The 'holiday' turned to be a lot longer than expected, lasting a year and two months. This was because, when Avrria and Tali arrived at Kitty's home on Nar Shaddaa, they were introduced to the two children Tali affectionately nicknamed 'the trouble twins', otherwise known as Avrria's little siblings, Kyssen and Alonnika.
Then a big family reunion was organised, since Kitty revealed she had finally managed to get in touch with all the rest of their scattered family, bringing Tali's seven sisters back together, as well introducing everyone to her own sister. With three Jedi, three Sith plus Avrria, an Imperial Agent, a bounty hunter, a smuggler and a Republic Trooper, not to mention their crews and children, all in one place, it was very lively, to say the least.
Then Tali's birthday came around. A few months later, it was Avrria's 15th birthday, as well as Malavai's birthday. Then there was Kitty's, and many more...At the end of the series of birthdays, the twins turned one. They were already gaining a reputation for being loud, messy and troublesome, so as they started to learn to walk, Tali decided it was a good time to return to Korriban, and Avie went along with her, still having her trials to finish off.
When they got back to the Academy, Avrria's classmates seemed glad that she had given them a long break, though, curiously, there were two less now, just leaving her, Mikul and a Zabrak girl with a short temper and a name Avie wouldn't even attempt to pronounce.
There was also no new Overseer, just a holographic message in the acolyte's quarters, telling them that their next trial involved finding an ancient Sith tablet from the tomb of Tulak Hord and, rather suspiciously in Avrria's opinion, definitely not reading any of it, but delivering it to a room that they were given coordinates for.
The Zabrak woman uttered some words that were most likely a whole lot of curses, Mikul just rolled his eyes and made a comment about it being a waste of his talents, but Avie ignored them, elbowing past them and strolling out.
Fairly sure she wouldn't need any help with this one, she simply headed to the taxi pad and finally arrived in the lower wilds, a place she was getting fed up of seeing. Jumping down before the speeder had even landed, she drew her blade and ran off, cutting down the deranged soldiers, ex-acolytes and other wild beasts that haunted the area on her way through.
Eventually, she pushed deep into the tomb. On her way into the chamber where she was fairly sure the tablet could be found, she stumbled on the steps, and was fairly sure she felt something tug her legs from under her. Struggling, she fell to the bottom and got up angrily, drawing her warblade as she spun around.
Her Zabrak rival was standing at the top of the crumbling stone steps, brandishing a vibroblade. "Get out of my way," She snapped.
Avrria was about to utter a rather rude response that would have probably started a huge fight, but she never got the chance to. A crimson blade suddenly impaled the Zabrak. When it was eventually pulled free, she collapsed on the floor, revealing to the stunned Avie that Mikul was standing behind her, grinning and holding his saber up. "Idiotic brat," He commented, rolling his yellow eyes as he stepped over the fallen acolyte, "She didn't deserve to be a Sith. Only me and you can claim that right." He announced, approaching Avie.
She was expecting an attack now, some sort of fight to the death. If her mother was to be believed, that was how all Sith worked. Clutching her weapon in preparation, she asked, "So what are you planning to do about that? Because only one of us can win this."
He laughed, "If you listen to idiots, maybe. But I think we're smarter than them. Let's work together," He urged her with a sweet smile that no one would normally trust. Yet Avrria found that she did trust him, for some reason, feeling quite strongly that he was sincere. She gave a small nod of agreement. That was all the encouragement he needed to walk over to the shelf at the side of the chamber, on which the tablet rested.
He picked it up, watching by the nervous Avie. Holding it aloft, he slammed it against the shelf, breaking it into two pieces. Then he turned back to her and handed her one half. "We've both won, right?" He smirked.
"I guess so," She nodded, taking half of the tablet.
After a long walk back and another taxi ride, they both headed to the location they had been asked to go to. It was a small room on the upper floor of the Sith Academy. Avrria stepped inside first. The room was set out like an office, with it's sole occupant sat behind a desk. He was a white-skinned man with a scarred face, set in a scowling expression. He had short black hair and was wearing flowing dark robes. His red eyes fell on her and glared.
"What do you want?" He demanded to know.
She wandered over to his desk and dropped the tablet onto it wordlessly. He looked down at it. "This is broken," He pointed out, speaking as though she was completely stupid. Mikul suddenly appeared behind her, a freaky habit it of his. She was sure she'd never get used to how quietly he could move. He shoved his piece onto the table too.
"Now you have the whole thing, My Lord," He replied, his tone exactly the same, making her smirk a little bit.
"True...Very well, my children. One more task and then one of you will be my apprentice," He nodded. "I've misplaced a pet of mine and it has a device I need. A guard said it had fled into the tomb of Naga Sadow. Go there, find the Shadow, get the Holocron it had and then...Well, you can terminate it or keep it if it amuses you, I don't care. I want that Holocron. Clear?" By now, both young Sith were under the impression that this Lord Sholkaar was completely out of his mind, but they both nodded anyway. Then left as fast as possible, before he could use the distinctly creepy 'My children' line again.
Once they were outside, Avie turned to her rival-turned-accomplice. "How are we go about doing this together? Because I'm pretty sure there's only one Holocron and it won't work it's broken," She pointed out.
"You take this one. I've got my own plans. Just...When you're done, meet me, okay? I'll transmit you some coordinates. We need to talk," He told her, seeming quite urgent. Before she could even respond, he walked away.
Tali stepped out from behind a statue and laughed, "What a buffoon, throwing away his chances! Oh, well, all the easier for you, right, Av?" She threw an arm around her young relative's shoulders. "Let's go!"
Avrria finally snapped out of her surprise at Mikul's actions and looked at her enthusiastic 'Aunt' doubtfully, "You're coming?" She was pretty sure that was cheating, though now all her rivals were out of the picture anyway, it probably didn't matter.
"I'm bored of this place, of course I'm coming," The Dark Lady nodded, before setting off, dragging Avie after her.
The two Sith made their way to the infamous tomb of Naga Sadow, and Tali shoved the younger girl behind her, "This place is full of traps," She explained, darting in and slicing through an assassin droid as it sprang out at her, before leading Avie around a maze of buttons, levers and triggers in search of...Well, whatever a 'Shadow' was.
They didn't know until Avrria's sharp eyes saw a black shape moving in the doorway to a chamber. They moved towards it, and eventually it was revealed to be a Twi'lek, vaguely familiar, Avie thought, but with black skin. She ha never encountered a Twi'lek like this one before, but guessed she was the 'Shadow' Sholkaar had spoken of.
Certainly, the Twi'lek backed off as they approached. Then relaxed, her eyes falling on Avrria, "Oh, it's you," She said, in tones the young Sith recognised.
"Yeah...But what happened to you?" Avie gestured to the girl's body, remembering that the Twi'lek prisoner she had helped before, seemingly the same being as the one before her now, used to have green skin.
"Lord Wacky finally got his 'experiment' working," She explained, "He took prisoners and tried to make weapons. He calls us the 'Shadows', we're meant to be stealth assassins, that blend in in the dark, hence," She gestured to herself, then shuddered, "Unpleasant old creep, he is..." Something occurred to her, and she backed away again, "Did he send you to get me back? I got out, see..." She sounded nervous now.
Avrria tried to reassure her, "No, well...Sort of, apparently, you took one of his Holocrons. He wants it back. For what it's worth, he said it's up to me what happens to you, and I don't want to hurt you."
"Oh, is that this?" The Twi'lek held up a Holocron, which Tali instantly force-pulled to her.
"Yep! Thanks! Got it, Av!" She announced cheerfully.
But the Shadow's face fell. "I took it to get me off Korriban. I was waiting in here until the heat died down, then I thought I could sell it..." She explained. Avrria glanced at Tali. They needed the Holocron, but she felt bad now.
"I...I guess we can get you off Korriban," She told her, looking at Tali again, "Can't we, Aunty Tal?" She added pleadingly. Tali looked from her relative to the Twi'lek and sighed, knowing her ship would probably be commandeered for this purpose, but nodded anyway. She got a thank you hug from Avie for her troubles, and the three women hurried back to the Academy, with the Shadow hiding out in Tali's quarters, where she quickly befriended Vette and Jaesa.
While they were talking nineteen to the dozen among themselves, Avrria headed back to Sholkaar, handing over the Holocron. When she returned, she waved a shuttle pass in front of them all, "Finally ditching this dustball! I'm off to Dromund Kaas," She announced.
"You mean we're off to Dromund Kaas, right?" A certain Twi'lek put in. "I figured you've helped me twice, so I should stick with you," She added when she saw the Sith's shocked expression.
Avie shrugged, not minding either way, "If you like. I'm Avrria," She added, finally introducing herself.
"Sinya, or Shadow 5, or Shadow'lek, or..." The girl started waffling.
"Sinya will do," Avie shut her up.
Tali beamed at this point, jumping into the conversation. "Great, so you have some help, you have a shuttle pass, I got you through this hellhole like I promised, everything worked out perfectly! Time to get going!" She suggested.
Avrria's holocomm chimed with coordinates from Mikul at that moment. "Well...There is one thing I need to do first." She started to explain, "Can I leave Sinya with you while I go and...?" She trailed off nervously.
"And what?" Tali's sense for incoming chaos was sharp and she was suddenly serious. Avie squirmed...Well this was going to be interesting.