Chapter 22: The Journey
"What are you doing?"
Avaryss paused; her smile was both cold and arrogant.
"What does it look like I'm doing, Keera? Surely, you have seen a woman putting make-up on before?"
She was currently sitting in her private quarters aboard The Emperor's Wisdom. The destroyer was currently in hyperspace, on its way to the planet Pholis, the home of Lob Vekk and his people.
Avaryss had decided to pay them a visit. The Ambassador had agreed, sending his response back through Beric, in the interest of continued good will between his people and the Empire.
Once again she found herself facing Keera. Her other self was again looking out from her mirror.
Avaryss pursed her lips.
Was it such a mystery to figure out what was happening?
Lipstick, blush, and just a hint of dark eyeliner, Avaryss had never really been the type of girl that wore make-up every day, but…after her brief hero's tour, her duty after her victory over Darth Terrog, after the Battle of the Inferno Nebula, she had learned the value of looking her best.
Let them see the power and poise of a young Sith Lord, one of officers who had accompanied her had said.
Let them look on…and be both awed and jealous.
Her smile widened.
Good advice.
It was one of the few concrete things that had come out of those times, one of the few lessons she had been grateful for. It had felt strange for her, at first, being put on a pedestal, being lauded as everything that a Sith was supposed to be. For the longest time she had been just another apprentice, the secret dagger than her master slid into his enemy's back, then, after Terrog…she had been hailed a hero and champion of the Empire. It was a heady feeling, but she was grateful that such frivolities were in the past.
She had work to do, and she could not do it with a legion of idiots fawning over her.
Her other-self did not take kindly to her arrogance and sarcasm. She glared out from the mirror.
"Yeah, I can see," Keera said peevishly, "My only question is: Why?"
Avaryss fought the urge to roll her eyes.
Was it really so hard to understand?
The face staring back at her from the mirror frowned. Avaryss had grown to hate it when she looked into the mirror and saw Keera. It was something she had lived with for almost two years now.
She would be grateful when the day came that she looked into a mirror and saw only a reflection, when she did not have to worry about it responding with some snide comment or accusation, when she was finally met with blissful silence.
She awaited that day with baited breath.
There is no point in complaining, she thought to herself, Keera and I have a deal in place…for now. When this is done, when Oridanna is secure, we will settle matters between us once and for all, but for now, we need to continue to co-exist.
We should both try to make the best of it.
"I know what you are doing, Avy," her reflection snapped back, "My question is: why? You wear a helmet and mask every time you go out in public now. What is the point of putting on make-up? It serves no purpose."
Avaryss smirked at her.
"Should I not seek to look my best? Should I not seek to look good? Is it so hard to understand that if I need to take off my mask… that I should be prepared?"
She laughed arrogantly.
"I know you are a tomboy, Keera, but even you should be able to understand that."
Keera gave her a dirty look and frowned deeply.
"I still think you are being foolish, beauty is fleeting, remember, power is eternal, and besides, I doubt the Pho are really going to care what you look like. I think the seal men's definition of beauty is a little different than the human one."
Probably, she thought, but then again, she was not doing this for the Pho.
Yes, beauty was fleeting, but it could also be a powerful weapon if used correctly. Lady Synestra Feer had not been wrong about that, and since Avaryss' body had been…changing in the last year, her features had become more and more appealing to a non-Sith.
The color that had returned to her skin, the deep purple color of her eyes, they had combined to make her a much more beautiful creature. She had felt the desire and lust from men around her. Why should she not use it if it served her advantage? The only reason why she wore a mask these days was that some Sith considered the change as a sign of weakness, that she was no longer dipping into the power of the darkside as much as she once had.
Regardless, she needed to use whatever advantages she possessed, and was willing to use what others offered, those…enamored with either her new looks or the power of her position.
Take what Ro Wilkes had offered her for example.
It was not something that one let go without any forethought.
Following the destruction of so many of her personal guard, she had been forced to rely on outside help. She had credits for mercenaries, could have hired a full company of Mandalorians to protect her, but that would not have gone over well with the other Sith in Danna City, or the natives for that matter. Having outsiders for guards would not have won over many hearts and minds amongst her people. Ro Wilkes offered her an answer, he had brought her fifty of his security volunteers, men and women that he assured her could be trusted.
"Many of these people have family that have benefited from your recent visit," he informed her, "And those that have not are fiercely loyal to the Empire. I think you will find such people far more useful than any mercenary soldier that you could bring in."
Had it been anyone else, she would have refused the offer, she would have suspected that she was being manipulated, that these soldiers were a trap, and that they might be pieces in a much larger game, one that she could not understand or play well…yet.
The rebellion, Darth Sadi, and who knew who else was watching.
It may have been smarter to refuse, but instead she had said yes.
She did need more protection, and until Bleez could train new people, she had few options; her master had too many spies here, both on the Wisdom and on the surface.
It was better to not put too many more of them in a place where they might have the opportunity to stick a knife in her back.
The fact that it had been Ro who had made the offer swung her opinion on the matter. When she had first told him of her intention to meet with the Pho, to explain to them what was going on in the Empire. Ro had been…understandably concerned, but she would not be dissuaded, in fact, she had been absolutely sure that this was the right choice. Yes, the Pho were pacifists, but that did not mean that they would not offer her enemies support if they thought it might protect their interests.
Plus, there was the terrain of Pholis itself; the planet was basically a giant frozen sea. The Sith controlled the few surface islands, built their bases and facilities there, but the rest of the planet belonged to the Pho, their underwater cities and few float colonies were the main source of civilization and trade on Pholis.
The Sith would have a difficult time invading if it came to that, it was best that they avoid that, if they could.
She decided to err on the side of caution; she would go to them and subtly remind them of who they owed their allegiance to. It might make things better as they progressed.
So she was going, with Ro's volunteers as her guard.
Having accepted her old friend's offer of aid, she had turned to leave, but when she had, he had called out to her, asked something of her that surprised her, something audacious to say the least.
"My lord," he had said, "Would you like to have dinner with me?"
She had paused, a hint of a smile beneath her mask. She turned tilting her head slightly.
"That is a most brazen request, lieutenant," she answered.
She had heard him chuckle.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, my lord," he replied.
His courage surprised her, but at the same time…it flattered her too.
Why not? He was an attractive young man, and she could no longer deny that the old attraction she had felt for him years ago was back and in full bloom.
It was not a marriage proposal, after all, just dinner, and besides…
Desire before duty, young Sith.
"Some Sith would be insulted by such a request," she reminded him, "Some Sith would find your offer beneath them."
"Maybe," he admitted, "But at the same time, some Sith might be impressed with the courage it takes to make such an offer. It might intrigue them."
Avaryss' smile widened.
Yes, she thought to herself, some Sith just might be impressed, flattered by the handsome young lieutenants audacity.
"You will accompany me to Pholis," she informed him, "Perhaps we will…discuss your…courage then."
She continued on, not willing to give him more than that for now. Though she did put a little more sway in her hips, she had not been wearing a cloak and the combat suit she wore showed off more of her figure than normal.
She could feel Ro's eyes on her, he watched her as she left.
If you want something, lieutenant, she thought, are you willing to pursue it?
Let us find out.
"I noticed that you did not answer my question," he said. He was referring to the dinner invitation of course.
"Your right lieutenant," she said coyly.
"I did not."
She continued to walk way, and he had continued to watch her. Since that moment she had chosen to keep her distance.
She had been coy around him for most of the trip, appearing just long enough to catch a glance of her before disappearing again; it had been a fun game.
She had made the first move…
…now…it was his turn.
They would be arriving on Pholis in an hour, she had already set out a cold weather combat suit and fur-coat to cover it with, she did not wish to scare the seal men by showing up completely dressed for battle. Bleez would be staying behind on the ship to land reinforcements if it became necessary. Ro would have command of his volunteers while Beric and Xen would handle the imperial troops that accompanied them. The Enforcer Chylde was to remain at her side, she would deal with any enemies that Avaryss discovered, Bleez advised her to keep her hands clean unless it was absolutely necessary. She was the High Inquisitor, she was meant to stand above the grunt work.
She checked her reflection one last time before rising from her chair. She could smell the mix of perfume and scented bath oils she had used as she had prepared for this mission.
Your primping had nothing to do with the mission; Keera said flatly, the only reason why you did it is because you hope to entice Ro.
She smiled.
Maybe.
In the meantime, she had one small matter to attend to before heading down to the surface. She had been meaning to speak with Cynn Feer before heading out again.
Now was as good a time as any, she thought, she would finally get a chance to truly speak with her master's daughter.
She was eager to see what she had to say.
IOI
"I trust the accommodations are to your liking?"
Cynn looked up at her, since they had last spoke the girl had been given clean clothes and the chance to eat, rest and bathe. She wore a black unmarked military style uniform of a ship's crew member, the trousers and jacket all fine lines and creases.
Cynn gave her an icy smile.
"I have lived in the most basic of imperial housing since I was nine, my lord," she informed Avaryss.
"Compared to that, this…apartment is a palace.
Avaryss nodded and looked around the room. It could never be called standard military issue that was for sure.
Before she had taken command of the Emperor's Wisdom, its previous captain had used these quarters to house his various mistresses. It had been something of a minor scandal, but no one said anything about it because the man had had friends in high places.
That Captain had been killed early in the new war with the Republic. It was after that that the Wisdom had been put under her direct command, and she had brought in her own choice to skipper the destroyer.
Captain Crix Kannady was old school imperial, he had served in the Imperial navy for almost thirty years. He probably should have been promoted to Admiral long ago, but he had had no patience for the political games that the high officers played. He was also considered too cautious by most Imperials. He was not the type of man to gamble on the battlefield, that caution had cost him several promotions over the years but it had earned him the respect and loyalty of his men.
He also did not engage in frivolous relationships with girls that caught his eye on whatever planet he had visited. This suite had been closed off since he had taken command, and only been reopened now that Avaryss had a guest on board.
Kannady had said nothing about Cynn Feer, he did not know why his lord had her on board, and more importantly he did not think it was his job to know.
Avaryss was pleased; she admired the man's discretion.
If he stayed this course, he would find her the most generous of patrons.
The suite was a place designed for pleasure, thick carpets and a bed large enough to fit four people comfortably. Avaryss had had the artwork that the previous man had had here removed, she found some of the images…disturbing to say the least.
This place had been designed to satisfy a man's pleasure; she wished for to reflect that no longer.
"Why are you here, my lord," the girl asked, "You must realize that any information that I could provide on my family is far out of date."
"True," Avaryss agreed, "But it is not the present that interests me. It is the past that I need to understand."
She smiled gamely.
"That is where you come in."
The girl shrugged.
"If that is how you wish to waste your time, who am I to stop you," she said dismissively.
Avaryss only just suppressed a laugh.
In that moment, the girl had sounded much like her master, and why not?
She was his daughter after all.
Cynn rose from the small chair where she had been sitting, built into the wall was a case filled with some of the finest liquors in the Empire. It was another thing that Avaryss had chosen not to remove.
Cynn shook her head as she took large bottle and poured herself a drink, she offered Avaryss one as well, but the Sith declined.
She was about to be on mission.
She had no desire to dull her senses.
Cynn sniffed the contents before downing it in a quick gulp. She turned to Avaryss and smiled.
"This was the world I was born into," she said morosely, my father was a man on the rise before he had ever mastered two star systems; he knew how to play the game, and which allies to reach out to.
The girl's eyes narrowed, Avaryss felt her temper spike through the Force.
"He also knew how to rid himself of things that hurt his chances for advancement. When he realized that my connection to the Force would never be strong enough, and that I would never be the apprentice and heir he wished me to be, he sent me away. He did not even come to say good bye in person. I simply rose from my bed one morning to find the servants waiting to pack up my things, and that he was sending me off to a private school in Kaas City, a place where I would get the education I needed but not be in a position to muck up his plans."
"Generous of him," Avaryss said.
"Not really," Cynn said with a cold glare, "It was a place where the Empire dumped its refuse, the illegitimate children of admiral and generals, spice addicts, and those that the highborn considered…a problem, children like me."
She shook her head.
"I hated it there, after all the things my father had told me for years, about the two of us working side by side to change the Empire, and make it our own. It felt like I had been lied to since the day I was born, that I was never anything more to him but a tool."
Avaryss said nothing. She knew about all the promises that Lord Feer made, he had made them to her as well, and like Cynn, she had bought into them.
No more, she thought.
No more.
"Did he ever try to contact you," Avaryss asked, thought she already suspected that she knew the answer.
"No," Cynn replied, "I tried to reach out to him, to call him on the holo, but my calls were always refused. Then, one day, the code was changed and no one would tell me the new one. No one would tell me how to contact my family, they simply advised me to focus on my studies and try to forget. When I tried to leave the home at fifteen and go back to the estate I was stopped by my father's men. It was made abundantly clear to me that I no longer had a place in my father's world, and that I should be grateful for the scraps that he had given, and not try to cause him any problems."
Bitterness radiated off of her. Her hands clenched into fists.
"He threw me away, and for what? What?"
The blond woman had tears in her eyes, but she did not let them fall, she had likely learned not to over the last decade.
"I can't help the way I was born, my lord, no none can.
Avaryss nodded.
The girl had her sympathies, she truly did, but Avaryss also needed more.
She needed to find out if any affection at all remained Cynn Feer and her family.
"So he let you go," Avaryss said, "AT least you were free to live your life."
Cynn snorted with amusement at her words.
Is that what you think, that I was free? You do know that my father kept men to watch me, to make sure that no one could use me as a tool against him, but it was more than that."
She pursed her lips in disgust.
"Everything that I've done in the last twelve years has been watched and measured. I've had two boyfriends in that time, and none of them had a chance with me. My father's agents made sure that nothing came of my relationships. That I would remain alone and not make any waves for him."
"Really," Avaryss said with a frown, "Why go so far? What was he afraid of?"
Cynn laughed fatalistically.
"Do you know the story of how my father became a lord? It is not likely one he would have repeated I'm sure."
"He never told me," the Sith Lord admitted.
"Unsurprising," Cynn said, "I had to dig a bit myself before I heard the full story, and even some of those facts are suspect. Anyway, it was during the first war with the Republic, the war where we were finally going to avenge ourselves on the Jedi and their lap dogs. Mother was one of the first acolytes to train on Korriban after it had been reclaimed, and she had done well in her training, so good in fact that it got my grandfather's attention. He brought her back to Dromund Kaas, expecting her to be leader. That she would bring glory to our house and make the name of Feer mean something."
Cynn shook her head.
"Mother was more ambitious that my grandfather thought, and she was not the patient sort. Father had been fighting on the front lines, and had only just returned for a visit when he had been introduced to his father's new apprentice."
Cynn gave her a cold smile.
"I think you can guess what happened after that."
"I suppose that I can," Avaryss said.
It was not that hard to figure out.
Her master and Synestra had fallen in love, or perhaps she had simply seduced him, either way, the result was likely the same.
"My grandfather died under…questionable circumstances. My father moved quickly to solidify his hold over all the resources our family had gained in the war. Mother helped him, and through their mutual effort, our house was secured before any of our enemies could act."
Cynn wiped at her face, maybe stopping a tear before it could fall.
"I was born almost six months after my grandfather had died and my father was declared the new Lord Feer. Normally, tradition would have demanded that he slay his father's apprentice, to make sure that she was no threat to his reign, but that did not happen. They were married less than a week after my grandfather died."
Avaryss nodded.
Considering what she knew about the Feers that made a strange kind of sense.
Her master had told her once that he thought Synestra was his soul mate but that their affection had faltered in the coming years. Part of that might have to do with Cynn, but it was also possible that Synestra had simply used her master to rid her of hers.
The wonders of Sith relationships, she thought to herself.
Do you think that Fehl and you would have ended up like that, Keera asked.
Avaryss pursed her lips.
She tried not to think about her first love anymore. Fehl was gone, and that was that.
Besides this was not about her past, this was about Cynn's.
Avaryss needed to know more.
"What of your mother," she asked, "Did she also turn her back on you?"
"My mother," the girl spat, the girl's green eyes flared at the mere mention of the older woman, "She visited me twice at the academy. The first time was to tell me not to try and contact them, and the second was to inform me that she would not be coming back to visit again. How do you tell that to a ten year old, my lord? How do you expect them to understand? All I wanted was my mother! I wanted to go home, only to be told that I couldn't and no matter how much I cried, begged or promised to be better, no one would listen. No one cared."
Avaryss, again, said nothing,
She knew that Synestra Feer kept a single picture of her daughter in her private rooms. Avaryss had seen it, and had asked the lady of the House about it.
I have no daughter," Synestra Feer had replied, but the pain in her voice had said otherwise, it had set Avaryss on her quest to locate this girl, and now…she had.
The only question was now, how best to use her.
How could she help Avaryss bring down Darth Feer?
Cynn returned to her seat, but not before pouring herself another drink, she slumped down in her chair and frowned at Avaryss.
"Is that all you need, my lord? Am I free to go now?"
Avaryss smirked at her.
"And where would you go? I will set you free if you ask, but what do you have waiting for you out there? What kind of future do you have planned for yourself?"
Cynn said nothing; she no doubt knew the answer to that question.
"Why do you care about this?" she asked Avaryss, "why does what I went through matter?"
"It matters because your father is clearly afraid of something. If he wasn't he would have either killed you or let you go off and have a life of your own somewhere."
"I know what it is," Cynn hissed, "He is a controlling manipulative bastard."
Avaryss grinned.
He was that, and more, but that was not the answer, oh no."
She licked her lips in anticipation.
Cynn was wrong.
Feer had made a mistake in sending his eldest away, but not for the reason that she thought. Despite the weakness of her connection to the Force, she had still come from two strong Force sensitive parents. Cynn might not have had the gift, but who is to say that her children or grandchildren might not have it one day.
It was not the past that her master feared, but the future.
Any child of Cynn's might have grown to resent his mother's treatment, he or she would grow up hearing stories of how her grandfather robbed her of what was rightfully hers.
Enemies are made in such ways. Feer likely understood that, but still…he had never made a move to remove his daughter from the board. He simply chose to keep her isolated, to prevent her from having any relationships outside of her work.
Foolish of him, she thought, very foolish.
He had been a fool to let her go. Despite the embarrassment, he should have kept he close, ensured that any children born of her would grow up as allies, and not enemies. It would have been a strike against his prestige, but it would have been the smarter move.
So my master does have a weakness, she thought, pleased to have found this one, he had not been willing to pull the trigger and tie up this loose end. Now Avaryss had Cynn and a chance to use her.
It might just be the first step on the road to her own freedom. Both she and her master's daughter might just get what they wanted.
Cynn may not have been Force sensitive, but she had been raised around Sith, she knew how they thought.
"Are you going to kill my father?" she asked.
"That is how this usually ends," Avaryss said, "Does that bother you, after all the man has done?"
Cynn shrugged.
"What does my opinion matter? If my father dies you have no further use for me. What does the fate of a dead girl matter to a Sith Lord?"
It didn't, Avaryss thought, but she was not so quick to throw away something that could prove useful.
She would give the matter some thought.
"I don't make it a habit of killing people with useful skills," Avaryss informed her, "My people were watching you for a while, you are not stupid Cynn Feer, nor without skills."
Avaryss smiled as she left the girl.
"We will talk again," she promised.
"I don't suppose you could find me something to do," Cynn said, "Sitting here and drinking is nice and all, but I'm used to doing well…more."
Avaryss laughed.
It would not be hard to find the girl something to do. She had worked in the supply office after all, and right now Avaryss was still trying to make sense of the files she had collected from Les Moor, trying to follow the flow of credits and goods from Danna City.
Dym had agreed to work on it for her, but it never hurt to have an extra set of eyes.
"I will have something sent down for you," she told the other woman.
Cynn nodded.
"Thank you, my lord."
Avaryss nodded and left the suite.
She still had some matters to take care of before they arrived on Pholis.
Business matters or Ro matters, Keera asked.
Avaryss did not reply.
She did not care what Keera thought. Her other-self had been eager to get involved with Ro again, and now she was dragging her feet.
Avaryss did not care.
She wanted what she wanted.
She would have it.
IOI
"We have arrived at our destination, my lord."
Avaryss nodded as she stepped onto the command walkway. Outside of the main viewport floated the planet Pholis, a while ball of a world streaked with the deep grey and blue of its near frozen seas. Like many worlds in this part of space, Pholis had once been a target for pirates, slavers, or anyone else who sought to subjugate or take advantage of the Pho people.
The Empire had changed that.
In exchange for protection, the Sith asked only that the Pho contribute their resources to the needs of the Empire. The deal had held strong for over a thousand years. Pholis' glaciers contained some of the purest fresh water in the galaxy, a necessary export if one wished to continue to maintain both colonies and the war machine that drove the Imperial expansion.
"We have two more warships on our scopes, my lord," Captain Kannady informed her. "The Aggressor and the Deathstroke out of Zahn prime."
Avaryss nodded.
Unsurprising.
"Have they hailed us?" she asked.
They did, and we just received a response," the Captain informed her, "We will be clear to proceed to the planet as soon as the convoy they are protecting is cleared to leave.
"They are here on escort duty?" Avaryss said.
Kannady nodded.
That was surprising.
Both ships were Terminus class destroyers, and both were part of her master's fleet. The war against the Republic continued despite what was happening in the Itae system, the water shipments still needed to reach the troops and bases on the front lines.
Hence the rather powerful escort, too powerful some might say.
Two destroyers were necessary in maintaining the fleet; it was odd to see them wasted as escorts.
She could see the convoy that the two warships were protecting, Standard Sith military carriers. These were early class Terminus vessels that had been replaced by their more modern counterparts, stripped of most of their weapons, their armor now made them perfect for hauling military hardware and supplies to the front lines.
Both were currently in orbit of a Sith space station in orbit of the planet, it was here that the Empire maintained the bulk of their garrison. Pholis was favored its native species over any other, human settlements on the planet proper were few.
The station allowed the Empire to maintain control without needing a massive force on the ground. Its fighters and weapons could be brought to bear against any enemy on the planet, but there had never been any need for that. The Pho were loyal vassals of the Empire.
The Empire had never had any reason to punish them.
Avaryss sighed; she stood next to Kannady with her hands behind her back.
It annoyed her that she needed to wait, but what else could they do.
The freighters were needed they would be…
KRAKOOM!
The Emperor's Wisdom shook, alarms blared as the ship was struck head on. Both Avaryss and Kannady were thrown back by the sudden jolt.
Beyond the main view port one of the freighters was gone. The ship had exploded in its docking cradle, debris and chucks of ice flew everywhere as the shock wave extended outward. The Aggressor had been off the port side of the freighter when it exploded, the shockwave sent the Sith warship tumbling. Its shields had been down and it caught the brunt of the explosion.
It now floated in high orbit, disabled.
Somehow Avaryss managed to find her feet. Alarms continued to wail around her as Kannady cursed under his breath and made his way back to his post.
"REPORT!" the captain shouted, "Someone give me a straight answer!"
Avaryss hissed as she rose to her feet. She did not need to know what had happened.
The Force roiled, she had expected to reach Pholis before the rebellion found traction here, she had hoped to scare the natives back into line and ensure that the rebels were unable to do anything to harm the Empire.
She had hoped to get here first.
She had not been able to do that.
She had been too slow.
Damn it, she thought.
They're here.
A/N: Hope you are all staying safe and healthy during these strange times. I will continue to post content both to keep you entertained, and my own mind occupied. Next chapter up soon, hope you are all enjoying the third part of Avaryss' journey, until next time, Dear Readers.
DG
