FAOV4: Chapter 3- Master of the Acolytes

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Hello there!

I am Fulcrum, and today I present to you the third chapter in the group fanfiction novel, From a Certain Point of View 4 (See volumes 2 and 3 here and here). This particular addition to the story focuses on the early interactions between Darth Sidious and Nute Gunray, providing a fresh perspective from the other end of the transmission, from the perspective of Yupe Tashu. For those who are not familiar with the character, he is an advisor to Darth Sidious, and is the leader of the Acolytes of the Beyond (a part of the Sith Eternal seen on Exegol in The Rise of Skywalker). He is one of the main villains in Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath trilogy. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

Master of the Acolytes

Yupe Tashu was not a very boisterous man. Rather, he was a devoted seeker of knowledge, supposed master of the Dark Arts. The hooded, beadle-eyed, middle aged man sat on the floor of the secret hanger of Lord Sidious’ hideout tower within Coruscant’s industrial district. His long, dark purple robes draped across the floor. He had only entered the room mere minutes ago, yet he was in a deep, dark meditation. Several metres in front of him was his Lord, Darth Sidious, secretly living a double-life as Senator Sheev Palpatine. With him was his Zabrak Sith apprentice, Darth Maul, son of Dathomirs Talzin, the Great Mother.

Advisor Tashu trusted Maul very little; Talzin was an immensely powerful being, towing the line between mortality and immortality. And Sidious had betrayed her, stealing her own gifted Son for his own means. Tashu knew Talzin’s power was only rivalled by Sidious, who he knew would one day seize the secret of immortality. Since the two had first met, Tashu always knew Sidious to be one to seek out such secrets. From what Yupe had heard, Sidious’ Master too had sought the talent of cheating death. Tashu knew it was his destiny to help Sidious reach that power- the Sith Eternal had foreseen it.

Tashu was no Sith, but the Force flowed through him. He could not harness its powers, but it harnessed him. It was as if his cold, darkened soul moved with the pull of the Dark Side, like leaves in the wind. As he meditated, he could feel the flow of energy from the two Sith Lords, who were engaging in an intense duel of the blades. He did not open his eyes, yet he could see their crimson blades clash, as their robes flew behind them. Maul wielded his double-bladed weapon, whereas Sidious fought with two identical twin blades. Maul lunged forward, using the Force to push himself up, slamming his lightsaber at Sidious’ head. Sidious crossed his blades to parry, using the Force to push Maul into a wall several metres away. Maul groaned as Sidious cackled. The two fought so hard that had Sidious shown a moment of weakness, Maul’s blows would have killed him instantly. Such risks were the way of the Sith- weaknesses could not be tolerated.

Maul had grown exponentially in skill, Tashu observed. He leapt up from the wall, spiralling at Sidious with only one half of his lightsaber activated, acting like a spear. As Tashu had expected, Sidious deactivated his lightsabers, instead striking the hurling Maul with a cruel blow of electric-blue force lightning. But Maul was persistent- he got up, charging at Sidious, but this time, when Sidious threw a strike of lightning at him, Maul parried it with his lightsaber. His lightsaber absorbed the energy, adding to Maul’s incredibly strong blow. Tashu noticed that it took Sidious incredible effort to hold back the blow.

Sidious swung his blades to Maul’s sides, which Maul evaded by leaping into the air. Their blades met once more, clashing rapidly as both Sith Lords attempted to strike at the other. Eventually, Maul’s arrogance allowed Sidious to duck below Maul’s waist, slashing his upper leg with his weapon. Maul gasped in pain, but quickly force pushed Sidious across the room- a move Tashu thought even Sidious was not prepared for. The push forced Sidious’ hood to fall off, revealing his face- which most would recognise to be that of Senator Sheev Palpatine’s. Except, the Senators kind smile had evaporated, replaced by an evil, snake-like grin, which was letting out a menacing cackle.

”Good, good... you have grown in strength, my young apprentice,” he said. “Yes, that will be the end of it,” he waved away Maul’s still ignited lightsaber.

”The time to strike is near, I can feel it,” Maul said.

”You are correct. The Neimoidians have played their part well...” Tashu now opened his eyes, looking at Sidious. Sidious and Maul both looked at him. Sidious looked at Tashu as if his Advisor was a mere servant. Whilst many would be provoked by such treatment, this was a core representation of what the Sith were meant to be- the Sith were above all. Tashu knew this, and it was a honour, in his eyes, to serve the Sith.

”Yupe,” Sidious called out. “I take it you have already prepared Maul’s ship, as I ordered?” Tashu smiled, his snake-like jaw stretching outwards.

”Of course, my Lord,”

”Good,” Sidious spat. “The final days of the Grand Plan have been started, and-“ he was cut off as a blue light appeared in the corner of the dark room, where a holotable sat. A loud beeping noise accompanied the flashing. Sidious’ grin turned into a frown as he raised his hands, using the Force out of laziness to lift his hood back up without even touching it out.

”The Neimoidian,” Maul said, knowing that it was Nute Gunray ing them.

”Stay out of sight,” Sidious said, exchanging looks with both Tashu and Maul. Tashu was already in the shadows, but Maul stepped further back. “This god-forsaken slime will not bother us for much longer. He will serve his purpose,” Sidious walked over to the holotable, pressing the flashing button. A glitchy, life-size hologram of the Trade Federation Viceroy, Nute Gunray, appeared. Alongside him was Captain Daultay Dofine and Lieutenant Rune Haako, both as cowardly as their leader.

”What is it?” Sidious spat. Tashu watched Gunray’s blank expression twitch with a hint of fear.

”This scheme of yours has failed my lord,” Dofine said, speaking fast. “The blockade is finished. We dare not go against these Jedi,” Jedi? Tashu thought to himself. He knew that Chancellor Valorum had sent two ambassadors to the Naboo blockade, Sidious had told him himself. But to bring Jedi along? Or perhaps the ambassadors were Jedi? Either option could have been detrimental to Sidious’ plan.

”Viceroy, I don’t want this stunted slime in my sights again...” Tashu watched as Dofine nervously stepped out of sight, fear running through their Neimoidian blood at Sidious’ cold voice. “This turn of events is unfortunate,” he continued. “We must accelerate our plans. Begin landing your troops.”

”My Lord, is that legal?”

”I will make it legal.”

”And the Jedi?”

”The Chancellor should have never brought them into this. Kill them immediately,”

”Yes, yes my lord, uh, as you wish,” the transmission ended. Sidious remained still- he seemed to be in deep thought. Tashu and Maul exchanged glances. Tashu did not trust Maul whatsoever. He may have been a Sith, but the nightbrother was the son of Mother Talzin, and that powerful woman was not one to be trusted. Maul, Tashu had always thought, could have been Palpatine’s undoing, had Talzin chosen to reach out to her son.

”Apprentice,” Sidious spat suddenly, turning around. “Your mission to Concord Dawn will have to wait. The Neimoidians, I’m sure, will be unsuccessful in defeating the Jedi. In a way, this has played into our hand- the Queen’s return to Coruscant will be more believable, if it is the Jedi who are allowed to liberate her. But you will eventually have to defeat these Jedi ambassadors, yes... they could pose a grave threat, I sense...”

”I shall prepare for combat immediately,” Tashu found a sense of joy in Maul’s response.

”Yupe!” Sidious spoke far less reasonably. “Your services are no longer required. Return to your Acolytes, I am sure they will be pleased to know of the Plan’s progression,”

”Of course, my Lord. Perhaps, given the severity-“

”You have no need to visit Exegol,” Sidious spat, cutting a slightly disappointed Tashu off. His Acolytes, the Acolytes of the Beyond, were a group of ers of the old Sith religion, and they had devoted themselves to the two Sith. But the Acolytes were just one part of a wider hidden society- it was called the Sith Eternal, comprised of all those who had kept the Sith belief alive in hopes of serving the two true Sith once more. Tashu had visited the planet only once- a true honour. Despite being the leader of one of the Eternal’s most prominent groups of worshippers, Sidious still did not grant him the permission to return, although Tashu did not object- after all, he lived to serve Darth Sidious.

”Of course, wise Master,” Tashu said, stepping back. “I shall prepare to meet my Acolytes immediately,” he scurried off, heading out towards the bay where their ships were kept. There was his black painted, Lambda-Class shuttle, sitting next to Darth Maul’s Sith starfighter. He quickly boarded his shuttle, preparing it for the flight. Soon enough, he left the hanger, flying over the abandoned parts of the Works, avoiding the active factories. He exited the atmosphere, leaned back, and jumped into Hyperspace, the blue lines stretching across his eyes.

And within seconds, Tashu was unconscious.

A flutter of thoughts wizzed through his deep, intellectual mind. Tashu was no longer on his ship- he was standing aboard the Trade Federation flagship, in a busy corridor. In front of him was a hologram of Nute Gunray, surrounded by a squadron of B1 battle droids.

”They must be dead by now,” said the voice of the Neimoidian Gunray. “Destroy what’s left of them,” and then, in a blink of the eye, Tashu’s surroundings became distorted, and he saw the two Jedi, Master and Apprentice, fighting their way though the droids, cutting them down with ease. Tashu did not know how he came to be here, but he could not properly gather his thoughts well enough to object. All he could do was watch. One of the Jedi had long hair and a beard, whereas the other had a traditional Padawan braid. And then, once more, the vision transformed, the shapes of the droids, Jedi and the corridor warping into Tashu’s new surroundings- The older Jedi was on a planet Tashu recognised to be Tatooine. The Jedi Master stood next to a middle-aged woman that Tashu did not recognise. They both looked out towards the spot where a little boy, no older than ten, stood. Voices started to fill Tashu’s mind.

”Why do I sense we’ve picked up another pathetic life form?”

”The Force is unusally strong with him, that much is clear. Who was his father?”

”There was no father, that I know of... I carried him, I gave him birth...”

”We will watch your career with great interest.”

Tashu looked closer at the boy, who was talking away with his friend.

”Kitster!” The young boy said. Tashu was startled- that was not the voice of a boy. No, that voice was one he recognised well- the voice of Darth Sidious. This boy... the woman had said he had no father... Tashu was starting to understand now...

And then Tashu’s surroundings faded away, replaced by the streets of a rural planet. Families ran together through the damaged streets, fear in their eyes. Behind them, Tashu saw, was the boy once again. Yet, he was grown up now. His eyes were a menacing yellow, the only light under his black cloak. And alongside him? Darth Sidious. Both had their lightsabers drawn, and were, as Tashu saw it, putting these simple-minded fools in their rightful place.

That boy? Would he grow to replace Maul? Tashu thought.

The scenery warped once more, this time showing Sidious, under his disguise as Chancellor. He stood up, facing three Jedi masters.

”It’s treason then,” he pulled out his lightsaber to fight the three Jedi. One Tashu recognised to be Mace Windu, and the other, that old Jedi Master who he had scene on Naboo and Tatooine- but the other? It was the boy, complete in Jedi robes, by his former Master’s side.

And the scene changed once more, becoming something that even Tashu could not comprehend- all he could hear were voices.

Unlimited Power!!!!!!!!!”

”No, what have I done?!”

”You were the Chosen One!”

”I will train the boy,” this voice was much clearer; it was the older, long-haired Jedi.

”The dark side is a pathway to many abilities, some would consider... unnatural,” this voice was also quite distinct- it was that of Lord Sidious’.

It was then when it became clear to Yupe Tashu- this Jedi Master and Sidious, they were the angel and demon on this boy’s shoulder. And, yes, it was clearer than ever- this boy was the Chosen One, spoken of by the ancient Jedi prophets.

The vision whirled around again to unveil a new glimpse into the future- Yupe Tashu now stood near a reactor pit in a building that Tashu recognised to belong on Naboo- he had visited Theed many times under with Lord Sidious. Surrounding the pit were Darth Maul and this old Jedi, his Padawan stuck behind a ray shield. The lightsaber fight was intense, similar to the duel Tashu had witnessed between his Lord and his Dathomirian apprentice.

And then, before Tashu could see the outcome of the duel, he awoke, back in his ship.

It was then when it became clear- this Jedi would nurture the Chosen One, and he would indeed be the one to destroy the Sith. But... if Maul was successful in killing that Jedi, the boy would be without a father figure, and Sidious would be able to groom the boy into a Sith Lord, allowing him to continue on his quest for galactic conquest and immortality.

But, as Sidious had told him, the future is always unclear. Nothing can be known for certain. No, Yupe Tashu knew it would not be worth reporting this to Sidious- the course of the galaxy would continue regardless. Now, he would continue venturing to his Acolytes, playing his role as Sidious’ unappreciated minion, until one day, Sidious would seize immortality by its throat, and Tashu’s purpose in life would be served.