A few days later...
Cognus sat in the tearoom at the Harunn Royal Palace, nursing a cup of tea with one hand and feeling her newly reattached horn with the other. The anger at Millennial's betrayal and the events that led to her disfigurement simmered inside her, and she waited with barely contained impatience for Adira's arrival.
The guards watching over her shifted nervously, clearly feeling the tension radiating from her. Cognus glared at them, daring them to make a move, but ultimately, she remained seated, quietly seething with anger and planning her next move.
While the medical droid had done an adequate job in reattaching her horn, she could feel no sensation in it, which only served to anger her more. She had never cared much about the importance of her horns, but the fact that she couldn't even feel herself touching it was a constant reminder of her vulnerability and the pain of her betrayal.
Cognus bit her lip, drawing blood, as she sat in the tearoom, lost in thought. She recalled how close she had come to dying, and it made her angry with herself. She scolded herself mentally for her own weakness. As the third Sith in Lord Bane's glorious Rule of Two, she had almost been the last. She needed to get stronger and wiser, and she couldn't afford to make any more mistakes. No doubt she would be stricter with her next apprentice. She wouldn't dare let them out of her sights, and she resolved to be more ruthless and unforgiving in her training.
Cognus muttered to herself, "I will break my next apprentice, mold them into a puppet, and make them dance to my tune".
As Adira entered the room with a cheerful greeting, Cognus' expression soured even more, her anger radiating through the force. She despised the woman for her perceived betrayal and the fact that she had been so easily fooled by her and her daughter.
The other woman offered a small plate of tea cakes to Cognus, but before she could even finish her sentence, Cognus cut her off mid-sentence. The Dark Lady raised her hand slightly, and suddenly Adira was lifted up off the couch as if she were weightless. The Queen gasped in shock as her guards looked on horrified.
"Did you know that Hanan was training as Millennial's apprentice in secret?" Cognus demanded, her voice dripping with anger. "And did you have anything to do with their attempt on my life?"
Adira denied weakly, her face turning red from the lack of air. "I had no knowledge of this, I swear it on my life," she gasped, trying to take a breath.
Cognus released her grip on Adira, letting the Queen gasp for air as she fell back onto the couch.
"How could I ever trust you now?" Cognus demanded, her eyes flashing with anger. "You knew about Hanan and you did nothing to stop it. Worse, you might have even aided her in her attempts on my life".
Adira trembled, tears streaming down her face. "I swear, I had no knowledge of it! I would never betray you, my lady. Please spare my life!"
Cognus sneered at her. "Just because you're royalty doesn't mean you're any less disposable than hired help. Why should I spare you?"
The Queen, still gasping for air responded, "I have a gift for you, my lady. To show my continued loyalty".
Cognus narrowed her eyes suspiciously but motioned for Adira to proceed. "What gift?" she asked, her voice laced with contempt.
Cognus felt a stirring in the Force, and she could sense someone standing just behind the doors. Although the person's emotions conveyed fear and confusion, their Force presence was significant, surpassing even Millennial's level under her instruction. Cognus turned to Adira, unsure of what to make of this new arrival.
Before she could speak, Adira called out to the individual, inviting them into the room. The doors opened, and a small Gamorrean child stepped forward, no more than eight standard years old. Cognus was taken aback by the unexpected gift, and she eyed the child with suspicion.
"What is the meaning of this?" Cognus demanded, turning to Adira. "Why have you brought me a child?"
Adira bowed her head, wringing her hands nervously. "I know how important apprentices are to the Sith, and this child has great potential in the Force. He is strong, and with your guidance, he could become a valuable asset to the Sith. Please, accept this gift as a token of my loyalty."
Cognus regarded the child with a critical eye, still unsure of what to make of the situation. She had never taken on a Gamorrean as an apprentice before, but Adira's words had piqued her interest. With a sigh, she finally asked, "What is his name?"
The small Gamorrean child had patchy, mottled green skin, and his cheeks were sunken from malnutrition. His large, round eyes darted nervously around the room, and he shuffled his weight from one side to the other, as if unsure of how to stand properly. His tattered clothing hung off his emaciated frame, and he seemed almost too small and fragile to be standing in front of the imposing Dark Lady. As Cognus' stare bore into him, he visibly trembled, afraid to so much as take a breath in her presence.
Cognus stared down at the small, malnourished Gamorrean child with interest, sensing the raw power emanating from the little being. Adira had informed her that the child had yet to be given a name and that he had been purchased at auctions by chance.
Cognus had grunted, unimpressed with the Queen's flippant attitude towards the child's naming. "Names give individuals power," she had sneered, "and in my eyes, the child should earn such a privilege." Adira's eyes had widened in surprise at Cognus's response. "Of course, my Lady," she had stammered, bowing deeply.
Cognus had continued to observe the child, feeling a strange sense of kinship with him. She had sensed the potential within him, the raw power that could be harnessed and moulded into something great that she could control. "He will need training," she had murmured, more to herself than to Adira. "I will take him as my own apprentice."
Adira had looked up in surprise, her eyes wide. "My Lady, are you sure? He is just a child, and a Gamorrean at that."
Cognus's eyes had narrowed dangerously. "The Force does not discriminate based on species, Adira. And neither should we".
It became clear to her that Adira had only intended him to be a servant or future bodyguard. Cognus could understand why the other woman was surprised by her decision to take him as her own apprentice. After all, it was a rare thing for a species known for nothing more than hired muscle or slavery like the Gamorreans to rise above their expected stations and achieve greatness. But Cognus had seen something in the child that made her believe he could be different.
It would be a curious thing indeed to see where this child's journey through the dark side would take him. Cognus knew that it wouldn't be an easy path, and that many would underestimate him because of his species and his youth. But Cognus also knew that those who had been overlooked and underestimated often had the greatest potential for greatness, recalling on Bane's humble origins.
As Cognus continued to watch the child, she saw glimpses of the raw power that she had sensed before. She saw the determination in his eyes and the fierce will to survive that had kept him alive despite his difficult circumstances. She knew that he would need guidance and training, but she was also confident that he had the potential to become a powerful Sith.
Cognus knew that there would be challenges ahead, and that the path to the dark side was fraught with danger. But she also knew that the rewards could be great, for those who were strong enough to seize them. And as she watched the child, she felt a sense of excitement and anticipation rise within her, knowing that she was about to embark on a journey that would test her skills as a teacher and her own commitment to the dark side.
Cognus towered over the small Gamorrean child, demanding that he speak up and tell her something. The child remained silent, intimidated by the dark lady of the Sith. Annoyed by his continued silence, Cognus bent down to his level and demanded that he speak up. In response, the child spat in her face, and Cognus smiled, wiping away the saliva from her face. She used her long nails to teach her new apprentice a lesson. In one swift motion, she left a row of gashes that covered his right eye, causing the child to scream out in pain.
She stood up, looking down at the child with a sinister grin on her face. She was pleased to see that the child was finally showing some spirit. Cognus reminded the child that he was now under her tutelage, and that he must learn to respect his superiors. The child looked up at her with fear in his eyes, but also a newfound determination.
Cognus turned to face Adira, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "I must say, Adira, you've truly outdone yourself this time," she said, amusement lacing her voice. Adira flinched, clearly still shaken from the display of power moments earlier.
"I'm glad you like him," Adira replied weakly. "I thought he would make a fine addition to your retinue."
Cognus stepped closer to Adira, her eyes gleaming with a cruel light. "Oh, I do like him," she said, her voice low and menacing. "But let's get one thing straight, Adira. You are replaceable. Don't ever forget that."
Adira's eyes widened in fear, and Cognus chuckled at her reaction. "Relax, Adira. I'm not going to kill you. At least, not today. But don't push me too far."
Adira nodded frantically, and Cognus turned away from her, already planning how she would use the new apprentice to further her own power.
She couldn't help but notice a shift in Cognus' demeanour. The Sith had always been composed, calculated, and in control. However, the events of the past few days seemed to be getting to her. She had been visibly agitated by the discovery of her former apprentice's betrayal and her anger had been palpable during her encounter with the Gamorrean child.
The older woman couldn't help but worry that her ally was beginning to become unhinged. She had seen the signs before in others and knew that it could be a dangerous road to go down. Adira made a mental note to tread carefully around Cognus in the future and not use her anymore than she absolutely needed to.
Adira let out a small sigh of relief as she watched Cognus and the youngling leave the tea room. She couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt for the child's fate, but she knew it was out of her hands now.
As the doors closed shut, she let out a heavy sigh, her hand instinctively going to her throat as she recalled the feeling of being force choked by the dark lady of the Sith.
"I don't know how much more of this I can take," she muttered to herself. "She's becoming more unhinged by the second".
She paced back and forth for a few moments before finally stopping and turning to face the empty room.
"I have to be careful," she said aloud. "Cognus is walking on very thin ice, and if she ever turns on me again, I won't hesitate to call the Jedi for help." She took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. "But for now, I'll continue to bide my time and play along with her games."
With that, Adira turned and left the tearoom, her mind already working on how to keep up appearances and cover up the markings around her neck before her next public appearance.