Malek (Emperor's Wrath) – Sith Warrior. Human male. In relationship with Vette.

Arianna (Darth Nox) – Sith Inquisitor. Zabrak female. Dark sided. In relationship with Ashara.

UPDATED. Okay, I am going back over the earlier chapters and editing them to fix up what I am unhappy with so this is the new version. I do not own Star Wars the Old Republic I only claim my story and OCs.

(KORRIBAN/SITH ACADEMY/DARK COUNCIL CHAMBERS)

He stood there, his lightsaber still ignited in his hand as he watched the body of Baras collapse in a dead heap. Malak watched the body smoulder in full view of the Dark Council as both a warning, and as proof.

"Then it is clear," the booming voice of Darth Marr spoke, "Behold, the Emperor's Wrath."

Seated around him, the other council members likewise voiced their affirmation of the Emperor's chosen warrior in their presence.

Malek, deactivated his lightsaber and clipped it back on his belt, "As the Wrath, I vow my blade to fight for the Empire against enemies both outside and within our ranks. As long as your loyalty remains pure you have nothing to fear from me, should that change…" he left the words unspoken but they hung in the air like it had been the Emperor himself who spoke them.

He strode from the chamber, to find his apprentice, Jaesa, standing guard outside. She looked around in relief and pride, "Master."

"Baras is dead, and the Council recognises my authority as the Wrath." Malak led the way through the hallways of the Sith Academy, "It is over."

Jaesa smiled, a cold thin vicious smile, "Forgive me, master, but it is just beginning."

"Indeed, my apprentice." He agreed, "But first, we rest. Contact the ship and have them ready for departure when we arrive. There are matters of immediate concern to deal with."

"You mean that promise you made to Vette?" came the tease he had been expecting.

Malek refrained from laughing in front of the acolytes who watched him and his apprentice stride past them in awe, "How did you hear about that?"

"It's a small ship, and I'm the only other girl, who else is Vette going to confide in?"

"Fair point."

A shuttle from the surface took them to the orbital station where they made their way to the docking port to find the rest of the team waiting for them.

"My lord," Quinn bowed, "Congratulations are in order on your magnificent victory."

"Yeah, what he said." Pierce grinned, "We knew you would wipe the floor with that traitor." He glanced sideways at Quinn.

Broonmark warbled out what roughly translated as, "Victory! Revenge is ours! The stain of betrayal has been erased!"

But Malek's eyes focused on the Twi'lek standing in the middle of the group, her eyes shining with hope and love. She smiled, a dazzling display of purity that could chase away any fears or pain in him. From the moment they met, this bond between them had been unbreakable. When he had suggested it to be more than what it was, he found to his immense joy that she felt it too.

No words passed between them. He came to a stop before her, slightly taller than she, and took her hands in his own.

Jaesa and Quinn promptly shooed the others into the ship.

Vette tilted her head up to his, that smile he adored so much spreading on her face. For so long Malek had feared what Baras would do to her if he perished. But now, now that nightmare had ended and the dawn had come.

"Your room." She whispered softly, but with an intense burning passion that roared through his blood as he sensed it, "Now."

(ONE HOUR LATER/SPACE/RELENTLESS)

The door to his room slid neatly open as Malek staggered into the hallway, "That was something else."

Vette trailed after him, adorned in a robe she had borrowed from Jaesa for, 'special moments', "You've picked up a few new tricks."

"I wanted to surprise you." He entered the galley, "Too-Vee, what have you got?"

The protocol droid turned with a jump, "Oh, master, you're just in time, I've finished a stew for you. Mistress Jaesa said you would require urgent nourishment."

Malek snorted and Vette stuck her head out the door to shout through the ship, "Thanks, Jaesa!"

The two sat in the lounge together, tucking into the food, while watching news updates. Despite the crushing defeat on Corellia, the Republic had mounted several assaults on key structures and was looking to bring it back to their side. In response General Rakton, one of the Empire's finest military minds, had been dispatched to bring the situation back under control.

"We'll have to get back to work soon." Malek sighed.

As if those words had been the trigger, Quinn appeared, "My lord, forgive the intrusion, but you received a message during your, ah, rest."

"It's okay, Quinn." Vette replied with a straight face, "We're all adults here, you can talk about it."

His stoic face made it impossible to tell if he was feeling embarrassed or couldn't care less about what had transpired in the cabin, "It is from, Arianna." Even his carefully controlled voice couldn't hide the disdain upon the mention of her name, "She requests you join her on Balmorra before she journeys to Corellia to take on Thanaton."

"Not like we have anything else urgent at the moment," Malek gulped down the rest of his stew, "Set a course, contact Darth Lachris and let her know I'm coming, see if there's anything she needs done."

"Yes, my lord." Quinn bowed his head, "Might I humbly suggest you take this opportunity to actually rest? As this ships' medical officer I feel obliged to point out you have not had a solid rest since Baras betrayed you."

Malek rose to his feet, "That's actually a good idea, fighting Baras, then what happened with Vette, I am certainly not at full strength. Alright then, I'll get some sleep if that'll make everyone feel better. Vette," he turned to her, "What are you going to-"

"She's coming with me." Jaesa appeared around a corner and firmly wrapped an arm around the Twi'lek, "We're going to talk in my room." With a broad, grin the corrupted Jedi led her friend away. Malek and Quinn both distinctly heard her whisper to Vette, "I want all the details."

Malek and Quinn exchanged straight faces as they left the lounge, the former to his cabin, the latter to the bridge. It was only when he was safely back in his cabin did Malek allow himself to collapse on his bed, sleep claiming him within seconds.

That's it for the first chapter. I am rewriting this story as the chapters are updated to hopefully improve it. Most later chapters are of a quality I'm happy with, it's mostly the first set that bug me. Okay, please review and I'll see you later.