Chapter 64: The Declaration
I sense you, my master. You have finally come…haven't you?
Darth Avaryss opened her eyes, she had pulled away at just the right moment, it didn't feel like Feer had sensed her, he remained ignorant to the fact that she had been looking for him through the Force.
I don't want to scare my quarry away, she thought, merely verify that he had indeed come, it would not have been worth it if he had chosen to speak to the people of Oridanna over the hyper-comm. If he had chosen to remain at the Emperor's station orbiting Dromund Kaas.
Fortunately, that was not the case, he had come and why not? Both his wife and daughter were now on planet, of course he would wish to join them in person. It could have been seen as weakness had he chosen to stay away from a place that his wife and daughter moved about so freely.
Yes, she could sense him, even from here, the connection between them remained strong.
He had left Dromund Kaas and the safety of his powerbase.
Now that she had confirmed that, there would be no going back.
She was most eager to sever the link between them. She no longer had any use for it, and now…
…it was time.
Darth Avaryss grinned hungrily. No longer would she have to wait, no longer would she need to plot and plan.
At last, the moment had arrived…
…it was finally time to end their dance.
She remained in her quarters as the Emperor's Wisdom made the final jump back to Oridanna. She had just finished her meditations, gathering her strength before the battle to come. Her body was mostly healed, some cosmetic damage remained, but that was nothing, a mere distraction.
At long last…she was finally ready.
She found herself thinking back to the very beginning of her training, back to the days she had spent hidden within the Imperial Mission on Oridanna. The sister had warned her that she would change, that her motivations would evolve as she studied the Force and the power of the dark side.
She had not understood what that meant at the time. She had not grasped the hopelessness that was life. That power was all there was, and that in the end, revenge for her family was too small a motivation, it was not enough to carry her through to absolute victory.
Now…she knew.
As she had healed these last few days, she had had a lot of time to think on what mattered, and how far she was willing to go to finally free herself from Darth Feer's clutches.
She now understood that there could be no limit to how far she could go. If she was to achieve her true destiny; she could not hesitate. The galaxy itself was at stake.
Once Feer was gone, she would be ready to take on the rest of the galaxy, to complete both her, and Darth Hecaetus' grand work. She would be able to lay waste to the Republic, and force the Empire under her heel.
She welcomed that coming destruction, the chance to see it all come crashing down, and when it was over, picking up the pieces, and rebuilding the galaxy in her image.
It would be…perfect.
She took a deep breath, now that the moment was here, it would do no good to over think it. She would have to act, and not worry about simply trying to act.
Yes.
She had prepared mentally, but now…it was time to prepare…physically.
It was time to tend to the small details, and make sure they were in readiness too.
She looked down upon two sets of robes, she was trying decide which one she would wear for this final confrontation.
It might have sounded strange that she would worry about something so frivolous before a battle, but in that moment, it mattered.
This fight would not simply be a duel between two Sith Lords, it would be a statement. Who should rule the three systems that her master had controlled for so long? She was finally ready to show the Empire that she was ready to assume true power in the Empire.
She had played the role of apprentice for long enough, now…it was time to show all that she had moved beyond the role of a student.
Today, she would show the galaxy that she was a master…
…let her enemies look upon her…and tremble.
She looked back and forth between to the two robes, still unsure which one would be best. The black one with its purple highlights hinted at her acceptance of Sith tradition, but the crimson one with the Sith glyph for greed embroidered on them let all know that a new Sith had come to claim her crown.
Both would make an excellent statement, but which one would serve her best?
She frowned.
This would be the first time she stood before the council as a true Darth.
She desired to make the best first impression. She…
She glanced up, sensing a familiar presence approaching.
Excellent, she thought.
I could use some feedback.
She opened the door before her guest had a chance to press the button.
"Come in, Lujayne," she purred, "I could use your help with this."
The changeling engineer entered her quarters. As always, she seemed to be all business, the perfect example of an imperial officer.
That fact didn't bother the dark lord, it was one of the traits she had come to admire about her friend.
"What do you think," she asked, "The red or the black?"
The dark lord frowned.
"What is a fitting color for when you finally get the chance to kill a Sith Master?"
Holli gave her an uncomfortable look, not that Avaryss was surprised.
Holli had served Darth Feer far longer than Avaryss herself had.
She could understand the other woman's trepidation, not that it really mattered.
Avaryss could not afford to waste this opportunity, Feer rarely left the safety of Dromund Kaas.
If she hesitated now, she would likely never get another shot, Feer had to have felt the change in her.
He would not risk her getting another chance.
She had grown too powerful for him to hesitate.
"Are you sure about this, my lord?" Holli asked, "Surely, if you spoke with Darth Feer, explained all that had has happened…"
"It wouldn't make any difference now," Avaryss said with a shake of her head.
"I've come too far to stop now. Darth Feer has sensed it, I'm sure of it. The change inside me is undeniable. The time has come for me to fulfill the Sith imperative. Hesitation, at this point, would mean death."
She flashed her friend a knowing smile.
"But you have not come here to talk me out of what must be done, have you? You have another purpose in mind. Don't you, my friend?"
Holli nodded, but she continued to radiate a sense of discomfort. The changeling's feelings were strong, she must have believed that her master would not like what she had to say.
"I do, my lord," Holli said removing her officer's cap, she bowed her head in submission.
"I have come to ask you for a personal favor. I would like you to consider sparing your brother."
The request caught her off guard.
It was rare that Holli asked for anything, but this…
…it was no mere request, not after everything her dear brother had done.
"I see," the Sith Lord said in a cool velvety voice.
"May I ask why?"
Holli refused to meet her gaze; her eyes rapidly changed color as a grease spot moved from her chin to her forehead with an almost liquid speed.
Both were signs of nerves, the Sith had seen them many times in the course of her friend doing her duty.
She was nervous about this, very nervous…
…but why?
"We have fought at Captain Lylos' side many times. He has always stood with us. Surely, that must count for something."
Avaryss sneered and lifted up the shirt she was wearing, showing Holli the two blaster burns on her belly.
"This is what trusting Captain Lylos, bought me, Lujayne. I doubt that he would accept my reign now, Sadi has gotten into his head. It is unlikely that there is anything left of the man we knew, Sadi could not afford to leave anything in him that might have threatened her plans."
"But you said that Sadi had done something to his mind, altered him. Perhaps he was freed when you killed her, doesn't he deserve the chance to come back? He was with us for such a long time."
It was possible Avaryss supposed, Beric could have been freed with Sadi's death, but even if he was, she could afford to show him no mercy.
He was one of the last links to the past she was trying to slip away from. A link that would no longer matter, or be needed, once she had taken on her new body.
Soon, she would not even share a blood tie to him, she would be a whole new person.
Why should she bother pretending that they were still family, especially when that was done?
Avaryss frowned as she regarded her loyal engineer. Holli had never been anything more than totally committed to her cause. She had seen Avaryss do things that another might have hesitated in aiding her, but Holli had not flinched.
Why was this so important to her?
Why did she care what happened to Beric?
"You ask much of me, my friend," she said.
"I don't make this request lightly," Holli added, still refusing to meet her master's gaze, "I ask only that you consider what has been, and what I have given to your cause. I…I would greatly appreciate you doing this…for me."
Darth Avaryss nodded.
Holli had never asked for anything before, she could grant the changeling's request, or at the very least give Beric a chance to defend himself. It might also serve better for ensuring Xen's continued loyalty as well. Her apprentice's…relationship with Beric would be a valuable lever to pull, to keep her in the family.
Yet, did the reward outweigh the cost? Beric had attacked his own sister, his own flesh and blood!
Holli had to understand that, the Dark Lord reached out with the Force, trying to understand what was going on. Trying to guess why one of her most loyal supporters would stick her neck out so far for one who didn't deserve it.
What she felt from Holli surprised her.
She…frowned.
"Oh…Lujayne," she said.
The changeling winced.
"You…you sense it…don't you?"
Avaryss nodded.
She probably should have guessed.
Unlike Rink, who had joined her for strictly personal reasons, Holli, like Beric, had been Imperial to the bone since the day they had met. Beric had had similar origins, he had also remained committed to the Empire, and he and Holli had been forced into situations together many times.
She was not sure how Beric had come to feel about all that, but Holli had now laid her emotions bare. Avaryss understood now why she would risk herself for him.
She wants him, Avaryss realized, she…loves him?
The realization surprised her.
She…she had never sensed it.
Oh Holli, she thought, you are a slippery one, aren't you?
"He doesn't know, does he?" she asked.
Holli shook her head; she gave her friend and master a sheepish smile.
"Why would he? All he sees is Xen, or did…before everything turned upside down."
Avaryss nodded.
Yes, she…she could see that.
Oh, how the Force chose to shift the pieces on the battlefield, she thought to herself.
This move was…most unexpected.
She had underestimated her dear little changeling, and now…she had done the unexpected.
Holli was willing to risk her life for Beric, to come before her dark lord and plead for mercy for one who truly deserved to die squealing for his crimes against his master…
…it was brave…though…it could also be called foolish.
The Sith she had become was tempted to call the changeling's motivation pathetic, but…given their history, all that Holli had done for her…
She had chosen to be understanding.
She gave her friend a sad smile, it hurt her scarred face, but it was appropriate for what she was feeling in this moment.
"Does Beric realize what you are willing to do for him?"
Holli shook her head.
"He sees me simply as a fellow officer, a friend. We…um…we went through so much together. I…I had hoped he would get over it, that he would forget, and start to see me as more than what I am."
"And what did he have to get over?"
Holli gave her a sick look.
"That…that I'm really NOT human, since that business with Sy Dar Bynn on Nar Shadda, he has seen me only as a changeling, and a fellow officer, and…nothing else."
Holli frowned, Avaryss felt a spike in anger from her. Her face morphed changing into the likeness of Xen Loor.
"I was the one he came to when he began his…his…tryst with your apprentice," she hissed in Xen's seductive voice, "He knew I would cover for him…with you. I…I had seen how your apprentice acted around men; how quick she was to discard them. I played along, biding my time, waiting for what Beric had with her to end, but…but…"
Holli shook her head, her features returning to the face of the woman that Avaryss had come to call friend these last few years.
"That hasn't happened," she said bitterly, "All he ever saw was that ex-Jedi whore! I know she is your apprentice, but…"
Avaryss chuckled.
"I know what Xen is, Lujayne, you don't have to pretend around me."
The engineer sighed.
"I was too much of a coward to say anything. I SHOULD have! If I had tried maybe Sadi wouldn't have had the chance to sink her claws into him. Xen didn't watch him close enough, she never cared enough to make sure that he was okay…he…he…she…"
The changeling had no more words, she looked at her master, her eyes flickering with all colors of the rainbow.
"Spare him, my lord, please, give me a chance to help, to win him back to our side… please."
It was an honest request, though…Avaryss still feared that the risk was far too much for the amount that could be gained as a reward.
Beric had lied to her, betrayed her, tried to murder her.
The Sith shook her head.
If only Holli had come to her sooner. Had she asked for Avaryss' aid in this matter, the Sith would have acted, it was the least she could do for someone who had always been so loyal.
Holli would have been a calming influence on Beric, she suspected, it would have given him something to hold onto, something more than Xen's exotic charms, it might have done more…it might have kept him loyal.
Still, Holli had been wise not say anything around Xen, her apprentice was fickle, but she possessed a greedy nature of her own. She didn't like giving up her toys, and responded viciously if anyone tried to take them from her.
Avaryss understood, and admired Holli's patience, she had been smart to wait, hoping for Xen to get bored and then swoop in and pick up the pieces.
It had been a fine plan, but she had underestimated Beric's resolve, perhaps, he had changed Xen's heart. Avaryss had been in love herself enough times to understand what it was like.
Poor Holli, she thought.
Her poor friend!
She was tempted to tell her no; that she should forget about Beric, and let the pieces fall where they may. Had she had any talent for Force persuasion she would have used it now, to make her friend forget her desire, and focus on what needed to be done. Yet, Holli had never asked her for anything, Avaryss understood the value of motivation, the desire to keep what you wanted.
Life was hopeless, she understood that, and perhaps Holli's desire was hopeless as well, she desired to be more than Beric's friend, but in his eyes, could she ever do that? Could she be more than the alien engineer?
She was a woman who could be anyone that her potential mate desired, yet she couldn't be the one thing that Beric wanted.
She could not simply be…human.
It was…tragic.
Perhaps he was too far gone, now. Perhaps he remained too much of a loyal imperial to ever accept that Holli could be more than her less than human origin?
Avaryss sighed.
Holli was too valuable to let slip away.
She knew what needed to be done.
"I will…try to honor your request," she told her friend.
"You will," Holli said, hope blossoming from her in the Force.
"I will," the dark lord promised, "But realize how far things have gone. He has not only wounded me, but tried to turn others against me. The links of loyalty and family only go so far, Lujayne, I cannot let him become a weakness that my enemies will exploit."
"But…but you will try," the changeling asked, "You will at least consider what I've asked?"
"I will," the dark lord promised, "I will do what I can. My brother maybe worth saving, but should he continue to resist my rise, he will find that I have no mercy. I can't afford it, Lujayne, not when I'm so close to absolute victory."
Holli nodded, and bowed respectfully.
"I understand," she said, "Thank you, my lord, for doing this for me. I've…I've seen you do the near impossible before, if anyone can help Beric, I think it is you."
Avaryss nodded.
But she didn't want to help, Beric, she thought, I want him to die in agony.
He must pay for what he did to me.
"I will do what I can," she said.
"That is all that I ask," Holli assured her, "Thank you, my lord, I…I'm in your debt."
"I've done nothing, yet," she reminded her friend, "For now, you must prepare, we have a fight coming, it could be the greatest fight of our lives, but in success, all that we desire will be ours. We stand on the edge of greatness Holli, all that remains now…is for us to seize it."
"All will be as you foresee, I'm sure of it," Holli said, she radiated excitement and happiness.
Avaryss had no desire to hurt her, but believed that she would have no choice.
You will have to do what you can to minimize Beric's loss, the darkness within whispered, Holli has a grand part to play in your plans. The changeling had a necessary role in her strategy to conquer the Republic and destroy the Jedi.
She could not afford to lose the changeling now. She needed to keep her happy, at least until the plan was too far along to be stopped.
Yes, she needed to play along, for now.
Avaryss refused to be stopped
She was on the path to true power, to godhood!
She would not turn away now.
She dismissed her friend, and returned to her musings, she looked down at the bed, and the two robes she had laid out.
She smiled.
At least now, she had come to a decision.
Whatever was about to happen, there would be blood.
The dark lord nodded.
When facing such a challenge, was red ever a bad choice?
She grinned and picked up the crimson robe.
Let me be wrapped in the colors of fire and blood!
She laughed.
I will have both when we reach Oridanna.
The hall is set, the players are on the stage, now…we will see how this tale of dark power and roaring revenge will end.
She shivered in excitement.
No more games.
No more distractions.
She was finally ready.
A Sith knew no fear, and tonight, she would grind Feer beneath her heel.
It is time, my master.
I'm coming.
IOI
"THIS IS CAPTAIN KANADY TO ALL SECTIONS; REVERSION TO REAL SPACE WILL OCCUR IN TWO MINUTES. ALL STATIONS STAND BY, WE ARE COMING IN HOT! GUNNERS PREPARE TO LOCK WEAPONS ON ALL PRESET TARGETS! GROUND TEAM PREPARE TO DISEMBARK!"
Avaryss nodded, she gestured her crew forward, they had gathered for one final briefing before their return to the surface of Oridanna.
They now knew what was expected of them, what would need to happen as their master took her final step.
It would not be easy, Darth Avaryss fully expected resistance when they reached the tower.
They all had to be ready.
Clad in robes of crimson and gold, with her wide Dark Lord shoulder plates in place, the Sith Lord led her followers in what might be their last battle.
Things would move very quickly when they reached the landing platform on the government tower. They would not be able to stop, not until they reached the council, and she stood before her master, not as an apprentice, but as a rival.
The time of testing was here.
She wished her crew good fortune as they made this last journey together. Taya, Necris, and Abominus checked their lightsabers, they would be her first line of defense against any enforcers that tried to block their master's path.
Rink would remain on the ship with Dr. Vrann, Avaryss was not fool enough to think that she would come out of this fight unscathed, Feer was extremely powerful, she wanted to keep her ship and medical crew standing by, just in case.
It fell to Holli to make sure that the Imperials in the tower didn't interfere. She was to contact both Ro and Hissa, make sure that their forces stood down. Feer's men would be threat enough, she didn't wish for her master to find any reinforcement from the locals. If he escaped, she would not get another shot at this. He would return with a full fleet and crush her allies, and her chance of ever challenging him again.
He won't, she thought to herself, we've come too far to have it all go down that way.
The apprentice must kill the master, or the master must kill her, such was the way of the Sith.
She would be content with no other outcome.
They all boarded the Fury. On the bridge of the Emperor's Wisdom, Captain Kannady continued to the countdown.
Avaryss stood before the boarding ramp, her features hidden behind her faceless mirrored mask. A slight purple glow could be seen deep within its surface, her eyes blazing with power and anticipation.
No more waiting, she thought, her fingers curling into fists, she could hear the servos in her mechanical hand whine.
No going back now.
She both felt and heard when the counter reached zero, when Captain Kannady brought the Emperor's Wisdom out of hyperspace, right on top of Danna City.
Rink disengaged the Fury from its docking port, and sped down to the surface, no communication was offered to the government tower, no explanation.
Moff Galek and his cronies would just now be hearing that a Terminus class warship was in orbit, targeting the city. There would be a brief moment of confusion as the imperials tried to figure out what was going on. Why was the Wisdom back? Why were their weapons locking onto the city's defenses? Why…?
Apprentice?
Avaryss smiled.
Darth Feer had sensed her. He had reestablished their mental link.
Hello, master, she purred.
It is time!
She sensed Feer's surprise and anger.
It is pleasing to sense you, to know that you are alive, my child, but what do you think you are doing? Why is your ship in low orbit? Why have you locked weapons on the capital of my world? Your brother has…"
"I know what my brother has told you."
She smirked, imagining the look on Feer's face.
"He was only partially right, I'm no traitor, but I am coming to the surface. It is time that we…talked, my lord."
she could sense Feer's building anger, he could no doubt sense that she offered him no submission, she was done with that.
"What is this then?" he demanded, "Why have you returned? The council is in session you can't simply…"
"Interrupt, of course I can. What I have to say will be brief."
"And that is?" her master inquired.
Avaryss smirked.
"You may consider this…my Declaration of Emancipation, my lord. I'm no longer yours…body and soul."
Darth Feer was no fool, he sensed her intentions.
She felt him trying to reach out, to punish her and crush her will beneath his own.
He found no purchase this time, she had grown too strong.
You will not slap me down again, old man.
NEVER AGAIN!
For the first time, since they had met all those years ago on Korriban, she no longer had to pretend that she was his servant. That he mattered to her.
"You don't want to do this." She heard him say, she could almost see him standing before her.
"Oh, but I do, it is time my master, ready yourself."
"Avaryss!"
She cut their link, she forced him out of her mind with a smile.
Rink brought them in hard and fast, the ship had just entered the atmosphere, it was moving too fast for the guns of the capital to track, and if any did lock on, the Emperor's Wisdom would slag them before they had a chance to fire.
She took a deep breath, and drew her new lightsaber into her hand, she didn't ignite it, yet, but was ready.
First would come the gauntlet, the last of her master's protectors would try to stop her.
They would fail.
Then she would stand before the Dark Council, and before Feer himself.
They would all hear her declaration.
She was no longer a student!
She was a master!
The galaxy was no longer big enough for Feer and Avaryss.
Two would stand in conflict, but only one would walk away.
Such was the way of the dark side.
She smiled hungrily.
All hail the Sith!
