Chapter 24: The Gift
The two holograms shimmered before her, one an imperial officer standing straight and proud, and the other a robed figure sitting on a throne.
Avaryss frowned as she stared down at the holo-plate in her quarters. This message had been waiting for her, having been recorded less than an hour ago.
The content came at no surprise.
So much for her order for there to be no communications until after the matter on Pholis was resolved, she thought.
Glasc…damn that man!
She had only just returned from the interrogation suites. She had neither ate nor slept, for almost three days; now she was functioning on nothing but her will and the power of the Force. The battle over Pholis had ended nine hours ago. She had barely had time to meditate and refresh her mind before word had reached her that her prisoners were ready to be questioned. The Sith had managed to capture nine prisoners, five from the freighter that Avaryss had boarded, and four fighter pilots whose craft had been disabled.
The rest had fled into hyperspace, the carrier had collected what few fighters remained and retreated. It had been no match for two Sith destroyers. The two freighters that had aided in the destruction of the Sith's water transport had both been disabled. The one she had boarded was now being examined by Sith intelligence officers, the other was destroyed; its shell was now just wreckage orbiting Pholis.
We won the day, Avaryss thought, but she suspected that they could expect little more than that. The prisoners that had survived the battle were mostly common thugs and crewers. They knew little about the motivations of those that hired them.
We will get little out of this scum, she thought glumly. These men and women weren't real rebels; they were guns for hire, a pirate gang that had been hired through a go-between to destroy a ship in orbit of Pholis.
She had interrogated that freighter's captain herself. It had been a successful endeavor…mostly. It was rare that she got to enjoy the art of…information extraction. The memory of her own interrogation after the death of her first love back on Korriban usually killed any joy she found in the act.
Today, however, she had felt nothing. Her anger at the embarrassment she had been suffering at the hands of these rebels ensured that she did not lose focus. She had indulged every dark impulse she had, and in the process extracted a name that might prove useful going forward. It should have been enough, but it seemed that Glasc did not care, and he had went running to her master.
The dark lord shook her head.
She was not surprised…just annoyed.
Her temper continued to burn.
"Your apprentice's response to this situation leaves much to be desired, my lord," Colonel Glasc said with disdain.
The man sneered coldly.
"It is my opinion that she lacks the commitment for her current post."
Darth Feer laughed; his white teeth shone, even in the holo-field, his golden eyes glittering from beneath his heavy cowl.
"What would you have had her do, Colonel Glasc," the dark lord inquired, "Should she have blasted all of Pholis for what happened? Should we have sacrificed such a valuable world just to make a point?"
Feer smirked at the mere thought of the idea.
"I'm sure Avaryss is doing what she feels is necessary, but if that should change…I'm confident that you, one of my most loyal of servants, will inform me straight away."
The loyalty officer stood a littler straighter, basking in his master's slight praise.
Avaryss rolled her eyes.
The fool, she thought; if Feer truly had any real respect or affection for him he would not have put him in such a precarious position, spying on a dark lord, not the safest job in the galaxy.
She pursed her lips in disgust.
If the man was not careful, he would find out just how precarious his situation truly was.
For the moment his family name and powerful relatives protected him, but…there was more than one way to skin a nerf.
Accidents did happen.
She looked down at the dagger she had recovered during the fight on the enemy ship. Ro had been right about the neuro toxin coating the blade.
She had decided to keep it. It was a spoil of war.
Who knew…it might just prove useful.
She pulled the weapon from its sheath and looked hungrily at the blade; she imagined cutting Glasc with it, watching his painful end. She tried to imagine using it on her master, but she just couldn't see it.
She sighed.
When Darth Feer did die, it would not be from the cut of a simple dagger. It would be something far more…dramatic.
And I will be there when it happens, Avaryss thought.
I will make it happen!
It would happen, she had foreseen it.
It would be done.
She returned her attention to the conversation between her master and Colonel Glasc.
She did not have time for day dreams right now.
She required actions.
"Avaryss' response as Inquisitor has been…half-hearted, my lord," Glasc continued, "She was sent to crush the rebellion in this system, and so far all she has done is travel around and speak with people. She has done nothing to deal with the criminals hiding in our midst."
"I take it that you feel that brute force is a better answer here?" Feer inquired.
The loyalty officer nodded.
"There are many settlements on Oridanna and Pholis that the Empire does not require; she could have made an example of any of them. She could have shown these peasants that the Empire will not tolerate this talk of succession. She could have left the scarred ruins as an example for good and all. The Emperor's Wisdom has more than enough firepower to carry out such an action."
"Brute force is not the only way to deal with an enemy, Colonel," Feer reminded him, "Subtlety can be a useful tool if properly applied."
"Subtlety is often overrated in my book, my lord," Glasc added, "These are troubling times; examples serve best when dealing with the rabble."
They do indeed, Avaryss thought leaning back in the chair.
Glasc had no idea that she had bugged his personal hyper-comm; he likely didn't know that she was aware that he had one. He had taken measures to ensure his privacy, but those were for naught. The officer that was over the Wisdom's scanning crews did not really exist. He was simply Commander Holli in disguise, the changeling was more that capable of handling both her own duties and the requests of men like Glasc.
Avaryss smiled.
She wondered what the loyalty officer would say if he knew how she had outplayed him. Her master would have likely applauded her cunning.
Her eyes narrowed as she stared down at the hologram of the loyalty officer, her temper barely contained by her will.
Perhaps she should make an example of Glasc, to show the various spies and informers on The Emperor's Wisdom the price of informing on her to another Sith, even one that she called master.
It would be so easy, she thought, satisfying too.
Her temper continue to rise, the urge to march straight up to Glasc and crush his windpipe with the Force while everyone else watched was almost impossible to resist.
She shuddered and took a deep breath
It would be satisfying, but it would also be counterproductive.
No, she thought.
Glasc still had his uses.
She tried to focus on that.
Coward, Keera hissed from her place in the back of Avaryss' mind.
The dark lord snarled her fury still very close to bubbling over.
"Be silent," she spat out loud.
"Save your commentary for someone who cares."
Keera quieted as Avaryss continued to watch her master's conversation with his pawn.
How much longer, she wondered, how much longer will I have to tolerate this, how much longer will I have to continue playing the role of the loyal apprentice?
She had no answer, and that lack of answers made her temper burn that much brighter.
Her fingers curled into angry fists.
She had just about had enough of Darth Feer and his games.
"I still do not see why Darth Marr saw fit to make her a Darth," Glasc said.
"He had his reasons," Feer said dismissively, "It is not a choice that I would have made, but it has been done, so now I make the best of it."
Feer leaned in, she felt his gaze harden as he looked down upon the loyalty officer, it might have been her imagination, but Avaryss thought she saw the man cringe.
"It is not for you to question such things, Glasc," Feer warned him, "Avaryss is Sith; how she has risen is no concern of yours."
"I mean no disrespect, lord councilor," he added quickly, "I merely wonder if your apprentice's ascension was too soon. It should have been your choice to elevate her, not Darth Marr."
Feer sighed and leaned back.
"Too early or not, it was done," Feer said, "I do not doubt she would have achieved such a goal in time, how could she not?"
The dark lord chuckled.
"I made Avaryss, Glasc. It was I that lifted her up and let her join the Sith in the first place. It was I that guided her training from afar. It was I that saved her when she should have died on Korriban. All that she is, all that she has, and may yet become is because of me. It is because I made her. She is mine."
Avaryss hissed as she listened to her master's boast, his claim that she was and always would be his.
You know nothing, my master, she thought.
And one day…you will be nothing!
"She hates you, my lord," Glasc said, "I can see it in her eyes, the way she speaks about you when she thinks that you cannot hear."
The loyalty officer pursed his lips; he looked upon his master with concern.
"She would kill you if she thought she would get away with it."
Of course I would, Avaryss thought, that is the way of things.
Master versus apprentice…when the time was right, that was the way of things.
The way it had always been.
"Of course she wants me dead," Feer replied, "But it is not out of hatred, not fully anyway. Avaryss craves my power that is as it should be. Her desire is what gives her her passion; it is what makes her superior!"
Feer smiled fondly.
"My dear child will challenge me one day, and on that day, she will lose. She will do so because she is mine, and as you said she is not ready to be a Darth, she had the potential, but not the will. She will never surpass me. She will never…"
"ARRRRRRRRRRRGH!"
Avaryss had heard enough.
She leapt from the chair and flipped the hyper-comm over, the recording glitched and began to repeat.
"She will never…"
"She will never…"
"She will never…"
HISSSSSSSS!
Avaryss' lightsaber was in hand and ignited, she chopped at her master's image, and it vanished in flash of smoke and sparks.
Avaryss turned her eyes wild with rage and hate! The exhaustion and frustration of the last few days had been too much, far too much!
She had had enough!
She started towards the door. She would go to Colonel Glasc's quarters and kill him. If anyone tried to stop her, they would die. If anyone found themselves in her path, they would die. If anyone even looked at her the wrong way they would die! She would…
"AVY STOP!"
Keera's voice penetrated the haze of red and hate, but Avaryss did not even acknowledge her.
She would not be stopped now.
She would…
"AVY!"
She reached for the door control, as soon as it opened the guards outside would die, they would be just the first, she would cut a bloody path to the loyalty officer's quarters she would…
"STOP!"
Keera reached out, her strength increased by the rage and hate of her other half. Avaryss tried to shrug her off, to push her back down where she belonged, but Keera would not be denied.
She seized control of Avaryss' hand, the two fought for control…
…and then it happened.
AGONY!
Avaryss cried out and sank to her knees. Her lightsaber fell from her grip. She clutched her head with both hands, but the pounding continued. She could not move, she could barely think.
No, she thought.
No. No.
NO!
I won't stop!
I WON'T!
GO AWAY!
LEAVE ME ALONE!
LEAVE ME…
Another spike of pain went through her brain, she fell whimpering to the ground.
Everything spun away.
She was falling.
Darkness rose up to claim her.
Darkness…and sweet oblivion!
Stop, the voice in the back of her head cried out, but it was fading…fast.
Stop.
Avaryss said nothing, she could not speak, and she couldn't move.
She no longer wished to.
The pain was too great.
The darkness rose up and buried her.
Cold.
Sweet.
Oblivion
And then…
…nothing.
IOI
She was not sure how long she lay there, how much time had passed.
The chime on her door beeped again and again, drawing her back from the nothingness, back from the shadow.
She sat up and shook her head.
What, she thought to herself.
What…what happened?
She looked around, feeling…strangely disconnected. She knew this place, knew that it was hers, and what had almost happened.
She blinked and shook her head, trying to clear it.
The pain was gone, and with it…something else.
"Avy," she said under her breath.
No response.
"Avy? Can you hear me?"
Again…nothing.
She blinked.
What happened, she thought.
What is going on?
Keera rose to her feet rubbing her temples with her fingers. She felt…strange, but at the same time…better that she had in a while.
She looked at the mirror in her quarters. She saw only her reflection there. She had expected to see Avaryss' ghoulish face and breathing mask staring back at her, but it was not there.
It was gone.
She let out a shuddering breath.
Avaryss was gone.
She took a wobbly step and almost fell, just managing to catch herself before she took a nose dive into the deck. It…it had been a long time since Keera had had her head to herself, that she did not have to fight Avaryss for control, to wait to be let out, or fight her way to the surface and take control.
It felt…strange. She was not used to the silence.
"Avy?" she repeated out loud.
"Avy are you there?"
"Keera?"
She heard the voice, it whispered through her mind, but it was not the cold Dromund Kaas accented tones of Avaryss, no this was different.
Someone was reaching out to her through the Force.
"I hear you," she said, "Who is there?"
She sensed amusement.
You are so close now, sweetheart; so very close."
She could almost see the image of a smiling face; she could sense the joy through the connection they now shared.
"You have finally freed yourself, dear, and now you must come to me. I'm waiting. We are waiting."
Keera's eyes narrowed.
"Who are you," she asked, "Where do you want me to go?"
"Come home, Keera. You are needed. She needs your help."
Again she felt a flash of joy.
"Come home, Keera. Come home."
Keera Lylos shook her head.
She…she thought she recognized that voice. But she could not be sure; it had been such a long time.
"Mother?" she called out.
"Mother? Can you hear me?"
There was no answer, the connection was gone.
Keera shivered.
She was alone, but for that one moment…it…it had felt like…
She swallowed hard; her mouth was suddenly very dry...
Impossible, she thought.
My mother is dead, she died years ago.
Yet, she heard something…someone that had sounded like.
The door chimed again and again.
Keera looked over, her confusion finally clearing, she was in total control.
"Yes?" she called out trigger the door comm.
"What is it?"
"Lord Avaryss," a familiar voice answered, "It is Bleez, my lord."
Keera shook her head, waiting for Avaryss to emerge and respond.
She did not.
Keera blinked.
I…I guess I'm Avaryss now too, she thought.
How messed up is that?
"Yes, Warmaster," she said, "What is it?"
"Your transport is ready to take you down to the surface, my lord," Bleez informed her, "Your…gift for the Pho Assembly is ready as well, and it is stored in the cargo hold, awaiting its delivery."
The Warmaster chuckled.
"I assumed that you would wish to deliver this particular gift yourself."
Keera nodded.
Yes, she remembered now.
Avy had had something special planned for the Pho. Something to remind them that they were still vassals of the Empire, and that their continued cooperation was still needed.
She took a deep breath to steady her nerves.
It was not the kind of gift that she would have chosen, but she saw the value in what it would mean when the Pho leaders saw it. She could have told Bleez to forget it and leave it behind, but at the same time.
She knew the value of symbolic gestures, and this one was sure to show the seal men that the Empire meant business.
I'll play this the way that you would Avy," Keera murmured to herself, "Then we will see just what our Pho allies think of our commitment to their continued safety.
Keera did not hesitate. Avaryss had already dressed in her robes and cloak. She used the force to summon her helmet and mask. Keera would have rather not worn it at all, but it was what the Pho would likely expect.
The mask had become Avaryss' face; it was one the Pho would be expecting.
She would not disappoint them.
She snapped the helmet in place and secured the mask. Once again, she expected Avaryss to try and reassert control, but again she did not.
Keera's thoughts were her own; no other voice rose up to complain or try to regain control.
Is it over, she wondered.
Was Avaryss truly gone for good?
If so, then she was truly free. Free! All that Avaryss had was now hers to do with as she saw fit. The mission was now hers.
She found the prospect…a bit daunting.
Avaryss had had a cold way of looking at the world. She had kept her apprentices and underlings at arm's length.
Was that the best way of doing things, or should Keera try something new…something more fitting with what she believed to be right?
She thought about the strange contact she had felt through the Force. She would need to find out who had done it. She would need to find out where to go, but first, she needed to reassure Avy's allies that nothing had changed.
First, she had to accept the fact that in the eyes of others, she was Avaryss.
She could not afford to wait for Avy to return.
She had to be…Avaryss.
She took another deep breath, and made for the door, her cloak swishing behind her.
I can do this, Keera Lylos thought.
I am a Dark Lord of the Sith!
I am now…Darth Avaryss.
She smiled beneath her mask.
It was time to find out just what that meant.
IOI
The Pho Assembly had offered to meet her on the Sith space station in orbit, they had offered to come to her.
Avaryss had declined.
If they wished to meet with her on the station, she would go to the surface. The seal men needed to learn that it was she that had the final say in such matters. That she stood above them and that they would meet her on her terms and her terms alone.
Keera did nothing to change that plan. She simply sat in her seat aboard the shuttle as they broke through Pholis' atmosphere and began their final approach to the capital city.
She looked out the nearest viewport. The shuttle broke through the clouds revealing the glacier covered landscape that was Pholis.
She smiled.
It was an amazing sight to be sure.
Though they could move on land, the Pho were an aquatic species by nature, their bodies perfectly adapted to live comfortably in the planets frozen seas. Most Pho settlements were under water villages and towns. Their people divided into twenty eight separate clans that shared power, and maintained a sense of peace among the populace.
Not peace, Keera reminded herself, order.
Peace was a lie, there was only passion.
In the past, the Pho had often been the target of aggressive outsiders. Pirates and raiders had preyed on the seal men, forcing them to pay tribute or suffer the consequences. The coming of the Empire had changed all that. The Empire had brought opportunity to Pholis. The Empire had brought the Pho a chance to stand among their galactic peers, and not have to worry about being taken advantage faceless aggressors.
All the Sith had asked in return was that the Pho provide them with fresh water for their worlds and war machines. Pholis could have ended up as another supply world, but that had not happened. The imperials had developed a taste for Pho culture, the seal men's cuisine, music, and art could be found on many worlds in the Sith Empire.
They may not have been Sith, but the Pho were respected, they provided a necessary service. They were a resource that the Empire had come to depend on.
It now fell to Keera to make sure that they understood that.
Rebellion would not be tolerated.
Today, she would make sure they understood that.
"We are approaching the capital city, my lord," the pilot informed her. She nodded and came up beside him.
The sight that greeted her was a wonder to be sure.
The seal men had built few cities on the rocky surface of their world, but what they had were said to be breathtaking to be hold.
The City was called Arr'Raab by the locals, but to the Empire at large it was known simply as the shining city. An interesting title, but one well deserved.
The Pho city had not been built in the traditional sense, it had, in fact, but cut out of the crystal formations that were common on the planet's surface. The city shone in the bright sunlight throwing of rainbows along the rocky cliffs and distant glaciers. It was so bright that Keera needed to darken her mask's optics. Her weakened eyes could not take such brightness, the crystals shone like stars. It was these crystals that first drew the Sith. They had hoped that they might have found a cache of crystals that could be adapted for lightsabers. That had not turned out to be the case, but that did not mean that the planet had not been valuable.
The fresh water stores on this world alone, made it worthy of becoming a Sith protectorate.
And now it falls to me to make sure it remains that way, Keera thought.
She hoped that she was up to the task.
Beric and Ro had accompanied her. They both looked up as she returned to the shuttle's main cabin. Both were clad in winter combat suit armor, not that she expected them to need it.
She could feel Ro's gaze on her as she sat back down. They would still need to talk about what had happened on the pirate freighter.
She glanced towards him, he did not look away, and she could sense…curiosity? Interest?
Attraction?
She looked away quickly.
Now that he was sure that it was her under the mask, he did nothing to hide his feelings.
She admired his bravery, if nothing else.
She would deal with the matter later, once the Pho had been reminded of their place.
Xen and Chylde sat silently in their seats. Keera wondered if they could sense change in her.
She doubted that Chylde could, the Twilek had just met her. Xen was another matter.
Keera's eyes narrowed.
She did not like the fact that the former Jedi harlot had her brother wrapped around her little finger. Avaryss may have been fine with it, but Keera was not.
If Xen did anything to hurt Beric, she would kill the little shutta without hesitation. She would need to arrange it first though. She did not want to hurt her relationship with her brother, but it could be done.
As Avy had once said.
Accidents did happen.
Keera would just have to wait for the right opportunity.
It would not be that hard to arrange.
Chylde looked up at her, her golden Sith eyes sparkling with a mix of curiosity and merriment.
"So many people," she said, "Are these nice people?"
Keera shrugged.
"They are allies," she said, "That is enough for now."
Chylde grinned hungrily.
"Are we going to kill them too? The ones on the ship were fun."
She giggled.
"I want to have more fun."
"I doubt that it will come to that," Keera replied, "If blood needs to be spilled, I will let you know."
She gave the Twi'lek a cold look.
"Until then…maintain control, do you understand?"
The girl responded with an exaggerated bob of her.
"Yes, mother Avaryss," she said, "I will be a good girl, you will see."
Keera sniffed.
A good girl?
They would see.
The ship did not bother landing at the city's main spaceport, it made straight for the main assembly building, the one the Pho used the Sith sent a representative to speak with them. Normally they would have held this meeting in one of their underwater chambers, but since a human would not survive very long in the icy waters, they held the meeting on the surface.
Just as well, Keera thought.
According to the shuttle's scanners Pholis was enjoying a particularly cold day today. A human without protective gear would not last long on the surface.
Fortunately, what she had to say would be brief. Just a few words and then she would present them with Avaryss' gift.
Her point would be made.
The Pho would understand.
The central building was one large crystalline dome. Rainbows danced on the floor around her, as Keera and her entourage arrived.
She looked around, nodding to all those attendance, the leaders of the planet, the greatest among the Pho.
The council members were not like the common seal men she had seen on the streets they were larger and far wider. The skin glistening in the light, their thick yet still slick bodies hinted at the power that they were capable of, they may have been a bit slow on land, but in the water few would wish to challenge them.
Keera nodded, pleased by what she was seeing.
She was grateful to have such creatures as allies.
Though he was not physically in attendance, Lob Vekk appeared via hyper comm, he introduced Keera as lord Avaryss of course, High Inquisitor of the Itae system.
She smiled and stepped forward.
She recognized the need to put her best foot forward. No doubt Darth Sadi was either watching this meeting live, or would see a recording later. Keera intended to give her no ammunition to use against her.
She intended to be…the perfect Sith.
"Honorable delegates," she said nodding respectfully, "I thank you for allowing me to come to your most beautiful world."
"You flatter us, Inquisitor," Chairman Boll Tyrr said returning her nod, a large brown skinned Pho; the chairman's large face was almost hidden beneath a beard of thick tan whiskers.
He might have seemed comical, if not for his large size and thick muscular arms.
Pacifists the Pho might be, but they had the potential for violence.
Keera intended to make sure that potential was all it would ever be.
"Your reputation precedes you, Inquisitor," the chairman continued, "I do hope that you will see that you have nothing to fear of our people, we remain loyal to the Empire, and the Dark Council."
"I am certain that the council will appreciate that sentiment, Chairman," she replied, "But have not come for simple assurances alone, especially after the tragedy that took place in orbit two days ago."
A rustle of noise went through the gathered Pho, the leaders barking to each other, the chairman stopped any argument with a raise large flipper.
"We had nothing to do with the loss of the Empire's ship, Lord Avaryss; we hope you can see that."
"Of course," she said, "I would never dare question the loyalty of your people. It is not you that I mean to discuss today, but myself."
She smiled broadly beneath her mask.
"No doubt you have all heard many wild tales about me and my master. Some of which, though true, are greatly exaggerated. We Sith are capable of great violence, but we are also capable of great generosity was well.
She let her eyes drift over the gathered leaders; she reached out with the Force trying to sense any anger or tension.
She sensed no more than what she might expect from such creatures.
Lucky them.
"As a representative of the Empire, and the Dark Council, I wish to ensure you all that the Empire has no intention of letting your world slip back into the chaos that it experienced before our arrival. The Sith take care of our own, and protect valuable resources, whether they be people or resources that they offer us."
She chuckled softly.
'We may stumble along the way, but that does not change our commitment to keeping your world and people safe. It is for that reason that I'm here."
She stood straighter.
"I'm here…to protect you."
Again a series of barking comments, she did not speak the native tongue, but she did not need to.
She could sense the skepticism in these creatures.
She did not blame them.
Words were cheap, she preferred action.
Action was why she had come.
She snapped her fingers. Two Sith trooper emerged carrying a large black case about as wide and as tall as a person, she had had Bleez prepare this little gift personally.
She wanted to make sure it came as a surprise to the Pho, after all, surprises often worked best in making examples.
"What is this," one the council delegates asked.
"A gift of sorts," Keera responded, "Something from Avaryss to you the good and honorable leadership of the Pho.
She nodded to Beric who motioned for his troops to move forward. They went to the case and opened it, holding it up for all to see.
Keera smirked.
The response was just what Avaryss had hoped for.
A series of surprised barks, some of the seal men looked away quickly, perhaps wanting to vomit when the first of the smells reached them.
Boll Tyrr gasped his dark brown skin paling at the sight of her gift.
What is this," he demanded, "Why have you brought this to us?"
Keera grinned.
She thought he would never ask.
"Consider this a promise," she said, "From me to the honorable people, of Pholis. The Sit hake fine allies, but we can be deadly enemies if provoked.
She chuckled.
"Just ask these gentlemen," she said motioning towards the case, "they will all tell you that we mean business."
Boll Tyrr whimpered.
She did not blame him.
It was kind of gross.
The case contained the heads of the nine prisoners they had taken after the space battle. Some of those heads were in worse shape than others, Sith interrogators were not known for being gentle. Some of the heads were missing ears or eyes; one was actually missing its nose and lips. Keera could not say which of her people were responsible for that, and did not really care.
These people had been enemies.
She knew how to deal with enemies.
She met the Chairman's gaze, it was important he understood what this meant.
"The Empire is at war," she said, "WE can afford no interruptions in our supply lines. These men tried and they have answered for it, know that we are not above making other such demonstrations in the future."
A ripple of fear went through the gathered assembly. Keera watched them closely, with both her eyes and the Force, hoping to identify any troublemakers right away. She sensed fear, but no anger, for now the Pho leaders were not motivated to act against the Empire.
She hoped that it would stay that way.
"I wish that I could stay longer, sadly the business of protecting the worlds under my charge draws me away," Keera bowed respectfully to the gathered leaders, the Seal men looked a little ill, but seemed to have gotten the point.
Good.
"The Empire remains a friend of Pholis I will speak with Darth Feer himself make sure he understands that the current quotas should remain where they are. I see no reason to gouge your world if we do not have to."
"You would do that for us, my lord?" the chairman asked.
She nodded.
"As I said, you are both an ally and loyal member of the Empire, we take care of our friends, and…," she said motioning to the heads on display before them."
"…Our enemies."
The Pho said nothing, but she thought he understood.
Friends could become enemies so quickly.
It was important that the consequence of such actions were understood.
"We…um….thank you for your actions on our behalf, Lord Avaryss," the chairman said, "You...um…are a credit to both your race and your order."
She laughed dismissively.
"You are too kind," she said, "But such pleasantries are most unnecessary, as I said before, we were, and remain your most loyal of allies."
She grinned as she looked down at the heads, remembering what she had learned before they had been…prepared for this meeting.
"WE are here to keep you safe," she repeated, "Never forget that, after all…we shall not."
Her eyes sparkled with a predatory light.
"WE…shall not."
The Pho nodded their heads; she could feel the sense of fear and submission. They would have nothing to worry about the Pho leadership, at least for now.
The empire's point has been made, and the answer has been received.
Good.
"May my next visit be longer, I would like to see more of your beautiful world."
"You…you will always be welcome here," Tyrr said quickly.
"A Sith is always welcome."
Keera tried not to laugh.
Being Avaryss was easier than she thought, at least in this.
A Sith was always welcome, the Pho had said.
And they were right.
How nice that they understood.
How very nice.
