Chapter 23: Countdown

The turbolift descended quickly.

Darth Avaryss didn't bother to look at her companion, mentally she was counting down in her head, remembering the fastest way to reach the exhaust port that Temmin had opened, reach it, and escape from this ship.

She knew what was going to happen, she knew the final protocols, intimately, she had been there when they had been written.

When the counter reached zero, the ship would lift off, the onboard computer would summon the drive system still in orbit, the core ship would attach, and then…

…the ship's computer would overload the hyperdrive and main engines, the explosion would atomize this ship, and everything on it.

No trace of Death Knell, or the research that had been conducted here, would remain.

She could still hear the alarms blaring distantly, the computer would have locked down all the labs and auto destroyed all the test subjects and samples by now.

She was both proud, and annoyed at that, the efficiency of her people.

Yet, she could not deny what was being lost today.

Her fingers curled; sparks of lightning crackled over her clenched fists.

Years of research, hundreds of hours of tests and chemical trials, gone in the flash of an instant.

HER research. HER work.

And then…there was the credits, millions of credits spent out of her own pockets. She had kept Death Knell going after the council had abandoned it. It had not been easy, or cheap.

Her credits…

…HER credits.

Avaryss' scowl deepened.

So much had been lost to bait a failed trap. It was so…galling.

She could almost see Acina's face, that cruel arrogant smile. Avaryss had not been on the Dark Council very long, but during the few sessions she attended, her rival was always there, shooting down her ideas, and mocking her for her origin and inexperience.

So…galling.

Oh, how she longed to see that smile turn into a shriek of terror, a final shriek that would end with the pained gurgle of a final death.

Even now, faced with prospect of a dangerous enemy, that thought sent a shiver of pleasure down her spine.

Yes. Acina…dying in agony.

She would…enjoy that…immensely.

Yes.

Revenge would be hers.

She would see Acina answer for this outrage, and all the outrages committed since Avaryss' defeat on Pholus.

The shutta would answer…she would pay…dearly.

"Mmmm."

Avaryss looked at Xen.

"What?"

Her former apprentice grinned.

"I can feel your rage, my lord," her fellow Sith replied.

"It is like a warm sun on a cold winter's night."

Avaryss didn't bother answering that statement.

It was taking all her self-control not to blow up, to let the dark side have its way with her.

Another shiver ran down her spine as her vision became wreathed in red flame.

Her fury at what had happened, and what WOULD happen continued to build…

…and with her rage, the dark side rose up within her, threatening to swallow her whole.

It would be sooo easy.

She took another shuddering breath, trying to maintain control.

Not yet…soon…don't be weak…control.

Control.

Yet, it was hard, she wanted to let go, to give herself over to her rage and hate.

She wanted to surrender to the dark side, it had been so long.

She could feel it. The heart of darkness. It…it was so close. It beat in the same rhythm as her own heart.

It both ruled her, and served her.

It WAS her drug of choice.

It…was her GOD!

The coming darkness brought more than a mere storm; it offered insight as well. A glimpse into many possible futures, one more possible by the second. She…

Avaryss smiled.

Good.

She really wanted to slaughter something.

"Ready yourself," she informed Xen, "We have enemies waiting for us."

Xen drew her weapon, the cross-guarded lightsaber hissed to life.

Her former student gave her an eager look, ready to unleash carnage on their enemies.

The Dark Lord understood completely. She wanted THAT too.

Avaryss ignited her own weapon.

She KNEW what was awaiting her when the lift opened its doors.

She was most eager to face it.

"Do not let them touch you. One bite, one scratch, is sufficient to end your life, do not give the enemy the chance."

Xen nodded hungrily, her own fury rising. The dark lord didn't have to guess what fuel her former student now drew on for her power.

It wasn't that hard to guess.

The lift dinged; the doors hissed opened.

The Rakghouls leaped…snarling like the animals they were. Twelve of the beasts filled the corridor, anyone else would have been dead in seconds.

Avaryss hissed, and, as had happened many times before…time slowed down.

I live for this, the dark lord thought.

The dark side, giving in to it, I miss the days when I could do it often in the service of my master. Being a master, it means you have to exercise so much restraint. It is needed for the work, but so…limiting.

Avaryss hated those limits. Both Feer and Marr had tried to bind her to them. Yes, she understood the reasons why, but that didn't mean that she didn't despise them.

Darth Avaryss didn't simply use the dark side of the Force. She LOVED using it. The strength, the speed, the insight, she coveted every gift the dark side offered. Those gifts, they were proof she stood high above any mundane in the galaxy.

She WAS superior, as close to perfect as any being could get.

The realization made her grin.

Superior.

Perfect.

She showed the Rakghouls exactly what that meant.

The first monster leapt into the lift, she ducked beneath it, disemboweling it with her lightsaber, then she sprang forward, with Xen at her side, Avaryss took the left, Xen the right. They were among the monsters, dangerously close.

Yet, there was no fear, only blood…and rage.

The Sith fell upon the Rakghouls like a scythe through wheat.

Avaryss used the Force, flinging the monsters into each other, bashing their skulls against the walls. She drew life from one of the beasts, using that power to make her lightning and telekinesis that much stronger, more…potent. Xen was…

Avaryss glanced over, her eyes widened slightly.

What was this?

Xen giggled as she gestured with her off hand, murmuring an incantation under her breath. The Rakghouls closest to the girl began to burn, their own living essence turned against them, the very life within them being fashioned into a lethal weapon.

Magic, Avaryss realized, she recognized that spell, knew it herself, though…had never used it much.

Where in the hell had Xen Loor learned Sith Sorcery? Avaryss had not bothered to teach her, she had thought the girl too impatient, and incapable of learning the older, darker, mysteries.

It seems that I was wrong, the dark lord realized. Xen WAS more capable than she gave her credit for.

She would need to watch her former student closely, in the coming months, if they managed to escape this place.

Using her, she was likely playing with fire, but that was okay.

Avaryss grinned hungry.

The danger…it was half the fun!

They cut through the last of the monsters, and left the corpse ladened hallway behind, moving far quicker thanks to the power of the dark side, power they had fed by their slaughter.

Overhead, the loudspeaker continued to warn of the coming self-destruct, and how little time they had to make it out.

Avaryss was not worried. She found herself hoping that more threats awaited them.

The slaughter at the lift had only whetted her appetite.

Now…she wanted more.

IOI

"FALL BACK!"

Fenn whirled his lightsaber as blaster bolts ricocheted throughout the chamber. The alarms had only just started blaring, a cold bland voice informing them that the self-destruct had been activated, and that they needed to evacuate.

The group had been planting charges, preparing to distract whatever guards that might be on the way. They wanted to give Temmin and Avy time to reach the exhaust port.

Avy believed that she could reach the self-destruct system, and warned them that she would do so if she could, if not, they were to make sure that the lab didn't remain functional. The plan seemed fairly straight forward…

…Until now.

They had disabled several guards as they spread throughout the ship, the Sith Troopers had not been a problem, overconfident that no one could touch them…perhaps.

When the alarm started, those soldiers fled. It should have been easy for the survivors to make their way back to the exhaust port and escape.

That was when they heard the sound of many boots marching…

…That is when everything went off the rails.

They had appeared marching in three-by-three formation down one of the long hallways. Sullustans in simple grey military style jumpsuits. There had been thirty of them, and each carried a blaster carbine. One of the soldiers that had accompanied Fenn's team called out them, thinking that they might be Sullustan militia, prisoners that had escaped the lab. He tried to go up to them, show them the way out.

The first in the marching line blasted him in the face. They didn't even acknowledge that they killed him. They didn't stop, merely marched around his body. When they came into range, they opened fire on Fenn and his allies. He and Shyra parried the blows, trying to wound the advancing aliens, get them to stop, prove that they weren't Sith.

The few that were struck in the arm or leg, barely acknowledged their injuries. They continued to advance silently, their eyes a strange golden milky color. One in the front took a bolt to the face and fell. His fellows literally marched over him, no stopping, no hesitation.

They continued to advance, firing on Survivor Squad, and their Jedi allies.

Fenn had no choice.

He gave the order.

"FALL BACK!"

He found himself next to Darth Agony. The Sith twirled her double-bladed saber, deflecting the bolts back into the advancing rank of Sullustans.

"Knell Troopers," she hissed, "The scientists must have set them loose!"

Fenn didn't bother saying anything, he was too busy deflecting the many bolts that continued to assail them. A steady stream of fire that didn't let up. They were holding it back for now, but he could already start to feel the effects of Force exhaustion. Too many blasts, and they didn't have enough room to maneuver.

He redoubled his efforts; they had been pushed back from the corridor that they needed to go down to reach their escape route. The Knell infected Sullustans had cut them off.

Fenn managed to land another lethal blow on one of Knells. It fell to its knees, only to be pushed aside by its comrades. They continued to advance.

They didn't stop. They didn't even acknowledge the deaths of their comrades. Through the Force, they felt only rage and hate, and a desire to kill.

If these had once been thinking beings, they weren't anymore.

What had the scientists here done to them?!

The colonel had described what he had seen on the Sith science vessel, the one that they had destroyed years ago, but this…he…he had no words to describe what he was seeing.

The young Jedi cursed under his breath.

They…were in trouble.

A blaster bolt caught him in the thigh, staggering him. He might have died right there had Darth Agony not pulled him out of the way with the Force. The first line of the enemy was almost close enough to touch them. One of the knell troopers released its blaster, and now held a wicked looking blade in its small hand.

It slashed where Fenn had been, missing him by millimeters. Before it could continue the attack, Agony decapitated it with her blade, she whirled her weapon round, shouting in a language that Fenn didn't know, the old Sith dialect maybe.

Whatever she was saying slowed the Sullustan advance, briefly, paused for a few seconds, but then they opened up again, they had lost a third of their number, but they still didn't stop. The Survivors now had injured among them, they were trying to fall back, but the constant barrage of fire, and the desire to help the wounded slowed Fenn and his allies.

He blocked another bolt; Shyra pulled him to his feet while Agony covered them.

They…were in trouble.

Fenn took a pained breath; a single word escaped his lips.

"Avy."

A pained whisper that echoed through the Force.

"Avy."

IOI

"Fenn?"

The plea through the Force stopped her mid-step, she and Xen had just reached the exhaust port, and found no one else there. They could hear the sound of blaster fire close by, but it was receding.

Fenn.

Avaryss looked down the corridor.

He was in trouble.

"Master, we must go, the countdown…"

She glanced over at Xen, her fellow Sith was putting on a survival suit, they had recovered two from a locker on the way down here. No guards had emerged to challenge them. The alarm had set the remaining ones fleeing, looking to escape the doomed lab vessel.

Avaryss frowned.

Fenn.

She knew what she had to do.

"Hold this position, Xen," she ordered, "Let no one block or hinder this exit."

"As you say," her former student said, "But your allies can't make it back…

Avaryss didn't respond, she didn't need to, the girl had her orders.

She made her way back down the corridor, ignoring the alarms, and the knowledge of the time slipping away.

This is foolish, my child, Darth Feer voice echoed in her head.

If the boy is not strong enough to escape this trap on his own, he is unworthy of survival. He is unworthy of you.

She understood what her master was saying, but that didn't change what needed to be done. She was not thinking with her head in that moment, but with her emotions.

A realization came to her.

I lost Fehl because I didn't trust in the Force. I followed the plan, and he died. He was ripped from me by my enemies.

Fehl.

Her eyes narrowed at the mere thought of her former lover, the one who was almost her husband.

Why am I still thinking about this, she asked herself.

I dealt with that loss…long ago.

Did you, something within her asked, are you so prepared to let history repeat itself, to survive while the one you desire is cut down by the treachery of your enemies?

The Dark Lord scowled.

No.

She hissed with barely restrained fury.

NO!

When Fehl had died, she had been blinded by hope, thinking that she had some bright future.

She knew better now. She knew that hope was a lie, but…

That didn't mean she was prepared to let Fenn suffer the same fate as Fehl.

No.

She had lost Fehl, her own foolishness had cost him his life.

Fenn.

NO!

She snarled.

I will not lose Fenn the same way.

He is mine. We WILL make a future.

I will not lose my love again.

The sound of running feet caused her to turn, to start drawing her weapon.

"Master Avaryss!"

Temmin Tagge stood before her, still clad in his Sith armor, his pink skin shading to red, darkening with anxiety.

"Master Fenn is in trouble. I felt…"

"As did I," she said cutting the boy off mid-sentence; gesturing him forward.

"Come, we must hurry!"

Temmin fell in step beside her. Avaryss' rage began to grow again.

The Rakghouls, whatever was attacking Fenn; this should not have been happening the lab should have been in lock down.

Only the one in charge could have disabled those security measures.

Her scowl deepened.

Beric.

It seemed that her slave was still trying to kill her, despite his programming, and her orders.

She sighed.

She should reach out with the Force, and punish him for this outrage, but…she hadn't the time.

The countdown continued.

She and Temmin drew on the Force, their movements became a blur to the unenlightened.

Fenn was in trouble.

She had to save him.

IOI

They came upon the Knell Troopers, the altered Sullustans didn't even acknowledge their coming, their entire focus was on Survivor Squad, trying to block their path.

Avaryss and Temmin ignited their weapons. The rear guard of the knells finally noticed that.

Avaryss shouted in the ancient tongue, to one that didn't know it, it would have sounded like a taunt or battle cry. In truth, she was shouting out a code phrase; a back door into the knell programming.

The troopers would obey her now.

She could have ordered them to stand down, shoot themselves, or return to their cells, but didn't risk any of those commands. She didn't want her allies to realize just how much control she had over the knell troopers, they were still her weapons after all, and her endgame would involve the next generation of these weapons.

No, she didn't what the Jedi and their friends to know too much.

Her plans needed to remain secret…for now.

She issued the order for them to halt their advance, but keep firing. That would give Fenn and the others time to regroup, and at the same time, it turned the surviving Sullustans into stationary targets.

That was good, it made them easy prey for her and Tem.

The two cut into the Knell ranks like a hot blade through butter. The troopers didn't try to flee or cry out as they were cut down. The knell chemical and the conditioning they had received had taken away the concept of fight or flight, in that moment, all they did was obey orders.

It made them easy prey.

Agony and Shyra, seeing the change in the enemy joined in, the beast woman went for non-killing blows severing weapon hands and legs.

She didn't understand what she was facing.

Agony did, and responded accordingly.

The Sullustans could not be saved from Death Knell.

It was best that they not survive at all.

It took almost no time at all to clear them away, cutting them all down where they stood.

Soon, the last blaster fell silent.

Avaryss looked at the exhausted faces of her allies, she could feel the gratitude in the soldiers. They didn't see, or understand what had happened.

Good.

Avaryss smiled.

"The way is clear now," she called out.

"This way."

IOI

They managed to make it out just as the exhaust port sealed behind them, the computer taking over, insuring it was locked down, ready for takeoff.

They made their way down the ridge as the ship began to rise high into the air. By now, the vessel's drive section should be waiting in high orbit, ready to link and complete the self-destruct procedure.

Avaryss nodded grimly.

It was done.

Mission accomplished.

She made her way over to Fenn. Temmin was tending his injured leg, using the Force to help heal him. His enviro-suit had been damaged, but the seals they had brought with them held.

He would be fine; it would hold until they made it back to the ship.

The surviving soldiers watched the lab continue to rise becoming smaller and smaller in the sky. Shyra and Agony stood close to Xen, speaking quietly. Both surprised to see the other woman there, but accepting Avaryss' word that she was here to help.

The dark lord smiled.

And so…the plan continued.

Acina's trap had been neutralized. Now, Avaryss was free to resume her search for Hecaetus' keys. She still lamented the loss of the lab, and the Death Knell research that had been done, but no matter.

Fenn was safe.

In that moment, that is what truly mattered to her.

You are a fool, girl.

Once again, her master's words echoed in her head, but this time…she ignored them.

He could not harm her now. He was gone, she had made sure of it.

In her mind's eye she could see the ship rising, linking with the drive section, and in that moment, she could see the clock on the ship's command deck.

Three.

Two.

One.

The countdown hit zero…and…

KRAKOOM!

It was like thunder, but deeper, more…powerful. Even on the surface of the poison world, she could feel the shockwave from high above. The upper atmosphere displaced by the explosion.

The smoky skies above them brightened a flash like a second sun over the skies of Sullust. A blinding light that heralded both fire and destruction, and then…it was gone.

Silence.

The lab vessel…was no more.

Avaryss nodded, a trap escaped, and her weapons once again out of the hands of her rivals and enemies.

Once again, her secrets were safe, as was Fenn.

Excellent.

She went to him, he nodded his thanks, and smile. A smile that warmed her body, despite the cold and harsh environment of the world around them.

Wonderful.

Now, she was free to continue her own plans for domination, of both Fenn, and the galaxy at large.

Glorious, she thought with an excited shiver, eager to return to work.

Mission Accomplished.