her voice soft. "But sometimes the echoes of the past have a way of shaping the present."
Fauste turned back to the viewport, staring down at the white planet. "Let them try," she whispered. "Ilum will fall, just as the Jedi will."
With that, she dismissed Elysia with a wave of her hand. The time for talk was over. The time for action had begun.
As the hour approached, Fauste’s shuttle descended from the Machiavellian and began its slow journey toward the icy surface of Ilum. The planet’s cold radiated through the hull, but it only fueled Fauste’s resolve. She stood at the forefront of the shuttle, her bodyguards and scholars behind her, as the sprawling ruins of the Jedi Temple came into view.
She could feel it—the pulse of the Force, buried deep within the ancient walls. The crystals called to her, and she intended to answer.
The galaxy didn’t know it yet, but Darth Fauste was coming for everything.
And nothing would stand in her way.
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