A.N.
It's been a while so I figured it's about time for an update. Enjoy!
Chapter 8: The End Approaches
Kayden, Arcann, and the Eternal Flagship had just arrived back to Zakuul and were currently on a shuttle about to connect with the Spire so they could report back to the Emperor.
Kayden could already sense their father's darkness by the time he and Arcann stepped off the shuttle. He did not want to see his father again so soon, especially after what happened on the Sith Warship, but he knew he had no choice.
Valkorion had ordered both him and Arcann to deal with the invaders so, even though Kayden knew he was supposed to have died, he still had to report back in person or risk suffering the Emperor's wrath for not showing 'proper respect'. 'He demands respect even though he still ordered those knights to try and kill me.'
Kayden took a moment to glance at his brother. He hadn't told Arcann about what happened on the warship, he wanted to but he couldn't risk it. Even if Arcann's knights didn't repeat his words to their father, it was very possible that Valkorion had spies or listening devices aboard the Eternal Flagship.
Still, he felt slightly guilty for not informing his brother right away. He knew Arcann noticed the missing knights when he returned but had chosen not to comment on it. 'I'll need to find Vaylin after we're done reporting. She'll want to hear this too.'
Arcann leads the way to the throne room's lift with Kayden falling slightly behind due to his body's poor reaction to the Immortal Emperor's power. 'Now I've just got one more reason to help Arcann claim the throne and, with the records I got from Zhorrid's computers, I might finally have a way to make it happen.'
Kayden had spent every free moment he had after the battle looking over the record's on Zhorrid's ship and had actually ended up staying on her ship longer than expected since the mad Sith seemed to have information on just about all the recent happenings in the galaxy. 'It's so unfortunate that so much was lost when an explosion destroyed the computer before the transfer could finish.' Kayden thinks with a very slight smile on his face.
That smile quickly drops when he and Arcann enter the throne room and approach the throne, though the Immortal Emperor isn't on the throne. He currently has his back to them and appears to just be staring at the stars.
Kayden is trying very hard to stay calm, but that always seems to be impossible in his father's presence and he can't contain his shaking as he and Arcann each go to a knee.
He can hear his father walking closer to them and, in response, Arcann pulls out Zhorrid's lightsaber that Kayden had given him while the younger Prince pulls out the datapad with the enemy ship's records.
Most of them anyway. 'Of course he's not reacting to my presence in any way. I suppose I should be grateful for that at least.' Kayden thinks while his shaking slowly gets worse.
Valkorion doesn't speak or even move, but both items fly up to the Eternal Throne and come to rest on the arms of the greatest seat of power in the galaxy.
Then Valkorion turns away, dismissing both without a word. Arcann's anger rises slightly before Kayden looks to him, then his anger fades and they make their way out of the throne room.
As always, when the lift doors close, Kayden has to steady himself against a wall. He'd lost the contents of his stomach a few times when he was younger, now he just left feeling like he'd throw up. 'At least this time it'll be worth it.'
"Kayden." Arcann says quietly. Kayden appreciates his older brother's concern, but they have more important things to think about right now.
"We need to find Vaylin." Kayden says in a way that makes Arcann give him a confused and intrigued look.
"I might have found what we need."
Meanwhile…
Vaylin was currently located in the training ring with several skytroopers trying to charge her.
Unfortunately for the poor droids, the daughter of Valkorion was in a very bad mood. 'I can't believe both Kayden and Arcann went killing without me!' She thought while using her lightsaber to cut down another six skytroopers.
'They didn't even bother to tell me, I had to find out by asking a knight!' She thought while using a burst of lightning to turn three more skytroopers into burning piles of scrap.
'At the very least they could have invited me but no, they had to have all the fun without their adorable sister.' She thinks, cutting down yet another skytrooper while using her free hand to crush another with the force.
As angry as she was, and as much as she wanted to vent her frustrations against living beings, she hadn't forced any knights into the training ring nor gone to 'practice' against any of the prisoners in the dungeons.
She knew that Kayden would somehow find out and give her that look she hated. Not a look of pleasure or even anger. No, Kayden's look whenever he heard of his sister killing someone was always one of disappointment and sadness.
She'd already admitted to herself that she'd never hate her twin brother.
But seeing that look on Kayden's face, she hated that more than anything.
It was a look that simply didn't belong on her brother's face. She always felt wrong seeing it and felt even worse knowing she'd been the one who put it there with her own actions.
So she'd been trying. She'd been trying so hard to work on her killings just so she'd stop seeing that horrible look, but she'd been only partly successful.
She had stopped killing knights for getting on her nerves, though she noted that Kayden never had a problem with her executing that one knight for committing treason, but she still felt the need to head to the dungeons and shed some blood whenever she was feeling especially angry.
Kayden had been seemingly accepting of her killing prisoners, at least at first. Over time, she started to see the look again when she'd return from the dungeons and had tried to go down there less.
Honestly, it seemed the only time Kayden actually approved of, or at least accepted, her killing was when it was killing criminals and enemies of Zakuul. Which was why she was especially mad now.
She'd been told that Kayden and Arcann had gone to deal with a fleet that was invading their territory, obvious enemies of the Eternal Throne, so why had she been left out? How much blood had been spilled without her being there to enjoy it?
Feeling two familiar presences approaching, she quickly uses the force to crush the remaining skytroopers in the ring just before Arcann and Kayden arrive.
Arcann just greets her with his usual 'sister' while Kayden takes a moment to glance around the training ring before his eyes land on her. The amusement is clear as day.
"So I take it you found out why we left?" Kayden asks with a grin on his face.
"You went killing without me!" She nearly shouted, though her frustration had greatly faded seeing her twin's smile.
Unfortunately, that smile dropped when Kayden responded. "Neither of us expected to be leaving, but father commanded us to destroy a fleet of Sith invaders."
Vaylin's frustration completely left her after hearing those words, being replaced by concern and curiosity. She knew her twin was by far the best fighter out of the three of them but she also knew that he, like her, had only ever fought against trainers, criminals, and scum in the Old World, not military forces like those Jedi and Sith that Arcann had described.
Kayden likely sensed her thoughts and smiled again. "They weren't a problem. Actually, there was only one Sith on board and her skills were only about average."
Now Vaylin was almost glad she hadn't gone. She enjoyed killing and a good fight as much as anyone, but she really enjoyed fighting opponents that actually believed they had a chance at victory. It was so much more enjoyable to cut down an opponent after seeing a look of shock and disbelief on their face when their arms were cut off.
"What did you find out Kayden?" Arcann asked, cutting off Vaylin's line of thought with her curiosity building.
Kayden's smile completely disappeared and a very serious look appeared on his face, surprising Vaylin since she rarely saw her twin get so intense. "Let's go to my chambers for that." He said before turning and heading towards where his chambers were located with both Arcann and Vaylin following without a word.
It only took a minute for the three siblings to enter Kayden's personal chambers and as soon as the door closed Kayden turned to his brother and sister and said a single word. "Barrier."
Both immediately knew what he meant and all three focused on creating a soundproof barrier with the force and, with all three of them working on it, there was no way anyone would hear what was about to be said. 'He's being very cautious. Something exciting must have happened.'
Once the barrier was finished less than a moment later, Kayden spoke. "Father tried to have me killed."
Both siblings' eyes went wide hearing those words and their shock was quickly replaced by anger.
Arcann was furious. He'd already lost Thexan due to his own foolishness, but now their father tried to kill Kayden too? 'He truly is a monster. Why did I not see it for so long?'
But as angry as Arcann was, it was nothing compared to the extreme rage Vaylin was feeling. She'd always hated her father for sending her to Nathema, now that hatred had increased at least tenfold upon hearing that he'd tried to steal her twin's life. "He needs to die. Painfully." She said very seriously and with almost overwhelming fury. Arcann immediately nodded at her words.
Oddly, Kayden smiled. However it wasn't the kind of smile Vaylin was used to, this smile looked more like someone who was plotting something dangerous and delightful. "I don't know about painfully but yes, I do agree that he needs to die and, thanks to the records from the Sith's computers, I might have found a way to make it possible."
Again, both Vaylin's and Arcann's eyes go wide at Kayden's words. All three of them knew how powerful their father was so claiming to have something that could actually kill him was not a claim any of them would make unless they were certain.
One look at her twin's eyes told Vaylin that Kayden was indeed certain.
"How?" Arcann asked and Vaylin took a moment to glance at her older brother. The way he'd said that one word made him sound excited, and Arcann never got excited. 'Maybe he actually can learn to have fun!' Vaylin thinks before refocusing on Kayden, very much wanting to hear what he has to say.
"According to the ship's records, a larger group of ships will be entering the Eternal Empire very soon, made up of both Republic and Sith forces."
"Impossible." Arcann says before continuing. "The Jedi and Sith hate each other more than anything. They wouldn't agree to an alliance after our last attack no matter how much damage we inflicted." Arcann said and Vaylin noticed that her big brother hadn't mentioned Thexan by name before shrugging it off.
Kayden shook his head. "They aren't coming for Zakuul. They're coming for the Emperor."
Now Vaylin was confused, and a quick glance at Arcann told her that her big brother didn't understand either. As far as she knew, the rest of the galaxy still didn't know of Zakuul's existence yet, so how would they know about father and why would they be coming for him?
Kayden, obviously recognizing his siblings' confusion, spoke up. "I don't mean father, or at least not the Immortal Emperor, they're looking for the former Sith Emperor who fled into this region of space after consuming all life on another world."
Now Vaylin's even more confused, but Arcann seems to be thinking. "If a being capable of wiping out an entire planet is in the Eternal Empire, father would know about them." he said, voicing her confusion.
Kayden smirked. "Father does know about them. The Immortal Emperor and the Sith Emperor are one and the same."
Arcann gains a shocked expression but Vaylin's confusion only grows. "Father hasn't left Zakuul in years now, not since…Nathema." She almost didn't finish. Even now just thinking of that dead planet was enough to haunt her.
Kayden, sensing her unease, sends waves of calm and relaxing emotions through the force. The feeling brings a smile to her face as the dark memories fade and she nods at her twin in appreciation.
"You're partially right Vaylin, father hasn't physically left Zakuul in years, but his spirit has." Kayden says, with Vaylin finally putting the pieces together. She'd read about how, if one mastered the force enough, they could transfer their spirit into the body of another.
"All those times he was silent." Arcann murmurs. Kayden and Vaylin both nod at that. There had been several times in their life where Valkorion had almost seemed lost, empty. Now they knew why.
"I suspect that during those times, father was using his position as Emperor of the Sith to further his own power. Now that option has been taken from him so he's fled back here." Kayden says, with Vaylin nodding and Arcann shaking his head in disbelief.
"Wait." Arcann said suddenly, causing both of his younger siblings to face him. "You said he fled back here. What was he fleeing from?" Arcann asked and Vaylin's eyes widened as she'd missed that. Father wouldn't flee, not from anything, but she knew Kayden had chosen his words carefully so he meant what he said. 'What could make a monster like father flee?'
"Not what Arcann, who." Kayden corrected before continuing. "Apparently a Jedi known as the Hero of Tython successfully struck down father's body and since then I believe that father's been trying to gather enough power to return here and continue ruling from the Eternal Throne, as well as luring his enemies here to destroy them with the Eternal Fleet.
Everything fell into place for both Arcann and Vaylin. Their father's most recent silent period had been a few months back and had lasted far longer than any of his previous ones. Arcann realized it had ended just a little before he and Thexan had made their request to go to war. 'Father probably allowed us to go because he wanted revenge on his enemies that had forced him to flee. No, somehow he tricked us into doing exactly what he wanted! All of that had just been another one of his manipulations!' Arcann realized, angering him even more.
Vaylin also realized that this meant Zakuul would undoubtedly go to war against the rest of the galaxy. Normally, she'd be thrilled at the idea of shedding so much blood, but knowing that everything was just going as her father planned left her with a bad taste in her mouth. "He wants to use us to get back what he was too weak to hold on to." Vaylin stated, with Kayden nodding at her words and Arcann's fists tightening.
"Yes." Kayden confirmed before adding. "But he also brought us exactly who we need to get our father off the throne."
This time it was Arcann who spoke up. "You believe this Jedi, this…outlander, can kill father?" He questioned. Kayden nodded.
"I do. This Jedi, also known as the Battlemaster, has been chasing father ever since his spirit reappeared on some forest moon and the records clearly stated that he'd be joining the fleet that would be entering our territory soon." Kayden said and Vaylin gave a dark smile at those words. 'Oh father, you just make enemies wherever you go don't you?'
"We need to bring this outlander before the Immortal Emperor. I think that if we can just give him a chance, even a brief moment, it will be enough for him to defeat father." Kayden said boldly.
Vaylin didn't need to hear anymore. If Kayden said this outlander could defeat father, that was all she needed. 'I so hope I get to watch him die. I'll bet even kayden would want to see that death.'
Arcann, however, was unconvinced. "No one person has the power to defeat father." He said, causing Vaylin to roll her eyes. 'Kayden just said this outlander could. You obviously weren't paying attention big brother.' She thought with no small amount of annoyance.
"Maybe." Kayden admitted. "That's why you're going to help him." He said, forcing Vaylin to keep herself from bursting out laughing from the look of shock in Arcann's eye.
"Father probably won't be calling on me again anytime soon, definitely not so soon after his assassination attempt failed. So he'll probably order you to bring the outlander and whoever else is leading the fleet to him. See if you can provoke a reaction out of them, give father a reason to clear the knights out of the throne room, then wait for an opportunity to free the outlander and attack father right after. Get him focused on you long enough to give the outlander an opening. I'm certain he'll take it." Kayden said, fully explaining his plan and earning an approving nod from Vaylin and an unsure look from Arcann.
"Father, he's…" Arcann didn't say more but he didn't need to as Kayden understood his brother's feelings instantly.
"He's immortal, but he's not invincible, nor is he all powerful. If he was, do you really think he'd have run from his enemies rather than simply finishing them off?" Kayden questioned, with Vaylin shaking her head in response. 'He'd never run unless he wasn't certain he'd win. Oh father, father, father, you really have gone too far haven't you?' Vaylin thinks, more than a little amused.
Arcann is silent for a few moments and Vaylin's about to start tapping her foot in annoyance until he breaks his silence. "Are you sure about this brother?" Arcann asks and Vaylin's about ready to start ripping someone else's hair out in frustration. 'Why would he even suggest this if he isn't sure?! I mean it's Kayden!'
"I am sure Arcann. I know this will work." Kayden says without a shred of doubt in his voice and Arcann finally nods in acceptance. 'It's about time big brother.'
…
For the next few days, things continued as normal. Vaylin continued her lightsaber training with Kayden and, at times, Arcann while waiting for any news about the upcoming Invasion fleet.
Arcann also spends more time in the training ring to prepare himself for his inevitable confrontation with their father. He'd also use that time to focus on his anger so that his fear of the Immortal Emperor wouldn't cause him to hesitate when the time came to strike.
As for Kayden, as usual he spent the majority of his time in the library when he wasn't training with his siblings.
Now however, he wasn't reading any of the holobooks in the library, he was reading over the wealth of information he'd gotten from Zhorrid's ship. 'She might have been mad, but she was surprisingly good at keeping track of important events and persons of interest.'
From what he'd been able to gather, Kayden knew that Zhorrid had been the head of an intelligence gathering organization in the Sith Empire and, when that organization fell, she took as many of their secrets with her as she could. Secrets that were now his. 'A few of these are probably the reason she wasn't dismissed from the Dark Council sooner.'
Kayden was now spending nearly every moment he had going over Zhorrid's information, with his first task being to identify the most dangerous individuals he'd be facing when the Eternal Empire went to war with the rest of the galaxy.
He sighed. He didn't want to go to war but he knew it was all but inevitable at this point. So the best thing he could do now was prepare to defend his people and end the upcoming war as quickly as possible. 'Fortunately, the ships in the Eternal Fleet are far more advanced than Sith technology, at least compared to the readings I got off of Zhorrid's warship, so we should have almost immediate naval superiority if we can take out enough enemy ships and shipyards.'
The young prince took a moment to look over some of the names on the list of individuals he'd put together so far, knowing that any one of the individuals listed could be a serious threat to the Eternal Empire.
The Hero of Tython
Darth Marr
Jedi Grandmaster Satele Shan
The Jedi Order Barsen'thor
Cipher Nine
Darth Jadus
The Empire's Wrath
These were just a few of the names he'd put together. So far, he'd read enough about them to know that each one presented their own threat and would likely need to be dealt with at some point, so better to learn all he could now.
He knew that father would likely deal with the first two himself once they were brought before him, though hopefully at least they'd take care of him in the process as well.
So Kayden knew that his most dangerous opponent in the upcoming war would most likely be the Jedi Grandmaster, Satele Shan.
Truthfully, just from what he'd read about her, Kayden already found himself respecting the woman. She'd been leading the Jedi Order for many years now, helping them and the Republic achieve many victories while never seeking thanks or glory, she just seemed to be serving her people. 'She reminds me of mother somewhat. A strong warrior doing what was needed to defend her home.'
Kayden paused, then shook his head to avoid memories of her so he could focus.
He was certain that the Jedi Grandmaster would be the most dangerous opponent on the Republic's side, but the Sith's side was a bit harder to figure out.
From what he'd gathered, Darth Jadus was a possible choice, but he'd disappeared after a failed attempt to purge his enemies within the empire. 'I'll still need to be on the lookout for him. Even if Zhorrid did overstate her father's abilities, he's still a Sith who's managed to escape and avoid the Dark Council's wrath for years now.'
Regardless, even if Jadus didn't make an appearance, Kayden knew at some point he'd face the Dark Council and the Empire's Wrath, a Sith that had previously been the Emperor's personal executioner and enforcer. 'He'll definitely be a threat. Anyone given such a position by father must be especially ruthless.'
He also hadn't forgotten about the Jedi Council and knew that, even if the Sith were more ruthless, the Jedi usually worked together well and that could make them the greater threat. 'Unfortunately, the only way I can know for sure is to meet them in battle.'
All these powerful enemies and that wasn't even counting all the other members of the Sith, Jedi, and their many allies.
Still, Kayden was prepared to do what he must for the Eternal Empire and Zakuul. However, through reading, Kayden had discovered another reason for him to enter into the war against the Jedi and Sith.
Holocrons.
Sources of knowledge that could only be accessed by force users and one of the few things Zakuul did not possess.
Kayden had been fascinated by holocrons the moment he started reading about them and he'd quickly decided that he needed to get one for himself and see what it could teach him. 'If what I'm reading is true, some holocrons might contain secrets even father isn't aware of. If that's the case, then I'm definitely going to start gathering as many as I can.'
Most would have thought Kayden's thirst for knowledge was because of a desire for power but, in his case, it wasn't. He simply enjoyed learning new things, with secrets and forbidden knowledge being at the top of the list. 'I'll need to see if I can find out how these holocrons are made. I wonder if I'd be able to make one myself.'
It was an interesting idea and one he'd have to think about later. 'For now though, I think I'll-'
His thoughts were immediately cut off by a tremor in the force, a rather large tremor.
Kayden reaches out with the force, trying to understand the meaning of the tremor, but all he can gather is that something important will happen very soon and that Arcann will be a part of it. 'That was… something big is going to happen soon. Something that will change the galaxy as we know it.'
He reaches over and activates his holocom for Vaylin. She answers almost immediately.
"Vaylin, can you come and see me in the library please?" Kayden asks. 'It's very important' is left unsaid but is obviously understood since Vaylin just nods before her image disappears. 'Maybe she sensed it as well.'
Vaylin arrives just a few minutes later and takes a moment to seal the door before moving over to him and neither her nor Kayden speak until they're both surrounded by a sound silencing barrier.
"You sensed it too?" Kayden asked.
"Of course. I just wish it would've waited until I was somewhere besides the training ring." She said, sounding slightly annoyed.
"I assume that one of the skytroopers got a lucky hit then?" Kayden questioned, wondering just how many droids Vaylin left in pieces this time.
"Two actually." Vaylin answered with Kayden just barely resisting the urge to groan, thankful that their factories are fast enough to replace their droids as quickly as Vaylin destroys them. 'Still, better it's pieces of droids rather than pieces of knights.' Kayden reminds himself before focusing on his sister again.
Well since we felt it, there's no doubt father felt it as well. I'll bet that you, me, or Arcann will be given orders sometime soon." Kayden says, with Vaylin giving a slight nod.
"Speaking of, I don't see our cheerful older brother here. Was he too busy brooding to make it?" Vaylin asks teasingly with Kayden giving a slight smile.
"Maybe, but I can't say for sure since I didn't try to reach him." Kayden answers. When Vaylin gives him a questioning look, he decides to continue. "I'm not sure of the details, but whatever is going to happen, I know Arcann is going to be a part of it and, since I know that…"
"Then father likely knows it as well." Vaylin finished with a frown. "You think father will call our brother for a talk?" She asked.
"I'm certain of it." Kayden answered. "Father has to make sure he's in complete control of anything and everything and this tremor, it's something outside of his control, and that's something he won't tolerate."
Kayden knew their father. He'd never accept something not being under his control, so he'd definitely do something in response to a tremor like this. 'But what will he do? That's the question.'
"So, what should we do?" Vaylin asked. Kayden was silent as he took a few moments to think about that. He knew the tremor was a signal for something major that was about to happen but, aside from knowing that it would somehow involve Arcann, he didn't have any other details.
"For the moment, nothing." Kayden said. Vaylin didn't look happy with the answer. Kayden sighed. "I don't have any details on what's about to happen except that our big brother will be a part of it, so for now let's wait and see what happens, then we can go from there."
Vaylin still didn't look pleased but still gave a slight nod. 'I've really got to take some more time to work on her patience.'
Vaylin is about to speak again but is stopped by the sound of Kayden's holocom beeping, signaling an incoming transmission. 'Hm, maybe father didn't call Arcann for a talk after all.' Kayden thinks before activating the holo.
Surprisingly, Kayden isn't greeted by an image of his older brother. "Captain Atrus." Kayden greets the Knight Captain, wondering why the knight's contacting him. 'Did those damn snakes kill more knights?' Kayden thinks with some slight anger.
That anger fades quickly when the Captain speaks. "Prince Kayden." He says with his image giving a slight bow before continuing. "Apologies for disturbing you my prince, but we've had another incident with the Heralds of Zildrog that I felt you should be informed of."
Kayden gives a slight shake of his head but he can sense Vaylin's excitement rising. 'Were it anyone else I'd be worried about Vaylin right now, but those snakes have earned their fates.' "Speak Captain." He says out loud, giving the Captain permission to continue.
After giving a slight nod, Captain Atrus does exactly that. "Less than an hour ago, a group of Heralds attacked a small patrol of knights near Breaktown. Fortunately a skytrooper patrol that was also nearby was able to reinforce the knights and they quickly subdued or killed the Heralds." The Captain informed him.
"Any casualties on our side?" Kayden asked and was relieved when the Captain shook his head.
"No my prince. A few skytroopers were destroyed and two knights were injured, but their injuries are minor." The Captain said before adding: "But there is something else my Prince."
After a moment, the Captain continues. "One of the Heralds we captured is clearly stronger than the others so we brought him in for questioning, but so far, despite our best attempts, he hasn't spoken except to shout more nonsense about Zildrog."
Kayden's eyes widen in slight surprise. The knights were all well trained in everything that they did, including interrogation techniques, so to hear that there's a herald strong enough to resist their attempts, that caught Kayden's interest and brought a small smile to his face. 'This could be an opportunity.' "Where's this herald now?" Kayden asks, already planning.
"Still here in the Old World my Prince." The Captain answers immediately. 'Perfect.'
"Transport the Herald to Overwatch. I'll arrive shortly to question him." Kayden says before deactivating the holo, having no doubt that the Captain would follow his orders.
Turning to his sister, Kayden doesn't need to ask why Vaylin's wearing a very sinister smile. "Dear sister, would you please join me on a trip to Overwatch command?" Kayden says with a grin.
Vaylin's smile would now look absolutely terrifying to anyone else who saw it. "Dear brother…"
"I thought you'd never ask."
A.N.
It's been quite a while, I know and I'm sorry, but I've just been busy with other things and my other story. I will try to get the next chapter out sooner, but as always I make no promises. Anyway, I hope you're all still enjoying this story and I'll also let you know that something big will be happening next chapter, but that's all I'm saying. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas for this story or just in general, feel free to let me know and I'll see what I can do. Have a great day everybody and I'll see you all next time!