Chapter 21: A Velvet Touch
Pain.
For one who walked the dark path, it quickly became an old friend. Avaryss had come to know much about it. She had endured both physical and psychological pain on her path to power.
Now…she had discovered a new type of pain. One that was far more cruel and slippery than anything she had dealt with before. Even now she could feel it tugging at her, begging her to surrender, and by doing so, free herself from its cold embrace.
She refused. She armored herself with her rage and hatred, refusing to give in to weakness and turning her back on any thought of submission or surrendered.
Yet, the pain remained, and it would as long as she was here.
She frowned.
As long as she remained in the presence of Darth Sadi, it would always be there.
The dark lord of the Itae system had summoned her. She had said that they needed to talk. Now, Avaryss stood at attention before her while the dark lord and her apprentice danced across the central tower's training room, their lightsabers spitting and humming with each blow.
Avaryss watched the two spar with interest, when dealing with someone who would likely be an enemy one day, any information you could gather on them was both useful and necessary.
Sadi's skill was impressive; she could not deny that, she fought with a grace and style that would have given most sword wielder's pause. Her understanding of the single handed Makashi style was not something seen often today. In an age where most enemies used blasters the elegance of one on one lightsaber combat was often lost. A few Sith still kept that style alive, and it made them useful against Jedi blade masters she supposed, those that were unprepared for an almost forgotten style.
Sadi was clearly one of those Sith. She controlled the battlefield around her.
Poor Bael did not stand much of a chance.
He kept trying to charge in, get inside her guard. Sadi would dance away, parrying his attacks, and with each exchange nearly nicking her apprentice with her blade, not enough to cut, but enough to leave burns on Bael's hand, neck, and jacket.
Love taps, Avaryss thought, had she wanted, Sadi could have taken his fool's head, but that would not serve a master trying to teach an apprentice would it?
It was kind of hard to learn without a head.
Bael had taken after his master it seemed, he also wielded a lightsaber with a curved hilt, but he lacked patience and grace to truly be a master of Makashi. Instead his style was a blend of Ataru, Makashi, and the Shii-Cho, not a bad choice of styles she supposed, but it did not really play to his strengths.
Master Adaz, Avaryss; old teacher likely would have advised the young apprentice to study Djem-So, it would have allowed him to play to his new size and strength level. Ataru may have been useful to Bael before he had hit his growth spurt, but now it was simply getting in the way, denying him what could have been a true advantage in combat with dangerous enemy.
Bael was simply too big and slow now to use Ataru to its best advantage. Sadi should have seen that, and advised him to change up his style.
Avaryss shook her head.
What were they teaching acolytes on Korriban these days?
The fight brought Sadi closer, and in that moment, Avaryss felt the pain spike again. The sensation nearly overwhelmed her, it made her sway where she stood, causing her to draw deeper into the dark side, to double her mental shields that seemed to always be under attack when Darth Sadi was around.
She sighed.
At least now she understood why the woman had been granted control of the Itae system.
Her powers were…formidable to say the least.
When Avaryss looked at the dark lord through the Force, truly looked, she could see the dark side energies that almost constantly radiated off the other Sith. Those energies did not only radiate, but moved almost with a will of their own, they ensnared anyone in range, drawing them deeper under Sadi's control.
The Sith was like a spider sitting in the center of its web.
A cunning spider, Avaryss thought with a grim nod, and she was a most clever one, indeed.
Avaryss was not sure what to make of such power. The closest thing she had found to it in her studies of the Force was concept of battle meditation and Force bonds, but this seemed to go beyond those skills. The connections that Darth Sadi formed were not about enhancing others, they were about degrading, wearing down a person's will and defenses.
As a Sith she found the power…impressive.
It was a shame that such a gift had ended up in the hands of someone like Sadi, a true dark lord would have found far better uses for such a talent in the field.
Avaryss allowed her jealousy of the woman's power to flow, let that jealousy turn into resentment and hate.
It allowed her to fuel her mental shields far more effectively.
It is like a drug, she thought to herself, if she let that power wash over her, it would take away all her fears and doubts. She was trust Sadi completely, her wisdom, and what she desired through her rule. Avaryss could only speculate on what the long term effects would do to a person. She feared that anyone around Sadi too long would be left incapable of making a decision that would act against the needs of the dark lord. That a person exposed to Sadi's power for too long would become a mere extension of the dark lord's will.
We cannot let that happen to us, Keera advised silently.
Do not worry, Avaryss assured her.
We will not.
Of course, resistance had its drawbacks too. During their first encounter Avaryss had drank deep of Sadi's power, the dinner that the two women had shared had given her a taste of drug that was the dark lord's…ability…charisma, whatever you might call it. Now, on some small level, her body and mind craved that connection again.
The pain that she now felt was a dull ache, likely the equivalent of the withdrawal symptoms that a spice addict suffered after several days without a spike.
I will not give in, Avaryss thought, her eyes narrowing.
Just for a moment, something within her whispered, just drop your guard for a moment. Bask in your new mistress's power.
It will be okay.
Avaryss frowned.
No, Keera murmured inside her head.
It won't.
She would not give in; she had worked too hard to simply surrender now.
If she did, if she let go, even for a moment, she would soon become just another smiling idiot at Sadi's table, eagerly bobbing her head in agreement to whatever it was the dark lord said.
Avaryss would not do that.
She had fought too long and hard to step out of her master's shadow.
She would not willingly fall into the shadow of another.
Perhaps Darth Sadi had finally recognized Avaryss' resistance. Despite still trading blows with her apprentice, she finally deemed Avaryss worth of her words.
"You have been busy these last two weeks Inquisitor," she said conversationally, "I trust your plans are going smoothly?"
"They are…as to be expected," Avaryss replied, "there is much anger out in the provinces…"
She gave the dark lord a sly smile.
"It is not easy to redirect that anger towards are true enemies."
Sadi nodded.
"I've heard that you have been visiting the squatter camps as well. Are you sure that is wise, Avaryss, those people have more than enough reason to seek you harm. Why offer them the opportunity?"
"The squatter camps are likely hotbeds for rebel activity," she informed her fellow Sith.
"It hurts nothing to remind them that they are being watched."
Plus, there was another advantage to doing so, she thought.
They are my people.
It never hurts to remind them of that.
Bael lunged at his master, she parried his strike with a spinning flourish, and before he could recover she struck out at him, three quick strikes. Avaryss thought she heard the boy yelp.
He now had a small red burn on his left cheek, a kiss from Sadi's lightsaber.
He touched it, Avaryss thought he might cry or fly into a rage, but he did not.
He smiled hungrily at his master, and returned to a ready position.
Clearly Bael had developed a resistance to pain, or perhaps he had come to enjoy it.
Neither thought gave Avaryss much comfort.
"I've also been told that you have been offering credit and support to several of the squatter camps," Sadi said blandly, "Out of your own pocket, no less."
She gave her fellow Sith a curious look.
"Why would you do that to such low people?"
Avaryss shrugged.
"They are only low people because they ended up on the wrong side of our master's ambitions, some of the people that I met were once landowners here, men with power and responsibilities."
Avaryss smiled.
"You will note that I have not helped every camp that I've visited; only the ones that are large enough to be useful, that have loyal leaders that will help me contain the others. As the smaller camps that I've denied my aid to fall apart, the survivors will seek out new lives in the ones that I've pacified, they will in turn pacify any resistance or resentment that the survivors have towards us.
Avaryss shrugged again.
"It is only good business."
"An interesting idea,"Sadi exclaimed, blocking another attack from Bael.
Avaryss snorted.
It had been a good idea, but it was also not hers.
It had been Ro that had first suggested that she try this tactic, and she had to admit, it was quite good. Ro Wilkes knowledge of the camps had surprised her. After the fall of the southern landowners it had been he and select group of his security volunteers that had helped settle the squatter camps, but at the same time made sure that they were not armed hotbeds of disgruntled citizens.
The order that he had helped establish aided her now. He knew just who to talk to. The men and women he had directed her to were smart; they would not let their past losses cloud their judgment in accepting a new alliance.
Ro was proving to be truly a treasured ally in her work, and their close proximity had…reawakened some old feelings.
She was trying to stay on track, but at the same time.
Even thinking of Ro now made her body warm.
She would need to stay focused, to control herself.
She still had much work to do. She did not wish to spoil what they had done so far by bringing personal baggage and history into it.
Ro was a precious source of contacts and information, but that was only part of what was required. You did not buy loyalty with promises alone, you needed resources and credits, and thanks to Imperial supply she had more than enough resources to spread around.
As for the credits, well, Avaryss had those to burn, as well. As the secret owner of Thunn Cyber Systems, she had access to more credits that she could likely spend in a lifetime, and thanks to a bit of creative banking from Taya's father, she had access to her money pretty much anywhere in the galaxy.
It made it easy to buy both supplies and new friends, and in doing so improved her status here on Oridanna. She needed to be more than her master's sword in the eyes of people. She wanted them to see her as gracious lord and protector.
It was a necessary step as she continued to root out the rebellion here.
Bael sneered at her words.
"Your coddling of your lessers does you no credit, Lord Avaryss," he said, "If you seek the loyalty of this…rabble, you should simply crush the leaders that defy you and install new ones. Dealing with those people just makes you look weak before your fellows."
Avaryss did not bother responding.
There was the Bael Feer she remembered, the short sighted and cruel little fungus she had come to despise.
She should not have had to explain her actions to him. She was a Darth, and he a mere apprentice, a fact that she was about to remind him of when Darth Sadi spoke up.
"A blade is not the only way to win support, apprentice," she said, "There are times when you can do more with gentle touch then an iron fist."
Again Sadi moved in quickly, and nicked the sleeve of her apprentice's shirt.
She fell back with a triumphant smile.
"Sometimes a gentle caress is all it takes."
Again Bael nodded and smiled, but this time Avaryss sensed more from him then an apprentice's respect for a master. He had not tried to hide it; perhaps he forgot who was standing in front of him.
Her eyes widened slightly.
No!
What is that? She thought. But then just as quickly her surprise turned to revulsion.
Gross.
Despite being almost twice his age, Bael Feer was in love with his master. Avaryss could feel it now so clearly. Through the Force she could see how completely Bael with immersed in his master's power, but what she felt beyond that was a far stronger connection, way stronger than what you would find in normal master apprentice bond.
She wrinkled her nose in distaste.
Had Sadi encouraged this level of attraction, and more to the point, had she let the boy act on it? Avaryss had always pitied the first girl that Bael brought home to his parents, but if that girl was not a girl at all, but a woman, a woman with both power and ambitions of her own.
Bael did not have the cleverness to deal with a woman, and if she did let him act out his desires with him, who knew what the fool boy would do for her.
She frowned.
Whether Darth Feer knew it or not, letting Sadi train his son had put him in a very dangerous position, very dangerous indeed.
Was this why Synestra was coming to Oridanna? Had she sensed something wrong with her son? Avaryss had not been looking forward to the visit. She did not want her master's lady wife charging in here like a Bantha messing with her various plans.
Perhaps…the time had come to reconsider that way of thinking.
Avaryss only just managed to suppress a smile.
There might just be a way to turn all this to her advantage.
She would need to send word to Dromund Kaas! Though many of the allies she had cultivated within House Feer had died when Darth Terrog tried to destroy it, she still had a few people there that owed her their allegiance.
She would need to find a way to intercept Synestra ship. She should speak privately with her master's wife before she saw Bael, and of course, she needed to move Cynn Feer down here to, she could not afford to have the mother sense the daughter on board, not until she was ready for Synestra to know that she had her daughter.
It was a complicated game, she was playing. She was walking a tightrope with lightsaber blades for a safety net, but at the same time, she found herself excited by the whole prospect of it.
A Sith was never more alive than when they were scheming, and in that moment, Avaryss felt very much alive.
She lived in interesting times.
She was most fortunate.
Sadi, finally tiring of trading blows with Bael chose that moment to end their duel, she moved in fast and hard. She kicked the blade from her apprentice's hand, and then with a back spin kick sent him tumbling to the floor, to his credit, Bael did not stay down long, he turned his fall into a backward roll and ended up on his knees.
Sadi was there to meet him, her blade resting just a few breaths from his throat.
Again, Bael showed what he had learned on Korriban, he tilted his head, offering his master his neck, the sign of submission.
Sadi accepted and turned off her blade, she smiled sweetly.
She had won again.
"What do you think, Lord Avaryss," she asked, "Is my dear apprentice ready to lead a Sith army one day?"
"He has clearly learned much from your teachings," she replied diplomatically, "You should be proud."
Sadi beamed as Bael regained his feet, he took his place at his master's side, pulling his lightsaber to him through the Force.
A dangerous pair, Avaryss thought, she would need to neutralize Sadi first before making any kind of real move here on Oridanna.
And what will become of her puppets when you cut their strings, Keera asked.
Avaryss pursed her lips.
She was not quite sure.
It would be fun to find out.
"Lob Vekk spoke to me recently," Sadi said, "He informs me that you are about to pay a visit to Pholis."
"I am," Avaryss replied, "Pholis is one of the best fresh water suppliers in the sector. I am most curious to see how well they are adapting to the Empire's needs in this time of war."
"The seals will not welcome you," Bael said with a sneer, "And even if they do, most of their production facilities are under water, freezing water."
Bael shook his head.
"It is amazing that we allow them such autonomy. If they were to join these rebels…"
"Which is exactly why I'm going," Avaryss said stopping him mid-sentence, "The presence of a Sith will go a long way to ensuring that the Pho understand what it is the Empire expects of them in these most interesting times."
"Plus," Sadi said with a smirk, "The presence of a Terminus class destroyer overhead never ceases to remind a populace of just what a Sith can do if wronged."
Bael's grin widened.
"Do you think that you will need to punish them, Avaryss? Do you think that we may need to make an example out of the Pho?"
Avaryss shook her head no.
If it came to that, then she had failed her mission.
She was looking to preserve Pholis' resources, not decimate them.
If her presence on Pholis drew the rebels out, so much the better, she still had hoped that any rebel involvement on Pholis was likely small and scattered. The Pho were pacifists by nature, which was the reason why they had surrendered to the Empire in the first place, why they had agreed to become Imperial allies.
Her presence would be a subtle reminder of that.
"I will do what the Empire requires," she assured Darth Sadi, "We must make sure that bounty of Pholis continues to flow into the Imperial coffers."
"Do so and I will be greatly pleased," Sadi said, "And you will have proven yourself again a Hero of the Empire."
Again Avaryss sensed Sadi reaching out, trying to breach her defenses, to bring her into her web and ensnare her.
And again, Avaryss resisted.
"I will serve the will of the dark council," she assured the lord of the Itae system.
"All that we require; it will be ours."
Avaryss sensed confusion from Darth Sadi, that and a brief flash of fury.
She suppressed another smile.
She knows that I'm resisting her. She no doubt expected some flowery pledge of loyalty, assurance that I would not disappoint her.
I did not give her what she wanted, Avaryss thought with an amused smirk.
She clearly does not like that.
Good, Keera thought, get her angry.
Angry people have been known to make fatal mistakes.
True, but angry Sith have access to great power.
She still needed to tread lightly around Bael's master.
Sadi was still dangerous.
She still needed to be cautious.
"I ask that you take one of the enforcers with you when you go," Sadi said, "If trouble does start between us and the Pho, we may need to send one to restore order."
"Agreed," Avaryss said with a nod, in fact she already had the perfect candidate.
"I will bring Chylde with me; I think the Twi'lek could benefit from watching me work."
"AS you wish," Sadi replied, hiding her sense of disappointment, or trying to.
The green skinned Twi'lek was not like her fellows; Avaryss got the feeling that Sadi's power did not hold as much sway over the enforcer as she would have wished.
Again that was a good thing, Avaryss preferred not to be surrounded by the dark lord's sycophants. Chylde would be a good companion on this mission.
"Proceed with caution, Lord Avaryss," Sadi said stepping away, motioning for Bael to follow her.
"We must do what we can to preserve the value of Pholis."
"You need not worry, Lord Sadi," Avaryss said offering a small bow of respect.
"As you have seen from my work here, I do know the value of a soft touch.
"But if that soft touch fails?" Sadi asked.
Avaryss shrugged, a cruel smile coming to lips.
"That is what my destroyer will be for; it serves so well as an iron fist."
"It does indeed, Avaryss," Sadi said, laughing lightly.
"Proceed with your mission, Lord Avaryss."
"May the Force serve you well."
"I have no worries on that," Avaryss said gamely.
"I'm most certain that it will."
