Star Wars - 210 - Jedi Prince 01 - The Glove of Darth Vader Read Free Page B

Hissa’s help, Trioculus had been appointed Lord Overseer and Supreme Slavelord. The crowd continued to watch in hushed silence, as Trioculus began to speak in a cold, throaty voice. "My father, the Emperor, had many powers of the Dark Side. But without three eyes he could never achieve perfection. It was known by the ancients that a Dark Lord with three eyes has a secret strength possessed by none other. And so it is my destiny to rule over my father’s Empire and bring us the glory that he never achieved!" Grand Moff Hissa came forward. "We have heard from Trioculus, the Emperor’s son, and we shall obey him, one and all! Prepare to bow and accept your new Emperor!" A member of the Imperial Royal Guard stood up and shouted out a troublesome question in a booming voice.
    "Just a moment, Grand Moff Hissa!" said the bold and foolhardy Royal Guard member. "Lord Trioculus, are you aware that there are others who claim to be the new ruler of the Empire? I have been to the planet Gargon. There, Grand Admiral Grunger says he is our new leader. And he has a fleet of thirty star destroyers!"
    "I shall deal with him when I am ready," Trioculus said. "He will learn who is the rightful Emperor!"
    Then an admiral stood to speak. "How can you claim to be the new chosen one when you do not wear Darth Vader’s glove? The Prophets of the Dark Side have said that the next Emperor shall wear-"
    "As the Emperor’s son," shouted Trioculus, "it is through my blood that I rule, not with some glove!"
    "But the Prophets of the Dark Side are powerful!" declared the member of the Imperial Royal Guard. "They foretold that the Rebels would blow up both Death Stars-and they even knew when they would be destroyed. They saw the future. Therefore they must know our destiny!"
    "Only I know the destiny of the Empire," thundered Trioculus, "and only I have the power of my father and more-including the lightning power of the Dark Side!" Trioculus raised his arms and bolts of lightning shot from his fingertips. The lightning crackled in two directions, striking both the member of the Imperial Royal Guard and the grand admiral who dared to question him.
    The men fell to their knees, pleading with Trioculus to stop as they quaked and thrashed on the ground, moaning, while the electricity sizzled all around them. At last Trioculus showed mercy on them and lowered his hands. "Now who will be the first officer to step forward and pledge his loyalty to me?" he demanded.
    "I will!" shouted a general.
    "No, let it be me!" shouted a grand moff. He rushed forward to be the first to bow down before Trioculus, and Trioculus accepted him.
    After Trioculus listened to the officers pledge their vows of loyalty, he raised his arms, turned his back, and left through the huge black door. Grand Moff Hissa followed him. Throughout the stadium everyone was talking about what they had just seen.
    "I think we’d better get out of here, Artoo."
    Threepio turned to look for the little droid. "Hey, wait for me!" he said, noticing that Artoo was already heading back toward the entrance to the underground passageway. Threepio hurried to catch up with Artoo. As they approached the door to the tunnel, they saw that it was surrounded by stormtroopers-and the stormtroopers were bolting it shut!

CHAPTER 3
    The Seven Words of Trioculus
    Trioculus, surrounded by stormtrooper bodyguards, departed from Kessendra Stadium with Grand Moff Hissa. He was also accompanied by Emdee-Five (MD-5), his droid with a narrow head and shining eyes.
    They rode in an armored landspeeder limousine to the large, black metal palace where Trioculus had lived since his promotion to Lord Overseer and Supreme Slavelord of the Spice Mines.
    Upon their arrival Emdee went directly to the huge kitchen to warn Trioculus’s chef to complete the preparations for the celebration banquet.
    Soon Trioculus and Grand Moff Hissa were joined by a small, select group of grand moffs loyal to Trioculus and a grand admiral from the