"What a day, huh?" Vette flopped on one of the bunks in the small, dusty room she and Tori were sharing. "Darth Blubberbutt sure knows how to pick some weird henchmen. That SIS guy was… special. Half expected him to ask you to autograph his blaster or something before he tried to shoot you."
Torilya made a noncommittal noise, seemingly absorbed in the business of trading her armor for her sleep clothes.
Vette paused for a moment before carrying on. "Too bad. He might have been kinda cute had it not been for that 'I'm a total creeper' vibe. And the whole SIS thing. But, you know, otherwise…"
Torilya snorted. "You've been spending too much time with Jaesa."
"Ah! You were listening!" Vette launched herself from her bunk to Tori's.
"Despite my best efforts, yes."
Vette lobbed a pillow at Tori, missing her entirely. Tori wrinkled her nose as the pillow hit the floor.
"You're sleeping on that one, not me."
Vette rolled her eyes. "Fiiiiiine. Whatever keeps you out of that big Sithy funk you're working on there."
Tori sighed. "I just...need to stay focused, Vette."
"Yeah, I get that. But you're starting to look like someone who's focusing a little too hard for her own good."
The room was quiet for a moment. Tori picked the pillow up off the floor and dropped it on Vette's lap before climbing into the empty bunk, setting her lightsaber and holocom on the nightstand next to it. She turned onto her side, her back to the room.
"Kill the lights when you're done with whatever you're going to do, would you?
Brow furrowed, Vette made quick work of getting ready for bed and stashing her blasters, making sure to leave one within easy reach. She shut off the lights and climbed into her own bunk with her datapad, knowing sleep was a long way off for her yet. To her surprise, a message from Pierce was waiting for her when she powered it on.
Inside compartment of your weapons case. In case she can't sleep. Don't make a fuss of it. - P
Curiosity getting the better of her, Vette slid back out of her bunk and over to her bag. She opened it and dug into the compartment,smirking when she found a small canister of tea leaves. She wouldn't make a fuss of it to Tori, but she sure as hell would to Pierce later.
"You summoned me, My Lord?"
Darth Baras stood with his back to the door of his chambers on Dromund Kaas, not bothering to turn around to address his visitor.
"Yes. My assassins on Corellia have thus far failed me. My former apprentice has managed to eliminate the first two. I cannot risk further failures."
Baras paused, then slowly turned to face the figure in the doorway. A pair of red cybernetic eyes gazed back at him.
"Had you succeeded in your first attempts to dispose of the little whelp, you would already be at my right hand while I control the Dark Council." Baras hissed, lightning shooting from his fingertips to arc across the large figure standing in the doorway. A bark of harsh, manic laughter escaped the target as he jolted, his eyes flashing a brilliant scarlet. Baras stepped closer.
"To your credit, you at least managed to hold onto your life." Another volley of lightning flew from Baras's hands as he stepped closer still, until he stood mere inches from the other man.
"Your hatred for her sustained you, gave you the determination to survive to see her downfall, did it not? The pain, the fire - they nourished that hatred." Baras raised his hand and the man rose into the air, struggling for breath.
"You will find that you no longer truly need the air for which you struggle so valiantly," Baras said demurely. "However, your instinct is still to fight. Remarkable, isn't it? And that fear that drives you to struggle - feel how it makes that fire burn more intensely; feel it roaring in your chest until you think you can no longer bear it. Feel how the anger builds until you are consumed with the desire to lash out and destroy that which binds you."
Baras let his captive dangle a moment more before simultaneously releasing him and sending a massive wave of lightning through him, the impact knocking him to the floor, where he lay convulsing violently. The smell of burning flesh and overheated alloy filled the small chamber; Baras's nostrils flared inside the mask he wore, and he let out a low chuckle of satisfaction. He loomed over the crumpled figure on the floor.
"I have remade you, transformed you into something greater than your former self. Your body no longer suffers some of the weaknesses to which you nearly succumbed in that disgraceful display on Hoth. Your pain and your hatred, your passion, gave you the strength to overcome death. Now you begin again. Let this bounty of pain I have bestowed upon you feed your hatred. Draw strength from your fury and exult in the power I have freed in you."
With one last blast of lightning, Baras stepped through the doorway, then turned back to speak over his shoulder.
"You will be victorious, Draahg, or you will wish that I had merely left you to slowly perish in that inferno."
Torilya found herself walking through a flat, grey landscape, unable to discern any sort of path at her feet. Her senses felt dulled, her body heavy. Nebulous shapes loomed at varying distances on the horizon, but no matter where she walked, none of them would shift into focus. She felt fear begin to rise in her throat; instinctively, she reached for her lightsaber, but it was not in its usual place at her hip. She balled her fists, trying to master the fear, but it only became more oppressive. Reaching out into the Force, she groped for any sort of energy, but it felt as if she were trying to pick up a very fine needle wearing large, puffy mittens. The shapes faded and flickered in the distance, then rearranged themselves, but still remained impossible to identify. Suddenly, she felt a presence brush by her side and wheeled around sharply, taking up a defensive crouch. The air around her seemed to thicken and shimmer, though nothing tangible was anywhere close by. She blinked, willing her eyes to focus, and when she opened them, she saw - just for the briefest moment - another set of eyes shining a few feet away in the odd, misty air. Brilliant green, slightly more round than oval - she recognized them as her own, as they once looked. She blinked again. A different pair of eyes flashed before her, this time deep blue. They lingered for a moment, shining at her warmly.
"Malavai," she whispered.
The gaze on her hardened, the deep blue shade morphing to pitch black, and she slammed her eyes shut, her breath coming rapidly. She knelt, pressing her palms firmly into the cold ground in an attempt to release some of the rush of emotion. Again she sensed a presence brushing against her, and she forced herself to open her eyes again. Her own eyes stared back at her again, this time flashing crimson before fading to a deep orange, then dissipating into the mist as quickly as they appeared. Refusing to blink this time, she tried to use the Force to push the mist aside, but it just seemed to push back. She stood, turning in a circle, then felt a presence at her back. She spun around, this time meeting the gaze of all three sets of eyes, which seemed to be advancing on her. Feeling multiple presences sliding around her now, Torilya once again slid into a crouch, whipping her head from side to side, trying to make out anything she could. Again she tried to push against the mist with the Force, but it just pushed back more intensely, pressing against her until she could not move.
The three sets of eyes seemed to draw closer still, and a distinct charge went up the back of Torilya's neck. She spun again, and three more sets of eyes had appeared in the mist behind her: an odd, inhuman red pair; another human set, dull orange; and yet one more set that was shaped exactly like her own but a deep, rich brown in color. The mist pressed harder against her; she was gasping for breath now, almost panicking, still unable to move. She screwed her eyes shut, gathering every ounce of will she had. With a shriek of rage and terror, she propelled herself forward through the air, her hands extended in front of her. Just as she managed to grasp something, everything went black. She squeezed with all her strength, desperate to feel the life drain away from whatever it was that had held her, when a hoarse sob tore through the darkness.
"Tori! Stop! Please!"
Tori wrenched her eyes open and instantly stilled, horrified. Her hands were wrapped around Vette's throat, pinning the girl against the wall in the rented room. She immediately released Vette, wrapping her arms around her own waist as she backed away. Shaking and covered in sweat, she sank onto her bunk, her knees giving out.
"Gods, Vette, I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I don't… I was dreaming, I suppose, and…" she trailed off.
Vette, pale and visibly shaken, raised a hand as if to quiet Tori while she caught her breath.
"I'm okay. It's okay. You were thrashing around, and I tried to wake you. Should have known better than to get too close while you were so out of it."
The two women sat in silence for a long time, both trying to calm themselves. After a few minutes, Vette picked up her datapad and checked the time, her hand still shaking a bit.
"Might as well get up, I guess. Sun will be up soon."
Torilya just looked at her, eyes still slightly unfocused. Vette stood up and started gathering her gear. When she'd gotten into her leathers and Tori still hadn't moved, she walked over and knelt in front of her friend.
"Tori. Look at me. I'm okay. You're okay," Vette said forcefully, reaching out and gripping the Sith's knees. Torilya looked at her again, blinking rapidly and shaking her head slightly.
"That's it, just focus on me for a sec. Tell me what we're doing today."
"More of Baras's assassins, should be tracking them…" Tori mumbled.
"Righto. Gotta stick it to His Tubbiness," Vette forced her tone to be as cheery and light as she could. "Where do we start? Did we hear anything else from the Hand weirdos?"
Tori gestured at her datapad. "Said they'd send coordinates as they got them." Her eyes were starting to look more focused; her voice was becoming stronger as she spoke.
"Okey dokey. So, shall I track down some lovely cantina caff while you get yourself suited up?"
Tori pulled a bit of a face, and Vette sighed internally in relief.
"Better than nothing, I suppose," Tori said ruefully.
"Coming right up!" Vette stepped out of the room. Once she was a safe distance from the door, she ducked into a corner, pulled her comm unit from her pocket, and placed a call.
"Report!" Pierce's tiny form barked at her.
"Good morning to you too," she sniped.
Pierce scrubbed a hand down his face and sighed.
"Sorry. Didn't sleep so well last night."
"Yeah, well, that makes you and our favorite Sith Lord. We had a bit of a situation."
Vette could see Pierce's shoulders tense at that despite the grainy image.
"What d'you mean? Is she all right? Are you compromised?" he rapid-fired at her.
"We are fine, thanks for asking." Vette rolled her eyes. "She apparently had - I don't know, do Sith have nightmares? Whatever it was, it was intense, and I made the mistake of getting too close when I tried to wake her. She had me by the throat and against the wall before I knew what was happening, and she almost didn't snap out of it in time. I think my voice eventually got through to her, but…" Vette trailed off.
Pierce bent forward, placing his hands on his knees for a moment. When he straightened, his brow was creased.
"Shit. Are you okay?" he asked.
Vette nodded. "Yeah. Freaked me the hell out, but I've had worse," she shrugged, remembering all too well the bite of the shock collar. "I'm worried about her, though. The dream or whatever was bad enough, but now I think she's freaked out over almost killing me. I was able to kind of talk her around, but she keeps giving me this look. I don't know what to do for her. She keeps talking about needing to stay focused, but..."
Pierce nodded, his face grim. "Right. Keep her talking about the mission. Get her moving. Fighting."
"I think we're still waiting on the Hand to get us more intel. We squashed two dudes yesterday… well, a droid and a dude. But I keep seeing little pockets of Imperial forces out here. Probably we could pick up some side work." Vette glanced at the time on her datapad. "I should get back. I told her I was gonna find us some caff. Next time, I'm making Too-Vee pack us some decent stuff."
"All right. Keep me apprised. Have her check in when she can. Pierce out."
"Have a nice day!" Vette said sarcastically to herself as she slid the comm back in her pocket and hurried off in search of the promised caff.
Melia emerged from her quarters to find her brother seated at the holoterminal, tapping away frantically.
"Aren't you a busy boy," she said, coming to stand beside him.
"Indeed."
"Finally writing your memoirs, then?"
He ignored her, continuing his work.
She shrugged, then went to flop in one of the uncomfortable lounge chairs, datapad in hand. She read silently for a few moments, then sighed.
"If you are writing, I hope to hell it's better than this poor excuse for a romance novel. If I read one more description of bulging pectorals or firm, yet supple bosoms, I'm going to lose it."
Quinn snorted, but did not look away from his task.
"I see your taste in literature has not improved," he drawled snottily.
"And you could save me from it if you'd just tell me what you're up to."
Sighing, Quinn finally turned to look at his sister.
"I am putting my 'brilliant strategist brain,' as you put it, to work. After your, er, inspiring words earlier, it occurred to me that given my knowledge and connections, perhaps I can still help turn the tide of things after all, even if I cannot be at her side."
Melia threw her arms in the air in a dramatic gesture of triumph.
"Finally, he pulls his head out of his arse!"
"Yes. Now, do shut up before I am forced to kick yours."
Smiling, Melia stood up, walked over to Quinn, planted a smacking kiss on his forehead, and left him to his work.