Chapter 47: Venari

He knows were coming.

That realization should have frightened her, just knowing that a Master of the Jedi High Council was aware of her, and awaiting her arrival should have made her heart skip.

Strangely enough, Avaryss felt nothing but eagerness. The spell that she had used to destroy the Kaii blocking her path had left her feeling…energized.

She felt prepared for whatever would come next.

Careful, the dark voice within her warned, you expended a lot of energy to cast that spell. The dark side is limitless, you are not…

…It would be a shame to die because you underestimated some old man.

But I'm not underestimating him, she thought to herself, I'm well aware of his power, I felt it when he touched my mind with his battle meditation.

He is strong, make no mistake…but today…I am stronger!

She needed to believe that, otherwise…she would likely be too intimidated to do what was needed, what was right.

The Jedi would fall.

The spell had left the jungle for almost two miles in every direction a blasted husk. The ground had become a rocky desert, not even a blade of grass remained. As for the jungle itself, the pulse of dark side energy had withered every living thing in its path. Even the giant mushrooms, whose caps could support the weight of an imperial shuttle craft had turned to dust, destroyed by the fury Avaryss had unleashed.

With each encounter my power grows, the young Sith knew, I've come a long way since my cleansing of that Republic safe house on Tatooine.

Now…the time had come to take the next step, destroying a senior Jedi Master would prove to be a most exciting challenge.

If I can defeat this man in battle, not even Darth Feer will be able to deny my strength, my value as his apprentice.

Today…she would prove herself her master's true successor.

Her crew followed in her wake. HK took up the rear, his scanners searching the debris for any sign of further ambush. Beric and Holli looked upon her with new eyes, realizing perhaps for the first time that she was worthy to stand among the Sith Masters.

Quenya looked upon her with awe; Avaryss could sense it through their connection in the Force. Their bonding to shield the others had helped further that connection. When two Force users worked together, it was not unheard of for such a link to form.

In time it could evolve into the link between master and apprentice. Quenya still dragged her feet about committing to the Sith way, but slowly, surely, the Devish was starting to see just what the dark side had to offer a strong and willing initiate.

All she had to do now was accept, if she did that…there was likely no limit to where she could go.

The rewards the dark side offered were many.

If only Quenya could come to understand that.

They crossed a stream all but choked with debris and burned bodies. Avaryss could sense life as they finally passed beyond the blast radius of her spell, but even here, the darkness had left its mark. The energy that had flowed over this place had not been powerful enough to destroy, but it had left scars. The Force burned within this place now; it was a place that was now a focus for fear and malice.

She could sense the Kaii as well, those lucky enough not to be caught in the blast. The energies she had unleashed had changed them to; she could sense…instability, perhaps bordering on insanity.

The realization made her smile.

Even in the most destructive of circumstances, creation was possible. She had done more than simply clear the way for her and her crew. She had created a nexus of dark side energy. If left unchecked…it would likely continue to shape the world around it, but then again, why leave it unchecked?

Perhaps when all was said and done, she would have a shrine built here, a structure to help focus the dark energy she had unleashed. Who knew, in a hundred years Sith pilgrims might journey here to revel in what she had done.

It was worth considering at least.

They finally passed beyond the jungle, unmolested by further attacks. They arrived in a small native village. Beasts of burden cried out as they passed, struggling against their tethers, perhaps sensing what Avaryss was. The Kaii structures were unique. They appeared to be made up of fallen mushroom caps, caps that had been altered and arranged to create the native's village. Wooden fence posts stood before each dwelling, likely to help secure whatever animal that the villager called his or her own. Doors and windows had been added, cut into the surface of each of the fleshy structures, and yet no light shone from either, and no smoke drifted up from the chimneys.

"Are they all dead?' she heard Beric murmur.

"No," she answered, "Many still live, but they are hiding now. Perhaps they fear that I will unleash yet another spell upon them.

The young Sith chuckled.

"They need not worry about that, they have learned their lesson, as long as they do not stand in my way, they are safe."

She gestured to her belt, drawing her lightsaber into her hand with the Force.

"All I want is the Jedi."

They made their way down the abandon street. HK mentioned that he detected several creatures within the structures, no doubt watching as they passed. The droid offered to terminate them, but Avaryss said no.

Let them bear witness to what is about to occur. Let them all see the power of the dark side.

They left the village behind, through the Force the Jedi's presence shown like a beacon, a warm light in the chaos, a lantern shining bright enough to be seen through the gloom.

It was a lantern that was about to be blown out, Avaryss thought hungrily.

Come to me Jedi.

Let us dance a final dance.

They came upon a small clearing not far from the village; a single structure rose up from its center, another native dwelling; lights flickering in the windows.

Master Brandol Venari sat meditating on the steps of his home, clad in a tan robe, and wide leather belt, the aged Jedi master seemed out of place in such a primitive surrounding. Avaryss could imagine him sitting in some comfortable chair surrounded by his Jedi underlings. The only trappings of wealth she saw was a large gold medallion that hung around the Jedi's throat on a long golden chain. If he was aware of her, he did not show it, perhaps he did not see her as a threat, and through the Force he radiated a sense of both power and serenity.

Clearly he did not understand the threat that was coming for him.

He was joined by two others, a strange fish-like alien with a large billed head, and another yellow plumed Kaii, the alien's neck was draped in beads and medallions. Avaryss suspected that the creature was either a chieftain or shaman.

Her crew started to raise their weapons, but she stopped them with a single raised hand.

That was not how this was going to begin.

She was no savage; she wished to get the measure of her opponent.

"Wait here," she informed the others.

"I will be back."

Proudly she made her way down to the Jedi's dwelling, her lightsaber in hand, but not activated.

She was willing to let the old one make the first move.

She approached unchallenged, and unhindered. She could sense the Jedi's attention on her, but he did not try to warn her off or threaten her. When he did finally speak, it was with a voice void of fear or anger.

"I knew you would come," he said finally opening his eyes, his features looked like hard leather, but his dark eyes were both clear and alert, radiating a power all their own.

He gave her a sad smile.

"I have awaited this day for a very long time."

Avaryss paused, unsure what to make of that.

"You expected me?"

The old man nodded.

"The shadow of this moment has been in my mind since I was a youngling. The details were always unclear, the place, the time, even you were undefined, just a shadow emerging from the gloom.

The old master sighed.

"Last night, for the first time, I finally dreamed of this moment with crystal clarity, I saw your face and knew that my time of testing had come."

He shook his head.

"I must confess, I never imagined that when this day came. That it would be a girl that I was fighting. I never imagined that the Sith would send a child to oppose me."

Avaryss sneered at his words, his lack of understanding.

She was young true, but she was also well trained. She had endured much on her journey down the dark path.

She was far more than a simple eighteen year old girl. She was her master's student, apprentice to a Darth of the Sith Empire.

She would not be underestimated.

"I've been told that the future is always in motion," she said conversationally.

"That is true," he agreed.

"But I would also say that the future can still arrive at the same place despite the many twists and turns that the world puts before us."

She regarded her lightsaber thoughtfully.

"The road may have been different then you expected, but it did not change the destination, and so here we are."

"Yes," Mater Venari agreed.

"Here we are."

Master Venari's guests finally opened their eyes and regarded her. The fish like alien, likely a Jedi Padawan glared at her. The Kaii's expression remained unreadable under its mask; she was not familiar enough with the species to gauge its reactions.

"When I was young," the old Jedi continued, "I could not make sense of what you were. I could not understand how such darkness could exist in one so strong in the Force, but when your empire finally returned, I knew what shape this test would take, and I knew what it was I would be expected to endure."

Avaryss sneered.

The old man talked like this was some kind of training exercise, he understood nothing.

If this was a test, then it was a Sith test, and in Sith tests there was only one result.

Succeed or perish.

"You should thank your former Padawan Sy Dar Bynn for bringing me here," she informed him, "It is his actions that have drawn us together this day."

The old man shook his head.

He did not seem surprised.

"Young Sy was always ambitious," he said, "Even when he was a boy he thought he could deal with problems with just his wits and the blade of a lightsaber. I tried to teach him patience, to trust in the will of the Force, but for some…that lesson is not easy to embrace."

Avaryss smiled.

It was not confirmation, but it did point in that direction didn't it?

She decided to push further.

"Then you know what he is doing, your former student and his student? You know what they are doing to my home?"

"The empire is a very real threat," the old man said, "Can you blame young Sy for seeking to halt its advance?"

"He is violating a treaty," she snarled back, "A treaty that your people signed in good faith!"

"A treaty forced on us as saber point. A treaty forced on us as Coruscant and the temple lay in ruins."

Master Venari shook his head.

"Your people even now prepare for the next war. Why should the Republic be any different?"

"What about your precious code," she said grinning slyly, "I've heard that the Jedi way is to use the Force for knowledge and defense, but not to attack."

She laughed.

"What are your apprentice's actions if not some passive aggressive form of attack?"

The old man did not answer, he just held her gaze, the cool clear blue eyes seeming to be looking into her very soul.

The old man sighed.

"He came to me a few years ago, shortly after I came to this place. He asked for my help in what he was doing, and has continued to update me as he has progressed, trying to convince me to help, to join his crusade."

The old man sighed.

"It should have been Jas. It was Jas Dar Bynn I had sought to have as my student. I had felt a connection to the boy the first time we met, but when he was lost, when we thought him dead, it was his brother that I chose. I thought: they are twins, how different can the other boy possibly be?"

The old master shook his head.

"As it turns out, they were quite different. Jas…he could have been a great Jedi if the Force had been kinder."

"I've met him," Avaryss said, "He is stronger than you think. Respect for one's enemy does not come easy for a Sith, but for Jas Dar Bynn, I do respect him.

She snorted and gestured dismissively.

"I'm not here to talk about Jas Dar Bynn, old man. I'm here to deal with the conspiracy your former student has started. I'm here to save my home."

The old man gave her a sad look.

"Is your home truly worth saving? Do you know what I see when I look at you through the Force girl? I see people that you will slay, Jedi that you will corrupt. Your bloodline will be a bane to both the Jedi and the Republic."

The old man sat up straighter, she could sense the defiance in him now.

"I question Sy and Xen's methods, but not their results. If there is to be peace in the galaxy again, then the Sith Empire must be dealt with. It cannot be allowed to regroup and rearm. Sy takes a risk yes, but I think it is a risk worth taking."

The master pinned her with a cold gaze.

"Perhaps it is for the best that your life ends here."

Avaryss glanced at the old man and his guests. She was not sure of the Padawan's capabilities, and the Kaii was yet another wild card, still…she was not fearful.

She had numbers on her side. All she had to do was call out and.

Brandol Venari gestured, a wave of Force energy washed over her.

It was all that Avaryss could do to shield herself, the world spun crazily; she staggered as it felt like all the blood in her body was rushing to her head. The sonic dampeners in her ears kicked into overdrive, there was a sound that was not really a sound, and only through the dampeners and the strength of her own will did Avaryss remain upright.

Her allies were not so lucky.

She turned her head, and saw what the Jedi's attack had done.

Her crew lay unconscious on the ground, even Quenya had not escaped the Jedi's trick. HK slouched over, his blaster carbine lying on the ground next to the others. He had not fallen, but the strange sonic attack had likely disrupted his circuits.

Avaryss turned back to the Jedi, who now wore a gentle smile.

"I'm afraid your slaves cannot help you this time Sith," he said proudly.

"You don't play fair, Jedi," she spat, "Still…no one ever said life was fair."

She ignited her lightsaber; its crimson blade sprang to life.

"Stay back, master," the alien Padawan said, "Let chieftain Hadi and I deal with this Sith."

"I did not seize this advantage to risk it by simply staying back, Oss," the old man said standing for the first time. He gestured to his belt and his lightsaber leapt into his hand, the blue blade igniting with a hum.

"I've endured the nightmare of your presence for too long Sith," the old man said raising his blade.

"The time has come to wake up."

She was about spit defiantly at the Jedi; taunt his decision not to face her one on one.

She did not get the chance.

One moment the Jedi was standing there with the two aliens and then…

She was under attack.

If not for the Force she likely would have lost her head right then and there, it was all she could do to keep her blade moving; Soresu saved her but only for the moment.

The old man was a blur, and as she tried to fall back, his fellows attacked.

Avaryss was almost overwhelmed.

The Kaii struck with his staff, bone and leather, just like the swords wielded by the warriors in the jungle, twice did the hard weapon strike her, once on the thigh, and again across the shoulder blades. Her armor protected her somewhat, but…

The Padawan bounced around like some maddened nerf. His strikes did not penetrate her defenses, but it drew her attention away from his master, and that was the real threat.

Master Brandol Venari was a blur, his style a blend of Ataru, Djem So and Makashi. She felt the cold kiss of his blade on her forearm, shoulder, and waist, not enough to wound, but enough to make her realize the truth of this situation.

Impossible, she thought, not possible!

The old man was ancient! He was relic!

No one moves this fast!

Sensing that her defense was failing and on the verge of collapse, Avaryss did the only thing that she could.

She retreated.

She called out to the dark side, and it responded giving her the speed to break away from her three attackers, but even then it was barely a respite. They were still there, pursuing her.

She leapt into the air, landing on one of the giant mushrooms beside the Jedi's house.

The Padawan and the Kaii pursued her, again she found herself under their weapons.

It was all she could do to keep herself alive.

Master Venari arrived a few seconds later, using the Force to fly up and engage her anew. Through the Force the old man blazed like a yellow star.

HIs mere presence hurt her damaged eyes.

"Do not seek to escape, Sith. Now that I know your face I will pursue you wherever you run. Let it end here, I will make your death as painless as possible."

Avaryss retreated again, she lashed out with Force lightning as she fell back. The Jedi master did not even try to block it with his saber; he simply stood there and absorbed it into his hand, absorbed it and sent it blasting back at her.

It was all she could do to evade the blast that tore through the tree behind her.

She tried to cast a spell, any spell, but again she was caught within a hurricane. The enemy was all around her. She somehow managed to push the young Padawan away, but that was only the barest of reliefs. Both the Kaii and the Jedi Master continued to push her.

The master and Chieftain's wills were too strong, she realized, none of her spells would breach their mental defenses. The Padawan might have been vulnerable, but she had no time to focus on him, that and her mystical talents had still not fully replenished themselves after the spell in the forest.

The dark side was limitless, sadly, she was not.

The Jedi was strong…too strong.

She could not stand and face him…not directly.

She ran again.

This is not working, she realized, her mind moving at hyperspace, trying to come up with an answer.

My skills are not up to this, she realized, Baras had been right.

She should have been more mindful.

Given up so quickly, Hopeful?

Avaryss blinked.

The voice she had heard was not one she remembered fondly. Phylon, the pureblooded Force master of Fury 9, his voice rang in her ears dripping with arrogance and condescension.

I know Adaz teaches his students to engage their foes directly, but sometimes, that is suicide.

She could almost see the arrogant bloat grinning at her.

The dark side gives you far more options than direct attack…remember that.

Avaryss nodded, she remembered that conversation, it was the day that Phylon had taught her attack the minds of her opponents how to plant suggestions into the weak minded or easily controlled. At the time the girl that would become Avaryss had been engaging two of Phylon's favorites, one with a blade, and another using mental attacks. She had been one of four students attending that lesson, the fourth, a human boy whose name she could no longer remember had stood back with the master and been watching.

She smiled slightly.

She remembered well how she had passed that test, but did she have the time?

She parried another strike from the Padawan and pushed him back. The Kaii once again fell upon her as master Venari sent large stones flying at her head. She managed to dodge and cartwheel out of the way.

She leapt back with all her strength, trying to give herself as much room as she could.

She reached out with the dark side.

She had one chance; it was a slim one, but…hopefully; that would be enough.

She came down hard twisting her ankle, she cried out and yet somehow still managed to find her feet. She reached out with the dark side, seeking to manipulate its flow to her advantage. She also called on it to dull the pain in her ankle, and wounds she had taken during this fight.

She had no time to focus further.

Her enemy was once again upon her.

Her blade flashed as it blocked the Kaii chieftain's staff. She blasted him with Force lightning, but it barely made the alien take a step back. Over his shoulder she could see Master Venari advancing, the Padawan at his side.

She dropped into a Soresu fighting stance, her blade over her head, the point directed at her enemy.

"This is foolish girl," the old man said, "You can't run from us forever. You…"

A spear flew at the master's head; it was all he could do to dodge it.

"Master," the Padawan croaked, "The people..?"

Throwing disks and spears rained down on them. The Jedi were forced to back pedal.

Avaryss grinned.

Thanks, Master Phylon, she thought…

…Thank you ever so much.

Kaii fighters that had been affected by her early spell boiled out of the jungle, they flung their weapons at the Jedi and their own chieftain.

In that moment, Avaryss saw an opening.

She took it.

She lunged at the Kaii chieftain, he blocked her strikes, but now without the Jedi to back him up, he was starting to see the limits of his own puny abilities.

Avaryss laughed.

You wanted to play the numbers game with me creature…well…let's play!

The Jedi had thought her alone; they had thought her without potential allies. They had been fools.

The Force was her ally, and it touched everything here.

What a Jedi could do, so could a Sith, and Master Venari had made it all possible.

By using his battle meditation on these simple people, he had created a Force link between himself and them. He had been forced to strengthen that bond to make them fast and strong enough to oppose the Sith and her allies. When she had used her spell earlier she had not severed that connection, she had chosen to exploit it. The fear and anger she had unleashed had saturated that connection, spreading to the warriors and their allies.

As she had retreated to the village she had reached out to that connection again. By opening themselves up to the master's influence, the people here had made themselves open to any Force sensitive, which included her.

She had managed to touch that link through dark side nexus she had created, and now she was flooding the Kaii with thought of anger, hate and vengeance.

The warriors drank it up; they were almost maddened by it. All that remained was for Avaryss to pick a target, to give the people something to direct their rage at.

The Jedi and his two allies were perfect.

The Kaii chieftain was shouting at his people in his native tongue, trying to calm them, but the warriors were maddened. The alien fell back trying to escape his people's weapons, giving Avaryss a breather, and the means to cast her will over the scarred warriors even more.

They were like mad dogs now, looking for something to bite.

Their chieftain was the first.

Avaryss watched as a spear caught the alien in the chest, he staggered back, losing his staff he held up his hand, warbling something to two warriors that lunged at him with their bone swords. He only had a few moments before the warriors were on him.

They knocked the chieftain down and began to savage him with their blades. The creature died trying to get through to his people, unwilling to fight them.

Fool, Avaryss thought as she leapt over butchery, they weren't your people anymore.

They were mine.

The Jedi proved to be smarter than the Kaii, they recognized the danger they were in; they slashed at the maddened aliens, using their powers to turn back the tide.

It was then that Avaryss struck back. Her own blade became a blur.

Now…she was free to go on the offense.

She flung the Padawan out of the way and engaged the master. Their blades flashed back and forth as the two spun and wheeled, striking at each other again and again.

As Avaryss watched she felt the change in the old Jedi, at long last his age was starting to catch up with him. No longer did he shine as brightly through the Force, no longer were his strikes as hard or precise as they had been at the beginning of their duel.

Even the stars die eventually she knew.

Even the brightest lights go out.

Each chop and strike brought her closer to victory.

"NOOOO!"

The alien leapt through the air, his croaking war cry drawing her attention as he tried to bring his blade down on her head.

She reached up catching him in a Force grip.

She reached up and squeezed.

The alien choked and gasped. As she threw him forward.

The master tried to stop his flight, to use his own powers to block the creature's flight.

The two Jedi collided, and went skidding through the mud.

Avaryss threw back her head and shrieked a cry of both victory and fury.

She limped forward, her blade at the ready. She was thirsty for blood.

She was eager to quench that thirst.

The alien found his feet first, he lunged at her, but by now there was no challenge.

He blocked her first three strokes, but by then Force exhaustion had set in, that and the guilt of having to slay his own maddened allies.

Avaryss blade punched through the alien Jedi's chest, the red beam coming out the other side.

She spun away as the Padawan fell, his fading presence no longer a threat to her.

She turned to Master Brandol Venari, the old man was wheezing, but somehow still managed to find his feet.

He took a deep breath and tried to center himself. Yet, she could sense his fear, could almost see herself through his eyes. She was practically glowing with dark side energy, the carnage she had wrought restoring her strength and beauty. Her eyes blazed like two red infernos. Her mouth dripped blood where she had bitten her tongue, giving her an even more terrifying appearance.

He was afraid, yes, but he was still a Jedi, he did not let it cripple him.

He glared at her.

"You're a monster," he growled.

Avaryss laughed.

"I'm your monster," she reminded him, " Your old Padawan unleased me on you, and now you have given me the confirmation I needed, now I know the name of Sy Dar Bynn, the leader of the conspiracy against the Empire. You have my thanks Jedi."

The old man held his guard, his fighting stance, but she knew that he sensed defeat.

Behind them the maddened Kaii were destroying their own village, attacking their loved ones.

She grinned.

"You have brought this upon, yourself, Jedi;" she said lowering her blade slightly, "The pawns you created will kill everyone they come across now. Will you leave them to rage across this world, or will you do what is necessary to stop them?"

The master blinked.

"You would let me help them?"

"I would let you die trying," she said, "How delicious it would be for you to die fighting your own friends and neighbors."

She sensed Venari's anger he started to raise his blade again.

"Attack me and I will kill you," she warned him, "and all those innocents you put at risk by hiding here will die anyway. Torn apart by those they loved."

Avaryss lowered her blade and deactivated it.

"Your time has come, old one. Die just another victim under my blade, or die trying to save the so-called innocent Kaii…make your choice."

She smiled savagely.

"It is all the same to me."

She looked at the Jedi, both through her eyes, and through the Force. He was spent, his powers all but exhausted. He was just another old man now, a tired old man, but he still had his pride, his damnable Jedi pride. He had to know what she was offering was a death sentence, but she knew what the answer would be regardless.

He sighed, a sad and hollow sound.

"Damn you, Sith," he murmured as he switched off his lightsaber.

"May you know eternal torment in the madness beyond death."

"I' take my chances," she shrugged, "Who knows, I might one day live forever."

He did not respond, only shook his head.

He turned away from her for the final time.

The old man limped away, seeming every bit the hundred year old man that he was.

Avaryss watched him go. She reached out with the dark side one last time, bringing her pawns to a higher state of alertness and fury.

Deal with that, Jedi, she thought.

If you can.

She turned away, back towards where her crew had been struck down, with the Jedi going to his death, they should be stirring, waking from whatever trick he had cast. She spoke into her comlink, summoning Rink to come and get them at the Jedi's dwelling.

They were done here, and Darth Baras owed her information on Sy Dar Bynn and Xen Loor, the old man would…

"ARRRRRRRRRRRGH…!"

The pained scream sent a tremor through the Force, likely it would be felt off world as well.

A cry cut short, the sad end of a very long life.

Avaryss smiled.

A shiver of pleasure ran down her spine.

Master Brandol Venari, formerly of the Jedi High Council was no more.

Now it is over, she thought with a sigh of pleasure.

Now…I am done.