THE FOUNDRY

With the decision on their course of action decided, and with the groups formed to take care of such, the gathering had broken up and gone their separate ways. Some had returned to their rooms, some wandered off to their own devices. A few had simply remained and relaxed, talking among themselves for a time. Shadelis had been one to stay in the main meeting room. The chiss kept herself apart from the rest, remaining quiet and just observing the others. In the end she had slipped away. She knew there was unfinished business for her, someone she had to talk to.

It took a bit of searching, but the chiss finally found her way close to the top of the Foundry, following the tunnel paths until they came out onto a large enclosed platform. Control panels dotted about the area, machines still working as small asteroids were tractor beamed into the large shaft to be consumed and turned into raw material by the large factory complex. Shadelis guessed that was where the shields and general power all came from.

It was here she found her brother. Necrolis stood leaning on the rail staring off through the blue glow of the energy shield that held the vacuum of space at bay. The sith was lost in his thoughts, staring up and off at the stars overhead. Asteroids, stars, the vast blackness of space were all laid out above him in a stunning tapestry that Shadelis knew was a sight that never grew old. Some things never changed, Shadelis noted with a small smile. For as long as she could remember, Necrolis had always seemed to find someplace with a view to be alone and think when troubled. The memories came back to her then and the smile lingered as she walked towards him. All the times over the years he had found a spot with a view on Ziost, usually sunset or sunrise, when something troubled him.

"You're pretty good." Necrolis said, not turning to look. There was only one person who would sneak up on him, let alone find him when he wanted to be alone. "Almost silent. You need to quiet your mind though, when it's a sith."

Shadelis laughed and made sure to remember that information for future reference. She took a spot beside her brother, leaning on the rail before casting a glance to him. The red eyes took in the calm features of his face, noting there were a few more lines than there used to be about the mouth and eyes. She even caught the one or two grey hairs that were hiding at his temples in his black hair. He had not changed much, but the subtle signs of the years were there if one looked close enough. Necrolis glanced back at her and then chuckled, causing her to once again smile.

"You ever notice the stars are always there. We laugh and cry, we live, we die, they still just are there burning away watching." Necrolis said, gaze returning out to the view above and before them.

"Makes us seem so insignificant, doesn't it? We're just a moment in time, passing through, while they are eternal."

Necrolis smiled as he heard his sister's words and nodded. It was so, he knew. Whatever they did, whoever they became, it was just a small speck of time that in the end would be lost in a never ending history of the galaxy. It was something he had thought before. Empire, Republic, did it really matter at all? No matter which side won, sooner or later their reign would end. On top of that, Necrolis now questioned even who he was. His past had always been a blank void, but with recent events, he felt such far more keenly than ever before. Suddenly he found himself questioning what it was all for? Why did he do what he had?

"You look lost, brother." Shadelis noted.

"I'm fine." He answered, not to her surprise.

"It's me, Necrolis. You can't fool me." Shadelis chided him, "You remember all the times we used to do just this, with me always leaning on your shoulder?"

Necrolis let slip a smile at her question, remembering well the old days. No matter where he had wandered to, Shadelis had always managed to find him. She would come and join him, keep him company, and tell him her woes. Sometimes he had answers for her to help. Other times she just leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder and they would remain so for hours. Those were quiet moments stolen between the intense training and studies they had all endured on Ziost. Sometimes he longed for and missed the simpler times when, in hindsight, the problems were far smaller than he faced now.

"I remember." Necrolis said so low it was almost a whisper. "I remember it all. We were so damn young and naïve back then."

"You say it like it was a bad thing." Shadelis answered back, watching as he shook his head lightly.

"Far from it. Life was simpler then."

"I'm sorry." Shadelis said, finally just blurting it out. She could think of no other way to talk about what had happened with her, what she must have put them all through.

Necrolis stood straight before turning to her, his eyes meeting hers. Necrolis may have been able to always project calm, his face a mask of stoicism, but his eyes always gave away his emotions. Shadelis could see the hurt, the sadness, but also something else, a glimmer of happiness in their depths. He had not changed at all despite his believing he had. To her, he was exactly the same person. She would not say he was not sith, but he had principals where some did not. Honour, a sense of loyalty, it mattered to Necrolis.

"We all thought you had died. Even I could not find anything out, and I tried, Shaddy." Necrolis said, a frown coming to his face as he spoke. "It was hard, the not knowing what had happened. All I knew was I had lost my baby sister."

"I am so sorry. I had no choice, I hope you know such."

Necrolis just nodded, eyes lowering. Shadelis reached both hands up to cup her brother's face, lifting it to look him in the eyes again. She could see the pain and sadness, the watering of them with tears she knew he would never shed at all. Necrolis never cried, not in all the time she had known him. No matter the pain of a beating he took, the ache and hurt from a loss. It was simply not Necrolis' way. The feeling of being kicked in the stomach was back, she noted, knowing she had caused such hurt by her deception. Needed or not, her conscience would not let it go.

"I am so sorry I hurt you, Necrolis." Shadelis whispered. "Please, please forgive me and don't hate me."

Necrolis laughed a strained laugh that startled her. His hands came up to find hers, holding them as he looked at her and shook his head. She didn't understand, he knew. It did not surprise him at all. As close as they were, as intuitive to his moods and thoughts as Shadelis was, she still was off the mark in reading his feelings a lot of the time. It took him a moment, but finally he found the words and his voice to speak.

"You don't get it, Shaddy. I'm not mad at you at all. I'm happy you are alive." Necrolis explained. "I'm mad at myself. I was mad you had died, and I was not there to prevent it. I was mad I couldn't find out what happened to avenge you. I thought I had failed you."

Shadelis burst into tears hearing such from Necrolis. All she could do was cry and grab him and hug him tight, stretching up on tiptoes to wrap her arms about his neck so that her head was close to his. Necrolis returned the embrace tightly, holding onto her. Pulling back Shadelis wiped at her cheeks with one hand and laughed. Looking back up into her brother's eyes the chiss found her own voice. Only Necrolis would have thought he had failed her, she knew.

"Necrolis you have always been there for me, for all of us really." She said softly. "Even back when we were kids you were the one that looked after and took care of us all. You took that burden on, protected us. You never asked to be a leader, you never complained when we all just let you bear that load on your own. Even now you are doing it. You've never let any one of us down, not ever. Don't you ever think you failed any of us!"

Necrolis took a deep breath as he listened to what Shadelis said. When she had finished all he could think to do was hug her tightly once more.

Teffa scowled even as he laid out the Tionese armour and his weapons, his thoughts distracted from what he was doing. It was as much a habit as breathing with him to check his gear. He had hoped routine would have brought some measure of calm, but it had not. His efforts for a distraction had not eased his being upset. He was aware of Mako behind him, pacing and doing whatever she could to putter and avoid the confrontation both of them knew was inevitable. It was not the first time they had disagreed strongly on something, but for some reason this time it seemed a lot bigger issue.

"Teffa…" Mako broke the silence, stopping in her pacing to stare at the big zabrak's back.

"What?" Teffa growled out, immediately regretting the harsh tone he had spoken in. "Sorry, what is it?"

"Nothing."

Teffa rolled his eyes as he turned about. There it was the all too common answer he guessed most husbands received. Nothing, it was such a simple small word. It was like a vibroblade right between the ribs plunged in and then twisted for full effect. I guess I deserved that, he thought, knowing he should have softened the way he spoke back to her.

"Yes I can tell." Teffa remarked with a smirk.

Mako grit her teeth and then let her anger get the better of her. Grabbing one of his gauntlets that were on a small table nearby, she threw it at him. She had aimed for his head but the throw was off to the side. Teffa arched an eyebrow, not moving from where he stood. As the gauntlet sailed to his right he reached up and caught it with ease. Taking the gauntlet, the zabrak calmly turned and set it next to the rest of his armour on the bed, before looking back at her.

"Was there anything else you wanted to send over?"

Mako frowned and stomped her foot in frustration, made all the worse as her husband laughed at seeing her do so. The man was so damn irritating, she knew. He couldn't even have the decency to let her hit him with things she threw. No the bastard had to go and catch it, she thought. Huffing in frustration, Mako lowered herself into one of the chairs and got off her feet. She knew she needed to sit and calm down. She didn't need to stress herself, remembering her condition at that point.

"You are a pain in the ass, you know that?" Mako finally tossed out to break the sudden silence between them.

"I'm not the one demanding to go on a suicide mission, let alone throwing stuff!" Teffa reminded her and she scowled at him. "Hey, I'm not the one pregnant!"

Mako made to snap back with an angry retort but faltered and finally just crossed her arms and settled back in the chair with another huff. Teffa was right of course, but she was not about to tell him that. She was still not happy he had agreed to Torian going, putting the man at risk. They'd lost enough friends with recent events. Gault and Skadge were gone, and while she knew there was no helping such, it didn't mean she had to accept and like the fact. Shaking her head, Mako reminded herself Torian was going with good reason, and she was in no position really to argue. Much as she hated the fact, she knew she could not go. It was the right decision to exclude her and leave her behind.

"You're worried." Teffa moved across the room, sliding behind the chair and bending over to wrap arms about his wife's shoulders, resting his head against hers.

"I'm scared." Mako confessed and sighed. "This isn't like any mission we've done. It's not even as bad as going up against Tarro or the Hutts. I'm actually scared this time I'm going to lose you."

Teffa sighed and just hugged his wife, knowing there was nothing he could say to ease that feeling. In truth, he had the same doubts and fears. There was too much hidden, too many unknowns, and a foe that seemed vastly superior to any they had ever faced before. Hell, even Necrolis is feeling so, Teffa knew. He had noted the change in his brother, especially after Quinn had been taken. What bothered him most was that it just as easily could have been him captured instead. For the first time ever, Teffa was thinking about Mako, about their unborn child, and what would happen if he didn't come back. Mortality was not a thought at all before at any time. Now it was front and center, and it was not going away.

"We'll make it through sweetheart, trust me." Teffa finally said softly to her. "I ain't going anywhere without you."

The demand came over the internal speakers of the Foundry, the voice easily recognizable as belonging to Kamthar Mantell. It was a race to see who arrived last, as those now calling the asteroid home sprinted there in response to the call. There was only one reason for the man to give a call out so, it meant there was trouble.

"Everyone to the meeting room on the double!"

Necrolis raced out of the tunnel, Shadelis on his heels. They meet Teffa as the bounty hunter raced through the main hall making for the room himself. Giving the man a glance, Teffa shrugged back to Necrolis, indicating he was as lost as he was as to what was happening. Necrolis caught sight of Asha and a few others racing into the room just ahead of them. He had a bad feeling about what was happening.

Entering the room, all of them could see Kamthar staring at the large holo display. Necrolis' eyes narrowed as he took in the image. There were muttered and varied curses coming from the others about him. Displayed was an image of Malavai Quinn, chained and clearly having been tortured viciously judging by the wounds that could be made out. With him was what appeared to be a female sith, face hidden by a deep hood.

"This is being broadcast over the holo net. Every system, every planet." Kamthar said, not taking his eyes off the image.

"Live feed?" Teffa demanded and Kamthar shook his head negatively.

"No, being broadcast on repeat at set intervals. Bastards wanted to make sure we see this."

Necrolis turned as he realized one person had yet to arrive, smacking Teffa on the shoulder to get his attention. Teffa realized what had his brother's attention, both of them making for the door just as Aela Darkstar ran in. Vette was close behind her, but none of them were near enough to stop her from seeing the display. Aela stopped running and stood there, mouth open and eyes wide. Growling Necrolis grabbed her by one arm even as Teffa did the other, making to take her back out of the room. Aela snapped out of the momentary shock and shook both her brothers off her.

"I'm fine." She snapped, eyes returning to the monitor even as they once more filled with tears.

"Aela, you don't need to see this." Necrolis said softly.

"I'm fine, Necrolis." Aela turned to him, locking her hard angry watery grey eyes on him. "Use it, remember?"

Teffa looked at Necrolis, motioning with his head to keep dragging her out. Necrolis let Aela go and shook his head at his brother negatively. He had seen enough in the look in her eyes. If anything it would fuel her anger, and for what they would face she would need every ounce of strength that anger would give her. Teffa sighed and looked back to the display, unsure Necrolis was making the right decision.

Pyrannus paced back and forth behind Quinn, letting the holo recorder do its work, broadcasting what she wanted her foes to see. Quinn had been pushed to the breaking point. Denied sleep, food, having been burnt, cut, and beaten close to death. Every time she made sure he survived, pulled back from that final sweet release, only to endure far more. Grabbing a hand full of hair, she yanked his head up hard for the camera.

"Witness now the price of treason, and what happens to those who betray the Empire." Pyrannus snarled, then ripped her hand away taking a fist full of black hair with it. "I am Darth Pyrannus, acting on behest of the Empire."

Quinn moaned at the pain, but barely moved at all, head falling back so his chin rested on his bloodied chest. Pyrannus moved about to stand beside him, reaching down to lift his head back up by a finger, once again showing off the damage that had been done. Quinn's right eye was swollen almost closed, the left barely open at all. Blood caked over his features, and there was clearly burnt skin down the left side of his face from temple down onto his neck. There was no doubting they had not taken it easy on him for anyone watching.

"Now Malavai Quinn, show yourself a loyal subject of the Empire. Tell your traitorous friends to turn themselves in. Do so and you will be spared and pardoned. We are after all merciful and understanding. It was not your fault, we know that."

Necrolis placed a hand on Aela's shoulder even as the woman put her hands over her mouth. Teffa swore loudly. Muttered curses and whispered prayers came from all those watching. Vette was in tears, grabbing onto Necrolis' other arm and hiding her face into it. She could not bear to watch what she knew was going to come. She knew Quinn, knew he was not going to give in.

The holo cam zoomed in close on Quinn's face as Pyrannus held it up to the camera. Necrolis felt the muscle in his jaw pulse from gritting his teeth that hard. Quinn fought to open his eyes, trying to look into the camera directly. His voice was hoarse and raspy as it broke from his cracked and bloodied lips.

"Don't come for me!" He snarled, spitting at the holo cam as it floated just out of distance. "It's a trap, don't come Aela!"

Pyrannus snarled letting Quinn go only to bring a clawed hand down over the left side of his face cleaving into flesh deeply from his hair line down to his chin. Quinn screamed into the camera before it moved off the man and back to hover before the hooded sith torturer. Her voice was low, almost a purr as it came from the shadowed depths of her cowl.

"A traitors fate awaits, as it will for those who Malavai Quinn calls his accomplices. "By order of the Dark Council the sentence is death. And let the galaxy bear witness to what happens to those who betray their oath of service to our Emperor."

"I'm going to kill that bitch." Teffa growled out the thought most of them had.

"Take a number." Aela said, voice low and cold and far too calmly. "She is all mine."