**Chapter 694: The Fall of the Prophets**
**Scene 1**
**Dark Temple, Dromund Kaas**
**Dagon POV**
Approaching the building's main gate, I allowed myself a small, cold grin. Knowing everything about the enemy — even the layout of the vegetation near this very entrance — made the operation almost too easy.
"Stop!" Two cloaked figures emerged from the shadows, lightsabers igniting with crimson blades. I wore a simple black cloak over my armor, blending with the darkness. "Who are you? What brings you to this humble abode?"
"Business," I replied flatly.
I threw off the cloak, revealing the dark plates of my Wrath Shield armor. My crossguard lightsaber ignited with a savage snap-hiss, the unstable red blade casting bloody light across the ancient stone. One swing was all it took — both guards fell in two clean halves before they could even raise their weapons.
Clones poured in around me instantly, DC-15s raised.
"The entrance is secured!" Commander Phils barked. "Erto, take control of the perimeter. The rest of you — follow the General!"
Somewhere deep inside the temple, a heavy explosion echoed. Dust rained from the ceiling.
"Hurry up, boys," I said, ducking through the shattered doorway. "The second group is already overtaking us."
The clones moved like a well-oiled machine. Thanks to the detailed schematics I had provided, there were no hesitations. The enemy tried to resist — scattered groups of cultists and dark side adepts throwing up desperate Force barriers or firing stolen blasters — but their efforts were feeble. Most preferred to run rather than fight.
I didn't feel much remorse cutting them down. They had chosen this path. But everything became far simpler — and far more disgusting — when the cowards started hiding behind slaves.
Emaciated sentients in rags and tatters, wearing shock collars and sometimes even chains, were shoved forward as living shields. Men, women, and children of various species stared at us with hollow, broken eyes.
"Disgusting," I muttered, raising my free hand. A wave of telekinetic force ripped the cultists away from their captives, slamming them into the walls with bone-crushing force. "Secure the slaves. Get them out of the fighting zones."
The clones moved quickly, providing covering fire while medics began treating the worst injuries on the spot.
We pressed deeper into the temple.
**Scene 2**
**Dark Temple, Escape Tunnels**
**Kadann POV**
"Hurry, sir!" Jedgar growled, glancing back down the tunnel. "The main group is already on our tail!"
Kadann, the High Prophet of the Dark Side, only sighed in irritation. They were running like frightened nunds through their own sanctuary.
*Why?* he thought bitterly. *Why didn't the Darkness warn us of this threat? Why has it turned its back on us?*
It wasn't the Jedi. No — this was Dagon Marek. The one they had planned to eliminate quietly. Perhaps they had underestimated him. Perhaps he had seemed too insignificant against the grander movements of the galaxy. Cronal would still pay dearly for slipping them his failed spawn.
"The Prophets will survive," Kadann muttered. "The servants and neophytes will die. Some wealth will be lost. But we can rebuild. The Church of the Dark will shelter us. The Elder Council will be evacuated in full, along with the important relics. Recruiting new followers will be simple. It's just a shame the fresh shipment of slaves was wasted…"
"No time for that!" Jedgar snapped, urging on a group of two dozen low-ranking Prophets who struggled under heavy backpacks filled with ancient holocrons and priceless artifacts. "The enemy has already taken the central corridor, the service levels, and the third residential block. They'll be here soon!"
At the very end of the tunnel leading to a private hangar, they all froze.
"I sense a trap," Jedgar muttered, drawing his curved Sith sword.
"Still… he's not hopeless," Kadann said. "Who would have thought that a former Jedi, exiled to the Outer Rim for his dangerous visions, would rise so high? Under my guidance, of course."
He pointed at two Prophets. "You and you. Check ahead."
The two men bowed and moved cautiously forward. The moment they stepped out of the tunnel, blaster bolts tore through them.
"There's no way out," a young woman's voice called from the hangar. "Go back and die, unless you want to die right here."
Kadann and Jedgar exchanged glances. The same thought occurred to both.
"It's probably just the Jedi assigned to guard this hangar — away from the main fighting. There can't be many soldiers. We can break through."
Jedgar charged first, lightsaber flashing as he deflected bolts. Kadann followed, preferring to rely on dark side techniques rather than his own blade. While Jedgar engaged the clones behind their riot shields, Kadann crept forward and unleashed a powerful blast of Force Lightning.
The lightning struck… and was absorbed harmlessly into a shimmering Mandalorian energy shield.
A towering figure in distinctive Mandalorian armor stepped forward, minigun spinning up.
Gar Saxon grinned behind his helmet. "Wrong move."
The minigun roared. Jedgar was torn apart in seconds. Saxon then turned the weapon on Kadann.
**Scene 3**
**Dark Temple, Main Hall**
**Dagon POV**
Gar Saxon shook the blood from his beskar sword as his Mandalorian warriors and supporting clones finished clearing the upper temple levels. The fighting had been fierce but one-sided. Even the dark side adepts with scarlet lightsabers fell quickly against coordinated fire and superior numbers.
The Dark Temple itself was a monument to arrogance. Built atop a hill at the end of the Dark Temple pass west of Kaas City, the structure was made entirely of dark gray and black stone. A towering obelisk rose above the entrance arch, topped with an all-seeing eye symbolizing the Sith Emperor. Horn-like pillars jutted from the slanted roof, and cracks allowed thin beams of greenish light to pierce the interior.
We moved through the grand processional approach — ancient staircases, broken statues with bowed heads, and a large stone-paved courtyard. The central path was flanked by more statues, while the side sections lay in ruins.
Inside, the main hall stretched deep into the mountain. Massive pillars supported the ceiling, connected by buttresses. At the far end stood a towering sculpture of a Sith Pureblood with arms outstretched. Four passages branched off on each side. The northwestern one led to access tunnels beneath the temple. Another led to the reliquary where the Emperor once stored his most dangerous artifacts.
I stopped in the center of the hall, igniting my lightsaber.
"Spread out," I ordered. "Find the Prophet leadership. Kill anyone who resists. Secure any surviving slaves."
Gar Saxon approached, wiping blood from his helmet. "The upper levels are clear, General. We found several chambers filled with prisoners — slaves, Force-sensitives they were experimenting on. Some didn't make it."
I clenched my jaw. "Get them medical attention. Then burn every dark side artifact you find. No exceptions."
As the Mandalorians and clones moved deeper into the temple, I felt the dark side pressing against me like a living thing — hungry, angry, desperate.
This place would not stand another day.