Chapter 57: Machinations Of A Sith Lord

(3rd Person: POV)

The grass being crushed under his boots, Jedi master and weapons master, Sora Bulq let his thoughts drift to what had landed him in his current situation.

[Insert Image of Sora Bulq Here]

A few days ago he had been contacted by an unknown individual who hinted to Bulq that they possessed important information pertaining to the safety and security of the Republic itself.

Naturally Bulq was ready to simply dismiss such a claim.

Except for the fact the individual in question who contacted him mentioned the name of the person who had recently instigated the Yinchorri species into their armed campaign against the Jedi and the Republic, and assisted them in it.

A Devaronian smuggler and criminal by the name of Vilmarh Grahrk.

That told Bulq the unknown individual who contacted him was not someone he could simply ignore.

For Vilmarh's involvement in what is now officially known as the 'Yinchorri Uprising' was known only to the members of the Jedi High Council, a few select senior masters within the order, the Supreme Chancellor himself, a few select senators, and the highest ranking members of the current Republic military.

Yet this unknown individual also knew this highly restricted piece of information.

As such Bulq suspected they may have also had a hand in the actions of the Yinchorri.

Although his fellow Jedi who had interrogated Vilmarh informed Bulq the Devaronian criminal knew no information of high value Bulq's well-developed instincts he had acquired through his decades as a Jedi told him otherwise.

Yet before anyone knew it Vilmarh Gahrk had disappeared without a trace.

Giving more credibility to Bulq's suspicions that the unknown individual who had contacted him was part of something bigger.

As such Bulq knew he could not let this person get away.

So he worked to set up a face-to-face meeting with them, and now here he is.

Getting ready to walk into that meeting.

Which the unknown individual had set to take place on Ruul.

One of the moons of the Weequay species homeworld, Sriluur.

Specifically the unknown individual had asked for the meeting between themselves and Jedi master Sora to take place as his family estate on Ruul.

Which had fallen into ruin, for Sora Bulq was the last of his family.

Yet as a Jedi he had no intention of laying claim to his inheritance and the vast fortune that came with doing so.

After all he was a Jedi, and they were above such things.

Stopping in his tracks Sora Bulq found himself outside his family's estate.

A place where he had spent time, and called home, before he was identified as force-sensitive and taken by the Jedi order to be trained in the ways of the Force.

To say Bulq felt nothing upon seeing his childhood home would be a lie.

Yet he suppressed those feelings. For at the moment he had more pressing things to deal with.

Namely his meeting with the unknown individual who had asked him to come here.

Spreading out his senses through the Force Bulq tried to locate anyone on the grounds of his family estate.

In doing so he sensed one person.

Yet something didn't quite add up for Bulq.

"Something is wrong. I cannot sense them clearly." Bulq muttered.

For the presence he was sensing was clouded in the Force.

This put Bulq on edge.

Despite this he continued onward.

Heading towards the place on his family estate where he sensed the clouded presence Bulq found himself in one of the courtyard's.

Looking around he spotted a lone individual standing in it, dressed in a pure black cloak.

"Are you the one I seek? Are you the one who asked me to come here?" Bulq asked the cloaked individual.

"Yes, I am." The cloaked individual answered.

Hearing this Bulq gave a curt nod. "I see. That is good. Now then, I have done as you have asked. I have come here, alone. Now please, tell me what you know? What sort of threat is the Republic facing?" The Weequay Jedi master asked.

"The threat?" The individual muttered. "What a silly question master Bulq. For you already know the threat the Republic is facing. It is facing a threat from within. The people who stand at is highest echelons of power. They are the threat to the Republic, and they must be stopped. Wouldn't you agree?" The individual spoke.

Hearing them Bulq suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

A second after he did so the presence of the individual in front of him became clear in the Force, and Bulq sensed they were strong in the dark-side of the Force.

"Sith!" Bulq shouted.

Drawing his lightsaber and shoto and activating them. He then got into a battle-ready stance.

Completely stunned that a Sith was standing right in front of him.

The ancient enemy of the Jedi who had not been seen in close to a thousand years.

Yet there was no doubt in Bulqs' mind that is who and what he was facing.

Even so the Jedi master was not about to back down.

He would end the Sith in front of him here and now, on this night, even if he had to give his life in the process.

Not reacting to Bulq drawing his weapons the Sith slowly turned to face him. "Yes, I am a Sith. But then again, are you not as well master Bulq?"

"I am nothing like you!" Bulq shouted.

"Hehehe!" The Sith laughed. "You may be able to lie, but the Force does not. I sense it, you have touched the dark side of the Force. You have tasted its power!"

Bulq wanted to deny the claims of the Sith in front of him. He wanted to rebuke him.

The only problem is, every word the Sith spoke was true.

For quite a while now Bulq had been studying the dark side of the Force. The Weequay Jedi master had always had a fascination with it. Which only increased when he touched upon it when helping Mace Windu perfect Vaapad, the variation of lightsaber combat form VII.

"Yes. It is true what you say Sith. I have touched upon the dark side of the Force." Bulq admitted. "But even so, that still makes me nothing like you!" He exclaimed. "Now prepare to meet your end."

"Oh but master Bulq I have not come to fight. Simply to talk." The Sith said.

"Talk, don't make me laugh." Bulq replied.

He then charged at the Sith, preparing to strike him.

Only to see the Sith not moving to defend himself in the slightest.

'No. This is a trick. This Sith is doing this to get me to lower my guard. There is no way he is not preparing to defend himself from my attack.' Bulq thought.

Yet as he got closer and closer to the Sith and still didn't see him move Bulq realized the Sith was not lying to him earlier. He really was here to simply talk.

So at the last second, right before Bulq's blades connected with the Sith's body, he stopped in his tracks. Only centimeters away from the Sith.

Yet despite their close proximity the Sith still didn't make a move to attack.

"Wha-What is the meaning of this?!" Bulq shouted.

Quickly putting distance between him and the Sith.

"Once more master Bulq, I have simply come here to talk." The Sith repeated again.

"About what?" Bulq asked.

Knowing from all his training as a Jedi he should not be conversing with the Sith in front of him. Yet, he is curious as to his motives.

"Just as I said when I first contacted you. A serious threat to the Republic. The people who run it." The Sith spoke. "You know what I mean master Bulq. I know you do. You yourself have seen it. The corruption of the Republic. Which has in turn infected your precious Jedi order."

"You're wrong." Bulq denied.

"Am I?" The Sith retorted. "If that were the case then you and your fellow Jedi would not move only when the Senate tells you to. Yet you do their bidding like good little pets." He spoke. "Tell me master Bulq, do you enjoy jumping only when your master's tell you?"

"Watch your mouth!" Bulq shouted.

Yet once again he couldn't really dispute the Sith's words.

He had seen the corruption the Sith spoke of. Oh, how he had seen it. The recent Yinchorri incident lay proof to the Sith claims. Those beasts not only killed two Jedi, but also attacked the very home of the Jedi order itself, the temple. Right on Coruscant. Which was supposed to be one of the safest world's in the entire galaxy.

And what actions did the Senate, and the Republic take in response to this attack against the Jedi?

None.

It even took them an entire month to decide to go after the Yinchorri. The very creatures who were responsible for the attack.

This disgusted Bulq to his core.

His friends, people he had known for ages, his comrades had been attacked and the Republic did nothing!

The more Bulq thought about it the angrier he got.

Slowly sinking farther into the dark side of the Force as he did.

Seeing and sensing this the Sith in front of Bulq chuckled softly to himself.

'Yes, yes. Give into your anger!' The Sith thought.

"Sith, tell me, what is your name?" Master Bulq suddenly asked.

"Me. I am known as Darth Sidious." The Sith revealed.

"I see." Bulq replied. "Thank you." He said.

He and Sidious then talked for a bit more, before the Sith Lord left the Bulq estate.

After giving Bulq a way to contact him.

Laughing inside.

For he had just planted a seed inside of master Bulq. One he would nurture until Bulq became what he needed.

His new apprentice, and an instrument he would use to further the Sith Grand Plan.

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A/N: Chapters like this will start to become more common.

It can't always focus on Van. Even if he is the MC.

There are other people and forces in play, and their actions will also affect how Van moves just so you know.

Now as to why Bulq simply didn't kill old Sidious, it is a mix of the Jedi teaching and his own touching of the dark-side. Along with Sidious mentioning the corruption of the Republic. A view Sora Bulq has in common with Dooku. Which the Sith Lord will use to his advantage.

Stay tuned for me.