Seeking the Black Hand...

[Admiral Taylor Millard]

The Missile Gunboat came out of hyperspace 7.00 Klicks away from Vjun. It angled its way towards the desolate planet, beginning a flight pattern towards the planet.

No outer defenses, the pilot thought, Interesting. There is life down there. But not much. If I'm correct...Darth Vader's castle should be somewhere on the Southern portion of the planet.

Taylor Millard had visited Vjun and Bast Castle once as a Captain in the Imperial Navy, during the rogue Admiral Zakan's attempt to assassinate the Emperor. Millard and several other pilots gathered with Darth Vader for mission details and training. It was there, Millard met a Vice Admiral named Thrawn, who would become his mentor years later.

But there was no Thrawn with him this time. Nor any Imperial Star Destroyers, escorting him. Nor did his collegues and his bodyguard accompany him to Vjun. This was for he and he alone to face.

The place hasn't changed, the Sith Apprentice thought as he began his decent through the atmosphere. Acid rain continued to beat the harsh landscape of rock and mountain. He skimmed low to the ground in an attempt to avoid sensor scans, if they hadn't detected him all ready. And even if they hadn't, his mind said, They've probably all ready detected me through the Force.

During Millard's first forays back into Known Space, he'd heard rumors about the Black Hand. However, the rumors had been more sparse than those about the Sith Order. The rumors stated the Black Hand seeked a balance between the Light and Dark Sides of the Force, but not a location or contact name. After several frustrating months, Millard had almost given up his search for The Black Hand, focussing on joining the Sith Order, and getting more accustomed to the Known Universe again.

It should be... Taylor thought, scanning the suface for the castle, Right...there it is. A magnificant sight indeed.

Bast Castle was a formitable sight indeed. A lone pillar reached skyward, with black chambers reaching downwards from there. Millard landed his craft 1 Kilometer away, choosing to hike to the castle rather than land on the landing pad.

My old Imperial codes probably wouldn't work anyway. he thought, as he exitted the craft. He wore a black jumpsuit, leaving his Imperial Uniform back on the Superior. He reminded himself he was not an Imperial when with the Sith or the Jedi...he was one of them, an Apprentice seeking more knowledge and advancement in the Force.

It was this reason he chose not to join the Grand Military Alliance. I want to know more about my Force abilities. Were I to join Viscera's Empire...my friends and allies would be scattered across the galaxy. I do not hold any trust in Viscera...from what I have seen of him, he is not one to trust.

Taylor hiked halfway towards the black castle, drawing on the Force to strengthen his journey. His black lightsaber clunked against his right leg, the slight weight pulling at his belt. Millard reminded himself it was the only weapon he possessed. His normal Repeater Rifle, remained on Corellia with his uniform.

It was his own curiousity of the Known Space, which caused him to discover the location of The Black Hand. Curious over the history of the Empire after the Battle of Endor and past the death of Grand Admiral Thrawn, Millard discovered the resurrected Palpatine used Castle Bast as a refuge during his brief resurrection. When an Imperial Probe droid located a ship leaving the space around Vjun, Millard investigated more, finding out an organization of Dark Jedi calling themselves The Black Hand, made their headquarters in Vader's old private domain.

And now he was here, at the gates of the Castle Bast. Seeing no defenses or guards, Millard checked the massive iron gate before him. It was locked.

I didn't think it would be this easy, he thought. Stepping back a few paces, Millard ran quickly, using the Force to increase his speed. He leaped high in the air, tucking his legs to his body, and vaulted the gate. Landing, he stared up at the looming castle.

He reached out with the Force, attempting to locate any lifeforms inside. Either they aren't home he mused, striding towards the massive doors, Or they're masking their presence with the Force. He believed the latter.

The inquisitive Sith Apprentice reached the large oak doors of Castle Bast. Lightning arched across the sky, and acid rain began to fall from the heavens. Millard reached out with his right hand and struck the door three times.

*Knock*

*Knock*

*Knock*

The rain fell, and wind blew. And Taylor Millard awaited an answer.

[Evil Hobgoblin]

There was a short pause of no answer, and then abruptly an something sprang into being. It was a figure of a short, misshapen dwarf who was altogether apelike in appearance. He wore a dark black robe made of fine cloth. The figure was obviously an image, however, because there was a slight transparency to it.

It was very lifelike, though- finely detailed, and made noise when it moved. Two knuckle-assisted steps took it to the front door, where it stood beside Millard and knocked much more loudly. It turned and shrugged it's shoulders at Millard, then returned to looking at the door.

After a moment, the door opened to reveal a second figure exactly like the first. This one was much more solid, however.

The second figure looked at his identical copy. "Well?" it challenged in deep bass. "What do you want?"

"Dinnae ask me," the image spoke in a similar voice, but this one had a slightly higher pitch to it, as well as an accent and a slight cackle. "I was just showing th' lad here how t' knock, don't y'know?"

The real Hobgoblin gave it an annoyed look while the image grinned back, then both figures turned to stare at the Navy officer standing on Vjun's doorstep. "And what do you want?" they asked simultaneously.

[Admiral Taylor Millard]

Millard suppressed a smile as his gaze rested upon the two dwarfs before him. The Sith Apprentice regarded them with respect, as he answered them.

"I wish to learn more about the Force," he stated simply. When their expression changed not, he continued.

"I am currently trained in The Sith Order by Master Seth Darkserpent. He is a good master, intent on teaching me what he knows about the Force, and even more. But while I was training, I felt as though I wanted to know more...as if, I had to know how the Force works in us. How it obeys our commands, yet controls us. I wish to expand my Force knowledge and strength.

"When I first came back to the Known Regions," Taylor contiued, his blue eyes flashing, "I heard rumors of The Black Hand, about their existance. I pursued finding them, in hopes they could expand my Force talents. But that was to no avail. The Black Hand hid well, and escaped me.

"But rumors surfaced again, and I asked my Master if he had heard of them. He told me I was not ready for the Black Hand...this was 3 months ago. Although I took his information as true, I investigated still, discovering the usage of Castle Bast as headquarters of something. Further investigation, proved to me, the Black Hand operates here.

"While members of the Sith Order have loyalty and honor, it is not a character trait expected by all members. The Black Hand, from what I assume, expects its members to be loyal to the organization...and to possess honor. I admire that in a group....and I wish to join."

He matched the two dwarfs' gaze and awaited their response.

[Evil Hobgoblin]

Hob's nose wiggled- on both faces, simultaneously. The real Hob beckoned the image over to him and held a whispered consultation from just inside the doorway. Both dwarves stole surreptitious glances at Admiral Millard.

After a moment, they broke their huddle. The real Hob spoke in his bass voice, loud and declaring. "All who would join the Hand must first request membership before the collected Dark Jedi in the audience chamber inside Bast."

Millard nodded and stepped forward, but Hob- both Hobs- held up a hand. "To enter Bast," Hob continued. "One must get past the gatekeep. Me."

Hob makes no move, but Millard abruptly feels a tightening pressure around his throat, threatening to cut off his breathing and end his life.

[Admiral Taylor Millard]

Gah... Millard's mind thought as the Dark Jedi began choking him. Didnt' expect this to be a cake walk...

He remembered how it felt when Seth choked him, the precious air his body clung to leaving his lungs. Millard did not want the feeling to continue.

He glowered at the short Jedi, still feeling his breath continue to leave him. He considered staggering forward, attempting to dislodge the dwarf with his saber but decided for a more tactical solution. Opening his mind to the Force, Taylor focussed on the body of the non-transparent Jedi before him. He pushed forward, watching with glee as the pressure on his throat left him. He also enjoyed seeing the dwarf fly backwards, into the darker depths of the castle.

Focussing again, Millard began closing the throat of the dwarf, putting him in a Force Choke of his own. He took a step into the castle, keeping his senses alert for anything else that should happen.

"I will get by you, little Jedi," Millard stated, his cold blue eyes flashing brightly, "And, if the Black Hand allows me, I will join your honorable cadre of Dark Jedi."

[Evil Hobgoblin]

From inside the darkness of Bast, an ominous presence seemed to form within the air. "You underestimate my power military boy," a voice rasped. "Private Parts, report for a beating."

Abruptly the illusion next to Millard became real and tangible while the Hob within Bast suddenly seemed to disappear. He gave Millard a punch directly into the groin.

[Admiral Taylor Millard]

Pain shot up Millard's body as the dwarf struck his groin. Falling onto the stone floor of the Bast Castle Courtyard, he realized his mistake, of under estimating the Dark Jedi. He prayed it was only a mistake and not an error.

Attempting seek out his opponent with the Force, he discovered the short Jedi was behind him. Spinning his body, he struck his fist out...feeling pleasure with the connection of his right fist to the Hobgoblin's face. Rising to his feet, using his pain to fuel his anger, he brought his lightsaber out...watching the blue and red blade fill the dark room.

There were two of them, his mind noted.

To the fallen Hobgoblin, the Sith Apprentice said, "Rise...although I have no reason to fight you. If I must to seek an audience with The Black Hand. Then so be it."

[Evil Hobgoblin]

The second Hobgoblin jerked his head right, then left, then grinned at Millard. "Lad, perhaps ye understand not. Ye face much more than a man with a gun. Much more than a mere apprentice of the Force. Much more than-"

Abruptly, the second Hob's face went slack and his eyes went distant, as though his mind were elsewhere.

And then first Hobgoblin barreled into Millard from behind, knocking him back to the ground. The two Hobgoblins backed away from Millard, almost daring him to turn his attention on one of them.

[Admiral Taylor Millard]

Millard rose to his feet, popping his neck...then Force pulled the lightsaber to his right gloved hand. He glowered at the two dwarves before him, feeling his anger beginning to take control of him.

Slowly, he began walking towards the door of the Castle Bast. He deactivated his lightsaber, keeping it in his hand though. As the two dwarves began to move towards the Sith Apprentice, Millard Force Pushed them away from his body.

The two may be Jedi Masters, his mind said, But one of them is real...the other a fake. Both are solid enough to have Force powers used on them. But does the fake does not have Force powers? Hmm...

Taylor decided to air on the side of caution and assume the doppleganger Hobgoblin had Force powers. Using his mind, he reached forward...finding the mind of one of the Hobgoblins before him. He remembered how his master had blinded him in training...using the Force to place black mirrors of sight in his vision.

The Inquisitive Jedi, began forming the mirrors in the mind of the Hobgoblin on the left...the second one he'd encountered. He hoped they would keep in place long enough for his next task.

Behind him...several bricks and stones littered the Courtyard behind him. He raised 7 of them up using the Force...moving them towards his body. As they circled around him, he ducked his tall body, letting the stones move towards, who he thought was the blinded one.

One at a time he thought. One at a time.

He brought his lightsaber up, to deflect any attack the first Hobgoblin would bring to him.

[Evil Hobgoblin]

This was an odd trick.

Although Hob could feel the world around and behind him, in front of him there seemed to be only a darkness that mimicked his own power.

"Stop him, Trickster," Hob said aloud, trying to devote the brunt of his mental energy towards figuring out how to bypass this attack.

The second Hob heard the command and smirked. He watched the seven stones fly towards his double. As they made their approach, he picked them out of the air with punches, kicks, and grabs. He ended up with two stones in his hand.

Hob Trickster smirked at Millard. "Did ye forget about old Hob, lad?" he asked, throwing the stones at his enemy.

[Admiral Taylor Millard]

"Nay, 'boyo' I did not," Millard replied to the Trickster's taunt.

The stones hurtled towards the Sith Apprentice at incredible speed. Taylor raised his hand out, attempting to slowt the velocity. It was a trick, his master Seth Darkserpent had just taught him...and he accomplished it, with some difficutly.

Although the stones stopped before Millard, one wavered in the air...threatening to fall to the ground. Millard smiled, his blue eyes flashing.

"Here, Trickster...have a stone," he threw the stone at the Trickster Dwarf, watching the doppleganger duck.

He's got to be the fake, Millard's mind told him, He wouldn't have blocked the stones if he wasn't protecting who created him.

The other stone...the one which wavered...hovered before the Jedi Apprentice, like the training remote he practiced with. He targeted the Real Hob, and quickly hurled it towards him at great speed.

He watched the Trickster Dwarf move to block the stone as it hurled towards his creator. Millard, refocussed on the other stones and rubble...bringing them up and hurling them at the Trickster Goblin. He saw the Trickster block the offending stone, but be wracked by the others.

With the Trickster distracted, Millard grabbed the Dark Dwarf with the Force, slamming him face first into the ground.

"Allow me entry, Dark Jedi. I respectfully request it." he stated coldly and harshly.

[Evil Hobgoblin]

Trickster abruptly vanished. Bright spots flashed before Hob's eyes. He shook his head, able to see clearly again.

Apparently, pain was somehow the key to dissolving the mirror imagery.

Hob got up off the ground and turned to Millard. "And I respectfully request that you take an acid bath," he stated.

An enormous wave of pressure began building in the air between Hob and Millard. Hob cocked his head to one side and released the pressure directly in Millard's direction.

The Apprentice to the Force was hurled backwards by a maelstrom of wind, off the front porch of Bast, over the steps, and several dozen yards away from the castle.

[Admiral Taylor Millard]

No thanks... Millard thought as he came to a stop away from the castle, I've all ready taken several, in the Empire.

He stood, brushing the dirt from his body. A black gloved hand pushed sweat away, and he checked for his lightsaber. It was several yards away, laying upon several black, acidic rocks. Millard hoped it hadn't been damaged. It hadn't.

His body though, had taken minor injuries. He felt blood trickle down his forehead and noticed a laceration on his arm. He began a trek back towards the Castle. Although the sun remained out, the ground remained wet with the acid rain prior to his arrival to the hellish planet.

Well...we now have learned something about the dwarf. Pain gives him more power. Of course...he fed upon the Force. You should yourself.

Millard opened his mind to the Force, feeling it strengthen him...it fed his stamina and enhanced his senses. Before he returned to the Castle Bast, Millard retrieved several burning stones from one of the rivers near the black castle. He felt the pain and focussed on it...drawing strength from it.

The Castle stood before him...and the doors open. With the dwarf in the center. Millard leaped over the gate again, landing with a small *Thud!* on the stone ground beneath him. He drew strength from the ground, feeling power leach into his body.

His anger at the Dwarf began to increase as he bore his blue eyes into him. Gates must open one way.

He began concentrating...drawing the shadows towards him. He saw what little light there was, begin to dimish. Although the dwarf all ready knew where he was, Taylor hoped he didn't know what he had planned. He leaped towards the castle door, keeping the shadows around him. But before he neared the door...Millard let himself fall from the Hobgoblin's sight, hoping the stones he was controlling with the Force would strike the Goblin.

[Evil Hobgoblin]

The acid-washed stones flew at Hob, flew through Hob, and hit the castle door.

Millard's surprise was evident- it echoed through the Force like a tolled bell. He hadn't been expecting Hob to hide himself while Millard returned to the castle, and hadn't been expecting to be met with a second illusion either.

The only thing that soured the deal was that the idea had been Trickster's. But that was fine- Trickster was Hob anyway.

Meanwhile, Hob was very much aware of Millard's location. He reached out with an invisible telekinetic fist and took hold of Millard's body. Then, Hob threw Millard at the castle doors.

[Admiral Taylor Millard]

Drawing on the Force, Millard slowed his acceleration, flipping in the air. With a muffled *thump* Taylor hit the wall, falling to the stone ground of the Courtyard admist the rubble he'd hurled at the illusion.

He was overmatched and he knew it. Force power-wise, he was lacking. But he wouldn't let himself be defeated. I will enter The Black Hand, his mind said.

Millard smiled, allowing the Force to take control. If this Hobgoblin can cast illusions, so can I. He'd learned illusions months prior, before being sent out into the universe by his Master.

Suddenly, another Millard appeared...looking as dishevelled and beat up as the first. Then a third. Taylor drew his lightsaber, igniting it. The others did as well.

"You want to cast illusions...very well," the three Millards shouted, "Here's my illusion!"

All three turned towards the door, gripping the handle. The Millards pulled hard, then they all flew back as the door opened. Each of them rolled into a crouch, then dove for the opening, making it in as the door closed.

The darkness forced Millard to filter out the blackness with the Force. Still nothing.

A wave of wind, slammed into the inquisitive man, sending him back into the door. It neglected to open, increasing Millard's pain.

Pain and anger...friend of mine Millard's mind said, Use the Force and increase your power

Millard continued to draw on the Force, and increase his strength. He seeked out Hobgoblin, finding him several feet away. The three Millards all turned to the Hobgoblin, finding two standing before them.

Millard then realised something. THis was a fight! Fighting is not just with fists, but with minds. Thrawn had once said.

He circled around the two short Dark Jedis, his doubles doing the same. Hobgoblin (both of them) kept circling with him trying to discover which Millard was real. Taylor was doing the same.

Taylor reached out, grabbing the two dwarves with the Force, and slammed them together.

Tit for tat he thought.

[Evil Hobgoblin]

Both Hobs bounced off each other and one winked out of existence. The remaining Hob frowned. Breaking his concentration was too easy. There had to be some way to keep the Trickster doppleganger going without paying direct conscious attention to it.

But that was for later study. Meanwhile, Hob was busy.

If Millard thought he was confused by the illusions, Millard was wrong. Aside from the basic lack of presence behind the illusions, the young lad had forgotten to add heat and sound to his images. Unthorough.

Hob extended a hand, and from that hand leapt two tendrils of black light- threads of Dark Side Webbing. The tendrils sought each illusion, touched them-

And abruptly, the illusions vanished as the energy behind them was drawn away.

The tendrils wavered, reoriented, and sped at the remaining Millard.

[Admiral Taylor Millard]

A sudden sense of danger flooded Millard's mind like a bantha in a Jawa Storage Shed. Taylor dove away from the tendrils of black light, feeling heat as one passed over his ducking head. Taylor swung his lightsaber up, hoping to slice the dark tendril in half. As the blade of energy touched the tendril, a small explosion sent Millard flying back, deeper into the Castle Bast.

Lear something new every day, his mind told him. The better part of valor is to make your way into the main chamber...if you can find it.

Another voice...one more familiar, yet not said to him, "Run Taylor Run!"

Cautiously, Millard made his way down dark hallway, attempting to remember the way Stormtroopes had let him years ago to see Lord Vader.

Low red lights gave a dim, reddish glow to the long hallway. Black doors, with glistening silvery designs on the frames, lined the hallway. An elevator stood at the end of the hallway, its doors closed.

The air was warmer.. his mind noted, as he walked through the halls.

Deciding on the action he should take Millard pressed down on the button of his black saber , waiting for the red-blue light to take form.

Nothing happened.

It was then he heard the cackling...a dark, low laugh echoing through the halls of the Castle. Cloaking himself in darkness...Millard ran.

Down several hallways, hoping to find a door which would lead to the main audience chamber.

The Hobgoblin must have done something to my lightsaber. The crystals appear to be shattered. Glad I brought a spare.

Millard took the now-dead clone, Luuke Skywalker's saber, from his backpack allowing it's blue glow to light the way.

This hallway looks good enough.

He thrust his lightsaber up, cutting a hole in the ceiling. It would take quickness and skill, but if Millard could cut fast enough, he could block the Hobgoblin's way.

And possibly find a way to talk to The Black Hand in chamber.

He kept cutting, finally seeing the rubble fall to the ground blocking himself from the path he had come from.

[Evil Hobgoblin]

(ooc) Okay, getting back into the swing of things here.

Taylor: Is there anything special or unusual about that lightsaber that you know of? Because otherwise, the energy from the blade would be drained by the dark tendril. Normally it wouldn't matter, but since you make use of the lightsaber later in the post this is a relevant detail. There is a fight or two in which the Dark Side Web drained a lightsaber's energy. I can provide a link for you, if you'd like.

[Admiral Taylor Millard]

You want me to change that? i didn't know that information about the Dark Side tenticle. Umm...unless Millard got something from Obi Wan Kenobi's dwelling...or...Millard has Luuke Skywalker's lightsaber...he could use that.

Either way...I'll edit it. Thanks for the correction.

[Evil Hobgoblin]

Hob stared at Millard's departing form from where he'd landed. The Dark Side Web had never reacted that way to a source of energy before. Refining the process further appeared to be necessary.

Hob dragged himself to his feet, steadied himself with a headshake, then bounded off after Millard's Force presence. He knew the castle like no one could.

######

Millard's lightsaber brought down another load of rubble into the hallway he'd come from. The Imperial had done an excellent job of blocking the path.

"Truly, they do teach ye a few bits an' pieces at those army schools, don't they?"

Millard spun around, only to find himself thrown into the hallblock he'd so carefully made.

Hob stood before him, his extended hand surrounded by a craackling blue aura. "Did they also forget to mention," Hob chuckled. "That ye should ne'er watch yer back so much ye lose sight o' what's before ye?"

The arcs of blue electricity around Hob's hand picked up in speed and frequency. At the tips of Hob's fingers, electricity began to pool. The air molecules chain reacted in response, and a jet of flame shot from the hand, threatening to torch Millard inside his neatly neatly-pressed Imperial uniform.

[Admiral Taylor Millard]

Millard watched the flames shoot from the hand of Hobgoblin. He ducked beneath it, crouching beneath the hot blast.

Nowhere to go, is this the end? fear began to rise in the older man's thoughts. But then something shook him, as if he could hear both of his teachers and mentors, Seth Darkserpent and Grand Admiral Thrawn, saying

"Don't give up. There is still a chance for defeat. Use your mind, not just your power. Defeat him!"

The black-clad man then felt it, whistling against his ear. A soft breeze. Air was getting through the rubble somehow, he mused, Time to use to towards his advantage.

He grabbed the whisp of wind, and fed the Force into it, giving it strenght. It tempered the fire, throwing it back towards the dwarf.

Yelling Millard charged the short Dark Jedi. As the flames began burning his tunic, Taylor glowered.

"It is called watching my 'six', Dark Jedi. ANd yes, I should have done that.

"But, I can also do this!"

With all his might, using the Force and part of his anger and determination to fuel it, Millard swung his right foot up. He caught Hobgoblin right in the groin and, with some satisfaction, saw the Dark Jedi fly into the bricked ceiling, then smash the ground.

Tapping into the Force again, Millard ran through the interior of the castle. The walls were still dark and dank, but Millard began to recognize a bit of the structure.

Vader's chambers...turn right here...then left....got it!

His hands tightened on the door in front of him. Millard pulled the door, seeing if it would open...

OOC: Okay sorry Brian, that was a semi-inside joke. I'll tell you the full story on AIM. Or you can ask Jes. He knows as well, I think. It deals with a confrontation between a midget and I outside of a restaraunt. The former was drunk and cut my leg (I still have the scar). So I punted him. I reared back with my leg and punted him. He hit a car, then collapsed. YEs he's still alive, but it's a screwy situation to be in for sure. ic:/