Chapter 21: Loyalty

"Unidentified ship, your engines and weapon's systems have been disabled, stand down and prepare to be boarded."

Avaryss glanced over at the Imperial at her side. Captain Vaet Brandei was cast purely in the Imperial military mold. For twenty years he had served the Empire, the last six of those years as captain of her master's dreadnaught, the Terror. In his youth he had been the poster boy for Imperial military service, square jawed, discipline, his short blonde hair and uniform styled perfectly to proper Imperial regulation. The years had both hardened and seasoned him, but it was still plain why the man had risen in the ranks. He remained Imperial through and through even after almost two decades of service.

Such men had their uses, she thought, but they tended to be inflexible, they broke when they should have been able to bend.

Avaryss preferred flexibility in her servants.

Give him a chance, Lord Feer had said, and she was doing so…

…for now.

He is a good man, her master assured her, give him room to work, apprentice, and you will find an Imperial worthy of your respect.

"Still no response to our hails, Captain," the comm officer called up from the crew pit.

"They tried to run," the Captain sniffed, "and they managed to destroy two of our fighter craft. After that, I'm no longer interested in what the people on that ship have to say, at least, not until they have undergone a full interrogation."

Avaryss nodded. She admired the captain's restraint. The missile launcher the freighter had hidden between its cargo containers had been a nasty and unpleasant surprise. Yet, the captain still had ordered the gunners to restrict their fire to the ship's engines and weapons systems. The fact that the ship was still there was proof of both the gunners' skill and the Captain's decision.

He was skilled, she could not doubt that, he carried out his orders to the letter, but at the same time, she could not escape the fact that the man was too easily pleased, too quick to claim victory.

Victory was not assured yet.

She looked at him, both with her eyes, and through the Force. She did not entirely like what she was seeing.

He is gloating, she thought resisting the urge to shake her head. He believed that victory was already theirs.

She…was not so sure.

She looked out from her place on the Terror's bridge. Before the massive dreadnaught, the medium sized freighter was floating in a cloud of its own debris. Slowly, but surely, the ship was being pulled back into the Terror's hangar bay, the engines of the captured ship flickered and failed, all resistance having been blasted out of it.

Yet, Avaryss sensed no fear from the vessel, the crew should have been panicking, but she felt only a wave of grim determination through the Force.

Captain Brandei glanced over at her, a broad smile on his face.

"As you can see, apprentice," he said practically glowing, "All is well, and in hand."

He stood a little straighter, radiating a sense of pride.

"The Imperial Navy comes through again."

Avaryss shot him a cool look.

"You are too easily pleased, Captain," she said grimly, "I will not claim victory until that ship is safely aboard, and its crew is secured in our interrogation suites."

The Imperial chuckled.

"Soon enough, apprentice," he promised, "Soon enough."

The ship in question was the Kern's Hope out of Ziost; at least, that is what its official story was. It was a ship owned by, and in the service of Garog Exports, the company that had arranged for the removal of Darth Terrog's bacteria back on the Wreck. From here, the ship looked as slender as a reed, with four massive cargo containers secured over its main body like a shell on a snail.

Between Warmaster Feore's investigation into the carrier signal they had gotten on Taris, and Avaryss' adventure on the Wreck, House Feer had determined that Garog Exports was indeed tied up in what was going on with the whole droid espionage plan. Though the Warmaster's people had not completely deciphered the signal yet, what messages they had managed to decode mentioned both the company and the ship several times. Feore had sought to contact the company's offices only to discover that it had none. The export company did not exist, at least physically. It put in bids for jobs in the Empire, usually at far lower fees than any other could hope to match, which got it the contracts it had needed to help infiltrate the Sith's business interests.

Feore believed that the company was a front for Republic SIS. Their only real holding was the ship that was now being pulled into the Terror's hangar bay, and with its arrival, would come answers.

Avaryss returned her attention to the damaged freighter. She reached out with the Force again, expecting to feel panic begin to take root in the men and women on that ship, and again she felt nothing.

She frowned.

She did not share Brandei's confidence in their impending victory.

"We shall see, Captain," she said, turning, her black cloak flaring behind her. She had tried to look as intimidating as possible, clad in a black combat suit and hooded cloak; she had desired to appear both aloof and mysterious. She wished to establish fear in the Terror's crew from the start.

It had not worked as well as she had hoped.

"We shall see to it, personally," she added, "come with me, Captain."

"As you command, apprentice," he said falling in step beside her.

She began to make her way to the hangar bay; she brought out her comlink, summoning her own crew to her side. It was not that she did not trust Brandei or his men; she simply preferred to have her own people around her when they breached the freighter. Though a bit unorthodox, her people knew how to get results, and they tended to see things far differently than a classically trained Imperial.

She welcomed the extra set of eyes.

She would have preferred to have handled this business herself, but her master had overruled her, after what had happened on the Wreck, he wanted no one to doubt that she was a fully committed Imperial, if anyone asked about what had happened with the Jedi, it would seem like simply an isolated incident, an incident that she had done her best to take advantage of.

"What are you expecting to find when the freighter is breached?" the Captain inquired, "Lord Feer told me nothing."

Avaryss glanced over at him, surprised by the man's audacity.

"It is not my place to say," she said, "If my master had wished you to know, he would have told you."

"As you wish," the Captain said, but again she got the sense he was humoring her. Captain Brandei had been respectful since she had been on board, but he had not shown her the same level of deference he had showed her master.

"I trust your men are up to the challenge," she said coldly, "For your sake."

The Captain chuckled.

"I've served House Feer for a long time, apprentice," he reminded her, "I know what is expected of me. Lord Feer and all of his previous apprentices have learned quickly that I get results."

Avaryss nodded, so be it, but she was intrigued by that last part.

"How many apprentices has my master had before me?" she asked.

"You are the fifth one I've served. Though, I must admit, the master seems far more interested in your success than your predecessors. You should probably see that as a good sign."

Avaryss fell silent.

A good sign?

In her eyes, it was anything but.

As far as she knew, none of her predecessors had attained the rank of lord. She had heard no talk of any her master's students serving him as newly minted lords. The servants back at the estate would not even speak of those that came before her, or what had happened to them.

That knowledge did not fill her with confidence.

For the moment, her master doted on her, even during her punishment and penance he seemed to desire her success, but was she the first apprentice that he had done so with. How many others had he referred affectionately to as: "my child," only to end them when they had served their purpose?

That is why you need to be more than just another apprentice, the dark voice within whispered, you need to build alliances and gather allies. You need the fear and respect of your underlings and peers. What you have collected up to this point is not enough.

She acknowledged that, but Captain Brandei and his men seemed immune to her charms. They were respectful enough, but seemed to see her as a transitory commander, an apprentice who would no doubt be replaced soon enough.

She had to find a way to get them to see otherwise.

These men were proper imperials, they should have been easily bent to her will, but they were not. Recognizing that she did not understand them as well as she should, she had summoned Beric to her quarters on the Fury yesterday. She had refused a cabin on the Terror, she was not entirely sure that what was being said would not be overheard. Her brother had served both long and well in the Imperial Navy. She had hoped that he might be able to shed some light on her next move.

They had spoken little since Taris. He had followed her orders, but a distance had been formed between them. She should have been happy about that, that distance made it less likely her feelings would become another chain. She had no desire to be bound further to her sibling, and yet, still part of her resented the need for that distance.

He is my blood, she thought.

He should be firmly in my corner.

She explained the situation to him. The two of them continuing to play the role of Imperial soldier and Sith Master, and never the two would meet. He listened as she asked about the navy, and how she could win the fear and respect of the men and women beneath her. When she had finished, he stood for a moment, thinking.

"Permission to speak freely, my lord," he said.

"We are alone," she reminded him, "If we cannot speak freely alone, then when can we?"

Her brother snorted, she could sense his amusement. She could not tell if he was amused by what she had said, or if he thought her foolish.

She only just managed to hold her temper in check.

No common soldier should ever dare to think a Sith was foolish.

"Did father ever tell you the story about the fringe campaigns," he asked, "What he did in the army when he was our age?"

"Dad was never one of telling war stories," she reminded him.

"True," her brother agreed, "But this one is related to your question, so I'd hoped he would have shared it with you."

Beric sighed.

"How do you think that you should win these soldiers' respect?"

"That was my question to you," she reminded him.

"Yeah, and I'm turning it back around on you, little sister. How do you expect to win the loyalty of the Captain and his men?"

Avaryss scowled.

"I've found that fear is an excellent equalizer," she said, "Perhaps I should execute Captain Brandei for some slight. His replacement would likely thank me for it, and the tale would do much to spread fear in the ranks. The common soldiers would learn soon enough not to cross me."

"That is one way to do it, I suppose," he agreed, though she could sense his disappointment at her answer.

It made her angry.

"You have a better idea?"

"Father did," Beric answered, "He learned it during the Fringe campaigns."

"Oh really," Avaryss replied dryly, "Tell me, what did our dear father have to say about the fringe campaigns?"

Beric's eyes narrowed, he clearly took offense to what she had said about father, or rather the sarcastic tone she used, but was a smart enough soldier not to call her on it. He knew the risk of angering a Sith, even one he was related to.

"As you said, father did not like telling war stories. He didn't want us growing up and thinking poorly of the masters. The only reason he told me what happened was because I had just joined the navy and he wanted me to be prepared for what I might face during my service. Anyway, the Fringe Campaign, according to father some rogue Darth had been making trouble for the council. They dispatched the fleet and three Sith Masters to deal with the problem. One of those masters, not father's thank the Emperor, had made it a point of pride that he kept his men in a constant state of fear."

"Fear is a great motivator," Avaryss said with a smile.

"True," her brother said, "But please, sis, let me finish. Anyway this master and his men were the tip of the spear in the Empire's campaign. They sustained heavy losses, but got the job done. One morning a scout made his report to this master's lieutenant, informing him that the strategy that the master had planned would not work. The enemy had both cover and superior numbers."

"I take it the Sith adapted his plan accordingly?"

Her brother smiled coldly.

"He did not; the lieutenant did not relay the information. His predecessor had been executed by the lord two days earlier for bringing an unfavorable report, so he chose to say nothing, to trust in the strength of arms to carry the day."

Avaryss said nothing, what could she say?

She could guess what happened next.

"The Master's force got mauled, he tried to push forward, but they were cut to pieces, the enemy was too well fortified and prepared. Father's unit was sent in after to clean up, using the intel that had been gathered by the previous unit's destruction. The master that had so cultivated fear in his subordinates was found mortally wounded on the battlefield. The one who led our father's unit put him to death for his failure, not a single one of the lord's surviving troopers spoke a word or lifted a finger to stop it."

Her brother sighed.

"Fear is not enough, little sister, not if you wish to truly rule. Father could be ruthless when needed, but he was also fair, and gave credit where credit was due. He did not have to swing the largest sword to be effective."

And yet he still died, Avaryss thought, it was all she could do to keep from shrieking those very words in her brother's face, what was the point of father's fairness? No one had lifted a finger to help when Lord Feer sent his men for him.

And now you bow to the very man that murdered father, that had mother and the girls murdered.

Are you any better?

That thought haunted Avaryss. She…she was not sure what to make of that.

"The power you were born with, and the training that you have grants you the right to rule, little sister, but to rule, to truly command the respect of the men under you, you have to be more than a simple weapon. If what you told me about the Captain is true, then that is how the Captain and the crew see you, is it not? You are just another weapon that their master wields. They don't think you will be around long enough to matter.

She frowned, but at the same time her mind was working, the wheels were turning in her head.

He is not wrong, she realized.

I do need to be more.

"What am I supposed to do? Invite the crew to tea?"

"Show them that their lives matter to you. Show them that you will not waste them recklessly. Let them see your power, but at the same time, show them that you can be gracious in both victory and defeat. If that bothers your Sith pride, then try looking at it another way. These men are your weapon, little sister. You would not go into battle with a weapon that had you had not serviced until it was perfect. You know enough to take care of a weapon in your arsenal do you not? Punish those truly at fault, but sympathize with those that were simply doing their duty. The failing of one is not the failing of all."

"Then I should lead from the front then? Show them that I do not mind getting my hands dirty?"

"That would be a start, but more importantly watch for opportunities. You are good at sniffing out opportunity; you showed that back on Taris. Wait for the best moment, and strike hard, take advantage, and more importantly let the men see you doing it. You manage to pull that off, then you will not only be feared and respected, but your men will come to worship you, and be willing to march into the teeth of death for you. Become more than just another Sith commander, but the Empire personified."

Avaryss thought about that, a cruel smile came to her lips.

The Empire personified her brother had said, let the men see her as the embodiment of what they were fighting for.

The idea had merit, and more to the point, she liked it.

In this, she would much rather be loved than feared.

She just needed to wait for the right opportunity.

She just needed to prove herself.

That opportunity would come soon enough.

IOI

"Breach team is now in position."

Avaryss stood beside Captain Brandei and the rest of her crew. Rink was slouched forward with a bored look on his face, while Holli double checked the tools on her belt. Once the breach team had pacified the crew, it would fall to the engineer to secure their computer system, and begin downloading anything and everything that her master might want.

Beric stood two steps behind her, he was now clad in a trooper's plate, and officer's command helmet. He would serve as her bodyguard when she boarded the ship, not that she really needed one.

Avaryss sneered.

Now, perhaps, they would get some more answers.

She had watched patiently as two of the breach team's troopers rigged the freighter's entry port with explosives. The disabled freighter was now locked down in the hangar bay, any resistance the crew could offer them now was pointless, if they were smart; they would surrender without further bloodshed.

Avaryss doubted that they would be that reasonable.

"All is ready, apprentice," Captain Brandei informed her, still radiating with feelings of confidence, at his side his first office, Commander Dryso remained passive, The man seemed far more careful than his commanding officer.

She made note of that for future reference.

"Proceed, captain," she ordered, "For the Empire."

"For the Empire," he repeated, gesturing to the commander of the breach team to begin their attack.

The officer triggered the explosives.

The hatches edges began to spark and glow orange. Even from twenty feet away you could feel the heat.

The hatch blew in with a loud pop!

Avaryss eyes widened in horror.

The breach team vanished in a jet of thick white mist; it flowed out of the ship like water, rising quickly above the heads of the troopers.

The Force screamed at her, the cloud felt of death, icy and hungry.

It was all she could do to keep from bolting.

The world seemed to slow down. She could hear the distant cries of the soldiers, hear their words.

Trap!

Poison!

Fall back!

FALL BACK!

Poison.

The memory of Fehl's death came back to her, they had been so connected that she had felt his dying moments through the Force, the agony he had felt, the helplessness. The thought of being poisoned herself, of dying that way terrified her, but in terror there was opportunity. The world slowed down.

She had learned to fear into anger, terror easily became rage, and rage was power!

She raised her hand and reached out with the Force.

The cloud was too close; even if she ran it would overtake her. She could use the Force to save her, but in doing so she would abandon Beric and the others. They would die.

Her eyes narrowed dangerously.

She would not lose her crew, or her brother! They were hers!

THEY WERE HERS!

She reached out with the Force, trying to contain the cloud, it was not as easy as containing a solid object, the stuff flowed like water, hard to contain, but at the same time, the Force surrounded the poison like it surrounded everything else.

She tried to push the cloud back, keep it away from her and her men. All around the dreadnaught's hangar, soldiers and technicians were scattering, an alarm blared overhead, as ventilator fans kicked on, trying to draw the poison away from the soldiers and support staff.

She could hear Captain Brandei barking orders, shouting for the crew to make for the various shuttles and fighters that lined the docking bay. It was a smart move, Avaryss realized, those ships had their own atmosphere; the men would be safe there from the cloud.

The captain could have saved himself, he could have got to safety while she held the mist back, but instead he remained, trying to save his men.

Her brother's suggestion came back to her, about caring for the weapons under her command. Yes, she would have to sacrifice some to achieve her goals, but that did not mean she had to do so foolishly. If the death of a servant served no purpose but amusement, what was the point?

Life should matter for something.

"My lord," Beric said, almost whispering in her ear, "Sister, we must flee!"

They could now, she realized. The cloud was slowly flowing around them, but had not yet cut off their escape. She had managed to shield them with the Force, her crew, the captain and first officer.

They could run, but she saw an opportunity here.

"Quiet, brother," she murmured, "I'm concentrating."

She gestured with her hands, the gas parted revealing the breach team, they were still alive, she could sense that, but it was a near thing, the gas appeared to be corrosive, eating away at their armor, who could say what it would do to a person's lungs.

"Pull those men out of there," she shouted, "Get them to safety."

The few soldiers that had been shielded by her obeyed, Beric and Rink helped.

Once those men were up and moving, either under their own power or being carried, Avaryss began to back up, using her shield to protect them from the poison now swirling through the hangar. It was straining her abilities, but at the same time, she welcomed the challenge, her fear of death, the memory of Fehl, and her frustration with Captain Brandei, his treatment of her gave her plenty of fuel to stoke the fires of the dark side within her.

You think I'm nothing, she thought bitterly, just another replaceable apprentice!

I will show you what I am!

They made for a small ready room off the back of the hangar, where the Sith pilots would gather before leaving on mission, the room had a blast door that was strong enough to protect anyone inside from an explosive decompression, it would serve to keep them safe from the gas.

Once they were all safely inside, Rink leapt forward, and hit the door control, sealing the room. Avaryss, exhausted from holding back the poison gas, wobbled on her feet, but stayed standing. Beric was at her side, holding her arm, making sure she did not fall.

The two children of Andur Lylos nodded to each other, a silent thanks.

She took a deep breath and stood taller. She glared at both the captain and the first officer. For the first time since they had met, she sensed fear in Captain Brandei. The look in his eyes made that abundantly clear. Avaryss could also sense Commander Dryso, or rather, his excitement, eager to see what she did next.

He expects me to execute Brandei, she realized, the first officer was looking for a promotion.

He might get it, depending on what passed between her and the captain in the next few minutes.

"Thoughts Captain," she said, "What just happened?"

"Reactor coolant," Holli spoke up quickly, "There must have been a breach in the freighter's reactor, nasty stuff, corrosive, and poisonous, not a good way to go."

Rink sneered at Captain Brandei.

"Looks like your gunners missed their mark captain; I thought the goal was to take the crew of that ship alive?"

Brandei paled, he glared at Rink, but quickly turned his attention back to Avaryss, fearing her response.

His fear was growing, she could feel it. It was delicious, prey reaction to the hunter.

She welcomed it, and what came next!

"My men know their business, they did not miss their mark." she could hear the fear in his voice, he was sweating.

She thought to raise her hand, either to reach out with the Force to choke the man, or to bring Force lightning to bear. She would enjoy the man's suffering, he would die in agony! He would…

Do not waste and opportunity.

Beric's words came back to her.

Brandei had not run; he had stayed trying to aid his crew, even though it likely meant his death. He could have pawned off the blame on the gunners or the officer in charge, but he had not.

He was far braver than she had thought.

She lowered her hand, her temper cooling.

She had another idea.

"Commander Dryso, see to clean up here, I want that hangar clear. We still need to know what is on that ship. As soon as it is clear, I want a scanning crew aboard that ship; I want every part of that ship checked and double checked, am I understood?"

"At once, apprentice, "the man said snapping off a smart salute.

Avaryss nodded, noting that the Captain did not try to countermand her orders, it was his ship, sure, but she was Darth Feer's apprentice.

That station did give her some power here.

"Holli see what you can do to aid him, Rink stay here and aid her."

Her crew nodded, knowing their duty.

Avaryss turned her attention to captain.

"Walk with me, Captain," she said, "Lieutenant Lylos, with us."

She began to walk. Brandei fell in step beside her. Beric followed five steps behind them. The Captain still had his guard up, but his fear level had dropped considerably. He knows that if I was going to kill him for incompetence I would have done so in the ready room, but he remains cautious.

That is wise of him, she thought.

She remained silent for the first twenty or thirty feet, they walked in silence, crew members moving out of their way. She wanted to see what his next words would be, if he would make excuses or take responsibility.

"My men did not miss their mark," he repeated.

Defending his crew again, interesting. She made up her mind; she knew what she would do now.

"I don't believe they did," she said with a shrug, "I felt life on that ship right up until the moment we breached the hatch. I sensed fear, but also grim acceptance."

Brandei's eyes narrowed, considering what she had said. It did not take him long to come to the same conclusion that she had reached.

"Suicide?" he asked.

She nodded.

"They killed themselves, rather than risk facing interrogation; they flooded their ship with poison gas."

Almost as an afterthought Avaryss reached out towards the hangar with the Force, seeking any life aboard the captured freighter, she felt none.

She sighed.

"All dead," she said shaking her head, "And I think it is safe to say they spent their last few moments erasing everything of value on that ship."

"They no doubt tried, apprentice," Brandei agreed, "But they were in a hurry, they no doubt missed something, we will find it. Our scanning crews will go over every bolt and hull plate of that ship, if anything useful remains, they will find it."

She smiled, that was not simply arrogance in his voice, it was determination; the Pub agents on that ship had made them look like fools.

The Captain now had a personal stake in seeing something found on that vessel; that was useful.

Avaryss was pleased.

"We were outplayed today, Captain. These Republics are not playing by their usual rules; we must adapt and rise to the occasion."

"We shall, apprentice," he said with renewed resolve, "You have my word."

She held his gaze for a moment, he looked away first, letting her have her moment of dominance.

She accepted it, as was her due.

"I believe you," she said stopping, the two faced each other, her red eyes glinting beneath the black cowl she wore.

"You have proved my master's faith in you was not without merit, Captain," she said, "Neither you, nor the crew of this vessel was at fault for what occurred in that hangar. In fact, your men are examples of what the Imperial navy should be, see that they know that."

"Thank you, apprentice," he said standing at attention.

"I will be in my chambers, send word immediately when you have Dryso's report. I want to know what is on that ship, and any secrets that we can glean from it."

"It will be done, my lord," he said saluting her.

Avaryss smiled.

My lord, she thought.

Well what do you know, Beric was right.

"We were outmaneuvered today, Captain, do not let it happen again."

"Yes, my lord."

"See to it, Captain, immediately."

He made a sharp military turn, already calling out a crewer walking down the hall.

Avaryss and Beric watched him go, his renewed sense of purpose shining like a star.

She glanced over at her brother.

"Thank you," she murmured, "You were right."

Beric beamed with pride, pride in her.

It warmed her heart.

"His men did nothing wrong, neither did he," Beric said.

"Yes," she agreed.

"Yet, you subtlety reminded him that Dryso is ready to replace him, should he mess up."

Avaryss sneered.

"Fear has its place, brother."

"Yes, it does," he agreed.

The two children of Andur Lylos were in agreement, for the first time since they had been reunited on Taris.

Avaryss thought that was a good thing.

"Father would have been proud of you, today," he said.

Avaryss grinned.

She doubted that, but that was okay.

Beric was proud of her.

She accepted that.

For now, that was enough.