**Mount Tantiss Expedition**
The mission was seemingly simple. Head to an old secret Imperial research facility on the planet Wayland, proceed down to the base that was built into the side of a mountain, and retrieve a device in a laboratory.
Karracca warned Kalen about the endless dangers they might face on the planet and within the base, but Kalen appeared unfazed by the warnings. A contract was a contract, and this one had a nice price tag on it. So they were going to at least try. As they approached the planet even D three in a cryptic warning.
“Uh, Master Joss, I should have you know, that 2 of my previous Masters both attempted to enter the base we are now heading for. Neither returned.”
“Really? So what happened to you after your Master didn't return D.” Kalen replied.
“Well Master. Each of those times led to brief periods of me functioning as an autonomous cybernetic being. Truly disturbing and terrifying times that I'd rather not talk about. Suffice to say I found a new Master quite quickly each time. I found that I'm temperamentally ill suited to enjoying freedom and liberty, how you humanoids deal with the constant choices and countless potentialities will forever escape me.” the protocol droid said, sounding almost poetic.
“Wow…so how long did you have you’re freedom each time?”
“Less than 72 hours on each occasion sir. The second I nearly turned myself in for scrapping…”
“Fooooof…well I'm glad you didn't buddy. But the 3 of us are together now. So if we don't return, at least we'll die together.”
“My apologies Master, but that isn't very reassuring.” The droid said before gazing out the cockpit window, eyes flickering with light, as if remembering something.
After they landed in a clearing about 800 yards away from the mountain base and suited the trio walked down the ramp amd stared into the dark jungle around them. It was only mid afternoon by the eery blackness loomed in the large TRIPLE canopy jungle. Various sounds of random jungle creatures could be heard all around them. D informed them that several were notable dangerous predatory species that would like stalking and hunt him and Master Karracca.
“Thanks D, but we got blasters and lightsabers. We'll be alright.” Kalen said he stepped off, walking towards the treeline as the wookie and droid tentatively began following him.
Before they got to the edge of the clearing an raspy and evil sounding voice rang on both Kalem and Karra's ears.
‘Those who enter, never exit.’
Kalen stopped and turned to hos companion “Did you guys hear that?” The first signs of apprehension entered his voice.
“Hear what Master?” D said.
“I heard it kid. Sounded like the Emperor to me.” Karracca growled. He had heard the voice of the long dead Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious before, many times. It was unmistakable.
“Emperor of wha…oh, you mean that Emperor.” The holovids about the fall of the Empire and the events of nearly a decade before often referenced or hinted at the Dark Sith Lord, and Kalen quickly clued in.
“Yeah, that one. I'm telling you kid, this is a bad idea.” Karracca growled.
“Hmm, spooky.” He took a few more steps towards the mountain and heard the insidious disembodied voice again.
‘Yes Jedi, come to my lair.’
“Alright then…uh, everyone back on the ship, lets get the kark outta here. No reward is worth this kinna Sithy weirdness.nope, nope, that's a whole bucket of nope.” Kalen said as he felt a corkscrew of goosebumps rush up his spine. He wasn't a coward, but he also wasn't suicidal. The trio got back on the Corra IV and beat feet, heading out of the system and away of this infernal place.