Chapter 7: The Reunion

The cool embrace of hyperspace encircled the Stolen Heart. The Jedi vessel hummed easily as it vanished from the void, and began its journey outside of normal space and time.

Darth Avaryss let out a shuddering breath; a breath she had not realized she had been holding. She had not expected or anticipated the Eternal Fleet finding her, and certainly had not been prepared to see Beric again, at least…not yet.

The sequence of events made her frown.

Their escape…it had not gone according to plan.

It was frustrating, but not really a problem, things were still going as she expected, and best all, they were here. Despite facing death, they had made it.

They…had survived.

That thought did bring her some comfort, yes.

They had survived, and now…she was back with Fenn again, finally…they were together again.

No fury or rage could completely drown out that simple joy.

She looked over at her comrades. Agony dusted herself off, murmuring curses under her breath, no doubt thinking about what they had left behind, some of the supplies they had brought along, only to be lost in Beric's attack would not be easily replaced, not in the company of Jedi anyway.

Avaryss tried to pay it no mind.

They would need…to simply cope.

Zay moaned slightly rubbing her bad foot, the brace had bent slightly when Avaryss and she had struck the deck, and was now digging into the girl's ankle, she was trying to undo the straps, but seemed to be having trouble, they had gotten twisted in the fall, pulling them even tighter, leaving the poor girl in pain.

The dark lord could have aided her servant, but chose not to, even a slave had to learn the value of saving herself, her master could not always do it for her.

Pain was a teacher, it had taught Avaryss very well.

She would not deny her servant that experience.

Zay would either endure, or she wouldn't, such was the way of things.

Avaryss glanced around the ship, now that she was not under threat of death, she could see just what kind of a vessel that had brought Fenn back into her life.

She was not…overly impressed.

The internals of the vessel were not up to military standard, that was for sure, panels missing, nests of circuitry stuck out from various control boxes, evidence of quick rewires in the middle of bad situations.

The mere sight of it annoyed the dark lord. It was an affront to her orderly mind. Yet, she had to admit, it did show a bit of tenacity on the part of the captain, a willingness to do what was needed in order to survive.

Strong survival instincts should never be dismissed, if anything, they should be encouraged.

When it came to matters of life and death, only survival mattered, that…and the blood of one's enemies coating one's hands like crimson gloves.

That last thought made her smile.

Oh, how Avaryss had missed the feel of enemy's blood on her hands.

She would enjoy washing them in it very soon, she had so many enemies in the galaxy now.

She was most eager to see them plucked from the board, one…by one.

The sound of footsteps coming down the ladder drew her attention, that and the expanding presence of Fenn as he drew ever closer, again she felt that slight flutter in her heart, and a warming of body.

Too long…

…it had been far too long.

Fenn Shadowstone dropped down beside her, the Jedi Knight spared her only a brief nod, but his attention was enough to satisfy her desire…for the moment.

He has work to do, she realized, I shouldn't distract him, yet.

The thought made her smile turn a little sly.

Oh, how she was going to enjoy being a distraction.

"Tara," he called out to the cockpit, "Make sure to bring us out of hyperspace, we will need to make a few micro-jumps, throw anyone trying to track us off the scent. We can't lead them back to our base."

"You act like I've never done this before," the response came back from the captain.

"Just trying to keep your head in the game," he replied, "We don't need any Zakuul vessels popping up over our heads when we get home."

Finally, he turned to Avaryss and her party.

"Are you okay," he finally asked aloud.

"I'm fine," Avaryss said shyly, speaking in a voice that would not threaten her old dream friend, she didn't know how much he knew about her life since they had last spoken, she wanted him focused on the then, and not the now.

They had both changed in the years since they had last seen each other, she simply didn't want him to look too deeply into that change, and speaking of change…

He looked more closely at her, perhaps seeing her for the first time since they had parted.

"Keera," he said pointing, "your arm?"

Avaryss looked down.

Oh…she thought, that.

Oops.

She gave him a sheepish look.

She probably should have prepared him better.

The last time they had spoken, her left arm had been severed at the elbow, an injury gifted to her by Darth Terrog. Fenn had saved her that day, but she had been forced to replace her lost limb with a mechanical replacement. It had served her well for a time, but now…had been replaced, along with the rest of her body.

Yet, she didn't wish Fenn to know that, not yet.

She…she needed to come up with something…fast.

"Oh…this," she said holding up her left hand, wiggling the fingers.

She gave him a dismissive shrug.

"As you can see, the wonders of Sith Alchemy know few bounds. It wasn't cheap undoing what was done to me, I assure you, but it was worth it."

Hm," he said, she could sense him reaching out with the Force, perhaps trying to get a sense of what was done to her, what she had done, and how she had replaced her lost limb.

He would learn nothing, she knew that for sure, the glamour that was reinforced by the choker she wore would be more than enough to hide the truth. Fenn would find out eventually, he was too close to her not to find out, but she could not risk it, not yet. It was not quite time for him to see what she had become.

She needed to be careful, at least for now. When the time finally came…

…She didn't think he would like what he saw, not yet anyway, he needed to be prepared, at least until he was ready to let go.

At least…until he was ready to fall.

If he sensed her desire, he didn't show it.

Uh huh," he murmured, "Right."

So, he accepts it, good, she thought.

The first step had been achieved.

Fenn turned to Agony, he nodded in greeting.

"Taya, right," he said, "Welcome aboard."

Her companion shook her head, though, she did radiate a sense of pleasure that he remembered her name from their brief encounter on Terrog's station all those years ago.

"Taya is no more," she said, "I am Darth Agony, now. I serve Avaryss in her endeavors, and in exchange she will aid me in avenging those that were slain on Ziost."

A shudder of pain ran through the other Sith.

"My husband…my daughter…they…they were both…"

Fenn's expression turned pained.

"You have my deepest sympathies," he said bowing his head, "I was not at the battle of Ziost, but I heard about it later, what was done…your Emperor…"

"Our FORMER Emperor," Agony hissed. Her anger at Fenn began to grow, drawn out by his lack of understanding, angry that he felt pity for her.

Avaryss intervened before things could get out of hand.

"It is not Fenn's fault, my friend," she said putting a gentle hand on her ally's shoulder, "All matters will be dealt with in time, and all accounts will be balanced."

Avaryss gave her a cruel smile.

"Vitiate, and all his progeny will pay for what was done."

Agony nodded, eager to begin extracting revenge on the former Emperor and his followers.

Avaryss didn't blame her, it went beyond simply avenging Aya's life.

Revenge was the spice that made a Sith's life glorious!

It was the hunt for it that truly mattered.

A hatch not far from where Fenn had descended irised open, Avaryss sensed a new presence through the Force, one she had not felt before.

Of course, Fenn wouldn't have travelled alone. Despite his history with her, he would have been foolish to go into an encounter with a Sith without some form of back up, she would…

Avaryss' eyes widened as the other Jedi emerged, she…she…couldn't believe it.

WHAT THE HELL!

"I've secured the tail gun, Master Fenn," the young man said bowing respectfully, "It took some damage on the way out, but that patch I applied seems to be holding.

The boy smiled.

"It should be good until we reach home."

"That is good my student," Fenn said.

"Very good."

The boy was young, perhaps thirteen or fourteen, not much older than Zay if she was correct. He, like Fenn, radiated with the light, he had that sense of innocence that children on the cusp of adolescence possess, a sense that the Jedi tried to maintain in their charges, and always failed to do so, but that was not what surprised Avaryss, it was the boy's features.

They were most surprising indeed.

Dark haired, and golden eyed, the boy would grow into a handsome young man one day. His crimson skin was lighter than others she had seen, both his pointed brow, and the chin tendrils that marked his species were smaller too, suggesting a mixed linage.

Seeing the boy, and how he felt in the Force, the sense of the light around him it was almost infuriating.

Damn you Jedi, Avaryss thought, only just hiding her rage beneath a bland look.

THE ARROGANCE!

THE GAUL!

Damn you!

The boy was Sith, half blood, or quarter blooded at least. Considering what she was feeling, she was guessing one of his parents had been either full or half, his power level would suggest nothing else. He…he…

She barely stopped herself from hissing.

It is bad enough the Jedi seek our extermination, now they steal our children from us, filling their heads with their lies.

It was intolerable.

"Ladies," Fenn said drawing her attention back from the black pits of hate, "may I present Temmin Tagge, he is my padawan learner."

"Ladies," the boy said bowing respectfully, "May the Force be with you."

Avaryss controlled her temper.

Agony was not so careful. She sneered at the boy.

"My lords," she said coldly, "The proper form of address for us is…my lord. You would know that if you were raised by your kin."

She glared at Fenn.

"Why is this boy with you? How did you acquire one of our children?"

"The boy can speak for himself," Temmin said quickly, interrupting his master before he could reply.

He glared at Agony.

"As for MY people, well, my people are those that loved me, raised me. I'm not one of you. We are NOT kin. Your hateful empire murdered my father, and drove my grandfather into exile."

Temmin looked at Avaryss.

"I have no loyalty to the Sith, your kind betrayed my blood. I'm…"

"Temmin."

Fenn's saying the boy's name was all it took, any anger at being linked to the Sith faded, the boy breathed it out.

"I'm sorry, master. I was just…"

"Just defending yourself, I understand, but know this, these women didn't kill your father, or do anything else to your family. We should try to look at people with an open mind, not lump them all together based on where they were raised, yes?"

"Yes, master," The boy said, "I…"

He paused and looked past Avaryss, his eyes finding the one sitting on the deck behind her.

His eyes falling on Zay.

"I um…"

Zay looked up at him as well, Avaryss felt a slight shift in the Force.

Hm, she thought, interesting.

Zay was caught in the boy's gaze, and he in hers, any thought of the pain she was in from the bent brace on her foot was gone, any concern for her master's orders were forgotten, in that brief moment there were only two people in the galaxy, the girl with the twisted foot, and the Sith youngling turned Jedi.

"Um…You..you are hurt," he said, a statement, not a question.

Zay swallowed hard, it didn't seem that she would respond.

"Ah…I…um…yes…my…my foot…the brace."

She pointed at the strap she had been trying to free, with little or no success.

Temmin looked at Fenn, who nodded.

The boy raised his hand and gestured.

SNAP!

The twisted leather tore easily, the boy had barely reached out with the Force, but it had been enough.

Avaryss nodded.

Impressive, she thought, most impressive.

Fenn had chosen well for his apprentice it seemed.

The boy had power, that was for sure.

She smiled.

How…interesting.

Zay removed the brace, she would be able to fix it later, Avaryss had made sure she possessed both the knowledge and the skill to do it. She…

The girl struggled to her feet, using her cane, making sure not to put too much weight on her bad foot.

"I…thank you, I'm…I'm…"

The boy smiled. It was an attractive smile, made even more so by his Sith features.

Zay was knocked for a loop, she blushed, and her voice stopped working.

Avaryss frowned, and tilted her head slightly.

The Force responded, the girl's ear twisted slightly, not enough to do permanent damage, but to wake up her.

"ZAY!" she squeaked, having felt Avaryss' chastisement in the past. Avaryss had never beaten the girl, but she was not above correcting her slightly from time to time.

Fenn had not sensed it, he likely wouldn't have liked it if he had.

The girl rubbed her ear, still more focused on the boy in front of her.

"My name is Zay."

Zay, he murmured her name, like he was tasting some sweet fruit.

His smile widened.

"Hi, Zay," the boy said, "I'm Temmin."

The girl giggled nervously.

"Yeah, I heard."

"Oh right," he said laughing to, "Right.

The boy was blushing too.

Avaryss forced herself not roll her eyes.

Emperor give me strength, she thought.

So, Zay was old enough for that? Already?

How kriffing special!

Fenn might have noticed it too; he had a hint of an amused smile on his face.

Avaryss, however, was not amused, she was annoyed more than anything else.

She didn't have time for this.

Her plans would be moving quickly soon.

She had no time to deal with Zay's…adolescence!

It was at that moment that the third person on the ship finally made her presence known, a lithe young woman dressed in a grey patched up flight suit emerged from the cockpit. Her short reddish-brown hair pulled back into a short pony tail. Pale skinned with large almond shaped green eyes that shone with both a sense of danger and mischief. She wiped her long fingers on her flight suit, taking in the scene playing out before her; the two Jedi, the two Sith, and the slave girl.

The woman, the ship's pilot smiled.

"I just brought us out of hyperspace, Fenn," she informed him, "The navi-computer will have a new course for us a bit, two more jumps should be enough to lose any further pursuit."

She turned to the two Sith.

"Provided we have no more surprises."

What was said was both a statement and accusation.

Avaryss frowned.

"What happened, what we just escaped, it was not a trap set for you, if that is what you think," the dark lord replied.

"Glad to hear it," the girl said, "Beniko said you would be useful to us. I'm hoping she wasn't overselling your value."

The Dark Lord smirked.

"You will be most surprised how useful I can be…captain…?"

"Valenthyne," the woman answered, "Tara Valenthyne."

"Well…Captain Valenthyne," Avaryss said ignoring the woman's insolence, at least for now, "You have my thanks. If you had not arrived when you did…"

"That destroyer would have been source of a very bad day, provided it wasn't your last."

She looked over at Fenn.

"I know you and Uncle Jas have your reasons for bringing people into this, but…is this really a good idea. One Reevan is bad enough, but three?"

Avaryss frowned.

She assumed that the "Uncle Jas" the woman was referring to was Jas Dar Bynn, strange, she knew some of Jas' history thanks to his intelligence file, but she knew nothing about this woman, there had been no mention of a Tara Valenthyne in his file, perhaps Imperial intelligence had missed something and then, there was that other word…what had the girl called them?

"Reevan?" she asked.

The Captain gave her a cool look.

"Yeah, Reevan, Sith, and any other name you dark side types might like to call yourselves. Whatever you call yourselves or what others call you…trouble is what you are. You are both trouble and dangerous."

Agony sniffed.

"Mind your tongue, harlot," she hissed, "We are lords of the Empire."

"Lords hiding in a hovel by a lake," Tara Valenthyne said with a shrug, "Not much of an Empire."

Agony hissed, her hand began to drift to her belt, but Avaryss stopped her; blocking her hand with her own.

They didn't have time for this.

It was too early in the game, slights could be settled later, the woman would answer for her opinions, but for now…

…they needed to keep things civil.

"Revan was a traitor, Captain Valenthyne," she informed the pilot, "he betrayed both the Republic and the Empire, we would appreciate you not using his name to describe us, especially after what happened on Ziost."

"Which would never have happened, if the Jedi had not freed Revan from his prison. The Empire caged that man for a reason, and now we all must suffer because the Jedi chose to set him loose upon the galaxy."

Neither Fenn nor Tara Valenthyne bothered to dispute that, a point that the dark lord was grateful for, after Ziost, Agony was far from the most stable of her servants.

She would rather the Jedi not provoke her, not until a few more things had been settled.

Avaryss smiled at both of them.

"As for my value, I have ample resources that you and your people will find most useful."

"Then why haven't you used them?" Tara asked her.

"Having resources, or at least, access to them, means nothing without good people to use them. My own forces have been scattered, either they have been hunted down and destroyed, or forced into hiding. Whatever their fate, they are currently useless to me."

"So, you have the hardware, just not the hands to use them?" the woman added.

"No one that I would trust, no," Avaryss said with a shrug, "I'm currently an outcast among my people. Any one of them might try and sell me out, to make themselves look good before either the current Sith leadership, or Emperor Arcann himself."

The mention of the Zakuul leader had the desired effect. Avaryss could sense it, the Jedi understood that, as of right now, Arcann was far bigger a threat then all the Sith put together. The future of their precious Republic stood on a knife's edge.

The fact that she was here, was proof that the Jedi understood that too, they always had ways of recruiting the foolish or brave into their schemes, convincing them to fight for their cause.

Avaryss respected that, and as she had said, she had few options.

She could trust no one in the Empire. Yet, she needed help. Fenn and his allies could supply that, she could get them what they needed, and they could help her get what she needed.

Of course, they would not understand what they were helping her acquire, not until it was too late.

It would all work out, she was sure.

Deception and cunning were weapons of the dark side, after all, weapons that she used with a master's touch.

They would be the most interesting of pawns, Fenn and his allies, at least until the time to sacrifice them came.

Until then…they would work well together.

She was counting on it.

Fenn took a deep breath, as an alarm light flashed near the cockpit. Captain Valenthyne turned quickly.

"Looks like we are ready to go," she said over her shoulder.

"You should all try to get some rest; we will have a few hours before we reach home."

Avaryss looked over at Fenn, who nodded sagely, again she felt only a sense of comfort, a desire to protect.

She nodded, basking in that feeling, the way the Force seemed to bend so comfortably around them.

She had missed that.

She had missed him.

He turned away from her briefly, giving her a chance to look him over, to truly see him with her own eyes, her new eyes.

Her body warmed, enjoying the experience, she liked what she was seeing.

The plan was important yes, but it was not the only reason she had desired this meeting, this chance to be with him again.

Restoring the Empire to its proper place, defeating Arcann and the rest of the Emperor's bastard children, those were but two of her goals, two of many…

The one that she thought about now was more…intimate to her, something that was only now possible thanks to her new body, her new, healthy, fertile, body.

The thought made her shudder, she could not entirely hide her desire from Fenn, not when they were this close. She sensed him pick up on it, his response: the barest tilt of his head, but he had not pushed her away, neither physically or through the Force.

The idea is not repellant to him, despite his years of training.

The realization excited him.

He would not go easily, but that was okay, what hunter did not seek a challenge in pursuing her prey?

It would be a pursuit that they would both enjoy, and in the end at the time of the kill…well.

Things would be most interesting in that sweet, lovely moment.

They would be most interesting indeed.