In the meantime, Briza got a sense of urgency... she quickly realized it was coming from Mathorn, "Mathorn? What are you doing?!"
"It appears that your apprentice is attempting to prove himself able to handle even one of my most brutal sith warriors." Imperious stated. "Shall we watch? I find the best confrontations are those that happen naturally." Imperious invitingly suggested, not waiting for an answer.
"Yes, I would like to see if he is among our best." Briza nonchalantly agreed, while hiding her frustration over this insane jedi.
To Briza's surprise, it was the same sith she had watched fighting her rival back on Korriban, all those years ago. Even without lightsabers involved, it seemed suicidal to fight this monster of a sith as she could clearly see the bruises and scratches her brother had received. "Mathorn you bloody idiot! Have all sense left you?! Or have I mistaken the fact that you had any to begin with?!" She wanted smack him for his stupidity. But after a closer look she also noticed lord Vendictous had a number of noticeable marks, especially on the head.
Mathorn could feel a few of his ribs had been bend invert, but swallowed the pain. "My first day on a sith planet, and I am already in need of a kolto bath." He mumbled nearly inaudible, but the words were lost as an invisible hand grabbed around his throat and dragged him up in the air. "I am In deep trouble".
Vendictous was revelling in seeing the life slowly being choked out of Mathorn. "It is a joy to see you struggle, as the life leaves your pathetic husk of a body!" To savour the suffering, he dragged him up close to gaze into the face of the zabrak jedi. "I am going remember your death!"
Gathering what strenge he had left, instead of wrestling with the invisible hand around his throat, Mathorn instantly grabbed the shoulders of the sith and slammed his spiky forehead into the siths completely unprotected bald head.
"AHHHHHH!"Vendictous screamed in agony at the burning pain in his already pain inflicted head, he collapsed backwards and nearly lost consciousness.
Mathorn coughed heavily as he fought to regain his breath, while barely being able to stand up.
In sheer rage, Vendictous roared and ignited both his crimson lightsabers, charging directly for Mathorn, who turned his own yellow lightsaber on and entered a defensive position.
"THAT'S ENOUGH! Both of you, turn off your lightsabers." Imperious demanded, leaving them no room for misinterpretation. "I have seen enough!"
Vendictous stopped when he heard his master's call and got back to his senses. As ordered he turned off his lightsabers."You were lucky!" He sneered and walk back to the building.
Mathorn too turned of his lightsaber and clicked it to his belt. He was about to come with a smart remark, but his lounges were still lacking the necessary air to speak probably.
Imperious turned to Briza, with an unreadable expression. "Now I know how this lone jedi might have killed lord Kallif. Make sure he doesn't kill or injure any more of our people." He ordered politely, but with a clear hint of threat in his voice.
"Yes my lord. He will be ours to command within days." Briza promised, as she truthfully believed he could be handled.
Imperious smiled to himself. "Good... but take care not to pledge yourself too hasty in future... You are both dismissed."
Briza bowed, turned around and walked down to the battered half brother of hers. "You are a disgrace." She scolded and slapped him on the left cheek.
"He started!" Mathorn complained like a little child.
Briza sighed deeply. "I no longer know what you are, but reckless is certainly one of them." She then turned around and in a softer voice said. "Come, let's go home, our new agent is properly already there."
Mathorn didn't reply, he just followed her back to the cap that was patiently awaiting their return.
Tikala was still seated in the middle when they entered. The droid snapped back to life and asked. "Where to my lord?"
"Home." Briza uttered, not caring to hide her tiredness toward a simple droid.
"Yes my lord." The droid just replied and took to the air.
They landed right outside the entrance to Briza's massive dark skyscraper, with the outer layer made mostly of dark transparisteel. The building itself reflecting the repeated flashes from the thunderstorm roaring outside the main part of the city. "Here we are." Briza announced, when all three had exited the cap. "This is your new home, here on Dromund Kaas." She declared with renewed energy.
"Tall and gloomy." Mathorn muttered as a reply, as he studied the several stories high transparisteel tower.
As soon as the cap was gone, Tikala exploded in a half crying voice. "Please Mathorn! never attempt something so dangerous again!" She pleaded. "I was inches away from jumping out of the speeder to help you. I could feel you slipping from life itself! I beg you! Never do something so unneededly dangerous again." She recited the jedi code in her mind to calm herself.
"...Yes sis... I won't do that again." Mathorn muttered an half baked apology. He couldn't remember if he had ever seen Tikala this worried and fatigued before, it made him feel a little ashamed to be the course of it.
"Was it not for lord Imperious, you might not have survived." Briza coldly told them, as a matter of fact.
Mathorn wanted to make a remark, but he was too tired to think of anything good to say, so he kept his mouth shut.
"It's going to rain, let's all go inside." Briza suggested, as she sensed a weather change on it's way.
The two jedi followed Briza inside the skyscraper.
The entrance hall was an open area, with a balcony overlooking the center below. To the sides were two sets of stairs leading up to the balcony, in an half circle formation. The floor were made of obsidian like transparisteel, giving it a slight reflecting surfaces.
To their delight, Terrow came into view up on the balcony, "My Lady... my former superior accepted your request immediately. I am now fully at your service." He politely informed and bowed low in respect.
Briza shone with happiness. "So they accepted my request."
"Who the heck would dare to set themselves between a Sith lord and her demands." Terrow sarcastically chuckled a bit, as his siblings ascended the half circle stairs towards him.
Briza didn't speak, instead she gave Terrow a big hug.
"We are all one big happy family." Mathorn decided and clamped his arms around his new imperial siblings. "Come sis, join in the moment." He invited Tikala, but she seemed awfully worried.
"I've programmed the droid's not to noticed you, you will remain anonymous in this building." Terrow happily informed Tikala.
But there was a clear lack of reaction in their jedi sister and with a second glance, she actually looked kind of sick.
"Are you okay sis?" Mathorn couldn't remember the last time his little sister had seemed so over stressed.
Tikala looked up at her brother looking like she hadn't slept for days. "Is there a place where I can meditate in peace? I need to center myself."
"I can show you to a room, of your choosing." Briza suggested and waved for her to follow.
"I would like that." Tikala uttered in a low polite voice and followed.
Despite that all maintenance services were done by droids, the skyscraper still facilitated slave quarters as well as a number of guest rooms.
Tikala didn't feel like she had the energy to figure out what kind of room she wanted, so she took the first that looked somewhat cozy. "This one will do." she decided.
Briza shrugged. "If you change you mind later, let me know."
"Thank you Briza." Tikala replied softly and immediately began to center herself. It took hours before she eventually felt calm enough to enter a meditative trance on the gloomy planet.
In the meantime, Terrow was spraying the bruised Mathorn with kolto in the infirmary.
"So, what do you do for fun here on planet evil?" Mathorn asked out of curiosity and perhaps boredom.
Terrow was a bit unsure what his brother was getting at. "What do you mean?"
"You could show me around the city? You still owe me that drink." Mathorn suggested, clearly wanting a nightly stroll.
Terrow nodded, that could work. "Sure, I'll show you around our city of evil"
"But if we are going anywhere, I suggest you clothe yourself in something more suitable for imperial standards" Terrow suggested, while taking up an imperial uniform similar to the one he wore. "This should be your size, and yes, this is the best I could do on such short notice." He had to admit.
"An imperial uniform? Well, then I will just have to pretend I am undercover." Mathorn joked, though the gray uniform was everything, but his style.
"Please don't." Terrow said with a glint in his eye.
Mathorn changed out of his ruined smugglers clothes, and put on the imperial uniform. He looked at himself in the mirror and grinned. "I already feel more evil."
"You are never going to let the evil thing go, are you?" Terrow asked despite already knowing the answer.
"It's the truth, so... no." Mathorn grinned. "Let's go. I want to see this planet."
"I see." Briza said, as she came into view through the door. She looked to Terrow and asked. "Where exactly will you be taking him?"
"I was planning on showing him the streets of Kaas city, and I know a good cantina, where we may have a few drinks." Terrow told truthfully, and added in a more careful tone. "I hope this is not against your wishes?"
"Did I not have a few things to take care of, I might have joined you, but as it is, I do." Briza smiled, while thinking to herself. "This way, Mathorn will see, that as an imperial citizen he will have much more free will, than under the strict rules of the Jedi."
"We will probably be back in time for dinner." Terrow said, as he and Mathorn went out on their sightseeing trip.
On the streets of Dromund Kaas.
Mathorn found the city both excitingly new and depressingly gloomy. It was like they had been trying to expel brightness itself.
"Here we are." Terrow announced and with a hand wave he introduced. "This is the Purple Gizka. The only bar that has sound insulated corners for private discussions." He whispered with a grin. "Oh, and before I forget, they know me as Dexten Hallen."
"Roger-over." Mathorn replied with grin of his own as they both entered the bar.
As they entered, an overweight human bartender in his sixties looked over the newcomers and smiled. "Dexten my man." He called in a warm voice.
"Hello Fealno, still alive as usual I see." Terrow joked as he neared the bar.
"Where have you been? I wondered if you had died?" The bartender asked.
"I've been busy here of late, new recruits to train." Terrow chatted the lie.
"So Dexten, what can I get you today" the bartender asked, in his old rusty voice
Terrow grinned as he replied "Today, two gizka specials on the rocks. I owe my comrade a proper drink."
"Sir, you have made a wise choice." The bartender bowed with and smile and began the mixturering. Not long after, the bartender served two huge blue-green drinks in hourglass shaped glasses.
Mathorn's eyes widened. "Suddenly Dromund Kaas doesn't seem such a bad place to be after all." He thought to himself, as Terrow took a drink in each hand and handing him one. The scent was elevating.
"Come, I saw an empty corner over there." Terrow yelled and gestured for his older brother to follow.
"Right with you." Mathorn smiled jubilantly.
Behind the soundproof curtains, the two half brothers seated themselves. "Finally we are relatively secure." Terrow muttered relieved.
"So now I can sing the Anthem of the republic?" Mathorn joked with a grin.
"Feel free to try." Terrow encouraged with a smile.
Because he was in the mood, Mathorn began singing the first lines, but quickly forgot how it went, and lost interest in the joke, so instead he took a gulp of alcohol filed drink and began talking. "Yesterday was really crazy. First we try to kill each other and now we live under the same roof."
"I completely agree. These last twenty four hours have been eventful to say the least" Terrow laughed wholeheartedly. "do you know anything about how exactly we are related?" he asked in upbeat curiosity.
"We have the same father, you look a bit like him actually... I kinda expected that there might be more family members out somewhere in the galaxy, but never in the imperial territory. He fought you in the battle for Balmorra." Mathorn elaborated the few facts he knew.
"It was obvious that it was on our fathers side that we shared our lineage, but it's mind boggling to think he was a jedi who fought against the empire. I... wonder how he meet my mother?" Terrow pondered to no avail. He knew better then to ask his mother directly, so he would need to use other ways get the information.
"He was married to my mother for half a decade, before taking off somewhere. I wonder where he is now?" Mathorn thought out loud.
"I have never seen our father, I only know what Briza and Mother have told me." Terrow replied in a low voice.
"Tikala too said she didn't have any recollection of Father, and very weak memories of our Mother." Mathorn told in a calm tone.
Both of them sat in silence for a moment, taking sips from their drinks from time to time, with the faint sound of electronic music being played behind the curtain.
To keep the conversation going Terrow asked. "So, what can you tell me of my half sister Tikala?"
"My dear little sister..." Mathorn mumbled at first, before beginning to speak clearly. "Well... I can tell you she is powerful... and it's difficult to convince her to do anything fun together." He sighed with a hint of frustrations in his voice. "She always tells me to control my emotions, my passion, learn to better myself and so on. LIKE THE COUNCIL WASN'T ALREADY PREACHING THAT BANTHA-POODOO TO ME ALL THE BLASTED TIME!" Mathorn exploded for a moment. "Ahm... Sorry, just felt like freaking out for some reason."
Terrow was a bit taken aback. He had asked about Tikala and instead he learned of Mathorn's temper.
"So why were you named Terrow? It sounds like the name of a darkside council member. BEHOLD! THE GRUESOME DARTH TERROW!" Mathorn acted out, with his arms out wide as he shouted the final line.
Terrow chuckled a bit before speaking. "I think that was what my mother wanted me to turn into. Even in her early years, Briza showed she was gifted. I guess Mother assumed I would be equally gifted."
"So is sis Briza an evil sith lord or is she just acting like one?" Mathorn asked out of the blue.
Terrow had to sigh, as he pondered how to reply. "Oh boy... Well she is not evil, nor can I really call it acting, as long as she controls her own powerbase. Well neither really."
"Really! No evil deeds?" Mathorn pushed for more info.
Terrow thought for a moment. "I am not aware of any malicious deeds. Unlike other sith lords in her position, she neither torture for pleasure, nor punish unreasonably... If she was evil, she wouldn't have saved me the countless times I was near death on Korriban."
"She hasn't killed any republic soldiers or jedi?" Mathorn pushed on.
Terrow was beginning to find this conversation daunting. "She has properly killed as many Republic troops as you have killed Imperial troops."
"Fair enough." Mathorn replied satisfied, and changed to his prefered subject. "When I visited this Lord Ultra Sith, I saw this smoking hot sith lady. She was so hot that even our sister seemed flavorless. Don't get me wrong, Briza is hot... but this sexy sith just had the perfect body, her cheek bones looked so smooth and by the force her chest looked amazing." He kept on describing the sith lady for sometime.
Terrow was beginning to laugh, fully aware that his own intoxication level was getting a bit too high to be reasonable at this point. "What an older brother I have found." He mumbled inaudible.
"So do you know who this super sexy sith is?" Mathorn wanted to know.
"Sorry, I don't know who you are speaking of, few pureblood sith matches the criteria you're describing." Terrow replied coolly.
"I don't know the name, but sis Briza seemed to know her well." Mathorn remembered the way the females had spoken to each other.
That rang a bell in Terrow's mind. "I believe it's one of Briza's long time allies from Korriban. Her name is Deedrah Nei'elsefan and she even saved me once. In exchange, I researched the meanings of a few hieroglyphs for her... yes she was beautiful, and likely still is today..." He told what he remembered. "But no, aside from a few encounters with Briza next to me, I know very little."
"Are you good at attracting girls?" Mathorn asked, clearly fishing for something.
Terrow kinda expected this question to come up at some point. "Through me carrier as an agent, I have learned how to seduce anyone, no matter the race or sex... But lady Deedrah is too high a star to consider."
"Let's go out and catch us a few hot Imp ladies." Mathorn eagerly suggested.
Fully knowing that he had to be the responsible one, Terrow declined quickly and rose. "No, I suggest we go back to our Sisters compound, we still have a job to do."
"That's not fun." Mathorn mumbled a bit irritated, but regardless he rose as well and followed his younger brother.
Briza's skyscraper.
After four hours of mediation, which only partially replenishing her energy, Tikala decided that it was time to call her superiors and report.
Tikala found Briza sitting on a black couch watching holonews. As she moved closer, Briza looked over at her. "I hope you will allow me to inform the jedi council, that Mathorn and I are both fine."
"Use the comm channel when you want, just remember the agreement." Briza replied in a firm tone.
"I will only report of Mathorn and myself." Tikala replied, remembering the deal they made.
"Good." Briza replied satisfied with the answer, and remembering the conversation from earlier she added. "Oh and Terrow took Mathorn on a tour of the city."
This caught Tikala off guard, not so much their departure for sightseeing, but that she didn't sense them leaving at all."This planet is weakening me, I need to get use to it fast!"
Briza could easily tell that her new sister was still very much weakened. "I hope you will be ready when our next lead presents itself."
"So do I." Tikala replied slowly, no reason to hide the fact.
Briza sighed. To her, it was still off-putting to see her sister looking so ill and weak. "I still don't get how you could defeat two of my subordinates and out fence me... twice."
"In our battle, I could sense what you were doing and what you would do." Tikala explained as a matter of fact "At the moment, I would be capable of neither."
Briza turned off the holovid and looked puzzled at the jedi before her. "What? You knew my movements and tactics... Before I did?!"
Tikala sat down opposite her sister and began explaining it fouther. "It was more like I could feel your momentum and rhythm, like you were another part of me."
"You... see me as part of you?!" Briza was mind boggled, it both made some sense... and yet it made her even more perplexed.
"Like the force streams through both of us in the same stream." Tikala tried to unraveled the confusion.
Briza shook her head in confusion. "You are not making much sense. Your jedi riddles lack common understanding."
"I'm sorry, I don't know how to explain it any better. For me, seeing the force flowing around everything is natural." Tikala apologized for her lack of common reference.
Briza sighed in resignation. "Talk to your superiors, we can discuss this later." And turned on the holovid again, she was too tired to listen to jedi teachings at the moment.
Tikala knew she had been dismissed, so she walked through the hall to the comm station and used her datapad to look up the transmission code. She typed in the code and began an encrypted comm transmission to a relay station in the midrim, before confirming the code and relaying it to Typhon. Whereafter she waited a few minutes before her holotransmission was accepted. "This is jedi knight Tikala Xastra, do anyone copy?"
"My goodness, you're alive... Are you well?" Master Bela Kiwiiks asked audibly worried.
"I am fine master. Mathorn and I live with friendly people on Drumond kaas, as long as we are here, we need not worry." Tikala assured the master in a calm voice.
"That's a relief to hear. Have you found any leads regarding master Buz's abduction?" Bela asked, hoping for further good news.
Tikala shook her head dismissively "No, I was hoping that there would have been some news on the datapad Jonathan escaped with."
"SIS is decrypting the data as we speak, and yes he is fine. He is on his way back to Tython," Master Kiwiiks said in a calming voice.
Tikala began reporting what they had come to know and why she believe this was guided by the force, without mentioning her half imperial siblings, only referring to them as friendly imperials.
"I trust that you know what you are doing, but please be extremely careful, you will be loved by few on Dromund Kaas." Bela warned with extreme causation. "I pray Mathorn doesn't falter to the dark side."
"I swear, I will do what I can to keep him in the light." Tikala promised from the bottom of her heart.
"And please stay in touch, so we can inform you of any new we may uncover." Bela Kiwiiks encouraged in a soft voice.
"I will report back when we know more." Tikala assured her superior.
Bela smiled before finally saying. "May the force be with you and your brother."
"May the force be with you too Master Kiwiiks." Tikala replied and followed with a small bow before disconnecting and flickering out.
