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He was the most powerful Sith lord who ever lived.
But could he be the only one who never died?
“Did you ever hear the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise? It’s a Sith legend. Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith, so powerful and so wise that he could use the Force to influence the midi-chlorians to create life. He had such a knowledge of the dark side that he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying.”
—Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
Darth Plagueis: one of the most brilliant Sith Lords who ever lived. Possessing power is all he desires. Losing it is the only thing he fears. As an apprentice, he embraces the ruthless ways of the Sith. And when the time is right, he destroys his Master—but vows never to suffer the same fate. For like no other disciple of the dark side, Darth Plagueis learns to command the ultimate power . . . over life and death.
Darth Sidious: Plagueis’s chosen apprentice. Under the guidance of his Master, he secretly studies the ways of the Sith, while publicly rising to power in the galactic government, first as Senator, then as Chancellor, and eventually as Emperor.
Darth Plagueis and Darth Sidious, Master and acolyte, target the galaxy for domination—and the Jedi Order for annihilation. But can they defy the merciless Sith tradition? Or will the desire of one to rule supreme, and the dream of the other to live forever, sow the seeds of their destruction?
9780345511287|excerpt
Lucerno / STAR WARS DARTH PLAGUEIS
PART ONE:
Enlistment
67–65 Years Before the Battle of Yavin
1: THE UNDERWORLD
Forty-seven standard years before the harrowing reign of Emperor Palpatine, Bal’demnic was nothing more than an embryonic world in the Outer Rim’s Auril sector, populated by reptilian sentients who expressed as little tolerance for outsiders as they did for one another. Decades later the planet would have a part to play in galactic events, its own wink of historical notoriety, but in those formative years that presaged the Republic’s ineluctable slide into decadence and turmoil, Bal’demnic was of interest only to xenobiologists and cartographers. It might even have escaped the notice of Darth Plagueis, for whom remote worlds held a special allure, had his Master, Tenebrous, not discovered something special about the planet.
“Darth Bane would appreciate our efforts,” the Sith Master was telling his apprentice as they stood side by side in the crystalline cave that had drawn them across the stars.
A Bith, Tenebrous was as tall as Plagueis and nearly as cadaverously thin. To human eyes, his bilious complexion might have made him appear as haggard as the pallid Muun, but in fact both beings were in robust health. Though they conversed in Basic, each was fluent in the other’s native language.
“Darth Bane’s early years,” Plagueis said through his transpirator mask. “Carrying on the ancestral business, as it were.”
Behind the faceplate of his own mask, Tenebrous’s puckered lips twitched in disapproval. The breathing device looked absurdly small on his outsized cleft head, and the convexity of the mask made the flat disks of his lidless eyes look like close-set holes in his pinched face.
“Bane’s seminal years,” he corrected.
Plagueis weathered the gentle rebuke. He had been apprenticed to Tenebrous for as many years as the average human might live, and still Tenebrous never failed to find fault when he could.
“What more appropriate way for us to close the circle than by mimicking the Sith’ari’s seminal efforts,” Tenebrous continued. “We weave ourselves into the warp and weft of the tapestry he created.”
Plagueis kept his thoughts to himself. The aptly named Darth Bane, who had redefined the Sith by limiting their number and operating from concealment, had mined cortosis as a youth on Apatros long before embracing the tenets of the dark side. In the thousand years since his death, Bane had become deified; the powers attributed to him, legendary. And indeed what more appropriate place for his disciples to complete the circle, Plagueis told himself, than in profound obscurity, deep within an escarpment that walled an azure expanse of Bal’demnic’s Northern Sea.
The two Sith were outfitted in environment suits that protected them from scorching heat and noxious atmosphere. The cave was crosshatched by scores of enormous crystals that resembled glowing lances thrust every which way into a trick chest by a stage magician. A recent seismic event had tipped the landmass, emptying the labyrinthine cave system of mineral-rich waters, but the magma chamber that had kept the waters simmering for millions of years still heated the humid air to temperatures in excess of what even Tenebrous and Plagueis could endure unaided. Close at hand sat a stubby treddroid tasked with monitoring the progress of a mining probe that was sampling a rich vein of cortosis ore at the bottom of a deep shaft. A fabled ore, some called it—owing to its scarcity, but even more for its intrinsic ability to diminish the effectiveness of the Jedi lightsaber. For that reason, the Jedi Order had gone to great lengths to restrict mining and refinement of the ore. If not the bane of the Order’s existence, cortosis was a kind of irritant, a challenge to their weapon’s reputation for fearsome invincibility.
It was to Tenebrous’s credit that the Sith had learned of Bal’demnic’s rich lodes before the Jedi, who by means of an agreement with the Republic Senate had first claim to all discoveries, as they had with Adegan crystals and Force-sensitive younglings of all species. But Tenebrous and the generations of Sith Masters who had preceded him were privy to covert data gleaned by vast networks of informants the Senate and the Jedi knew nothing about, including mining survey teams and weapons manufacturers.
“Based on the data I am receiving,” the treddroid intoned, “eighty-two percent of the ore is capable of being purified into weapons-grade cortosis shield.”
Plagueis looked at Tenebrous, who returned a nod of satisfaction. “The percentage is consistent with what I was told to expect.”
“By whom, Master?”
“Of no consequence,” Tenebrous said.
Strewn about the superheated tunnel were broken borer bits, expended gasifiers, and clogged filtration masks, all abandoned by the exploratory team that had sunk the shaft several standard months earlier. From the shaft’s broad mouth issued the repeated reports of the probe droid’s hydraulic jacks. Music to Tenebrous’s auditory organs, Plagueis was certain.
“Can you not share your plans for this discovery?”
“In due time, Darth Plagueis.” Tenebrous turned away from him to address the treddroid. “Instruct the probe to evaluate the properties of the secondary lode.”
Plagueis studied the screen affixed to the droid’s flat head. It displayed a map of the probe’s movements and a graphic analysis of its penetrating scans, which reached clear to the upper limits of the magma chamber.
“The probe is running an analysis,” the treddroid updated.
With the reciprocating sounds of the probe’s hydraulic jacks echoing in the crystal cave, Tenebrous began to circle the shaft, only to come to a sudden halt when the drilling ceased.
“Why has it stopped?” he asked before Plagueis could.
The droid’s reply was immediate. “The Em-Two unit informs me that it has discovered a pocket of gas directly beneath the new borehole.” The droid paused, then added: “I’m sorry to report, sirs, that the gas is a highly combustible variant of lethane. The Em-Two unit predicts that the heat generated by its hydraulic jacks will ignite an explosion of significant magnitude.”
Suspicion crept into Tenebrous’s voice. “The original report made no mention of lethane.”
The droid pivoted to face him. “I know nothing of that, sir. But the Em-Two unit is quite insistent. What’s more, my own programming corroborates the fact that it is not unusual to find pockets of lethane in close proximity to cortosis ore.”
“Query the probe about excavating around the lethane pocket,” Plagueis said.
“The Em-Two unit recommends employing that very strategy, sir. Shall I order it to proceed?”
Plagueis looked at Tenebrous, who nodded.
“Task the probe to proceed,” Plagueis said. When the hammering recommenced, he fixed his gaze on the display screen to monitor the probe’s progress. “Tell the probe to stop,” he said after only a moment had elapsed.
“Why are you interfering?” Tenebrous said, storming forward.
Plagueis gestured to the display. “The map indicates a more massive concentration of lethane in the area where it’s drilling.”
“You’re correct, sir,” the droid said in what amounted to dismay. “I will order the unit to halt all activity.”
And yet the hammering continued.
“Droid,” Plagueis snapped, “did the probe acknowledge your order?”
“No, sir. The Em-Two is not responding.”
Tenebrous stiffened, narrowly avoiding slamming his head into one of the cave’s massive crystals. “Is it still within range?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then run a communications diagnostic.”
“I have, sir, and all systems are nominal. The unit’s inability to respond—” It fell briefly silent and began again. “The unit’s refusal to respond appears to be deliberate.”
“Deactivate it,” Tenebrous said. “At once.”
The hammering slowed and eventually ceased, but not for long.
“The Em-Two unit has overridden my command.”
“Impossible,” Tenebrous said.
“Clearly not, sir. In fact, it is highly probable that the unit is executing a deep-seated subroutine that escaped earlier notice.”
Plagueis glanced at Tenebrous. “Who procured the probe?”
“This isn’t the time for questions. The probe is about to breach the pocket.”
Hastening to the rim of the circular shaft, the two Sith removed their gloves and aimed their long-fingered unprotected hands into the inky darkness. Instantly tangles of blue electrical energy discharged from their fingertips, raining into the borehole. Strobing and clawing for the bottom, the vigorous bolts coruscated into the lateral corridor the probe had excavated. Crackling sounds spewed from the opening long after the Sith had harnessed their powers.
Then the repetitive strikes of the jackhammer began once more.
“It’s the ore,” Tenebrous said. “There’s too much resistance here.”
Plagueis knew what needed to be done. “I’ll go down,” he said, and was on the verge of leaping into the shaft when Tenebrous restrained him.
“This can wait. We’re returning to the grotto.”
Plagueis hesitated, then nodded. “As you say, Master.”
Tenebrous swung to the droid. “Continue your attempts to deactivate the unit.”
“I will, sir. To do that, however, I will need to remain here.”
“What of it?” Tenebrous said, cocking his head to one side.
“Should I fail in my efforts, the ensuing explosion will surely result in my destruction.”
Plagueis understood. “You’ve been useful, droid.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Tenebrous scowled. “You waste your breath.”
Nearly knocked over by the swiftness of Tenebrous’s departure, Plagueis had to call deeply on the Force merely to keep up. Retracing the inclined path they had taken from the grotto in which their starship waited, they fairly flew up the crystal-studded tunnel they had picked their way through earlier. Plagueis grasped that a powerful explosion was perhaps imminent, but was mystified by his Master’s almost mad dash for the surface. In the past Tenebrous had rarely evinced signs of discomfort, let alone fear; so what danger had he sensed that propelled him with such abandon? And when, in the past, had they fled danger of any sort? Safeguarded by the powers of the dark side, the Sith could hardly fear death when they were allied to it. Plagueis stretched out with his feelings in an attempt to identify the source of Tenebrous’s dread, but the Force was silent.
Ten meters ahead of him, the Bith had ducked under a scabrous outcropping. Haste, however, brought him upright too quickly and his left shoulder glanced off the rough rock, leaving a portion of his suit shredded.
“Master, allow me to lead,” Plagueis said when he reached Tenebrous. He was only slightly more agile than the Bith, but he had better night vision and a keener sense of direction, over and above what the Force imparted.
His pride wounded more than his shoulder, Tenebrous waved off the offer. “Be mindful of your place.” Regaining his balance and composure, he streaked off. But at a fork in the tunnel, he took the wrong turn.
“This way, Master,” Plagueis called from the other corridor, but he stopped to surrender the lead.
Closer to the surface the tunnels opened into caverns the size of cathedrals, smoothed and hollowed by rainwater that still surged in certain seasons of Bal’demnic’s long year. In pools of standing water darted various species of blind fish. Overhead, hawk-bats took panicked flight from their roosting places in the stippled ceiling. Natural light in the far distance prompted the two Sith to race for the grotto; but, even so, they were a moment late.
The gas explosion caught up with them just as they were entering the light-filled cavity at the top of the escarpment. From deep in the tunnel resounded a squealing electronic wail, and at the same time, almost as if the cave system were gasping for breath, a searing wind tore down from a perforation in the grotto’s arched ceiling through which the ship had entered. A muffled but ground-heaving detonation followed; then a roiling fireball that was the labyrinth’s scorching exhalation. Whirling to the tunnel they had just exited and managing somehow to remain on his feet, Tenebrous conjured a Force shield with his waving arms that met the fireball and contained it, thousands of flaming hawk-bats spiraling within the tumult like wind-blown embers.
A few meters away Plagueis, hurled face-first to the ground by the intensity of the vaporizing blast, lifted his head in time to see the underside of the domed ceiling begin to shed enormous slabs of rock. Directly below the plummeting slabs sat their starship.
“Master!” he said, scrambling to his feet with arms lifted in an attempt to hold the rocks in midair.
His own arms still raised in a Force-summoning posture, Tenebrous swung around to bolster Plagueis’s intent. Behind him, the fireball’s final flames surged from the mouth of the tunnel to lick his back and drive him deeper into the grotto.
The cave continued to spasm underfoot, sending shock waves through the crazed ceiling. Cracks spread like a web from the oculus, triggering collapses throughout the grotto. Plagueis heard a rending sound overhead and watched a fissure zigzag its way across the ceiling, sloughing layer after layer of stone as it followed the grotto’s curved wall.
Now, though, it was Tenebrous who was positioned beneath the fall.
And in that instant Plagueis perceived the danger Tenebrous had foreseen earlier: his death.
His death at Plagueis’s hands.
— Gail ErichBook DeveloperScribe Inc.www.scribenet.com 7540 Windsor DriveSuite 200BAllentown PA 18195main telephone: 215.336.5094direct telephone: 215.336.5094 ext. 126
Anonymous
Posted January 25, 2012
It's amazing how a single reference to Darth Plagueis in Episode III can lead to a tale of this magnitude. I've had this book on my radar for a while now and it does not disappoint-- for the most part.
Despite the title, this book is just as much about Darth Sidious as it is Darth Plagueis, delving into the backstory of their first meeting, upbringing as Master and Apprentice, and eventual falling out. Plagueis' story is truly a tragedy, for the Sith lord has the ambition, know-how, and financial means to set up the Grand Plan, but is unable to see it through. From Episode III, we know that Plagueis sought control over life and death, and in the end was able to save others, but not himself.
The biggest shortcoming of the book for me was the fact that not enough attention was paid to Plagueis' pursuit of immortality. By the time we are given any insight into Plagueis' experiments with midi-chlorian manipulation, the spotlight has turned in favor of Sidious. Much of what we are told is done through flashback, and brief ones at that. This is a shame since the power over life and death was central to the intrigue behind Darth Plagueis (and central to Anakin's fall to the dark side).
Fortunately, even if the pursuit of immortality where removed entirely from the book, we would still have a great story on our hands. Star Wars: Darth Plagueis is an amazing prequel to the Star Wars films, as we are able to see the full extent of careful planning and manipulation behind the series of events leading up to the Clone Wars and fall of the Republic. The cast of characters is broad with a number of memorable cameos, including Darth Maul, Count Dooku, Qui-Gon Jinn, Master Sifo-Dyas, Padme Amidala, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker, among others. Unlike a lot of Star Wars books, there aren't a whole lot of action-packed lightsaber duels, but when the action does come around, it is memorable.
In conclusion, this is a fun read for any Star Wars fan, particularly those with an interest in the backstory of Darth Sidious and the behind-the-scenes events taking place to set up the fall of the Jedi and the Republic in Episodes I-III.
16 out of 17 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.CaptainMorgan
Posted October 21, 2011
I Also Recommend:
I read and loved the whole Darth Bane series and was looking forward to a Darth Plagueis book but I was under the impression that they would make a Darth Zannah book, then a book about her successor, etc. and work there way down to Darth Plagueis! Was I wrong? Why aren't they doing that?
7 out of 23 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Mattias
Posted January 12, 2012
Shallow character development, lack of detail, and overall shallow writing combine to make this novel a tedious chore to get through. The over-vilified character of Palpatine deserved more attention than Luceno spent on him and the actual namesake of the book seems to be forsaken half way through, relegated to a secondary character.
6 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.halfbloodprincess55
Posted February 5, 2012
As soon as I knew this book was out I was excited about it. I read the Darth Bane series and I loved it and I was hoping the Darth Plagueis book would be similar. It was not. The story is more about political drama then anything and if you are not into that I would not read this book. The political drama makes the book more on the slow side. The title of the book is Darth Plagueis yet half way through the book they concentrate more on Darth Sidious then Plagueis, which is rather annoying. I think the book either needed to be a series or longer so the author could of gave more time into developing the character of Darth Plagueis and then moved on to Darth Sidioius slower then this book does. Over all die hard Star Wars fans will probably enjoy this book but if you do not like slow reads I would pass on it.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 19, 2011
I Also Recommend:
amazing from begining to the very end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5 out of 24 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Although the title of the book would have you thinking that it was mainly about Darth Plagueis, I feel he was really used in a supportive role. I was hoping for more info about the Force, and midi-chlorian manipulation, but it played a very small part. The book focuses mainly on Palpatine, and some on Darth Maul. Much of the book also focuses on the political world of the Galactic Senate. I think it spanned too many years, sometimes taking 10 "standard year" jumps between chapters. I feel it would have better been suited to keep to a smaller time-span, and maybe some follow up books would have been possible.
In the end, it was an OK storyline, weaving some backstory into the prequel films.
I thought Daniel Davis was a terrific narrator for this book, and je had me imagining the characters as they appeared and sounded in the movies.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 29, 2012
How true Star Wars fans could not enjoy this is beyond me. When Palpatine utters those words "not from a jedi" I was dying for the backstory. Well here it is and it was very good. Parents please stop letting your 8 year old make reviews.
4/5 1 star off for the whole force/Anakin lead in.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.cdforecheck
Posted January 29, 2012
I can't imagine trying to fit events in with a movie (The Phantom Menace: Star Wars Episode 1) and with three books; Darth Maul: Saboteur, The Cloak of Deception, and Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter. James Luceno did an admirible job of keeping the originals in place and introducing the behind the scenes machinations implied in the opening paragraph of the episode one movie. Although at times the book seems more a political/economic story rather than Star Wars it does fill in blanks and hints at possible origins of Anakin. Another book perhaps in the works? Darth Plagueis in Exile???
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 8, 2012
You cant help but buy this
3 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 29, 2012
Very good book that brings the background of the Emperor into light. Shows us the origin of Darth Sidious and he came to power and manipulated events that led to the eventual Clone Wars and fall of Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader. A must read for any Star Wars fan.
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 29, 2012
I absolutely loved this book. I thought Luceno did a great job transitioning between the different time periods and combining it with other events taking place at the same time but from a different perspective. I loved that we got more of Palpatine's backstory.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 14, 2012
"I've been an admirer of J.L.'s since before I even knew I was reading his work!" •]|[• You Should Look Up His Pseudonym(sp?) To See What I"m Talkin' 'bout Here! •]|[• ………… Rogue al'Thor? @ X-BoxLive? …………
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 2, 2012
Could be exciting who knows? Could be bad
2 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 26, 2011
I Also Recommend:
this book is going to be amazing this will be the best stand alone novel ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 out of 15 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 1, 2012
Great for learning the politics and economy of the Old Republic. Although a good book, i was sorely disappointed on how the author tried so hard to make the book more complicated than it had to be; not only by using words nobody knows the meaning of, but by also using references you wouldnt know about (unless by googling.)
Through all that, i found the book good, but less enjoyable than it could have been; and instead found myself trying to hurry through it to learn about the story of the 2 Darths involved because of its complexity and fluff. If not for my Nook, it would have been unreadable. Recommended only if you truly want to learn pre-chancellor Palpatine.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 25, 2012
Sucked
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 20, 2012
This is The best Star Wars book I have read following the Thrwan Trilogy. The ability of James Luceno to write a back story about Darth Plagueis from a 2 minute segment from one of the movies is hands down phenomenal.
I agree with those that have said that they would have liked to read more about how Plagueis was attempting to manipulate the midi-chlorians to create and sustain life, but I thought that everything was very well written. To see how Plagueis came to be a Sith master and succumb to Sidious at the end of his reign; the ability of the two of them to manipulate their way into greater power in the senate and the dark side; how Sidious overthrew The Rule of Two that Plagueis wanted to reestablish; all the plot lines, twists and turns had me riveted from cover to cover.
Anyone who thinks that there wasn't enough character development in this story isn't a true Star Wars fan and wouldn't be able to follow along because they don't understand how these types of characters and the Star Wars universe is created.
I would recommend this book to anyone that knows Star Wars or anyone else for that matter.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 24, 2012
I found this book to fill alot of plot-holes from the movies and give a great explaintion of how all of the events unfolded. And it explains Syfo-dios
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 18, 2012
Man, he can like what he likes, and not like what he doesn't like. I myself dont like it either.
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 23, 2012
I thought there would be more "Force" philosophy on how Plagueis was able to control life and death. It was more a story about Sidious and how he managed to work his way up the political ranks.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
He was the most powerful Sith lord who ever lived.
But could he be the only one who never died?
“Did you ever hear the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise? It’s a Sith legend. Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith, so powerful and so wise that he could use the Force to influence the ...