Allegiance

She was perched over the ledge, almost as if she were a gargoyle amongst the building in the Corellian night sky. She had waited for what seemed an eternity—but she had developed patience. 6 years did that to someone who was lost in the chasms of absolute darkness. This was far more important to her in ways than what she understood. Regardless of whether or not she liked it, her scars would remind her that she needed aid. And who better to offer aid than a leader who has inspired even their enemies to rally behind them?

She had continued to wait, allowing herself to become attuned to her surroundings—another side effect of spending 6 years exiled in absolute darkness. She felt the vibrancy of life all around her, as speeders zoomed in every direction and pedestrians walked and lived in the massive buildings that were a testament to the strength of life itself. Oddly enough, not one speeder or residency came near where her target's location, she noted.

It had been only 3 hours since her target had entered the large starscraper, which seemed to pierce the sky, almost as if it were a pentagonal sword that was held upright. And soon enough, the pad that was lit on either side revealed a black robed figure walking across to a predatory shaped shuttle. Accompanying the figure, were 5 figures—three of which appeared to be the same, though two were clad differently from the third. The other two figures were dark spectres in the Force—they were cloaked assassins that had been with the dark robed figure the entire time.

She grinned as she pieced together who the figures were—and what exactly Atris was going to do with them. Show time, she thought as she leapt between the two buildings, allowing the Force to guide her and slow her descent as she landed on the platform, rolling and rising.

Atris and her acquisitions turned around at the feeling of a dark presence swooping down upon them. They were rewarded with seeing a figure clad in a dark formfitting armour land in front of them.

The figure's raven black hair blew wildly in the wind, highlighting her scarred left eye, revealing green and blue eyes. Aside from her scar, she still appeared younger than Atris and would be have been found very appealing towards others. But that hardly mattered to Atris. Her black armour revealed some plated areas—most likely cortosis, though Atris couldn't be certain. It had appeared that the Mandalorians, which only made Atris' stomach clench, heavily inspired the woman's armour. Even the woman's gauntlets were designed as some form of bracers or retractable blades.

After another moment of silence passing between the trio and the figure before her, Atris finally spoke up. "What do you want?"

"I find it surprising that you do not yet know who I am, Atris. I once knew your predecessor and I was utterly loyal to her."

She knew Traya? Atris contemplated as she studied the Sith in front of her. "You're not worth my time," she finally declared after a moment. "Leave now, revenge won't save you against the pain I will inflict upon you."

"Vengeance?" The figure mused. "Oh, I am not here for vengeance."

"I do not care what you are here for," Atris said firmly. She had grown aggravated with others interfering with her plans and she needed an outlet. The woman before her seemed somehow perfect for that outlet. But first, she would need to see how her new warriors performed. "Kill her," she ordered.

As the three figures moved towards her, the raven haired woman crouched, extending her right leg out and forming something akin to a bird-of-prey perched on the ground, ready to pounce on her victim. Through the Force, she felt the two cloaked bodyguards that had accompanied Atris creeping behind her. Closing her eyes, she felt the five figures coming closer to her, their weapons at the ready. In a blur, her eyes snapped open and she leaped high into the air, gathering all Force around her as she sped towards the ground, her fist crashing against the ferrocrete surface, sending two blue shockwaves around her.

Instantly, the five figures were wrapped in blue static, unable to move. The two hidden bodyguards decloaked and were enveloped by the blue static. Deus, the center presence between his brothers, moved three steps closer to the unknown woman, only to freeze as one hand reached out, almost grabbing her by the throat.

Needless to say, Atris was impressed with the woman—and the power that Deus wielded. She was slightly disappointed in the others, but she knew they would find a way to make it up to her—with the exception of her two cloaked bodyguards.

The woman revealed two crimson bladed lightsabers as they drove into the chests of the two bodyguards. She left the three engineered warriors in front of her alone, as she walked past them. "You never let me finish, Atris," she said.

"Most impressive," she said.

"As your predecessor once said: 'there are techniques in the Force against which there is no defence.'"

"So, have you come for vengeance then? To claim the mantle she had set before me?"

The lightsaber wielding woman laughed. "No, nothing that crude. You can keep the title, Mistress Traya." She bowed.

Surprised that her anger had dissipated, Atris couldn't help but smile, something that she hadn't done in a long time. "So, what do you want then?"

"I wish to serve you. There are several Jedi that I so sincerely wish to…meet. And I have other…allies, who would greatly bolster whatever it is you have in store."

"I see. So why do you pledge yourself to me?"

"Let us just say that I pledge myself to Traya."

"Very well," Atris said, squaring her shoulders. "I will accept you then—as you have made a very promising and impressive entry." For once in a long time, Atris was being genuine—and honest. The woman before her had made quite an interesting and impressive demonstration of her power, power that was now Atris' to control.

The woman merely bowed, the low thrumming of her lightsabers accompanied the sound of the howling air.

"And since you seem to know me so, I would like to know what your name is."

She smiled, revealing perfect white teeth. "My name is Lotus Xa, and I pledge my loyalty to you, Darth Traya."