Odious Ragnos from Dxun to Coruscant

[Odious Ragnos]

Odious stepped forward carefully, gazing upon his father’s stone sarcophagus. In a groove on the lid of the giant stone tomb lie his father’s lightsaber. He remembered so vividly seeing it on his father’s hip. The Mustafarian-Obsidian hilt reflected what little light that existed within the burial chamber. He reached forward for the weapon when a voice boomed from the shadows.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk! Does your heresy know no bounds? Killing Father to usurp his power and, what, steal his lightsaber? How very sad.”
Odious glared at Gannicus as he stepped out of the shadows.
“I am surprised you have come to see me yourself. I wouldn’t have thought you would want to get your delicate politician’s hands dirty,” Odious shot at Gannicus as he studied the man.
Gannicus laughed deeply, “You will find that I am full of surprises, dear brother.”
“Yes, you are like the extent of cowardice to which you are willing to stoop” Odious said coldly.
Gannicus smiled causing Odious’ anger to burn.
“Ah, idealistic young Odious, such a great tactician as yourself should know the difference between cowardice and prudence.”
“Call it what you will Gannicus, we both know you couldn’t have defeated father.”
Odious felt a presence approaching behind him, but he gave no indication of his awareness.
Gannicus paused, “Maybe, maybe not, but you have to admit he was getting old. His vision for the tribe’s future was so very pedestrian. I will take our tribe to heights our Father never dreamed of. I already have alliances with six other tribes. Unfortunately for you, you won’t be around to witness my rise to power.”
The assailant leapt forward. In one smooth movement, Odious spun around swinging his left arm up to block the attacker’s downward swing. His block struck the assassin’s wrist with such force that its lightsaber flew across the chamber clattering to the floor. In the same instant, he thrust his right palm upward releasing the spring-loaded dagger from its sheathe on his wrist. The blade struck true, burying itself in the man’s neck, severing the jugular. When Odious looked in the man’s face, he instantly recognized the would-be-assassin as Horus, Gannicus’ personal Kath Hound.
Odious’ face contorted into a grotesque smile as he twisted his blade, his eyes never leaving Horus’. The man’s gurgling filled the otherwise silent chamber. Odious watched the man’s life fade from his eyes before letting his body fall to the ground.
Odious wiped the blade on his tunic as he said, “I have put down your dog, my dear brother, now we can finish our conversation unfettered.”
He turned to face Gannicus, but his brother was nowhere to be found.
“Damned coward,” he muttered. He returned the blade to its sheathe. He turned and looked at the lightsaber again. He strode towards it. He hefted it in his hand, the smooth hilt felt natural, like an extension of his hand.
A voice from behind startled him, “I always did enjoy watching you work.”
The voice filled him with confusion and dread. He spun around to see his father’s ghostly image. He immediately dropped to his knees, kneeling and bowing before his father.

[Odious Ragnos]

“I failed you, my Lord,” he managed.
“Arise, my son. There is no more need for formality…I am dead,” his father said with a smile, “You failed me? Nonsense, I am responsible for my own death.” Your brother has been scheming for some time, but I underestimated his ambition.”
Odious looked up at his father, eyes blazing. “I will kill him, father. I will avenge your death.”
“No, my son. That is not what I want from you.”
“What am I to do father?”
“Get far away from here. Forget your brother. Forget this place.”
Odious looked perplexed, “Father? You would have me let Gannicus get away with his betrayal?”
His father smiled gently, “What good would it do me? I will still be dead, still be bound to this temple for the rest of eternity. I sacrificed everything I ever cared about in my wasted life and what did it get me? I was killed in my sleep like a babe. Do not make my same mistakes. You are destined for greater things. I knew it from the first time I saw you in your mother’s arms.”
The image of Odious’ mother flashed in his mind filling him with the feeling of her warmth. His father’s expression changed. It looked as if he were listening to some far away sound.
“Come, let us go somewhere more private. Your brother’s Death Squad approaches. Put my lightsaber into the hand of the statue over there.”
Odious did as instructed. The rock wall behind the statue slowly slid up revealing a hidden passageway.
“Follow me,” his father said as he stepped through the passage. As Odious stepped through, the rock slid back into place. They walked down the hall into a large cavern. His father stopped and turned to him. He sensed his son’s confusion. He stared at his son a moment.
“You remind me so much of your mother. You have her piercing eyes, her unshakeable sense of honor and her dragon’s heart. I should have listened to her long ago. You are not meant for the Sith.”
“Father?!? I…”
His father held up his hand to stop his son.
“I mean to do you no dishonor, my son. Your honor is a trait, for which, I have come to admire you. Your example made me re-think the paths I have taken. I am proud of you my son, but I know your greatest achievements are yet to come. Go now, blaze your own path through the galaxy, forge your destiny amongst the stars.”
“But what am I to do? This…the Sith are all I have ever known.”
“Seek out your uncle.”
“My uncle? But you had no brothers.”
“Your mother’s brother. I can’t quite remember his name, one of the disadvantages of dying, your memory is just whispers. I remember he was quite an…eccentric fellow. The last I heard, he owned some café or bar or something of that nature. He was also a member of the Grey Jedi.”
“Grey Jedi?”
“Yes, just another splinter group of the Force.”
“He may be able to help you find a foothold in the galaxy, bring you up on current events, tell you who the major players are. He always did have his nose in everyone’s business.”
“Where do I find him?”
“I wish I could help you my son, but I do not know. Find the Grey, they may be able to help you find him. It is time to go now. Before long your brother will be going through my temple with a fine-toothed comb.”
Odious held his father’s lightsaber out to him.
“It is yours now,” his father said, “May it keep you safe. You may slip out undetected through the passage over there. You will be able to return through the back passage. There is a notch outside on the wall. Simply insert the lightsaber and you will come back here. I will be here if you need counseling. Make me just one promise Odious.”
“Anything Father.”
“Never let anyone tell you what your destiny is. Always remember, your destiny is whatever you choose it to be.”
“I promise.”
Odious bowed his head to his father before turning to leave.
“Odious,” his father called. He turned back to look upon his father’s face, “I love you, son.”
Odious was taken aback. He had never heard those words from his father’s lips. All Odious could muster was a shaky “I love you, father.”
Odious turned again and started for the stone door. He stepped through into the arid Korriban air.
Suddenly, things felt very wrong. This isn’t how it happened before, Odious thought to himself, something is very wrong. This wasn't the way it happened in real life. I must be dream..
He felt a hand grab him from behind, a lightsaber plunged into his back.
“Goodbye brother!” Gannicus shouted in triumph.


Odious’ eyes snapped open. He frantically surveyed his surroundings. He lay in his bed in his quarters aboard the Reaper’s Scythe. He was soaked with sweat and his heart raced. The comm beeped.
T47: “Are you alright, Master?”
“I am fine T. I could really use a drink though.”
T47: We will be entering Coruscant airspace very soon.
“Thank the Gods.”