The Spaces In Between

by stellacadente

Summary

Based on Star Wars: The Old Republic MMORPG. Xhareen, a Miralukan Sith warrior, navigates the path from obscurity to the heights of power as she also learns to lead and to love. An interpretation of the canon Sith Warrior story from Corellia to Ziost, with flashbacks.

It Begins With a Betrayal

On board the Class A Starship Yaroe Star

Ruin. Everything lay in ruin.

Xhareen Nah-garesh watched as the body of her captain floated in the kolto tank. The medtech, an enlisted woman with a Ziost accent, worked to seal the tank and get the regeneration process started. Her apparent skill came as a relief, since the ship didn't have a doctor on board.

"We're just a transport vessel, m'lord," she said. "Hard to keep real docs around at this pay."

Xhareen knew she had to do something but she wasn't sure what. They were still nearly a day from Corellia at this ship's speed, but she still needed to come up with something fast.

"Malavai," she whispered. You promised me we would share our legacy. But this is what you gave me instead.

"One of your own works to betray you." That's what Madaga-Ru told her as they left Voss. She never even considered he meant Quinn or anyone on her crew. She thought "your own" meant another Sith. Certainly Baras, but he was already working on that. Voss supposedly only had visions of the future.

Darth Malgus, perhaps? He'd been eager to have her do off-the-books assignments for him while she was in hiding. Maybe he needed to close those books now. Darth Serevin? Even more likely. He'd been cagey and strange the whole time on Voss. He'd speak ill of the Voss as dirty aliens in one moment, but she was certain she'd caught him kissing one of them when he thought no one was looking.

But not anyone in her crew, and certainly not her captain. Her lover, her confidante, her husband. The man who promised her a family.

She forced herself to sit up straight, emotionless, like she owned this vessel. She didn't want anyone to know the depths of her shame. She'd already spent an hour negotiating with the captain, practically begging, promising to pay for repairs for the damage done to his ship and to owe him a favor. He finally relented when she showed him a credstik from one of the Hutt's largest private banks. He accepted with a relieved smile.

All she wanted to do after that was make sure Quinn was still alive. So she came here to haunt the ship's doctor, only to find the lone medtech instead.

After a few minutes, the sensors on the tank flashed green. Quinn was masked and leads ran all over his body. The medtech sighed. She, too, knew the risks of angering a Sith.

Just when Xhareen thought the hypnotic movements of Quinn's nearly naked body bobbing up and down would drive her mad with rage, she got an idea.

"Corporal, I charge you with keeping this man alive or risk my displeasure. I'm going to the bridge. Call me immediately if anything changes."

"Yes, m'lord," she said, and turned back to the machine.

A plan was forming. Not a new one. She had been working for months to find someone, and he would certainly know how to save Quinn. If for no other reason, keep him alive long enough to answer the only question she needed to ask. Maybe she'd kill him after, if she didn't like the answer. It had seemed like that was what he wanted, anyway, after all those things he'd said. He seemed as surprised as she was that she simply could not do it.

His angry taunts still rang in her ears. Insulting the Emperor, exalting Baras. Calling her weak.

She looked back one last time at the tank before exiting the room.

Malavai Quinn, you will answer for what you have done. For what you have done to me.