Birth of a Tyrant Chapter 3

Chapter 1: Life

Draco, five-million years before the overthrow of Lord Vader and the rise of the Universal Scified Empire. The Tyrannus Universe has not yet risen to prominence, but its first major power has just emerged nine months ago. Draconox and Dracona, two of the first in the next step of human evolution, seized power on the planet. Their son, their legacy, had just been born.

As the first Dragon Queen held their son in her hands, Draconox's face was overcome by a sinister smirk. He did not view him as a son, not even as a person; simply a weapon, a tool used to further their goals. And his wife shared this view. Draconox turned to Dracona. "If we're going to make him a weapon, we should imbue him with the powers of the dragon gods."

Dracona nodded. "He must never discover what we will make him. We'll name him Draconus."

In the door of the room, this conversation was heard by Draconith, their military leader. He knew that they would entrust him with their son's training. They disgusted him; they only used Draconus to accomplish their goals and desires.

The Dragon King and Queen summoned the dragon gods. "O great creators and rulers of Draco, please imbue our son with your powers--but do not awaken them just yet."

The great creatures glowed, before they fired beams at Draconus, granting him their powers. He was sleeping and did not notice.

The two returned to Draconith, and Draconox spoke to him. "Take Draconus to Earth. Conquer the planet. Train him there. Push him past his limits, no matter how much he gets beaten down. His comfort cannot and will not compromise his raw, untamed strength."

Draconith bowed. "Yes, my lord."

He took the infant in his hands, and looked down at him. This was his chance to raise Draconus in the way of the light, the way of the Jedi.

Draconith boarded his personal shuttle, which entered a large ship. Carrying Draconus, he walked across the bridge, making the crew aware of his presence. "Set course for Earth. Alert the rest of our fleet."

Chapter 2: The Tyrant Begins

For the next sixteen years on Earth, in a land once known as North America, Draconith trained Draconus. They would duel for hours on end with swords, as the Dragon Prince slowly mastered all seven lightsaber forms. He would also learn about the history of the universe and of Earth. Draconus found a particular interest in the blue planet's wildlife, specifically its long-extinct inhabitants, the dinosaurs.

One night, at the age of thirteen, Draconus was sitting with his mentor. He asked about a skull he had seen protuding from a mountainside. Draconith tested him with his response. "What species is it?"

Draconus knew in an instant, for he had a fiery passion for dinosaurs. He knew from the skull, those foot-long teeth that could rip through a car, the skull that sloped down from the forehead to produce a crushing bite-force. "Tyrannosaurus rex."

Draconith nodded. "Yes. Legend has it that that particular individual saved the future of this planet."

Draconus looked around at his lush surroundings. All this, because of one dinosaur. "Amazing."

His teacher smiled. "It really is."

Draconus dedicated himself to his studies and to his training, mentored by Draconith. The fifty-two year-old hoped to sway him to the way of the light, but his student hid the fact that he felt isolated. He felt that he had a greater responsibility than everyone around him, but he accepted it, even if it took its emotional toll on him. Nobody knew it, but his inner darkness was growing.

Draconus at-last reached the age of sixteen. He and Draconith ventured into a Force-cavern, filled with Kyber Crystals. Draconus had taken one and had laid it out with the parts to build his hilt on a stone slab. As a result of exposure to his sheer power, the crystal cracked. Meditating, he used the Force to assemble the lightsaber. The components of the handgrip clicked together, then the compartment for the crystal was covered by sleek Draconium, as was the emitter of the blade. He also added two other emitters on the sides of the hilt to disperse excess energy.

He opened his eyes as his weapon was complete. It hovered down into the grasp of his palm, and Draconus held it out before him. He pressed the activation switch on the hilt, as three regal purple blades flared to life, filling the cave with a glowing light of that colour. Draconus looked on in amazement.

However, Draconith felt fear. He knew that a purple lightsaber blade was the physical embodiment of both the light and the dark; the colour was created by mixing the hopeful blue of the Light Side, and the angered red of the Dark Side. Draconus had both. Looking at the blade, he saw a vision; a vision of a kingdom ravaged by a Calamity, two powerful beings meeting in the midst of a blizzard, and an armour-clad warrior wielding a crimson-red lightsaber.

He hid this fear with his next statement. "You are ready for the conquest of this planet, my apprentice."

The next day, Draconus put on the armour given to him by Draconith, who had said he was told to give it to him by Chisen spirits. He clipped his lightsaber on his belt, and sheathed the Dragonbane Sword, made by his own hand when he was twelve. With his armour now covering his tunic, he kneeled before his mentor.

Draconith drew his sword and knighted Draconus. "For sixteen years, you have prepared for this moment. You have forged your own weapons, and proved yourself worthy of the title of the Dragon Prince. You have showed why you are the successor to King Draconox. Arise, Draconus - the Dragon Tyrant."

Draconus put on his helmet as he stood to both feet as Draconith led him to his six generals and brothers. "These will be the generals of your army, Draconus. They are also your brothers, so it would be wise to treat them as such."

Before the two Draconians stood six more, all clad in the armour of a knight. Draconith continued. "From left to right, these are your brothers--Draconax, Draconor, Dracan, Dracon, Draco, and Draconak."

Draconus shook each of their hands, introducing himself before turning back to Draconith. "I take it it is now time to conquer this planet?"

Draconith nodded. "Yes. My officials and I will be awaiting your successful return."

The seven Draconian Knights walked out of the room to the outside world. There were seven warships; one for each of them. They boarded their respective vehicles as they took off, ready for war. Little did they know of the hardships ahead of them.

Chapter 3: The Seeds of War

The fleet landed outside the land of Taghia-Sakhra, where Draconus had been trained. They were now in a land once known as Colorado. Draconus stepped out, looking at the arid landscape, littered with skeletons. The planet was going through a mass extinction, and new animals had already evolved--ready to take their place in the world.

Draconus wore his armour, and his brothers approached him. They surveyed the land through the lens of their masks, standing atop a cliff. Draconus spotted figures below them--people. He turned to Draconax. "Prepare your men for an ambush. We're taking this land from the people of the area."

Draconax nodded. "Yes, my lord."

He walked away as Draconus stood at the edge of the cliff, brooding. The Force told him that this planet had been ravaged by the humans here. They disgusted him--they believed themselves to be superior to every other life-form on the planet? He thought that as if that mindset wasn't bad enough, they were arrogant enough to drive every species in this world into extinction. Below him was a rock, and he jumped down. Using the thrusters in his suit's palms and feet, he landed safely behind the rock, unnoticed by the humans. He thought to himself, "Another happy landing."

One of the humans was surveying the area. "Sector clear."

Suddenly, a sword impaled one of the men near the rock, and the other human shouted. "Not clear! Not clear!"

The blade returned to its master, none other than Draconus Tyrannus, who said, "Hello there."

Reaching out with the Force, he lifted up the human and snapped his neck. The other men began to open fire on him as his own soldiers charged. Draconus' armour deflected the bullets with ease, as he advanced with the Dragonbane Sword in hand.

The tyrant killed them all with ease, and within two weeks, they had taken hold of the entire west area of North America. Word of the conquest reached the east, who prepared for war.

Draconus had established a base in what was once the Morrison Formation, ruled by dinosaurs 150 million years ago. Here, he would spend time brooding or training his swordsmanship skills. One day, in his personal quarters, he looked at his reflection in a mirror with his shirt off. His body was in peak human condition; massive pectorals and a bulging six-pack. Yet something felt off about it - unnatural.

The thought left Draconus' mind as quickly as it had entered. He put on his tunic without an undershirt, exposing part of his chest and stomach. He clipped his lightsaber on his belt as he heard a knock on his door. "Lord Draconus?"

It was Draconax. "Come in."

Draconax approached his older brother. "My men have received word that the humans in the east know of our presence. They are preparing for war. There is even a small force approaching our base right now."

Draconus smirked. "Leave it to me, brother. But come along if you wish."

He left his room, not bothering to gather his armour, sword, or shield--which Draconax noticed. "Sir, your armour!"

Draconus called back. "I don't need it!"

He exited the building, followed by his oldest brother, who was still younger than him by a year. They were met by a small force of eight men. Draconus stepped forward as their opponents looked on in fear, seeing his muscular build. He sensed their fear through the Force. They changed their formation, circling around him. Draconax called out in concern. "You're surrounded, brother!"

"All I am surrounded by is fear," Draconus unclipped his lightsaber and raised it, igniting it as he added, "And dead men."

At that moment, the eight Earthlings charged at Draconus, who killed them with a single horizontal stroke of his sword, spinning to decapitate them all. He turned to his brother as he deactivated his weapon. "General, prepare your men to move out of this area. Tell them to head east when they're ready."

Draconax nodded. "Yes, my lord."

*3 weeks later*

The people of the North American continent had been pushed all the way to the east coast. They prepared to make their last stand, loading their guns with bullets--weapons that were obsolete compared to Draconian technology. The leader was sitting in his quarters when an explosion was heard, screams filled the air, and gunshots boomed.

Draconus and Draconax, along with their Draconian soldiers, were standing outside the base. Draconax stepped forward as his brother dismounted his Gaia Bear named Oberon. "People of North America, this is your last chance. Surrender or die!"

One of the humans of Earth shouted, "We'll never surrender to you!"

Draconus added, "So be it."

At that moment, the force of 5,000 Draconians charged, led by their armour-clad leaders. As a firefight began, the two brothers moved forward. They cut down anyone who stood in their way, before reaching the main building of the base. Draconus kicked the door open, using the Force to boost his physical strength. They slaughtered the guards before reaching the central command centre. The two brothers stood before the commander, Grant Malcolm, whose back faced them.

He turned around to face the two knights. "So you actually made it."

Malcolm chuckled. "You'll never--"

Draconus thrust the Dragonbane Sword through his throat, killing him. They had cut off the head of the snake, and the rest of the army would fall.

They looked outside a window, to see that their soldiers had won. The entire continent of North America was now theirs.