The Face of The True Enemy
A part of Jin'Lor was already regretting stepping onto this ship. The woman before him was going to start asking too many questions and he knew some of them would have to go unanswered.
Would he have to make a run for it again?
Sighing as he sheathed his knife, Jin'Lor offered Liden a forced smile. "Is there anything else the pretty woman wants to know?" He asked.
Liden's dark lips curled into a grin. "No, but there is something you must know..."
The shuttle soon arrived on Liden's star destroyer and Liden gestured Jin'Lor to follow her as she made her way down the cargo ramp and onto the deck. From there she took him through several blast doors, heavy duty and modified in such a way that it was clear that they were meant to keep something out... or perhaps to keep something in.
"Tell me, Jin'Lor how is your ancient history?" Liden asked as she walked. "Do you know of the Ancient Empire? The Rakatan Empire that is? It was a galaxy-spanning civilization several thousand years ago which fell to ruin well before The Old Republic came into being. They were a race of Force users who based much of their technology on The Force... In the age of The Old Republic the dark lord of The Sith Darth Revan discovered an artifact known as The Star Forge... A massive factory capable of building war machines... But this was only one such marvel they built..."
They continued deeper into the Star Destroyer. There were now Obsidian Squad Troopers standing guard. The security was heavy. Clearly so. An oppressive atmosphere began to thicken around Liden and Jin'Lor as they pressed deeper down the corridor.
"...I had the fortune of being chosen by Emperor Palpatine to explore the uncharted regions of the galaxy... There I discovered another of these Rakatan marvels... or rather horrors..."
The final door was the largest and most secure, with a number of internal locks which audibly clanked as they unlocked themselves with Liden's personal code. When the door opened it revealed a large circular chamber. On the edges were various computers and a handful of researchers dutifully working who paid Liden and Jin'Lor little to no regard. In the center, however, was a massive cylindrical containment cell housing a single individual. It looked like a combat android, or a heavily armored man, it immediately looked at Liden as she entered and regarded Jin'Lor with head bobs that indicated curiosity.
"This was one of them..." Liden said coldly.
The armored thing became enraged and struck the dual barrier force field with an energy blade that resembled a lightsaber almost, though it was a defined edge and not a single rod of energy like traditional sabers. The thing's helmet unfolded as if it were a set of jaws, roaring and revealing a ghostly humanoid skull behind the helmet.
"There are many mysteries about The Force... What becomes of the dead is one such conundrum... Some become spirits who aid the living, others become one with The Force, surrendering to its will... and then... there's this... The Rakatan were able to trap the souls of the dead with the use of a machine and magiks tied to The Force, pulling them from The Force and binding them to mechanical suits of armor. An undead army for a war that never took place... And they are out there... I have seen them..." Liden's hand went to helmet. "And paid the price for not being prepared..."
She looked to Jin'Lor.
"This is a Phantom. They are numerous, powerful, and they are coming... And we must meet them..." Her tone grew darker. "No matter the cost... So... Jin'Lor... Do you have any questions?"