Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order "Hearts of the Inquisitors"

There is only emotion, no peace.

There is ever ignorance, to seek knowledge.

There is infinite passion, fearing serenity.

There are ages of chaos, to create harmony.

There is certain death, hence flows the Force.

-“Code of Cor Shan”, from collected poetry

On the water moon of Nur, in the heart of the Mustafar system, was Fortress Inquisitorius. An expansive Imperial facility hidden below the oceans, with a massive black fin jutting from the surface as it’s only marker. Underneath the mirror black, calm surface of the waters, and energy was boiling.

It was no generator, service droid, or ship. But a man. Breathing silently, but heavily into the sea. He was barechested, with black lines of tattoos snaking around his arms, chest and neck, with bare feet wriggling in the icy cold waters. A rebreather fitted to his mouth, dark eyes were closed, taking in the various rhythms and vibrations from the lava flowing and forming on the ocean floor. As his eyes came to life, they reflected the red and blue glow of the planets above, and shot open just as wide.

He allowed his body to release from the ocean floor, drifting swiftly up to the surface. As he passed the sections of submerged buildings, his body appeared as a silhouette, like some peaceful ocean creature slowly passing with the currents.

In moments his body broke the still waters, rippling waves into the edge of the platform beside him. When he pulled himself up onto the deck, three Shadowtroopers surrounded him, dwarfed by his sufficient height.

Standing six and half feet tall with weight and bulk to match, Cor Shan was a servant of the Empire. He was young and handsome, loyal, dedicated, intelligent, and most important: An apprentice to Darth Vader himself. Over several years since the Empire had taken over, Vader had been known to seek out very powerful Force sensitives to bend them to his own dominating will. Those who demonstrated the ability to wield the Force like others could not understand were special to him. They were far too important for the uncomplicated life of an Inquisitor, too strong to spend their lives tortured forever, and far too useful to be maimed or killed without thought.

These rare gems, Vader treasured.

Over time, he trained three other apprentices that Shan knew of: A S’kytri woman named Kharys, a saved Jedi named Antinnis, and a very powerful child named Galen. Although Shan was aware of them, he was never allowed to see or have contact with them. And Vader himself even kept Galen completely secret from the Emperor.

All held a special meaning for him, forever filling a paternal hole in his soul. Shan could sense he was a part of that, and it intoxicated him.

Shan arrogantly assumed that, unlike him, the others could not handle the full power of the Dark Side. They could not comprehend the secrets the way Vader intended. And in many ways this was true. Antinnis was too simple, Kharys was too wild, and Galen was still too young.

Cor Shan changed everything.

Having originally spent his entire life within the Jedi Order, Shan was discovered by Eno Cordova 20 years before the formation of the Empire. After only a short while, Cordova noted that Shan was immensely powerful with the Force, and went as far as to label him “a creative overflow of the Force.” At the age of eleven Shan was made an Apprentice Seeker by the Jedi order, the youngest to ever join the organization, and began journeying with them to all corners of the galaxy in search of Force sensitive children. He lived a happy life as force for change, believing in the Jedi’s humble work.

Unfortunately, things would not remain this way.

A year before the fall of the Jedi, Shan began to question the action of stealing children to be used by the Order. He spent most of his days repeatedly rebuking the Jedi, often in public, and refused to complete the necessary trials to become a master. It was sadly decided by the Order, and even Cordova himself, that Shan would need to be cut off from the Temples and teachings. He would no longer be allowed to train as a Jedi.

But before the final decision could be made, Order 66 was executed.

Whether it was from residual fear, or lust from his hatred, Cor Shan witnessed many Jedi be put to their deaths that night. He watched them impaled, mauled, burned alive. And for just a moment, a circle of fire grew in his deep eyes.

Instead of fleeing, he disguised himself and remained in Coruscant to witness the impassioned speech of the newly appointed Emperor of the Galaxy. In that moment, he was so moved by the ideas and beliefs for this grand order, that he immediately decided to dedicate his life to the Empire.

Days later, he found himself at an Imperial base, surrounded by Stormtroopers and officers in a panic. None of them had ever witnessed a former Jedi walk into their arms, thrown at their mercy. But it was the will of the Force.

Sensing this incredible act, which produced a great wave of energy, Vader personally arrived to deal with the situation. Upon raising Shan to his feet, Vader began to Force choke him, only to find the Jedi gurgling a laugh. Vader drew him close to his face, driving chilling breath into his soul, tightening his grip. But the Jedi simply smiled as if he was admiring the power.

Through the struggled gasps of joy, Vader could make out a single sentence: “My Lord...I do not fear death. I am death.”

Vader could sense the conviction. The flames of hatred, passion, pure madness, smoldering beneath his heart. It was like a blade cutting into him.

If this power could be turned outward...

Vader released him. He fell into a heap for just a moment before repositioning himself on his knees, bowing in respect.

“Who are you, Jedi?” Vader growled.

“I am no Jedi,” Shan spat, “I am a Seeker. For the Empire.”

As Shan walked along the platform above the water on Nur, his soaking wet body squelched with a high pitched squeal, and suddenly steam rose from his rigid outline. In an instant, his pants and boots were dry and fit more tightly to his body. He ran a hand through his wavy, coal black hair and arched his head to the sky.

Above him a ship approached, with incredibly long, thin stabilizers which hung from the air like giant fangs. The ST 33 Delta class E-7e shuttle was a one of a kind craft.

It was one of many prototypes for Sienar Fleet systems; a display model meant to be utilized for design and manufacturing training. But some, especially in the Empire, held a certain appreciation for unique designs, especially when they appeared imposing. One of these men, was Darth Vader.

Vader had discovered this ship a short time after becoming the machine he was today, and decided to store it in a special facility until he could find use for it at a more appropriate time. Like a great many things, this time came with Cor Shan.

Cor Shan’s Shuttle concept

Over the many years since his dedication to Vader through self-apprenticeship, Shan had been the most valuable asset he had discovered. Shan was wise, cunning, a brilliant mind, and incredibly gifted with Force powers. He had the unique ability to follow Jedi through use of meditation. As long as he had seen you in the flesh one time, he could find you and follow you in his mind forever. It was a powerful alley which Vader utilized regularly, and it was the main reason why The Emperor allowed Vader to have public apprentices.

At that time, Sidious was already invoking the Rule of One, a new Sith order to replace a tired system. This doctrine instated Sidious as the sole reigning Dark Lord, with no need for more apprentices. This meant that Vader was free to train loyal executors of his will, and experiment with their unique dynamics.

Shan also harbored something else very valuble to Vader: An extreme hatred for the new bands of Rebel fighters, who he deemed to be mostly uneducated animals, and how they framed the Empire’s actions to the galaxy. Shan did not see the Empire as an evil force, but rather an organization meant to bring order to the galaxy.

The Jedi had been capturing Force sensitives to fight in meaningless wars. The Empire was capturing them to save them, to turn them into defenders of the people. These children had been brainwashed by the Jedi, and now the Empire was subjecting them to a decontamination process. But the Rebels saw it as torture and began to spread their lies against the Empire throughout the worlds. With each spark of their false hope, more lives were lost. Shan was disgusted and dedicated to ending that.

Because of his intelligence, Vader gave Shan the unique role of becoming not just a new apprentice, but a Dark Side scholar and relic hunter. Upon his many missions, Vader had been commanded by the Emperor to begin locating Jedi holy places, temples, relics and artifacts from around the systems. However, in many of these locations Jedi would often appear by chance, or on a mission to stop them.

In turn, Vader decided to outfit Shan with a special helmet and equipment, which not only allowed him to communicate with Vader from anywhere in the galaxy, but also to identify and record his findings. At all times, Vader’s digital display would show a small screen, directly fed to Shan’s helmet. This live feed would provide Vader with continuous, uninterrupted updates from all of Shan’s missions. His gear was also outfitted with special hardware and technology, designed by the brightest Imperial officers, which acted as a mobile data bank containing complete historical records. This data would assist him in uncovering many important clues and information regarding the lost material he was to find.

As Shan made his way toward the boarding ramp, another Shadowtrooper came to his side. “Sir, reports have been confirmed. We await your orders.”

“We have already left.” Shan replied deeply, striding past him and into his ship. The troopers quickly scurried up the ramp behind him and the doors hissed shut.

As the Delta shuttle ascended into the sky, it’s dark figure cast a shadow over the complex, obscuring the glow of the planets.

In space, somewhere outside the core systems, a cargo ship drifted through the stars slowly and steadily. It’s squared, bulky body lumbered from side to side, obviously the result of some battle just ended recently. Smoke poured from one side, sparks shot from the bottom, and one engine was completely burned out. Inside, the situation was no better.

“Does hyper drive still work!?” The Captain of the hearty crew yelled as he came running around a corner. The men and women inside the ship frantically darted from station to station, rapidly pushing buttons and searching the computers.

“It’s working!” A man replied.

“There’s still hope then,” the older human Captain rushed over to the pilot, “bring hyper drive up now, get it warm and ready. We need to make a break at any moment.”

Just then, two Wookies with heavy locks and razor blades strung into their fur entered. They carried an old wooden case into the cargo area and placed it on the floor.

“Careful!” The Captain yelled. “I told you I don’t want you two carrying that, now go sit down!”

The Wookies scoffed at him with a few good grunts, brushed past, and took a seat on some crates by the doorway. The Captain, who was an ageing, brash trader with graying hair and a beard, leaned toward the woman at the communication panel.

“Please tell me you have a response,” he asked, “we need this to happen now, or never.”

“If it doesn’t happen now, the Hutt’s will kill us.” She responded with worry.

“It’s not just the Hutt’s I fear...”

“I am aware,” she shot back, “and this method is madness!” She quieted herself and pulled the Captain close to her. “Sending out an open communication for a Jedi holocron? If the wrong person picks this up-”

“I know, I know!” He pulled away from her. “Look, just do it and hurry! We don’t have any options here. We’re nearly dead anyway.”

She lowered her head in distress, then pointlessly continued to locate a buyer.

This was a ship full of Pirates. A collection of smugglers and thieves, bound together by one purpose: To serve themselves. Moments later, the woman finally turned to the Captain with the good news he had been praying for.

“Captain,” she shouted, “we have one! I found a buyer, not far!”

He positioned himself over her shoulder, studied the screen for a moment, then dashed back to the pilot’s chair.

“I have the coordinates!” He exclaimed as he reached the cock pit.

But the pilot remained motionless.

“Hey...hey, what’s going on?” The Captain asked. But the pilot just stared blankly into the stars ahead of him. The Captain followed his stare until his gaze landed upon what he and the entire crew had been most dreading.

There, floating in front of their ship like the head of a beast, was an Imperial Delta shuttle.

“May there be mercy.” The pilot finally stuttered.

“There won’t be.” Another crewman uttered.

“Don’t run,” the Captain breathed. “Don’t even move.”

“Wasn’t a plan of mine.”

“You keep your eyes on me, understand?” He paused and gave the pilot a grave look. “If we can find a way out of this, make the jump. On my command.”

Like a ghostly hand, the shuttle lumbered over the small cargo ship and came to a stop. Inside, the crew fell silent in hesitation. As the room became darker, the metallic sounds of ships locking together amplified and echoed around them.

“Everyone into the cargo area!” The Captain called out.

“I knew it...I knew it.” The female crewman began trembling in fear and attempted to hide herself under her control station. The rest of the crew followed the Captain into the dim lights of the small bay, and waited.

After what seemed like hours of anxious anticipation, a door toward the front of the ship shot open. Beyond it, steam filled the orange hue of the hallway, reflecting the glow in the vapor. Through the mist, they could just make out a shadow walking toward them, but the sound of the footsteps was strange. It was not a boot, but the distinct clang of metal on metal. It was a droid. The tall figure briskly walked through the doorway and revealed itself to the crew.

An IG-100 MagnaGuard, with two Shadowtroopers on either side.

“What the...” One of the more haggard crewmen remarked.

The MagnaGuard located the Captain with it’s radiant red eyes and intensified it’s steps as it drew closer to him. One end of the Guard’s staff crackled to life with purple electricity. It shoved the rod in the Captain’s face, who flung his head back just before the staff touched him.

“Yeah,” the Captain muttered, “nice weapon. Wouldn’t mind having one myself.”

“You know why we’re here,” one of the troopers stepped forward and raised his blaster, “the holocron. Now.”

“We have no idea-” one of the crewmen began, but was quickly knocked back by the other end of the Guard’s staff.

He hit the floor hard, knocking over several crates. The two troopers came to the Guard’s side and shoved their blasters in the Captain’s face.

“NOW!” One of them shouted in anger.

Just then, a large, thick and robust crewman stepped forward, grabbing the trooper by the back of his helmet.

“Hey, tough guy!” The crewman pulled the trooper back and slammed him against the wall, throwing the blaster from his hands. As if on cue, the two Wookie pirates lunged forward, throwing their strong hairy arms around the Guard.

All at once, the entire ship erupted into a brawl. The remaining trooper fired his blaster blindly, while the pirates fumbled for their own pistols and eventually returned fire.

The Captain broke away from the Guard’s grip and threw himself to the floor. He saw the female crewman still cowering under her control station, frozen with fear. The Captain reached for the blaster at his side and fired a few shots at the trooper, who absorbed the blows and fell to the ground dead. A second later, the Wookies wrestled the Guard into place, ripping the arms off and throwing them against the wall.

“Now, go- go!” The Captain yelled as he ran back toward the cockpit. The pilot turned to him, nodded quickly, then began to activate the controls for light speed.

“Unlock the ship, unlock!” The Captain continued to exclaim, calling for his fellow mates to activate the emergency controls to undock their ship from the shuttle.

Another female crewman, who was now bloody and beaten, stumbled around the corner and grabbed onto a large white switch. But before she could manage to yank it down, her body was forcefully thrust away from the panel. She was pulled slowly through the doorway and into the docking shaft that led up into the shuttle. The entire crew stopped and listened, her desperate screams growing more faint and horrifying as she was dragged, by some invisible energy, into the shuttle.

“What...what...” Was all another crewman could let out before he too was dragged wildly up the shaft.

The Wookies jumped forward to grab his arm, but the pull was so strong they accidentally tore it off in the struggle. The crew panicked.

Suddenly, another shade of black seemed to fall over the ship.

Footsteps could be heard in the docking shaft. Soft at first, then heavier and louder. As the crew began to back away from the entry way again, a dark figure draped down like a curtain through the mist. As it turned to them, a glowing red cross visor shone through the haze. Two shapes, like straight horns reaching to the sky, protruded from the side of his helmet. The crew examined the figure with fear and fascination.

What was this monstrosity? A machine, a beast, a monster?

One of the crewmen quickly raised his blaster to fire. But before his could take the shot, the blaster was pulled swiftly from his fingers, aimed back in his direction and fired. His body hit the floor.

All at once, the rest of the crew reacted and rushed toward this new devil, but it was a meaningless effort. The Captain watched in horror as his entire crew, including the pilot, was frozen into place. They bent, twisted and struggled, but every single of them buckled at the knees and fell to the floor.

“I can’t move! I can’t move my legs!” One of the crewmen yelled, trying desperately to pull his knees off the floor.

The Captain, who was still standing on his feet, grabbed his blaster again and aimed it at the head of the dark figure.

“We do not bow to the Empire.” He stated.

The figure slowly came in front of him, almost as if it were gliding on the floor. The heat from the red cross centered in his helmet burned the Captain’s nose.

“Then bow to me.” The figure finally spoke in a rich, electronic voice.

Finally, the last memember of this pirate crew fell to his knees. Weighed down by not only the Force, but his failure.

As the Captain fought the will of the Force, the figure strode past him and lifted one hand into the air, which caused many lights on the control panels to blink rapidly. Then it raised another hand, pulling a bright blue Jedi holocron into it’s palm, and abruptly turned and exited through the mist again.

The Delta shuttle’s docking port detached from the cargo ship, and lay still in the vastness of space. Below them, the pirate’s ship quietly began a decent into a nearby planet, the crew alive and aware, but unable to stop it. Pinned to their fate; reaching out desperately for controls only inches from their reach.

Inside the docking bay of the shuttle, the dark figure removed it’s imposing helmet, revealing a familiar face inside. Cor Shan.

“Sir,” a Shadowtrooper approached, “will we open fire?”

“Patience, Captain.” Shan smiled and stepped away.

From the shuttle window, the trooper watched as the small cargo ship caught fire, then broke into thousands of pieces in the atmosphere.