When You Give a Man Power
Chapter 11

Ikarom halts in his tracks, feeling Sanjun’s final moments as his heart aches at the loss of a friend and fellow Jedi. His resolve holds firm as he refuses to let Sanju or Kira’s deaths be in vain. As much as he would prefer to not do this he cannot let them get their hands on the crystal. He would sooner destroy it than let it fall into the Darksider's hands.

Striding forth he stops and ignites both blades as he bursts forth in a shocking display of speed cutting a large swath through the fearless men. They are far faster than before and their blaster shots are far more accurate but it makes no difference to Ikarom with the force aiding him he cuts them down as they continue to pour in slowing him down.

Several even attempt to fire rockets to stop his advance but he cuts them down with blinding speed or pulls the weapons from their hands with the force before they can open fire. Feeling the same darkness that had started all of this and taken Sanjuns life, Ikarom looks over and sees the form of the one who had caused all of this death and destruction.

Narrowing his eyes before they widen minutely at the creature's form he now sees it far better in the light of the crystals illuminating the cave. It looks like something that could only be from a nightmare. Easily twice his size, large wings belonging to something that would prowl the darkest nights with fangs adorning its maw with claws along its feet and hands as it almost seems to blend in unnaturally with the shadows.

“This could have been avoided if you had surrendered.” It says in a dreadful voice that makes Ikaroms hands shake before the crystal it desires calms him. With how close they are to it its effect is that much stronger. 

It speaks like it could read his mind. Wary his lightsabers are held at the ready preparing himself for whatever the creature had done to Sanjun since he felt something ripple across the force before he died but it wasn’t the force. “Don’t lay blame upon us. You were the one who came here and killed my fellow Jedi and the security forces of the Republic. All this blood is on your hands!” 

The creature with its forces standing behind it reacts beyond what Ikarom was expecting. It laughs. A deep chuckle that sounds like a rock bouncing off of walls as it plummets into dark depths unknown. Ikaroms grip on the sabers in his hands tightens.

“How convenient you forget I could have attacked you all without having said a single word. You refused to surrender and I even told you that I was after but one special crystal in this cave. Once I had it I would have left you all alone and unharmed. Think what you want in the end for it does not matter any longer, it is time we end this.”

Ikaroms thoughts on the lies coming from the creature about letting them live come to a screeching stop as the force shouts at him making him bring his blades up to the lightning erupting from its hands. Slowly he is pushed back as his feet dig trenches in the dirt.

Gritting his teeth before a calmness comes to him through the force as his wariness and stress fade away. Peace claims him, raising his eyes at the creature. A calm serene expression replaces the tiredness and sadness as he takes one of the blades using only one to block the lightning, letting it push him further back as bolts are deflected back at his attackers.

A few were directed at the greatest threat. Each avoided with ease as it moved out of the way so quickly it was almost missed by Ikaroms eyes but the lightning had stopped. Near the part of the cave where the crystal lay, he turns and runs faster than he ever has before in his life the force imbues him with strength and stamina enough to deny this enemy what it desires. 

But as he nears he stops in his tracks seeing a large form land in front of him blocking off his goal. The sounds of blasters ready to fire behind him but he only watches the creature. With how close they are he can feel the unsettling feeling of the darkness that emanates from it. Like a black oil filled with sorrow, anger, and an unfathomable darkness beyond comprehension with so many emotions. None of them are good.

If it wasn’t for the force and the crystal aiding and calming him he would feel ill. And despite its similarities to the feeling the dark side has when it tries to draw one into its poisonous embrace it is different. Alien and utterly foreign. All the more reason to fight and attempt to end this evil before it has a chance to take root and grow into something that would threaten the Republic and the Jedi.

Ikarom faces a likely death but he doesn’t falter. As the blasters open fire, he turns into a whirlwind. Cutting down the creature's subordinates while the creature watches. What is he-

Ikarom watches in horror as one of the figures whose arm he had just cut pulls a pin off of something. Ikarom, with the force guiding him, pushes the figure into their allies, killing most of them while knocking the others over. The cave after that explosion begins falling apart above his enemies and himself. 

Rushing away from the falling rocks but he is stopped as a wall of fire forms burning his hand as pain erupts along it and his arm. Pulling his arm back, dropping the lightsaber in that hand as he glances over at the monster smiling at him. With wide eyes, he looks up and sees a tide of rock and dirt plummet down. 
…

Walking up and grabbing one of the two lightsabers this Jedi had as the other was buried beneath the rubble. That went about as well as I had expected. A large amount of my forces were massacred. They put up a good fight but the Jedi using their environment and the force were just too much for them. Open ground where they could surround them they would win.

Closed off narrow spaces where they need to pursue the Jedi and the Jedi can wait and harass them in a maze? They don’t have much of a chance. That’s why I used clairvoyance in this instance to help guide them to eliminate them. The spell is entirely different from how it works in the games.

If I was to compare it to anything it works similarly to Captain Jack Sparrow's compass. It shows you the path needed to get to what you want most. It’s how I found Jugo in the first place. Same with pinpointing where the Jedi were and moving my men around accordingly. The problem with it is if I am indecisive it shows a path to anywhere and everywhere. Crystal clear focus on what you want is absolutely necessary otherwise it is useless.

With how important this all was it worked just fine now but without something serious like the Jedi forcing it to work is not something that should be counted on. Glancing over to the part of the cave that Jedi was heading for and saw my prize. A calmness I had felt the instant I had entered the caves could be felt and it is even stronger as I walk closer to it.

A pale blue almost white crystal glows in a corner looking serene. Almost a shame at what I am about to do. Breaking it out of the rock and head back out with what is left of my forces as I heft a small sack of crystals I grabbed on the way out. As much as my inner loot goblin wants to take everything I can’t take the chance.

I don’t know how soon any reinforcements will show up or if the man who made it to the ship managed to get a call out for help. Not taking a big risk like that we head back to the ship scavenging what we could on the way out. With the all clear the ship lands kicking up dirt as we enter into it loading all the speeders onto it.

With one final glance, I see the smoking ruins of the cave as the bay door seals shut and we leave the planet. Walking further into my secluded corner of the bay with some free space I began what I had planned to do once that crystal was in my possession. Taking the Black Star as it is placed near the pontite crystal.

Focusing on the enchantment I want and need to imbue feeling the souls trapped within the Black Star. I could have soul-trapped the Jedi and their men but I chose not to. They had done nothing to deserve that compared to the others. And for all that I dislike them and what their order currently is doing, they are still the good guys.

Despite their mistakes that led to the Separatist movement, they were trying to do what they thought was the right thing. Taking the black crystal in one hand and the pale blue pontite in the other I focus and lock onto the enchantment. Bringing the Black Star to the pontite crystal as the formers form cracks and splinters with a purple and black stream of energy surrounding the kyber crystal in my hand.

Like the force between two magnets of the same polarity, the energy for the enchantment is being pushed back as a bubble forms around the crystal. Grunting in annoyance I channel my own magicka into the mix as the bubble begins to steadily shrink as the howl of wind surrounds me in the ship sounding like the wails of the dead and damned.

Narrowing my eyes, pushing more and more as the resistance slowly recedes as the crystal is seemingly fighting the process. Refusing to let this happen and waste the Black Star I push even harder as my magicka mixes with the Star's energy. The Star by this point has cracks all along it both inside and out.

Breaking through the crystal's defenses as the souls and energy intermingle within the crystal pouring into it as its once pale blue fades and its core changes to a black that I find it hard to look away as light seems drawn into it. A purple border along the edges of the crystal forms overcoming and tainting the previous blue.

As the energy is sucked into it I stare wide-eyed watching the change before my eyes. With the last drop sucked in, a blast bursts forth from the crystal. I didn’t even have time to react as it sent me falling onto my back. 

A wave of energy explodes out of the crystal sending energy everywhere as the ship rocks back and forth with the groan of metal like a great beast from the ocean making its displeasure known. 

But what I failed to hear beyond the rushing of the energy sounding like a gust of wind was what sounded almost like an echo of a scream into the void of space sending ripples everywhere.
…

“Use the force young ones, it will guide you.” Yoda said aloud, speaking to the group of younglings using their training sabers against the training remote droids as their small ball-shaped forms darted back and forth in the air blasting out an occasional sting blaster.

One such child, a human, was struggling as he continued to get stung by the droid. Young Kalrus was a willful child who struggled to learn like the others. “Frustrated you are Kalrus, rest and meditate you should.” 

The youngling stopped with his saber deactivating it and taking off the helmet blinding him as he gave a curt nod to Yoda. A grimace on his face as he left the room. Yoda looked over the rest of the younglings seeing them each try their best to feel and use the force.

A small smile graces his face as he looks over yet another generation of their order enjoying the peace so painfully earned from the distant past. Before Yoda knew what had happened the younglings had dropped their training sabers, the familiar hiss of them deactivating.

They are all on the ground screaming as the few whose faces could be seen without their helmets have tears streaming down their faces. Yoda himself felt the ache in his heart. A scream across the force echoed out as he felt the pain and agony it was subjected to. 

The pain nearly brought Yoda to his knees as he battled to remain standing, hand placed against the wall to help keep him balanced. “Master Yoda! What was that?” Yoda looks behind him to see Ki Adi Mundi asking what just happened. 

Mundi looked far worse than Yoda as he looked unnerved by what they had just experienced. “Find what did this we must.”

…

Palpatine sat along with the numerous other Senators across the Senate gathering as he listened in on the current happenings across the Republic. Whether they be major or minor events all will prove useful as a means to help the Sith and most notably himself rise to power.

His efforts alongside his master are bearing fruit as the days go on. Corruption spreads as they take advantage of the growing dissent amongst the core and outer rim. The core worlds do not care in the slightest what happens to the outer rims so long as they get the resources and supplies shipped from them.

And the outer rims resentment and anger grows further and further as he feels the dark side swell from it all. They just need to wait a little longer… Palpatine paused. He felt… pain. A pain so great that it nearly brought tears to his eyes at how beautiful it was.

Something had been subjected to an agony beyond comprehension. Palpatine was stupefied about what had caused this. It was something to behold and not just anything could cause a ripple like this across the force. Making sure the mask of Shiev Palpatine remained uncracked as he continued with the meeting. 

Palpatine would find out who was responsible. If they are of use or something can be gained it doesn’t matter whether or not they join him. He would have what he desires no matter what. Regardless he had something to look forward to.

…

Rising off the metal floor I look befuddled at what the hell just happened. Quickly scooped the crystal up, feeling it cold to the touch but not bothering me in the slightest. But I take note of how the calmness even I could feel despite not being force-sensitive had changed.

Where before it was tranquil and calming. Now however it is a spine-chilling cold like death itself has a grip on your spine. An unnerving cold that felt like death was near and fear gripped one’s heart. An unnerving feeling. A smirk forms on my face at gaining an unintentional change to the crystal that may be beneficial. 

Now to find out if that theory proved to be true. If it doesn’t it won’t be a complete waste. The ship entered hyperspace after checking and making sure nothing was damaged and beyond some superficial damage like the metal in the cargo bay was warped and bent the internals and anything crucial was fine.

Before long after resting and making sure the crystal was tucked away safely on my person we made it back to Nar Shaddaa but not before I cloaked the ship once more as it landed near the lower levels with no one knowing.

Reverting into my elven form feeling a sense of loss as the raw power that I had before is now a shadow of what it was. Like restricting myself in chains and shackles. But I don’t want the trouble roaming around in that form will bring me if it’s ever connected to me.

Tucking the ship away in the secluded area as it remains hidden my forces go back to the hideaway and I head back to an apartment using it as a new place to live while continuing with my experiments and creation of weapons and equipment. Barely anyone stays or lives here since it’s in one of the lower levels making it more dangerous than compared to the higher levels and many of the criminals that live around here learned rather quickly why it’s a bad idea to mess with me.

Having kept the crystal on my person and sneaked around back to my apartment as I continued to push my limits and noted how no one was capable of spotting me just yet compared to when I first got here. Thankfully that feeling of impending death had disappeared after several of the people on the streets quickly retreated looking like a ghost just walked all over their graves despite not knowing I was there. 

I had thought to myself that this needed to stop or otherwise people would take notice whenever that happens. When thinking of a spell that I could make to at least hide it or seal it off the feeling faded away. An odd occurrence that I did not fail to notice. 

Swishing the potion contents back and forth as I look at all the vials and containers with the potions spread about on the counter top I place them within a metal crate sat beside three more. 

An idea formed inside of my head at something I could do to beef up my men sometime down the line. But for now, it’s time to get started on the prototype for the spell I will be using soon. It’s coming along nicely but still some things to work on till it is the finished product.

The issue I am running into is crossing over into using Conjuration which I am learning more and more about souls. 

Conjuration is not just using Daedra from Oblivion either to summon and fight for you or turn into a weapon. It is using the souls of things for various purposes and utilizing that to make use of the dead. 

Since I can’t summon a Daedra— tried to get myself a flame atronach to have something nice to look at while working and nothing happened when the spell was used— then I have to settle for building an undead army to make use of for the future conflicts that this galaxy will be faced with.

Why I can’t summon a Daedra I do not know. I have some theories that could might explain it. The most prominent one that I have gone with is that this is not a game based power. Unlike Skyrim I am not limited to the game mechanics. Meaning if I had gotten dragon shouts I could spam them… I want to kick my past self’s ass for not continuing the main quest line.

So it goes deeper into the lore of Elder Scrolls. When using the spells to summon Daedra you are not making them out of thin air. You are pulling them from wherever they currently are in the many realms in Oblivion. Crossing dimensions. But the theory I settled on explaining why I can’t summon a thing is because there is no Oblivion here to reach out to. 

Either it just doesn’t exist — I doubt this since I can do everything else with my magicka and then some plus my magicka regenerates without needing the giant gaping hole in space that is Nirns sun and the source of all magic but also the bane of all vampires— or it is blocked off and cannot be accessed or reached out to. How it is being blocked I don’t know. 

Nor do I fully care at the end of the day because I rather deal with the things I know are coming rather than have Sheogorath randomly crap out some abomination to terrorize the locals or have Molag Bal breathing down my neck like the booty warrior.

But ignoring the sadness in my heart if missing out on glorious dancing flame women, the idea for my army is to create not necessarily a soul but a modified mock soul which is what happens with the undead I have raised so far. 

But I need more than just a normal mock soul. I need forces that can think for themselves whilst being completely and utterly loyal to me. Hence crossing over into the Illusion branch of magic. The problem I can’t seem to figure out is how to create the capacity to think for themselves so they can learn as good if not better than normal people. 

For them to have emotions so they can better blend in if I need them to gather information or sneak around in plain sight. The problem is the illusion spells from the game do not have anything to do with that… but therein lies my folly. I had so foolishly believed before using the key that I am limited to what was in Skyrim. 

Before and after using the key I have been holding myself back still despite trying to create new spells but the problem lies in my thinking being limited to the games. I mean sure it won’t mean I can all of a sudden summon a flame atronach since there is no Oblivion here to summon them but it doesn’t mean I can’t start adjusting things for Illusion. 

Illusions are just as much about the mind as it is about hallucinations. With me spiraling down that rabbit hole and combing my mind for different ideas on what to add or take away from the spell as its form in my mind is drastically different from what was originally formed to what it is now.

Like comparing an old-school early 1900’s automobile to a modern-day Dodge Charger. The prototype was still decent but when compared to what I have now it may as well be a hunk of dog crap found on a random dirt road.

The manic grin on my face shows the excitement within me as I feel genuine happiness at finally getting some headway made on making my forces mirror the image of what I want them to be. 

If it manages to make my boys and girls stronger than they were before then it's not a wasted resource in doing so. Even if the spell will take almost all my magicka just to do it if the Destruction spells are any indication then it will become more efficient for me as time goes on. Like exercising a new limb. Plus I need to do something to make up for the fact I lost a lot of my forces from just two Jedi. 

So even if I may not have the quantity I had prior then I can at least ensure they are of good quality. Having some special forces at my disposal will prove handy when someone needs to disappear and making money off of anyone looking to hire them while keeping an eye on them for me.

Thinking back on the battle with the Jedi and what happened to my soldiers. It’s why I made sure to not engage them in close quarters and the closest I got was when the Jedi was heading for the crystal I was after. Probably to destroy it and deny me my prize. So I quickly blocked off the route by placing myself in between it and the Jedi. It was risky but I would have been fast enough to react to whatever he tried to do thanks to both my increase in every category possible in that form but also the distance between me and the Jedi.

The Twi’lek put up a far greater fight than the humans did. No question on that but to be fair to the human he also was younger than the Twi’lek. So it’s safe to say the older of the two Jedi was by far the greater threat and like anyone who has played an RPG of some kind knows to take care of the mobs before going after the big boss. 

So I worked with my Korp and eliminated the weaker of the two before they could join back up together. Then using the Korp to wear the two down even if it’s negligible every little bit is going to help in killing them. I still smirk picturing the look on the last one's face and how he tried to condemn me when he and his group could have just surrendered and they would all still be alive. Yes, I killed them but I gave them a way out. 

They refused so by that point the deaths were more on themselves than it was on me. I don’t shrug off the responsibility of killing them by no means but I will not take the brunt of the blame. 

Rising as I get to work on the next project that I had been saving for last. As I always liked to do with anything that I was really looking forward to I saved it for last. Like spaghettios! I always ate the noodles first then the meatballs. After all, the meatballs are the best part.

Taking out the form of one of sci-fi’s most iconic weapons of any space opera. The ever iconic lightsaber albeit one that I had taken from the Jedi. Placing the cylinder on the counter and after some time getting familiar with the weapon I popped out the blue kyber crystal within it and took my own putting it in. 

Even with my intelligence and dexterity increased to absurd levels it took me longer than I would like to admit to line the crystal up properly within the lightsaber. A sigh escaped me as I looked appreciatively at my new favorite item. 

Even if I am not going to use this against a Jedi since you know dismemberment and instant death to extreme heat and fire I still want this. It’s a lightsaber. My lightsaber. 

Rounding up a few of the Korp members that I had around the area in a safehouse we headed out while invisible to the place we were heading to. Walking ahead and seeing our destination. A large building with holographic signs with trash and graffiti all over it.

I walk up wearing a black mask along with a cloak with a mix of clothes hiding my identity. I casually walk up to the three guards from a gang with a bounty on some of their members' heads. I chose them simply because there are not many people around this area to see what is about to happen and I could make some money out of it.

“What in the kriffing hell do you think-” The dirt-smeared Zabrak doesn’t say anything further as I draw and ignite the lightsaber its hum fills the air. The blade's core is pitch black, looking like it’s sucking in all the ambient light and the outer edge is a deep purple. The feeling in the air has changed. That feeling has returned. One guard draws their weapon staring wide-eyed along the others as their hands shake, staring at me in shock.

I can hear their heartbeats beating so fast it could have been confused for a machine gun. Their breathing hitches and becomes erratic with some of them borderline hyperventilating.

Before any of them can do anything in the blink of an eye the Zabrak has two burned holes in his chest. One for both of his hearts pierced by the blade. Before the Zabrak's body had hit the ground the other two were cut in half at the waist. Walking past their bodies as they fall to the ground with a faint purple-colored wind that rises out of their mouths and eyes and is sucked into my lightsaber. 

A vicious smile forms as I feel giddy at what this means. I step up to the door and cut my way through it before slaughtering all of the gangsters. They don’t even attempt to fight me, merely trying and failing to run for their lives. I don’t fail to notice the feelings of unease had gotten stronger with the souls being devoured by my weapon. Interesting.

Not long after the bodies are set up in a newly cleared out building. The members with no bounty will be a part of the test. Heading down into the building's basement I get to work. The bodies arrayed before me on the floor hands over their chests as they stare up at the ceiling. With a mere thought the spell forms in my hand an odd mix of yellow green and purple swirls to life.

With a raised hand I cast the spell as it hits the Zabraks body. The yellow-green travels and amasses in his head as the purple spreads out across his body. It quickly fades away as I look upon the body as it rises. A new member of my Death Korp who hopefully proves to be an upgrade. “You and you. Fight hand to hand to the death.”

The newly resurrected zombie surprises me. “As you command.” He says to me in an emotionless tone. That gets a blink out of me before a smile adorns my face.

A Korp member is garbed in black cloth with goggles hiding its eyes as it quickly follows my orders without hesitation. The Korp member at first had the advantage as he grabbed an obvious telegraphed punch and grappled the newborn, dislocating their shoulder in the process. The Korp seemed to be learning some of the things I have taught them at least.

Still, a long way to go. That grapple was sloppy and not as fast or as efficient as it should have been. The newborn in turn grabs some of the fingers from the hand wrapped around their throat and begins to pull and bend them back with a sickening crack being heard in the room that even I winced at. 

The hand that was originally going to try and snap the neck of the newborn is now grabbing the wrist of the hand, breaking its fingers currently as it fruitlessly attempts to stop it. The hand holding them now useless they pull the other arm back hitting his adversary in the face with his elbow. Once. Twice. Three times before the Korp member lets go.

Stepping away from one another they circle each other probing the other's defenses with the occasional jab or kick. Any of the newborns' attacks have more force in them compared to the Korp member who despite initially having the advantage in skill is now being both overpowered and put to shame with the quick learning of the newborn. 

I wouldn’t say the newborn is stronger by a large margin compared to the Korpman. It’s more due to the newborn being more efficient with their hits and knowing how to throw a proper punch.

Like the ring of a bell they close the gap and unlike before the newborn quickly takes advantage despite having only one arm to use learning far faster when compared to the Korp member I had trained far longer than the newly made zombie had been alive.

Jabs and kicks were thrown as the newborn learned fast and was quickly beginning to take down my subordinate with more precision than what it had started with. Targeting the legs and kicking into one along the knee causing the man to fall. In one last vain effort my subordinate attempts to punch the newborn, but the newborn weaves around it. Moving behind and grabbing the head of the Korp member and with a pull a crack is audible in the room.

The newborn rises after dropping the Korp member's dead body to the ground, giving me a nod and staring at me. My hands clap at the show that was presented to me. “Well done. One hell of a show don’t you guys agree?” I say with a smile looking over at the rest of Korp who stand there awkwardly staring at me and then the newborn and at the now dead brother. They slowly clap alongside me. Wow, way to make this awkward here guys. 

“I am happy that you are pleased master.” The newborn says to me in an almost happy tone. As nice as it is to see he seems to be loyal I need to work on making sure they can speak the native lingo around this galaxy. I do not need them getting caught because they talk like a Terminator.

“Gather up the rest of the bodies. We have an army to build!”