A/N: Here we go folks, the final chapter of Dark Reflection. Thank you all for joining me on this journey, and looking forward to starting the next story in the life of my little Sith Lord. One tale ends, and another begins, so…let's get to it.

Chapter 69: Reborn

This will be the last time.

Avaryss smiled as she opened up the throttle, the old swoop bike shot across the plains of Oridanna, the long golden grass swaying in the spring wind, the collection towers growing larger and larger as she drew closer.

This was unnecessary, she knew that, she had people that did tasks like this now, but still…still…

She felt a brief sense of nostalgia, nostalgia and a bit of sadness.

Have to check the readings, she thought to herself, I want to know what it feels like to do it…one last time.

Yes, the thought was bittersweet, she…she hated to admit it, but she had missed the simple things in life, the youth that had been stolen from her. Chores, school work, and everything else, those had been part of another life, another girl's life. The mad scramble for power and prestige had taken up the last of her teenage years, and even though her tormentor was now gone, she could not deny that he had left his mark, that part of her would always belong to him.

That is not true, the darkness within whispered, you have freed yourself!

Avaryss shook her head no.

She knew better.

As she rode, she could hear the distant sound of beeping and whirring, she knew what was doing it, but did her best to ignore it.

Not, yet, she thought…

…Not yet.

And so…she rode on, trying to recapture something of the long-lost past, or perhaps just trying to lose herself in the nostalgia. The past that she had given up or destroyed thanks to Darth Feer's meddling in her life.

My tormentor, and…my father.

The thought made her shake her head.

She both hated and loved the man, just as she loved and hated Andur Lylos.

One held me back, and the other pushed me to the stars.

They had made her what she was, but now…she needed to move beyond all that, and find a new path, but first, she wanted to remember, her two fathers were part of that.

She wanted to explore that past one last time.

I will always be with you, my child.

That whisper in the back of her mind made her frown. It sounded like him, like Darth Feer.

He would always be with her, his teaching made her what she was, and given her the strength she had needed.

He would always be part of her.

I know, she thought…

…I know.

She owed Feer much, and blamed him for much more, but that was the way of things, the way of the Master and the Apprentice.

She was fine with that.

Feer had been her master, her teacher, and father. He had made her what she was, and now his lessons would stay with her for the rest of her days. She could no more rid herself of them then she could stop seeking to claim all that was rightfully hers.

I'm Sith, she knew that in her bones, she had always been meant to be Sith.

That would never change, she was Avaryss, but this was not about Avaryss…this was about Keera.

One last time, she would be Keera, and then…it would be over.

The time had finally come to truly cast Keera Lylos away. She would no longer be the farm girl, the acolyte, or the apprentice, she would be someone new, but the same. She would be free, and she would finally cut the last few strings holding her to Keera Lylos' life.

But first, she wanted to spend one last moment savoring what it had been to be Keera, to revel in what had been happier times…

The sound and smell of a strong Oridanna breeze.

The hum of her swoop bike beneath her.

The sweet sensation of shooting through the long grass like a blaster bolt.

She smiled.

…One last time.

The beeping grew louder and more insistent, she did her best to ignore it, to focus on what needed to be done.

First, the tower, she thought, and then…it would be time to go.

Then…she would be done.

She brought the old speeder bike to a sliding halt, and found herself idling before her destination. She found herself thinking about how the old bike really needed a tune up, and that she and Andur Lylos had never really had the time, things had always come up, they had been so busy, especially before that last harvest.

Well, it didn't matter now, the bike would soon be cast aside, like everything else from her past.

She welcomed that; it would be a liberation of sorts. Oridanna would always be hers, but she would no longer belong to it, and that is the way it should be. A Sith should have no ties but to the power they seek, and the victories that they claim.

Yes, she thought with a nod.

It was time to finally let go.

The collection tower seemed bigger than she remembered, slightly out of focus.

It didn't matter, she knew what she needed to do.

Avaryss leapt from her bike and hit the tower's ladder with a single bound, she quickly began the ascent, trying not to focus on the fact that this was the last time, and instead take solace in the fact that a new world was about to open up to her.

She was so close now, and there were so many new worlds out there, so many new challenges.

So many new things to conquer!

Though it was an easy climb, she found herself winded quite quickly, she felt a slight burning in her side, and the beginnings of a headache.

She did her best to ignore it.

You're out of shape, she thought, too many council meetings.

That is not it, the darkness within her whispered.

You are wasting time.

The thought annoyed her.

My time…to waste.

There is so little time left, you can't afford this.

Again, she ignored the thought.

Couldn't she have this one last thing.

This one last chance to feel something from Keera's life, before casting it off forever?

Didn't she deserve that much?

She continued to climb, higher, and higher she went.

The beeping grew louder in her right ear, but she didn't let it bother her.

She had to do this.

She needed to check the readings.

She finally reached her destination, she took a deep breath and smiled.

Finally.

"Keera…he…help me."

She looked over at Ro Wilkes, a pleased expression on her face.

Her lover and old friend was interfaced into the tower, wires and tubes ran up and down his body, indicator lights blinked mostly green, but some were still in the red.

That was okay, she thought.

She could fix that.

"Hello, Ro," she said dismissively, "How are we feeling today?"

He groaned weakly.

"Ke…Keera," he murmured, his pain radiating out through the Force.

"Wh…why?" he asked, "Why…why are you…you doing this?"

She gave him a gentle smile.

"Because the past has to die," she informed him, her eyes going over the various lights and tubes connected to him, "I need to be more than what I was, and to make that transition, to truly evolve and become what I need to become, sacrifices are required, many sacrifices, one thousand to be exact."

She chuckled.

"One thousand lives will restore the one. It is for that reason that you are now here, you and all the others."

Her eyes twinkled mischievously.

"You…you should feel honored."

She glanced up and looked around, both at this tower, and the others. No less than ten people were plugged into each one, their own settings flawlessly tuned for the ritual that was about to begin. When the time came, the tubes would feed Sith poison into their veins, not to kill, but to increase their anger and rage to crescendo, in that moment, in that one perfect moment, the spell would be cast. The bodies and souls of the thousand would be changed, their flash ravaged, their life energy drained and focused, they would NOT become one with the Force, they had another, grander, purpose.

They would all be part of her, a tide that would wash over her new body, scour it clean of the Jedi fool that currently occupied it, and in that moment, they would all be complete.

Darth Avaryss would be reborn, stronger than ever!

The thought made her smile.

Rebirth…and just in time too.

The galaxy needed her.

It had fallen into total chaos!

She finished making the adjustment, and just in time. The pressure in her head was growing worse by the moment. She tasted blood on her lips, her nose again.

She was out of time, she realized.

The ritual needed to happen now.

She had no more time for games, or dreams of the past, because that is what this little trip was…

…it was just a dream.

Ro looked down at her with pain in his eyes, he wasn't really here either, his body was in a stasis tube inside her hidden base, like all the others, being readied to make the transition.

"I…I loved you," he informed.

"I know," she said, "But…I can't let the past have any hold over me, Ro. The future is what important, but…I couldn't part with you either, there is too much history between us, you might have made me question this path, and…I couldn't allow that."

She touched his face with her human hand.

"I'm a Dark Lord, you are a mundane. It would never have worked, but at least we will be together forever."

She giggled.

"If we can't have a future, then…well…I'll have to settle for stealing your life energy, and your soul."

She smiled, enjoying the way he tried to flinch.

It was delicious.

Together forever.

Thunder rumbled.

She looked up at the sky, it was getting dark, clouds were rolling in.

She sighed.

No more time.

She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

"Don't worry," she said, "It will all be over soon."

"KEERA!"

She ignored him, and leapt from the tower, back flipping into the air while the ground gave way beneath her turning into a sea of shadows.

She fell and fell, as she had been doing for half a decade. She fell down into the dark.

Down…and into power!

IOI

"Avy?"

Darth Avaryss opened her eyes, she gasped, tasting oxygen and kolto.

There was no more time for dreams, she was back in reality, for the moment.

She coughed weakly; her head throbbed.

Reality…was not so pretty.

She was laying in a medical capsule, her body plugged into it through many tubes and wires. The beeping she had been hearing had been a life support monitor, and the readings were no longer looking good.

She had reached the end of her journey. Keera Lylos' body could no longer sustain the retro-virus. Her mind was dying.

This body was spent, despite its regenerative capabilities, her brain was mutating beyond being useful.

The time had come.

She needed a new body, to be reborn.

That day…had finally come.

She looked up, her eyes had resumed their deep purple color, she would have been considered beautiful again if not for all the tubes.

Taya, Dr. Vrann, and Warmaster Bleez stood over her. She felt her best friend's touch on her cheek.

"Avy," Taya repeated, "Can you hear me?"

Avaryss nodded.

Her friend gave her a sad smile.

"It is time to begin. Are you ready?"

Another nod, the Dark Lord couldn't speak, she was on a steady diet of oxygen and kolto, all to try and preserve her long enough to complete the ritual.

She was aware of what was going on…mostly. Her connection to the dark side remained strong, allowing her to stay in this moment. Her diseased brain did not make it easy however, her thoughts skipped back and forth when she was awake. From Fury 9, to Tatooine, to Hoth, and back again. So many worlds and faces passed through her mind, threatening to distract her, to get her to accept that she needed to let go, to either fall into the madness beyond death, or let go of her hate and become one with the Force.

It was not easy to hold on, she was so very weary, but she refused to quit. She wouldn't give in.

She had a destiny…to rule the galaxy!

She would not let Terrog's disease stop her.

Hold on, she thought, must hold on.

I have to wait, there is still time.

Yesss.

It was finally time!

The wait was over, all was finally in readiness. The alchemical machines were ready, as was her many sacrifices, and her new host body, the Jedi fool that HK had brought her.

She remembered when he had told her.

She had been…unsettled.

The body he had chosen was not her first choice, but it would have to do. It was strong in the Force, and would give her what she needed.

It would be enough.

All that was left now, was to do the deed.

Avaryss was more than ready.

It was time…to live again.

The life support capsule continued to beep in her ear, she felt a slight breeze as one of Vrann's droids flew near her face and shined a light into her damaged eyes.

She groaned and tried to look away.

Her rage lifted her up.

When the ritual was done, she and the Chiss were going to have a talk. When she no longer needed the woman, she would take her little hover bots and shove them right up…

"I'm not certain about this, my lord," Vrann said looking down at her data pad. "The readings I'm seeing aren't good. Moving you now could be fatal, perhaps we should wait, let the devices stabilize your condition before we…"

Avaryss shook her head no.

They had no more time.

It had to be now.

"If she waits any longer doctor, she will die," Taya said coldly, "What does it matter if she dies here waiting for stability that never comes, or if she dies attempting to save her life. I prefer to do something. I will no longer wait."

Avaryss nodded, or at least, she tried to.

Taya was right.

They were out of time, she could feel it, she was slipping away.

They needed to act now.

"The escort is ready, Lord Taya," The Warmaster promised her friend.

"Good," Taya said smiling down at Avaryss, her new Sith eyes glowing like two amber stars.

"Finally, we can begin."

IOI

She continued to drift back and forth between dream and wakefulness. She looked up and saw the various stasis pods that lined the walls, the men, women, and children inside were stirring, the injection of the Sith poisons had begun.

A hissing breath escaped the dark lord's mouth, she could sense it, the power building, it was…intoxicating!

The construction of the temple where they now stood had only just finished when the first of the sacrifices had arrived. Ludo Hysh, the steward of House Avaryss had overseen those efforts. Construction on this place had begun before Avaryss had gotten sick, but for a far different reason than what she used it for now.

This temple, this ritual, had originally been designed to bring back Fehl, to give Avaryss' fallen first love a new body. The project could have been abandoned after the boy's final death, but Avaryss had opted to see the work finished. She had labored too hard and spent too much to simply abandon all the work that had been done, and it was a good thing too.

Now, all was in readiness, this place had been designed to grant new life, and that is what it would do.

Avaryss was about to be reborn, and there was nothing her rivals in the Empire could do to stop it.

She could only stare blankly at the various pods on the wall, it fell so strange to be floating by in a medical capsule, like she was already gone, and passed into a new realm.

She again felt the desire to let go, to slip away and be nothing, but again her anger and hate pulled her back, reminding her what she was doing, and why it needed to be done.

The Empire she had sworn to seize and rule was crumbling.

It was time to make sure that that didn't happen.

It is all Revan's fault, she thought.

If he was not already dead, she would kill him again.

He had brought doom upon them, he had restored the Emperor, and by doing so, set him loose on the galaxy.

The Sith people had suffered for that slight. The people of Ziost had suffered, they were all dead, all life on Ziost was dead.

The memory helped her focus, helped hold her in this moment.

Ziost!

AYA!

The face of Taya's little girl bounced through her brain, of holding her as a baby, then watching her as a toddler, running around her mother's garden…

Avaryss took a shuddering breath.

Aya had died with her father on Ziost, her life stolen by their former Emperor. Taya had only survived because she had been with Avaryss at the time, preparing for the ritual.

The pain her friend had suffered, had been terrible.

Avaryss still remembered being there. The memory of Aya laying dead on an examination table aboard the Emperor's Wisdom. Taya sobbing pathetically holding the tiny cold grey body to her breast, reaching out with the Force, trying to bring her precocious little girl back, trying to will her back to life.

Avaryss had been there, she had been at her friend's side, forced to rely on a hover chair after an exceptionally bad seizure.

The two friends had been united by true hatred in that moment, true hatred and a new purpose.

The former Emperor had taken something precious from them.

He deserved to suffer for it.

Taya had finally stepped away from the body, her heart shattered into a million pieces, but in that pain had been born new resolve, and a desire to destroy everything their former Emperor had built.

"I don't want him dead," Taya had informed her, "I want him to watch. Where ever he has fled to, to whomever that might shield him. I…I want them to die squealing, Avy. Whatever hideaway that the Emperor has built for himself, I want to find it and destroy it utterly, it and any who dare to still serve him."

Avaryss had nodded, she agreed with her friend's take on the situation.

After stealing the life energy of Ziost, the Emperor's spirit had fled into Wild Space. Darth Marr was organizing a hunt to pursue, and to find a way to destroy the Emperor's spirit before it could do anymore damage.

He had even spoken with the Jedi; she knew this to be true. He had reached out to the Jedi Battle Master that had slain the Emperor's body on Dromund Kaas.

Marr hoped that lightning would strike twice, that he and the Jedi might be able to find and destroy the former Master of all Sith.

Avaryss could have volunteered to go along, but she had been too sick by that point, and besides, she had her own plans her own ambitions.

Whatever happened, Marr and his Jedi allies would return to find the galaxy forever changed.

Avaryss had discovered something, a new way to deploy Project Death Knell. By the time the Jedi Battle Master returned, the entire Republic Fleet and army would be under Avaryss' direct control. She would prove her strength by destroying the man who had defeated the Emperor on Dromund Kaas, and then…she would kill Marr, for daring to try and contain her, to think that he could control her and keep her Empire from rising to the pinnacle of absolute power.

She would slay the Cabal, and the Dark Council would be warned. As the Empress, she would tolerate no dissension or weakness among her followers.

The galaxy would finally know true order and security.

She would make things…perfect!

She…

She gasped painfully as powerful hands lifted her out of the medical capsule, she was no longer sure where she was, only that what happened next needed to happen, and quickly.

It was almost too late.

She was fading.

It had to be done now.

In the midst of the pain and confusion, her thoughts turned to Ro Wilkes. He was somewhere close by; she could sense him.

She smiled.

Soon, they would be one being, he would be a part of her.

She welcomed that transition.

They had spent their final night together the day after she had had her brother arrested. Ro had come to her quarters, wanting to speak with her. She had thought of sending him away, but couldn't do it.

She knew what needed to be done.

He had come to her, and looked upon the scars that the rebels and Darth Feer had left her with. He had not been afraid, or pitied her, he had only wanted to be close to her, the woman that he loved.

She had let him have that, one last time.

He had made love to her, a slow passionate love, and when it was over, he had fallen asleep, holding her in his arms.

She had not slept herself; she had waited for him to fall asleep, waited until he could not defend himself.

Bleez had provided her with what she had needed to get the job done. A small carbonite projector hidden in her quarters. She had slipped out of Ro's arms, retrieved the device, and put him into hibernation.

She had smiled down at the body in her bed, he had not even had time to flinch when she had frozen him.

He looked so peaceful.

At least he would die without really knowing what was going on.

She had already decided that he needed to be among those to be sacrificed, there was too much history between them.

She couldn't take the risk, and she could not allow him to move on with someone else.

He was hers.

She did not like giving up her toys.

She was…

She gasped.

…Different sensations now.

The droids were strapping her to the focusing crystal in the main chamber. On the other side the Jedi hung, her own powers muffled by drugs and fear of what the Sith were about to do to her.

So much the better, the Dark Lord realized.

Fear would make the transition that much easier, soon she would…

She gasped her head spiked painfully, she knew what that meant, another seizure, perhaps a fatal one. It almost caused her to shut down completely, to let go of life.

Distantly, she heard Taya's voice, chanting, she began to feel the dark side beginning to move through the crystal, its matrix filling with more and more life energy.

She took one last breath, using the dark side to try and clear out the cobwebs that now shrouded her mind.

No more waiting, she thought with another shuddering breath.

Here we go.

She felt the first wave of energy touch her, pass through her.

It was so strong; it almost took her breath away.

Good bye, Ro, she murmured as she felt the sacrifices dying around her, their energy flowing into the crystal and through the crystal into her and her new body.

"I'm ready," she murmured.

It was time.

A wave of dark side energy struck her, hit her harder than anything she had ever felt before!

Her spirit was ripped from her dying shell, she felt it tear away!

If Avaryss still had a mouth she would have screamed.

IT HURT!

IT HURTS!

No longer was she a she, she was a shadow, darkness given form, and she was out of her mortal shell.

It felt…strange.

The shadow could feel the cold emptiness of the dark side as it passed through the crystal, it could feel something both cold and hot licking at its feet, if it still had feet, that, and a sense of something malicious wanting to drag it down.

The shadow struggled, pushing away from the darkness.

It could almost see all its victims there. They were all waiting to greet it, hungry for revenge.

Not today, the shadow howled, or would have if it had had a mouth.

NOT TODAY!

A shadow has no real body, but the pain was still intense, it felt like every molecule of its being was now being pulled in a different direction, it was beyond painful!

No one could say if being born was painful, but the shadow could say one thing.

Being reborn was AGONY!

It felt like an eternity in hell!

The wave continued on; it fell upon the Jedi like a Tsunami! Pure dark side energy set the girl's soul aflame. The shadow felt it as the Jedi girl's memories, her consciousness, her very spirit burned away in a flash of pure fury and terror.

The vessel is emptied, it thought distantly, for the first time in months the shadow felt no pain or confusion. it felt…strong again.

It fell upon the body like a Tukata on a Nerf!

The shadow reached out hungrily, eager to take all that it could, everything that it was.

It is scoured clean, and now…to settle in.

The shadow fought its way through the wave let it lift it up, and soon it was riding it. Distantly it could hear Taya's chanting, and something else as well.

It felt the Jedi scream as she was washed away, screaming for both friends and family.

Fool girl, the shadow thought.

Nothing can save you now!

The world came back, it began to see again, hear again, and feel for the very first time.

The shadow changed, it was no longer an it, but a her.

She had made it, she was here!

She took a deep breath, letting fresh air fill her new lungs for the first time.

The tattered remnant of the Jedi's soul wailed weakly and dissipated.

The shadow, or the girl who had been the shadow, let it fall apart, it was no longer useful.

So…it was discarded.

She opened her eyes for the first time, and what she saw…amazed her.

"It is done," the shadow, hissed.

"I'm here!"

She looked around, her skin was covered in blood and sweat, like a sheen of birthing blood that cocooned a new born infant.

I'm still shackled, she realized, and reached out with the Force.

The dark side broke the binders like they weren't even there. The shadow slid down, and to the floor, feeling…strange…

Strange, but whole.

She looked down one of the stasis tanks had ruptured during the ceremony. The burnt husk of a body hung out sideways through the cracked shell.

Ro is like that now, she realized, somewhere down here.

Strangely enough, that thought didn't bother her.

He was gone, and yet, he had saved her life.

She would always owe him for that.

At her feet a puddle had formed giving the shadow its first real look at its new form, its new healthy body!

The shadow, the dark lord, smiled.

Delicious!

The Jedi's pretty peach skin had gone bone white! Her eyes had sunken in and were now ringed with purple bruises, and those eyes…those eyes…

They were perfect too. They blazed with golden light. The yellow glowing eyes of powerful dark lord now looked out upon the galaxy, and that was not all, oh no…

…there was more!

Her hearing was razor sharp, she no longer needed sonic dampeners, her eyes were strong, the brightest of lights would not shock her now.

She peered down at her hands, both of them. She wiggled her fingers; she touched the pads of each digit with her thumbs.

She smiled.

"Two hands," she hissed.

"I've got two hands!"

She began to giggle.

She couldn't help it.

It was funny!

Her short black hair was stuck to her neck, sweat and birthing blood left her a bit of a mess, but that didn't matter.

She felt no confusion, her head was clear for the first time in months!

She was no longer sick; the virus could not follow her spirit through the Force.

I've won, she thought.

"I'VE WON!"

She stood tall, proud, and defiant!

I'm whole, she thought with a smile.

I'm back!

The chamber around her was full of mist, yet she could hear her servants moving around.

"Avy?"

She saw Taya appear out of the darkness, her friend's golden eyes shining, she held a black zeyd cloth robe in her hands.

The dark lord pulled it to her, and wrapped herself in it. She was not ashamed of her state of undress, it was simply a matter of the fact that no one was worthy of seeing her in such a state.

She took another deep cleansing breath and pulled up her hood, taking solace within the shadows of her cowl.

She saw Dr. Vrann emerge, the Chiss looked…surprised to say the least.

"Is that you, my lord?" she asked.

The dark lord laughed.

"It…It is me," she cackled…

"IT IS ME!"

Mad laughter filled the chamber.

She had done it!

She had walked through the fires of hell, and returned!

Best of all, she had cut all ties to the past, that insipid Farm Girl would never bother her again.

She was free!

FREE!

She could do anything now!

ANYTHING!

The Sith Lord raised her hands to the sky, as if she could take the entire galaxy in her hands and crush it into submission.

She laughed madly.

"KEERA LYLOS IS DEAD!" the Dark Lord crowed.

"ALL HAIL AVARYSS! ALL HAIL THE DARKNESS REBORN!"

She listened as cheers went up from her servants, those that had toiled so hard to see her return. Those that desired to see her lead them to glory, to destroy the Republic and Jedi, to bring the Empire to its knees and ascend to its throne.

They cried out now, shouting her name.

FOR AVARYSS!

FOR THE SITH!

FOR THE EMPIRE!"

Darth Avaryss, the Dark Lord of the Sith drank it in.

She was healed, and she was now whole, perfect!

And now…to seize the throne!

"For Avaryss," she murmured with an evil laugh.

She thought of the Jedi, of the mongrel, Master Jas, and her dear Fenn.

She smiled, her lips black as night, bruised by the raw power she now wielded.

They have no idea what is coming for them, but they will learn.

She looked skyward, her yellow eyes hungry and mad.

The galaxy was weak and divided, they needed Death Knell, and they needed her.

It is time, she realized.

And now…

…WE begin.

NOT THE END!

A/N: And that is it for Dark Reflection folks, Darth Avaryss is restored and ready to bring chaos! Some of you have asked if these stories would see my little Sith redeemed. I have considered a redemption ending as well as one where she remains loyal to the darkness. I still have two more stories to write, and I would like your opinion, do you wish for her to find her way into the light, or to remain in the shadows with the likes of Bane and Plagueis, please let me know. Also, the next chapter of Avaryss' tale is going to be called Fallen Hero and will be coming up soon. In the meantime, though…

…May the Force serve you well.

DG