Saga Vader's Henchmen

I have been away from the Forums for quite some time now, but now I am back with a bang. This novel is an account of all of Lord Vader's Dark Side Henchmen. Most do not know of the many many servants Vader actually had. I will list the names. Watch for their individual tales, joint stories and tales with popular EU and Classic Characters.

LIST

DARTH RANTON: Deon O'Dander, known as Vader's Fist. Vader's hitman and personal assistant. Parallel to Mara Jade and the Emperor. Secretly named a Sith by Vader. VERY DISLIKED by Palpatine.

HETHRIR: An apprentice of Vader. A politician with a strong following. Vader uses him to hunt Jedi and find Force adepts. Gave up love for more power. Also infamous for his torture methods.

JEREC: Former Jedi in the Old Order. Blindness resigned him to finding lost relics in the order. Now a Dark Jedi, Jerec has heightened senses and a seedy will to dominate and usurp all power in the Empire. Trusted by none, feared by many.

KADANN: Dark Side prophet. Scoffed at by many of Imperials, but Palpatine keeps him close. Ranton seeks his life, but Vader finds uses for him...

SEDRISS: Executor for the Emperor. Under Vader's direct authority. Often travels with Hethrir, seeking out lost Jedi to execute. Very conspicuous.

DEVASR: A very powerful and aggressive outcast from the Jedi Order. Used as a dispensable assassin for Palpatine. Rival of Ranton. Hethrir secretly congregates with him.

Ok, the first tale will be.

THE HUNT

featuring Hethrir, Sedriss and Devasr.

Please read and feedback. Any insight is welcome.

 

Wow, sounds interesting!

 

THE HUNTED

The planet seemed so small.

To Hethrir, all planets seemed small.

Hethrir swept across his chamber. Yes, the pathetic nature of the planet Dathomir troubled him. Here were these immensely powerful witches of the darkside, totally oblivious to the potential within the depths of their hearts. They ignored the affinity to learn, clinging to the ridiculously traditional teachings of their forebearers.

The Nightsisters were fools.

Hethrir spared one final glance around the chamber before he went out into the blackness of the Dathomir night. A phalanax of stormtroopers awaited him as he made his way to the landing pad. Stopping before he reached the pad itself, the dark jedi sighed and looked up to the skies above. Sedriss would arrive soon. Soon, he would be rid of this rock. Rid of babysitting for the Emperor, watching over a group of invalids with only a will of stupidity.

Hethrir knew not why the Emperor cared so much that Gethzerion did not leave the planet. However, what Hethrir knew was of no account. His duty was to obey.

A noisy hiss cut through the air as the shuttle began its final approach. Hethrir turned to Commander Gridin, his second in command.

" Send all the ships back into orbit and strengthen the perimeter shield to maximum power, Commander. Once I leave, nobody leaves. Understood?"

" Yes, Lord Hethrir." the Commander replied with a nod.

" Good. "

As the shuttle shuddered to a stop and the hatch opened, Hethrir stepped forward as the Executor walked down the landing ramp.

" Hethrir."

" Executor Sedriss."

Both men nodded shortly, saving them both from the tediousness of pleasantries. One of the things that made the Lord Darth Vader so effective was his affinity to speak directly and pointedly. Vader did not waste time on being polite or formal. Neither did his disciples.

" The Emperor demands that we meet with him." Sedriss spoke coldly.

" Him? You speak of Vader's Fist."

" Ranton."

" Yes."

Hethrir smirked," Reasons?"

" Unknown. Apparently he knows something our master does not."

" What is the subject at hand?"

Sedriss sneered," Employing of the Assassin."

" Jade?"

" No."

Hethrir paused. Mara Jade was usually the Emperor's weapon of choice. However, it made sense that Ranton would not speak of her, taking into account their last encounter.

" You mean his death man?"

" Yes," Sedriss replied," He has disappeared. Lord Ranton is the holder of his location. We are to collect the assassin and bring him to the Emperor."

" Then why talk to Ranton. I dispise him. The Emperor knows his location I am certain."

" I despise Ranton as much as you do. But we well know that even the Emperor dares not take his life. The Emperor may think us able to spot treason in him because of this situation. Vader thinks very highly of him, however. He will protect him. We must tread over these waters with care."

Hethrir nodded sharply," What is Ranton's location?"

Sedriss handed Hethrir a data pad with the Emperor's Seal upon it.

" That is the Emperor's message. It contains all the information needed for this stage of the mission. You may read it as we travel through hyperspace."

" Good."

" We must leave now."

The two dark Jedi entered the shuttle and disappeared into the void of space.

 

The time period for all of these works ranges from A New Hope to Return of the Jedi. Hence it is in the saga forum. However, this particular work takes place directly after the destruction of the 1st Death Star.

 

The man stood in the shadows.

The port around him was lit with buisiness and outgoings, everyone in it focused solely on their task at hand. They payed no regard to anything besides what they were set out to do, which was what they were doing.

Weak pathetic fools.

The man stood in the shadows. Even if they were looking, they could not see him. Not that they were looking, for they were not.
He waited their, standing alone in silence, stalking his unknowing prey.

His prey was named Rahn, and he would kill him today.

It is not as though this man thought himself to be invincible. Even his master was not invincible. However, the man knew his capabilities. He knew his strengths. He knew his weaknesses.

He has no weakness.

He has only rage.

The old Jedi, disguised as a mere informant to a honest service agency, suddenly slipped into the masses. He had sensed his presence.

He would catch the Jedi.

The man slowly slunk out of the darkness and into the light. The man was clothed in a brown flight suit, much like anyone elses in the spaceport, so to be inconspicuous. He did not need nosey suspicion tonight.

The man cocked his head up to catch a final glimpse of the Jedi right before he disappeared into the night. Then, silence within the force. The Jedi had escaped his grasp.

The man cursed in his mind and shrugged. No matter. The Jedi may be exceedingly good at masking his presence within the force, but now the man had seen his face. He could identify that face anywhere now, for he had burned the image into his brain as information is saved into a database.

The man turned around sharply, only to run into the chest of a very large man...

 

" Watch where you're going, nerfherder!" the large man exclaimed.

Devasr, the shadow man, looked up at his face and smirked. Devasr was not a small man by any means, but compared to the man before him, who was obviously on some sort of illegal steroid, he was puny in stature.

" What are you smiling at, little man?! Wipe that smirk off your ugly little face before I make it even uglier. I could crush you where you stand!"

" Oh? Crush me you say? You mean to crush me?" Devasr's eyes thinned as he smiled darkly. " If by crush you mean the grinding of my bones into engine grease or the eradicating of my brain to indecipherable mush? Do you mean crush like the closing of a windpipe or the snapping of a finger?"

The man's eyes began to widen as he let oyut a gasp. His hands flew to his throat as the veins in his forhead began to sprout out. His shade darkened to a pink, then a red, then a ghostly white. The man tried to scream, but his windpipe was completely crushed. He could only weep and suffer as the bones of his body began to splinter. Te veins in his head burst, causing the blood under his skin to flow.

Devasr chuckled as he tossed his limp for aside with telekenesis.

" Fool. Crush me, will you?" Devasr added with distaste as he swept away. His cover was blown and people in the Space Port began to react in horror to the occurance. Soon, security would be upon him.

He knew they couldn't catch him, but he still did not want to risk it. Using a force concealing technique, Devasr vanished into the night just as the security team arrived.

 

Interesting. Good grasp of the characters and interplay so far. I had a distinct dislike for Hethrir before, but I'm starting to get intrigued.

 

That was sweet!

More!

 

>>Lord Hethrir, we are preparing to drop out of hyperspace. We will dock with the SD DARKTIDE as soon as possible<<

" Thank you, Captain. Carry on. Notify us when we are docked."

Hethrir sat up from his cot. He glanced over his shoulder and focused his eyes upon his weapons locker. Pausing, he thought about his impending encounter with the Dark Lord Ranton. The man was volatile, to be certain. He was also famous for 'testing' those who came in searc for information that he possesed...

Hethrir got up and opened the locker, choosing the lightsaber that could only be force-activated. Looking at it intently, wearing a look of worry, he fastened it to his belt underneath his white robes. He knew he would probably need it if he was to survive this meeting.

Hethrir stopped as he made hsi way to the door of his room. Looking at his belt one more time, just making sure the saber was there, Hethrir comlinked to Sedriss.

" I am ready, Executor."

" As am I. You are ready for this?"

The door opened and Hethrir stalked out.

" I am always ready."

********************************************

Rahn was frightened.

Sure, fear was not of the Jedi. But he could not deny it's existance. Using a Jedi calming technique, he smothered it and channeled his energy into his meditation.

For many years now, the Emperor had sought after him. Qu Rahn was skilled at avoiding the hunters, but this one, Devasr, was of a different breed entirely.

Vader had come for him, but had left him to die, not knowing he would escape and live. Ranton had come for him once, but Rahn ran and escaped. Hethrir came, but Rahn had been able to fight him off with help. Finally, Jerec had tried to locate him, but Rahn was clever enough to avoid him

But this Devasr, he was a mindless killer.

Vader and Ranton deemed themselves too important and too powerful to waste their energies to find him, so they didn't seek him so relentlessly as the others. Hethrir was dignified, but not powerful enough to kill Jedi outright. Jerec had other responcibilities, so he could not devote everything to finding him.

Devasr was bred for one purpose. Death. Devasr would do anything to kill Rahn, and he knew it. Rahn had to get out of this place.

Rahn could sense him close. He could sense his power. He was immensely powerful, though very untrained. it looked to be that the Emperor did not waste time on specifics, but he only trained him with enough knowledge to kill.

Rahn knew it was time to leave.

Rahn picked up his things and made his way back to the Space Port.

 

They lurched to a halt. Sedriss cleared his throat and held his head high. It was show time. He looked at Hethrir, who was fidgeting in nervousness.

Weak minded fool. Sedriss could understand that Darth Ranton was powerful and rather crazy, but Sedriss disliked him and Hethrir as well. Sedriss planned to do them both in...He tolerated these weak ones long enough. He would kill Hthrir, ally himself with Ranton, then kill him once Lord Vader approved of the Executor as he did Ranton.

Hethrir risked a sidelong glance at the executor, who was clad in a back fighting suit, brandishing his saber in the open. What a pompous and arrogant idiot. He would get himself killed by Lord Ranton this day...then Hethrir would take the young Lord by surprise. Then HE would inheret the power that Vader gave to his Fist.

Together, thet walked down the ramp into the ranks of the stormtroopers that would escort them to Ranton's War Room. Typical of Ranton to not greet them in person. Another display of his lack of respect for his fellow Dark Siders.

He would pay for his lack of vision.

The two Dark Jedi exchanged looks as they were brought to the Lord Ranton....

 

Ranton smiled darkly as he sat in his chair. The room was dimly lit, void of any decorative touches. He did not stand as the two Dark Jedi entered the room and bowed to him. He failed to acknowledge them entirely.

He could feel the hate venting from them now.

" Thank you Commander. You may leave us."

The Commander nodded sharply and left without question or word.

Lord Ranton continued to stare at them, glaring with his real and his false eye. His left eye was a red colored glass eye, a result of an encounter with a Jedi. The Jedi was Obi-Wan Kenobi, his Master's former Master.

Ranton's eyes were fixed on the two traitors before him, both with malicious intentions this day.

Executor Sedriss bowed very low, in an almost mocking display of dramatics. " Lord Ranton, we come before you on a mission for his excellency the Emperor-"

Ranton silenced him with the raising of a gloved hand. Ranton stood up, crossing his arms behind his back. He was taller than Hethrir ever remembered him to be, and much more imposing.

It was no wonder Vader employed him so. The Darkside was in him through and through. This would not be easy.

Ranton sighed heavily," Hethrir. Sedriss. Why have you come here?"

Executor growled," As I SAID-"

" As you lied," Ranton cut in," You would be here even if Palpatine did not order you to. I think I know why, too."

" Careful, LORD Ranton. You are speaking of the Emperor here, not some regional governor of a backwater system." Hethrir interceded.

Ranton slowly turned his head in Hethrir's direction," Perhaps you need a reminder of whom YOU are addressing, Hethrir. I am quite aware of the nature of your mission. However, Devasr will not come along with you. He is on a mission. Aside from that fact, you have come to battle me."

" Kill you." Sedriss said with a smile.

Ranton only smiled back," Do you really believe you are capable? Do you really believe that I would not destroy you both?"

" Why do you care where Devasr is, Ranton?" Hethrir asked, eager to change the nature of the encounter. " I thought you hated him."

" I hate you too, Hethrir!" Ranton piped with a sneer," I gave Devasr information because he inquired for it. Frankly, although he is my rival, the destruction of the Jedi Order takes precident over vendetta. As for you, I am prepared for you in the most extreme way...."

Hethrir and Sedriss both gasped as Ranton gestured to the door way. They heard the breathing. They heard that sinister breathing, felt that evil presence that was rivaled by none. There, in the door way stood the most feared man in the galaxy.

There stood Darth Vader.

 

I like this -- it's a good premise and the plot is intriguing. Keep going.

 

Darth Vader was amused.

Sedriss should know better than to try anythibg with Ranton. No doubt Ranton would squash him like a bug. Bringing Hethrir would be wise except that Hethrir's will to dominate was somewhat tainted by lost love. This was something Vader loathed, and because of it, he would never truely accept of respect Hethrir fully.

Now, how should he word this.

" Executor. Your intentions are foolish. You should be glad to know that I will allow no violence here, lest you be left without a head on your shoulders." Vader bellowed as he strode towards Sedriss in an impressively threatening way.

" Forgive me, Lord Vader." He managed, quickly dropping to one knee. " I only meant-"

" Your meanings mean nothing to me, Executor, nor do your attempts at insubordination. For now, that is not why I am here. I am here to give you further instruction from the Emperor."

Hethrir shot a confused glare in Sedriss' direction. WHY IN THE WORLD did they meet with Ranton if they could have met with Vader? It did not make any sense.

Unless....

" My Lord, we will obey. What is thy bidding?" Sedriss said, still looking at the floor.

" You must go to the planet Adumar. There you shall find the assassin. The Emperor orders you to take his life, then contact him only when the deed is done." Ranton answered.

" Yes," Vader added. " Also, kill the Jedi he hunts as well."

" Jedi?" Hethrir asked.

" Yes. Qu Rahn, an aging Jedi refugee. Kill him and then kill the assassin. Again, contact nobody until you have succeeded. If you fail, you will not live to regret it."

" Yes my Lord, as you desire."

" Go."

Hethrir immediately left the chamber, but Sedriss took enough time to look maliciously at Ranton. Ranton only nodded once with a smile, resting his hand on the saber at his belt.

With a scowl, the Executor stalked away to their shuttle.

Vader turned to his Fist," They came to kill you. The Emperor knew I held the location, not you."

" No, my Master. The Emperor gave me the information earlier this day. He told me that they would come. I only sensed their intent when they arrived. How did you know to come?"

" The Emperor let on that you had been in contact with him. I found that disturbing given your circumstances. The Emperor seems to have thought this a good chance to take your life, my Apprentice."

Ranton smirked," Yet another failure. So he set me up? I doubt even Hethrir or Sedriss meant what he wanted them too."

" No," Vader replied," They are his puppets. But any puppet with the right man at the strings dances quite wonderfully."

" Yes Master."

" Follow them. Kill them and report back to me. Take the assassin alive. Kill Rahn as well."

" Yes, my Master."

Vader left.