Synopsis:
Approximately three months after Order 66, captured Uhumele
crewman Janks, who has already been heavily
interrogated, faces an unimaginable torture by Darth
Vader - for reasons Janks cannot understand.
A short time later, the Uhumele is travelling
en-route for a rendezvous with a potential buyer for the
mysterious crate in their cargo hold. Captain Heren's
explains to his ragbag crew the known history of the
crate: around 1,400 years ago it was discovered buried
under a kilometre of ice on Jebble, but it could not be
opened nor scanned to ascertain its contents. Since
then, the "Jebble Box", as it began to
be known, grew in stature and value amongst antiquity
collectors. It was rumoured that the box contained an
ancient Jedi treasure and could only be opened by a
Jedi.
For Heren and his crew, the temptation of the Jebble Box
had cost them too much and now they only wanted rid of
it, so they have arranged for Fane Peturri, an
historian, to purchase it. However, upon their
rendezvous with Fane, the Uhumele's crew are
captured by Darth Vader, who has taken a keen interest
in the Jebble Box. Working for Vader, Fane takes the
crate and unlocks a holo-message recorded four thousand
years ago warning of the dangers that are contained
within Lord Dreypa's Oubliette. Ignoring Fane's
pleas not to open it, Vader slices the lid off the box
and reveals a hibernation chamber containing Celeste
Morne!
Celeste is perturbed to be awakened after four thousand
years still with the Muur Talisman around her neck, but
is even more alarmed to discover that the Republic was
overthrown by the Sith and that Vader is a Sith Lord.
Recognising that her masters and the Covenant have
failed to prevent the return of the Sith, Celeste
immediately attacks Vader, but Vader senses Celeste's
anger and hatred and attempts to turn Celeste to the
Dark Side. During this lightsaber melee, the Uhumele's
crew realise that whoever wins the battle does not bode
well for them and they must escape their bonds soon.
Captain Heren and the crew of the Uhumele find
themselves unwilling witnesses to the conflict between
Celeste Morne and Darth Vader over the Muur Talisman.
Although Celeste now knows that the Covenant have failed
in preventing the return of the Sith, she realises that
she alone has the power to destroy this Dark Lord of the
Sith. However, the spirit of the Talisman's creator,
Lord Karness Muur, senses that Vader should be the
rightful owner of the Talisman and goads both Celeste,
to give Vader the Talisman, and Vader with images of the
power he could have with it. But Vader realises that
Karness Muur is only offering him the change of one
master for another and after cornering Celeste orders
his troopers to guard her.
Turning his attentions to Fane Peturri, who was trying
to escape the battlefield, Vader accuses Fane of spying
for the Emperor - spying on Vader's attempts to find
himself an apprentice. Fane's protestations of innocence
are quickly subdued by a Force choke, and Fane admits
his complicity as a spy for the Emperor. But before Fane
dies, he transforms into a Rakghoul and begins attacking
Vader.
During this respite in the fighting, the Uhumele's
begin their bid for freedom when Heren successfully
breaks his bonds and takes a blaster from their
unconscious guard. Freeing the rest of his crewmates,
they silently make their way to the Uhumele.
Vader quickly dispatches the Rakghoul that was Fane, but
Celeste uses the distraction to free herself from her
guards and, with Karness still taunting her weaknesses,
realises that victory over Vader will only be
accomplished if she uses the power of the Talisman.
Before Vader's eyes, his own stormtroopers begin the
change into Rakghouls, and he knows that the battle is
lost and beats a hasty retreat to his ship. Karness also
understands he has, for the moment, been beaten by
Celeste.
However, the Uhumele's crew have not survived
unscathed for during their escape Crys Taanzer became
infected with the Rakghoul plague and was reluctantly
killed by Heren.
Back on the planet, Celeste contemplates her future:
stranded on a desolate world with only the spirit of an
ancient Sith Lord and Rakghouls for company. But, she
can console herself that the spirit of Karness Muur and
his Talisman are as much a prisoner as she is. |