040. IDENTITY CRISIS
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Seth froze at the sound of her voice. He lifted a hand and the pair of stormtroopers behind him halted. He'd given up trying to learn their call signs, there were far too many numbers and too many troopers to remember them all. The beat of his heart quickened as he knew what he had to do, but did he have the strength to do it... that was left up in the air.
He took a deep breath, readjusted the hood of his cloak, and stepped out into the clearing. The area was covered in mist, making it impossible to see anything yet he knew she was near by the increasing sound of her voice.
"Revertatur retro horologium. Emendandum vinculum et prope pontem. Reparare fractum tempus. Frangere his terrenis vinculis et posuit spiritus libero... Hello, dear child."
Seth quickly turned and found that he was face to face with the witch. His breathing hitched, but he was able to conceal it as he ignited his blade.
"Have you come to kill me?" She tilted her head, but her hands continued to move as she kept the spell intact.
"If that is where my path leads me." He nodded his head. "You're the one that let it come to this... you wanted to be taken away."
The witch's expression remained neutral, giving nothing away. "No. Your obsession brought you to this. You do not have to do this; we both know it will only lead to your destruction."
"Then why take me in if not to lead up to this moment?" Seth practically pleaded for her to step aside with his eyes.
"I saw greatness in you." A soft smile formed at the witch's lips. "And I pitied your pain, knowing it well myself."
"You know what I must do."
"Why prolong it then?"
Seth lifted the hilt above his head and swung the blade down, closing his eyes in the process. However, when he opened them, he was all alone. The witch was gone and as he checked his shoulder, his guards were gone as well. He turned in a full circle and released a frustrated shout.
"Quiet, boy."
Seth froze. He slowly turned around, dreading the individual who had spoken. Although he was not entirely present, Seth still shuddered at the shadow of Snoke towering over him. As if sensing his fear, the shadow shook and quaked with laughter until it receded in size. Now several inches shorter than him, the shadow grinned and took a bow.
"Impressive, huh?"
Seth frowned. "What are you?"
"I'm called Draven, and I'll be your guide on this journey of self-discovery."
"Where am I?" Seth asked as he looked around, searching for even one distinctive landmarker.
"This place has lots of names: the in-between, the betwixt, or, one of my favorites, the world between worlds... Right this way now."
"Where are you taking me?"
"Geez, you sure do ask a lot of question." The shadow shook his head. "You want some answers or not?"
Seth skeptically followed after the shadow demon. The mist slowly receded and revealed a series of gateways. Seth raised an eyebrow but remained silent for the time being.
"These are the gateways across time," Draven explained, "They will allow you to access any point of time. If you so desired, you could pop over to the clone wars for breakfast and jump on over to Exegol for supper-"
"That name!" Seth quickly interjected. "Or place. What is Exegol?"
"Why don't you take a look for yourself?" The demon took a step back and dramatically gestured to the portal that he had stopped in front of.
Seth hesitated. He didn't know why, but he couldn't bring himself to take a step forward. He'd been craving answers for so long that he wasn't sure what he'd do once he had them.
"Go on," the demon egged, "Isn't this everything you've been waiting for?"
Seth took a deep breath and stepped through the portal. He was forced to blink quickly to adjust to the sudden change of light. He assumed that due to the tear in the rift, the gateways weren't quite working the way that they usually would as he noticed the Imperial uniform he now wore. The science division if he remembered correctly.
He followed the growing crowd of scientists down the halls toward the main laboratory. His eyes immediately widened the moment he entered the room. Giant tubes filled with fluids lined the walls. However, it was the creatures inside that disturbed him. It was as if his nightmares had come to life as dozens of Snoke-like beings surrounded him. Although they appeared unconscious in their tubes, it was no less jarring. However, it was the moment that he reached the end of the room that he froze. In a tube, half the size of all the others in the room, floated a small, definitely undersized, fetus. The scientists had all gathered close, swiping across their datapads as they added additional information.
Seth looked down at the datapad in his own hand and his face immediately scrunched up in confusion. He slowly came to the realization that perhaps he should have been less concerned with his purpose as a chosen apprentice of Snoke and more concerned with where he had come from in the first place... then again it looked as if the two questions were interconnected.
[ Data File 798 ]
Identification:
> Seth - The Appointed One
Gender:
> Male
Genetic Material:
> Sheev Palpatine
Scheduled Release:
> 0 ABY
Imperial Facility:
> Exegol
Transference:
> Pending
Status:
> Successful - Force Sensitive Achieved
Seth dropped the datapad in shock. The screen cracked, but he didn't care. He walked forward as if in a trance and placed his hands up against the glass of the tube. He stared at the creature inside and the creature stared back. It took him a minute to realize that it was only his own reflection returning the stare. It was as if his world had shattered as he slowly came to the realization that his purpose was to serve as a tool. He slowly backed away; his breathing grew heavier. When the pressure built up enough, he turned and sprinted from the room.
He didn't keep track of how many times her turned or where exactly he was going. All he knew what that he needed to get out of there. His plans were stopped altogether when he slammed into a large piece of machinery. The metal whirred as it turned, and a withered figure turned to look down at him. The figure stood from his chair and bent down. His cold fingers grasped around Seth's jaw as he lifted his head to look him in the eyes. They were cold and dead despite their yellow glow.
Seth tried to pull himself back, but the elderly man was stronger than he looked. He cackled under his breath with glee and his sinister grin made Seth's flesh crawl. The man leaned closer and whispered into Seth's ear. "Is it everything you hoped it would be?"
Seth pulled himself free and scrambled backward as he recognized in horror that the man standing before him was none other than the emperor. His voice quivered, but he had to know. "Why?"
"This body won't last forever." The explanation was simple, but it cut like a knife.
Seth shook his head, his fear transitioning to rage. He rose to his feet and slowly backed away from the man he had once viewed with awe. Disgust flashed across his face, and he shook his head. This was not all that he was meant for.
A hand grabbed his shoulder, and he prepared to lash out; however, it was just the shadow demon. The demon gestured back toward the portal and Seth walked back to the world between worlds without hesitation. His emotional state was distraught, but that would only increase his strength. He would turn the pain into power.
"Where is the girl?"
"With the others, learning much like yourself."
"Show me."
The demon led Seth to another series of portals. Seth took a step forward, but the demon stuck out an arm and prevented him from drawing any closer. Seth looked over at the demon questioningly.
"Just watch."
Seth turned his attention back toward the portal. A light flashed and the next thing he knew he was watching the events of the past unfold. His frown slowly turned into a grin and he nodded his head as he formulated his next course of action. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of three blades igniting from behind him.
He pulled his hilt from his belt and turned on his own lightsaber before facing the others. "I was beginning to wonder when we would meet again."
"I'd hoped never," Evangeline retorted venomously.
Seth straightened his posture and regained his cool composure. "This place is more than I ever imagined it would be."
"I can't say I'm very fond of it." Evangeline shrugged, but he could see that she was uncomfortable holding the blade.
"Still inexperienced." Seth clicked his tongue in shame. "Perhaps it's time you had a better teacher."
"Who?" Evangeline scoffed. "You?"
"My offer still stands."
"No thanks."
Rey didn't allow the conversation to continue, she charged. Seth was caught off guard for a moment, but quickly regained his footing. He was right to believe that his raw emotional turmoil would bring strength. Even though he was outnumbered three-to-one, he had very little trouble maintaining the upper hand. He could see through the masks that each of them wore, and he could pick out their flaws one-by-one. They were lost, each and every one of them. He knew the way. He could show them.
He threw out his hand and with a flick of his wrist, each of them was thrown back several meters. With the space now to breath, Seth turned off his blade and focused on keeping the three pinned to the ground with sheer willpower. Each struggled, but it proved pointless as none were capable of freeing themselves.
"You've lost because you are lost!" Seth shouted but his voice immediately softened. "There's darkness in each of you, I've seen it."
"You lie!" Rey spat.
Evangeline looked at the floor and Seth took a step forward. He bent down and lifted her chin to face him. "I know what you've seen. You've been dreading it but accept it. You know the truth."
"What good has the truth done either of us?" Evangeline bitterly asked. "Maybe I want to believe the lies again..."
Seth shook his head. "That's not possible now. You wanted to know where you came from, well let me hear it. That night on Hosnian Prime. The night you were dragged away from the temple, your master lied to you once more."
"No," Evangeline closed her eyes and shook her head, trying to drown him out.
"We're similar, you and I," Seth's voice rose, "Discarded by the very people who brought us into the way of the force. That night has haunted you, but you block it out. Let it become your source of strength. You know where you come from!"
"No!"
"It was him!" Seth now shouted in her face. "It was always him, and deep down you always knew it. The darkness has called out to you from the start... Now say his name!"
Evangeline's jaw tightened. There's was rage in her eyes as she silently stared up at him. She was defiant. She was fire. And he knew if he wasn't careful, he would be burned. However, a fire is a tool and as such it can be used.
"Say. His. Name."
"Jacen Plutarch." Her breath quivered.
Seth nodded his head and took a step back. "Jacen Plutarch. A man who never existed. A man who lived his life in the shadows. A man who lived his life in the darkness."
Those violet eyes followed him as he created space between them. He could see that they were on the verge of changing though as their hue grew more red. He was almost there. He could see it now. He'd show them all. He'd tear the galaxy apart and she would stand by his side.
He waved his hands and the force that had been holding the three back immediately dissipated. They slowly rose to their feet. Seth extended a hand with a grin plastered to his face.
"I'm the only option you have left... Join me."
She remained still, but he could see it in her eyes that she desperately wished to take his hand. The room was utterly silent, almost unbearably so. He knew she had nothing else to turn to beside him. However, his grin faltered as she slowly shook her head. Another beat of silence passed. Despite his moment of doubt, a hand did inevitably accept his.