She reminds me of what Masaka was like, early on…
Her blooshot eyes flicked open, gazing across the white room. Again, she found herself staring at the interrogator that had followed her around while she was still new to the Sith. Now, her power far outscaled his, and he knew it. "What do you want?"
"I find your choice of meditation poise to be… amusing."
Masaka flipped forward onto her feet in a smooth movement, bringing herself face to face with the adept. "There's less blood in my head now. I need to balance that out." She hadn't ever been that close to the man before, always choosing to make a hasty departure when she noticed his presence. He was far less intimidating now. "I don't like it when I'm followed around without cause."
"Rest assured then, I have cause." He stepped to the left so he could begin pacing the room, twisting a small rod between his fingers. "I've been observing you for the past eight years, taking note of every word said, every glance passed. The pattern before and after your encounter with the holocron has not changed. This should be impossible, as a nineteen year old Twi'lek girl cannot possibly have the mental fortitude to not be overwhelmed by the personality inside. Let alone two others from holocrons you stole before returning here."
"Did Lasidia tell you that? Or have you been conversing with the voices trapped in my head while I sleep?" She looked at the rod he seemed to be pre-occupied with behind his back. What possible purpose it could serve was beyond her.
" Darth Lasidia ordered you to converse with the holocron, learn its secrets, and then destroy it. Whether you could have defeated a Jedi Master without the holocron's knowledge is irrelevant. You defied a direct order, and that makes you a potential danger."
Masaka scoffed at his attempt at intimidation, making him cease the pacing with a glare. "A bigger danger than becoming the most powerful Sith Lord the galaxy has seen yet? She's chasing ideals, a unified Sith order that doesn't self-destruct. I could do that with force of will alone. 'Could' being the key term here." She gestured to the stumps on her head at that, still feeling raw from the blade's touch.
"You don't fit into the hierarchy established. In fact you've openly shown contempt for it." He slowly brought his hand around to present the rod, crystal clear material, and flawless in its carving. "You had this when we took you from the enclave. To this day we haven't been able to make even the slightest speculation on what it actually is. And at the moment I brought it into the room, I felt an echo in the Force, calling to you."
She was ready to snatch it away when he stretched his arm out, very clearly threatening to drop it. "I don't know what's going on with my sister. In all our time together I never sensed she had any influence on the Force. Though it's become clear she's already given up on me. Weak as always."
"Why should you care? I'm not getting the impression you have any reason to hate your sister, and you certainly don't fear her like Darth Lasidia. All that remains is a distraction."
"She still carries the same blood as me. Blood that is a reminder that our lineage is of Jedi, and of traitors."
"And here we have the first mistake." He tossed the rod to her and began pacing again, this time right in front of her as he contemplated how to explain his point. "This is not a Sith order that believes in purity. It believes in unity, and getting upset because half your DNA was provided by a Twi'lek of the Jedi is childish and disruptive to that unity. This is why we do not trust you."
With another glance at the rod, he sighed and leaned against the wall, rubbing along his closely shaved head. "It would be a mistake to cross Darth Lasidia. Unlike her counterpart, she is very savage when dealing with insubordination. You may have seen her bite that one Jedi's throat out so many years ago."
"Mira was a fool anyway."
"Nevertheless…" Before leaving, he tossed over an earpiece, specifically designed for a Twi'lek woman. "You can begin to gain our trust by informing us whenever you receive an impression from your sister. If you really want to kill her personally, I'll make sure my agents bring her back alive. Darth Lasidia will have to give final approval, but I'm sure that can be arranged. Maybe once you've calmed down after the kill, you'll get your lekku back."
Masaka was about to put it on underneath her headdress when she grabbed his shoulder. "No codename to refer to you with? I think I'm owed that much for being stalked."
The interrogator gave a slight smirk as he slipped from her grasp. "How does Silent sound? Very unfitting, and all the better for it."
Normally Kiarna felt an urge to groan in contempt whenever she saw someone kneeling in submission. Such a position had always been for meditation in her mind. Having it used for the lowest kind of respect was ironically disrespectful, to herself anyway. For the time being, it was Rak'Sakar who was giving the orders, and he was quite clear with them.
"How did you among all others survive? Many of your fellow Sith were stronger, whether it be in physical form, in aptitude of the dark side, or in force of will. What allowed Bellara, the silent Umbaran to come through without a scratch?"
Given how difficult it was to read the lips of a Barabel wearing a dark hood, Bellara was entirely reliant on Kiarna for communication, opting to speak through her as well.
"One of the Fallen, as Lord Kiarna mentioned they were known as, came upon me. I twisted his mind into seeing his brethren as the enemy, and escaped. Normal mind tricks do not work on them. They are somehow… dead to the Force, and yet very much…"
Kiarna's chest was already starting to heave, until it reached the point where she could not feasibly continue. Bellara's description of the Fallen was exactly how Maarani had been described.
Just over the pale dome of the Umbaran's head, she could see a growing shadow.
"Kiarna?"
"It's identical to…" The shadow vanished as soon as she focused on it directly. Her heart was still racing in dread, no longer just because of the Fallen. "This Twi'lek, Maarani. She is akin to these cultists, somehow. The Following referred to her-"
The shadow was now rising up behind her, taller, wider, beginning to form a humanoid shape.
"Bellara, speak into my mind. What is happening to her?"
Kiarna whipped around, drawing her lightsaber out in the same motion and swinging it at the shadow. It passed through without even a flicker, and would have taken off Bellara's head in the follow-through had Rak'Sakar not blocked it himself.
"Kiarna! Drop your weapon and cease activity!"
For a brief moment, a mask emerged from the shadow as a dark hand reached up to her own. It too was white and red in colouration, though was far more terrifying in design.
Dwomut nun, Derriphan'ari.
Her lightsaber clattered to the floor as she bolted out. Imperial soldiers were hurled against the walls as she passed by. The Sith weren't affected in so drastic a manner, but did note a distinct bite of cold in her wake.
Alarms began to ring in her ears, though none dared to try and stop her. There was only one place she had left to go, the one place she would feel safe from the nightmare that had begun its return, all the way from the depths of her mind.
She finally stopped when she had her arms firmly wrapped around Lasidia, head pressed against her chest as she struggled to keep herself from breaking down altogether.
Having only just stepped off her ship, the Dark Lord herself was utterly confused about the alarm, and the hysteria of her apprentice. In her consistent calm, she urged her back onto the ship, affording her much needed privacy in a moment of weakness. One statement was being consistently uttered from behind the mask, justification enough for her terror.
"He's waiting for me on Katarr."
Concern was the only thing on Sereti's mind. Eight different contacts had all told her the same thing. A moment of darkness, experienced across the galaxy by every Miraluka at the exact same time. She had been very young when it happened the first time.
It was very relieving to hear the doors open to Utan, who approached in his usual serene pace. "There is too much going wrong in the galaxy. If he tries to return now, it would throw the balance of the Force off altogether. We do not know what that would do to Tegama."
"Indeed. Our greatest hope for peace could just as easily go mad from the extent of her true purpose, or worse if she is consumed" Utan stopped at her side, also casting his gaze out across Coruscant. There wasn't anything noteworthy before them, but Sereti's vision went far beyond his own.
"If circumstances were different, I would go and investigate this disturbance myself without hesitation. But I can not justify allowing anyone else to face the terrible power of the current Sith Lords." Her next breath had a strong shudder to it. Darkness from the past and the present was closing in all around them. Only she knew the full extent of the danger. "I may come to regret this, but if preventing his return means sacrificing one of the Republic's pilots, then the choice has already been made."
Utan nodded sagely again, gradually reaching his hand up to hers in comfort. "She was right to choose you. Never forget that.
Her fingertips brushed against his claws briefly as she turned away. The Council room looked painfully empty at that moment. "I need her guidance, now more than ever. I have tried to glimpse the path ahead for any sign of where to go, but it has been closed to me."
"Do not try to force the visions to come, then. Let them appear when the time is right. We did not foresee the events that finally brought Tegama to us, but we did make preparations when Koor made her intentions known. When the choice between fighting a Sith of the past, and a Sith of the present becomes clear, we will all be there to support your decision."
"And what of the Sith of the future? If we find solid evidence that Kiarna is one of my people, withholding that from the Luka Sene would be treason on my behalf, and betrayal by the Jedi as a whole." Sereti clasped her hand around her forehead, underneath the veil in a very rare display. "One decision that we cannot agree to declare a mistake. One decision that destroyed the potential for peace. And here I am, having to make another decision that will affect the galaxy."
The holoterminal signalled to them before either could continue. Grateful for the distraction, Sereti motioned her hand to bring up the incoming link. The sender was quite unexpected. "Jayden? How are you getting a message here from Dalchon?"
" I'm on Mandalore. Got brought here by a Sith of all people, a Miraluka I'm pretty sure. We escaped the hospital massacre on Arkanis together. "
Sereti immediately glanced at Utan for a moment, her suspicions running high. "This Miraluka…"
" She was wearing normal Sith attire, and had her face covered the whole time. On Arkanis we ran into two groups of cultists, one of which shared personal details about us that they shouldn't have known, and said the Jedi couldn't get involved with their personal affairs. "
"We have far too much to worry about already. What else did you learn about this co-operative Sith?"
Jayden looked down at her artificial leg briefly. " They called her Azera Vass of Dakkan, and since that's a Miraluka colony I just assumed as much. She was rather critical of what previous Sith had done, and seemed to be genuinely concerned about me after a while. She dropped me off here and left, said that her history with the Jedi forced her to become Sith. "
Again, Sereti looked to Utan again. That behaviour definitely wasn't consistent with everything they had learned about Kiarna's from Maarani. And while it was unlikely, it was still possible that Miraluka away from the homeworld had followed her example and joined the Sith. She had to be certain though. "Jayden, we have had word that the White Terror was on Dalchon during the attacks. And a Twi'lek who survived an encounter with her believes that she is in fact a Miraluka. Is it even remotely possible that…"
" I highly doubt it. Azera says she got shot by the droids while trying to get a group of children to safety. I didn't see this for myself, but I do know a liar when I hear one. That was not a voice that laughed while butchering Jedi adolescents for fun. "
"I had to ask. I suppose we can draw what little comfort there is in the knowledge that Lasidia's rage has not spread throughout the entirety of the Sith." Sereti tightened her lip as she considered it a little more. Their history with turncoats was poor, but this was a different circumstance. "Do you think she could be persuaded to help us locate the White Terror? She does not sound like one of the corrupted generation, so she may see them for what they really are."
" I don't think she's anywhere near that level of the Sith hierarchy to help. I'm sorry Master Pala. "
"The fact that she helped you at all is reason enough to be glad. You're free to return to Mires, or here if you would prefer. I and many of the Council will be elsewhere for the next few weeks, so I do hope that your recovery is swift. We need every rational mind with a strong voice right now."
" Will do. My regards to you, and to Master Utan. "
As soon as the hololink closed, Sereti had to choke back the Miraluka equivalent of crying. They had come within a hair's width of losing their strongest tie to the Mandalorians, and the chance to track down Kiarna had slipped through their fingers. The fact that more of her people had joined the Sith seemed trivial in comparison.
Utan once again offered support, this time in a verbal manner. "We will pull through this, together. As the Jedi before us have faced their crises, we too will face the ones before us. Tegama will join the Order when she is ready, and she will restore peace."
By then, Sereti had managed to calm herself, though the self-doubt remained. "I truly hope you are right. I could not live with the knowledge that I had brought about the downfall of the Jedi, after everything done to rebuild it."
"I can't do this any longer, Master. It's too much now."
Lasidia did her best to smile, however little comfort it would offer. Kiarna couldn't actually smell the candles she had placed around the room thanks to her mask, but she knew better than to suggest she take it off after what she had just experienced.
"I think it would be best that you stay hidden for a while after all. It was foolish of me to assume that this Maarani was the only being interfering with your mind." After lighting the last candle, she knelt down in front of her apprentice, reaching both hands out to take the trembling ones before her. "Visas Marr was the last person alive who knew the full extent of Darth Nihilus' power, which would make Sereti the next best source of information on stopping that monster from harming you."
"What about my brothers and sisters? I have support here. If they experienced the visions as I did, they wouldn't know how to react at all. We have to help them first."
Much to her surprise, Lasidia attempted to soothe her fears with whispers in Miralukaese, speaking of massacres and genocide and great floods of pain and torment. She was the only one in the galaxy who found such things to be relieving.
"We will save all of you by destroying the devourer at his source. No operations, no Jedi intervention. Your kindred will be safe again. Then, we destroy Maarani." She gently twisted Kiarna's hands around so her palms were up, pulling the gloves off after to touch her pale skin. "I cannot imagine the torment your mind must be going through. Blinding light, and utter darkness. No-one in the galaxy could endure such opposing forces at the same time. Except you, my apprentice."
"I'm already blind though…" Kiarna shook her head. "I'm starting to pick up Maarani's sarcasm. Please, stop me if I start fondling my breasts or express a desire to dance provocatively." She shook her head again, this time more vigorously. "Did she break our mental link to form one with me? I am starting to think this may be worse than seeing a dead Sith Lord from my nightmares."
Lasidia's forced smile faded away as she gripped her hands again, leaning a little closer to her mask as if peering through to the mind behind it. "It may be far more than that. I have a plan to learn more, but keeping your mind from being consumed must be the priority."
"That won't matter if there's nothing left to consume." She freed her hands from the grasp and retrieved her gloves, slowly pulling them back on. "Master, please let me go after her. Let me try and kill her before this goes too far. Before Nihilus tries to enter my mind again."
"Kiarna, you must trust in my judgement. Let me deal with her, focus on Nihilus." Her lips parted as she sensed the growing frustration from her apprentice. "Rak'Sakar can set up a secluded base for you to gather your kindred in, train them to resist the madness as you have. I need time to put my plan for locating the superweapon, and now dealing with Maarani into action. Will you give me that time?"
There was a long silence from Kiarna as she pondered the choices before her.
Two threats to her existence. As the Follower had put it, from the Lady of Balance and Lord of Hunger. She didn't know what lay ahead with the former, but the latter couldn't be clearer.
Logically, she had to fight the threat she understood first.
"I won't wait for too long. If Nihilus appears again, I'm going to Katarr to destroy him. Then I go for Maarani. Maybe I can't destroy her, but that is far from being unable to turn her to our side of the Force."
At that moment, Lasidia gripped onto Kiarna's shoulders very tightly, fear striking her face. "You tried that before, and she twisted your mind in retaliation. A second time and you may be lost to us, to me. To yourself. Destroy what remains of Nihilus if feel you can, but do not go after Maarani. I beg you."
"Tell me exactly why she is such a threat then. You've never met her, and yet you clearly know more about her than you've led me to believe."
For a brief moment, it had not been her mind forming the words. They had come from another, waiting down in the engine room of her ship.
Such a strong presence hadn't gone unnoticed by the Togruta, but she was in no position to try and stop it while mentally isolated from her apprentice. How many more would end up holding her poor mind hostage?
"Maarani is a natural empath, like her father and older brother. And like her mother and sister, she has the heart of a Sith. A Sith that will destroy everyone around her if provoked." She leaned in further still, her nose almost touching the surface of the mask. "Do not go after her. Let the Jedi drive her to suicide through their manipulating ways, trying to shape her into a weapon to wipe us out. But do not go after her, ever."
