TotD2: The Blackened Trail 1 (3666 BBY, Coruscant, Jedi Temple)

     It was not uncommon for Master Jo’Kaar Kiem to be up at the crack of dawn, and he was one of the masters at the temple who could be counted on to be at the temples zenith every morning. He liked to start his day with meditation and exercise, so he wore light pants and carried his saber clipped to his belt.      The cool morning air felt brisk against the older mans bare skin as he began to stretch muscles that had lain dormant over night. His breath came out in a cloud of steam in the early morning air as he let it out in a long slow exhalation.      Master Kiem started to go through the motions of his saber forms at an exaggerated slowness while breathing deep and slow. He had just finished the tier one set for Makashi when he felt a deep Force presence behind him. Turning his head, Master Kiem found a short blue furred alien in tan robes watching him from a distance.      “You could always join me, Master Ko.” He called to the Bimm Jedi master. “When was the last time you practiced your low-tier forms?”      “You are the warrior, Jo’Kaar, not me. I am perfectly at home among my records and holocrons.” Master Kiem smiled, He had known Master Ko’Ki’Koa’Me for many years and had trained alongside him as a child and he had learned that the Bimm  was not the athletic type. Master Ko was much more comfortable with a stack of datapads than a laser sword.      “So what brings you up to the top of the tower this morning, Ko?” Kim turned and started into the motions of the second tier of Makashi.      “A scout has finally returned from Onderon.” The Bimm said gravely. “The situation is even worse than we had feared.”      “I knew we shouldn’t have sent the boy home. Do we at least know what happened yet?”      “What we know is that Kader Novar disappeared almost three years ago after being driven insane by a torturer. He was missing for nine months, then reappeared in the palace of Iziz, where he slaughtered the entire compliment of guards and the steward who governed the planet for the Sith empire.      “Novar declared himself their King by right of conquest and governed for almost a year before disappearing from public view. Now he has a steward of his own to deal with the day to day business and he spends his days in the crypts and records stored under Iziz.”      “Do we know what he’s looking for?” Master Kiem transitioned smoothly from the second tier to the third. “Is he working with the rest of the Empire, or is he on his own?”      “It appears that he has treated the Sith envoys with the same cruel abandon he has treated ours with.” Master Ko’Ki’Koa’Me said, circling Master Jo’Kaar as he slowly flowed through the third tier of the Makashi form. “He has a pattern with dealing with dignitaries. He challenges the diplomat to a duel, then slaughters them.”      “Maybe we should stop sending Diplomats.” Master Jo’Kaar smiled at his diminutive friend as he transitioned into Tier Four Makashi.      “That is exactly why I’m coming to you. I think we should send your apprentice to meet with him.”      “Your having delusions of grandeur!” Jo’Kaar dropped his guard and stood gaping at his friend. “You cannot be serious! She is nowhere near healed enough to take on a mission like this!”      “Your apprentice has been receiving the best care we have to offer her for the last three years, and she is no closer to being cured.” Master Ko’Ki’Koa’Me said gently. “Trust me as a friend and a healer when I say the only recourse left is to have her face down the source of her terror. She must once again face Kader Novar. To either save him or to kill him.”      “She cannot undertake this mission alone.” Master Jo’Kaar Kiem insisted. “At the very least She should be accompanied by another knight and a medical Jedi.”      “I agree.” Master Ko’Ki’Koa’Me said with a nod. “Perhaps Jedi’s Jessik and Drulliak will consent to go. They have both worked closely with her for the last several years.”      “I agree,” Master Keim allowed himself to sink back into the fifth tier of Makashi. “I suggest you also talk to the courtesan, Vanch. I’m tired of running into him in the halls here. Maybe he can be persuaded to follow Mileena away from here.”      “Oh come now, Ession isn’t all that bad.” Master Ko smiled, for Master Kiem’s dislike for the merchant prince was well known. “And you know as well as I do that the only reason he hangs around the temple is his feelings of guilt over your apprentices condition. He blames himself, you know.”      “As well he should!” Master Kiem was glad his friend could not see his face, for he was sure it wore a scowl. “If Vanch had not turned Novar over to the torturer, Novar would still be an agent of the light and he would not have destroyed Mileena’s mind.”      “That is unfair and you know it, Jo’Kaar!” the small Bimm chided him as he transferred into the sixth tier. “However, I happen to agree with you that he could be of use to this mission. I will contact him as well as the others. Are there any other arrangements you wish to make?”      “Not for the mission, no.” Master Kiem concentrated as he swung his blade around in a complex arc. “But we should start making plans to follow should this mission fail.”      “Very well then, I shall start making the arrangements.” Master Ko’Ki’Koa’Me nodded. “And may the Force be with us all.” ____________________________________________________

One last time skip to make it three years after the end of Tales of the Darkstar, and two years after the prologue.

Enjoy

-Bill ParadoxicalWebcomic.Tumblr.com [email protected]

Tales of the Darkstar 2: The Blackened Trail 12

(3665 BBY, Space over Dathomir, the Argent Rogue)

“Sir, if you refuse to let us inspect your craft, then there is no way we can allow you onto the surface.” Ession vanch rubbed the bridge of his nose as he silently cursed the person on the other end of the comms. “Look, my name is Ession Vanch and I’m a friend of Corvax’s.” Ession carefully ignored his copilots questioning brow. “You tell Corvax my name and he’ll handle all of my paperwork.” “And I’ve told you sir, it is past the mid-night hour here and I will not awaken Master Corvax with such a ridiculous request. Either submit to an inspection or wait until morning to land.” The comm clicked out and static filled the cockpit as Ession slammed his fist down on the console in his anger. “Who is Corvax?” The Jedi sitting next to Ession in the copilots seat was a Devonian named Ondo Drulliak who, despite his intimidating appearance, was a thoughtful and gentle soul. “I thought you were from Dathomir.” Ession looked over at his horned and tattooed friend. “I was born here, but was taken to the Jedi temple when I was but a child.” a sadness crossed the aliens eyes as he spoke, “I do not remember the forests or people of my time here, it is almost as if that other life never existed at all.” Ession sighed. It was this mindset and practice that Ession hated most about the Jedi order. He couldn't understand forcing a child from their parent just because of a spiritual magic they possessed. Then again, he was probably overthinking it. “Corvax is a Besalisk bartender from Ojom who has everyone at this outpost in his pockets.” Ession explained, “I used to smuggle in supplies for a few of his clients years ago. He’s always had a landing pad for me when I come through this way, but it looks like we got here in the middle of the night, so nobody is going to do anything for…” He checked the ship chrono, “six hours.” “Well, we may as well relax then.” Ondo stood and stretched, “I think I’m going to go back and check on Fiona and Mileena.” “Good Idea, I’ll come with.” After setting the autopilot Ession followed Ondo out of the cockpit and back to the medley where their female companions were. Medic Fiona Jessik was one of the temples best field medics, and she was currently caring for their fourth team-member, an insane Jedi named Mileena Osroc. Mileena was incapacitated on their visit to Onderon, and Medic Fiona was concerned about the reoccurring visions her patient had been suffering since then. “Is she doing any better?” Ondo asked the ginger haired Jedi medic Fiona. “She’s still experiencing nightmares.” Medic Fiona said, not looking at the men entering the med-bay, “She keeps insisting the shadow man is going to the ice world, wherever that is. Any luck getting us landing coordinates for Dathomir?” “We will have to wait until morning local time before we can descend, it seems we showed up in the middle of the night.” “So? There should be port authorities working at all hours.” Fiona raised an eyebrow as she turned to face Ession. “There are, but if we land now the ship gets searched and they discover I am ferrying Jedi into Sith space.” Ession sighed. “My contact on the surface can get us down discreetly, but we have to wait until morning.” “Great, so we’re stuck in orbit.” Fiona sighed as she replaced the cold compress across Mileena’s brow, “Do you have any good news for me?” “Well,” Jedi Ondo stepped forward, “I have our sensors trained on the Sith academy and there is no evidence that our target has been there yet. We may have beat him here before he learned anything.” “We can only hope-“ Jedi Ondo was cut off by an alarm blaring through the small yacht.”That’s the proximity alarm!” Jedi Ondo and Ession ran to the cockpit, Ondo dropping into the comm officer’s seat and Ession sliding into the pilots chair. “We have a contact coming in from the far side off the planet,” Ondo said from his station, “It looks like a Sith strike cruiser. hang on… it’s If/f identifies itself as the Corpulent and it’s taking station keeping orbit over the academy.” “Fierfeck!” Ession swore, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this…”

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Sry i’m reusing older artwork. Life has gotten ridiculous lately, and due to circumstances I will be going on hiatus from drawing Paradoxical. I will still be posting my Tales of the Darkstar trilogy for as long as I can, but until further notice I will be stopping regular updates for the comic.

-Bill

ParadoxicalWebcomic.Tumblr.com [email protected]

Tales of the Darkstar 2: The Blackened Trail 9

(3665 BBY)

The pain was an eternal void that swallowed and consumed Mileena Osroc, insane Jedi knight. She screamed until she was hoarse, and screamed some more. She felt her throat rip itself apart and yet she could not stop, so much was the pain that engulfed her. But it was not just pain that plagued her, for before her stood a mahogany haired man in a dark robe. His face was wrapped in darkness, a star field of the infinite void that he somehow wore as a mask, and his heavy black robes covered his body. He looked down at her writhing body and laughed, indulging in her pain and feeding on her terror. Lights flashed through her vision and suddenly the man was standing in an ice field and behind him stood a number of strangely armored figures with  T-shaped visors that she felt she should recognize. Agony ripped through her again as the dark star man laughed, and she watched in horror as the armored visions swung their carbines in her direction. Mileena grasped at her belt, but she had no lightsaber! She reached out in the Force, and could feel nothing! Her terror jumped up another notch. What was going on?! “Give her the shot straight to the chest! Aim for the heart if you can!” that voice! Cutting through the icy blizzard; it was Jedi Fiona! Mileena watched as the troopers opened fire at point blank range, felt a bolt strike her in the chest, and her world erupted in pain once again.

The lapis haired woman named Mileena Osroc surged upwards, arching her back for a moment before collapsing limply on the ground. The brunette Jedi who had been holding her also visibly relaxed. “Thank you, Ession.” Jedi Medic Fiona Jessik spoke in a light alto and even though her fords were soft, she instinctually laced them with the Force so everyone present would hear them clearly. “And thank you all. You all prevented a terrible disaster.” “What happened here, Fi?” The blond haired Ession Vanch asked, Fiona was annoyed at the familiarization of her name in so public a place, but it was no secret that her and Ession were involved. “Something triggered a relapse.” Fiona said looking around, “She was wandering the camp when she viewed the well over there. At which point she started to scream and seizure. That was when I sent a runner to you and Ondo.” Ession let out a string of curses that lasted several minutes and spanned almost every language in the republic. He stormed over to the shaggy looking leader of the Onderonian rebels and started to yell in their strange language. “Come, Fiona,” Jedi Knight Ondo Drulliak said, coming to her side and lifting Mileena’s unconscious body with the Force. “let’s take her back to the ship and her quarters where you can care for her properly. Ession will finish the negotiations so that we may get under way. Fiona looked over her shoulder at the still furious Ession yelling at the Rebel leader. She wondered why Jedi Osroc had reacted so badly in the Rebel camp, but she was afraid that answers would have to wait until her patient woke up. For now, they would return to the Argent Rogue and wait for Ession to join them.

TotD2: The Blackened Trail 8 (3665 BBY Onderon, Rebel Camp)

     Walking through the Rebel camp reminded the woman of a garden, lush and green, with life everywhere. She saw the way the Rebels built their  homes into the ancient ruins and foliage so as to exist with the nature, rather than to dominate it. She appreciated the symbolism of it all and it made her calm in her mind.      Her name was Mileena Osroc and she was a Jedi Knight, currently on suspension for reasons of insanity. She had been tortured by her very own apprentice three years ago on this planet. For all she knew it could have been this very camp. Much of that time was erased from her memory.      She reached up to brush her lapis blue hair out of her eyes only to find yet again that it wasn’t there. She had recently cut her hair short and she still wasn’t used to it.      She watched as the rebels went about their business around her, they were all human with the common traits of those native to the planet, and all wore minimal clothing suited to the jungle and fashioned of various animal pelts. She knew that her nurse, Jedi Knight Jessik, was behind her, but it didn’t matter. It was nice just to be out again, in the sun and the breeze. Mileena could hear the other Jedi arguing with the Rebel leaders in the main building. It wasn’t that they were loud, rather the fact that since she had been driven insane, Mileena had acquired an unnatural sense of hearing through the force. It was all she could do some days not to be overcome just by the thoughts of others.      “What do you mean he’s not here?!” Ession Vanch exclaimed. Mileena liked him, he was nice. His blonde hair reminded her of the fluff from a chorxvak plant from her homeward of Haruun Kal, and it made her laugh and think of the better days of her youth.      “He left, about a week ago.” Mileena didn’t like this voice much. It was rough and gravely, and it spoke with an undercurrent of aggression that made her sick to her stomach. “We have his exit vector, but no idea where he was actually going.”      “Then give us that vector!” Jedi Knight Drulliak, he was a Zabrak, exclaimed. He frightened her a bit, with his fearsome face tattoos and horned head, but he was a kind soul and had never harmed a soul. “Please, we need that information.”      “And what will you do for us? Hmm? In the past you have always bartered armor or arms for us, mr Vanch. What is it you offer us for this information?”      “An opportunity to be free.” Ession again, “We seek to remove your ‘king’ from power. That can only help your rebellion. Give us that vector, and I can promise you we will remove him from power. The rest will be up to you, but We will do the hardest part.”      There was a pause in the conversation as Mileena circled back around the camp. Ession knew he was bluffing with an empty hand, but he was banking on the rebels being so relieved to have the dark lord removed that they would agree to their terms. It was a long shot and they all knew it.      “We shall accept your terms, Mr Vanch.” The guttural voice declared after a moment, “However, I have a term of my own: I will give you the vectors you request, but in exchange I want you to assure me that a Republic invasion force will not show up to take advantage of our situation. Onderon will be free, neither beholden to Republic nor Empire!”      “I… believe I could arrange that with the Jedi’s help.” Ession said, though he felt unsure, Mileena was sure he was looking to Knight Drulliak for confirmation. She felt Knight condo’s Force aura change and knew he had consented. “Very well then, We are all in agreement then?”      “We are” The others in the meeting murmured. Mileena sighed as she turned away from the center of camp, she supposed it was too much to hope that her apprentice would be here, but at least they had a clue to go on. They would find him!      There, in front of her, was an old stone well with heavy boards sealing the top. There was nothing growing around the well for several feet in any direction and Mileena could see the plants at the edge of the circle were withered and mutated.      A feeling of coldness and terror shot through her and Mileena cried out. Her vision went dark and she could feel her body shaking.      “Mileena! Mileena!” oh, that must be Jedi Jessik, she thought; her own thoughts fighting to struggle to the top of the screaming horror that was threatening to overwhelm her.      “Fierfek! What’s happening to her?” A new voice, but something to grasp onto, “Why is she foaming?!”      “Get back!” Jedi Jessik again, “Go and get the rest of our group! I need Mr Vanch and Jedi Drulliak!”      Mileena heard footsteps pounding, too loud in her head, wait no that was her racing heartbeat. The darkness erupted in light and fire around her and she screamed in agony.      Mileena’s vision turned white.

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I have nothing to say today.

-Bill

ParadoxicallWebcomic.Tumblr.com [email protected]

TotD2: The Blackened Trail 6 (2665 BBY Aboard the Argent Rogue, Onderon system)

     Ession Vanch watched the slowly spinning green-blue orb of Onderon in front of him and was surprised at the rising emotions welling up inside of him. It was a mixture of sorrow and longing, with a bitterness at the end.      Ession had spent several years flying supplies in and out of Onderon for the Rebels, and that job was how he had met Mileena and her apprentice.      “It’s beautiful.” The voice of his co-pilot was soft, almost reverent; it belonged to the Jedi Knight Ondo Drulliak, a Zabrak from the wild planet Dathomir. Of all of them, Ondo was the best suited to Onderon's wild-lands.      “It can be.” Ession admitted. “The plains become vast fields of flowers in the spring, and the sunsets from the tower of Iziz will take your breath away. The natives ride these massive creatures called Drixl, great winged lizards that fly through the air like the nimblest of hover-cars. Don’t even get me started on the exotic foods and spices they have there! The only reason Onderon isn’t a bustling hub of the galaxy is because of where it is.      “Onderon is so far off the beaten paths that nobody cares about it.” Ession laughed bitterly. “That’s why it’s under Sith control.”      “You know this place well, then?” Ondo asked, turning his horned head to peer at Ession.      “My father used to make runs out here before he died.” Ession shrugged. “I was a little kid, hanging out on my dads ship and trying not to get in the way. I got to see most of the galaxy that way and thats part of why I joined ORTC(Outer-Rim Tactical Command) when I turned 16.”      “Sounds like there’s a story there.” Ondo observed. “There is, but not one I’m going to tell until we have a lot of drinks in us.” Ession sighed. “And it doesn’t pertain to this. My point is: yes, Onderon is a beautiful planet. It’s the owners I can’t stand.”      “From what I read in the archives, Onderon has been ruled by Sith lords for thousands of years.”      “That’s actually not entirely true, Ondo. The original Natives of the planet manage to rise up every hundred years or so and retake their planet for a time. The problem is, they are close enough to the Unknown regions that they seem to be a constant target for the Sith.”      “That is also untrue.” Both men started at the soft feminine voice behind them. Ession jumped to his feet and stepped to the girls side.      She was fairly short with lapis colored hair that had recently been cut short, making her violet eyes stand out more. She stood with her own arms wrapped around her body, like she was somehow trying to hide behind herself.      “Mileena, what are you doing here?” Ession asked gently. “Where is Fiona? You should be resting in back.”      “Jedi Jessik is taking a nap.” Mileena Osroc, insane Jedi, said softly not meeting his eyes. “And your wrong about why the Sith keep coming back to Onderon.”      “How so?” Ondo asked as Ession guided her to one of the passenger chairs and helped her strap in.      “They come back for him!” she said, pointing at one of the moons. “He was their master and somehow he’s still there. It’s him they come to see.” Ession looked at Ondo and saw his own confusion mirrored back.      “Who?”      “Freedon Nadd!” she hissed, clutching her hands to her face and hiding her eyes.      “Wait I know this one,” Ondo said, his brow furrowed in thought, “Freedon Nadd was a Jedi prodigy thousands of years ago who killed his master and was seduced to the dark side of the Force. He was a student of Naga Sadow. He conquered Onderon and ruled it for more than a hundred years before he died and was entombed beneath the palace. But there’s absolutely no way he could still be alive.”      “Lies!” Mileena screamed, “Lies! Lies! Lies! Lies! Lies!”      “Please, calm yourself Mileena!” Ession grabbed her wrists to stop her thrashing. “What do you mean?”      “He’s not there!” She whispered, staring down at the blue-green world. “He’s there! On the demon moon! And he wants me, he whispers in my head, I don't want to be here.”      “Oh, my dear,” Ession let go as she collapsed sobbing into his chest. “There, there, it will all be okay. I’ve got you, and he’s not going to even have a chance.”      The door whooshed open and a frantic Fiona ran in, sliding to a stop. Her hair was a mess of tangles, and one side of her face was red like she had fallen asleep on a hard surface.      “Oh thank the Force!” she exclaimed with a tremble to her voice. “I must have fallen asleep and when I woke up she was gone. What happened?”      “It’s fine, Fiona.” Ondo said from his seat. “She was giving us some more information on Onderon, but I think we may have pushed her too far. You really should take her to the back and strap in. We should be making a landing soon.”      “Just waiting for the signal from my contacts on the surface.” Ession said, disengaging himself from the troubled Mileena. A beep sounded from his console as he stood. “That’s probably them now, go ahead, Fiona.”      The two girls left, Fiona gently leading Mileena out of the cockpit, and Ession settled himself in his chair once more. He glanced at the readout on his screen and nodded.      “We have out co-ordinates and our window, we make planetfall in fifteen minutes.” He said, flicking as few switches and bringing the engine up to speed.      “Let’s go kidnap a king.”

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Yeah I’ll be the first to admit my sketches here aren’t very good, but what do you expect from a five minute sketch? Odd has derp face and Mileena looks really butch here. oh well guess i’ll try harder next time. or not. I mean whatever.

Also, many apologies for the day late thing. Real life is being a pain right now and it’s starting to eat into my drawing/writing time.

Anyhow, enjoy this chapter of ToTd2: TBT! comic will hopefully be up tomorrow.

-Bill ParadoxicalWebcomic.Tumblr.com [email protected]

TotD2: The Blackened Trail 3 (3665 BBY, Jedi Temple on Coruscant)

     Ession Vanch was not a proud man. He had been around the galaxy several times over, and he could count the times he had felt true pride on one hand. The first time had been when he achieved his first command at the ripe young age of nineteen. The second was when he stood against said command for what he believed was right.      And now, he watched as a frail shadow of a woman stepped out into the sunlight again for the first time in three years. She looked up at the pale morning sun and raised a hand to shield her violet eyes. Her lapis colored hair hung lank around her emaciated face. She smiled weakly into the sun and sighed.      “Thank you, Fiona, I can walk from here.” She said, just barely above a whisper. Her name was Mileena Osroc and she was an Insane Jedi that Ession had saved on the planet Onderon. Three years ago he brought her back to Coruscant to the Jedi temple for treatment.      Her nurse was a Jedi medic called Fiona Jessik who had been her primary caretaker for the time since Mileena was brought here. Ession had spent a lot of time with her over the last three years, and they had developed a relationship of sorts. As a member of the Jedi order she could not, of course, have any sort of official relationship, especially with someone like Ession Vanch.      The group of Jedi and Ession made their way across the courtyard to the Jedi’s landing field where their transport sat.      Ession had called in a favor or two and had acquired them a bulbous looking yacht that had a full suite of stealth tech and hyperdrive engines a size too big for her. It was an excellent ship for a Jedi mission.      Down the gangplank came a tall Zabrak, fierce looking with his orange skin and spiked horns on his head. His name was Ondo Drulliak, and he was a knight not much older than Mileena herself. He wore grease stained coveralls and had obviously been checking out the ship for himself.      “This is a solid ship, Vanch.” He said with a grin and a nod  at Ession. “I think she’ll make point six past light speed if we push her.”      “You didn’t think I’d get us some tanker or cargo hauler for this trip, did you Ondo?” Ession grinned back.      The two of them had become friends over the last year after an uncomfortable confrontation over Fiona. As it turned out, Jedi are nowhere near as pious as they’d have you believe.      “I never know what you’re going to turn up Vanch, but it’s always interesting. Where did you dig this little beauty up from?”      “From some argentum smugglers from out in the Hydian Way. They were foolish enough to engage me in Sabaac and lost rather spectacularly. To pay their debts, they gave me one of their smuggling ships. I’ve had it in storage for almost five years now out at Rishi Maze. When I heard about this mission I thought it the perfect choice and had it brought out of cryo.”      “Ha! Remind me never to play Sabaac with you!” Ondo approached Mileena slowly and stopped several meters away. “Greetings Jedi Osroc. I am Jedi Drulliak, and I will be accompanying you on this mission. The Jedi council has given me executive authority on this mission, however the mission is yours. Have you been briefed?”      Mileena glanced nervously at Ession then nodded.      “We seek my padawan. The… Sith lord who invaded my mind.” Her face turned down as she concentrated on her words. She shuddered and shut her eyes, breathing deeply and Ession could feel everyone present holding their breaths.      Mileena was being treated for severe psychosis, hallucinations, and post-traumatic stress syndrome. In the last three years, every time she had gotten close to remembering the events that drove her insane she would fall apart. Sometimes she just collapsed and cried, but occasionally other things happened and she would lash out with the Force. This was why Fiona and Ondo were joining them on this journey: to handle any problems that Mileena might have with her sanity.      The moment passed and Mileena opened her eyes once again. They were brimming with tears, but there was no sign of the dementia that had gripped her over the last several years.      “I can’t remember that,” She shook her head. “it’s too dark. But I know I have to save him. He was… is my student and my responsibility. I have to end this somehow. I have to save him…”      “Then this craft and it’s crew are at your disposal, Captain Osroc.” Ondo bowed deeply with a complicated gesture of his hand and Mileena giggled softly. “We will follow where you lead, and support you in your endeavors.”      “Thank you, Sir knight,” Mileena said gravely, reaching down to touch Odo’s shoulder. “Your kindness outweighs my gratitude. Now let us go retrieve my friend.”

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-Bill

ParadoxicalWebcomic.Tumblr.com [email protected]

Tales of the Darkstar Epilog #GreyJediStories

     The girl with Lapis colored hair cowered in her room. The nice man with yellow hair had led her here; he had promised safety but there was no safety, not from the darkness inside of her.      Several days had passed since the freak storm had raged over the jungle and the planet buzzed with a dark intent, a power that all but left her quivering in terror.      A knock came at the door and the yellow haired man poked his head in.      “My dear, are you ready to go?” He asked softly.      “Go? Go where?” the lapis haired girl flinched. She didn’t want to leave this room, it was safe.      “Back to the core, my dear. To your friends and those who can heal your mind.” The yellow haired man smiled gently and held out his hand for her. She paused a moment then took it and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. “Come, our shuttle just landed and we must make haste.”      The lapis haired girl reached the door then gasped and ran back into the room to where she had been cowering. There on the floor lay a cylinder of brushed metal that she had not let out of her sight since she had been discovered down in that terrible well. She didn’t know why she had to have the metal cylinder, only that it was important; it was her life!      She was led outside by the yellow haired man and into an egg shaped vessel. The man seated her in a comfortable seat and then took the other seat with the complicated controls and screens in front of it.      Together the Lapis haired girl and the yellow haired man leapt towards the sky, leaving Onderon and its problems far behind.

* * * * *

     The beast who now called itself Lord Kader Novar stepped out of the twilight into the top chamber of an ancient ziggurat towering up out of the primal jungles of Onderon. Tonight was a special night for the planet, and it only came once every thousand years or so.      Lord Kader gazed upward at the huge ball that was Onderon’s largest moon, Dxun, and felt the power of the force as the two celestial titans brushed against each others atmospheres.      Lightning crackled through the upper atmosphere and through the descending night Lord Kader could see Drexles flying around him through the dark.      Lord Kader Novar focused and the Dark side of the Force rose within him. He reached out and felt the primitive minds of the Drexles soaring up above him. He chose one and called it down to the ziggurat’s peak, stepping back as it landed with a rush of wind and the smell of musk and spice.      Reaching forward, Lord Kader commanded his mount to kneel, and claimed onto its back. He gripped its leathery scaled shoulders as it stretched its wings and leapt for the sky.      The two soared, circling higher and higher until Lord Kader could hardly breath. The Drexel tried to turn back, but Lord Kader’s will was much stronger than the poor beast and it was crushed into submission.      He felt a moment of weightlessness and then they were diving toward the jungle once more. These weren't the pleasant and peaceful jungles of Onderon, however, no these were the primal and wild jungled of Dxun; fierce and chaotic and more than willing to chew up and spit out any intruder foolhardy enough to enter.      Here was where Lord Kader Novar would become a God!

(End of Tales of the Darkstar) (To be continued in Tales of the Darkstar 2: The Blackened Trail)

Tales of the Darkstar 22 #GreyJediStories

(3669 BBY)

     The Sith who once called himself Kader Novar stood as the world burned.      The force rushing through him burned like fire, and the Sith could feel blood vessels popping and skin flakes turning to ash. His mahogany hair hung limply around his head, matted with blood and other less pleasant things.      The bird-thing was gone, obliterated by the Sith’s power, and now was nothing but a crater in the stone. The Sith let the force storm he had created wither and die, searching the room with his burning eyes.      As the sound of wind rushing past his ears died, a vibrant hum rose to take its place. Turning, the Sith’s eyes locked on a cyan blade, steady in the darkness. Behind that blade were eyes filled with sadness and pity, and that enraged the Sith.      Who was this female to pity him? He had more power than she could ever hope to hold within her. Who was she to hold a weapon against him? Who was she to challenge his authority?      With a roar of primal rage, the Sith unleashed a viridian bolt of energy. The girl caught the bolt of energy on the blade of her cyan saber, but the force of it was enough to send her flying backward through a crumbling archway.      Dismissing his fallen foe, the Sith gazed around the room until he found what he had been looking for. There, leaning in a corner was a staff of dull metal. With a gesture the weapon flew through the air to the Sith.      A snap hiss behind him announced that the Sith’s challenger was back, looking for more. That was fine, the Sith was more than prepared now to deal with this usurper.      “Don’t make me do this.” The girl pleaded. “Please Kader! You need to stop this!”      The Sith didn’t want to stop. He wanted to burn. He wanted to burn in the glory of the Force forever! This was the true meaning of power, the true meaning of the Force! This was a burden only he could carry, and all who stood in his way would be annihilated!

* * *

     The beast who used to call himself Kader Novar turned to face Mileena Osroc, Jedi Knight. Her heart broke as it saw the cruel sneer plastered across her friend’s face. What had happened to him? what had the rebels done? How had he fallen so far so quickly?      The man who wore Kader’s face started speaking in a guttural, harsh tongue that sent ice deeper into her veins. She didn’t understand, and that frightened her.      Dark tendrils began to manifest around the thing wearing Kader’s face, like a monsters tenticles. They flailed and groped and reached out to her and she shrunk back. Mileena didn’t know what those things would do to her but she knew she didn’t want to find out. A dark tendril lashed out at her and she swung her saber around to block it.      Nothing happened.      Mileena watched in horror as the tendril simply slid around and through her saber’s blade. It touched her neck and her mind erupted in fire.      She saw her home in Haruun Kal burning. She saw the Jedi temple on coruscant burning. She felt the universe burn around her. Everyone she had ever known and cared about were burning and she could feel all of their pain and horror.      The little girl who would someday become Mileena Osroc screamed.

* * *

     The Sith who wore Kader Novar’s face sneered at this weak willed girl, lost in her own head and screaming in terror. He drank in her horror and fed on the pain in her Force. By the time he was done she was a fetal ball curled on the ground, still hissing out air in her silent screams.      The Sith stood and stepped over the girl, exiting the crumbling chamber. An exertion in the force propelled him up the shaft of a well until he emerged into the starlit night sky.      The Sith breathed in deep and smiled. Yes, this world would be a fine place to build his empire from. And then he would spread across the galaxy like a burning flame and all would submit or be annihilated.

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-Bill

Firstly, I would like to apologize for the lack of comic this weekend, between computer troubles and having to go out of town, things have gotten a little crazy.  So instead, today I bring you a story I wrote this last Christmas that further explores Kader Novar’s future and past. I bring you: Kader’s Sith-mas Vacation

(3653-3652 BBY, Unknown Ice Planet)

Grey Master Kader Novar reached out and hit the shutoff for the portable holocom he had been speaking into. He reached up and removed the ornamental Mandalorian helm, letting his mahogany hair ripple out and down his back. Kader let out a sigh and slumped, momentarily defeated. Another friend lost, another funeral witnessed. Isaac of Clan Zakegg had been too young, but Kader knew they had all died too young. Death was just another beginning in the Force, Kader knew this, but that knowledge didn’t make accepting the truth any easier. And now he had lost another one. A gust of wind sent a flurry of snow swirling around him and Kader pulled his dark cloak around him, reminding himself that he had a job to get done. He could have been wearing full armor to protect him from the forces of nature, but Master Kader Novar preferred to have nothing impeding his use of the force. The drawbacks were far outweighed by the potential. Focusing on himself, he let the Force flow through him and suddenly he was standing in the middle of a solitary sphere of calm amid the raging blizzard. Stowing the holocom in his pack on a nearby snow-crawler, Kader checked his data pad and re-aligned himself with the beacon he had been following for several weeks. The signal first came in over Master Novar’s intelligence receiver on Tython, deep in the galactic core, and the signal was just a series of coordinates repeating on loop. Normally Kader would have dispatched one of his agents or maybe a Padawan from the temple, but something about this piqued Kader’s interest and after some checking he discovered the anomaly. Hidden under a subliminal layer of background static was an old Jedi tap code repeating a single word: Exodus. And so Kader had started tracking the elusive signal. Once he arrived at the set of coordinates, a run down Tatooine town, the signal abruptly changed and a new set of coordinates started coming in. Master Novar had been to seven planets across the galaxy now, and was starting to regret not letting one of his agents handle this one. Oh well, if he didn’t turn up anything in this frozen wasteland he would return to Endor and accept never knowing. Master Novar straddled the snow-crawler and gunned its engines to life. The tread beneath him jumped into motion, propelling him over the snow, and kader focused the Force to allow the swirling air to flow smoothly around him.

Several hours later, Master Kader Novar pulled the snow-crawler into a wide tunnel of ice and snow, carved into the side of a sheer cliff face rising several dozen kilometers up. Kader could feel the force ahead of him strongly, more strongly than he had felt it since leaving Tython, birthplace of the Force, and he shuddered with anticipation. Kader checked his data pad once more to make sure he was still on target and gunned the snow-crawlers engines. The tunnel opened up into a cavern and Master Novar looked around in wonder. Here, on this un-named and unpopulated planet, was an ancient Temple like the ones on Tython. A quick study discovered carvings on the stone like those of the Je’daii. Was this a hitherto undiscovered planet of the Je’daii? Were there more temples like this out there? Who had been sending the signal Kader was following? Why Exodus? Something was going on here, and Kader was starting to get a bad feeling about this. Entering the Temple, Kader was struck by a feeling of claustrophobia despite the massive size and scale of the building. Carved statues of alien races stood lining the walls of the entrance chamber, tall and proud, all unrecognizable. Were these the ancient races who built this temple? Where had they gone? Kader would find some answers, one way or the other. At the end of the entrance chamber was a massive ornately carved door depicting aliens of all races bowing in subservience to a complex star formation. Master Novar carefully recorded images in his data pad of both the statues and the door, then he reached out and pushed. The heavy doors refused to move. Kader extended his senses, feeling out to the door and the mechanism barring his way. The door was designed to only be opened by a Force user, like those on Tython. Kader reached out in the Force and, gripping the locking mechanism, wrenched his arm and the lock around into a new formation. The heavy door smoothly swung open revealing the heart of the temple beyond, and Kader stared in amazement. Here in the depths of a frozen world in a sealed temple, stood twenty aliens circled around a large crystal emitting a faint purple light. The aliens were saurian with cobalt scales showing beneath their coarse purple robes. All were still and held their hands raised to the purple crystal. None of them were moving or making noise of any sort, and as Kader approached he could see that none of them were even breathing. A similarity, a connection, Kader Novar looked around the room again, taking note of the exact positioning of each being and the crystal in the center. It was like one of the Sith rituals he had learned and taken part in as a student of the Dark side. He carefully measured and counted and made notes in his data pad. The ritual had something to do with the odd crystal in the center of the room. It was this crystal and its faintly pulsing purple glow that the feeling of the Force was emanating from. This single crystal held in it the power of many Force users somehow. Kader felt unable to stop himself as he reached forward and laid his palm against the surface of the crystal. He was surprised at how warm the crystal was, deep in this ice cavern, and the way he could feel it throbbing under his hand. “You shouldn’t be here.” A female voice spoke up from right behind Kader’s ear, causing him to spin around in surprise. Standing before him was the lithe figure of a woman in her late twenties with lapis colored hair. She was dressed in the robes of a jedi and she had a smoking hole in her forehead where many years earlier she had been slain by a lightsaber. “Mileena?” Kader gaped at the woman before him. “You’re not here, you’re dead!” “Of course I’m dead.” She said with a smile, “You did kill me, after all. You shouldn’t be here.” “Where are we?” Kader asked, looking back at the crystal once more, “What is this place?” “The closest translation is: The Temple of the Undying.” The ghost of Mileena Osroc slowy circled the crystal. “This was a temple built by the followers of Bogan and the Dark side of the balanced Force. They discovered here a crystal that could be used to commune with the flow of the Force. They could use rituals to gaze forward or back along the great current” “If they had only stopped there.” A second voice spoke from behind Kader and he found himself spinning around again for the second time in as many minutes. There were two figures approaching from the shadows that now surrounded the central ritual circle. They were both female, both athletic, and both horrifyingly familiar. The first had strawberry blonde hair that cascaded down to her shapely hips, her hand clasped the second figures arm and led it after her. The second figure was missing her head. “Erinæ. Seranna.” Kader groaned and covered his eyes. “I should have expected you two after Mileena showed up.” “Yes, the woman you replaced me with.” Erinæ sneered as she walked over to Mileena, reaching up to brush her lapis colored hair back from her face. “She was pretty enough I suppose, if a bit young.” “She never replaced you, Erinæ.” Kader growled. “She was a friend and a partner, nothing more!” “Hush, Kader,” Mileena said softly, batting Erinæ’s hand away. “This specter doesn’t bother me. She is just a reflection of your own memories and emotions, just like I am, brought to life through the Force and the ancient rituals. She could have left her harpy of a sister behind though.” Kader looked over at the third figure, the headless body of Seranna Khai, and grimaced. “Why don’t you look dead?” Kader asked Erinæ. “It’s because of how I died.” Erinæ looked mournfully at her sister. “Seranna was beheaded, your jedi friend was stabbed, and my Force essence was ripped from my body in an instant in a Sith ritual. I look like this because this is how you last saw me, flawless and undamaged. If you were to summon Konnor, he too would be undamaged.” “Okay, well this is great and all, catching up with you, but why am I here? It’s a bit farfetched to think that ghosts sent me that signal.” Kader snorted. In response, all three figures silently pointed. Turning to look, Kader felt his stomach drop at the sight of the figure entering the ritual circle. It was Kader’s height and dressed in dark Mandalorian armor. The mask was removed and Kader could see burns and scars adorning the face of his student, Isaac clan Zakegg. “Feirfek!” Kader swore. He was getting fed up with this stupid circle and the way it threw his failures in his face. How many more dead friends would he be forced to see? The figure of Isaac slowly looked up and started in surprise. “Master Kader?!” The young man exclaimed in shock. “Wow, you told me what to expect, but still….” “What are you talking about Isaac?” “I did it master,” Isaac said, his eyes falling to his feet. “I’ve brought it, just like you wanted.” Kader watched as Isaac pulled a lightsaber hilt from his pack. Kader did a double take and reached down to pull his own lightsaber hilt from his belt. They were an exact match. The figure of Isaac turned and walked to a section of wall with a stone brazier. Kader expected him to stop, and so was surprised when Isaac stepped through the wall as if it wasn’t there. Several moments later, Isaac stepped back through the wall and faded into the shadows. “What was that?” Kader cried, spinning to face the three ghostly woman. “What just happened? I don’t understand!” But his past had no answers as they too faded into shadows. Then the shadows faded as well, leaving Kader in the room with the faintly pulsing crystal. Kader turned to the brazier in the wall he had watched the ghostly Isaac walk through and reached down to his impatience and frustration to give him power for the Dark side he was about to use. With a complex gesture in the air in front of him, Kader gathered lightning into a ball of pulsing flame that ignited the brazier with a crack of thunder. The glowing brazier sent out a pulse of force energy and the section of wall slid sideways creating a doorway, mist spilling out into the crystal room. Stepping through the knee high mist, Master Novar entered a short corridor that ended in a small circular room with a pedestal at its center. The pedestal itself was spilling over with the strange mist and at it’s center was a holocron. Holding his breath, Kader gently reached out with the Force, probing for any defenses or traps that were laid upon the pedestal. Finding none, he carefully reached into the mist and pulled the holocron out.

It had been five weeks and Master Kader Novar was very close to opening the holocron. He had been camped here in the depths of this temple this entire time and had stopped his work only to eat and meditate several hours each night. He was so close! There! A pathway, a trail, a tendril of force that he had been searching for! Kader followed the strand and found himself swept along with the Force into the heart of the holocron. The sides of the holocron shifted and took on a new form, sputtering as it activated for the first time in millennia. It emitted a series of beeps and clicks, then a hologram of one of the cobalt scaled saurians appeared in the air over it. It emitted a series of growls and hisses, then it emitted a series of grunts and squeals, then a set of fluting notes and whistles. It was clear that the alien holocron was attempting to find a language that Kader knew and would respond. Suddenly, the holocron was speaking an ancient dialect of Dathomiri. “You have activated me.” The holocron spoke. “Tell me your name and I will open to you the knowledge of the Kwaa.” “I am Kader Novar.” Kader said in modern Dathomiri. “I acknowledge you, Kader Novar. I was once known as Ag’naan, Master of Bogan and this temple. I will share my knowledge with you.”

Master Kader Novar felt like he hadn’t seen his ship in forever. It had been close to six months since he had landed on this icy barren world, and he had not returned to the Righteous Fury once. Dragging himself up the gangplank, he felt like he was returning home after a long time away. He staggered to the cockpit and just sat in the pilots chair for a moment. Since his snow crawler had broken down in the icy wastes, he had been hunted by the native life forms, tall shaggy ape-like beasts with tusks and claws. He had stood and fought the first day, but for every beast he slew, two more would appear. Soon he was running for his life across the frozen landscape. He could hear them even now, banging on the hull. Doing the startup sequence on a cold ship took time, but the beasts wouldn’t get through the hull, so Kader wasn’t worried. Soon he would be on his way back to Tython.

The Righteous Fury floated in orbit over Tython as Master kader Novar spoke to the Jedi Base. “So they’ve returned to Endor?” Kader asked the hologram of Setale Shan, current Master of the Jedi order. “Thanks, Setale. I won’t waste any more of your time. “May the force be with you Kader.” She smiled and her hologram winked off. Kader turned to the nav computer and entered the new string of co-ordinates that would take him back to the Grey Temple on Endor.

“And after landing, I came straight here, to the council chambers.” Kader said, looking around at the other Grey Masters of the Council. “I have brought back the Holocron of Bogan, but I have learned of several other ancient holocrons. The next one is known as the Holocron of Ashla, and it will have more information on the others, scattered throughout the galaxy by the ancient Kwaa empire.”

Tales of the Darkstar 23 #GreyJediStories (3669 BBY)

     The crimson haired woman sat bolt upright in her bed, shivering despite the nights warmth and breathing as if she had just been running. She reached up to her face and found it wet with either sweat or tears.
 What was this horrible gut-wrenching fear she was feeling? It shook her to her very core and she could find no reason or meaning behind it.      Lady Seranna Khai slid out of bed and, wrapping a silk robe about herself, stepped out onto the balcony outside her quarters.      A storm was brewing to the west over the lush jungles of Onderon, and she could feel its power from here. Was it this fierce storm that was giving her such an uneasy feeling?      At the center of the storm Seranna could feel a familiar presence, one she had once followed with all her heart even if it meant death. Had Kader returned to his Sith roots like she had intended? Would he be too strong to control? No matter, Lady Khai had chosen her path and now at long last her web was starting to produce results. Now was time to introduce Saber Dorsett into the mix and get this party started.     An orange glow was starting to rise on the horizon and Seranna sighed. The storm had ignited a fire in the forests, and if she didn’t do something now the fire could reach her city. She would be damned if she let some storm conquer her city after thousands of years of repelling real enemies.      She moved back indoors and pushed the door to her office open, moving to her desk. She reached down and activated her comm.      “Dorsett, are you awake?” the comm hissed for several minutes before the reply came.      “I am, Lady Khai.” his voice full of static through the comm. “I was just observing the natural phenomena off to the west.”      “I’d like you to take your men and a work crew out there to control the fire.” Seranna said curtly.       “And why ever should I do that? It looks rather dangerous out there. You wouldn’t be trying to get rid of me, would you?”      “Were I to make an attempt on your life you would never even see it coming, Dorsett.” Seranna laughed. “And you’re hunting down the Traitor, so theres a pretty good chance you’ll end up dead anyway. I don’t have to do anything.”       “Can’t you sense it Dorsett? This is no ordinary storm. These winds bring conflict and fear, rage and pain. Your quarry is here, at last.”      “Do you truly think so?” Dorsett sounded curious through the static. “It is strange that I do not share your feelings.”      “I am sure. The Traitor is at the heart of the storm. This will be your chance.”

* * * * *

     Saber Dorsett donned his body armor with a care that bordered on reverence. The body armor he wore may have been extremely lightweight and streamline, but the extra craftsmanship was offset by the fact that it took an extra twenty minutes to put on or take off.      A knock at his door announced the arrival of one of his apprentices Saber Uda, a Twi’lek woman in her early twenties.      “Your legion is ready, my Lord.” The Twi’lek woman dropped to a knee, bowing her head in front of her master.      Dorsett affixed the last of his plates and picked up his helm, an ordinary dome of blackened cortosis with an ornate face mask that covered his brow and nose.      This was one of several Sith artifacts that Dorsett had collected over the years, and he had made it a part of his arsenal for several reasons. The first was the fact that it focused him and gave strength to his ability to draw on the Dark side of the Force.      The second reason was entirely egotistical, as the mask gave him a fierce visage and was good for scaring his enemies and frightening his subordinates. He doubted the Traitor would be shaken, but Dorsett wasn’t about to pass up even the slightest opportunity to gain the upper hand.      “Let us be off then.” Saber Dorsett said, gesturing for Saber Uda to rise. She fell in behind him as they walked down the stark corridors until they emerged onto the parade grounds which were a flurry of activity.      Dorsett’s shadow commandoes were running too and fro, hurrying to load the land-crawlers they had commandeered from the Iziz base. As Dorsett walked down the center isle his other apprentice, Saber Saffron approached him and knelt.      “My Lord,” the young human said softly, “We will be done loading in a matter of moments. The fire suppression units are in the second vehicle and the rest will be filled with your shadow commandoes.”      “You have done well Zaffron, Uda, Once our quarry is caught, we shall all rise in the ranks of the Sith and our hard work will be repaid.”Dorsett grinned. “Lord Exodus has levied a hefty price on this Traitors head, and we shall all gain much prestige when we slay him.”      “Your glory is ours.” The two of them intoned.      “Come, my students, let us have merry jaunt into the jungle to kill a deranged murderer.” Dorsett laughed. “Our quarry awaits!”

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Everything is finally coming together toward one final confrontation! Will Kader Novar regain his sanity and return to the Light side of the Force? Will Saber Dorsett and Lady Khai ever talk of their unrequited love for each other? What will Mileena Osroc name her pet TaunTaun? Will Luke Skywalker ever figure out his father is Darth Vader? Two shall enter, but only one shall leave! next time, here on Tales of the Darkstar!

-Bill

ParadoxicalWebcomic.tumblr.com

Tales of the Darkstar Pt 2

#GreyJediStories

"C'mon, Kader! We're going to be late if you don't hurry up!" The man who used to be a Sith Saber grumbled darkly at the young woman in front of him. "I'd be faster if I wasn't the one hauling all of the bags.  “What the heck is in the these anyway? I thought you Jed traveled light." "We do," the girl smirked, emphasizing the 'we'. "These are gifts for the Matriarch of the Ho'Din. It is traditional for visitors to bring offerings." Kader Novar was still ill at ease with the Jedi, even after several months at the temple. After the first month, the Jedi masters saw no reason to keep him secluded, and allowed him to join the temple at large under the rank of padawan.  He was by far the eldest padawan at the temple, all of the Jedi his age were already knights, but Kader was willing to bear the indignity. Pride, like passion fueled the dark side of the force, but too much and it would turn inward, burning and corrupting. Kader had devoted himself to his studies, and had come far in his search for knowledge. And now this had to happen. The Jedi masters gave Kader his first official mission for the temple, to negotiate a trade of items from the Ho'Din, a group of aliens renowned for their botanical and medical skills. The Jedi assigned him to a ship and to a Knight, who would continue his training while in the field. The former, was of a sleek Rendili Hyperworks design that spoke of speed, power, and stealth. Perfect for a man like Kader. The latter, however, he was still trying to get used to. Jedi knight Mileena Osroc was young, brash, and freshly inundated with the rank of Jedi knight. She was slender like a reed and her lightly bronzed skin was offset by her lapis colored hair, cut short so it followed her jawline. It was soon obvious to Kader that this was her first mission as a Knight, and that worried him. The colony they were to visit was too close to the Sith border for Kader to feel at ease with a brand new Knight. Kader finished stowing the bags, and went to the cockpit to find Mileena already in the copilots seat, starting the engines warmup routine. "Nice of you to join me." She said with a smirk. That annoying, infuriating, knowing smirk. Mileena, like many of the temples Jedi, only knew that Kader had come from Sith space under unusual circumstances. And she, like many others, scoffed and made fun of him for merely being the rank of padawan. It was infuriating being looked down on by a child he surpassed in the force a decade ago. If he wanted, Kader could use the force to remove the air from her lungs and then watch her suffocate. He could blast her with arcs of the viridian lightning his Sith mentor had taught him to summon. He could implant visions of sanity shredding horror directly into her feeble little brain. No, Kader sighed inwardly and let go of the building emotions. That was not his way anymore. He would put up with the brat until the end of the mission, then be rid of her back at the temple.

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Here we have it, pt2 of Tales of the Darkstar. I am having a blast writing this story. The worst part is having to wait to post the next portion. For the time being you can expect me to post another on Thursday, and maybe even Saturday again. Who knows.

-Bill

September 6, 2016