A/N: in which cori is a disaster jedi, zaara and theron are disaster spies, and davri is a disaster soldier.
also ft. lys "the republic is actually terrible but that's none of my business [sips tea]" sala
so. i don't have a good excuse for why this chapter is so late. nor do i have a bad excuse. i just... didn't finish editing until about five minutes ago. i'm gonna get this whole thing out before kotet i promise (maybe)
"Fuck."
Cori simply sighed; she had nothing to add, no words to describe the nightmare that was Ziost. Vitiate had already been attempting to push into her mind — not enough to be a threat but just enough to toy with her, to remind her of those months when she hadn't been able to resist and her mind had been his — but even that wasn't anywhere as near as terrible as the planet itself.
The area she and Kira had landed at — the Sith Intelligence Headquarters, according to the shuttle they'd taken — was still mostly intact, but she could see the smoke in the distance and sense the death and darkness from what she could only assume was the capital city.
Turning back towards the building itself, Cori motioned for Kira to follow her through the hangar bay. The few Imperials that they passed paid them little attention; most seemed too concerned with their own tasks to bother with anyone else, and the ones that did even bother to glance up at them simply put their heads back down and hurried along.
"Something's not right here." Kira brushed against Cori as she walked even closer, tense anticipation emanating from her in waves, sharp and bitter.
Cori frowned. "We aren't the biggest threat here," she guessed. "We have to find Lys." She could already sense the Wrath, towards the other end of the building. Anxiety was beginning to build within her, though she wasn't sure how much was her own and how much was simply Kira's influence; even with the possibility of the Emperor loose on the planet, there would come a point where the soldiers would no longer let them pass.
They were, after all, two Jedi in the middle of Intelligence headquarters.
As they rounded a corner, something appeared in Cori's peripheral and the next moment, a blaster was pointed squarely at her temple.
"Jedi."
Careful not to move too quickly, Cori turned towards the familiar voice. "Quinn. We're looking for Lys. We're here to help."
Quinn frowned, but holstered the blaster after another moment. "You would be the first Jedi to do so, in that case. However, I cannot allow you to remain on Ziost unsupervised."
Kira snorted.
"Understood." Tossing a cautionary glance back at Kira, Cori added, "Could you take us to Lys, then?"
His frown deepened; despite being clearly displeased at the circumstance, Quinn eventually nodded. "She's been overseeing evacuations from the defense center, but is currently here within the headquarters." He turned abruptly on his heel and began down the hallway, as if to follow through before he had the chance to change his mind.
Cori motioned to Kira, and they continued through the headquarters, keeping close to Quinn. He led them up a small flight of stairs and into an office, where Lys stood in her deep crimson armor, fastening the clasps on one of her heavy gauntlets.
Quinn offered nothing more than a crisp my lord in greeting, and the room fell into tense silence for a moment. "They requested to meet with you," he finally said, but it did nothing to lessen the tension.
There was a tiredness to Lys' expression as she looked over the two Jedi — as if she'd aged a decade since Cori had seen her last — but it disappeared, replaced by a quiet resolve, as she spoke. "Cori," she began, hesitation and suspicion plain in her voice. "Tell me you aren't with the other Jedi?"
"Other Jedi?" Cori echoed, surprise and confusion overlaying the little ache that always occurred whenever she and Lys found themselves at odds.
"I'll take that as a no. Why are you here, then?" Slowly, she picked up the second gauntlet and pulled it on, her eyes shifting between Cori, Kira, and Quinn. "You were brought here by someone," she guessed. "Was it Lana or Zaara?"
Cori hesitated, glancing back at Kira. "Neither," she answered cautiously. "I can't… All I can say is that the Jedi on Ziost weren't meant to attack. They were just going to investigate the possibility of Vitiate's presence, but things didn't go as planned and I'm here to help." She was careful not to make any mention of Theron; considering Lys hadn't immediately jumped to the conclusion that he'd been the one to call Cori to Ziost, she assumed the Imperials were still unaware of his presence.
The Wrath turned to Quinn with a raised eyebrow, and the two shared an intrigued glance. "A secret team of elite Jedi on an Imperial planet — and they were meant to help?"
Lys, Cori had learned, was far more insufferable on Imperial ground.
Quinn gave a sharp nod. "Actually, that does correlate with Agent Ven's latest… findings."
The mention of her sister sent a shock of worry through her. "Where's Zaara?"
"She's here, she's safe," Lys assured her, her tone now soft and consoling and familiar, almost to the point where it convinced Cori. "Lana, as well."
She was hit with a second wave of the nauseating worry; just as Cori was beginning to feel overwhelmed — it was too much, between her concern about everyone she cared about and her fear about the entire situation and the fact that the Emperor was everywhere, like a stench seeping into her robes and skin when she'd only just scrubbed herself clean — Cori felt Kira's hand on her shoulder, warm and supporting and tangible. Focusing on that single gesture, she felt once again grounded, even if only for the moment.
"We have something very important to accomplish." Cori breathed deeply, trying to regain her composure and turn her efforts back to the whole reason they were there — to find Theron. "All we need is a bit of time to find someone, and we can help with the Jedi. Just— an hour," she asked, placing half a lifetime of trust and friendship into that single request. "All we need is an hour."
The tiredness returned to Lys' expression, and she glanced over at Quinn before sighing. "I'm due to report in to the Council. After that, I'll be contacting Lana. You have until then — after that, I'll alert Sith Intelligence and I… I can't promise to vouch for you if you're caught."
Cori nodded; it was better than she could've hoped for if she hadn't gone to Lys. "We'll be ready to help," she promised.
"Be safe, Battlemaster."
"Tell me you have something substantial." Lana could hear the exhaustion in her own voice — how many hours had it even been since she'd slept? She couldn't be sure. The days were all running together and it had been so long since she'd even left her office.
It had been just over twelve hours since they'd pulled the majority of their forces out of New Adasta, but between Zaara and her crew, Captain Kartier, and Lieutenant Pierce and that Talz from the Wrath's crew, they'd been able to hold the makeshift base at the southwest edge of the capital.
The hospital — one of the first places hit by Vitiate's pawns the week before — was now far more than a few rooms to take cover in for a couple hours of sleep; Zaara and Kartier had turned it into a combination base of operations for the military, refuge for any civilians unable to make it to an evac, and containment center for any number of possessed soldiers, civilians, and Jedi.
In the past four hours, it had also become interrogation facilities.
"Of course I do." Over the holo, Zaara nodded; there was a slight shake to her voice, like she'd gone too long with stims and caf in place of food or sleep or rest. "Thanks to Kovach, mostly. He's worthless in interrogation but he's more than made up for it by figuring this one out."
Lana waited a moment for Zaara to elaborate. Behind her, someone called out her name; she waved them off. "Well?"
Instead of answering, Zaara stepped back and her image was replaced by Kovach. "Minister." He gave a dip of his head before continuing. "Based on what we've learned and what little I know about Jedi, I believe we're dealing with the Sixth Line."
There was another pause, and Lana sighed in frustration. "I don't have all day, Agent. What exactly is the Sixth Line?"
"They're the closest thing the Jedi have to a black ops group," Kovach explained. "They aren't associated with Tython or the military, but we believe— Agent Ven believes," he corrected himself with an odd sort of hesitance, "that they may currently be working for the SIS. It seems unlikely, given—"
"The SIS?" Lana interrupted.
"Yes, but—"
"Watcher Three." Ignoring Kovach for the moment, Lana turned to where the Watcher was currently monitoring the status of evacuations. "Have security and any forces left outside the Headquarters be on alert. Call it a hunch, but I believe Theron Shan may be connected to all of this." She clasped her hands behind her back and, as an afterthought, added, "And be sure to be very clear — I want him brought in alive."
"Yes, Minister."
Kovach frowned. "We can't even be sure the SIS is a part of this. Why would Shan be involved?"
"A disaster like this?" Zaara wasn't on the holo, but Lana could hear her light-hearted comment. "It has Theron written all over it." She ducked into view for a moment as she added, "And don't tell Nox, not yet. I'd like to try and keep her from getting involved as long as possible."
"She left about an hour ago," Watcher Three called, loudly enough that the holo picked his voice up. "She was supposed to be headed towards your location."
"Damn. I'll see if I can get in touch with her, at least. Reign her in before she kills too many people."
"Nox is aware that—" Lana's words cut off abruptly; she'd been trying to find Nox, attempting to reach out through the Force to locate her. It had become difficult to clearly sense anything, between her efforts to keep Vitiate out of her mind and the overwhelming presence that saturated everything.
But there she was, clear as day and headed straight towards the capital — Cori.
Lana glanced back towards the holo, feeling her eyes go wide. "Did you call her here?"
Zaara frowned in confusion. "Nox? She's the Council oversight—" Still frowning, she made exaggerated air quotes as she spoke, "—to ensure cooperation and efficiency, or something like that."
"No, not— Zaara, I think you should head back here. Kovach is more than capable of handling things, and there's… something we should look into."
Despite giving Lana an odd look, Zaara nodded in understanding. "I'll head out."
"Hurry." Lana had so far stayed within the Intelligence Headquarters, dutifully leading and delegating rather than join in on the fighting outside, but Cori's presence warranted a personal investigation.
The best she could hope for at the moment was information — this was neither the time nor the place for a reunion and besides, that was the last thing on her mind — but part of her was now itching with worry. An unaffiliated black ops group didn't seem like something Cori would be involved with, but either way she had some explaining to do.
That is, assuming Vitiate hadn't yet claimed her.
"Will you at least tell me what it is we're rushing for?" As Zaara spoke, she prepped a simple probe and lobbed it towards the center of a group of possessed soldiers on the opposite side of the street. An airborne neurotoxin — nonlethal, courtesy of Lokin — sprayed out, and over the next few seconds each of the four soldiers collapsed, alive but immobile.
It was a crude, temporary solution, but the only one they'd been able to come up with so far.
She turned her attention to Lana; the Sith held a soldier aloft with the Force, another was sprawled on the ground behind her, and she was holding off a Jedi with her lightsaber. With a sharp crack, the airborne soldier convulsed and dropped to the ground.
The Jedi dove to the side with a grunt of effort, evading Lana's attack and popping back onto his feet, his own saber raised in preparation to retaliate.
"Get down!" Ducking behind the slab of duracrete she'd been using as cover, Zaara tossed a flash bang grenade towards the Jedi, uncertain if it would even have an effect. When she looked back up, the Jedi seemed somewhat disoriented but mostly alert; he swung at Lana, but before she could even block his attack he went flying backwards, pushed aside by someone outside of Zaara's view.
Zaara planned to use the opportunity to take a shot, but before she could even line up her rifle, she found her target obstructed by a second Jedi — this one with dark green robes and a soft green lightsaber, both of which Zaara recognized with a shock of both worry and dismay.
"Lana!"
The familiar voice was the last piece of confirmation Zaara needed, and she pushed herself up with another pang of concern. Cori stood in the middle of the street, brow furrowed and lips pulled into a frown as she clipped her saber back to her belt. She wasn't quite fretting over Lana, but she practically radiated both worry and relief as she glanced over her.
"This isn't your fight, Battlemaster," Lana stated plainly; as Zaara approached, she wondered just how close she'd have to get before the pair remembered they weren't alone. She shared a quick glance with Kira, suspecting the Jedi was thinking the same thing.
"Maybe it isn't, but it isn't one you have to fight alone, either. I'm here to help."
Lana hesitated, as if she had something to say and thought better of it. Instead, she directed her attention to Kovach; the second agent had come with Zaara to meet Lana, and was trailing behind when they were attacked. "Agent Kovach, make certain that Master Cori receives the necessary security clearance. We aren't in a position to turn down help, unfortunately."
"What position are you in?" Kira asked, placing her hands on her hips and surveying the ruined street they stood in. "We're a bit short on details."
"I'm surprised you aren't familiar with the work of the Jedi," Kovach commented lightly.
Cori grimaced as she glanced over at the Jedi she'd struck down. "We knew there was a Republic team here," she admitted, "but I had no idea they were Jedi. We knew about the Emperor, too — that's why we're here, and it's why they're here."
Zaara frowned. "And since when is Vitiate the responsibility of the Jedi?" Cori said nothing in response, and Zaara wondered if she hit some sort of self-conscious chord. "Regardless," she continued, "Lana's right. If you're here, you might as well help. Agent?"
Kovach launched into an explanation of their situation, covering what little they'd discovered about the Sixth Line while managing to leave out — mostly — details of their operation and the interrogations. He was about halfway through an explanation of the actual possessions when Zaara's earpiece beeped, and Watcher Three spoke a moment later.
"Agent Ven, we have a problem."
"What is it, Watcher?" Zaara stepped away from the others as she spoke over the comm line.
"Anti-air defenses around New Adasta have been activated," Watcher Three reported, voice faltering slightly as he continued. "They… It wasn't authorized by anyone, that I can tell. I'm accessing the security—"
"Shut them down," Zaara interrupted, feeling only mildly guilty for snapping at the agent. Everything was a problem, nothing was going right, and she'd been on the losing end of this mission for far too long. "We don't have the manpower to keep the defense stations guarded and we can't risk our own ships being shot out of the sky." She paused, jaw clenching. "How many?"
It was a moment before Watcher Three answered. "Two ships. Over three hundred civilians, plus military personnel."
Worthless. That was the only word that came to Zaara's mind — those deaths had been worthless, meaningless sacrifices. She couldn't justify them, couldn't claim it was for some greater good or higher purpose. They had lost people, lost in the truest sense of the word.
She'd done worse. Firing the Eradicators, all those years ago, had caused hundreds of times the amount of damage — and yet, there had been a purpose. She'd brought in Jadus alive. Completed her mission. Justified it. Moved on.
"Shut. Them. Down."
"I can't. The defense systems can't be accessed remotely. You'd have to force your way back in to the military compound."
"Noted." Turning back to the others, Zaara clasped her hands together and gave what she hoped was a convincing grin. "Kovach, I need you to disable the AA systems. Contact Watcher Three if you need more details. Take our two Jedi friends with you — and hurry. Lana, you and I need to get to work because I've got lots of creative ways to kill Vitiate, but no Vitiate to kill."
:::Alert: Emergency Evacuation:::
[Ziost has declared a state of emergency, and as such is under standard planetary evacuation protocol. Recommended evacuations are in place. Please consult the following list for areas immediately affected.]
[Mandatory evacuations: New Adasta and surrounding metropolitan areas]
:::End Transmission:::
"Dorne, what's standard evacuation protocol for Imperials?" Davri let the emergency broadcast play a fourth time; it had begun when they'd entered orbit around the planet, and had only contributed to her growing sense of unease over the situation.
"It varies, sir." As Elara came up the steps into the cockpit, she clarified, "Depending on the evacuation area, circumstances, and Council priority." She paused to listen to the transmission, eyes widening as it looped a fifth time.
"What are we looking at?"
She cleared her throat, expression smoothing back into one of curt professionalism. "Declaring a state of emergency isn't done lightly, especially on a planet like Ziost. The Council has likely intervened, possibly directly. This… isn't how a civilian uprising would be handled."
"So Saresh either isn't giving us the whole story, or her intel is wrong." With a sigh, Davri cut off the broadcast and made her way down to the main holoterminal, keying in a code Saresh had given her. The Supreme Chancellor's image flickered into view a few moments later. "We've arrived a few hours ahead of the rest of the fleet," Davri began, not in the mood to deal with formalities. "Why don't we go back over the situation?"
"I'm afraid there isn't time, Major." Saresh crossed her arms. "I've received some rather disturbing information — a rogue group of Jedi have already begun to take advantage of the chaos on Ziost. The Imperials are retreating, pulling their forces out of the capital city. There will likely be heightened security at the Intelligence base."
Davri glanced past Saresh's image to where Elara stood on the other side of the room; she didn't seem convinced. "They're not just leaving New Adasta, they're evacuating the entire planet. You're telling me this is all because a few Jedi are running around on the surface?"
Saresh was silent for a moment, lips pressed into a tight frown. "Those few Jedi are part of an elite squad that single-handedly kept the Balmorran resistance from falling apart when the Empire controlled the planet. I think it's very likely that they've done something to merit such a response, yes."
Taking a steadying breath in an attempt to keep from accusing Saresh of… something, of anything that could be placed on her, Davri instead turned her attention to the issue of the Jedi. "When you say rogue group, what do you mean?"
"Officially, they're on leave. We haven't discovered who authorized this mission, but given the secrecy behind both these Jedi and the situation on Ziost, it's unlikely they're acting alone."
"But they're still working in Republic interests?" Davri pressed. "We won't have to fight through Sith and Jedi?"
Saresh offered a brief nod as she confirmed, "My agent on Ziost has reported that they're attacking the Imperials, yes. Still, we don't yet know their purpose. I'd advise caution."
"Got it." Without waiting for Saresh to say anything else — not that she could add anything valuable anyway, in Davri's opinion — she switched off the holoterminal and turned to Elara. "What do you think, Dorne?"
Elara was silent for a moment, lips twisted in a slight frown as she thought. "I think we're missing something," she decided, "but I do believe it's possible — especially if the Imperials know there's a Republic presence — that even Saresh's agent is missing something. Imperial Intelligence wasn't ever known for sharing information."
"I still think she's keeping stuff from us," Davri shrugged, before leaning forward to call out into the cargo bay. "Vik! Make sure you bring something big enough to bring down a building."
"Sure thing, Boss."
Elara gave her a questioning glance. "I thought the plans—"
"We're on Imperial soil, Dorne," Davri interrupted. "I'm not leaving without taking the chance to blow something up."