Darth Nox: The Master of the Force

The darkened chamber of Lehon hummed with a resonance only the most attuned could perceive. As Darth Nox stood before the ancient structure, a palpable tension filled the air, thickening with every passing moment. The voice of the Rakatan spirit had left him with a riddle wrapped in a challenge—a test that would push even a Dark Lord of the Sith to his limits. But it was not fear that gnawed at Nox's soul; it was anticipation.

With every breath, he felt the Force pulse around him, the echo of countless ancient beings who had once walked the very ground on which he stood. But there was one presence among them that stood out, a familiar coldness that had once commanded armies, struck fear into the hearts of both Sith and Jedi alike. The sensation was unmistakable, a shadow that had followed him since his rise to power.

"Darth Marr," Nox whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of the Force.

As if summoned by name alone, a figure materialized from the shadows, the ethereal form of Darth Marr emerging into the dim light. His armor, a reflection of the stoic warrior he had been in life, gleamed faintly, while his face remained shrouded by the darkness of his hood. Though Marr had long since become one with the Force, the aura of authority and power that defined him was as potent as ever.

"Nox," Marr's voice was deep, resonating with the power of the dark side, "you have come far."

Nox inclined his head slightly in respect. Marr had been one of the few Sith Lords he had truly admired—a warrior who had fought for the Empire until his final breath, and even beyond it.

"I have," Nox replied, his tone measured. "But it seems my journey is far from over."

Marr's spectral form seemed to shift, the shadows around him twisting as if reacting to his will. "The Force has plans for you, Nox. Plans that transcend even your ambitions."

A flicker of irritation sparked within Nox at the suggestion that something or someone else could dictate his fate. "I make my own destiny," he asserted, his voice edged with the steel of defiance.

Marr's expression remained unreadable, though his presence seemed to swell, filling the chamber with an oppressive weight. "Even the most powerful Sith cannot escape the will of the Force. It is the ultimate power in the galaxy, and we are all bound by it."

Nox opened his mouth to retort, but before he could speak, another presence joined them—lighter, more serene, but no less powerful. The air around them seemed to calm, and with it, a figure clad in the simple robes of a Jedi appeared. It was a face Nox recognized all too well, though the sight of it stirred conflicting emotions within him.

"Master Oteg," Nox said, a note of surprise in his voice.

The Jedi's ghostly form smiled gently, his eyes filled with the same wisdom that had once guided countless Jedi through their trials. "Darth Nox. Or should I say, Kallig?" Oteg's voice was soft, yet it carried the weight of centuries of knowledge.

The mention of his ancestral name brought a fleeting sense of nostalgia to Nox. But he quickly buried it beneath the cold resolve that had defined him for so long. "Why are you here, Jedi?"

Oteg's smile remained, though it carried a hint of sadness. "The Force has brought us together, Nox. Just as it did in life, it does now in death. We are but echoes, yet even echoes can shape the course of history."

Nox's gaze flicked between the two spirits, his mind racing. He had expected to face trials on Lehon, but not this—a reunion of ghosts, both friend and foe. "You speak of the Force as if it has a purpose," he said, his tone skeptical. "But the Force is nothing more than a tool, a means to power."

Marr's voice cut through the air like a blade. "That is where you are wrong, Nox. The Force is not something to be controlled—it is a living entity, with its own will. It is both light and dark, creation and destruction."

Oteg nodded in agreement. "And it is that balance which you must understand. The Force has brought you here to learn, to grow beyond the limitations of Sith and Jedi alike."

Nox clenched his fists, the frustration mounting within him. "I have no interest in the Jedi's teachings," he spat. "I am a Sith. Power is my goal, and the dark side is the path to it."

Marr stepped closer, his presence towering over Nox. "And yet, the dark side alone will not grant you what you seek. The Rakata learned this, as did those who came before them. To master the Force, you must embrace it in its entirety—light and dark, peace and conflict."

The words hung in the air, a challenge that struck at the core of Nox's beliefs. He had spent his life climbing the ranks of the Sith, mastering the dark side, bending it to his will. But now, the Force itself was demanding something more—a path that required understanding, not just domination.

Before he could respond, Oteg spoke again, his voice calm but insistent. "The Force is more than just a weapon, Nox. It is a guide, a teacher. To truly grasp its power, you must open yourself to its full spectrum. Only then will you be able to accomplish the task that lies ahead."

The task. The mention of it brought Nox back to the reality of his situation. The Force had brought him to Lehon for a reason, and whatever that reason was, it was tied to the Rakata and their ancient power. But to access that power, he would have to confront the very foundations of his identity as a Sith.

A moment of silence passed, the weight of the decision pressing down on Nox. He could feel the gaze of the two spirits on him, waiting for his response. This was no ordinary test—it was a trial of the soul, one that could either elevate him to unparalleled heights of power or destroy him utterly.

Finally, Nox spoke, his voice low but firm. "If the Force requires me to learn both the light and dark, then so be it. I will master both, and in doing so, I will surpass all who came before me—Sith, Jedi, and even the Rakata."

A faint smile played on Marr's lips, a rare expression for the stoic warrior. "Then you have taken the first step. But know this, Nox—this path will not be easy. It will challenge everything you know, everything you believe."

Oteg's form began to fade, his presence diminishing as he offered one final piece of advice. "Remember, Nox, the Force is not your enemy. It is a part of you, as it is a part of all living things. Embrace it, and it will lead you to your destiny."

With that, the Jedi Master vanished, leaving Nox alone with Marr in the darkened chamber. For a moment, neither spoke, the silence heavy with unspoken words.

Finally, Marr moved closer, his voice a whisper in the stillness. "The time has come, Nox. You must prove your worth to the Force."

Before Nox could respond, Marr's form began to shift, his essence flowing toward Nox like a stream of energy. Nox tensed, instinctively reaching out with the dark side to defend himself, but Marr's voice echoed in his mind, calming him.

"Do not resist, Nox. This is your trial."

The energy of Marr's spirit enveloped Nox, merging with his own essence. It was a sensation unlike any he had ever experienced—a fusion of power, knowledge, and presence that transcended the physical. Nox felt his consciousness expanding, reaching out to touch the very core of the Force itself.

And then, with a final surge of power, Marr's spirit fully merged with Nox's, becoming one with him. The chamber around him seemed to pulse with energy, the dark side and light side intertwining in a dance of power.

Nox stood in the center of it all, his body and mind transformed by the union with Marr's spirit. He could feel the strength of the dark side coursing through him, but there was something else as well—a balance, a harmony that he had never known before.

For the first time in his life, Darth Nox understood the true nature of the Force. It was not just a weapon to be wielded, but a living, breathing entity that connected all things. And in that moment of clarity, he realized that his journey had only just begun.

The Force had given him a task, and now, with the power of both light and dark at his command, he was ready to face it.

But what awaited him on this path? What trials would he have to endure? Only time would tell.

(I imagine Oteg as the barsen'thor)