AN: I apologize for my lack of frequent updates. I've got several projects going on all at once, and it's been keeping me from working on this story for as much as I probably should. However, as always, Kamen Rider Raika has been a massive help in making these chapters. I know it's probably getting old thanking him all of the time, but I seriously don't know where I would be without him. Also, for the sake of reducing the waiting time between chapters, I've considered reducing the length of each individual chapter in order to upload new content more often and focusing on tighter story editing. What are your guys' thoughts on this idea? Anyways, I hope you enjoy the rest of the chapter...

Blake and Sun both cried in agony as their masked captor entered their minds once again. How long have they been here now? Weeks? Months? Maybe a year? Neither of them had any sense of time while being stuck in the dark. All they had was each other, and the regular visits and experimentations of their captor.

Sun was the first to go limp. Unconscious, but alive. His scarred body dangled from the chains attached to his wrists from the ceiling. Blake managed to scream two words before the pain became too unbearable.

"Please, stop!"

"Stop… who? I told you my name, didn't I?"

"N-Nyxona…"

"Good." Nyxona giggled behind her mask. "You two truly do impress me, though. I'm surprised you've lasted long. Not even some Jedi I've played around with like this have managed to cling on to sanity."

Nyxona raised her hand again, but didn't stretch out with the Force. But that didn't matter. Blake's eyes dilated and her body violently shook, screaming and begging for her life.

"Hmph. I guess I wasn't entirely correct about your sanity."

"Leave… leave her alone!" Sun had woken up more quickly than expected.

"Oh?" Nyxona leaned in. "Are you, an animal, telling me, a sentient, what to do?"

Sun bared his teeth as Blake looked on in horror.

"Sun, no!" Blake pleaded.

"Silence!" Nyxona hissed. "Now, Sun, what did you tell me to do?"

"I told you to shut up!" Sun said with fire burning in his eyes. In what could have possibly been his last act of defiance, Sun spat into Nyxona's shiny black visor. Blake yelped and looked away from what she assumed would be a slaughter.

Nyxona merely chuckled, not bothering to wipe the spit off her helmet. "Charming, to the last." She cupped her hand around Sun's cheek, letting her fingers slide off one by one along his chin. Sun only continued to stare her down.

After a brief moment, Nyxona stood up, angling herself so they could both see her in full view. She reached up at her helmet, and a hiss of air escaped from the dark and empty face. She pulled off her helmet with a loud and bassy pop, revealing a being that look human, but more appropriately resembled certain stories about witches. The most obvious distinction was her vibrant green skin, which had several ornate tattoos etched along her almost too beautiful face, despite the deep claw marks across it.

"The two of you are starting to bore me." She sighed. "I appreciate that you are willing to defend Blake, dear Sun. But my efforts to break you have failed, whereas my efforts to break Blake has succeeded. I don't want either of you being feisty, I want control over both of you!"

In Nyxona's sudden burst of volume, she ignited a glowing crimson blade with a *hiss-howl!*, and swung directly at Blake. Sun yelled to protest, but once the deed was done, half of Blake's left cat ear had been burned off. Blake whimpered and cried as Sun looked on with horror.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." Nyxona's said innocently. "If it helps, I bet I can make you forget this all happened! Then once I come back, we can have fun like this all over again!"

"W-what are you talking about?" Sun asked fearfully,

"Oh, I never told you about the Force, did I? Well, a man once said 'The Force can do terrible things to a mind. It can wipe away your memory and destroy your very identity!' And I bet that if I destroy your identity Sun, I can break you. And If I wipe the memories of both you and Blake, I can break you all over again, and again.."

Nyxona lifted both of her hands against Blake and Sun and closed her eyes. She focused as the two faunus felt their bodies and minds convulse violently as thought after thought was torn away from them. Nyxona's ethereal hands ripped through their minds and memories with near zealotry, not wanting to leave a single scrap of identity behind. In a few long minutes, both Blake and Sun, now empty, fainted. Nyxona released her grip, smiling at her handy work. When she would return, these two test subjects would be new people. People she could mold again and again, now that she knew she could destroy one's memories. They would belong to her.

"Sir." A stormtrooper called from beyond the door. "Admiral Kayana's distress beacon has activated. We need you on the site."

"Very well." Nyxona said. "I'll be there." She gave one last look at her victims before placing her helmet back on, wiping off the spit of the man who would not even remember his name to be Sun.

"You benighted fool!" Kayana shouted at Kebiin, doing her best not to get dragged against the pavement. "I will see to it that you will be executed! A child such as yourself has no right to-"

"Will you just shut up already!?" Kebiin said as he dived with her behind a rusted car, barely missing the volley of red blaster fire that was trained on them.

"See? They don't care if they kill you, too! If anyone is going to save you, it's either going to be me or the actual cops. Don't you want to live to bark orders another day?"

"Tch." Kayana hissed through her teeth. "You underestimate the Empire. They know exactly what they're doing."

Using the Force, Kebiin pushed their car cover in the same general direction as the blaster fire, sending it to where he hoped the stormtroopers would be. In the ensuing chaos, he grabbed Kayana by the wrist again, this time speeding into another street with the aid of the Force.

"Are you trying to break my arm, adiik?" Kayana winced as they entered a normal human running speed.

"I may as well return the favor after what you did to Ruby! Although I'd rather get payback for Weiss while I'm at it, too."

"Hmph. It's not like I was the one flying the TIE, Ceibur.

"But you led them to us! And because of that, now I'm stuck with you!"

"How polite."

A bright white light encircled the two of them, and Kebiin instantly placed his E-11 on Kayana's tempol, shoving her body in front of his and daring the TIE pilot above to shoot.

"You can't run forever." Kayana grinned. "Tell me, have you actually had to kill anyone before? I hear your clan's world was secluded and wasn't exactly a warzone."

"Just because Yang isn't here to tell you to shut up doesn't mean you can keep talking." Kebiin hissed into her ear as she slowly back stepped away from the TIE. He tightened his grip on his blaster, hoping to assure her than he was willing to pull the trigger. But as was often the case, she could tell he was a liar.

Kayana began to laugh as more stormtroopers made the turn into their street, surrounding them on the spot the hovering fighter had them pinned. Kebiin counted maybe a dozen troops taking position along the sidewalks and streets, waiting to receive the order to fire. Kebiin spotted the same short stormtrooper girl once again in her helmet, shaking and uncertain of what action to take.

"Wait!" Kayana shouted at her troops. "Stand down!"

Even though most of the stormtroopers expressed confusion at the command, they nonetheless obeyed as they always did.

"Tell me, child of Ceibur. What if I invoked the code right here and now?"

Kebiin nearly froze. No one had ever invoked the code on him before. "You would challenge me to single combat? Right now?"

"Would you refuse?" Kayana almost giggled in anticipation for his answer. "You called me a coward before, didn't you? I may be an Imperial, but I am still Mandalorian. I have to defend my honor, and you have to defend yours by accepting."

For a moment, Kebiin regretted the flaunting of his heritage to this woman. But he quickly realized how selfish that was. His culture and customs were his, regardless of situation and location. Even if he hated Kayana for turning her back on the Mandalorian people, it would be pathetic to reject the challenge of a person he so openly denounced.

"What about your stormtroopers? Will they interfere?"

"Their training was modeled off of the old clone troopers, who were in turn modeled off of us. I trust them to understand this."

"I don't."

"You don't have to."

Kebiin allowed the offer to roll around in his head, weighing his options. Should he even consider Kayana as Mandalorian at this point? Dueling right now on the spot had no advantage for him. The time it would take for him to fight Kayana gave the Imperials time to surround and close in on his position even more than they already have.. He would be trapping himself. But his own blood told him that that would be unacceptable. He couldn't call himself Mandalorian only when it was convenient. He wouldn't be like Kayana.

"... fine." Kebiin finally said, releasing his captive. "I accept. What are your terms?"

"Melee combat only." Kayana said, brushing her hair. "Fists, feet, and the weapons provided. None of your Jedi mystics. DN-3017 over there brought your native weapon with her from the hospital, and it's standard procedure to bring riot troopers whenever visiting these unsightly ghettos."

"You're going to come at me with a tiny shield and tonfa?" Kebiin scoffed, remembering the lightning and fire capabilities of Atiniir.

"I'll make do." Kayana said confidently. "Troopers, bring our gear."

The stormtrooper Kayana called DN-3017 approached Kebiin, detaching the folded Atiniir from the back of her belt and offering it to him. He quickly snatched the weapon out of her hands, somewhat sickened that a stormtrooper even touched the weapon he crafted himself. Another stormtrooper from the crowd gave up his shield and electro-tonfa, which Kayana quickly adjusted herself to by spinning it a couple of times.

"Ready, ge'verd?" She grinned almost innocently.

"No more than you, dar'manda." Kebiin retorted.

He flicked the switch on Atiniir, extending the hilt and folding out the two twin blades in a staff-like position. He motioned his thumb around the buttons that would allow him to make use of the Dust crystals inside, ready to strike. Kayana herself took a standard fighting position, bending her knees slightly and bringing her shield in front of her. Her tonfa cracked loudly as it extended and powered on, sizzling with electricity. As the two readied to engage one another, neither of them noticed Nyxona's slim dark figure watching the duel from atop a building.

In the time Rowand had spent away from his galaxy, he never realized how empty things felt out here. He had gotten used to the lack of the strong connection of life, adjusting to the near hollowness of Remnant. His powers and senses faired just fine on this planet, but now that he was in Salem's domain, he realized that he felt complete. His breaths felt deeper, his muscles more relaxed, a pressure in his mind he never even noticed relaxed. Here, he wasn't just a disposable agent of the Empire. He was a wielder of the Force.

Rowand kept his eyes shut, despite the growing burning sensation in his mind. He sat cross legged, trying to expand his greater perceptions as wide as he could. In this place, sensing his environment and what went on in it were easy enough. But once he reached beyond that point to the rest of Remnant, all he could feel as a burn that grew more and more uncomfortable. He wondered if his new master now thought less of him now that his face was showing clear signs of pain.

"Rowand, there's no need to hide it." Salem whispered to him virtually on cue. "I know what you're going through. I had the same issues when Remnant's paradigm shifted away from the Universe's Will. Don't be afraid to use that anger and pain. Break that barrier and feel the semblance of life that has overtaken the world."

"I… I can't!" Rowand grunted through his teeth. His body tensed as he felt cold sweat drip down his forehead.

"You can and you must!" Salem said encouragingly. "My first major step into my power was being able to feel everything that occurs on Remnant. The only way I can teach you is if you do the same!"

"But… I… It's fighting me!"

"You've won many battles! You can win this one!"

"No, I… I… DAMMIT!" Rowand broke his attempt and ended his connection to the outside world. He toppled over, breathing heavily and trying to enjoy the simple sensation of not being in pain as much as possible. He figured Salem would force him to try again like Vader and Xaelos normally did.

After lying on the ground for a time that felt too short, Salem finally broke the silence between the two of them.

"How do you feel? You should rest before trying again."

"Rest?" Rowand scoffed, clearly insulted. "I am a disciple of the dark side of the Force! Being connected to the web of life is the very nature of my kind! And yet… and yet I can barely do it while here!"

Salem sighed, closing her eyes momentarily and allowing Rowand to radiate his frustration. Rowand wasn't entirely sure what expression she was making, but it was caught somewhere between disappointment and longing.

"Master?" Rowand said nervously, realizing he had just snapped at a superior. "I apologize, I didn't mean to-"

"No no, it's alright." Salem said, hovering her index finger in front of Rowand's lips. "You shouldn't have to worry around me. You are my student, I am your teacher, and we are both meant to be connected to the flow of the universe. We're kin, and we should treat each other as such."

"Kin?" Rowand narrowed his eyes, confused. "You sound just like the Jedi…"

"Hmm?"

Rowand shook his head. "It's not important. I'm just not used to being treated so… warmly."

"I see." Salem lifted her dress above the ground slightly, sitting down on the maroon grass and crossing her legs. "Then tell me, how are you treated back home?"

"Master, I don't think telling stories is going to help me learn-"

"As your teacher, I am commanding you to sit down, rest, and tell me a few stories. Once you're done, we'll get back to work. Agreed?"

Rowand wasn't even sure how to respond. It wasn't like Vader or Xaelos had ever treated him this way. Rest while in the middle of training? And having small talk with his mentor? He had nearly forgotten about these concepts… The last time he did anything of this sort was when he was a Jedi youngling.

Rowand took a deep breath, remembering that he was with a new mentor who had different values and beliefs. "Okay." He sighed, relaxed his shoulders, and sat down in the grass across Salem.

"Tell me." Salem began. "You said that connecting yourself to life was your very nature. What is your home like? How is this 'Force?'"

"How much did you see when I first came here? The vision, I mean. How much do you know of me?"

"Not much." Salem said, placing her finger against her temple in thought. "I saw exactly what you saw, but I don't know what information your memories held of those events. However, I could clearly tell you are not of this world, and I remember you saying you were a member of the 'Galactic Empire.'"

Rowand nodded. "Yes. I, my superiors, subordinates, and fellow agents all come from the neighboring galaxy. There, we developed the technology to travel from star system to star system, and much more. Back home, all life in the galaxy is connected through the Force."

"A whole different galaxy? That's quite a tale. I'm having a hard time buying into it."

"Why would I tell a lie that sounds too much like a lie? Even if it seems unbelievable, it is the truth."

Salem grinned. "Fair enough. From the looks of it, it seems your 'Force' is the same as what I and my old companions called the 'Will of the Universe.' However, as far as I know, Remnant is the only place where it could be felt… and the place that it left. But it seems to be resurging as of late."

Rowand raised an eyebrow. He knew there had to be a story as to why Remnant was in the spiritual state it was. The Force was not here in full, but it had been growing stronger. Not only that, but the small isolated energy within most living beings on Remnant felt similar to the Force, though not nearly as powerful.

"The Force left? What do you mean?"

Salem gave a tired exhale, avoiding Rowand's gaze and twirling her fingers in the grass. "It's a bit of a sad story, really. A lot of my brothers and sisters died in the conflict that broke the Universe's Will. I… I doubt I have the heart to tell it in a way you would understand."

"But master!" Rowand protested. "As a disciple of the Force, I have to know what happened here!"

Salem stood up, still avoiding eye contact with Rowand. Her head was stooped low, and several Grimm were striding in by her side. She looked down at the dark monsters next to her, petting them.

"I'm sorry Rowand. It's a painful thing to remember. For now, I want you to keep practicing your exercises. I need some time to think."

Before Rowand could probe her for questions, Salem's Grimm were already leading her away. Soon, she was completely out of Rowand's view. She never even looked back at him. What happened so long ago that resulted in Remnant ending up the way it was? Rowand was so close to an answer, but part of him felt guilty for trying to get it out of her after she clearly expressed that it wasn't something she coped with easily. But for now, like she said, he could only continue with his exercises.

Crossing his legs, Rowand closed his eyes and tapped into the power of Salem's domain. That task was easy enough, but stretching out the way Salem could was much harder. Or at least, he expected it would be when trying again. Rather than meeting the wall of resistance he felt whenever he tried this, the movement of his mind was completely clear and free. He almost loss himself in a surge of euphoria when he felt the world outside of his and Salem's little Force bubble.

'I-I've done it?' Rowand thought, barely keeping his smile together at his accomplishment. 'At last! I've finally connected to-'

Rowand's feeling of pride was swept away when a new scene blurred before him. Not only could he feel the frustration of the situation he was now seeing, but he could see it in clear view. Before him, his sister's son was cornered by a squad of stormtroopers. In front of him was Admiral Kayana, and the two looked ready for single combat. On the building above them, was the familiar and dreaded figure of Nyxona.

With a sudden jolt of fear, Rowand's mind was pulled back to reality. The vision of Kebiin Ceibur was gone, but he knew exactly what it meant. His nephew was in danger of being taken by the Empire, and worse, potentially by Nyxona. Even if it was technically his duty to kill the Jedi, even though he seeked closure for the death of his sister by killing her child, he instinctively felt the need to save the life of his own flesh and blood. He had saved Kebiin before for reasons he did not understand, but he knew he had to do it again.

Rowand whipped out his commlink from his pocket. He wasn't sure if it would even work here, but he had to try. Imperial communication devices were infinitely superior to what the natives of Remnant had built, and Cinder was in possession of one.

"Cinder! Do you read? Where are you!?"

"Rowand? I knew you had to be alive. How is Salem treating you?"

Rowand had never been so relieved to hear that woman's purr of a voice.

"Cinder. Answer something for me. How valuable am I to you?"

There was a pause before Rowand got a reply.

"Very. You may have been one of the single most powerful individuals that has been under my command. Although I understand if Salem wants to keep you for her own needs. Her orders are above mine."

"That's irrelevant. What's important here is that I was valuable to you, and you lost me as an asset to your superior. But how would you like another operative just as-if not more-powerful than me?"

"... Go on."

"There is a boy in Vale that needs your help. His name is Kebiin Ceibur. He is being cornered in the ghettos by the Midnight Song. If you want him for your own ends, rescue him."

"Rescue a child? From my and your allies? Rowand, YOU are an operative of the Midnight Song as well, and I can't ask your superiors for custody of a child. The only way I can manage something like that is if I go out of my way to fight my own allies."

"Then don't let them see who you are. Once you get the boy, use him in secret, similar to me. Don't let anyone outside of your closest circle know who he is."

"I get the feeling you are not giving me an option in rescuing this… Kebiin?"

"... No. I'm begging you."

Another pause. Cinder must be revelling in the moment. She loved dominance over others more than anything in the world. Someone as strong as Rowand not only acting as a subordinate to her, but actively begging, must have been something Cinder wanted to savor.

"I hope you realize I would be sticking my neck out quite a bit for this kid." She finally replied, a hint of laughter in her voice.

"I know. But you and I also both know that you have no intention of keeping allied organizations with you in the long run. The White Fang and Midnight Song are just a means to an end for you. If you rescue and use this boy in secret, then I swear that once I become powerful enough, I will swear my absolute loyalty to you and whatever goal you wish to obtain."

"Swear absolute loyalty? What are you saying?"

"I am saying that you will have two incredibly powerful subordinates that can help you attain the power you truly want! Kebiin wishes to fight the Empire, and I will do the same if you rescue him! I am saying I will betray my own order for you if you rescue Kebiin!"

"Empire? You never mentioned an empire before."

Rowand didn't even notice how frantically he was speaking. He had let the true name of the Empire slip. However, Cinder continued on.

"Very well. I accept the offer."

"Thank you…" Rowand sighed in relief. "Thank you… but please, I also ask you to never tell the truth to him. Only you can keep him safe now, and if he ever finds out you work with the Midnight Song, the result will not bode well for any of us. Keep him in the dark about whatever mission you give him. Always tell him that he fights against the Midnight Song, that you are their enemy as well. Have him do whatever you wish, just never tell him who your allies are."

"Fair enough. Having an agent that knows very little of his commanders can be an advantage by itself, anyways. I will find a use for him, and I promise to keep him uninformed. Anything else?"

"There is one last thing." Rowand tensed up just a tad, unsure of how far he could push Cinder to do this. "To reduce the chances of him questioning you, you must gain his trust. One of his friends from Beacon Academy was captured by another agent and is being held in the underground base beneath Mt. Glenn. Help him rescue the girl named Blake Belladonna, and he will pledge his loyalty to you. If you do this, the Midnight Song will also abandon that command post, shrinking their sphere of influence and creating less competition for you."

"Fine. If that is what I need to do, then I'll do it. I'll take Mercury and Emerald now to secure him. I hope your time with Salem leads to good results."

With that final note, Cinder hung up. Rowand let his body slump into the grass, laying down and contemplating his actions.

"He's going to be safe with her…" He whispered to himself. "He will be living in another web of lies, but he'll be safe… I'm sorry Azrilin. It's the best I can do."

Kebiin hated himself for getting involved in this situation the moment Kayana's tonfa struck him in the chest. Why did he have to accept a duel right here and now? What made him think the Empire would live by their word if he actually won? Not that he had that big of a chance of winning either way. Mandalorian duel conduct demanded the use of the body and weapon almost exclusively, which meant that he couldn't use the Force against his opponent. Even if he did try that, he wouldn't be fast enough to get out of the sights of the stormtroopers and TIE fighter around him. His sense of honor had him stuck in a situation where he had no possible escape route.

Just as Kebiin hauled himself up from being knocked several feet across the ground, Kayana was already there waiting for him. She must've noticed that Atiniir utilized Dust crystals as weapons, and wasn't going to allow him to use them. If he electrified one blade to strike, she would counter with her tonfa to negate the charge. If he tried heating his other blade, her heat-resistant riot shield would cancel the blow. However, that principle also applied to him, at least for his electric blade. Kayana was physically superior to him. Faster, more flexible, and her strikes felt a lot stronger than she looked. However, she wasn't a Force sensitive. If worst came to worst, Kebiin could use the Force to keep himself going for long periods of time and allow Kayana to tire herself out, falling in line with the principles of the Soresu fighting style. And at this rate, that seemed to be his only option.

As Kayana brought her tonfa down again, Kebiin electrified his blade to match the charge of Kayana's weapon. The two of them collided, sticking together momentarily in a static effect. When Kebiin ripped his blade away, he spun and swept outward with his leg, knocking Kayana off of her feet. He tried stabbing toward the ground at Kayana, but she simply bashed the flat of Kebiin's blade away with her shield and struck him again with her tonfa. Just like before, he was knocked back and completely winded from the blow.

In normal duels, both Kebiin and Kayana would be wearing some sort of armor or insulin that could protect them from bladed weapons, blunt force trauma, and lessen the shock factor of electric weapons like the ones they were using. However, neither of them had any sort of protection, and Kebiin was feeling that lack of protection completely.

Kebiin felt almost paralyzed on the ground. That second blow from the electro-tonfa rendered his training useless. The only movement he could muster was a few vain twitches from his limbs. He had to call upon the Force to save him.

Kayana approached him, her face amused but slightly dissatisfied.

"You call yourself a Mandalorian?" She scoffed. "A true Mandalorian wouldn't be immobilized on the ground in only two strikes. Seems even your mother's Jedi blood wasn't enough to keep you alive."

Kebiin fumed at the mention of his mother. Any words speaking of his family coming out of the mouth of an imperial sickened him. Letting his anger fuel him, he mustered up the strength to counter the shock done by Kayana's weapon. He sprung up, extended his arm, and then-

The entire street was covered in smoke at the sounds of several loud pops. Smoke bombs.. A hail of bullets sparked and danced through the smoke that engulfed Kebiin, Kayana, the stormtroopers, and the TIE fighter. Kebiin heard a few of the rounds bounce off of the stormtrooper's plated armor, but it was enough to cause confusion. Kayana was frantically looking for cover, hoping to avoid any stray bullets from hitting her unprotected body. And that was when Kebiin saw her eyes widen as a collection of bullets sprayed across her back and legs, sending her to the ground in a growing pool of blood.

"Hey, you alright?" A girl with green hair, dark skin, and red eyes skidded toward Kebiin, firing at a collection of stormtroopers that were turning to spot him.

"Who the hell are you?" Kebiin said, shocked at the turn of events. "This was supposed to be a duel!"

"Hey kid, We're here to save your life. Name's Emerald, by the way. Kebiin Ceibur, right?"

"Y-yes." Kebiin said nervously.

"Good! Now, c'mon! We gotta meet up with my friends before these military police realize what's going on! Follow me!"

Emerald took Kebiin by the hand and ran out into the smoke. Once the two of them broke through the gray cloud, Kebiin saw a tall grey-haired boy and a beautiful woman with amber eyes and a red dress standing by a small aircraft that was parked between a cramped section of building. Kebiin looked behind him to see the flashing of red stormtrooper fire blasting through the smoke at enemies that weren't even there anymore.

"This is Kebiin Ceibur?" The woman said.

"Yup." Emerald nodded. "Now c'mon kid, let's get you out of here!"

While he was dazed and confused, Kebiin wasn't stupid. He didn't know these people, but he sure as hell knew the Empire. This group had just saved him for reasons he could ask later. Somewhat tentatively, he boarded the loading ramp of their small craft, the other following in soon after. Kebiin looked out of the window to see the smoke cloud finally dissipating from above.

Nyxona crept her way toward Kayana's twitching and bloodied body as the stormtrooper battalion made chase in the direction they last saw the mutt run towards. She had to admit, a third party rescue was one of the last things she expected. But that meant that this group that has saved her target wasn't affiliated with Beacon academy or the kingdom of Vale. Neither would risk an international incident with 'Atlas.' This group was independent.

"N-Nyxona…" Kayana croaked out. "I… I can't feel my… my legs…"

"Yes, but I suppose you won't feel much of anything in a few moments." Nyxona knelt by her admiral, pressing her fingers against the crimson bullet wounds in Kayana's back and watching the extra blood pour from the wounds.

"Pursue the target…" Blood began to trickle from Kayana's mouth. "Ceibur fled the duel… I want to… to finish the…"

"Oh, admiral." Nyxona grinned behind her void of a mask as she yanked on Kayana's hair, pulling her neck upwards as she croaked pathetically. "Don't you understand? That mutt is my kill, and my kill alone. I won't let a girl descended from barbarian tribes rob me of that satisfaction."

"No…" Kayana couldn't even muster up the strength to sound angry. "I am… your superior… I order you to… save me…"

Nyxona activated her comm in her helmet, sending a signal to all Imperial forces in the area.

"This is Inquisitor Nyxona. Forget the target. Do not pursue. I repeat, do not pursue. Let them escape for now."

At this point, Kayana no longer had the strength to argue.

"Listen, 'admiral." Nyxona began. "You never should have been in command of this operation. This world is an anomaly of the Force, and only I and Xaelos have the right to operate on it. The Emperor directed Xaelos and I to this place, but someone else here can help us claim it. On this world, I shall be powerful and unchained. And that world is one I am happy to let you die for.

Nyxona held Kayana by her hair for another moment, taking in every detail of her powerless face, all the while forcing her to stare into her own pathetic expression in Nyxona's own reflective visor. Kayana's eyes went dull, and Nyxona could sense that her superior officer was gone for good. She let go of Kayana's hair, smirking behind her black helmet. She reveled in the moment for a brief second, and then reopened her comm channel to the rest of the Imperial forces.

"Attention all forces of the Empire! Admiral Kayana is dead at the hands of the backwater natives. I, Nyxona, Inquisitor of the Empire, declare this operation under my command. The mission objective has changed. This world deviates from the mystics of our galaxy, and we have a Jedi on the loose. Under those conditions, I am suited to take charge. All those who disagree are invited to converse with me about their reservations."

Nyxona's grin morphed into a twisted laugh as she stood over the corpse of her former admiral. Out here, she would be free to express the control she so desperately wanted over others. Darth Vader wasn't here to stop her. She couldn't wait for Xaelos to return on-world and tell him the good news.