The Death of Lord Polock (3/3 Dead)

After many hours of Space travel, Darth Bane had arrived on Tatooine. Lord Polock lived in a small hut here, though only Darth Bane knew of it. He quickly landed approaching the hut. "Time to die, old fool." He said entering the hut. Lord Polock sat sleeping, though was woken by Darth Bane. Darth Bane took out his Saber ready to kill Lord Polock.

Their eyes locked.

"You...But How?..." Lord Polock wheezed.

"The Force led me to you!" Darth Bane retorted. "You know nothing of its power! You are a weak fool, and you will die!" Lord Polock yelled grinning in triumph and let a burst of Force lightning from his fingertips. Darth Bane did not expect the power of Lord Polock. The attack brutally assaulted Darth Bane, intensifying his mental and physical pain, shattering his concentration and destroying his tissues. His lightsaber fell from his limp fingers to leap into Lord Polock's waiting hand. Darth Bane collapsed.

Darth Bane gathered his anger and hatred into a force pull, and his lightsaber snap-hissed to a fiery red life in Lord Polock's hand.

It should have worked.

If the universe had been fair, it would have worked, but whether through a specific leading of the Force or as part of his general foreknowledge of the battle, Lord Polock was ready. With a deft twitch of his hand, he neatly directed the red blade to one side, where it passed only through air. With his other hand, the Sith unleashed a final torrent of Force energy at Darth Bane.

As the scintillating energy burned into Darth Bane's mind and body in an irresistible onslaught, he struggled to focus his thoughts one last time. Although he did not fear death, Darth Bane regretted the fact that he'd relied too much on his own assumptions and plans, rather than the Sith Code and the Dark Side of the Force. And, for that, he knew would die. But if he was going to die, he would at least die in unity with the Sith Code.

With his last remaining mental strength, he focused on the Code, ignoring all physical sensation, the smell of his burning flesh, the uncontrollable twitching of his limbs, the sound and feel of raw power cascading through him...

A strange sensation overcame Darth Bane. Time slowed to a crawl around him, and he felt as if his entire being was being stretched thin for examination. An even more strange sensation followed, and he suddenly understood that he'd passed his final test without even realizing it: when all else failed, he’d turned to the Sith Code, to the Force: the battle with Lord Polock was not the test, but the fulcrum on which his true test was balanced. His decision had been made without conscious knowledge, but it was all the more powerful because of that fact. Now, however, he understood that true power was in understanding the Force, not controlling it.

Though Lord Polock’s Force lightning continued its assault, a sudden twinge of coolness and relief blossomed in Darth Bane's mind, coalescing his fractured thoughts and relieving the driving pressure of Lord Polock's attack, allowing him to concentrate on his recitation.

Darth Bane did not question the sudden surprising clarity flushing through him. Instead, he opened himself fully to the hatred he harbored against Lord Revan and thrust forcefully through the barrier between his mind and his body, directing the increasing flood of the Force through his body.

The flow of the Dark Side of the Force filled Darth Bane, repulsing the destructive tendrils of Force lightning. He could feel the dark power of the Force repairing damaged tissue, sealing bloody rents in his skin, re-connecting severed neural pathways. In moments, the physical and mental damage done by Lord Polock's repeated attacks had been completely reversed.

The power of the Force pulsing through Darth Bane pushed Lord Polock's attack away from his body, the blue Force lightning dissipating into thin air before touching his skin.

As Darth Bane came to the end of his mental recitation, he opened his eyes. Lord Polock stood over him, arms hanging limply, staring at him in utter shock and disbelief. Darth Bane called on the Force and floated to his feet, recalling his lightsaber out of Lord Polock's hand.

"Didn't see that one coming, did you?" Darth Bane challenged, his eyes blazing in fury.

Lord Polock's mouth worked soundlessly.

"You want to know your mistake?" Darth Bane asked pointedly.

Bellowing wordlessly, Lord Polock's hand shot out and launched another barrage of Force lightning. Darth Bane calmly raised his own hand, drawing the blue tendrils of crackling power into his palm. He stared at the tight ball of blue lightning swirling almost serenely within his fingertips, awed by the power he now understood and possessed. With a sadistic grin, Darth Bane glanced up at Lord Polock, who backed up a step, fear trickling across his face and into his Force presence.

Darth Bane thrust out his hand, hurling the Force lightning contained there into Lord Polock's chest, propelling him back into the stone chair hanging behind him. Following the Force's cruel and greedy urging, Darth Bane sent a second vengeful blast into the Sith Lord, crumpling him to the floor. He reached out his empty hand again, this time recalling his second lightsaber from Lord Polock's belt. Brandishing both crimson blades, he squatted next to Lord Polock's wheezing form.

"How...?"

With a deft twirl of both hands, the Darth Bane reversed his grip on his twin lightsaber, plunging the crimson blades down into Lord Polock's eyes.

"Your Mistake was joining that fool Revan. He has made your end. I am the Lord of the Sith. You, Gregora, Brelak, and Revan are mere pawns. NOW YOU WILL FEEL THE POWER OF THE DARK SIDE!" He yelled lifting Lord Polock with the force. He threw him into the wall of the Hut smashing through it. He jumped after him kicking Polock's ragdoll body to the ground. "And now you die!" He yelled grabbing Polock by the neck and lifting him. He took his saber and sliced Polock in two pieces, then force pushed his body parts miles away. The Sand storms covered Lord Polock's body, leaving no evidence.

Darth Bane's flesh had been singed, though he was fine. He quickly returned to his ship and prepared to kill the final person. "Lord Revan.." He said to himself.

5x story gain