Star Wars_ Darth Bane 03_ Dynasty of Evil - Drew Karpyshyn [61]
Fortunately, he had a way to help him pass the time.
“Essence transfer is the secret of eternal life,” the hologram told him.
Bane was sitting cross-legged on the floor of his ship, the Holocron resting on the ground in front of him. A three-dimensional image of Darth Andeddu, twenty centimeters tall, was projected just above the apex of the four-sided pyramid.
“The physical body will always weaken and fail, yet it is nothing but a shell or vessel,” the hologram continued. “When it is time, it is possible to transfer your consciousness—your spirit—into a new vessel … as I have done with this Holocron.”
Bane understood that the projection speaking to him was not the dead spirit of the ancient Sith Lord; it was only a simulated personality known as a gatekeeper. Every Holocron had one. A virtual guide programmed with the personality traits of the original creator, the gatekeeper served as a guardian of the information stored within the artifact.
The appearance of the gatekeeper often mirrored that of the Holocron’s creator … or at least, the image the creator wanted others to see. Bane remembered how the gatekeeper of Belia Darzu’s Holocron would often change appearance, reflecting her changeling heritage.
His own Holocron projected an image of Bane still clad in his orbalisk armor. Although the parasites had proven impractical in real life, the horrific appearance of his body covered by the infestation was more visually impressive and intimidating. It also hinted at the sacrifices one must make to embrace the true power of the dark side—a valuable lesson for any who would follow his teachings.
More important, the orbalisks masked his appearance and concealed his true identity. Should the Holocron ever fall into the hands of the Jedi while he was still alive, they would be unable to recognize him from the gatekeeper’s image … an even greater consideration now that he was on the cusp of learning the secrets of eternal life. But first, he had to overcome the small but imposing figure who now stood before him.
Andeddu had chosen to represent himself as a heavily armored man bathed in a fiery glow of red and orange. Atop his head rested a tall, flat headdress reminiscent of a high priest, encircled by a thin gold crown inset with gems. His face was sunken and drawn, almost skeletal.
For the past four days Bane had played the gatekeeper’s games in an attempt to unlock the secrets of eternal life. He had delved deep into Andeddu’s Holocron, accomplishing in less than a week what would have taken others months or even years. He had suffered through the tedious lessons; he had listened to the tiresome philosophical rants of the holographic image. He had learned nothing new about the Force, though the gatekeeper’s words had revealed much about Darth Andeddu’s personality and beliefs.
Like many of the ancient Sith, he was cruel, arrogant, self-centered, and shortsighted. His lessons mirrored those of Bane’s instructors at the Sith Academy on Korriban; lessons Bane had rejected decades ago as flawed. He had moved beyond their teachings. His understanding of the dark side had evolved. In creating the Rule of Two, he had ushered in a new era for the Sith. He had transcended the limited understanding of men like Andeddu, and he was done listening to the gatekeeper’s ignorant litany.
“Show me the ritual of essence transfer,” Bane demanded.
“The ritual is fraught with danger,” the gatekeeper warned. “Attempting it will cause the current vessel to be destroyed; your body will be consumed by the power of the dark side.”
Bane clenched his teeth in exasperation. He had heard these warnings at least a dozen times before.
“Choose your new vessel carefully. If you select a living