:: Chapter Twenty Eight ::
For the sake of privacy, everyone within their innermost circle had agreed to a late dinner buffet in the cantina, at Eliza's request, so she could inform one and all of everything that had transpired. The reactions were mixed while she delivered one piece of news after the other in a brief recap first and then elaborated on each story, starting with her connection to Valkorion.
"So, the Sith Emperor is your family?" Me'ghan repeated, awestruck and reeling at the mere thought.
"In a way, though, there are countless generations between us and even his father was a bastard child. But we are bound by blood."
Praven, highly intrigued and excited by her story as if he'd just discovered a long-missing chapter of history, let his jaw drop before he grinned. "And you never knew?"
Eliza shook her head. "No, only a few did and this Lord Andros basically took the secret to his grave."
"Can you eat planets too and become immortal?" frowned Darius, dead serious though his question elicited several chuckles.
"Eh, no. I mean, I guess I could learn, any Force user could, technically, and it's not a special gift only Vitiate possesses but no." She took a sip of her fizzy drink and moved on to the subject of Lord Scourge.
"Now, based on what Markos had to say, what Theron and Me'ghan discovered, and what I've learned from Marr, it's obvious he survived but that's all I know too, the where remains a mystery."
Over to her left, a fluster colored Lana's cheeks and she stared down at her plate, hit by shame.
"I'm sorry, Eliza… I should have ran a more thorough background check on Regina and known better than to trust Ravage with the details of Nyssa and Theron's involvement in our alliance…"
"Don't be, you're hardly the only one who fell for his act or who blindly bought into Regina's story—I did too."
"I must say, I am a little surprised he would go that far," Lord Cytharat interjected, "that he would subject not only you, but Cyara as well, to that cruel of a lie. I've seen him with her, he adores her almost as if she were his own."
"Which could also serve as further motivation to do what he did," Charlie pointed out, "Didn't you say he lost his wife and daughter? Perhaps in his twisted mind, you could have filled each other's void."
"It's possible." Eliza frowned. "Though not at all comforting and a bit creepy."
"Is there any proof the duplicate item he ordered from Elias' finery is in fact Scourge's wedding band? Do we know anything more about Thyra, other than her father worked for Ravage and was killed by Eliza?" asked Lord Cytharat.
Jonas glared his way, one eye narrowed. "Don't tell me you're looking to defend or absolve him of this."
"No, of course not," said Lord Cytharat and added, "But all we have is extremely circumstantial evidence and suspicion toward a man very few of us ever even liked."
Malavai put his tea down and frowned in thought. "I don't think anyone here would be quick to defend Ravage—we all know the man he is—but Lord Cytharat does raise good questions, ones we should try and find answers to first."
"I agree," Eliza said, much to everyone's surprise, "Let cooler heads prevail. He is in lockup, he won't be going anywhere and while personally, I'd love nothing more than to rip his heart from his chest, it can wait.
"I will, however, pay him another visit tomorrow to find out what else he knows, see if he'll confess."
"And what about Scourge?" asked Praven.
"We're back to square one. Theron's offered to compile a report with all we know thus far and circulate it among our contacts in other regions, perhaps we'll find a lead."
Next to her, Theron gave a faint smile and took her hand in his own.
They had yet to discuss the what-ifs should Lord Scourge be found and he did worry that once again he'd lose her but he'd also made himself a promise—he'd stand with her and support her, wherever it may lead them.
Eliza next touched on the events in the woods—Valkorion's words and the reunion she'd had with Marr and Satele.
"That is, curious…" Praven mused and pensively stroked one of his tendrils, "the Sith Emperor would truly see his own fall as a means to make room for a successor, and accept it?"
"So he claimed but that is not the Vitiate we know and I don't believe any of it. He needs me for something, that much is clear, but to what end? Marr saw a possible future where I'd become Vitiate's vessel, I can't let that happen."
"But if he foresaw it—" Lana began to argue by Eliza waved her off.
"I don't care. It was a possible future and it can be stopped. I'll do whatever it takes."
Darius sat forward. "But was it a vision, or a prophecy? Aren't those guaranteed to play out?"
"I no longer believe in destiny, visions, prophecies or anything of the sort," Eliza admitted with a shrug.
"All they do is provide false hope, a false sense of security or instill fear for something that may never come to pass. Marr told me he saw a dozen different futures based on every single decision a person makes, that leaves me to believe that in the end, we create our own fate."
She continued, "And visions? I rather suspect those are the result of whichever future appears most likely based on various factors—personality, someone's history, past choices they've made, their circumstances—but none of it definitive."
"Huh." Praven looked at her with further intrigue. "That's a debate I'd like to expand upon, another time."
"Satele did not wish to join us?" asked Lord Cytharat and several people around the room snorted all at once.
"Clearly, you've never met the Jedi Grandmaster, nulis." Praven smiled and then glanced Theron's way. "Apologies."
He merely shrugged. "It's fine. Eliza already informed me earlier and I'm not even surprised. At least now I know she's still alive."
"So," Charlie spoke up, "What's the plan? We have several issues to deal with. The Emperor, Arcann, finding Scourge and then there's that asshole in lockup."
"Arcann takes priority," Eliza decided.
"He is everyone's problem and once we've dealt with him, I'll deal with Vitiate. Scourge… as much as it pains me, I can't go on a wild chase right now, not with everything else going on and Ravage, I'll figure that out tomorrow after I've spoken with him."
"Do you think it's wise to keep Vitiate around until then? Didn't your great ancestor offer a way to rid you of him?" Me'ghan voiced some concern.
"He did but Vitiate is my key to survival right now. He needs me, my body, he won't let me die while facing Arcann and I know it's a risk but it's one I'm willing to take."
—
Later that night, while preparing for bed, Eliza turned to Theron with a curious look in her eyes. "You've been quiet, what's on your mind?"
Despite his loving support and the way he'd stood by her, she'd noticed his absent-minded stares into the far distance and how he'd offered little to no words at all during the meeting.
He glanced up with a perfect, and practiced, fake smile. "Nothing worth worrying about right now."
"You're not fooling me, babe, I know you better than that and I can see the SIS written all over that smile, it doesn't work on me."
Eliza stripped down to her boyshorts and tank top, tossing her bra onto the nearest chair and climbed into bed where she patted the smoothed out sheets. "Join me and talk to me?"
"How could I say no?" He smiled a genuine smile this time and undressed until only his boxers were left.
He climbed into bed, finding her arms and he sighed his confession, "It's uhm, it's Scourge. I can't stop thinking about what might happen to us, you and me, once we find him."
"Yes, I thought that might be it," said Eliza while she cozied up to him, "Look it's, complicated and there is so much uncertainty right now.
"Will we find him at all and if so, when? A month from now? Ten years from now? Will he survive until we do find him and what condition is he in? Hanging by a thread? Is he locked up somewhere or lost on a forsaken planet scrambling to survive? Likely scenario is Arcann has him imprisoned, wherever, but there are so many questions."
Theron nodded and planted a tender kiss to the side of her head. "I know, and I feel terrible for my selfish concerns while you're dealing with this but—"
"No, don't feel bad. You have every right to ask and this is our life now, together, and all of this involves and affects you too."
While the pads of her fingertips caressed his cheek to adore the man who was now her universe, she sunk her lips down over his and kissed him ardently.
"But," she continued when their lips parted, "while there is much uncertainty, there is one thing I do know beyond a doubt—I am not leaving you again, even if we do find him."
He looked startled, in a complete surprise of not just her words but the determination in which she spoke them. "What? Are you sure?"
"I am. This has been on my mind as much as it's been on yours, ever since we found out and the truth is… Yes, I still love him and I always will and yes, I've spent years holding on to hope but while doing so, I also had to adjust to life without him.
"Subconsciously, I think I started moving on already even before Ravage's subterfuge pushed me over the threshold, by pure necessity, you know? To make it through." She furrowed her brows and sighed, in part hating her own admission.
"It sounds cold, and I feel guilty about it but that's where I'm at now…"
Theron took her hand and held her tighter. "No, I think it's understandable. Despite love and hope, you were facing a future without him and in ways, had to move on just to function?"
"Yeah… so you don't think I'm horrible for saying this?"
"No, but, where does that leave us? You feel moved on from him now, I guess you've created an emotional detachment but what when you see him again?"
"I don't know, honestly, there's just too much at play to have a sense of how I would handle that but what I do know is, I want Cyara to have her father in her life and… Theron…" She looked at him with misty eyes. "I can't lose you again.
"Not counting all the other insanity going on, and focusing on just you and me, I finally feel right, complete. I can't stomach the mere idea of leaving you or losing you in any fashion," her voice broke with light panic as she spoke.
"Then you won't. Whatever lies ahead, we'll face it together and when we find him, we'll make things work, somehow."
He sunk further down the bed to lay back and urged her to do the same, holding her to him while her face nuzzled his neck and his chin rested on top of her head.
"And you'd still want to be with me, even through all this? The drama, the craziness, all the Vitiate stuff, that mental patient in his cell downstairs, and my dark side?"
"Yes, all of this and anything else that comes along. You're never getting rid of me, not even if…" he paused at another thought he'd been toying with and now felt ready to decide on.
"If…?"
"If you wish to return to the Empire when all this is over."
Now it was Eliza's turn to give him a look of utter surprise. "Seriously? I had hoped to go home, yes, but… that was before we got together and since then I've just tried to put it from my mind because I don't feel right asking you to defect."
Theron nodded and planted a butterfly kiss on the tip of her nose. "And I love you for that but, what's there to defect from?
"They've kicked me out numerous times, branded me a traitor on more than one occasion. The SIS has fired and rehired me more times than I care to count and my mother who is, or was, here on Odessen, didn't even care to come see me. The only home I have is by your side, wherever that takes us."
"What of Jonas and Charlie, and your father?"
"Jonas and Charlie are both spies, we'll figure out a way to handle this and my father… He turned his back on me when he betrayed you and sided with Arcann, even against his own son. He knows I'm here and a part of the alliance."
"He does?"
"He personally added my name to a whole list of so-called Republic traitors associated with the alliance, I sliced their files the other day looking for recruits and saw."
"Oh love, I'm sorry."
"Don't be. Our relationship has always been awkward and estranged and he has so many scars from previous wars, so much hatred… even if you and I settled down on Coruscant, it wouldn't change my relationship with him."
She gently traced his chin and bottom lip with her index finger while her brows remained furrowed. "I had no idea… I feel like lately, everything's been about me and you've been so strong and supportive while clearly, you've had your own struggles too and I've hardly been supportive in return."
"Malcom and Satele aren't a struggle—I've made my peace with that situation years ago. They didn't even attend the wedding which was a ten-minute walk away from their offices in the Senate Tower."
With great affection, he lightly kissed the padding of her index finger and smiled. "Having you with me, laying here like this, together, at the end of a crazy day, it's all the support I need."
Eliza chuckled and felt relieved, commenting with a playful demeanor, "Careful now, you're dipping into corny town."
"Am I?"
His left brow quirked and he held a mischievous look in his eyes and suddenly, she became aware of his hand sliding down her stomach and inside her boyshorts. "Should I dip into something else instead?"
Instant arousal mixed with the amusement she got from his words, a girlish giggle escaping her lips. "Mmm, we need to work on your dirty-talking skills."
"Nah, words were never my forte, I don't need them." He grinned and found her sweet spot, teasing the swelling while eliciting a pleasurable gasp from Eliza. "And my actions speak for themselves."
She would have giggled a second time if it weren't for the moan that came from the back of her throat and before long, they left all troubles behind in favor of passionate endeavors that carried them deep into the night.
—
Morning, however, announced itself abruptly when the emergency alert on both their datapads and holo communicators began to chime loudly, rousing them from a deep sleep and within five minutes, the groggy couple rushed inside the war room still wearing their pajamas.
"Ugh, what is it?" muttered Eliza, still fastening her bathrobe and combing her fingers through her tousled hair.
"It's Arcann, he just sent his fleet to attack five different planets in the Esstran sector," Lana called out and activated the HoloNet News broadcast, "Billions are dead and the death toll is still rising."
"The Esstran sector?!" Lord Cytharat overheard when he joined them and he shot forward in sudden panic. "Which planets?"
"Korriz, Melldia, Kursid, Drezzi, and… Athiss."
"No…"
The devastating news knocked the air from his lungs and Praven caught him in an embrace. Eliza clapped a hand over her mouth and silenced a gasp of her own.
"There's more," said Lana with a grave expression on her face, "The Empire is struggling to send search and rescue teams to the planets, or any form of aid, as it appears Empress Acina has gone missing."
"Fuck Acina," Eliza bit out, only caring for one thing right now, "Do we know if anyone on those planets has survived?"
"Some might have. The fleet attacked all major cities but they didn't destroy the planets in question. Those on the outskirts or in nearby villages could have survived."
"Then there's hope," she suggested while she stood by the two Purebloods and soothingly rubbed Lord Cytharat's back, "Your parents and sister, didn't you say they were staying at a farm far removed from the city?"
He only gave a faint nod and retrieved his holo-communicator, desperate to call his family but Lana quickly pointed out, "All communications are down."
"Eliza…" Praven gave her a look that spoke volumes while he held his love.
"I know. Pack your things, anything you need and whatever medical, food, and water supplies we can spare," she decided on the spot, "be ready to leave for Athiss in one hour."
"But you're needed here," argued Lana, "and we are low on resources as—"
"Lana! Thank you but I don't care. We'll make do, somehow, start dipping into our rations," Eliza barked and turned to Lord Cytharat, cupping his face between her hands while she added, far more gently, "She is right though, I can't leave, especially not if Arcann is moving this war into high gear."
"I know." He nodded a second time while he struggled to form any words at all. "But I have to…"
"You do, and you will."
Just then, Me'ghan and Malavai joined and Eliza quickly told them what had happened while asking them to join the other two on a rescue mission to Athiss.
"Of course, I'll prepare my ship immediately," Me'ghan agreed.
"Good, thank you, and when you find them, just in case communications are still down, you can either bring them here or offer to fly them to Rishi, and visit the girls while you're at it."
Wishes of good luck and heartfelt sentiments were expressed and Eliza kissed Lord Cytharat's cheek. She held him to her, once more apologizing for the fact she couldn't accompany him and then he, Praven, Me'ghan, and Malavai left to make preparations.
"Is there anything we can do from here?" asked Theron after they'd gone.
"Yes, let's start working on a plan to bring Arcann down," said Eliza.
Lana gently cleared her throat. "There is still the matter of Acina."
"No, that's just good riddance but the Empire does need a leader—this is the worst time for them to become vulnerable. I'm going to get some caf and see if I can reach Vowrawn… it might just be time he emerged from the shadows."
