Author's Notes

Not going to lie, but Covid has started really getting to me. Thankfully I haven't gotten it but as someone that only had really gotten a friend group just before all this and now said friend isn't surviving just online... ugh... loneliness is even worse when you finally got rid of it for a time. So I have been a bit down lately, one of the things that has kept me somewhat happy is how much I know this story is loved by so many. So thank you to everyone that favs and follows. It really helps. And a Big shout out to Rapidnoob, Shadow lord, and King Satan on my Discord, you guys really help.


There was a lurch as the platform continued to travel down. It had been several hours since we had begun the trip to the surface of Dromund Kaas and I was getting antsy. The further we traveled the more I felt a growing worry in the Force. I might have been cocky about this trip but now that was being cooled by my caution. A glance to the IG droid, and I knew that it was only here to ensure my death not be the main cause of it.

"The look on your face, it has me concerned." Oberyn said as he approached me at the edge of the platform. The wall in front of was a descending glimpse of the inner workings of the mighty Grav-Plates that held up the cities of the world. These things that were built out of the ships and other military resources of the Sith Empire, all the contain the many monuments of the Sith on the surface.

"The closer we get the more I feel like this was a bad idea." I admitted as I could feel the Dark Side grow stronger. And even worse… I feel something else. It was similar to the Star Weirds but very feint and tonally different. But there was something waiting down there that would need to be addressed one day, just hopefully not soon. "I shouldn't have brought you here. Would have been safer if this had been a trip more planned out."

"Oh I disagree, I have a feeling that I'm right where I should be." I glanced to the side and could see he was looking toward Dabai.

"Don't stick your dick in crazy." I grunted in disapproval, my mood was not for jokes so I was being a bit more blunt than normal.

"I can see a heart broken and a woman filled with bitter tears. It is a sight that hurts my soul." I wanted to roll my eyes but I knew that Oberyn was serious. If he wanted to try and… do whatever with Dabai but I wasn't saving the bitch from anything down here. Oberyn however I would be putting a priority on, he can not be allowed to die. Not only was becoming a friend but there was numerous political and plotting reasons for him to stay alive. At the very least I was making a positive impression on him, would be good for when I would ask him to sire millions of sons.

There was another lurch and finally the metal that I had been looking at gave way. I and other grimaced as the harsh light of a repulsor hit our eyes. It was far away enough so the light wasn't blinding but god damn the size. They were massive, triple the size of football fields. I guess given their job of holding up a planetary Dyson Sphere they needed to be that big. Looking down however, that light didn't go far. There were blasted spots directly under the lifts where I could see the ground but between them were large tracts of land where there was nothing but darkness. Occasionally there were outcroppings of either destroyed towers or mountains.

Cipher had been able to steal some reports from the local official government of the planet as well as Republic Intelligence concerning the state of the surface. There was life, Dromund Kaas had always been a stormy world with minimal natural sunlight hitting the surface so for life to evolve to require no natural light was possible. Thick jungles mixed with rocky mountain ranges covered the surface with spots of completely dead dry under the repulsors that were surrounded with drylands. The ecology was limited but still thriving with life. plus… there was plenty of unnatural life here as well as once the Sith were outed their pets would inevitably escape. Most would have died off by now but some could have been made in such a way to be very long living. And other might have been stable enough to breed. As for how it felt in the Force, just Darkness. There was no light here in the Force or natural.

"Um, Mr. Ulysses?" I turned my head to see the same sniveling attendant come back up to me. "We will be approaching the take-off platform soon." Below us was a hanging outpost of the Republic military. One of several that monitored the situation on the surface. Here we would stop and take several aircraft down to a preplanned safe zone. From there we would venture deeper into wilderness, though not along the pre-approved route. That would have taken us away from the direction of Kaas City, where I need to go.

"Good, go tell everyone to get ready for the next phase of the trip." I waved off the little man dismissively. They were not respecting the chain of command, I told them that Yensi would be whom they should be reporting to now and yet they come to me. He quickly left sensing my displeasure with him. "Oberyn."

"Hmm?"

"Make sure to stay close to me during this venture?"

"Oh, you don't need to tell me twice?" He gave a flirtatious click of the tongue but just continued to stare down into the darkness of my homeworld. At some point I guess Oberyn gave up as I found myself alone again with only my thoughts and the tugging of the Dark Side to keep me company. Seeing Dromund Kaas like this… it was infuriating. The world had always been a ugly and horrifying place, both in the wilds and in the stormy cities. But it was where Naraiz grew up, where he was born and now it had changed so much. Above resembled the Republic's capital a little too much, and below was a hellscape shunned away little a traumatic memory. It just made me more certain I chose right in starting among Game of Thrones, had I come here soon after merging with Naraiz I doubt these feelings would have been manageable.

The lift eventually stopped and our company started its way across the bridge to where our next ride would be waiting. I watched with a little enjoyment as the Ekarn Combine mercs were arguing with the Republic troopers over their tank. Now feeling the danger in the Force, I was a bit happier with the mercs for their insistence on bringing that thing. And soon enough the Republic troopers had enough and just let the merc have their tank, probably thinking that none of us would be surviving this trip anyway.

Several large aircraft were waiting for us, each carrying in it a few trucks and road clearers as well as all the supplies we would need. These would be transporting the vast majority of our people. Myself and my team however would be taking a shuttlecraft that I had procured for this affair. It was outfitted for stealth and shielding, minimal armament as I knew that wouldn't be looked on kindly by the Republic customs officers. But this would be my personal craft so it meant that I could fly it as a pleased. Once everyone was boarded we took off, and suffered a rough flight down.

We landed on the outskirts of one of the dead spots, so we weren't operating in total darkness yet. The Republic ground outpost was vastly different from the one we just left. Up there it was crisp and clean, and I got an innate sense of peace and leniency among its guard. Down here… total opposite. The walls that surrounded the outpost were strong but battered with claw marks and large dents. All the men and women here were twitchy and ready for the slightest bit of hostility. Thankfully they cheered at the sight of the tank and wished the mercs happy hunting with it.

"There were always rumors among the boys and girls that this posting is for those that fuck up but still have value." Kanos explained as my group watched the departure of the first trucks from the safety of their aircraft transports. "I can see why."

"And we're walking out of the last bit of safety, never thought I would be preferring being close to Republic guns than anything else." Katz muttered as he stared a particularly nasty looking tear in one of the bunkers. Did they have so little faith in me? I don't need that question answered.

It didn't take long for us to leave, we hadn't done anything all day but waited and it was finally time to begin the hard part. The mercs did a surprisingly good job at organizing decent escort lines around the trunks and heaver vehicles. Their tank stayed smack in the middle of convoy so to best respond from a attack at any side. And it didn't take long for the threat of attack to reach us. The moment that we passed into the deeper shadows of the surface I could feel something watching us, some sort of pack of beasts.

"You do a good job at that, not letting the eyes watching us know that they've been had." Oberyn remarked quietly as he walked beside me. Once we reached the tree line our pace slowed to the point where it made sense for groups of mercs to be on foot. I joined them as I wanted a better eye on the attention we were garnering.

"There's twenty of them, hiding in the shadows and the larger branches. I can sense they moving as unit, these are deadly predators. But they aren't used to such a large and noisy group in their territory so they are being cautious… I doubt it will last long." I could sense their heart beats, heavy and strong. These were large beasts and given their environment likely apex predators on the scale of a Rancor. Worse however as these were in a pack.

"You should tell the men to restrict their food. If they smell enough to out-weigh the risk of attacking they'll come sooner." That was a good idea and I passed along the advice to Yensi. I'm sure that the laborers and mercs would complain at having to go on one ration bar a day until we reached a campsite but I'm sure they liked being alive and hungry as opposed to full and dead. The trip as far as I could guess would be a week's worth of travel and then a unknown amount of time of salvaging work, we were only limited by a how much supplies we brought with us to support our endeavor. There was no way we would be risking poison in hunting or gathering local food. I would only need a day or two to get the things I wanted, everything else I would leave for the expedition's actual members. I cared little for it's success other than it being one, not how big of a success.

"I could be in a warm bed with even warmer women, and room service to cater to our needs. But instead I'm trudging through a cursed mockery of my homeworld." I growled to myself but I turned to see Oberyn chuckling.

"Not a fan of roughing it are Naraiz?" Like he was one to talk being the pampered prince of Dorne but I guess I was wrong as I didn't sense any discomfort from him.

"Nah, I'm definitely a city boy. I've never particularly enjoyed the comforts of mother nature. And right now we're experiencing her at her most bitchiness." With a scowl under my helmet I glanced back to the front where another tree in our way fell. It would be soon when I would tell them to instead of heading left to head right. On to Kaas City.


"Welcome to the Red Keep Lady Martell, Lady Dayne, Ser Uller." The Grand Maester bowed as the three welcomed riders stepped off their horses. After the incident in the Marchs and their departure from Ashford, they had decided to ditch the carriage and travel directly by horse. Neither Elia or Ashara wished to spend any more time in a carriage if they could help it. "The King has sequestered himself in his chambers for the time, but the Prince is waiting to greet you in his father's stead."

"Oh, that's wonderful." Elia felt a feeling of joy in her chest at hearing this. After such a turbulent journey to the capital, it was good news to hear her betrothed would be here to welcome her. Even if she knew that the King was hiding away in his room at some perceived threat. But first she needed to attend to her friend. "Ser Uller, please take my handmaiden to my chambers while I meet the Prince."

"Yes, my lady." He bowed before escorting Ashara into the Red Keep. The man had been a godsend, agreeing to take a vow of secrecy on what had happened to Ashara and redoubling his efforts to keep both of them safe on their trip. Elia could tell that he felt guilty and that he had failed in his duty to protect them that day. She could only hope that he wouldn't take it too hard as he was but one mortal man.

"Please Grand Maester, I would like meet my betrothed." The learned man bowed slightly before turning toward the main entrance of the keep. Elia allowed herself a small look of the finer detail of the Red Keep, truly it was a magnificent structure, worthy of a king. It would here that she would be living for the rest of her life. She quietly gulped as a nagging fear wriggled its way into her mind, that same thought that plagued her ever since it was announced that she would be marrying Prince Rhaegar. Was she ready for this?

She and the Grand Maester passed guards and members of court alike, all bowing to her as the princess of the realm. She smiled and hid her internal fear. Elia's mind recalled the words that Darth Nagash had spoken to her in their brief meeting, how she wished that they were true. Dared to hope that she did in fact do her blood proud. But all her life her body had been weak and prone to failure especially when it came to that of womanhood. Would she be cast out once it was found out that the possibility of her giving birth was slim? Would her husband or his father plot to have her… removed so that another could take her place. These were the thoughts that swirled around her like a dark and strangling fog.

The doors to the Throne room opened, bringing Elia out of her doubtful mood. Nerves steeled as the moment came, and hope refilled her heart. It didn't matter, and from all she had heard of the prince he was righteous and gentle soul. Every person that had ever met him told of a story of a dashing and charismatic young man that would surely right every wrong his father made. That is what gave Elia hope now, that she wasn't doomed to some grubby old man or unfeeling prideful lord.

The Grand Maester announced her and her titles as he stepped aside and let her walk toward the end of the throne room. There were less courtiers than she expected but that was fine, she didn't like the attention anyway. Elia walked proudly and with all the grace she had learned all her life, making sure to do her family name proud. Her eyes glanced to the base of the Iron Throne where prince and the Hand of the King waited. The Throne itself… felt asleep to her. With no one sitting on it and it having a general air of slumber it felt a little underwhelming. The two men at its feet were far more prominent.

She had feint memories of Tywin Lannister of the time she visited the Rock. He was still the unmovable object of pure superiority and authority as she recalled. Her mother had told her stories of his wife and how could someone that sounded so warm and loving be married to this man Elia would never know. But he paled in comparison to the man next to him.

"Lady Elia Martell, the words I have read and tales I have heard of your beauty do you no justice. I welcome you to the Red Keep, I hope it is everything you hoped for." Rhaegar Targaryen spoke with this cascading smooth voice that befitted his beauty. This was the pinnacle of noble aesthetic, a work of genetic art distilled into one man. Accented by fine purple and red robes that were perfectly tailored to his body. He looked to be out of a fairy tale, the very prince charming that little girls dreamed of one day marrying.

"Y-yes, it is wonderful to be here." Elia hesitated for but a moment. Detached from everything else about, Rhaegar's eyes betrayed him. There was something… disturbing about how they looked at her. Like she wasn't a person or even a animal like she had seen others look at those they thought less of. He looked at her with this intense certainty but lacked any warmth of a man looking to his future bride. Thankfully it was Tywin Lannister that saved her from possibly revealing her true thoughts.

"(cough) Thank you Lady Martell for making the trip to the capital. I'm sure that you and your betrothed have much to discuss but in the King's absence, the prince must conduct court." Elia could think of a number of reasons for why the Lion did not like her or wished for this meeting to be wrapped up quickly but cared for none of them, only that he unintentional helped her. One of the King's Guard stepped away from their post and escorted to one of the side doors. Once it was closed, she let out he breath she didn't realize she had been holding.

"You looked like you about to lose your lunch." She smiled as the King's Guard joked. Of course would have been Ashara's brother to be the one to escort her to her chambers. "I'm sure everyone will think nothing of it, meeting your betrothed so publicly like this is quite unusual."

"Yes… I certainly wasn't prepared for the prince."


"I will name these beasts Caragors." It mattered not what Ulysses named these troublesome monsters. IG-99 only gave them any processing power for their elimination and a few scans to return to its master's ever-growing database on the galaxy's lifeforms. But the term Caragor was as good as any other.

Consisting of three subspecies, or at least that was all the expedition dealt with so far. All of them were four legged beasts with large muscular bodies, the top of their front shoulders easily a foot higher than an average human. However, the only other commonalities among them was a similar facial structure of what IG-99 suspected was a feline ancestry, a series of spinal ridges, and a elongated tail that flicked widely whose end consisted of several sharp quills. The first of the subspecies were the largest and were armored with a hide of scales along with the thick leather of the others in their under bellies and lower limbs. They also had several other reptilian traits, mainly in their eyes, the shape of their claws, and three forked tongues that slipped in and out. These had been the hardest to kill as their scales were semi-blaster proof.

"I don't care what you call them just kill 'em." One of Ulysses' immediate compatriots, the former Republic Intelligence Officer known as Malcom Onis now calling himself Katz, screamed as he ran from a chasing member of the second subspecies. These were leaner and faster than the other two, though their jaws also were larger and contained protruding tusks. They also were alone in seemingly have fine control over their tail's movement. Likely these were those that did the finishing blow in the pack.

IG-99 watched as the hidden Sith Lord among with fired several well placed shots into the prowling beasts, killing it. The Droid's eyes zoomed in and out as it observed from the shadows of Ulysses' skill with a blaster. It was known to Darth Plagueis that Darth Nagash possessed powers and skills unorthodox to the normal Sith/Jedi doctrine. Part of IG-99's mission in its hunt and harassment of the man was to discover as many of these abilities as it could. Skills with a blaster was not a unheard of thing for a Sith or Jedi to have but it was unusual enough to be taken note of.

"Ulysses! Behind you!" One of the mercenaries shouted as they finally noticed the Alpha of the pack stalk its way through the mess of a fight that was occurring in the expedition's camp. The beast was between the hulk of the first and the slender of the second of the subspecies, its skin was jet black but of streams of bioluminescent pulses along its back. It moved with a strength and grace of any apex predator. IG-99 knew that many beast masters would pay top credit to have it among their menageries.

But that would not come to pass as the beast lunged forward at Darth Nagash and with speed and reaction that no normal human could possess, he ducked under the beast's claws and struck a slicing blow with a Vibro-Knife to the Alpha's underside. That had not been all either, as the highly advance droid's sensors picked up a flash of energy from the tip of Darth Nagash's finger. The Droid's audio suite picked up a high pitched whine sourced from under the beast following the flash, something too quick and high for organics to notice unless focusing. Another ability to catalog for IG-99's master.

The IBC enforcer Droid continued to wait undetected as the beasts were repealed by Ulysses' team and the mercenaries. While it had stated its purpose here to ensure the investment of the IBC was profitable, that was only a secondary objective. Its two primary missions was to secure any Sith Artifacts of worth for its master and to further gather data on Darth Nagash. While IG-99 was sure that the man thought it was here to kill him, that was far from the truth. Darth Plagueis still needed more information on the Rule of Three. For as long as the threat of Darth Nagash's followers returning after his death, the leader of the rival Order would live to give further insight.

Already a valuable piece of information was gained in the form of a possible base of operation of the Order. That of an uncharted Feudal World that only Darth Nagash has access to. IG-99 watched as both Ulysses and the very source of this clue berated the surviving laborers who had not listened to their rationing rule and attracting the beasts to them. The cultural dismissal of non-humans inherent in Kaasen society was what to blame here and it proved the droid's master right in his own dismissal of the former center of the Sith. But right now, IG-99 was only interested in the tan-skinned man with Darth Nagash.

It had overheard the man called Oberyn speak of his homeland and cross referenced it with all known Feudal Worlds that IBC had records of. Detailed ledgers had been kept of such worlds so in the case they might evolve either naturally or by uplifting, the IBC could immediately begin their business with the naïve natives. But the key words of Dorne, Seven Kingdoms, Sunspear, and others were not found in correlation with each other on any of the registered Feudal Worlds. And by its association with Darth Nagash, the concept of that was where he was hiding his Order was a logical one.

"We are on the outskirts of Kaas City, a place completely untouched since it was abandoned. So long as we maintain discipline and keep our heads, we'll come out of this rich." The likelihood of this being a successful venture had in fact dramatically decreased since arriving in their present location. There were reasons why the official salvage spot had been chosen. But IG-99's job was not to inform them all of this but to just watch its target. "Begin setting up better defenses. I don't want everyone to be dead when I get back."

"Mr. Ulysses, are you leaving?" One of the laborers asked but flinched at the glare he received. IG-99 did have to hand it to the enemy Sith, he played his hand well in the set up of this venture. Had the original liaison been here, Darth Nagash would have had a much more difficult time doing as he pleased.

"I am going in deeper than is safe for any of you. Listen to my people and do as your told while I am gone." That last order was harshly given, to act as a warning to not ignore orders just because it came from an alien. Once the Droid saw that its target moving back toward his shuttle with several of his own people, IG-99 felt now it was the time to leave the shadows. It was immediately noticed by both the target and the other organics, most of whom scowled as IG-99 had not helped in the camp's defense. "Well look who decided to grace us with its presence."

"You are leaving for the inner city; I am coming with you." IG-99 stated ignoring the pointless jab at it. It was ready for a debate of the merits of letting it accompany them. It could not allow Darth Nagash to be outside it's view and sensors, as such it needed to be on that shuttle. Arguments in the Droid's favor ranged from combat value to it's ability to move heavy objects. But all of its preparation was for nothing.

"Okay, was expecting this so hurry up and board." It took several seconds of recalibration to acknowledge what its target had said. The two identical women shot it knowing and cruel smirks as they all passed by it on the way toward the shuttle. IG-99 immediately readjusted it's plans to include even more attempts on its functions than originally anticipated.


"And then the boar ran into a tree!" Robert laughed along with the rest of Lord Arryn's men and those gathered around for Robin Arryn's name-day. Lyanna laughed at her betrothed's story, but it was partially forced. The days in recent times had grown paler and it had been harder to find joy in them. Glancing across the feast hall of the Eyrie, she could see that her brother Eddard wasn't even able to muster a smile.

It had been years since the death of their mother and the Stark family still moaned her. Their father had not married despite offers and advice to do so, all he was concerned with was the utter destruction of the Wildings. He had been raising funds and trying to convince anyone who would listen to join the Night's Watch, something he had openly said he would do once Brandon was of age to take lordship. Her eldest brother himself was a mix, she knew that during the day he drowned himself in drink and a few whores but when she was still in Winterfell, Lyanna would catch him training through the night or studying in the Maester's tower. Mother's death was a shock to him and it had caused both good in bad in Brandon, he was now taking his responsibility seriously but at the same time his excesses had gotten worse.

She had asked her father if she could visit Eddard to check up on him. Her wish was granted only when Robert's parents had died and she had been allowed to attend their funeral. And… she simply hadn't returned. But when she first arrived she was pleased to find out that Eddard had been taken care of well, both by his best friend and his guardian's family. Lord and Lady Arryn were a bless by the gods new and old in Lyanna opinion as she shuttered what her brother could have ended up like had he been only with others wallowing in grief. He was still sullen and clearly processing the loss but he wasn't broken like father.

The few letters that she had gotten from Benjen had alleviated her fears for him. As the youngest he had the fewest memories of mother and he had an entire Order to help. Apparently even the staff of Harrenhal had helped him greatly, as one of the chamber maids had comforted him the night her learned of mother's death. It made Lyanna happy to know that her little brother was safe in the hands of the Sith. And her, part of her had been too busy worrying about father or her brothers to grieve. She hadn't cried once, that was something silly over emotional girls did.

"Lyanna." She blinked, her eyes feeling wetter than they should. The one that had spoke was Lady Arryn who had put a hand on her shoulder. The calm sympathetic look in her eyes told Lyanna the older woman knew exactly what was wrong. Without thinking, Lyanna brushed off Lady Arryn's hand and stood up. Quietly excusing herself from the feast and walked away. She didn't need pity; she was doing fine without it.

The young girl on the verge of womanhood made her way to an empty balcony overlooking the many mountains of the Vale. The wind was mild for the night, and being a daughter of the North the southern winter cold didn't bother her as much as it would others. She leaned on the railing, wiping away the traitorous tears that had formed in her eyes. She was stronger than this, she was a dire wolf of House Stark and wasn't going to let something like grief break her. But despite her internal insistence, the tears did not cease and more continued to drop onto the cold stone below her. Time passed beyond her knowledge as she tried to control her emotions and Lyanna never noticed the dimming of lights as the feast drew to a close.

"There you are, been woundin' where you vanished off to." She heard the boisterous voice of Robert from behind, normally she would have felt a warmth in her chest at its sound but that did not come now. "There's still time to get Ned to… Lyanna?"

"It's nothing… I'm fine. Just go cheer up Eddard or something." She deflected as he noticed something was off with her. But her protests were pointless as Robert came to her side away, a part of her knew he would. He stood next to her and a large but caring hand came to her face as he held her gaze up to meet his. One look at the tears had him at first flash concern but that soon turned to anger.

"Who did this… I'll beat them bloody." She knew he was serious, the steel conviction in his voice made her heart skip a beat for a moment.

"No one. I just… it's stupid." She didn't want to look weak. And she certainly didn't want to look weak in front of the man that made her feel strong. This loud, brash, and at times crude man that accepted that she wasn't a soft and graceful lady. "I can handle-" She stopped as she felt his arm wrap around her and his hand on the back of her head as he held her.

"Yes, you can… we both can." And like that everything just broke, she went limp in his arms as cried like never before. She had been so foolish, her family wasn't the only ones to be going through loss and Robert had been hiding his grief even better than them. And hearing those comforting words that she wasn't alone in this sent her over the edge.


"Why are we not seeing any life here?" Vette asked as the both of us looked out of the shuttle's cockpit window. Its exterior lights shone down upon the ruins of Kaas City, the various bridges, towers, and plazas were all devoid of any life… not a single plant or skittering animal.

"There weren't many large parks in the city, so there wasn't much chance of growth from inside. But for there to be no encroachment or anything in all this time is strange." I muttered as I tried to think of reasons for this. While the rest of the surface was covered in thick nocturnal jungles and roamed by savage monsters, in the city there was nothing. An Empty husk devoid of any real change since I last saw it. The decay was minimal due to the last of nature coming back to claim the land and no sun to bake it and dry it out. Normally rain erode stone and rust metal but due to Dromund Kaas' natural weather of being rain storms everything was built with that in mind so the effect was mitigated. "We should be thankful that the Empire surrendered before the Republic got here. Though the Republic at the time wasn't as bomb happy as it is now, I doubt orbital bombardment wasn't out of the question after what we did to Coruscant."

"Do you think that something might be… wha?" I looked to Vette as she began going over the controls of the shuttle. "Something's going on, I'm not getting the correct readings."

"Oh no." I knew where this was going and just as soon as I did the shuttle lurched to the side. "Vette! What's going on?!"

"I don't know, nothing is responding!" She began to frantically try to retake control but given the shaky decent we were tailing into it wasn't working. Looking forward I could see that we were currently heading for towards the darkness of the many ravines of Kaas City.

I wasn't about to get tossed down there so using the Force I yanked on the shuttle, fighting against its thrusters to lean it up just enough to force it to crash into an empty plaza. The ship crashed and screamed its way across the ground, its sped falling but still moving too fast toward the opposite building. Gritting my teeth I pushed further on the Force, trying to both slow us down and to crush the engines of the shuttle as they were still going full blast. Whatever had taken control of the ship was still in there and intent on killing us. Metal cried as it was bent and broken, but I wasn't about to be killed in such a pathetic way. The crash came to a slow halt, skidding as it came to a stop.

"Fucking damn it what just happened." I groaned as I breathed heavy, with my limiters on that was hard. I opened the doors to the passenger area. "Okay, roll call… who died?" I got several pained responses from everyone. Thankfully the company that made the shuttle boasted it's safety features, and they weren't bullshitting.

"What are the chances that any of your ships are still flight worthy?" Vette asked as she unbuckled herself. We flew several days worth of walking to get here, and that was just taking into account normal terrain which would not be the case.

"Not high, but if need be I can call Cipher and he can arrange a second shuttle to be sent down here… maybe." That was if we can fix whatever cause our first to crash. "First thing is first, finding somewhere safe." With that I and the rest of the group began to exit the shuttle, IG-99 actually proving useful in ripping open the doors. We jumped out of the wreak and started pulling anything useful out from it, thankfully it didn't look to be danger of going boom.

"So now what?" Dabai asked, I'm sure that she was on guard of any attempt to kill her but this clearly wasn't in my plans. "Do we have any idea of where we even are."

"Given the direction we came, location of that gorge… and how fast we were going… I'd say on the border of Kat'ur and Kat'nid precincts." I mumbled to myself as I turned on my helmet's night vision, something everyone was going to have to do as there was absolutely no natural light for miles. Now up closer to the city than before, I could see a more detailed picture of the decay that has occurred. And it still is not nearly what should be natural. This place looks like it's been abandoned for two centuries and not the millennia it has been. There was parts that were crumbling but not many. This would help however in finding our way and made me hopeful that my home here on this world was relatively intact.

"You seem familiar with this city." The Droid spoke but I didn't respond. It was going to be trashed by the end of this whole thing so I didn't care if I was pissy with it.

"Vette, give the climbing gear to Oberyn and Dabai the comm-pack." I said before I looked to the droid, I would be happy ignoring it for the entire time we were here but given the newly presented danger I needed to address it. "The ship was hacked, how do I know your not a danger?" Besides the already present danger it posed.

"I have been outfitted by the best the IGB can afford and personally upgraded by my employer." Made sense. As for my tech, it was all in a Earth based language so anyone trying to hack my stuff would first need to translate just what the fuck they were trying to hack. Even if they understood the ones and zeros, they still needed to understand what those controlled. "By my calculations it will take several days travel back to camp, adjusting for expected delays, we should begin our return as soon as possible."

"What are you talking about, we're only a few hours away from our target. Plus… I want to meet whoever has made their home in Kaas City." Like the Force was answering my question, a blaster blot struck the wall next to my head. Great. A storm of blaster fire came at us, hitting the side of the shuttle as we all hid behind it. Vette tossed a grenade in the general direction of the incoming fire, causing it to lessen but not stop. That meant droids. "Felli, Emmi, scout ahead." I said pointing in the direction of Naraiz's palace, the Dothraki twins nodded and vanished into the darkness of the city.

"Boss, I think they are the city security droids!" Vette shouted as shots began hitting us from another side. Through my helmet I could see the outline of the standard Imperial droid body. "Think you can fix this."

"Kaas Law Enforcement Units, stand down! Command Code Four-One-Eight-Nine-Nine-Nine-Alpha!" I shouted not caring about the implications of doing so in front of Darth Plagueis' little helper. But my command code did nothing to stop the barrage we were under. "Override Code Epsilon Four-One-Nine-Two-Five!" Still nothing, not even the Dark Council's master override command seemed to work. If these were the droids of the Sith Empire as they looked to be then they had been recoded from the ground up.

"-Khal, the path is clear. We found a way to a better position.-" Emmi contacted me and I was happy to hear the good news.

"Okay everyone, we're moving out. If we can make it to our target, we'll all live."


"And that is what is happening in Pyke." Quinn listened to Victarion give his assessment of his homeland. He had just returned from his visit to his family, and his first thing of returning was to come to the Governor and report his findings. To the Imperial, this young man was quickly rising to the top of the Neophytes in his opinion. He was professional, loyal, and understood his role within the wider designs of Darth Nagash.

The others were varying of potential with the only exceptions of Jadith and Royn in Quinn's mind. They all had their talents and minus the aforementioned two could be great Sith Lords. The bottom two however still had their use as more numbers were needed. The Imperial however was quickly favoring Victarion as the lead in the group. He has impressed both Pierce and Rathari in combat, his control over his emotions has gained praise from Fay, and he has already proven he is a capable leader in his time as a Acolyte by whipping a mob of unruly bullies into a somewhat cohesive political party.

"The life of your father seems to be of paramount importance then. As it seems none of your brothers would make for good replacements." Quinn leaned back in his chair. The Iron Islands were a minor concern for Darth Nagash's plans, however they held the potential to be a danger to them as well. The raiders were great warriors on the seas and were capable at mass war industry when given a good enough reason. "The issue is that there is no possible way of him living naturally long enough for it to not matter. His reforms are doomed to die if they aren't championed by his successor."

"If he lives long enough, he might convince enough of the other lords to adopt his practices. We can at least weaken the support for the Old Ways by favoring those Houses." Quinn gave a approving nod. Victarion was blunt but not stupid, he had good instincts for how those around him and those he knew would act and react. If he just had a little more tact he would make a excellent player in the Game of Thrones… for a Iron Born that is. But that also required a certain desire, the one to rule. Victarion was a follower, and he knew it which was why he was so great at it. And he had found his leader and would go to the ends of the galaxy for him. Something Quinn could personally appreciate as he was of the same mind. "Thankfully, it seems House Harlaw is the most prominent of these Houses."

"They are the second most powerful House in the Iron Islands yes?" Quinn admitted that he was not the most versed in the local politics of each of the Seven Kingdoms other than the Riverlands and the Crownlands. Those kingdoms outside the immediate need were only given thought if someone in particular played a part in the grand plan. One thing Harrenhal sorely lacked was a capable spymaster, they had impenetrable defenses against spies but little in the way of a active spy network… despite what many in the realm thought. A spy master would be needed if they were to try and get involved in the dealings of nobles on a smaller scale.

"Correct, they have gotten fat and proud over their success with my father's reforms." The Iron Born snorted as he reached over and took several grapes from the bowl of fruit that Quinn had out. The Governor eyed the action, remembering that Victarion still had the manners of his people. "Only problem is that the other Houses, even those that think like them, hate the Harlaws because they have the best land in the islands."

"No public support then." Quinn jotted down a note on this for later. As far as Quinn was aware, Darth Nagash's plans for the Iron Island were in two options. Should the kingdom revert back to its old ways of raiding and pillaging as they expected it would, the Iron Born would be used as common thug for the Kingdoms to rally against when they inevitably try to rebel after the coming civil war. Afterward, in the shadows the Sith would continue to prod and agitate the Iron Born into become more reckless, culminating in a brash and unthinking enemy for when the kingdoms splinter further.

The second plan was in the unlikely event that they continue down the path of reforming their ways. In that case the Sith would push for Iron Islanders to continue wish for independence but from a different angel. Rather than a bully to be spat on, they would become a beacon of independence the other Kingdoms could look toward and feel fear and disgust from. The memories of the Old Ways would taint any ideals that came from those islands in the perspective of the other kingdoms. The goal of this was to provide greater unity for the Sith's eventual empire over all the realm.

"If that is all, I have training to do." Victarion said as he stood back up but just as he turned to leave Quinn's office, he stopped as the Governor raised a hand. There was one more matter he needed to discuss.

"Before you go, you understand that Darth Nagash has forbidden the Neophytes from being directly involved in the politics of the Acolytes." Victarion nodded, he wasn't shy among the Neophytes and his superiors that he cared little for his former gang. "Directly, being the focused there. Your old party has started becoming more unruly since you left. Several fights have begun to break out between other factions and even within. The latest one left a Acolyte in a coma, and will likely die in the coming weeks."

"Not my problem." Quinn narrowed his eyes at the callous response. Victarion had ruthless detachment as well as savage brutality, it was only by his conviction of loyalty and his intelligence that tempered these traits.

"Wrong, part of what we are striving for the Imperial governance the galaxy. Part of that will involve conquest but what you leave behind after conquering a world or system will be just as important." Victarion disregarding his responsibility to the mess he created was counterproductive. If he was going to be apart of the Sith leadership like he had the potential to be, he was going to have to learn how to clean up after himself. "This isn't a order, but a warning. What your former followers do is their own actions but the legacy you left behind will reflect on you."

"Can I go now." With a sigh Quinn waved away any obligation for Victarion to stay. The Neophyte shut the door behind him leaving Quinn to pounder the implications of this meeting for his report to his lord.


Oberyn was both having the time of his life and at the same deeply regretting his choice to come to the stars. As he hid behind the corner of a sleek metal building, blaster bolts firing at him, he knew that this was indeed the exotic trip possible.

"Shit, they're bringing the VX-23s. Watch for the big ones!" The prince of Dorne heard Naraiz shout as he passed him. Through the green lenses of Oberyn's helmet that had been provided to him, he saw a large four-legged droid behind the humanoid ones. He assumed that was what the Sith was referring to.

Oberyn had never once considered himself anything particularly good when it came to firing a bow, but a blaster proved to be much easier. He wasn't a crack shot by any means but he took pride in knowing that in his first engagement he was not falling behind. Even in the darkness of the city of eternal night like this. The Dornish man fired several shots are the marching metal men that had been pursuing them, a few of them landing and even one hitting a head and downing of the droids.

"They've pushed us to the bridges, it's either we cross them or we're going to have to take the long way around the gorge!" Vette shouted after she rolled out of the way of a large blaster shot by the quad-legged droid.

"How is it you two are so familiar with the layout of the city." The tiresome droid on their side questioned. Oberyn knew that it was a spy for one of Darth Nagash's many enemies but it's blatant disregard for the situation was getting on his nerves.

"What'd I say about asking questions I have no intention of answering!" Naraiz shouted back as seemed to finally have enough and jumped out of cover as he drew his swords. It was then that Oberyn got a real taste of just what the Sith was capable of. Naraiz closed the distance between them and the attacking droids in a flash, one second he was running toward them and a moment later he was leaping into the air. His feet landed on the shoulders of one of the droids and with a duel swing of his blades removed the heads of the two standing next to it. Then he kicked off with enough force to smash the droid he had been standing on into the ground shattering it into pieces. He landed behind the large four legged droid and with a single thrust of both his swords impaled it's spine like construction, then finished it and three others by tossing it into a second group. All the while, the rest of the droids were finished off by Vette and the twins, having been giving easy shots by Naraiz's distracting assault.

"By the gods…" Oberyn muttered as he knew then and there that there was no man in Westeros capable of fighting this man. The ease by which he had finished off those metal terrors could not by replicated by any knight in the realm.

"There will be more. Let's get moving." Darth Nagash commanded as he led the rest of them toward another ravine with several bridges running across it. As they ran over, Oberyn looked down to see just a bottomless darkness… a something flying out of it. "Shit, an Imperial gunship. Just keep going, we're almost there!"

The air whined as the gunship round back around and fired two rockets onto the bridge, collapsing it. It flew over them of chunks of the bridge begun falling into the gorge bellow. Oberyn pushed his legs as fast as he could give, however he stopped once he felt himself lift off the ground. He watched as the soon only the Droid was running, fast enough to actually make it the end, meanwhile him, Vette, and the two Dothraki twins were floating in the air. They looked down and saw Naraiz holding them up with the Force and with a grunt of effort sent them all flying to safety, all but Dabai.

Once Oberyn landed safely on the other side of the ravine, he stood back up and watched as Darth Nagash launched himself into the air like no mortal man could and hitch a ride on the circling gunship. All while Dabai attempted to leap onto the next momentary stable piece of the bridge… only to fail.

Without any more thought on the hows or possible whys this was happening, Oberyn latched one of the grapple lines that he had been carrying to the ground and with all his remaining energy ran and jumped off ledge. Behind him he heard the panicked cries of his comrades, but with a assured smile on his face he knew what he was doing. All his life his family called him a reckless fool that would one day get himself killed due to his over-confidence. But that was not this day. He swung through the air, the cable that was his life-line went tight as he reached its end. And under the mad laughter of Darth Nagash destroying the gunship above, he caught the falling woman in his arms.

"Not on a white horse or anything, but this works." He smirked as with a press of a button, the cable began pulling them back up. He could not see the look on her face as a helmet covered it, but he had seen that body language before, a hesitation before looking away while still clinging to his body. He had done his job.

The inertia of the recoiling cable cause the two of them to be sent a little off the ground once they had reached the ledge. As graceful as ever, Oberyn landed on his two feet. There he gently set Dabai down, she still held onto him for more than a second longer than one would need but then detached and hurriedly walked away without so much as a thank you. The moment was interrupted by a sudden crash nearby and everyone turned to see Naraiz hopping off a ruined gunship in flames.

"Ha! I'm getting this close on learning how to fly!" He shouted excitedly as he approached them. Oberyn could see that he paused for a moment as his helmet's gaze landed on Dabai. It was then that his mind caught back up with the facts, that Dabai might have been purposefully left behind when Naraiz had saved them. Did not matter, Oberyn knew he had done right by himself. If Naraiz wished to see Dabai dead then he could do so directly. "Right now we are not far from our objective. Once we cross into the palace grounds, I can guarantee our safety."

"And you can ensure that how?" The Droid questioned once again but this time Darth Nagash looked ready to respond but all fell silent as a static noise arose from the gunship's wreckage. At first it was nothing but a mix of odd sounds and garbled audio. But soon enough it was clear, a deep and dark voice laughing at them and to Oberyn it almost sounded feminine.

"-You seek death if that place is where your desires lead.-" The voice was synthetic and distorted but undeniable more than a robotic mind. "-I thought you sought to plunder my kingdom, the bones by which all my people had built and yet I alone live to rule over. But that? Seek it and die.-"

"And just who are you to claim Kaas City?" Darth Nagash sounded offended to the Dornish Prince. Though if he understood the situation right, the Sith probably thought himself the only person in the entire galaxy with a rightful claim on it.

"-This city was built by Sith, for Sith. And I am it's sovereign and keeper. Once, I was called by my peers as Darth Malora… but I have dispensed with any moniker. That is the need of a organic.-" The voice mocked and its words confused Oberyn to no end, and he supposed that this was unusual for the galaxy as he could see Vette was showing signs of unease.

"Malora… a weak Sith that felt the need to go around her own master to prove her own intelligence." It seemed that Naraiz had some personal experience with the mind behind this being. Or at least that was what Oberyn was able to gather. There was silence, and he prepared for the being to rage at the mockery. But that's not what came.

"-Yes, I was weak. And from the moment I understood the source of that weakness… my own flesh… I was abhorred. Once I had lost everything, I sought the enteral strength of steel and the purity of the machine. Where all the bastions of the old empire have crumbled and died… I survived.-" The back of the gunship exploded and the flames grew brighter. "-Or so I thought. But while you cling to the crudeness of meat and blood, you will decay… you will perish. And all your Wrath will do you nothing.-" And with that the gunship blew apart in a fireball that created a plum of flames and smoke into the sky.


Thoren stood before the Heart Tree of Harrenhal. He had come here to try and feel the Light Side of the Force and calm his nerves. Days had passed since he had returned and he and Jadith still had not spoken. Then to add to his emotions, Acolytes started springing up asking for him to fix all their problems. Solve the brewing conflicts between the various factions just because of his status back when he was among their number. He did not have time for them and despite insisting that it was now their problem they continued to pester him.

All of this only added to the Dark Side's growing whispers of vengeance. The urgings to go and find his father and demand answers before ending his traitor and criminal life. His anger and frustration were boiling up and he had no outlet, no friends or lover to confide in, no place to vent his anger out. All he had was this place, this tree that felt like a beacon of calm in the storm of his emotions.

"Thoren~." The young man scowled as felt so weak as to fall to this point. Disgust that he broke in his will that night and let his emotions take control. He should have handled Jadith's family better instead he just killed and terrorized. Like some rabid thug.

"This is his fault. Was is really so hard to be a good man?" Thoren growled as he looked down to his hands, covered in blood. He blinked and refocused his eyes, seeing his hands clean. Confusion started to keep to his mind but he waved it off as a trick of the mind. Instead he looked back to the angry face carved into the Weirwood and let the Light Side that came from the tree wash over him again.

"Thoren, listen to my voice~." Thoren felt the air in his lungs thin, he leaned forward and rested a hand on the tree to hold himself up. His head felt light but for the life of him he could not feel worried. An ocean of calm was flooding his mind and prevented him from panicking. Thoren's hand slipped and he fell forward, for a brief moment his head cleared but that passed as soon as it came. "Such a proud knight should not doubt himself so."

"Who… w-what?" His voice was weak as he saw through the golden white glow that blinded him. He had not fall to the ground but instead his head was being cradled in the lap of a woman made of light. Her face was kind and radiated a clamming aura of innocence and purity.

"Do not let the Dark within. You know your duty, your pride. When you seek your father, it will be for justice not for vengeance. As befitting a man of your blood." She spoke but there was no sound. Her voice entered his mind like an angel's song and soothed the fury that had been boiling in him. She was right, his father had broken the law and trust of the people. Killing him was justice and he would seek him out as any just knight would. She lady smiled as if she heard his thought clear as if he spoke them. The sense of elation he felt at seeing her pleased was indescribable.

"I… I…" He started even with some deep nagging feeling telling to not speak any more.

"Yes?" She led him on, knowing what he was going to say.

"I want to-"

"Thoren!" A voice cut through the fog and for a split second, the golden figure shattered and was replaced by a woman still beautiful but now garbed in horrid tattered clothes and maintaining a scowl of contempt on her face. "Who are you and what are you doing with him!"

"This does not concern you girl/Please leave, you are interrupting." Thoren blinked as he heard one voice, cruel and enraged and the other pleading and frightened. But it was the one calling for him that drew his mind the most. He knew that voice. But he couldn't remember from where. Curiosity won out in the moment of distraction of the woman. He turned his head back and saw a girl.

"Jadith." Speaking her name brought the Neophyte out of trance the golden woman placed on him. But the second he tried leaving her grasp he felt his entire body go numb.

"No! I have you now! You are mine, I have waited too long to be without a champion of my own! I will not be alone anymore!" Any illusion the being holding had was gone in the moment as she hissed at him. One of her arms held his head and brought him up to her while the other's hand dug into his sword arm restraining it. She held him close in her chest, the angelic vision returned despite Thoren now knowing it was fake. "Stay Thoren, everything you ever were meant to be is with me. You know it is true."

"You stay away from him you whore!" Thoren felt ripples in the Force, strong ones. A gust of air hit both of them as a telekinetic push hit a barrier around them.

"You dare call me such and defy me! I will remove you from-" The cawing of a nearby raven ended it all. Thoren's head hit the ground as whatever had been supporting it before vanished out of existence. The power that had been swirling around him, ready to destroy Jadith was also gone and its sudden departure created a small vacuum.

"Thoren!" He heard Jadith shout just everything starting going black, the hit to his head giving him a blessed knocking out.


Author's Notes

So a lot happened this chapter, some development and some progression on a few fronts. Next chapter we will see Naraiz face off against some... how do i put this... demons... he's going to be fighting demons okay. Then he will have to deal with getting out of Kaas City with all of his goodies. Back on Terra, the Maidan as made her move and now those on Terra will have to handle it without Naraiz.

Reviews

RonaldM40196867 - Not even close to the halfway mark

ZhaWarudo - For SW I don't know, for ST is because that's the pussy sci-fi universe. 40k, most worlds just aren't technologically advanced enough or the nobility hordes all that stuff for themselves. I think there is mention of other gene-soldiers but they are vastly inferior to Astartes. Plus 40k also has the Dark Eldar and what they do with gene mods.

Harbringer27 - neither of them are Talzin's bio kids, Maul was taken by Talzin from his bio-mother to give to Sidious. In Canon Talzin is called Great Mother as a title