Abandoned and forgotten, the ruins of the Dark Temple have slowly succumbed to the erosion of time. In the central chamber the walls have crumbled, the ceiling has caved in, and the jungle now flourishes within the once pristine halls.

Green light filters through the temple, mixing eerily with the dark, violet hue of Dromund Kaas’ sky. Lightning flickers overhead, the raw energy of the Force clashing high above. The floor is overgrown with large plants and grasses that have swallowed the old stone. Wild creatures roam freely, skittering away from the presence of intruders while vicious predators hide just out of sight.

The main hall is lined on both sides by towering statues, heads bowed in supplication. They stand in deference to the sculpture of a pure-blooded Sith, which towers over the chamber with outstretched arms. The sculpture has been split diagonally down the middle, as if cleaved in two by a rusted blade, but the majesty in the stone still echoes to the past.

On either side of the main hall, remnants of branches to inaccessible parts of the temple remain. One might tilt their head to take in what is left of the mezzanine—the balcony overlooking the chamber—still held aloft by the great pillars standing behind the statues. Several of the pillars have fallen, providing a pathway up to the mezzanine for those willing to take the risk for higher ground. Spirits of the Sith are rumored to still haunt the grounds—waiting for poor, misguided fools to walk blindly into their domain.

Andrelious was not usually one to believe in the legend of a Sith Empire of old, but the sight of the ruins of the Dark Temple made it a little difficult to dismiss the stories as little more than a myth. The Archanis Quaestor could even feel the remnants of a dark presence as he continued to examine the area.

It’s certainly an interesting place.

The Taldryanite was trying to make his way along one of the few unblocked corridors when he heard the familiar sound of a small repulsorlift. Turning around, he was amazed to see a small, spherical droid hovering a few feet away. He was even more surprised to see that the droid had been covered in what seemed to be the bones of small animals.

“Well. I’m guessing you’re not a relic of this old Empire,” Andrelious stated. “Still, I shan’t worry about such things,” he continued, beckoning to his own droid, an IT-000 model that was hovering nearby.

“Seems you’ve got a new plaything,” the Seeker announced. The IT-000 responded with a beep that sounded almost gleeful. The probe droid shrieked and sped away.

“That reputation of yours really does precede you, doesn’t it? Even Kooki doesn’t quite cause that kind of reaction. Not unless people know who she is,” the Sith observed, immediately wishing his wife had joined him on his latest trip. If others were here, he’d have certainly felt better with the backup she provided.

Andrelious was not about the let the sighting of an unknown droid go uninvestigated. He moved in the direction that the probe droid had fled, his IT-000 in tow. As he rounded a corner, a slug whistled past his ear. The Sith glanced across the room and noticed a Trandoshan, wearing modified Imperial armour, carefully aiming a weapon at him. Its long barrel immediately gave away the fact that it was a sniper rifle.

The Quaestor sprung straight into action. Activating his silver hilted lightsaber, he charged towards the Trandoshan, zig-zagging in an attempt to frustrate his would-be assassin’s aim.

Grot cursed in his native tongue. The intelligence reports on Andrelious were far more accurate than he’d hoped. When he saw how small the Sith was, and how apparently reliant he was on his wife, the Trandoshan expected an easy kill, in spite of the DIA notes that Andrelious was dangerous in a one-on-one situation.

“So. Are you going to tell me what the hell you’re shooting at me for?” Andrelious questioned, having closed in enough to render Grot’s sniper rifle ineffective.

“You are Andrelioussss Mimosa-Inahj. Formerly of Clan Arcona,” Grot began.

“Formerly of many years ago. I thought they’d given up trying to deal with me and my so-called treachery,” the Seeker responded, his lightsaber ready to fend off anything that the Trandoshan might have tried.

“Yesss. But you recently instigated another defection. The Ssshadow Lord isn’t happy about that one,” the Arconan stated calmly.

“Aldaric is under the protection of Clan Taldryan. You go and tell that pathetic little hairball you call Shadow Lord that it’s not up for discussion,” Andrelious replied.

“You can tell him yoursself. My ordersss are to bring you in. There’sss still partsss of the DIA who would love to speak to you, ssssoft-ssskin,” Grot hissed.

The Quaestor frowned. “That’s definitely not going to happen. I’m giving you one chance. Walk away. I have no quarrel with Arcona. Not anymore,”

Grot shook his head. “It doesss not matter to me if you won’t co-operate. The Ssshadow Lord authorised me to use lethal force,”

The threat was all Andrelious needed to hear. He moved in towards Grot, swinging his lightsaber straight for the Trandoshan’s chest. Grot, seeing the threat, stumbled back out of range of the incoming crimson blade. Andrelious remained on the offensive, his eyes glinting yellow as he allowed the dark side to drive his actions.

Scorekeeper be blessed. This one’s going to be worth a lot of points!