Chapter 33: Side Trip
"Greetings: I am HK- SIGMA 3, my assassination protocols are now restored and fully at your command. Hello Meatbag, I'm ready to…QUARK!"
Avaryss jumped back as electricity arced from her assassin droid. Holli let out a small cry and scampered out of the way, yanking out several cords from the data pad she had connected to the HK's head.
"ZZZZZ-SYSTEMS FAILING MASTER!" the droid buzzed before it slumped forward, smoke and sparks spewing from its chassis.
The droid fell silent, the lights faded from its optics.
Then…there was silence, that and the stink of burned metal.
Avaryss sighed and shook her head.
She should have guessed that it would not be that easy.
"I'm sorry, my lord," Ensign Holli said morosely, "I thought I fixed that power problem, I thought the new leads would hold."
She approached and reinserted the data pad's wires back into the droid's head.
"Next time I will reinforce them better."
She gave Avaryss a nervous look; clearly Holli understood what happened to officers that failed their lords.
"I ask for another chance."
Avaryss' expression remained thoughtful, but finally she nodded.
"Considering that droid sat for decades if not centuries in the Tatooine sand, I call it coming on line, even briefly, as progress," she said.
She gave the engineer a gentle smile. "You may continue with your work."
The Ensign let out a slight sigh; no doubt she had worried after summoning Avaryss to see what she had accomplished. Some Sith rewarded such setbacks with death. Avaryss was not one of them.
Holli had done what most would have called extremely difficult, if not impossible.
The droid stood before her, it may not have been fully operational yet, but it had come online briefly.
It was enough of a success to stay the young Sith's hand.
Holli entered several commands on her data pad; she rubbed as a small grease stain on her chin.
"The droid's main processor is still intact, self-repair functions built into this model reinforced the higher cognitive functions, the droid's mind is stable."
Avaryss nodded.
"It has self-repair?" she asked.
"Limited self-repair functions," Holli explained, "It made sure that its mind did not completely meltdown."
The girl shook her head.
"Not enough to get it working on its own, but at least I do not have to start from scratch."
She smiled at Avaryss.
"We are getting close," she said.
Avaryss nodded, pleased with the engineer's work, at least, for now.
"Send word to supply, get what you need, price is no object," Avaryss ordered.
"As you say," the girl said bowing, "I will also send word to 1A-K3. Lackey might be able to help me find a new way to reinforce the power conduits."
"Do what is necessary," Avaryss said, "Let me know when you are ready to try again."
"Yes, my lord," Holli said saluting, her hand barely covering the grease smudge on her forehead.
"Keep me informed," the Sith said as she left the cargo hold.
"Yes, my lord," the girl shouted after her.
Despite the setback, Avaryss was pleased.
Holli was getting close.
The Fury was currently in hyperspace, heading back to Dromund Kaas. They were bringing back the data they had mined from the fallen Jedi Enclave. Avaryss had thought it best to deliver the information in person, not trusting that one of their enemies, Republic or otherwise might not intercept the transmission.
This matter will be coming to a head soon, she thought, they had records of dozens of transmissions, and with them, several encryption keys, thanks to Quenya, they now had an idea of how the conspirators were striking at the Empire. No names were mentioned in the transmissions, but given the targets and the locations, it was not hard for the Sith to predict what lords were being manipulated.
We can begin coordinating efforts with the other lords, Avaryss thought, we can also begin tracing this whole sorry mess back to its source. We can finally find the mastermind behind this mess and deal with him or her.
She was looking forward to that.
After she had agreed to join them, Avaryss had questioned Quenya about what she knew about the conspiracy. The Devish confessed to knowing little, her masters had not trusted her enough to bring her fully into their confidence, either that or they had not thought her ready to join their scheme, Avaryss suspected the latter, but pushed for the girl to believe the former.
The larger the wedge she drove between the girl and the Jedi and their allies, the better.
In time, she would be a willing servant in Avaryss' campaign, she was certain of it.
It just felt right.
Rink and Holli had been welcoming to their new shipmate. The former street rat offering his aid to the former Jedi Padawan, to help her adjust to her new life, Quenya seemed flattered by the offer. She was intrigued by Holli's work, especially on the old HK; the girl had little understanding of droid operation, but given the history of the model, was intrigued by the idea of having one that actually functioned. Beric kept his distance, he was clearly watching the girl, not believing that she was as willing a convert as his sister hoped.
He does not understand, Avaryss thought, the dark side's call is hard to ignore, especially after you have already opened yourself up to it.
But has she opened herself up?
The thought gave the young Sith pause.
She would still need to test the Devish, she recognized that, but for now she seemed to be cooperating, willingly giving up any secret that the Sith asked for
Yes, things were working out nicely.
Once they were back on Dromund Kaas they would be able to find their next target, and the next, and the next.
Eventually they would reach the end of the chain, and then they would deal with the ones in charge of all this.
"Bridge to Avaryss."
She paused. Rink's voice had rang out over the overhead loudspeaker.
"Yes, Rink, what is it?" she called out
"We have a call coming in, boss, for your eyes only."
Avaryss frowned.
That was odd.
Her master was not the type to be so secretive?
"I will take it in the comm room."
She made her way there, engaging the security locks on the doors as she entered.
She reached out with the Force, trying to sense her master's mood, yet, she felt nothing.
If he was calling her, she should have felt something.
Strange.
Very strange.
She activated the holo-comm and stepped back, she prepared to drop to one knee in homage to her master.
As it turned out, she did not need to.
Her eyes widened slightly.
It wasn't Darth Feer.
Well, wasn't this a surprise?
"Darth Baras," she exclaimed, "My lord…this is…a most unexpected pleasure."
The Broad shouldered Sith Lord in the silver armor and mask tilted his head slightly.
"Greetings youngster," he said, "I do hope that I've not caught you at a bad time, your master has had you so busy lately, hasn't he? You have travelled far, and I suspect you will travel farther still."
Avaryss smiled.
What was this about, she wondered.
Her master and Darth Baras were hardly allies, much less friends.
How had he gotten this comm frequency? She should not have been surprised, it was said that Baras had spies everywhere, that he likely knew what the Emperor had had for breakfast this morning.
Finding Darth Feer's private comm frequency would have been child's play. She was impressed, of course, but that did not mean that she was above having a bit of fun with the senior Sith.
She grinned.
"How is your apprentice doing, my lord? The one I encountered on Tatooine a while back."
Her expression turned sly, teasing. It might not have been a good idea to provoke him, but since he had gone to all this trouble to contact her, she thought he would be willing to put up with a little snarkiness on her part.
"I do hope he managed to escape the explosion of that Republic safe house," she said, "Good help is so very hard to find these days, don't you agree?"
If the dark lord was insulted, he did not show it.
He laughed.
"You revealed the limits that my apprentice was capable of reaching," he informed her; "He survived your encounter, but has since moved into a more…less interesting role in my service."
I'll bet, Avaryss thought, she remembered the fool cutting his face with his own blade. If Baras was smart he would seek out a new apprentice soon, one not so easily ensnared by the power of his fellows.
Hopefully, Baras' next apprentice would be a bit more clever.
The Sith Lord stood straighter.
"Of course, we are not here to discuss past issues. It is the future that interests me, and so…for that reason…I have contacted you."
"I'm listening, my lord," she promised, "As a Darth, it is my duty to aid you, as long as it does not negatively affect my house, of course. Hopefully, I'm sure; we can come to a…mutually beneficial understanding."
"I have no desire to make any more enemies than I need to".
Again the dark lord chuckled.
"Perhaps you are not entirely without wisdom," he said, "Feer may have made a mistake in recruiting you."
"That remains to be seen," she said, "For now, let us discuss what it is you want of me."
"I have heard whispers that you recently acquired some data from a Republic Enclave that…closed recently. I was hoping that I might convince you to surrender that data to me."
Avaryss smirked.
"I doubt that my master would approve. If that data does exist, and that is not an admission, it would be unwise to share such information with a…unaffiliated Sith."
She sensed a brief flicker of anger from the dark lord.
Careful, the darkness within warned, you can play with him, but only so far.
He is a Darth, death incarnate.
Remember that.
"You show the caution of a good apprentice, girl," Baras said, "But it is unnecessary, I do not ask for you to simply give me the information, simply send me a copy. In return I will share any conclusions that I reach from that data, provided that you share anything you might learn with me."
Though she could not see his face hidden behind the mask, she sensed that the older Sith was smiling.
"My resources are considerable. I might be able to discover something that your people might miss, or the other way around."
It made sense she supposed, still it seemed a lot of risk for very little reward. Warmaster Feore's people would surely find her some new targets. Why did she need Baras' help, beyond staying on the good side of a Darth; that might be worth it, but she still wanted to see just how bad the old man wanted this.
"I'm no fool, child," Baras added, "I'm aware of your…investigation, what you believe to be happening. Most Sith would dismiss what you have found as a minor threat, or a fantasy. I do not."
The dark lord crossed his huge arms.
"This presents an opportunity, for the good of the Empire, this…conspiracy must end, but that does not mean that we lords who are in the know can't profit from it before that happens."
Avaryss smiled.
She knew it.
The Dark Lords, at least some of them, knew about the conspiracy, and were trying to manipulate it to fit their own designs. She wondered if the Jedi realized that, were they walking close enough to the dark side to see the plans within the plans.
Possibly, but that did not change the final outcome.
The Jedi/SIS conspiracy needed to end, and she would be the one who ended it.
The rewards for that victory would be hers.
"I see your point, my lord, but the personal risk to me is still great. So, forgive me for being blunt, say I give you the information you desire…"
Her expression turned sly.
"What is in it for me?"
Baras chuckled.
"A chance to reclaim something that should have been yours since your student days, young Avaryss," he replied.
"Eh?' she said.
What was this now?
Baras chuckled.
"I'm sending you coordinates, as a show of good faith. It leads to the holdings of a minor Sith on the outskirts of the Empire. Lord Kanis is the man's name."
"What is this Lord Kanis to me?"
"A man who has stolen your rightful inheritance," Baras said.
That got Avaryss' attention.
My…inheritance?
"I've read the reports of your training on Korriban, even the supposedly sealed ones dealing with your relationship with a fellow acolyte, a pure-blood named Fehl."
"My relationship was never a secret," she shrugged, "I do not see why such files would be sealed."
"Do you realize that your Fehl had already named you his heir? He submitted a new will, naming you as both his bride and successor. You may not have been formally wed under Sith law, but that does not change the fact that the will existed, and that, in the event of the boy's death, all his holdings should have passed to you."
Avaryss blinked.
She…she hadn't known.
Fehl…he…he had formerly declared her his wife!
Amazing!
"Is that why the overseers on Korriban were so intent on getting me to confess to his death? They wanted to make this will invalid!"
"It was Lord Kanis that informed the overseers of your plan, child," Baras informed her, "He had been named executor of Fehl's holdings, if you had arrived as the boy's betrothed, then you would have possessed all the power that Kanis now wields. He took advantage of the situation, he did not poison your boy, I was hoping to have verified that for you, but I came up empty, still…Kanis did steal from you. He took advantage of your lover's death."
Avaryss' eyes narrowed dangerously.
That…that shutta!
She would have his head on a plate!
"I will need a copy of this will," she told Baras.
"It is included with the coordinates," he promised, she could hear the amusement in his voice, "I trust this is enough to convince you to surrender the information that I require?"
"It is," Avaryss said with a cool smile.
She began entering codes on the communicator, accessing the files that they had seized.
Master Feer likely would not have approved, still, it was a good deal.
Plus, Fehl's holdings would make her even more valuable to her master, not to mention move her one step closer to her own freedom.
He will pay Fehl, she thought, this thief.
He will pay!
"I have sent you half of the data trove we recovered, my lord," she informed the dark lord, "Once I've verified what you have told me and dealt with the matter of Lord Kanis, I will send the other half."
I trust this arrangement is satisfactory?"
"Quite," the dark lord replied, "You will have no trouble verifying what I've told you."
He glanced to his right; she heard a slight pinging sound on the hyper-comm.
Darth Baras radiated pleasure.
"Transmission received," he said, "You have my thanks, youngster."
"And you have mine," she said nodding respectfully, "If anything, I hope this shows my willingness to cooperate with my fellow Sith."
"It is a start," he said, "I will inform my master, Darth Vengean of your willingness to aid us. This may not lead to an alliance, but at the very least, it may result in a profitable business arrangement."
"Send councilor Vengean, my regards."
"I will," Baras said, "And good fortune in recovering you inheritance girl. A Sith cannot survive without a powerbase, hopefully this will be a good first step in building yours."
Not the first step, she thought, she already had credits pouring in from her alliance with TCS. Having more physical holdings would make her more formidable though.
She thought of Fehl, what they might have had had Nass not taking it upon herself to murder him.
She felt a dull ache in her belly. She found herself imagining a small squalling red skinned babe in her arms, the child that she and Fehl would never get to have.
It is not the end, the dark side whispered, you can still have Fehl again, both his holdings and him.
You simply have to be patient.
She nodded grimly.
She could be.
"Thank you, my lord," she said, "I will have the other half of data ready to transmit soon."
"Very well, youngster," the lord said, raising his hand in salute, "until then, Baras out."
The dark lord's image vanished. Avaryss approached the hyper-comm, looking to erase any records of the transmission; she did not want her master to know what had happened.
It did not appear necessary.
The data package that Baras had sent had included a program that already erased any record of the call.
She smirked.
You had to admire the old man's professionalism, if nothing else.
She disengaged the safety locks and made for the bridge. Rink would need to bring them out of hyperspace.
They had a stop to make first before returning to Dromund Kaas.
Lord Kanis, Avaryss thought, her hands curling into angry fists.
We are going to have a lot of fun now!
IOI
The door gave way with a single cut of her lightsaber, that and a blast of pure dark side telekinesis.
Avaryss strode into the chamber, at her side stood Quenya and Beric.
Two Sith acolytes leapt forward, their crimson lightsabers raised. Beric distracted one with shots from a heavy repeating blaster, while Quenya engaged the second, her green bladed lightsaber flashed as she drove the bodyguard back.
Her skill with the lightsaber was decent, a blend of the basic Shii-Cho and Ataru.
They would have to work on that, Avaryss thought, that and find the girl a proper crystal for her blade.
Green was not the color of a would-be Sith.
Avaryss grinned.
She had wanted their newest crew member on this journey; she wanted to get her used to killing for her new leader. So far, she had not hesitated.
It is because these are Sith, the dark side whispered; the real test will come when she has to fight her former friends.
Avaryss nodded.
Yes, that would be the real test.
Lord Kanis' holdings were modest true, but his defenses were top of the line. The Fury had had to strafe the small compound twice before an entrance could be made safe enough for the Sith and her comrades to enter.
Once inside she had been a woman on a mission. She regretted killing these men; technically they were hers, after all. She hated damaging her own holdings.
But they are not mine yet, are they, I need to show them that I am their master.
Cutting down the old one will be a good first start.
As the three of them finally breached the main chamber, she looked up and saw her enemy, the usurper Kanis was a slender pureblood, the robes he wore, though fine did not seem to fit such a slight Sith.
Fehl would have worn them better, she thought, my husband would have been glorious, a living colossus!
Now it fell to her to make sure his will was carried out.
"What is the meaning of this," the Sith Lord shouted out indignantly.
"Who are you?!"
She grinned.
"I am the lady of the house," she said, "I am the bride of your fallen master. The Lady Avaryss Fehl or I should have been."
Hearing her name made the pure blood snarl.
"You are not welcome here poisoner!"
"I did not kill Fehl," she snarled back.
"What you did or did not do is irrelevant! I'm lord of this house now. I have served it long, under Master Fehl's parents, his regents, and then the master himself."
The older Sith drew his lightsaber, he ignited the blade and leapt down to meet her.
"Who are you to claim these holdings; you are just a girl who amused our master for a time. You are not even of the old blood!"
Avaryss sneered and raised her weapon.
"I am your master's chosen," she said.
"Let me show you why."
She attacked the pure blood viciously.
He fought back, like her he used the Makashi duelist style, unlike her; he lacked the polish and skill that she had refined both during her training and her service to her master.
He is a bureaucrat, she thought an administrator!
It takes a Lord of the Sith to govern a house.
She would teach him for forgetting his place.
Neither Quenya nor Beric intervened which was good. She switched seamlessly between Makashi and Soresu, giving just enough ground to draw her enemy in. Then when she was ready!
"ARRRRGH!"
Her blade sliced through the silken sleeve of Lord Kanis's robe, his robes caught fire as his weapon and his hand tumbled away.
He fell to his knees gasping snarling obscenities.
Avaryss stood over him smiling. She enjoyed watching him squirm on the ground, trying to crawl away.
It was delicious!
"Damn you," he spat, "You had no right to this house!"
"Your lord's will says otherwise."
He spat blood on her boots.
"The master's infatuation with you was his undoing. He should never have made that will. It…it should have vanished. I don't know how you managed to recover it."
"I have my ways," she purred, advancing on the fallen Sith.
"It should have been me," the former lord Kanis hissed.
"It should have been me!"
Avaryss raised her blade, preparing to take his head, and then…thought better of it.
No, this usurper does not deserve to die by my hand.
"Quenya," she said in a silky voice.
"Yes?" the Devish replied.
"Kill him."
Quenya Sai Malloc blinked.
"You want me to be killing him?" she said.
"Was I unclear," Avaryss said coldly, "I gave you an order!"
"Kill him!"
The girl blinked as she approached.
Within Avaryss the dark voice purred softly.
Now, it seemed to say; now we will see what the girl is made of.
"He is a Sith, and he has insulted me," Avaryss said, "You wish to be a part of this, then do it. He is no innocent, he is a Sith Lord. Do as I say!
"Kill him."
Avaryss felt the storm within the girl, her Jedi teachings wrestling with her desires to not only survive, but also to get those that had betrayed the Republic and Jedi.
Beric stood behind her, he had his blaster at his side, but it could be quickly snapped up and fired into the girl's back if she did not obey.
Still she hesitated.
"Did you not hear me?" Avaryss said.
"I've heard," the girl said looking down in the old Sith's pleading eyes.
"I am understanding."
Before Kanis could say another word or try to crawl away. Quenya slashed out with her lightsaber.
Kanis' head came away from his neck.
Avaryss shuddered as he felt dark side energy flow in to the Devonian girl.
Good, she thought.
Good.
The next step has been taken.
Very good.
"There," the girl said glaring at Avaryss, "It is being done. Are you being happy now?"
"Ecstatic, my dear," Avaryss said dryly.
She would deal with alien's insolence later, for now she still had a powerbase to consolidate.
More soldiers were arriving, that and servants of the house.
Avaryss powered down her blade and stood before them.
"Lord Kanis." One of the soldiers gasped. "No."
"Who are you?" another shouted.
"Why have you done this?!"
She stood proudly.
"I am Avaryss, former betrothed of your Lord Fehl. She pulled out a data pad, the one containing a copy of the will given to her by Darth Baras.
"As you can see, your master left all his holdings to me, it was this usurper who stole what my love wished me to wield. By right of conquest, I claim this house and all holdings of House Fehl and its holdings.
She grinned savagely.
"I am your master now."
She shouted out the next words to make sure they all heard her.
Join me, or die!"
The lead servant took it and read it. Avaryss did not let her eyes fall away from the soldiers, one false move on either side, and she would end up having to kill these people.
She did not want that.
She came here to claim these resources, not obliterate them.
The servant that took the pad, showed it to a small aging pure blood female.
She read the words several times, and finally, turning to her fellow nodded.
The first one to speak gestured to the soldiers.
They all lowered their weapons.
Yes, Avaryss thought.
YES!
"You have our apologies, my lord," the female said, "We were not aware of our late masters wished."
"It is okay," Avaryss assured her. My dear Fehl would not wish to see me destroy you, any of you."
She smiled gamely.
"He wished to see this house returned to glory!"
"I shall see to that myself. For the empire!"
As one her new servants shouted back, their fists raised.
For the Empire!"
Avaryss nodded pleased with herself.
It was another step closer to lordship.
"What are you standing around for dogs," the lead servant said, "This is our new master, bow before her, she has returned!"
As one the surviving guards and staff fell to their knees. At her side, Quenya and Beric watched the display of submission.
Avaryss beamed.
It seemed that she owed Lord Baras the rest of the data she had collected, very well.
He would get what he deserved. He had helped her take what was hers.
That was all that mattered.
She would reward him for his aid, and in time, who knew, they might one day stand as equals.
At least until she was strong enough to remove him. Kanis might not have been a true master but he had been good practice.
There were many sweet prizes in the Empire.
One day, she would be able to take them all, and no one would be in a position to stop her.
No one.