A.N.
Next chapter, here we go!
Chapter 9: A New Beginning
Kayden could safely say that Vaylin was having the time of her life torturing the surprisingly stubborn Herald into giving up whatever information he had. He definitely knew something of interest, Kayden was certain of that much, he just didn't know what.
At first, he'd been willing to give the Herald a chance and tried to offer a deal, but he didn't even have a chance to make the offer before the Herald spit in his face and started shouting all kinds of nonsense about Zildrog.
Now, normally at this point Kayden would've just used the force to take the information he wanted straight from the prisoner's mind. However, after having to listen to the same mad ramblings every time he interrogated a herald, he had little patience when it came to dealing with the insane fanatics.
So after that, he asked Vaylin to take over. Something she was more than happy to agree to.
And judging by the screams coming out of the interrogation room, she'd probably be getting results soon.
Kayden could have watched the scene from the observation room, but he was still reading over the wealth of information from Zhorrid's ship that he'd transferred to his personal datapad.
The more he read, the more Kayden was intrigued by the rest of the galaxy.
Zakuul would always be his home and it offered quite a bit, but Kayden was able to accept that there were some things he wouldn't be able to see or learn without leaving it from time to time. 'I'll really need to take some time and really consider what else in the galaxy I want to see after Arcann becomes Emperor. No doubt it'll still be quite a while, but it's still something I should prepare for. Maybe I'll talk to Vaylin and we can work something out together. She could probably use some time away from Zakuul and all the bad memories.'
He's broken out of his thoughts as Vaylin walks out of the interrogation room with a very satisfied smile on her face. "I take it he finally said something that wasn't just mad rantings about Zildrog?" Kayden asked in annoyance.
"He was certainly stubborn, but that just made it more fun. Apparently the Heralds have been storing most of their valuables in a warehouse on the far side of Breaktown." Vaylin said, though Kayden was surprised she didn't seem more eager about the news.
The Heralds' valuables were mostly items they'd stolen from other gangs and thugs in Breaktown, items that had likely already been stolen by whatever groups had them. There's no way they wouldn't have such valuable goods heavily guarded. Would they?
"What about defenses? Did the herald know how they were guarding this warehouse?" Kayden asked, wondering if his hunch was correct.
Vaylin nodded but frowned. "Apparently they're using reprogrammed skytroopers, sky turrets, and other automated defenses since another herald once attempted to steal some of the goods and that got the Exalted paranoid. So only he and a few of the higher ranking Heralds even know the location." Vaylin said her annoyance was obvious now.
That explained why Vaylin wasn't eager. If the warehouse had been guarded by more heralds, she would've already been on a shuttle to go kill them, but she clearly didn't care for fighting more droids since she could just do that in the training ring.
Still, this was good news to Kayden. If they managed to get the valuables it would seriously hurt the heralds since he doubted the Exalted would be smart enough to store their most prized goods in more than one location. 'They're already struggling with manpower, soon they'll be struggling with credits as well.' "I take it you don't want to join me in stealing those valuables back from the snakes." Kayden stated, already knowing the answer.
"Not when it's just droids that'll be trying to stop us." She said in a clearly annoyed tone. "Besides, torturing that worm was still fun so I'm not too disappointed. Actually, I think I'll head back for some food. Maybe I'll listen to Chef Foss curse out another idiot for old time's sake." She says with a considering look.
Kayden just chuckled. "I'll see you a little later, Vaylin." He says with her giving a small smile and nod before walking away.
Kayden is about to do the same but remembers the herald still in the interrogation room. Pressing a button next to the door, he pulls up the herald's vitals. He supposed he shouldn't have been surprised to see the prisoner had flatlined.
Kayden just sighed and walked away after telling a nearby knight to have someone clean up the room.
Some Time Later…
Vaylin found herself back in the training ring facing off against several heavy skytroopers. They were tougher than regular skytroopers and could even take a few hits from a lightsaber but were also slower as a result.
The reason Vaylin was facing these models was because she'd decided she wanted to hit something with her lightsaber after interrogating the herald. She'd had fun listening to him scream but his rantings and ravings about Zildrog had still gotten on her nerves more than a little. 'I really wish he would have said there was a small army of snakes guarding their pretties. I could've gotten some shinies and some suffering at the same time.'
Vaylin had considered going along just to see what the snakes had managed to get a hold of, but her disappointment learning there'd be no one there for her to kill got her to decide against it.
It simply wouldn't have been worth it.
A heavy skytrooper with an electrostaff rushed towards her but it was still far too slow to avoid Vaylin's much faster lightsaber that quickly took its head off in one strike. 'Maybe I should've gone along. The snakes might slither out of their hiding places once they hear Kayden's stealing their pretties.'
Vaylin shook her head at the thought as she slashed another of the heavy skytroopers across the chest. Surprisingly, the armor was enough to protect the droid's internal components and it raised its staff to strike, but Vaylin slashed across the chest again and this time the droid exploded in a small shower of sparks. 'Nah, the snakes are too scared of Kayden to actually face him willingly.'
After cutting another skytrooper into pieces while imagining that it's a herald crying out in pain, Vaylin takes a moment to look around the ring and sees that all the skytroopers are now in pieces. 'Huh. I thought there were more.'
Deactivating her lightsaber and stepping out of the ring, Vaylin sighs as the presence she'd been sensing for the last few minutes approached, most likely knowing that she'd be finishing up now. 'Meaning it must be one of the fortune tellers.' Vaylin thought with some slight annoyance.
The door to the training area opens and Vaylin sees that she was correct as a scion walks through the door and walks over to her. "Lady Vaylin." The scion greets her in a flat and emotionless tone.
"If you want something, spit it out." She snapped at the scion. Vaylin didn't hate the scions as much as her older brother did, but she still hated having to deal with them and listen to their annoying words about fate and destiny. 'Maybe big brother will let me cut their tongues out when he takes the throne. That might be able to shut them up.'
"The Immortal Emperor requests your presence in the throne room. He's already been informed by Heskal that you'll arrive after your brother and the prisoners." The scion said, seemingly unconcerned with Vaylin's temper.
But Vaylin's anger quickly faded and was replaced by curiosity as the scion's words fully registered in her mind. 'My brother? Prisoners?'
"What do you mean prisoners? Did Kayden actually capture some of the snakes when he went after their pretties?" Vaylin asked, now wishing she had joined her twin.
"Apologies my lady, I was referring to Prince Arcann, not Prince Kayden." The scion corrected before adding. "And the prisoners were the commanders of a fleet that invaded Eternal Empire territory and was destroyed as a result." The scion informed her with Vaylin's eyes going wide. 'Could one of these prisoners be the outlander that Kayden mentioned? Could this really be the day father's reign ends?'
The thought brings a huge smile to Vaylin's face that's sinister enough to make even the scion before her feel more than slightly uneasy. "Please inform my father that I'll arrive shortly." She said as sweetly as she could. The scion's uneasiness turned to genuine fear as he nodded and quickly made his way out of the training area. 'That was fun. And if Kayden was right and this…outlander is truly capable of dethroning father, then I think things are about to get much more fun soon.'
With that thought and still wearing one of the biggest smiles she'd worn in years, Vaylin made her way to the throne room to see her father.
Hopefully, for the very last time.
In the Old World…
Kayden wasn't sure what he'd been expecting when he entered the warehouse where the heralds good were being stored with a squad of knights, but he would admit that he was surprised by the sheer number of skytroopers and sky turrets that the heralds had reprogrammed to protect the place.
Thankfully, the skytroopers had very few explosives and, once the few they did have were used up, they were no match for Kayden and his knights who were able to quickly destroy any and all defenses before securing the surprisingly large amount of loot. 'There must be millions of credits worth of stuff here. The heralds are not going to be happy once they find out they've lost it all.' Kayden thought with a smirk.
"Prince Kayden."
Turning, Kayden gives a slight nod to the approaching Captain Atrus who, despite wearing a blank face, Kayden could sense was more than a little pleased with what they'd accomplished.
"We've just finished loading up the last of the herald's ill gotten gains and will be taking it to Overwatch to be locked away until the exact value for everything can be determined and the items returned to their proper owners." The Captain informed him with Kayden giving him a slight nod before the Captain walked away again. 'Good man Captain Atrus. I'd offer him a reward for his excellent service, though I doubt he'd actually accept it unless I ordered him to do so.'
Shrugging, Kayden made his way over to the shuttle that brought him to the warehouse and took it back to the Overwatch Command Center and entered his personal speeder and quickly made his way back to the palace.
He couldn't explain it but he'd had a strange sort of nagging going on in the back of his mind for nearly an hour now but he had no idea what was causing it. 'It's like when I felt that tremor in the force earlier but it's more subtle now. What is going on?'
Landing back at the palace, the sensation going through the young prince's mind only seemed to grow stronger and he seemed to almost be in a sort of trance as he walked towards its source. However, his mind and body both came to a complete halt as a familiar darkness washed over him and he realized just where he was going.
The throne room.
He was going towards his father.
'What is going on?' Kayden thought to himself once more as he started making his way back and away from his father's endless darkness, despite the still lingering sensation in his mind to continue onward.
In his entire life, Kayden had never, not once, gone to his father without being summoned. He avoided the Immortal Emperor like a plague. He always had and, he suspected, he always would.
So why had the force been leading him to the throne room?
Kayden decided, as he made his way further and further away from the throne room, that it didn't matter. Whatever he was sensing his father was surely also sensing, and the young prince had absolutely no desire to knowingly involve himself in something his father was surely interested in. 'He must be. Why else would the source of this disturbance be in the throne room unless father wanted it there? Maybe-'
All of Kayden's thoughts and actions were cut off as a great wave of dark side force energy washed over him. It was so intense that it caused the young prince to fall to his knees and nearly lose the contents of his stomach.
Then the wave of energy passed.
And Kayden ran straight back the way he came.
Because he knew.
He knew exactly what caused that wave of energy and he had to see it for himself. Otherwise, there was absolutely no way he would believe it.
He had to see.
He had to know it was true.
So he ran faster than he'd ever run in his life. He didn't slow down as his holocom started beeping, he didn't slow down when he noticed the transmission was being broadcast to all of Zakuul, he didn't even slow down when he saw Arcann's image appear with the Eternal Throne behind him.
So of course he didn't slow down as his older brother started speaking.
"People of Zakuul. The unthinkable has happened. Our beloved Emperor, Valkorion, is dead."
In the Throne Room…
"And every last one of the core worlds will burn." Arcann finished before pressing a button on the throne to end his transmission.
Prince Arcann, or rather Emperor Arcann now, then sat on the Eternal Throne for the very first time in his life.
He wasn't expecting the shock that came as the Throne automatically adjusted to its new user, but the pain was nothing to him and passed quickly enough. All he cared about was the end result.
He was Emperor now.
And his father was finally dead.
The thought had Arcann look down at his father's now lifeless body which had a very noticeable hole right through the chest from the outlander's lightsaber. A very small part of him was disappointed that it wasn't his lightsaber that ended Valkorion's life, but he was still extremely pleased that the monster who'd ruled over him his entire life was no more.
Vaylin looked even more pleased as she was standing over their father's body and looking down at it with the biggest smile he'd ever seen on his sister's face.
Even Arcann himself couldn't help but smile under his mask as he looked down at Valkorion's lifeless shell. 'Goodbye father.' Arcann thought with a note of finality.
Arcann looked up as he heard the lift open and watched as Kayden ran into the throne room clearly out of breath, almost as if he'd run all the way across Zakuul to get here. 'He probably did once he sensed father's death.'
The new Emperor noticed that Kayden didn't so much as glance at him since his eyes were firmly locked onto Valkorion's corpse. Walking forward with his eyes wide and his mouth falling open, Kayden moved over to Valkorion's body and kneeled next to it before extending his hand just short of touching father's face and Arcann could feel Kayden using the force to check for any possible signs of life.
Arcann could have spoken up and simply told his younger brother that their father was indeed dead, but he knew that it was better if Kayden figured it out for himself.
Truthfully, Arcann himself was still having a hard time believing it. Not long ago he'd considered his father the most powerful and dangerous being in the galaxy. He was immortal and seemed to be all but invincible.
Yet all it took was the Outlander stabbing him in the back with a lightsaber to end the monster's immortal life. 'All I needed to do was give him that chance. And, just like Kayden said he would, he took it.'
Honestly, it felt too easy.
Maybe that's why he still felt nervous.
Kayden stood up but still didn't take his eyes off of the body and, at this point, Vaylin was no longer looking down at Valkorion's corpse with a smile. Instead, she was looking at her twin with a look that was a mix of confusion and concern.
Finally, the silence was spoken as Vaylin spoke. "Brother why do you look so lost. Father's dead, Arcann's got the throne, and now we're all free from this…thing's influence." Vaylin said, ending her sentence with a note of disgust in her voice before putting a hand on her twin's shoulder. "It's over."
Kayden shook his head. "No." He said, his expression turning serious. "It's not over yet. In fact, this is just the beginning." He said calmly.
Before Vaylin could respond, kayden walked over and stood before the throne and looked up at its new occupant. Then, to both Arcann's and Vaylin's surprise, Kayden kneeled before the throne and spoke. "My Emperor. I swear to forever serve you and Zakuul from now until my last days. My life for you and Zakuul. Now and always."
To say Arcann was surprised by his younger brother's words was an understatement. Their father demanded oaths of loyalty from his knights and scions, but he'd never ordered his children to do the same. Arcann had wondered why in the past, but never questioned it. 'He probably thought that, as his children, he would always have our loyalty. How wrong he was.'
His thoughts only made Arcann even more pleased with the oath. He'd already known that he'd have Kayden's loyalty when he took the throne, but the oath just proved to him that his little brother would serve him even better than he'd served their father.
With that in mind, Arcann looked to Vaylin, half expecting her to repeat her twin's actions. Vaylin, clearly knowing what her new Emperor was thinking, simply stood in place, crossed her arms, and gave her big brother a smirk.
Arcann resisted the urge to growl and sighed instead, knowing he should have expected something like that from his little sister. It was clear that, Emperor or not, Vaylin would always be her usual teasing self. 'Although, since Kayden made the oath he was likely speaking for both of them.'
Arcann knew his sister and if Kayden swore he would be loyal, then he knew Vaylin would be loyal in return. Neither would ever betray the other, no matter what. He felt a slight pang in his chest as his younger siblings and their bond reminded Arcann of his own bond he'd shared with Thexan. 'He should be here now, with us.'
Kayden looked up and it was clear he'd sensed Arcann's thoughts as he stood up and walked up to the throne. Placing a hand on his shoulder, Kayden smiled. "We're still here, Arcann." He said, nodding at Vaylin who actually looked serious as she nodded in return. "We always will be."
Arcann looked up to his little brother and gave a slight nod as he felt his sorrow lessen ever so slightly. 'I thought the same while Thexan was still here.'
Taking his hand off his shoulder but still smiling, Kayden stepped back. "Allow me to be the first to congratulate you on becoming Emperor brother. But I must warn you now…" He said in a half serious, half joking tone. "...whether you like it or not, I will be offering advice and speaking my mind when I feel it's necessary. I'm loyal to you brother, but if I believe something could be done better or I believe you're making a mistake, I will speak up." He finished with all joking gone from his tone and with a serious look in his eyes.
Arcann nodded since that was what he'd already expected from both his younger siblings. The look on Vaylin's face confirmed she'd likely be doing the same, though her words were certainly going to be more about pushing his buttons rather than offering useful advice.
"Now, may I offer my first piece of advice brother?" Kayden asked. After Arcann gave him a nod he continued. "The first thing that should be done is a royal funeral for father." He said, getting a wide eyed look from both of his siblings.
"What?!" Vaylin shouted. "You actually want to honor that monster?! He-"
"He might have been a monster, but he was still our father and Emperor." Kayden said, cutting Vaylin off. She looked like she was about to speak again but Kayden continued. "The three of us knew what our father was truly like, but the rest of Zakuul looked up to him for everything he'd done for Zakuul over the years. It would also help Arcann's image. Think about it, the new Emperor honors the former Emperor by laying him to rest before all of Zakuul. I'm sure many Zakuulans would appreciate the opportunity to say their final goodbyes to their Immortal Emperor."
Arcann took a moment to think over his siblings' words. He did partially agree with Vaylin that he did not want to honor his father in any way, but another part of him realized that Kayden's words were also true. It was expected of him as the new Emperor to see his father laid to rest, though he wouldn't have thought of making it a huge event before all of Zakuul, but he agreed with Kayden that it would help his new image as Emperor.
So, for the first time since Kayden had entered the throne room, Arcann spoke. "Our father's body will be cremated after a service in the Palace of the Eternal Dragon with attendance open to all." Arcann declared, with both Kayden and Vaylin nodding at his words, though he could tell the latter was a bit more reluctant about it.
"And the Outlander?" Kayden asked.
"He will be imprisoned in Carbonite." Arcann said, getting a surprised look from his little brother. His punishment will be announced to the people of Zakuul, informing them of the fate of those who challenge the Eternal Throne." Arcann explained.
"Ah. You're making an example of him." Kayden realized, and the new Emperor gave his brother a nod in approval, pleased that his brother understood his reasoning and didn't inquire further.
He did not want to mention what he'd sensed right before his father died. The strange feeling of his father's essence somehow passing into the Outlander's body.
"So, after we turn father into ashes, we're going to war?" Vaylin asked. Arcann could tell that his sister was practically foaming at the mouth for war. Kayden didn't physically react to the question but Arcann could sense his little brother was nervous, but not for himself.
"Yes." Arcann said his one word answer had Vaylin practically bouncing in place while Kayden was still as a statue. "But neither of you will be doing much of the fighting in the war."
This time, Arcann's words had Vaylin freezing in place while Kayden was now looking at him in surprise. "I'm giving both of you equal command of the Eternal Flagship and a sizable portion of the Eternal Fleet. I'll be controlling the majority of the fleet from the throne, but I'll be sending both of you on assignments where I think you'll be best suited."
Vaylin looked like she'd just been told she could never shed blood again while Kayden was clearly thinking over her big brother's words. Arcann didn't doubt his siblings' strength, but they hadn't fought in a war yet. He had, and he knew that the best way to win the war quickly would be to use the Eternal Fleet to overwhelm his enemies.
However, he also knew that there were some situations that required someone to be commanding the forces in person, something he wouldn't be capable of from the throne, but his younger siblings would.
"Brother, if I may?" Kayden spoke up, silently asking permission to continue. Arcann nods and his younger brother does just that. "It's possible that, with everything that'll be happening during the war, there might be situations that me and Vaylin become aware of before you do. If we get valuable intelligence during the war and can act on it, I'd like your permission to act if we feel it's necessary." Kayden requested.
Arcann took a moment to think over his brother's words. He raised a good point. There would be much happening across the galaxy once the war begins and, as much as he hated to admit it, there was a possibility that some information might be missed by him or would be received too late for it to be of any use. 'Even father allowed me and Thexan to attack locations we thought were good targets.'
"Very well. I'll trust you and Vaylin to use your best judgment." He said with a nod, getting a nod in return from his little brother and Vaylin once again wearing a grin that promised death and suffering.
With that, Arcann summoned a group of knights into the throne room, all of whom couldn't hide their shock at seeing their Immortal Emperor dead. Arcann commanded them to bring a casket for their father and see that his body was preserved for his upcoming funeral. The knights obeyed and a few minutes later the knights, Kayden, and Vaylin all left, leaving Arcann alone in the throne room.
At that moment, Arcann truly felt victorious. But he knew his little brother was right about this just being the beginning.
First, they'd deal with their father's funeral. After that…
It was onto war.
Aboard an Eternal Fleet Warship…
Senya was sitting alone in her room and watched in silence as her holoterminal showed Valkorion's funeral.
From what she'd been able to see, it seemed like at least half the people on Zakuul had gone to pay their respects to her late husband, even though many of them had likely never even met Valkorion in person before.
She tried to see if there were any faces she recognized among the people visiting, but the only three she recognized were her own children who stood over their father's body.
All of her children were frowning but it was clear to Senya that none of her three children were truly sad that their father had been killed.
Arcann, or rather Emperor Arcann now, was looking down at his father with his one revealed eye shining in hatred. Most probably would've thought that it was meant for his father's killer rather than his father, but Senya knew her son well enough to know that, even in death, Arcann had not forgiven his father for his neglect of him.
Vaylin was also looking down at her father but, unlike Arcann, there was no anger in her eyes. In fact, her eyes only seemed to be about half open and Senya was certain that her daughter was just bored. 'At least with her hood up it's not so obvious.'
Lastly, Kayden wasn't looking down at his father's body. He was actually looking at each of the people who walked by Valkorion's body and even nodding at the people who spoke to him and his siblings, wishing them well. Senya clearly noticed that her youngest son was purposefully avoiding looking down at his father, though whether that was because of fear, nervousness, or anger Senya couldn't say. She only knew that it wasn't because of sadness.
"Valkorion, is this truly what you wanted your children to think of you?" She whispered to herself. She didn't mourn for who he was, she mourned for the man he'd once been. The man she'd fallen in love with before she'd given him children. The man who'd sung to her on Aivela's Crest, which still remained as one of her happiest memories.
She wondered how it had all gone so wrong. Even though deep down she knew the answer.
She continued watching as her husband's body was taken away and Arcann started speaking, mentioning many of the incredible deeds that had been accomplished during his reign as Emperor but Senya knew it was all an act. At this point she knew Valkorion's funeral was over and her son was just putting on a show so she deactivated her holoterminal.
She rubbed her head and was silently dreading what was going to be happening very soon. She'd seen Arcann's declaration of war against the rest of the galaxy and she knew that soon she and every other knight would be sent out to fight.
She didn't want to fight in a war, but she would. It was her duty.
She was a knight. Her duty was her life.
But her life felt so empty without her children, especially now that she knew that all of her children would be fighting in this war, yet another thing that filled her with dread as a horrible thought entered her mind.
'If I die during this war, will it be from an enemy of Zakuul or one of my own children?'
A.N.
That's all for now folks! Next comes the war. It might not have been shown during the game, but the Eternal Empire's Conquest will be shown here, well some of it anyway. I hope you're all enjoying this story so far and I'll try to update it again as soon as I can. Any ideas on what happens? Of course if anyone has any thoughts or ideas feel free to let me know and I'll see what I can do. Have a great day everyone and I'll see you next time!