So here, I take GREAT liberties with some of Bioware's characters. Notably, the Darths of the Dark Council, giving them family and personalities beyond what Bioware provided.

Walking Liri towards Darth Decimus' ship was the worst moment of Andronikos' life. As they neared the doors to the hangar, he couldn't take it anymore and took her, right there against the bulkhead. His crew melted away, but he couldn't have cared less. He memorized everything, the way her skin smelled, the noises she made, the way her hands clutched at him. He heard the door to the hangar open once further down the hallway and then after a minute, shut. When they were done, he just stayed pinning her to the wall for a moment, kissing her. He finally pulled back, shuddering and she caught his face in her hands. "I love you too," she murmured.

Through the doors, Darth Decimus was waiting, with a smirk on his face that changed to a thoughtful expression as he caught sight of the two of them. Then Liri was walking up the ramp away from him and his hands balled into fists watching her leave.

"C'mon," he said roughly to the few crew who were standing there. "We have a raid to plan."

On the shuttle, Decimus observed Liri watching silently out the window at the stars passing. From behind her, he said, "Darth Oculus? Would you accompany me for a drink in my quarters?"

She blinked, sighing. "Of course, my Lord." She followed behind him.

The doors hissed shut and Decimus murmured, "Shield us."

She looked at him perplexed.

"Shield us," he said against patiently, "I know you can shut out everything with the Force so that we can't be heard and your shield is stronger than mine."

He felt it when she expanded the silence around them. He felt her pop several listening devices he knew about and one he hadn't. He felt the Force bending to her will. Bending, not being used by, but her will took the lead. He felt the sheer raw power behind her and he felt the touch of someone aiding her, a deeply powerful spirit, amused by what she was capable of. After a moment of silence, she looked up at him, her purple eyes glowing slightly and then fading.

"Well well," he said, at a momentary loss for words.

She tilted her head at him, poised, ready to attack if he made the wrong move.

He chuckled and sat down across from her.

"I know you're curious, so I will grant you something I haven't granted many others. Honesty."

She looked taken aback and then her eyes narrowed at him.

"I saw you and your pirate in the hallway."

She got a shimmer of a blush, but tossed her head and continued looking at him.

"The raw power you get from him, you practically glow afterwards. I've never seen anything like it. That much power, I've seen you swallow planets in your rage and passion."

He stood up and paced the room, "I want that power on my side, not at odds with me."

She smirked, "Are you saying I could take you?"

"I'm saying I don't want to find out."

"So, a permanent sort of alliance?"

"I can sense you have something up your sleeve and it's better if I don't know what, but yes. A more permanent alliance. I agree with you on most Council matters and you're incredibly adept at bringing people over to your side. I'd be a fool to stand against you or not make this alliance and I am not a fool."

"If I'm that powerful, what do I get out of this?"

"My experience, my support, which outnumbers yours, my silence."

He saw a brief moment of pain and hatred in her eyes, "I won't play slave for you."

He laughed, "As much as I'm sure I'd enjoy that, that's not what I'm looking for. If you do ever feel the desire to visit my bed however, please let me know." He leered at her briefly and she looked faintly amused.

"So, you want a permanent alliance with me? You can sense I'm planning something, do you want to wait until that's off the table to cement this?"

"You're agreeing? That easily?"

"I thought we were being honest here?" Liri leaned back in her chair, grinning faintly. "You have generations of support and people who serve you, while I am just starting to build a power base. Regardless of how much power I have, if we work together, we can build a much stronger foundation of support for our plans on the Dark Council. We've worked together well for years now and I actually enjoy some of the time I spend training your daughter. You're ambitious and I'm not, which means you know I'll support any bid for power you make, making me a very valuable ally. I know that you are brutal and merciless, but that with me personally, you know that I can read you like an open book and you'll never get the chance to betray me first."

He nodded, scowling. She could read him alarmingly well; she'd demonstrated it on multiple occasions and on various battlefields. And then she opened herself up and let him read her. She was truthful; she had no ambition for further power. She had goals, but nothing that wouldn't align with his. He caught a flicker of her current plans and she shut the connection, like it was a breath she exhaled. Such power, on his side, would tip a lot of scales. If the glimpse he caught of her plans succeeded, she'd be a powerhouse by his side in the Council.

He raised an eyebrow at her, inwardly peeved that she was tied to another man. It would have been such an easy way to unite their forces, but now, such a suggestion would turn her away.

The smirk was back on her face as she wiggled her eyebrows at him and he knew she was following his thoughts.

He scowled at her, and then shook his head, trying to hide a smile. She was so oddly fun. She was irrepressible; murderous and powerful, but with a sense of humor.

"So," she said, her eyes glinting, "How do we make this permanent?"

"We simply agree to it, swear on whatever you want."

"One stipulation."

Decimus eyed her carefully. "I won't harm your crew."

"Or Andronikos."

"I won't hurt Andronikos."

"Then I swear on the slave collar I used to kill my very last employer."

His eyebrows raised at that, "I swear on my daughter's life."

"No, something that's not a pawn for you."

"I swear on my saber; the one I pried from my Master's dead hands." She nodded, satisfied and he continued, "A drink then, to celebrate?"

She leaned back, "Sure thing. Anything not Corellian."

"Whatever you're planning, it better be a good plan."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, but my plans are never bad."

Several days later, a call came over the bridge of the ship in the middle of the night, when there were only a few people up. Andronikos directed everyone off the bridge and answered it. He found himself staring face to face with Darth Ravage. In the background was the strung up body of Liri. Andronikos forced himself to stay seated and schooled his expression. She'd obviously been beaten and tortured, but the wounds were closing as he watched. Ravage appeared to notice nothing.

"I have your wife, Pirate King." sneered Darth Ravage, "You will immediately turn control of your raids and your loyalty over to me if you wish me to spare her mind."

"But not her body, I notice," said Andronikos coldly.

"If that's what you'd prefer intact..." A lightsaber blade abruptly slid through Darth Ravage's chest and was pulled out. Much further in the background, Liri swung her legs up and unhooked her hands from the ceiling as the rest of her wounds closed. She approached the holo, her eyes glinting with joy. Ravage's body hit the floor with a thump and the person wielding the blade came into view. Andronikos had never seen the man in his life, but he was clearly Sith and he had a strong resemblance to the now-corpse. The man peered at Andronikos curiously and then turned to Liri.

"Andronikos, meet Darth Ravage's son, Darth Ruin." Liri's voice purred. "I have to clean up, but I'll contact you as soon as I'm able." She blew him a kiss and cut the connection.

Andronikos sat, with his heart pounding. She'd pulled it off. Somehow, she'd done the impossible and he was the only witness.