Chapter Seven: Secrets (Part Three)
The vessel touched down amidst the vibrant flatlands of the homestead. As the entrance ramp descended, three figures emerged from the Fury-class starship. Three dark figures. A pair of masked enforcers headed by an armored warrior. Without a helm, the Pureblood male's scarred visage presented itself for all to see as he scanned the expanse that stretched before him.
From atop a distant hill, a different armored figure gazed upon the landing trio through the lens of a telescopic visor. The Human seemed rather unfazed by the arriving Sith as his red overcoat swayed amidst the passing breeze.
"You've got to be kidding me," the figure muttered, lowering his binoculars and raising his holocommunicator. "Lord Tash, this is Vai."
After a pause, the blue image of an elderly Human emanated from the device and began speaking with an utterly calm, utterly smooth voice. "I'm receiving your signal, my apprentice. Have you a status update?"
"Yeah, Zyos's men have arrived as predicted. Well… we didn't predict they'd just casually land in an Imperial ship this close to a Republic colony, but they're here all right."
"Then you may proceed as planned," Tash declared.
"I'm sorry master, but I'm not quite sure why I'm here," Thorel admitted. "The boy hardly meets any of the qualifications for enrollment. It seems more trouble than it's worth, interfering with the business of another Lord over an unessential asset."
"Noted. You can blame Syrosk for this venture. He has his heart, or rather his mind, set on recruiting the Pureblood. The sooner we oblige him, the sooner we can continue to other candidates."
"Okay… okay. I'll observe the proceedings and see if his vision pans out."
The trio whom served Lord Zyos casually made their way toward the front door of the quaint home, in front of which stood the defiantly defensive Liasha. The Pureblood leading the group paused a sizable distance in front of the robed woman, the two imposing figures taking the moment to stare one another down.
"Ravek," Liasha muttered.
Ravek balked. "That's it? I was expecting a 'what are you doing here?' Or at least a 'how did you find me?'. Regardless, may we step inside?"
"You'll not take another step closer," Liasha declared.
"Now, now, Liasha. You're not really in a position to be making threats. Unarmed… Outnumbered…"
"I don't need a weapon to end you."
Ravek offered a conceding nod. "Probably true. But I can keep you occupied long enough for my men to deal with whomever you have hiding inside. Instead, I suggest we have a talk."
"Fine. Talk."
Ravek let out a petulant sigh. "Master Zyos was rather disappointed when you'd perished in a freak warehouse explosion. That disappointment turned to a bit of anger when he realized it was a ruse. Now, if I were you, I would have left a few bodies strewn about before I detonated the cache…"
"What is it you want?"
"Well, what I want, is to sate my, and your former, master. Zyos is a man who doesn't care for loose ends. Given your previous record and talents, he's graciously invited you to return to serve him once more. The alternative…"
"You kill me."
"Well, yes," Ravek admitted. "Of course, there is a third option, if you'll indulge me. My men can wait outside while we have a one on one chat."
Liasha's harsh stare did not lessen, but she knew she couldn't risk discarding any possibilities. Hesitantly, she waved her once fellow apprentice to proceed. Liasha retreated into the home, with Ravek following closely after, the two masked warriors remaining outside.
"Sit!" Liasha directed, her finger defiantly thrust toward the living room seating. Ravek complied, taking his place upon a comfortable armchair.
"When you first disappeared, what was it? More than a decade ago?" Ravek asked, an unusually warm candor emanating from the otherwise intimidating warrior. "Gone for two years, then suddenly you return. Zyos, in all his Sith wisdom, figured you were secretly constructing some sort of power base. I knew there to be a simpler explanation."
"Oh?"
"Someone wanted a family."
"And what makes you say that?"
"Well, for one… you're a woman. The desire is as built into you as your Force-sensitivity," Ravek offered. "The original disappearance was long enough to cultivate and recover from a pregnancy. Or at least partake in one worthwhile romance. After Zyos took you back, whatever credits earned were never spent, yet they never amassed. So you must have been sending them somewhere. Or to someone."
"Maybe I just wanted a nice place for myself. And decided I was much better off without any of you."
"A Sith doesn't choose a Republic colony for solitude. You needed that right mixture of hiding in plain sight and being able to start a new life for yourself."
"Your right. For myself."
"Come now, Liasha. I spent enough time in your company to know you'd never defend purely material possessions from someone like myself the way you did. You're hiding someone here. A husband. A child. Perhaps a parent or sibling."
Liasha maintained her calm. "Do you sense anyone else here?"
"I'll admit, you've got me there. I doubt you'd consort with those powerful enough to mask their presence. However, the opposite is entirely possible. Those so weak I'd not be able to sense them."
Ravek's head panned as he took in his surroundings, his eyes slowly passing from the living room, to the kitchen, to Jresh's bedroom.
"The third option," Liasha spoke up.
"Hrm?"
"You mentioned a third option, what was it?"
"Well, we both know that these kinds of situations can't be resolved without someone dying," Ravek said with an almost diplomatic tone. "If you refuse to return, that'll be you. If you do return, Zyos will want whatever you've been dealing with behind his back destroyed, which means whomever you're living with here will have to die. The third option… we kill Zyos."
"What's the matter, can't do it by yourself?"
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. As his apprentice, it is my duty to end him at some point. His teachings have somewhat stalled, so I'd like to see that moment expedited. I am not here to destroy everything you've created. You're strong enough to have earned whatever it is you desire out here. Join me, and we can put an end to his inquiries. He'll not be able to trouble you or your family any longer. You'll be free to tend to your assets while I take control of his."
"What about your two men outside?" Liasha asked.
"Like I said. With all options… someone has to die. We can walk out, act like you're returning to Zyos, see if we can't trick one into giving you a lightsaber, and the rest is self-explanatory."
"Alright," Liasha muttered with a heavy hesitance. "I'll help you kill Zyos. Then you never contact me again."
"Wonderful," Ravek stated as he rose from his seat. The two Purebloods cautiously vacated the home, leaving the living room stagnant and silent. Peering in from the cracked doorway of his bedroom, Jresh watched, heart racing, as his mother and the stranger removed themselves from the house. He jumped as he heard the sharp howl of his mother from outside.
"Orbek!" Liasha shouted as she stepped from her home.
Ahead of her, the two masked accompaniers of Ravek had her husband upon his knees between them. Returned from his venture to the nearby colony, the defenseless Pureblood could do nothing to prevent or protest his capture. Liasha's face snarled at the state of her beloved, and she readied herself to charge, only to be interrupted by Zyos's apprentice.
"Wait," Ravek whispered. "We can use this to our advantage. Trust me." The apprentice began walking toward the kneeled captive a wide, toothy smirk upon his face. "Well, well, well. It would seem I was correct about you fostering a family." The warrior now stood in front of the husband, lowering himself to get a good look as his lowered visage. "Poor thing, I can't sense the tiniest bit of Force potential in his blood. This is what you'd turned your back on Zyos for?"
Orbek remained silent, his head bowed, refusing to give any of the Sith the satisfaction of his words. Straightening himself, the apprentice addressed his cohorts.
"Gentlemen. Liasha has agreed to accept Zyos gracious invitation," Ravek declared. "I do not believe, however, that he would permit her return were he to know of this particular individual. Zyos accepts only the strong, and if she has forged a bond with this weakling, his weakness is hers. Therefore in order to have a place under Lord Zyos, she must sever that bond." Ravek thrust his finger at the leftward warrior. "You there. Give Liasha your saber."
The masked warrior stared blankly at Ravek beneath his mask, before finally succumbing to the demand. Taking a step from the captive, the figure unhooked his lightsaber and handed it to the seemingly despondent woman. With a flick of her wrist, she ignited the weapon, baring its crimson blade.
"Go ahead, Liasha. Earn what it is you desire," Ravek directed.
Liasha composed herself. She closed her eyes as she took a deep breath. An exhale later, she gazed upon the determined face of her captive husband. The two locked eyes, sharing a moment of infinite clarity.
The wife took a powerful step forward, mightily swinging the blade of her weapon at the defenseless masked warrior, raking the red plasma across his chest. The warrior fell lifelessly to the ground as his cohort drew his lightsaber. Intending to deal with his captive first, the second masked warrior raised his weapon before bringing it down toward the kneeling Pureblood.
The warrior was baffled to see his strike miss as the captive was tugged from his spot by an invisible force. Looking up, the aggressor saw the retracting motion of Ravek's clenched fist as the husband now lay at his feet. His eyes fixated on the betrayer, the masked warrior could not react to the piercing beam thrust into his chest by Liasha.
The two masked followers of Zyos had been neutralized. As they lay motionless upon the soft ground, Liasha turned to rush toward her husband. Lifting him from the ground, she stabilized him upon his feet, where the two would lose themselves in each other's eyes as tears began to form. The husband and wife embraced, squeezing each other tightly, clenching their arms and their eyes shut as they rest their heads upon each other's shoulders. Their racing hearts began to stabilize. Their minds relaxed. As the soft winds enveloped them, they lost their senses to the superior force of love. Finally it was over.
The couple's eyes rushed open. A piercing hum rang out in their ears. An intolerable pain penetrated their stomachs. Liasha struggled to lift her head. Gazing over her partner's shoulder, she saw the tip of the crimson blade that had been thrust through them. In a flash, Ravek withdrew his saber, and the pair crumbled to the ground.
The two landed on their sides, eyes still locked with one another. However, Orbek's were utterly vacant as the color drained from his face. He was already gone. Liasha writhed on her back, tears streaming down her face, as she saw the traitorous Ravek standing over her.
Carefully, he shut off his saber and knelt down as close as he could to Liasha's face. "I knew you'd grown weak. Your love for this filth made you blind. You'd believe anything, do anything, to protect him. Such sacrifice is unbecoming of a Sith. You don't deserve Zyos's mercy. Instead, you'll die here, while I return as his favored apprentice."
The warrior thought to continue gloating but he was interrupted when a muffle shriek sounded out from his rear. Looking over his shoulder, he had just caught the brief sight of the house's front door slamming shut.
A smirk overtook the Pureblood's visage as he slowly straightened his posture and began making his way toward the home. Liasha stirred upon the ground, trying to grab at the warrior, trying to grab at any of the nearby weapons, but her body was failing her. She was in pain. She had no control of her lower body. She couldn't even scream. All she could do was lay there as a murderous Sith made his way toward her son as the life slowly crept from her body.