"Hunt my sister down!"
Arcann gave his command to a few loyalist soldiers who followed him into an endeavor most would consider suicidal. He leaped from the edge of his ship to the metal floor of the eternal palace, a place that Vaylin now reigned from.
It was the first time he set foot on Zakuul ever since leaving it to hunt down the Outlander, and too much has changed since that moment. SCORPIO's usurping schemes, his disgraceful defeat on the flagship above Odessen, his mother coming just in time to save him, a hard choice Arcann had to make in the spur of the moment…It almost felt like there was still a chance. Senya forgave him. Even Vaylin hesitated to attack her when Senya pleaded for her to join them. Fate prevented her from making a choice, but Arcann was fortunate enough to escape. They could be a family again, could undo the sins of their past…It was only when Arcann lost everything that he gave a second thought to the path of atrocity and destruction he chose.
But this hope was snatched away from him. The time Arcann spent with his mother was short-lived, as the Alliance craved justice and tried to hunt him down. They almost succeeded on Voss, and it was Senya who stood between Arcann and the Outlander. She paid for that in her life.
Arcann escaped, but he had nothing left. The entire galaxy was against him for years of tyranny and destruction; there was no atonement for him to find…But he still had a home. Arcann had his people overtaken by chaos and struggle, people that Senya had asked among. He still had his rightful claim, still had an opportunity to reclaim his army, and did everything he could to destroy Outlander and his father. His sister was the Empress now…Arcann could not imagine her caring for power and control, but she would no doubt be bitter about his betrayal. Arcann would love nothing more than to come to an agreement with her and restore their Alliance, but if she would resist, Arcann wouldn't hesitate to use force to subdue her.
When he arrived, Arcann quickly realized that he wasn't the only one trying to dethrone the Empress. The Outlander and his allies were here, too.
"Kneel before the dragon of Zakuul."
The echo Arcann heard…So they found out about her conditioning, somehow. This would only make her angrier…It was very much like father, always trying to ruin their lives in any way possible. However, his loyalists could handle that. Arcann only cared for his sister. The former Emperor charged through the palace halls while chasing down Vaylin and hoping that he would not have to deal with distractions. The slaughter has already begun, his men against Vaylin's servants, with his Father pulling the strings from the Outlander's body. He will put an end to this chaos for Senya and Thexan's sake.
As Arcann marched past the cantina, he quickly realized that two knights were following him. Clad in black armor with crimson lightsabers, a new rank that Vaylin created in Arcann's absence, the Horizon Guard. They were among the few who maneuvered past the squad of Arcann's soldiers and made their way toward the former Emperor.
"You should have never returned here…Traitor to the throne!" One of them shouted, yet his voice hardly sounded intimidating
"I can feel your fear," Arcann spoke calmly. "You realize that I am far more powerful than both of you and yet you're still ready to strike. Are you so eager to die fighting someone who will become the Emperor before the sun rises?"
"You will never become an Emperor again!" The second guard joined in. "You betrayed Zakuul!"
"Or perhaps you are afraid of what my sister will do to you if you return to her empty-handed?" Arcann chuckled. "I suppose that is one reason that I understand…In that case, I'll make it quick."
Arcann leaped towards one of the guards, unleashing all of his power, not giving his opponent a single second to breathe. He attempted to block Arcann's strikes, but his form was flawed and imperfect, and Arcann could not allow himself to be anything less than perfect. The knight did not stand a chance, and only moments later, Arcann pierced his heart. The other knight attempted to strike from behind, but Arcann raised his arm and pushed the knight towards the nearby wall with force. The opponent tried to resist, but Arcann quickly snapped the guard's neck, making him let out a pained cough and blood from his mouth before his corpse fell to the floor.
However, Arcann still felt the presence of life while looking at the cantina. There was someone there, hiding behind the counters.
"Show yourself," Arcann commanded. he felt the aura of fear becoming stronger, yet no one moved. "Now!" After another command, Arcann finally witnessed a few civilians standing up. Two women and a man, all dressed in white clothing of Zakuulan nobility, all avoiding eye contact with Arcann. He rarely walked among his own people, but now he saw how it felt for them, being surrounded by chaos and misery.
"P…Please…" One of the women begged. "Please, don't kill us! We always remained loyal to you, we prayed for your return and…"
"Drop your pathetic sycophancy, or else I might not be merciful." Arcann shook his head. "Where is Vaylin?"
"She…Went toward the palace gardens; that's all we saw!"
"That's enough for me. Now go. If you are lucky enough to get out of here alive, return to your homes and wait…Soon, I will reclaim my rightful place." Arcann said triumphantly as the civilians made their way towards the lower levels. He didn't have to ask them twice. However, before he could continue, the former Emperor felt someone leaping at him from behind.
"Arcann!" A familiar voice made Arcann turn around and put his lightsaber before him, clashing with one of his opponents. While he had a moment to strike, Arcann pushed the knight with a blue lightsaber away. He knew this one well: a young and heroic Jedi by the name of Jacques Elias, the Hero of Tython and the Outlander's right hand.
"Is the outlander too scared to face me?" Arcann said in a tone of mockery. "I have no time to spare for his hounds."
"Cassian isn't the only one who wants justice," Jac claimed confidently. "You are responsible for countless atrocities against the galaxy. Surrender, and you will be tried by the people you've forced to suffer."
"I do not intend to allow any prison to hold me." Arcann shook his head. "And if their verdict will be execution…I see no reason to delay it when you've got an opportunity here and now."
He was ready to fight. Jac, Cassian, Lana, all of their associates…They were responsible for his mother's death. Arcann knew why they did, knew that it was Senya's choice to sacrifice herself for him, but the rage that boiled inside him couldn't be contained. Today, he will unleash it.
"Attack!" Arcann heard the voice of one of his soldiers as the squad marched into the hall and fired at the Jedi, forcing him to deflect one shot after another, completely taking his attention away from Arcann.
"Keep him busy while I finish my job!" The cyborg ordered his troops before moving away further towards the gardens. He couldn't waste time fighting anyone else; reuniting with Vaylin was the priority. Together, they will be unstoppable.
When Arcann finally reached the gardens, he felt fear festering in his heart. For the first time since making his choice, the former Emperor felt doubt. He could feel Vaylin there, both her rage and her fear. He left her alone, his mentally ill sister, for whom he was the only person she could still confine. In her eyes, it would've been the most stinging of betrayals. Whether there was still a chance to make up for it, now was the time to make an attempt.
"Vaylin!" Arcann said as he saw her on the opposite side of the platform with mechanical cameras floating behind her. She was wearing the robes of an Empress, immediately turning around after hearing Arcann's voice. Her yellow eyes stared at him. There was little joy in their glow.
"Come to beg for forgiveness, big brother?" Vaylin said angrily. "No, of course not; your pride won't allow that!"
"We can discuss our grievances once we're away from the battle…I am not here to fight you." Arcann declared. "I know you, Vaylin. You never wanted the throne. Return it to me, and we will destroy the Outlander and father together."
"You had a chance to return with me, and you blew it!"
"There are far more important matters at hand than your pettiness!" Arcann clenched his iron fist. "Zakuul is in shambles. Our own people betray us for Father! We can't waste time-fighting each other. Let me take the throne, and I will fix it…You can trust me."
"Trust you?" Vaylin said cautiously. "As if I ever would after you left me…And what about that disease father planted in my brain? Did you know?" This was the question Arcann feared the most. Countless memories rushed through his mind. He thought of the day before he was sent to Nathema to bring Vaylin back. Valkorion summoned him and Thexan and warned them both about their sister's power and that if she ever went out of control, they could use a command phrase to bring her to her knees. He also ordered them to keep it a secret for now. Arcann thought of how his brother was conflicted, of how he hated the fact that they had to keep secrets from their sister, but he didn't dare to disobey his father's orders. After he and Valkorion died, Arcann kept this knowledge with him for over five years, and now it was out at the worst possible time.
"He never shared his secrets." He said quietly.
"Liar!"
She must have sensed his fear, too, and this became the final straw. Vaylin raised her hand as force lightning emerged from her fingers. Arcann expected her to attack at any moment and quickly raised his lightsaber to block the onslaught. The moment this lightning struck him, Arcann felt Vaylin's overwhelming power taking form in this unstoppable energy that pierced his every pore. Not even his new cybernetic enhancements could fully protect him from Vaylin's might.
Arcann had to rely on his agility and training. The cyborg leaped back, trying to get as far as possible from the lightning. In a moment of freedom, Arcann grabbed one of the nearby benches, separated it from the ground with force, and tossed it at Vaylin. She reacted in due time, but destroying this minute distraction gave Arcann time to charge at her and clash his lightsaber with hers. Dueling was her weakness; unlike Arcann and Thexan, Vaylin never received proper training; most of the moves she knew she learned from her brother, he could easily predict them.
"I don't want to hurt you, Vaylin, but you are destroying our home! I won't stand aside and watch you do it." Arcann said with conviction as he forced Vaylin into a defensive stance.
"I've come farther than you ever have! I would've killed the Outlander if it wasn't for Father's command phrase!"
"And now think about how much we could achieve if we fight side by side. We will grind Odessen to dust. The Outlander will kneel before us! Father is afraid of us; this is exactly what he wants!"
"I wasn't the one that betrayed you, Arcann!" Vaylin launched another bolt of powerful lightning into Arcann, making her brother scream in agony as he fell to the ground, feeling his body slowly torn apart by pain. "You were the one who chose her…You chose the mother who left us! Have you always hated me? For how long did you plan to betray me for her?!"
"Vaylin, if you do not stop…"
"I won't. I am giving you no more chances!"
"Kneel before the…" Arcann couldn't finish as even more lightning pierced his body and turned Arcann's speech into pained screaming.
"Nice try, brother, but no dice!"
Arcann tried to rely on what power he still had left and stood up. Vaylin won't allow him to use her conditioning and every time he tried, it would only make the cyborg look worse in her eyes. But just when Arcann thought it could not get worse, he saw a tall figure approaching. A Chiss Sith Lord in ebon armor and crimson cape, his red eyes laser-focused on him and Vaylin. No, no, he couldn't be allowed to ruin this…Arcann got distracted, which allowed Vaylin to drag the nearest metal bulk to Arcann, once again forcing her brother to fall to the ground. By this point, she noticed the Empire's Wrath as well.
"Father wants a word with you." Vaylin's mocking voice echoed in Arcann's ears as his sister rushed to the edge of the platform and, too, a decisive leap forward. She emerged riding a speeder, clearly having no intent to stay behind. It was just him and Cassian…A rematch with the Outlander was certainly not what Arcann expected of this day, but it was inevitable. His ally, Theron Shan, followed him, helping to fend off Arcann's soldiers that followed.
"Outlander…" Arcann said with disdain in his voice. "I should've known father would bring you here."
"Valkorion has nothing to do with this." Cassian denied vehemently as he ignited his blade. "This is between you and me, Arcann. I will not let you escape this time."
"Even now, father manipulates you…You invaded my Empire and killed my mother! I will have revenge."
"You can try, but do not expect me to hold back."
And so their battle began. Arcann fought with Cassian before and made the grave mistake of underestimating him and assuming that his power came from his father. Valkorion helped him, of course, but even without his power, Cassian was a formidable opponent. He mastered the dark side and was an expert blademaster. From what Arcann gathered, Cassian was his father's favored Sith in the Dromund Kaas Empire, the one he still placed his faith in. Not that it was a fate Arcann could envy, but being Valkorion's favorite pawn meant that he would have to go through the most suffering and torment while his father tried to perfect him.
Death would be a mercy.
Their lightsabers clashed as Arcann could finally feel the Outlander's fury. Sith were driven by their emotions, by their rage, the very same philosophy Valkorion taught him and Thexan. They were alike in many ways, as much as Arcann hated to admit it. Both proud and determined, never willing to stand back, eager to crush their enemies and defy their dark master…While still playing right into his hands at the end.
Arcann blocked Cassian's attacks masterfully. He learned from the mistakes he made back on the flagship.
"This time, I end you!" Arcann shouted as he tried to break Cassian's neck with force, only to feel the aura of pure darkness blocking his way. He grew resilient and even stronger over the last few months while Arcann was still reeling from Vaylin's attacks. What if…No, he cannot lose.
Cassian was fully focused on the battle, not even willing to say anything at all. He blocked Arcann's strikes, focusing on wearing the prince down and bringing him to a point where he could no longer resist. There were some loyalists who attempted to join the fight, but very few managed to get in. Most were overtaken by Zakuul knights on their way, and those that charged towards the Outlander were dealt with quickly. They were loyal, and Arcann respected them for agreeing to aid him in this endeavor, but he knew that they were unlikely to survive. It was just him and the Outlander…
And father.
Every time Arcann tried to focus, whether to strike the Sith directly or toss an object at him, he would see Valkorion's shadow walking behind, looking at him with disapproval and superiority. No trace of kindness or compassion; he didn't see Arcann as anything more than a rabid animal, a failed experiment that had to be put down. And the thought of him succeeding was more than enough to put Arcann on edge and make him shiver.
"No…Not like this!"
He grew weaker with every strike and could barely fight the knight of darkness that pushed Arcann into a corner. It all began when they met each other, with Cassian being nothing more than a prisoner…Now, the tables have turned entirely. The Outlander was his superior, and soon, he brought the battle to its conclusion. His lightsaber struck Arcann; the prince could not fight any longer, and so he fell on his knees before the Sith Lord.
Arcann could still see the shadow of his father walking behind, the one he desperately tried to grapple onto, but he disappeared out of sight. The prince found himself at the Outlander's feet, completely at his mercy.
"Your bid for the throne ends here." Cassian's confident voice echoed in his ears.
"You sound like father." Arcann looked up, wondering how much of his free will Cassian still retained. "He destroys everything he touches. His home, his family, and soon…Even you."
"I am well aware of Valkorion's plans," Cassian responded. "And I will not allow him to have his way no matter what it is he tries to accomplish. I fought him for years without end now, and when the day comes, I'll be ready."
"I had that confidence once…" Arcann said before seeing Valkorion's spirit emerge to his side, not even willing to grace his son with a look.
"Your destruction was inevitable. The weak always die to make way for the powerful."
"You're a monster!"
"And you are a child."
There was no point in wasting any words on him. Valkorion finally won, and Arcann had to admit it. Instead, he turned to the Outlander, who, for some reason, still hesitated.
"I hope you're proud of your achievements."
"Galaxy demands justice, and I demand payback for years you stole from me." Cassian kneeled to Arcann. "I know it won't make it any easier for you, but for what it's worth, the hatred I once held for you subsided. You were as much of a pawn in Valkorion's games as I…And I will stop him, eventually, that I promise." The Outlander said before standing up. "I was not willing to play on your mother's terms, even though she admitted you are dangerous, but I am willing to take you alive if you don't fight back."
"Don't disrespect me like that." Arcann scoffed. "If you try, I will make you kill me."
"I see…Then I will make it quick." Cassian nodded and raised his blade.
"And this is how I die…With the whole galaxy cheering you on. End it, Outlander."
The cameras swirled around them, allowing all of Zakuul to see his disgrace. Cassian might have shown respect and understanding, but countless people who will see the broadcast certainly won't. They would celebrate his death as if he were a rabid animal; he never gave them any reason to see him otherwise. And yet, it still hurt.
"Zakuul, I come to you as a defender of freedom!" Cassian spoke up as he looked into the camera. "Your Emperor drove you to oppression, to silence! Today, I end his reign of terror, and Vaylin is next!" Cassian looked towards Arcann, preparing for a killing blow. "When you think of this day, remember who gave you justice!"
One piercing strike-through Arcann's heart, and all of this was over. There was only darkness before the disgraced prince's eyes…Darkness and silence. At least only for a swift moment. Then, he felt something far worse, something that made his heart and mind freeze as he realized that he was not about to become one with the force. He did not feel the great flow, only the void…
"At long last, son…You are mine."
