Chapter 23: The Breach

The boarding ship rocked beneath them as the battle rages around them. Through the forward viewport uglies and Sith Starfighter traded blasts and missiles as they dived and pin wheeled around each other in a lethal dance of death.

Avaryss said nothing, she simply stood behind the pilot, her hands behind her back, her feet wide. Her eyes locked on their target, locked on the slow moving freighter that was no longer fast enough to get clear of the battle zone.

The Sith Lord smiled.

Finally, she thought, some answers…and…some blood.

Her smile widened.

She was not sure what excited her more, the former or the latter.

IOI

The destruction of one of the Sith's water transports set off this battle. The explosion had not only damaged the processing station over Pholis itself but also disabled one of its escorts, The Aggressor, the Sith destroyer had been too close to the station when the ship had met its fiery end. The warship was now adrift, no engines and no lights shone from its many viewports.

At least it was maintaining orbit, Avaryss thought, if it had still been approaching the planet when the freighter went it likely would have begun to fall into the atmosphere.

A bit of good luck that, it gave the crew of the Aggressor time, but she suspected that this break was likely the only one they would get today.

A freighter destroyed. Its valuable cargo lost, and she, the Inquisitor of the Itae system had been right here when it happened.

She pursed her lips.

Someone was going to answer for this.

They would answer with their lives!

The remaining convoy vessels were forming up trying to clear the wreckage of the destroyed ship. Debris from both the ship and the damaged station floated around them like a mine field. The remaining ships moved in closer to the planet, taking shelter behind the other Sith warship in orbit. A ship that was even now moving to defend the convoy.

Meanwhile, the freighter wreckage continued to break up. Chunks of ice floated clear of the station either to begin to orbit the planet, or fall into the atmosphere where they would evaporate.

It had all happened so fast. Avaryss shook her head as she remained at the side of Captain Kannady, the Emperor's Wisdom's skipper.

Kannady called out to the various operations officers on the bridge, each shouting back reports, giving the captain a better idea of what was going on out there.

Avaryss said nothing, this was Kannady's arena, and the tough old officer did not need her getting in his way right now. He had over thirty years of experience under his belt, compared to that, her command experience was laughable, at least in an emergency like this. Her understanding of space combat and responding to situations such as this was limited.

She was more than willing to leave the handling of this matter to him. If Kannady needed her help, he would ask for it.

She looked out over the chaos with a mix of anger and disbelief.

It had all happened so fast.

There had been no time, Avaryss thought, the Force had barely rippled before the explosion had taken place. She was not sure what to make of all that.

Had the Force not registered what was going to happen, or had she been too distracted to feel it.

She feared that all the recent distractions she had faced were to blame, that she was to blame.

She cursed under her breath.

Her master would not be pleased.

It was possible that the freighter's destruction was an accident, but if that was the case. Why was the other destroyer deploying fighters? She could make out the flash of their drive trails, even as far off as they were.

The Deathstroke was already launching its fighters. Kannady had hailed them, but they had received no response yet. Through the debris and bodies from the freighter, you could just make out two more ships, possibly light freighters. It looked like they were fleeing the space station. She was about to mention it to her captain when he beat her to the punch. He shouted to the comm officers.

No ships would be leaving this system until they got this mess straightened out. Those freighters were to power down and await instructions.

No response came from the comm officer, and the freighters continued to move. They were trying to clear the planet's gravity well so that they could make a safe jump to hyperspace. They were now too far away for the Deathstroke's fighters to catch up to them, but the same could not be said for the Emperor's Wisdom.

Kannady gave the helm officer a new course heading. He was going to put the Wisdom between the freighters and their exit vector.

They were not going anywhere.

"My lord?"

Avaryss looked over, Kannady's cool grey eyes held her in their grip, a slender man with a hook nose, the man radiated the power of a lifelong military officer, and even she was tempted to stand at attention when he addressed her.

"Yes, Captain," she replied.

"Permission to take command of our military forces over Pholis, if this was not an accident; then we must be prepared for more possible enemy actions."

Avaryss swallowed hard.

As a Darth she technically the highest ranking Imperial on the field right now. It was within her rights to take full command of this operation, if she chose to.

"Permission granted," she said with a curt nod, "Bring us victory, captain."

The older man nodded and quickly began barking orders.

Well you're committed now, Keera said; if things go bad, it is you that will likely get the blade.

Avaryss tried to ignore her.

It was not like she had had much choice, this was a fluid situation.

They needed to act fast.

Word would be sent to both the station and the Deathstroke. The warship was to stand by to assist the Aggressor its fighters were to aid in clearing out the debris from the station, and ensuring its safety. Once that was done…

"Captain," one of the pit officers shouted, "We have an unidentified contact off our stern."

"Bring us about ninety degrees," he shouted back, "put us and as many guns as we can muster on both those freighters and this new contact. All fighter crews to station…launch when ready."

The Emperor's Wisdom began its slow turn, Pholis vanished from the main view port as the both the freighters and the unknown vessels not approached from both the port and starboard side.

Captain Kannady and his first officer made for the bridge holo-tank, Avaryss followed beside them. The holographic image of Pholis now appeared before them. They could see both the planet and the various ships in play.

Avaryss watched as the ship's sensors locked onto the new contact. It appeared to be a heavy freighter three times the size of the light vessels that were even now speeding away from the planet.

Raise shields," Kannady shouted, "Battle stations!"

On the holo-tank the heavy freighter's bow opened up.

Three squadrons of Starfighters launched against the Emperor's Wisdom. The ships deflectors flashed as they were struck by both laser blasts and missile strikes.

"All batteries fire," Kannady ordered, "All fighters are clear to engage!"

Avaryss watched eagerly.

The battle of Pholis had begun.

The heavy freighter held its position; it did not try to advance any further. Its fighters moved in quickly trying to overwhelm the Wisdom's shields. A fleet of uglies, fighters cobbled together from spare parts of other ships, the enemy engaged the Sith fighters while trying to stay out of range of the Wisdom's cannons.

The ship shook beneath them, missile strikes from some of the heavier uglies.

Captain Kannady did not panic, he calmly issued orders. The fighters were to engage the enemy but still hold the defensive screen of their capital ship. Meanwhile the two light freighters continued to advance, perhaps hoping to use the chaos around them to slip by undetected.

They would have no such luck, Avaryss thought.

The crews of those ships likely knew what had happened on the station.

She intended to have that information.

Those ships would not get away.

"I want those freighters disabled," she said pointing into the holo-tank. Task some fighters to attack, target shields and engines only."

She would not allow the enemy to slip past. If they were rebels they likely would know more about the threat that now threatened the Itae system.

They would tell her everything they knew.

Kannady complied with her order with a single word of protest. He had served the Sith long enough not to question a direct order from a dark lord.

Avaryss watched as the battle played out before her. A single Sith squadron broke off from the battle to engage the enemy.

The freighters opened fire as soon as they came into range. One of the Sith ships winked out, destroyed.

So much for them being innocent, Keera murmured.

I never expected them to be innocent, Avaryss thought.

At least now, I know that they deserve Sith justice.

She smiled.

She looked forward to…educating them on what the Empire did to their enemies.

As they watched one of the freighters slowed, the ship began to tumble. It engines were likely offline.

Avaryss shivered with anticipation, the dark side reached out to her, offering her its power, asking only that she give in and let her rage and hate flow.

She did not resist this time.

The rebels had embarrassed her twice on Oridanna.

She would not allow them to do so here.

She looked at the image of the damaged freighter like it was a meal waiting to be devoured.

"Captain Kannady," she said, "Prepare a boarding party."

She turned and made for the turbo-lift. The first officer was already conferring with one of his underlings, sending word to prepare a breach ship.

By the time she arrived, her troops would be assembled. She pulled out her comlink, summoning Holli and Beric. Ro would likely wish to accompany her and the Enforcer Chylde as well.

Her heart was beating faster already; her blood and adrenalin were pumping.

It will be battle, she thought eagerly.

I can almost taste the blood.

IOI

"What are your orders, my lord?"

Avaryss could barely hear her. She was playing mental games, psyching herself up for the combat to come.

Her vision was red around the edges, her desire for blood growing with each beat of her heart.

KILL! KILL!

MAIM! MAIM!

KILL! KILL!

MAIM! MAIM!

She looked out the viewport, her eyes focused on the damaged ship.

You will answer for what you have done today, she thought.

You will suffer!

"My lord?"

Avaryss took a deep breath, tried to hold the beast at bay.

"Prisoners," she hissed in a husky voice, "I want prisoners."

Prisoners, yes, the dark side whispered, prisoners to scream and be tortured. Prisoners so that you can peel the flesh from their bones!

"Yes," she murmured.

"Oh Yes!"

It was rare that she was able to simply cut loose and let the dark side flow unchecked.

She looked down at Holli; her old friend could likely see the shimmer in her eyes.

Holli had been with her longer than any of her other servants. She knew what her master was capable of.

And what of Ro," Keera asked, "Are you so eager to let him see the howling psychopath in you come clawing out?"

Avaryss pursed her lips.

A male Sith would not be afraid of seeing her give into the dark side's full might. If he did…?

She sighed.

If he did…perhaps he would not be so eager to dine with her.

The thought made her growl.

Now is not the time for romance and thinking of paramours, the dark side whispered, the time of the blade has come. It is the time of pain and death!

She glanced over at Ro, he noticed, and met her gaze; she quickly looked away and down. She cursed herself for being a fool, hating herself for that moment of weakness.

Love is an attachment; it is a chain that drags you down.

She knew that to be true, but at the same time.

Was love not passion?

Through passion I gain strength.

Through strength I gain power.

Through power I gain victory.

She sighed.

Sometimes the Sith teaching were…contradictory.

It was the Jedi that feared attachments. They considered them dangerous, the so called path to the dark side. Why should a Sith fear them?

The dark path was the only true path to power.

He won't know what to think when he sees you in battle," Keera said. "He won't understand."

"Are you sure that you are ready for him to see that?"

Avaryss sighed.

Well, she thought, he will see it whether he is ready or not.

Hopefully, he would understand.

The ship continued to draw closer. The freighter floated before them. Avaryss had seen the type before at the Kaas City spaceport. The ship was a standard light freighter, three or four decks, and a crew of twenty or so.

Twenty corpses, the dark side whispered.

A shiver of anticipation ran down her spine.

The Pho still needed to be reassured; this attack would do little to do that.

Of course, they might change their minds when she dumped the heads of these traitors on the floor of their assembly.

They would see how far the Sith would go to protect their holdings.

It might be just what she needed to keep the seal men inline.

The ship thumped loudly as it connected to the freighter's hull, behind her, Avaryss heard her troops drawing their weapons; Xen and Chylde were at her side. The former Jedi held her cross guard lightsaber in her hand, a hungry smile on her pretty face.

The Twi'lek enforcer grasped her lightsaber with both hands; the hilt was longer than a traditional blade. Through the Force the girl radiated with…well…Avaryss was not quite sure what she was sensing.

"Is it a party," she said in a voice more suited to a little girl than a grown woman.

"After a fashion," Avaryss replied, trying to understand what she was sensing, according to Hissa the girl was one of the few enforcers who was not inside Darth Sadi's pocket.

Avaryss was determined to see her end up in hers.

"Will people die?" the green skinned female asked.

Avaryss nodded.

Chylde giggled the tips of her head tails twitched excitedly.

"Blood will flow like wine, entrails will become streamers!"

The Twi'lek smiled widely, showing a set of white shiny fangs.

"Have you ever tried ice cream, ice cream with sprinkles?"

Avaryss frowned.

She did not know what ice cream was, and even if she did she did not have time to discuss it.

The ship had achieved hard lock; one of the troopers stepped forward, setting charges ready to blow lock.

She gripped her lightsaber tightly, preparing for what was to come, the sweet, sweet slaughter.

"Are you okay?"

She looked over her shoulder, Ro stood there.

He should know better than to interrupt a Sith before battle, but…

She took a deep breath, pushed the rage back.

"Stay close to Commander Holli, Lieutenant," she ordered, "As soon as we have cleared out the crew, the computers will need to be downloaded. Make sure that she is not interrupted."

He nodded.

"We will do our part, my lord," he promised, "We Oridannans know how to fight."

"I know," she said with a sly smile, "Outsiders fight hard, farm kids learn to play harder."

He chuckled.

"That we do," he agreed, "Especially, for those of us that grew up around Orid."

Her smile widened.

That was true.

Ro Wilkes fell back as the entry port began to smoke, Avaryss turned her attention forward, and she let her bloodlust flow free.

Here we go, she thought with a predatory grin.

It was time to feed the darkness.

A loud boom shook the ship as the airlock blew in. Smoke filled the chamber blinding anyone within.

Avaryss lit her blade and leapt forward, her apprentice and enforcer at her side.

She heard voices, shouting for them to freeze.

Avaryss ignored them.

Dead men, she thought.

You are all dead men!

A human wielding a heavy blaster stood in her way. He raised his weapon, but to one so lost in the power of the dark side, he might as well have been unarmed.

She did not bother engaging him. She reached out with the Force.

The man flew into the air and struck the overhead bulk head…hard. She heard something crack as he struck but had no time to finish him off. Blaster fire rang out from behind him, a collection of humans, Rodians and Weequay.

All wore armor with some type of symbol on their arms and chests. Outlaws, she thought pirates or gang members.

She grinned.

It did not matter, they would all fall.

She stood back and deflected their blasts with Shien. While she did, Chylde and Xen darted forward. They moved like a shadows, blurs wielding blades of red flame. Shouts of defiance quickly turned to cries of terror cut short into gurgling gasps of death.

Avaryss smiled hungrily

So far so good.

She heard a moan overhead, the man she had caught at the start was still stuck to bulkhead above her.

She spun her blade, disemboweling him as she moved on. She let him fall without a single glance back. What did it matter, he was dead.

The dead were best forgotten.

Her troops fanned out behind her as they cleared the airlock. They found themselves in the ships main hangar. Blaster fire rang out as outlaws traded blasts with Sith troopers. Xen went with Beric as he made his way to secure the engine room. Avaryss made her way forward, eager to secure the captain and anyone else of importance. The ship's crew tried to block her path again; they fired on her only to have their bolts sent back. One of them did get lucky and tossed a grenade, she stopped it in midair, but it still exploded, the flash left her blind.

A flash bang!

Avaryss snarled and fell back weaving her blade defensively.

She was blind, her eyes burned like they were on fire!

Since her student years her eyes had been left extremely sensitive to bright light.

She blinked and shook her head, the Force was still with her though, and it prevented any of her enemies from landing a fatal blow.

Her eyes burned, tears flowed freely. She had not had time to engage the light filters in her mask.

Do not give into the pain; use it, the darkness whispered.

There is no pain where the power lies.

The pain fueled her anger, despite her blindness she leapt forward. The Force showed her where her enemies were. Her blade flashed out, striking down, one, two, and then three of her enemies.

As one fell, she grabbed him with her left hand. She called on the dark side and drew his life energy into her. The pain lessened, her vision was still a little blurry, but that might have had more to do with her tears rather than her than the effect of the flashbang.

She watched as the man's body crumbled away, and found herself facing a pale green skinned Rodian, two short dueling swords in his hands.

She smiled beneath her mask.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked dryly.

The Rodian did not answer with words.

He attacked.

He got inside her guard, stabbing and slashing viciously. He was fast, not as fast as a Force sensitive, but still quite fast.

His blade caught a glancing blow beneath her breast plate, as she fell back he caught her across the left thigh, the cut was not deep but it did leave her stumbling.

Avaryss cursed under breath.

Once upon a time she would not have feared a non-Force sensitive swordsman, but ever since she had lost her arm, her skill with the blade was not as…crisp as it had once been.

She had trained hard, regained much of her former skill, but she was still not as sharp as she had once been.

The weakness sickened her.

She snarled, letting her anger fuel her power, she pushed the Rodian back. He once again tried to get inside her guard.

She fell back again tumbling out of his reach. He swung at her head, as she pirouetted away from his strike.

The two ended up facing each other again, both had blades at the ready.

"You're good," she purred with an eager grin.

He started to advance.

She reached out with the Force catching him in a Force grip. The Rodian gasped, his snout forming into an o-shaped hole as she began to choke him. The Force tightened around his throat like a garrote.

He did not give up; he threw one of his blades at her head. She blocked it with her lightsaber, he stumbled back his fingers at his throat; he struggled as he tried to free himself from her grip.

Too late, she thought with dark satisfaction. Too late! Now I will…

"KEERA LOOK OUT!"

Ro's voice shook her from her revelry, the Force screamed danger as she whirled around. An ugly human with a tattooed face stood before her, a wicked looking dagger in his hand.

She snarled in fury.

If Ro had not called out, she would have been stuck in the back!

She would have…

Her eyes widened.

The Rodian!

She did not waste any more time. She blasted the human with Force lightning, he flew back dropping his weapon. The Rodian, free from her grip, lunged in with his remaining blade.

Avaryss did not even bother turning, she brought her blade around and blocked his attack. The cortosis weave of the blade hissed as it struck her lightsaber.

Before he could recover she whirled around, catching the alien by the throat, her metal fingers tightened around his windpipe.

The anger was upon her, she did not have time to play anymore.

She tightened her grip. Her metal fingers dug deep into his throat, she did not stop until blood was flowing down her fingers, darkening her sleeve. She did not let go until the swordsman stopped squirming, and when he did she flung him down hard.

She sneered down at the body, a most satisfying kill.

More, the darkness within her whispered.

I want…MORE!

She wiped her hand on the dead Rodian's tunic. As she did she looked down and saw the dagger that the human had tried to use on her.

She frowned.

The weapon felt…strange. The Force flowed strangely around the blade.

She reached out for it with her human hand.

"I wouldn't do that?"

She jumped; once again, Ro was at her side, he was quite stealthy for one so big. He gingerly picked up the dagger by the hilt, his eyes narrowed.

He sniffed the blade.

"Kuba venom," he informed her, "It is a neurotoxin, a strong one. A Nasty way to go, a single cut and you will die screaming and frothing at the mouth within an hour."

He shook his head.

"He did not cut you did he?"

She shook her head.

"Good," he said, "A minor scratch would not kill outright, but it would leave you brain dead within fifteen minutes if you were lucky."

He gave her a sick look.

"As I said, it is a nasty way to go."

She nodded, as Ro pulled the sheath from the man's belt, he took the blade and slid it back inside.

He handed her the dagger, she took it and put it on her belt.

An interesting weapon, she thought.

It could prove useful…

She smiled.

...Much like Ro Wilkes himself.

"I did not know you knew about poisons," she said.

"One of the former southern landowners hired an assassin to kill Imperial officers that claimed his land a while back, he liked Kuba venom. I saw several bodies, got used to the smell."

"Lucky me," she said, "I just..."

Avaryss paused; it was in that moment that she remembered the fight. She remembered what Ro had shouted when the man had come up behind her.

Keera, she thought.

He called me Keera!

She looked at him; he must have guessed what she was thinking, because he looked down. It was hard to tell in the dim light, but he might have blushed.

"What did you call me?" she asked.

He shrugged. His expression turned nervous, almost shy.

"Your name…I guess. Considering how you responded, I'm guessing that I was right."

He managed a weak smile.

"You're alive," he said, "I had always hoped, but…

"Praise the Emperor! You're alive."

She blinked, grateful for the mask she was wearing. He could not see the shock on her face.

"You know?" she said.

He shrugged again.

"I had a suspicion, but…I was not sure, not until this moment."

He smiled shyly.

"It is you, isn't Keera? You're alive?"

She winced. She was suddenly feeling very uncomfortable.

How did he know?

How had he figured it out?

The sound of battle drew them back from their conversation. Two men emerged with blasters drawn.

Before they could recover Chylde was there, the Twilek slashed with her lightsaber, its blade was shorter than a standard blade, its hilt thinner, thin enough that she could spin it like a baton.

The outlaws died quick.

The Twi'lek giggled and pranced around happily.

"Such a party, mother," she said to Avaryss, "All we need now is the ice cream!"

Avaryss frowned.

"Make sure that you do not kill all of them girl. I still want prisoners."

The green skinned creature laughed and gave her an exaggerated bow.

She pranced away with her lightsaber in hand, off to hunt down more victims.

The dark lord rolled her eyes.

She now knew why Sadi had not collared this one.

She was not right in the head. She was unstable, possibly insane!

The Sith Lord would need to watch her very, very carefully, and that was not all.

Roan Wilkes knew who she was, how he found out, she couldn't say.

She shook her head.

Damn.

"We need to talk," she said.

"Sounds like a good idea," he agreed.

The sound of blasters once again drew their attention, this time towards the front of the ship, likely close to the bridge.

Avaryss sighed.

"Later," she said, heading towards the sounds of battle.

"Yeah," she heard him say as he followed in her wake.

Later.