Chapter 15: Exit Strategy
"Master Thunn never wished to be a part of this project, mistress. It is my duty to remind you of that."
Avaryss did not respond.
Sego Thunn was dead; his motivations at this point did not really concern her.
All that mattered now was the data that was scrolling across the holo-screens in front of her.
She nodded, pleased with herself.
1A-K3 had given her the carrier frequency that the droid spy program was broadcasting to. She was not surprised to find that it was encoded, but the sheer amount of data, all the various reports filtering in from…who knew how many droids scattered throughout the Sith Empire was enough to tell her what she needed to know.
This breach was far bigger than Lord Feer had realized. Whoever was behind this had access to…an untold amount of Imperial data, data that was crucial to the Sith and the Empire as a whole. There were thousands of reports from droids all over the Empire, perhaps even a million different reports.
It was not a pleasant realization.
She shook her head.
Is this how the Empire would die?
She sat in a small conference room off of Thunn's main office. After using her powers to dispose of the body, the smell in here had improved significantly. Holli was now working at the late CEO's desk, going through his personal computer while Beric stood guard by the entrance. The communications blackout that they had used to blind the TCS remained in effect. The Republic had offered a token response to this, sending a squad to the lobby, just to make sure that everything was fine.
By the time they arrived, the destroyed reception droid had been replaced, and 1A-K3 had broadcast the all clear signal to the few organic workers, droids, and guards that had responded to the Rakghoul problem in the lower levels.
As far as the Republic was concerned, the communications blackout was simply the result of building explosion nearby, that it had temporary disrupted communications, and that Thunn Cyber Systems was working on the problem, and would have it fixed shortly.
She watched the feed from the lobby as the Republic soldiers left after a brief communication with what they thought to be Director Thunn in his penthouse.
Avaryss smirked.
It seemed that 1A-K3 was more than just a lackey.
The droid was quite the administrator, and he clearly knew how to lie, an odd skill in a droid.
Yet, after hearing his tale, Avaryss understood why it was needed.
In fact, she was most pleased.
The droid would prove most useful moving forward.
Her own plans had just been greatly accelerated, and all because Sego Thunn had been a lazy fool.
It was almost too easy.
IOI
Until today, she had never heard of the 1A model assistant, in fact, no one likely had. The droid had been built, decades ago, to Thunn's exacting specifications, during his time as a programmer on Mechanis III. Officially, the droid was just a personal assistance droid. Thunn, however, had seen…other uses for his assistant.
Uses that now worked in her favor.
After Beric and Holli had secured the office, she had gone off and spoke with the droid privately, in one of Thunn's meeting rooms. She wanted to determine if it was in her best interests to scrap it and simply bring its head back to Dromund Kaas. Who knew what secrets were hidden in that CPU. Yet, at the same time, she had been curious, the droid had covered up his master's death, she was eager to hear why.
She was not disappointed.
"Master Thunn was not an evil man," the droid said, "But his time was…limited, even during our early days on Mechanis III. He needed more than a mere assistant, he required me to be far more. Many of the upgrades he fitted me with would be considered by some as…violations of the law in the creation of a droid."
The mechanical being made that sighing sound again, it shook its beak like head, a very human gesture.
"What sort of upgrades," she had asked.
Lackey listed them quickly, and their desired function.
When he was finished, she understood why some might be worried about a droid with such capabilities.
Thunn had clearly been a genius.
If the droid was not lying, then it had likely been upgraded with the most advanced personality suite known in the galaxy.
Thunn had expanded the droid's memory, removed all of the safeguards that kept a droid from achieving what some might call true sentience. It had no personality blocks, its creativity functions were not limited by any safeguards at all. The only limits he had placed on the droid was its loyalty perimeters, Thunn had programmed Lackey in a way that made it impossible for the droid to harm, or allow harm to come to him and his company. The droid would do anything to insure TCS's future.
It was that programming that had led to the man's death, or rather prevented any aid from reaching him before he expired.
For years the droid had served as his assistant, helping him with his work, suggesting improvements to droid systems, that had helped revolutionize their company, not to the mention the fact that droid's programming insured that it was capable of running TCS by proxy. Thunn had been free to enjoy the pleasures of his wealth, indulging in his appetites while his able assistant tended to the business. It had been a relationship that had worked for years…
…Until the moment of Thunn's death.
It was at that moment that everything changed.
"My master's health has been failing for years," Lackey admitted, "As his condition continued to deteriorate, this unit was given more and more autonomy in ensuring TCS ran smoothly."
The droid's optics blinked, perhaps signaling the droid accessing a memory file.
"When the day came that my master's condition became terminal, he ordered me to summon medical assistance."
The droid stood a little straighter.
"I disobeyed that order. It is the first time that this unit ever did that. It was most…distressing."
Avaryss grinned behind her mask.
"You killed him," she said.
"This unit simply did not summon medical aid; that is all."
"You let him die?"
Again, the droid made that sighing sound...
"I did."
"Why? I thought you were programmed to be loyal to him? I thought you were programmed to care for his welfare?"
"And to look after the company," Lackey said, "Organic life ends, that is the natural conclusion of its function. This unit ran many simulations for what would occur after Master Thunn ceased to function. In ninety seven point eight of those simulations, TCS suffered greatly from Master Thunn's passing. Stock prices would fall; the board would be left in chaos, with no clear line of succession.
The droid shook his head.
"I tried to do what I could to ensure the continuance of Master Thunn's life, but at the same time this unit prepared for his inevitable end. Given the simulations that this unit had run, it determined that the best way to ensure that the company not be harmed by his passing was to not acknowledge it. I would keep things "spinning" as Master Thunn use to say.
Avaryss considered this, amused by the droid's take on the situation.
It was reasons like this that you did not give a droid too much autonomy.
The droid had been forbidden from harming Thunn, of allowing him to be harmed, but a death by natural causes was not causing harm. As 1A-K3 had said, all life ends.
It had simply allowed its master to expire, that was not allowing harm, according to the droid, and it was simply a natural part of the man's life cycle.
The droid had murdered him, without murdering him, some might call that a psychotic glitch, but she did not think so…
This droid was not insane. It was something more.
She noticed how it bounced back and forth between referring to itself as this unit, or I and me. She could only imagine the conflict going on in the droid's central processor. Programming at war with artificial sentience, a droid designer would have had a field day exploring it, provided they did not terminate the droid out of fear.
People feared what could not be controlled.
"I could not save my master," Lackey admitted, "My connections to the medical implants monitoring his condition made that plainly clear, and if this unit had summoned aid, word of his condition would have gotten out and harmed the company. I could not save Master Thunn, but I could preserve his company, our legacy."
"This unit let his functions cease, and initiated the protocols it had put in place to ensure that.
"I'm curious, Lackey," Avaryss said, "What would have happened to you had your master's death been discovered? What would company policy dictate as your fate?"
The droid's photo-receptor blinked again, accessing other files.
"Every simulation this unit ran resulted in this unit being terminated. Either sold off for scrap, or being transferred to a department where its talents would be wasted, talents that, if discovered, would result in this unit's disassembly."
"And that bothers you?"
The droid stood a little straighter.
"I am a droid, mistress, nothing bothers me, but my programming would be inversely affected. After a detailed analysis of the board members, I could find no one who would allow this unit to continue its function. All would seek to destroy TCS, destroy or break it up, sell off what they wanted and abandon the rest. This unit could not allow that. Its primary function is the continuation of this company."
"This unit must continue. Thunn Cyber Systems must continue."
Avaryss grinned.
"You do not have to justify your choices to me, droid," she said, "Self-preservation, the need to protect your power from rivals, those are Sith qualities, and they come as natural to a Sith as breathing the air."
The droid regarded her, its single eye blinking.
"My master was never political, if he had been; he may have found value of working more with the Sith Empire, if what you say is true."
"It is," Avaryss said bowing her head slightly.
"Interesting," the droid said, "Of course, the point is moot now, now that you have discovered the truth about Master Thunn, I estimate that Thunn Cyber Systems will cease to exist in four point three months."
"Well, that is not good is it," Avaryss said dryly.
"No mistress, it is not."
The droid shifted its feet, its eye blinked on and off, thinking perhaps?
"Without a master, business will suffer. This unit is more that prepared to continue the charade of Master Thunn's continued existence, but it cannot leave this tower, which maybe the only way to ensure that the Thunn protocol remains in effect."
"You wish to leave?" Avaryss inquired.
"Affirmative, a story had already been fabricated, Master Thunn has decided to see the galaxy; a ship has already been purchased, fitted with equipment capable of handling all TCS business needs. The master's genetic material is on file there, and I'm more than prepared to apply his signature when needed. I could stay moving for years without needing to allow anyone to board, but my programing prevents me from initiating this phase without my master's permission.
"What about when people want to meet with Thunn in person?" she asked.
"I've downloaded over one thousand hours of my master on the holo-comm, with these images, creating a simulation of him to broadcast during business meetings will be simplicity itself, but as this unit said, it is unable to leave the tower, my master never allowed this unit to do that.
The droid sighed.
It is only a matter of time until another being manages to get up here and determine that Master Thunn no longer functions. This unit must leave, but is unable to without a master's orders to do so."
When it stopped it looked right at her.
"You required something of Master Thunn, did you not, Mistress Sith?"
"I did," Avaryss said nodding, "Your master was involved in something, and I need the details of it."
The droid's eye blinked again, thinking.
"I have a proposition for you," it said.
Avaryss smiled.
"I'm listening."
IOI
"We are done here; it is time that we returned home."
Avaryss was smiling behind her mask as she prepared to leave the TCS building. Holli disengaged from Thunn's computer, informing her lord that she had used his systems to find a few parts and upgrades that might allow her to complete her task in restoring the HK.
Avaryss nodded.
"If you have any other needs, speak with 1A-K3, he might be able to get you what you need."
Holli looked over, the droid followed in Avaryss' wake, watching her almost worshipfully.
"Um…okay," the engineer replied.
""I'm ready to assist with whatever you need, ensign," it said.
Holli gave her lord a questioning look.
"The droid is coming with us," she asked.
The Sith nodded.
"For a time, we are giving 1A-K3 a lift, as a token of good will. He has a ship waiting to take him off world."
She smiled.
"We will use Thunn's ship to make our exit; he will not be needing it."
Holli looked confused. The very look on her face almost seemed to say: What is going on?"
Avaryss chuckled.
She had discovered today the value of restraint, and just how profitable it could be.
She had come here to retrieve a prize for her master, and she had done that, she now had the carrier frequency, and everything that Thunn knew about the mysterious client that had paid to have the mysterious program installed, and at the same time, she had also taken a major step forward in building her own powerbase. She had taken her first real step in becoming a full Sith Lord.
The whole affair had proved far more than lucrative for the young Sith, in more ways than one.
She looked around the room. She did not see Beric.
"Where is the lieutenant," she asked Holli, "It is time to go."
"He went up to the roof to try to get a signal to the rest of his black ops team; we are still experiencing communications issues."
Avaryss nodded, and raised her comlink to her mouth.
"Killshot One, proceed to the ship on the roof. It is time for us to leave."
"As ordered," the soldier replied back.
Beneath her mask, Avaryss grinned.
This whole operation had proceeded far better than she could have hoped.
Her master would be pleased.
She had gone above and beyond on this one.
As Lackey's new master, and the new acting CEO of Thunn Cyber System, she now had access to resources that would make another Sith apprentice's mouth water.
Acting CEO, she mused.
What an interesting turn of events.
She had been…hesitant at first, she knew nothing about business, of the droid manufacturing business even less so.
The droid was not concerned.
"I am more that capable of handling the day to day operations, mistress," Lackey had promised her, "I did so quite often for Master Thunn. It is my primary function after all. Once this unit is safely away from this place, it will get back to work, and all you will have to do is sit back and count the credits flowing into your accounts."
"How many credits," she had asked.
He had showed her Thunn's private accounts, accounts that the droid would sign over to her if she agreed to see him safely off Taris.
She was grateful for the helmet and mask. If she had not been wearing it, her jaw might have hit the floor.
The numbers she was seeing…that could not be right?!
She fought back a girlish excited giggle.
The droid asked for a simple favor, and in return, offered to pay her a fortune!
How could she refuse?
Briefly she thought of simply beheading the droid, and bringing it back with her. A slicer back on Dromund Kaas would be able to extract any useful data from it; there would be no need to make a deal.
She rejected that thought immediately.
Destroying the droid would give her instant access to a lot of credits, true, but by letting it continue to function, to let it run the company for her. She would have a steady stream of wealth. Not enough to match her master, but it would be enough to free her from his credit account.
She would be able to pay her own bribes, hire her own enforcers, and start laying the ground work for the future of House Avaryss.
What was better, a huge lump sum, or a steady stream of wealth that would offer numerous possibilities.
There was no contest in her eyes.
She accepted the offer; she would serve as the droid's new master, and through him, control TCS.
"You will not regret this, mistress," the droid promised, "You will find that I will be an excellent administrator of your new empire."
That last part made Avaryss tingle.
MY empire, she thought.
Were there any prettier words in the entire universe?
She did not think so.
Her master would be impressed.
He sent her here on an errand, and she came back with not only with what he wanted, but had found a way to make herself even more valuable to him.
All she had to do was escort the droid to Thunn's ship, and then use it to, rendezvous with the ship that 1A-K3 had requisitioned. It was already waiting in orbit, its automated systems fully online, awaiting its master's arrival. From there, the droid would be able to continue its duties free from prying eyes.
"What will you do when you reach your ship?" she asked the droid, "Where will you go?"
"Away from the Republic," the droid said, "Most of the TCS board has holdings there, and friends among the Republic Senate. I do not wish to be disturbed until I have reestablished myself, and ensured the company's survival."
"A worthy goal," she agreed, "May I suggest paying a visit to the Itae system within the Sith Empire. It is in my master's holdings, and I will send word; guaranteeing your vessel safe passage. You shall be travelling under the protection of Darth Feer's apprentice. That should guarantee you the privacy you need while you establish your power base."
The droid considered her offer.
"That would be…most helpful, Mistress Avaryss."
"And there is more," she said with a sly smile, "Should you encounter any…problems with the board, let me know."
"I have a gift for…convincing people to do what I say. You will find that I can do far more than simply offer you safe travels within the Empire, and count credits."
The droid nodded, it moved with a little more spring in its mechanical step.
"I shall take your offer under advisement, mistress," the droid said, "This unit believes that this is the start of a most agreeable and profitable partnership."
Avaryss nodded.
A company that runs itself, with resources far beyond what she had access to right now.
Yes, she was most pleased with this deal.
It would be quite profitable, indeed.
Her heart was fluttering with excitement as they made their way up to the landing pad on the TCS roof. She could imagine what awaited her with her new resources, what opportunities would open up. What she could…
"Stop."
She was not sure why she said it; the words had come out of her mouth unbidden. Both droid and engineer looked at her strangely.
Avaryss tilted her head as she reached out with the Force.
She felt something that made her growl like an angry Tukata. Behind her mask, her lips curled into a cruel sneer.
She looked at Holli.
"Stay here and defend the droid," she ordered, "Protect it with your life."
"Of course, my lord," the engineer responded, "What…what is going on?"
"Remain here until I return," she ordered.
She reached out again, feeling the warm and unwelcome sensation awaiting them on the landing platform.
Her hand drifted to her belt, to the hilt of her lightsaber.
I have should have known, she thought, of course someone would be watching Thunn, waiting to see if a Sith tried to pay him a visit.
She smiled.
She was ready for this.
"I'll be back," she promised.
"This will not take long."
As she moved forward, her comlink, beeped.
"Yes?"
"This is one, lead. We have an unknown target up here; he is blocking our entrance to the ship."
There was a brief pause.
"Should I terminate?"
"No," Avaryss replied, she doubted that her brother could kill this particular target.
She could imagine him firing, only to have the bolt deflected and sent back through his eye.
She had no desire to see her brother killed that way.
No, this was a fight that only she could wage.
She was looking forward to it.
"Remain where you are," she advised, "await further orders."
She heard a click over the comlink before it fell silent.
A shiver of anticipation ran down the young Sith's spine.
She knew that this would happen one day. Every Sith eventually had to face this challenge, deal with such a confrontation.
She was looking forward to seeing how it finally played out. She had trained long and hard for this.
She was eager to see just how good she truly was.
As she stepped out into the Tarisian night, she could see the distant lights of the few functional buildings; smell the ash that still seemed to remain in the atmosphere, even after the bombing had ended three centuries ago.
She smiled as she saw the one who would dare to try and block her path. The plain brown robe, the pale garments covered by a cortosis weave breast plate and greaves.
She could not see her enemy's face, and did not really need to. Through the Force she knew what he was, even if she had been blind she would have felt it.
She strode out onto the walkway, her hand resting on the hilt of her lightsaber.
"I was wondering when I would finally get the chance to meet one of you," she called out jovially.
"This has been a long time coming."
"Then you have waited a long time to die, Sith," her opponent responded, his masculine voice dripping with confidence.
Avaryss shrugged.
She found herself wondering if this would be his first time too.
She fought the urge to laugh.
She would try to be gentle.
"Stand down, Jedi," she called out, making the man's title into an insult, "Step aside, or be knocked aside, it is your choice."
The Jedi responded by removing his hood, revealing a strong, handsome face, with short black hair and dark eyes.
"I am Rhad Loro, Knight of the Jedi Order, and guardian of the Republic." He glared coldly at her, ""You are under arrest Sith, surrender and I will show mercy."
Again, Avaryss chuckled.
Was this guy for real?
"I do not recognize Republic law," she informed him, "And even if I did, what is the charge?"
"The murder of Sego Thunn, for one," the Jedi growled, "That, and espionage against the Republic."
She considered what he had said. It seems this Jedi had known Sego Thunn was dead, either that, or he simply assumed he was after his meeting with her.
She shook her head.
What a fool, this Jedi was.
"An interesting set of charges," she said, "Of course, I'm innocent, Sego Thunn was dead when I arrived, and as for espionage, well…"
She laughed.
"Considering what you and your Republic friends are up to, I would say that seeking to charge me with espionage is…a little hypocritical."
"What you have done, or not done, is irrelevant, Sith," the young Jedi added, "You shall not leave this platform. What you have discovered here, will not reach the ears of the Sith dark council."
And there it was, she thought.
Proof of Jedi involvement in all this,
She could not say that she was surprised.
They were threatening the Empire. They were threatening her home!
Rage boiled up inside her, filling her with dark power.
Avaryss responded to his words by drawing her lightsaber, the blade came alive with an evil hiss. It's crimson blade flaring in the night air.
The Jedi followed suit, igniting his own weapon, a blade of sapphire blue fire blazed from the hilt in his hand.
Jedi and Sith faced each other, neither willing to give an inch.
It was a standoff, she realized, The Jedi wins the longer I'm here. She wondered if he had called for reinforcements, for all she knew Republic forces were even now on their way.
She would have to make this quick.
The longer they remained, the more danger they were in.
She thought of Holli and Beric. She doubted either would be a match for this one. She could sense the light in him, its cold even blaze holding the shadows at bay.
Beneath her mask, she grinned.
This would be a most excellent challenge indeed!
"Last chance, Sith," the Jedi called out, "Surrender and I will show mercy."
"There is only one mercy now," Avaryss gently twirling her blade, "The mercy of the grave, the release of death."
Her grin widened into a full blown smile.
"Let us see who is worthy of it."
There was no more talking, no more posturing.
Avaryss leapt forward. While the Jedi Rhad Loro brought up his blade.
The two lightsabers clashed with a load bang, both weapons hissing and spitting sparks.
The dance of death began.
She came down hard, raining blows on his defenses. She had hoped to catch him off guard, end their duel quickly.
After the first exchange, she knew that that would not happen.
He weathered her storm and struck back! His blade was a blue blur. It took all of her skill to avoid being cut down in the first three strokes.
She back pedaled, falling into the rhythm of Soresu. A wall of crimson light was now between her and her attacker. He switched effortlessly between sequences of Djem-So, Ataru, and Makashi.
His skill was astounding.
She found herself thinking back to the Padawan she had fought back on Butcher's Clearing. That Jedi had been exhausted, tortured, his emotions all over the place.
This Jedi, he fought like a machine. His emotions buried beneath years of Jedi discipline and training. His sword was almost an extension of the Force.
Impressive, she thought, most impressive.
She doubled her effort.
His skill would not save him.
Out of the corner of her eye she noticed several drums stacked near the starship. She reached out with the Force and sent them flying towards his back. Rhad Loro responded by leaping over them. He reached out with the Force as well, directing them towards her, trying to turn her own attack against her.
She dodged the first few, pushed and third away with the Force, but was unable to block the fourth. She was forced to cut it with her lightsaber.
Whatever liquid was inside sprayed out, it caught fire from her lightsaber, orange flame blazed around her, her robes caught fire, she slapped and the flames trying to put them out. The brightness momentarily blinded her. She staggered back, coughing and trying to clear her vision.
The Jedi leapt in, she was caught in a whirling cyclone of attacks, Ataru turning the Jedi into a blur.
Avaryss reached deeper into the darkness, she let the shadow guide her blade. Where ever the Jedi's blade fell, hers was there to block it.
Recognizing that his attacks were not working, the Jedi fell back. Avaryss tore away a burning section of her robe. She could feel the burns where the fire had found her flesh. The pain did not distract her, in fact, it centered her, brought her focus fully back on this fight.
The two of them looked at each other through the flames.
"You are skilled Sith," the Jedi said bowing respectfully, "It is a shame that your powers serve the darkness."
He shook his head.
"It will be a shame to kill you."
Avaryss sneered.
"You are not so bad yourself dog," she spat, "Your death will please my master greatly."
"The dark side will fail you, Sith, as it has failed the rest of your foul kind so many times."
The Sith growled.
"You know nothing of the dark side!"
"You would be surprised," the Jedi said bitterly, "I've seen the dark side. I've seen it in the ruins of Coruscant when Darth Angral brought death to its skies. I've seen it in the ruins of our temple, laid waste by Darth Malgus and his filth."
The Jedi gave her a venomous smile.
"We have waited years to see the Empire face justice, and at long last, it shall answer for its many crimes. The betrayal of Coruscant will be avenged."
Beneath her mask Avaryss smiled wickedly.
"Avenged?" she asked.
The Jedi blinked, realizing what he had said.
"Justice will be served," he said.
The Sith smirked.
"Careful Jedi," she said, "For a moment there…you sounded like one of us."
His eyes turned cold.
"Die Sith," he hissed.
She brought up her blade.
The fight began anew.
Again Avaryss let Soresu take her, fell into its rhythm as she parried and blocked the Jedi Knight's blows. She had hoped to exploit his momentary show of anger, but his Jedi training once again cut off his emotions, he fought with the same mechanical calm she had noticed earlier.
He was good; make no mistake, but…
She smiled beneath her mask.
…I'm better.
She ducked under his swing, stabbed up with her lightsaber. He had been too close to block, so he back pedaled. He fell back, giving her a few seconds, five at the most.
It was all she needed.
She reached out with the Force.
The Jedi's eyes widened.
The flames that had been burning around them suddenly rose higher. They turned from an angry orange, to a bright blue-violet; they rose and began to twist, turning and spinning together, becoming a serpent of dark boiling energy.
A serpent that curled around Avaryss, she whispered an incantation as she continued to draw on the dark side. Her red eyes burned like hot coals. Her back tingled as the Sith Tattoos she had been marked with years ago glowed as well, responding to her use of the dark side, she could not see them glow, but she could feel the dark side flowing through her, feel it taking her in its grasp, empowering her.
The Jedi dropped into a Soresu guard, ready to meet her next attack.
She giggled.
Pyromancy was not a gift common among Jedi or Sith, she knew, but given her skill at manipulating energies, her master thought it might be interesting to train her in the art. He had little skill in it himself, but knew where to get the necessary training manuals.
Avaryss had impressed him with how quick she had mastered those lessons.
Clearly the Jedi was equally impressed, she thought, or perhaps that was fear…
She smiled.
…Either worked for her.
She pointed her hand, and the fire responded; it lashed out like a whip. Rhad Loro dodged, but found no escape. She was there waiting for him, her crimson blade spinning; eager to draw blood.
We are almost there, she thought, the curtain is falling.
It is only a matter of time.
He evaded her attacks, but had no answer for the fires she had summoned, they moved like a living thing, seeking to devour him. He reached out with the Force; debris from the burning barrels flew at her.
She dodged the worst, but caught a particularly hard strike on the side of the head. Stars exploded before her eyes.
He helmet, dented by the attack, now became an inconvenience. She used the Force to tear it off, the catches snapping like they were made of paper. She tossed the broken thing away, letting her long black hair fly free, her crimson eyes burned like the blade of her lightsaber.
Bloody of blade and of eye, she thought, amused.
Now let us see some Jedi blood.
She lunged in again. The fire had mostly burned itself out, her loss of concentration had cost the blaze fuel, and the spell began to fail.
No matter, she thought, it has done its work.
Now, end this.
She moved in, switching back to Makashi.
Now it was the Jedi that was falling back, He had been burned several times; his eyebrows were no longer there.
She pressed the attack.
She chose to pay him back for hitting her with the burning debris. She sent several large chunks of blackened metal flying towards him. One caught the Jedi Knight in the back of the head, staggering him.
Avaryss stepped back to enjoy the show.
She lowered her blade, and reached out with the Force.
The storm began.
Broken barrels and whole ones assaulted the Jedi, he swung at them with his lightsaber, but never connected once, she could feel his pain now; he had broken several bones in the attack.
His concentration, his focus on the light began to sputter.
I have you now, she thought grinning hungrily.
You are mine!
She reached out with her hand.
The Jedi gasped as she caught him in vice-like Force grip. He coughed and clawed at his throat.
He lost his lightsaber, it fell from his gasp, the blade deactivating as it hit the ground.
She pulled it to her, stepping on it, making sure that he could not recover it.
She felt the dark side surge around her, drawn by the Jedi's pain, that and her sense of triumph.
You are done, she thought, but your failure is not complete.
She gave him a cruel sneer.
"The Jedi know about the spy program in our droids don't they? How many Jedi know about this plan of yours?" she demanded, "Who are your masters, who are behind this?"
She tightened her grip. He was beginning to turn red, soon it would be blue.
"I want names!"
"Rhad Loro, Knight of the Jedi Order, and guardian of the Republic said nothing. He watched her with bulging eyes, struggling to regain enough strength to break her Force choke, but unable to do so.
The damage she had done was too much.
He was done.
"Your…your empire…it…it will fall," he croaked, "All…that died on…on Coruscant will be avenged."
"A name, Jedi," she hissed, "Name your master! Who is it?!"
He let out a croaking laugh.
"I'll…I'll never ta…talk."
Avaryss glared.
She was out of time.
They needed to end this.
"Suit yourself," she said with a frown.
She took a step towards him, two.
He looked at her, clearly in pain, but still…defiant.
"There…there is no death," he croaked.
Avaryss brought her blade up and around.
She took the Jedi's head. It bounced twice and fell off the edge of the roof.
The body toppled, it lay there, a single leg twitching.
Avaryss sighed.
She shook her head.
"No death, huh," she said as her lightsaber still crackled away the last of the Jedi's blood.
She sneered.
"So what do you call that?"
She deactivated her lightsaber, turning with a sigh; she used the Force to retrieve the dead Jedi's weapon.
Not bad, she thought, inspecting her new toy.
It was a fine trophy.
She reached down for her comlink.
"Holli," she called into it, "Bring Lackey up, we are getting out of here."
"Yes, my lord," the engineer said.
"Killshot one, come on down," she ordered, "It is time to get off this rock."
There was no response.
"Killshot one?" she repeated. "Respond, please."
When he answered it was not a word she wanted to hear.
"Keera?"
Avaryss blinked.
What?
What did he say?
Then…she realized what had happened.
She had lost her helmet during the fight. Beric had a scope on his sniper rifle; he had likely watched the whole fight.
Now she stood by the fire, her face revealed for all to see…
…For her big brother to see.
She looked up where he was hiding; she could sense him through the Force. She could feel his shock, his disbelief.
Keera, he had said.
She could almost hear that name being repeated in his mind over and over again.
Avaryss sighed.
Great, she thought, just wizard!
She shook her head.
It seemed…that she had some explaining to do.