A/N: Don't ask me how I did it. But I managed to pump out this chapter in breakneck speed. Let's just say I was only able to do it because I'm currently in an environment where I temporarily have all the time throughout the day to write.

Please don't take this as a new norm, though. Like I said. It's temporary. If I'm lucky I may get to speedwrite another chapter by the end of the week. If not then you guys may need to wait for a little longer.

This is a more action-focused chapter. But I've left some smut at the end to wrap the chapter up nicely.

As usual please read and REVIEW! Follows and Favs are great and all but it's reading the reviews that motivate me to write.

And ACTION!

Chapter 20

From her command center Darth Lachris observed Aaric, the upstart Sith Apprentice, from a distance, as he delivered his rousing speech that was broadcasted live via holo, stirring the hearts and spirits of the Imperial soldiers gathered for battle. Even without her physical presence, she could feel the air crackling with intensity as Aaric's powerful words resonated through the ranks… and through her as well.

Throughout the week, she had been gathering information about him but finding little. All she knew was that he was Darth Baras' newest apprentice. And knowing Baras, he would not have made Aaric insert himself into the business of destroying the Balmorran resistance if it suited his own secret purposes.

But it did not matter in the end. Her interests aligned with Baras and she would get to claim complete control of Balmorra as long as the apprentice made good on his promises.

The seven days leading up to the scheduled assault on the Balmorran Arms Factory, apart from settling his own affairs, he had been busy running around with the Imperial Consolidation Corps assisting in taking down pockets of fighters that had been surrounded and trapped behind their lines.

Apart from helping the corps to secure the flanks prior to the upcoming assault; Aaric's martial skill, tactical leadership, bravery and cunning had earned him the respect of the men and women serving the Corps and there were reports of an increasing number of men requesting to transfer out to be under his command once the resistance was obliterated.

A stark difference from other typical Sith she had seen or worked with.

Whilst normally up and coming Apprentices were granted control of their own forces as a reward for personal exploits and significant contributions to the imperial cause, this particular apprentice seemed to be gaining a following all on his own without the use of fear or personal connections.

As the speech ended and the transmission was cut, Darth Lachris experienced a myriad of emotions. Pride surged within her, witnessing the potency of a fellow Sith, able to inspire and uplift the morale of the troops through sheer words and charisma. Confidence blossomed, believing this time the Imperial forces would vanquish the resistance fighters once and for all.

However, alongside these emotions, an unexpected feeling emerged within Darth Lachris. It wasn't just admiration for Aaric's leadership or prowess. There was an unusual, unbidden attraction, a magnetism that she couldn't easily dismiss. The intensity of Aaric's words had ignited a different kind of fire within her—a stirring that unsettled the Sith Lady.

Amidst the chaotic dance of emotions, Lachris tried and failed to retain her stoic exterior, breaking it with a salacious lick and bite of her lower lip. She was thankful that there was nobody else other than herself at the moment.

This apprentice… No. This man was much more attractive than those other hulking Sith brutes that tried to impress with their size or kill count; only her former master Darth Marr was an exception. The aura Aaric exuded was already enough to make her wet in her loins. It was only through her disciplined will that stopped her from trying to cross her thighs or touch her nether regions in an attempt to soothe her growing sexual frustration.

For so long she had not yet found another male amongst their order that was good enough for her to lay in bed with. But this time perhaps Aaric would fit the bill.

If he survived the upcoming battle, of course.

Bringing her attention back to the imminent battle. She recognized the strength Aaric's leadership brought to their cause, regardless of the stirring emotions within her. As they prepared to face the Balmorran Resistance once more, she steeled herself, drawing upon the fire that Aaric had ignited among the Imperial forces, ready to lead them into the impending clash.

Lachris switched the screen to display the holocam droid that was hovering just above the edges of the battlefield. Minutes passed with nothing happening…

Then the entire landscape shook thrice in a span of thirty seconds as audible explosions could be heard from the distance.

Lachris' eyes widened in equal amounts of shock and glee as the shimmering deflector shields that had been the bane of her existence ever since she stepped foot onto Balmorra dematerialised into nothingness; opening up the Balmorran Arms factory for the first time in the entire conflict to deep scanning and bombardment.

Wasting no time, Darth Lachris picked up her comms receiver.

"All units open fire! Ships positioned overhead, scan the factory now!"

On the ground, the once-impenetrable Balmorran Arms Factory stood vulnerable, its generators crippled, leaving the shields, automated turrets, and sensors powerless. The heart of the Resistance's defense had been struck a critical blow, leaving it exposed and defenseless.

The torrential poured over the landscape, thunder shaking the ground, lightning flashing and arcing across the skies every waking minute.

From the heavens and through the thick thunderclouds, the skies erupted with devastating force. Turbolaser strikes lashed out and pummeled the ground as battleships that were positioned in orbit overhead opened fire with all the weapons they could bring to bear for a staggering ten minutes before letting up.

The precious few seconds of silence was then punctured by the screaming roars of ion engines as the Protactinian bombers designed by Science Officer Gann's glided overhead and released their proton bombs in a thunderous bombing run that pummeled all three lines of defenses surrounding the factory exterior without as much as a single blaster bolt returned in retaliation.

The assault culminated in a rolling artillery barrage that pounded the remaining fortifications; turning whatever walls, turrets and remaining exterior defenses that had yet to fall, into smouldering rubble.

As the rolling artillery subsided over the ridgeline, Aaric emerged from the trenches. His crimson lightsaber ignited with a menacing hum. With a determined stride, he led the Imperial troopers in a devastating charge with a combined roar that could be heard from kilometers away.

"UUUURAAAAAHHHHH!"

The black mass of imperial troops, assault droids and vehicles crested the ridge; bypassing the offline defenses, killing whoever was still alive in the bunkers. Their next target: the remaining defenders manning the trenches, who were still reeling from the relentless onslaught.

The Imperial forces poured over the ridge, overwhelming the diminished defenders, cutting down any resistance in their path. The defenders, caught off guard by the abruptness of the assault, found their positions compromised as the Imperials infiltrated the labyrinth of deep trenches that crisscrossed the battlefield.

Though the defenders had designed the trenches for strategic advantage, the absence of sufficient power rendered the defenses less effective. The Imperial troopers, guided by Aaric, maneuvered through the maze of trenches with relative ease, their overwhelming numbers and ferocity surmounting the Resistance's fragmented resistance.

With each passing moment, the Resistance found their forward defenses crumbling before the might of the Imperial onslaught. The defenders valiantly fought, engaging in point-blank shooting and vicious hand-to-hand combat. However, the sheer force of the Imperial assault proved too formidable to withstand.

The Imperial troops surged forward, confronted with a massive open killing field that lay ahead of the factory's main entrance. The lack of cover should have posed a significant threat, but with the generators offline, the defenders' firepower was significantly reduced; all the laser turrets and automated guns that had been built into the face of the cliff was down.

There could only be battle: Man to man.

The battleground became a maelstrom of chaos, blaster fire crackling through the air, and the sound of Aaric's lightsaber cleaving through the defenders like a hot knife through butter-basted land shrimp. Even the massive, spider-like mining droids that had been repurposed for combat were felled within minutes. Most of which had already been destroyed from the earlier bombardment.

The Sith apprentice made sure to pace himself and not be lost in the thick of battle. He knew that many Sith had been felled due to their own battle-junkie recklessness and outpaced their accompanying troops which by then had been too far to rescue them.

This ensured he was in full view of the soldiers who marveled at Aaric as he personally made it a point to take down the most troublesome enemies or obstacles he could find that would make the advance easier.

The defenders would also not receive reinforcements from the troops stationed at the beaches adjacent to the battlefield as they too had been obliterated with extreme prejudice.

Aaric's relentless charge led the Imperial troopers to the main entrance of the Balmorran Arms Factory. The Sith apprentice signalling the troopers following him to halt so they could consolidate and have a short reprieve before they entered the factory proper.

They had to approach the factory's interior with more caution now. The narrow corridors and unmapped interior made excellent choke points and would negate some of their numerical advantage. Since the shields were now down, it was only a matter of time before a full deep scan of the factory could be made and a detailed map of the factory could be transmitted.

More pressing, though, was finding and ensuring Vette's safety. She had done as was instructed. He would have her rewarded for her efforts.

"Hold on, Vette. I'm coming." Aaric whispered as he activated the tracking beacon in Vette's bracelet.

With an ominous determination, he and the following troopers breached the final line of defense, the defiant Resistance fighters making their last stand against the unyielding tide of the Imperial invasion.

Vette, the blue-skinned Twi'lek slave-cum-operative, lurked in the shadowy confines of the Balmorran Arms Factory, having successfully completed her covert mission to sabotage the generators and shields. She nestled into a concealed corner as close to the main entrance as possible.

Her breath was hushed as the chaos of the impending battle echoed throughout the factory.

Outside, the turmoil among the Resistance fighters was palpable. Panic and urgency pervaded the air as they scrambled to organize a defense, realizing their shields and automated guns were compromised, and the Imperial troops were encroaching further into their stronghold.

The Imperial troops led by Aaric, her Sith Master, advanced steadily. As they penetrated deeper into the facility, the skirmish evolved into brutal room-to-room and corridor-to-corridor combat. Blaster fire crackled and lightsabers clashed, painting the narrow passageways with the hues of conflict.

Vette remained in the shadows, a silent witness to the unfolding chaos. She was torn between the allegiance to her Master and the pangs of guilt for the havoc she had sown. The echoes of battle grew louder, reverberating through the corridors, filling her with a sense of unease.

In the darkness, she struggled with conflicting emotions, her loyalty to her Master warring against the remorse for the role she played in this assault. She knew her actions had dealt a crippling blow to the Resistance's defenses, setting the stage for the Imperial onslaught.

The sounds of fighting grew closer, drawing Vette deeper into the shadows. Her heart raced with a mixture of apprehension and resolve. She grappled with the weight of her choices, feeling the weight of her duplicity amidst the clash of forces she had orchestrated.

The factory became a battleground, every corner a theater of war. A crimson lightsaber dancing amidst the swirling chaos, blaster bolts crackled, and shouts reverberated through the chambers. The Imperial troops, driven by the unyielding force of Aaric's leadership, pressed forward relentlessly, their unity and determination evident in the relentless assault.

Vette remained concealed, her thoughts consumed by the clash between her loyalties and the guilt that gnawed at her. Her presence in the shadowy recesses bore witness to the conflict—a silent observer in the midst of the tumult.

As the fight raged on, Vette's heart was heavy with the repercussions of her actions, a haunting realization of the devastating impact her covert mission had unleashed. She remained ensconced in the shadows, grappling with the harsh truth of the role she played in the unfolding tragedy, torn between her allegiance and the moral quandary that clouded her conscience.

Vette could only sit and hug her legs tight against her body as she tried to roll herself into a ball and escape the slaughter that was going on all around her. It felt almost like forever, until a familiar voice penetrated her thoughts.

"There you are, Vette. Get up. It's time to go."

The Twi'lek looked up to see a familiar sight. Vette could only instinctively lunge forward and hug Aaric as she started to sniffle.

Fortunately there were no imperials in the immediate vicinity or he would have had to push Vette away; he had his own image to curate in front of the soldiers. For now, the master would permit this action just this once and petted his slave to soothe her.

"You did well, Vette. Your services will not go unrewarded." Aaric declared. "Care not for the Republic lives and Twi'lek's lost during this conflict. They only serve as a reminder of the Galactic Senate's failure to your species and sex. Once I am in power, I will make sure Ryloth and the Twi'lek species will be given equal treatment under imperial law."

Aaric scoffed at himself. He knew it was empty promises at worst and woefully idealistic at best. But in Vette's battle-stressed mind it was a necessary comfort. This was all to slowly desensitise her to the realities of war.

"The battle's not over yet, Vette. I need you by my side." The apprentice stated. "But if you are unable to continue, I will understand. I will be disappointed though. I know you are better than this."

Vette stiffened, hugging her master even tighter and burying her face into his chest. Aaric had been nothing but kind to her, relatively speaking, despite his clear sexual intentions for her. He never asked for loyalty to the Empire or its ideals. Only to Aaric himself.

And for now, that was good enough for her.

The Twi'lek nodded and slowly released her hold on him. Steeling herself for the rest of the battle ahead, she took a deep breath and nodded; conviction in her voice.

"I'm ready to continue, master. I will see this through with you till the end."

A smile graced the corner of his lip before the Sith turned back towards the sounds of battle, his trusty and a little more loyal Twi'lek sidekick following behind him.

Amid the frenzied chaos within the Balmorran Arms Factory, the visiting Balmorran Defense Minister-in-exile, Vol Argen, found himself cornered and separated from the retreating Resistance forces. Trembling with fear, he and his bodyguards were boxed into a confined room, an ominous sense of foreboding settling upon them.

As the Imperial troops swarmed around, the atmosphere grew heavy with tension. In the midst of the anxious silence, the room fell into a sudden darkness, broken only by the ominous entry of Aaric, the Sith Apprentice, and his companion, Vette, trailed by a contingent of troopers.

Vol Argen's bodyguards swiftly raised their blasters, ready to defend their charge, but Aaric, a commanding and formidable presence, clenched his fists. The power of the Force responded to his will, the blasters ripped from the guards' hands and flung across the room.

With a swift and commanding gesture, Aaric unleashed the Force, sending the bodyguards hurtling across the room to collide with the walls, rendering them incapacitated in an instant. The Sith strutted to present himself to the minister, towering over his balding, frailing frame.

Vol Argen, though trembling, tried to stand firm, a veneer of defiance in his voice as he faced the Sith. "I'm not going to beg for my life!"

Aaric regarded the Defense Minister-in-exile, his golden gaze unwavering. "No," he replied, his voice measured and cold. "I wouldn't listen anyway."

The weight of the Sith's words hung heavily in the air, instilling a sense of finality. Vol Argen, though defiant, realized the futility of his situation as he faced the unyielding power of the Sith before him.

A tense silence enveloped the room, the looming confrontation a testament to the unyielding power of the Sith and the dire consequences of standing against the might of the Empire. The inevitable confrontation left Vol Argen with a sense of resignation, realizing that resistance was futile against the formidable force that stood before him.

A flick of a switch was all it needed for a crimson blade to erupt from Vol Argen's back. His face in shock and awe before the blade was rescinded and he crumpled to the ground.

Cheers and hollers erupted as the troops behind Aaric chanted his name in another victory that was scored for the Empire. The apprentice smirked as he left the room and the soldiers dispersed at his command to assist with the assault in other areas.

In the heart of the tumultuous battle within the Balmorran Arms Factory, Aaric, the Sith Apprentice, was jolted by the chime of his holocommunicator, diverting his attention from the fierce conflict surrounding him. Activating it, he was greeted by the image of the voluptuous Lady Darth Lachris, a welcome sight amidst the chaos.

"I can see that the attack is progressing well from the outside. How fares the inside of the factory?" Lachris inquired with a penetrating gaze.

Aaric, his crimson lightsaber at the ready, responded as he strode through the battle-ridden rooms. "It is going as planned. There are still some fierce pockets of resistance, but they should fall in no time. We are reaching the other side of the main complex now. Most of the manufacturing facilities are still intact. The Empire should be able to repurpose them for the production of war material."

"Good," Lachris acknowledged with a calculating nod. "We are getting results of the deep scans now. Standby."

Her image dissolved, replaced by that of an intelligence officer, whose face was etched with concern. "My Lord, we are detecting unusual signals from inside the factory. What appears to be a... a hyperspace beacon?! It shouldn't be possible! Must have taken them decades!"

"Don't underestimate their engineers or their resources." Lachris interjected, her voice laced with urgency. "What can they do?"

Aaric cursed under his breath. "Kriff! Milady, get as many attack craft in the air and over the factory now! Hyperspace beacons will allow the Republic to home in and hyperspace jump directly into the planet's atmosphere, bypassing our blockade in orbit and reinforce the resistance!"

"By the Force, you are right!" Lachris exclaimed. "Scan for enemy transports approaching the factory!"

The intelligence officer hastily replied, "Picking up dozens of transports a short distance away! Silhouette is Republic special forces Triumph-class!"

Lachris slammed her fists in frustration. "No wonder. This was how they did it during the Great War! Multiple strike teams hitting strategic objectives, one Jedi per military squad. They took entire planets! They know we see them... they're rushing to land now!"

"I will disable them from the ground," Aaric affirmed. "Do what you can from your end."

"Noted," Lachris agreed, her voice tinged with the gravity of the situation. "You take out the landing platforms and guidance systems. I'll have attack squadrons blow their ships out of the sky. Fail me now, and we perish along with Balmorra."

Aaric's reply was laced with conviction as he gazed at the unfolding threat. "Oh, ye of little faith, Lady Lachris. It's too late for me to fail now."

With unwavering determination, the Sith Apprentice and the Sith Lord locked their fates with the perilous defense of the Balmorran Arms Factory, as the shadow of the Republic special forces loomed ever closer.

The pair exited the other side of the factory's main complex as the Consolidation Corps troopers rushed to establish a perimeter. The sight was spectacular to behold: A huge clearing within the canyon where more complexes, barracks and landing platforms could be seen.

Thranta-class corvettes that seemed to be previously in anchor just above the ground were now smouldering husks in the soil thanks to the earlier bombardment. The familiar screams of fighter squadrons reverberated across the sky as they rushed to intercept the special forces transports.

The skies were temporarily compromised, but not the ships in orbit or the artillery that were positioned nearby. It was an easy choice to make considering how other warriors might have tried to brute force their way and manually disable the guidance systems and landing platforms by themselves.

"Comms!" Aaric shouted, signalling for a communications operator to sprint to his position and allowing him to pick up the receiver.

"This is Sith apprentice Aaric to artillery strike teams and any and all ships above my coordinates: Grid reference Chiron-Kilo-Seven-Niner. Requesting artillery and orbital strike on my location. Enemies out in the open, fire for effect, over."

"Milord, this is artillery battery Alpha-seven-one copying. Barrage incoming T-minus one minute. Danger close, Over."

"This is the Harrower-class dreadnought 'Obliterator' responding. Orbital strike incoming. Danger close. Over."

"Now watch the fireworks, Vette." Aaric chuckled as he stepped back inside the safety of the main complex. With clockwork precision, lights began falling from the sky as artillery rounds and turbolaser blasts lit up the sky and impacted the ground.

Bits of Republic men and material were flung into the air as the ferocity of the barrage atomised anything within the clearing for a full minute.

Even with such death and destruction, the Twi'lek slave couldn't help but marvel at the firepower that was currently available at her master's disposal.

Once the barrage stopped, Aaric thrust his arm forward which signaled the troopers behind him to charge down the slope into the clearing with a deafening war cry.

"The ground forces will take care of the rest." Aaric exclaimed. "Come Vette. It's time we kill a legend."

Within the administrative complex, Captain Eligyn, leading a squad of Republic special forces, had taken refuge within the beleaguered command center of the Balmorran Resistance, fortifying their position against the unrelenting Imperial onslaught.

The outlook was looking grimmer by the minute. Their reinforcements were being shot down by imperial squadrons, their automated defenses were almost entirely offline. Whoever remained were fighting tooth and nail for the very existence of the resistance itself.

"Commander, the administrative complex has been breached. Casualties are severe," Eligyn reported, his voice strained as the chaos raged around them.

Commander Rylon, communicating from a separate location via holo, maintained an air of urgency. "Keep your wits, Captain. What do we know of the enemy?"

"Target is carving a bloody path in this direction. Unconfirmed reports suggest it's Sith," Eligyn replied, his tone fraught with concern.

"Consider them confirmed." a resonant voice interrupted as the body of a fellow republic trooper flung past them like a ragdoll.

"Sith! Contact confirmed! I repeat, the contact is Si-" Eligyn's voice crackled with alarm.

"I can see that, Captain. Shut up!" Commander Rylon interjected sharply, appearing as a hologram before them.

"Sith, I know why you're here. Be aware that these are the finest troops I've commanded in all my decades of duty." Rylon announced, his voice filled with both confidence and a hint of concealed tension.

"Captain Eligyn, engage at will and hold the line. I'm coming with reinforcements. Rylon, out." the hologramed Commander concluded before fading.

The Captain braced himself for the inevitable confrontation. "You're about to find out what we're made of! You don't intimidate us! We've killed your kind before!"

Aaric, a Sith Warrior apprentice, ignited his crimson lightsaber, the blade casting an ominous glow across the chamber. "Then let me show you why I'm not like my kind."

A disrupter shot flew in between Aaric's legs and hit the captain in the shoulder, forcing him to take cover whilst the rest of his squad opened fire upon the duo.

Vette dashed towards the nearest cover while Aaric ignited his lightfoil and competently deflected the incoming blaster bolts with Soresu. As usual, Vette always seemed to be ignored as the Sith was always presented as the greater threat. This allowed Vette to outflank the enemy and surprise them with a well placed thermal detonator.

"Grena-" BOOM!

The Captain and his squad were jarred by the explosion; a saber throw spinning through the smoke taking down most of his men. Aaric strode towards them unfazed as the remaining three squad members futilely attempted to take the Sith down at point-blank range with their blasters, blades and fists.

With impeccable timing, the Sith warrior sped up his movements with the Force. Even the most highly trained operative was slow-moving to him.

He didn't even bother to ignite his lightsaber.

Aaric kicked the nearest soldier's lower leg, making him trip backwards into the air before being smashed into the ground by the Sith's fists; crushing his abdomen.

Another trooper attempted to bring up his weapon, but a heel kick from the Sith knocked the weapon out of his hand ending with a roundhouse punch to the face with such force that it shattered his helmet, jaw and his vertebrae.

The last one managed to bring himself right up to the sith to strike, but was interrupted with a swift three-chain punch to the chest that knocked the wind out of his lungs; followed by an uppercut to the chin that crushed his teeth together from the impact, ending with a downward elbow strike to the sternum that left his chest caved in.

Now all that was left was the Captain Eligyn, who sat against a barricade grasping his disintegrated shoulder. The shock of the disrupter bolt had left him weakened with the single shot.

Aaric noted in the back of his mind to ensure that he would not be in the crosshairs looking at the opposite end of a disrupter barrel.

"The commander…" Captain Eligyn spoke through gritted teeth. "He should have been here by now."

Aaric stood over the defeated Captain, his arms crossed and Vette standing beside him with a curious look. "Doesn't matter, even if he did. He's probably not coming with reinforcements anyway."

Aaric squatted down to the Captain's level and smirked. "I'll let you in on a little secret, Captain. Commander Rylon works for the Empire."

The Captain scoffed weakly, his voice laced with disbelief. "Ha! That's such an obvious lie… we've accomplished so many successful missions against you. If he really was imperial, why would he lead so many of his own kind to their deaths through us?"

Aaric, his smirk filled with an eerie confidence, responded, "It's all about the big picture, Captain. Lose some Imperial troops and war material now to undermine the resistance in other areas unnoticed."

Just then, Commander Rylon emerged, without any reinforcements, leaving the wounded Captain in shock. Rylon swiftly produced a remote and pressed a button, destroying any nearby recording security cameras.

Captain Eligyn implored, "Commander, no! Run! Save yourself!"

Commander Rylon, his expression heavy with remorse, addressed Aaric, his voice laden with resignation. "Do you have to rub it in? Just put him out of his misery, Sith."

Aaric, savoring the moment, retorted with a sinister smile, "And a pleasure to meet you too, Rylon, for the first and last time. And yes, I do want to rub it in. Go on, tell the Captain before he draws his last breath. It would be so much more poignant if you pull the trigger."

The Captain, shocked and struggling to comprehend, beseeched them. "What…? No… what does this mean?"

Commander Rylon, raising his blaster toward the wounded Captain, revealed the harrowing truth. "I'm sorry, Captain. All along, I have been a dutiful servant of the Empire. All those missions, all those victories… they were just to cover up the overall stratagem to bring down the Resistance. I'm sorry it has come to this. If it is any consolation, you were the finest men I have ever had the pleasure to lead. My only regret is that I never attempted to turn you over to the winning side."

With a heavy heart and a final, remorseful expression, Commander Rylon aimed his blaster at the Captain, who could only mutter in disbelief, "No… I… can't believe it."

A blaster bolt to the head ended his life once and for all.

Commander Rylon gazed at the fallen Captain Eligyn, his expression pensive as he addressed Aaric in the aftermath of the fierce battle.

"It is unfortunate they were on the wrong side. They were excellent soldiers and exceptional men," Rylon lamented, his voice tinged with a mixture of regret and resolve.

Aaric, the Sith Warrior apprentice, confronted Rylon with an inquiry. "You said so yourself. If they were such excellent soldiers, why not turn their allegiance to the Empire?"

Rylon shook his head with a measure of regret. "No. Doing so would have risked blowing my cover. Regardless, these men are fanatically loyal to the Republic. I wouldn't be able to do anything to shake their resolve. Still, it was hard to betray them. You can't bleed together with men and not form a bond. Yet with their defeat, the Empire's cause is advanced. And that is all I ask for."

Reflecting on the inevitable, Rylon continued, "Today was inevitable. I knew Lord Baras will eventually have to eliminate me. But I'm proud to have been of service to him all this time."

Aaric expressed his remorse, acknowledging Rylon's loyalty. "I've said this to Lord Baras before; You should have been granted a well-earned retirement for your efforts. A pity someone of your caliber needs to be put down. If you'd like, I could feign your death and smuggle you out of here…"

Rylon, knowing the inevitability of his fate, declined the offer. "No. Baras would find out and have me killed either way. I'm only a loose end now. But before you strike me down, there is one thing I must know… my son, Durmat. He was the only thing in the world that was truly mine. And in love or weakness, I told him my secrets."

With an air of vulnerability, Rylon questioned, "I-I know you had to cover my tracks. But please tell me, did he face his fate well?"

Aaric responded solemnly, "He died with his head held high."

Vette blinked and glanced at Aaric. It was a lie, and her master could have just blatantly told him the truth: That Durmat was killed in a depressed state of mind. There was no bravery to speak of.

But the Sith told Rylon what he wanted to hear anyway. But to what end? And why? Vette surmised that it could have been out of respect for Rylon's contributions to the Empire. The Twi'lek let a small smile grace her features, even if Aaric did not see it.

Aaric, for all his depravity, had some sense of honour to him. Even if it only showed in the weirdest of time.

"Thank you, Sith. That was all that I could ask for," Rylon said, acknowledging the closure he sought.

Preparing for the impending confrontation, Rylon emphasized, "When they find my corpse, there must be evidence of a valiant fight. We must make this look convincing, Sith! So I will not hold back; I will fight as though you were my mortal enemy."

Aaric acknowledged the gravity of the moment. "I would expect nothing less, Rylon. I will grant you an honorable death."

As a final request, Rylon conveyed, "Tell Lord Baras that it has been my great honor to serve him."

In the face of inevitable fate, the Commander and the Sith Warrior stood at the precipice, their paths irrevocably intertwined, weapons drawn and ready to face the final moments of the covert commander's loyalty to the Empire.

They circled each other, Vette taking cover behind a barricade ready to unleash a barrage of blaster bolts at a moments notice.

Aaric was ready for anything. Sure, Rylon was literally an old man. But that didn't mean old dogs couldn't learn new tricks.

In a flash, the commander ducked behind a pillar and dropped a smoke bomb onto the floor at his feet and threw a couple more towards Aaric and Vette.

The Sith Force leaped towards Rylon's location, fully intent on cutting him down. He swung his lightsaber but hit nothing but duracrete. Expanding his senses, he tried to feel Rylon's life energy through the force; only to hear blaster shots ringing out from the other side of the room.

"Aaric!" Vette shouted as she backpedalled against a quickly encroaching Rylon. "A little help here?!"

Kriff! Aaric cursed. He was so used to enemies always targeting him that he forgot that Rylon was a little smarter than the average man. Taking down Vette would relieve some pressure off of Rylon and make it a little harder to kill him.

Aaric charged towards the sounds of battle whereas Rylon had reached Vette and tried to shoot her at point blank range. Luckily Vette dodged it with her naturally quick reflexes. But she realised it was a trick as Rylon used it as a distraction to get up close and personal.

She noticed a glint and narrowly avoided a swipe from a mini-bayonet attached to Rylon's blaster.

Woah that's cool! I gotta get me one of those for my blasters… WOAH! She ducked as the special forces commander took another stab at her.

For the few precious seconds, Rylon moved not like an old man but a seasoned fighter. Vette could only dodge or block his shots and strikes without any time for her to return the favor, all the while keeping her on the backfoot.

Her heel hit a piece of large debris and Vette could only grunt as she tripped and fell backwards onto the cold floor. Rylon was over her in a moment and had trained his pistol right between her eyes and began to pull the trigger.

"NO!" Aaric roared as he thrusted a palm towards the pair and let out a single arc of force lightning that jumped across the distance in a split second and struck Rylon in the back.

Rylon let out a guttural scream as the electricity ran his nervous system haywire and his body twitched and jerked in unnatural ways.

Vette took the chance to roll away to safety and ran back to Aaric's side. Seeing that she was safe, the apprentice clenched his fist and allowed the lightning to dissipate.

Rylon, still smoking and twitching, sunk to his hands and knees. His pistol slipping from his fingers and dropping on the floor. His age had caught up with him. Perhaps if he was still young he might have been able to shrug it off and keep fighting… No. He had a good run.

Aaric walked up to the old man who looked up at him with a satisfied smile on his face. Seemingly accepting his fate.

In a flash, Rylon thrusted his bayoneted pistol into Aaric's face with a speed even the Sith was impressed with considering his age. The warrior, unfortunately, lazily caught the blaster before the blade could reach him. The Sith nodded in respect… then decapitated him in a single slash.

Commander Rylon was no more.

Vette sighed in relief, but nervously glanced at Aaric. She was taken by surprise and was nearly killed by an old man! For sure she was going to get spanked for this…

"Fret not, Vette." Aaric spoke, his tone even and calm. "You were only on a multi-day mission and had no time to rest. I was overconfident and thought he would try to take me down first. That was my mistake."

The slave simply nodded. Now wasn't the time to tease. Not when there was a battle going on.

The duo promptly left the administrative complex. The rain was starting to let up and more imperials were pouring form the main factory's rear entrance. From the short distance away he could see the republic troopers and resistance fighters slowly retreating towards any nearby buildings they could find cover in.

The rest were inevitably herded towards the beach and trapped there. Over the sea's horizon, mid-air explosions signified the air battle that was going on as the transports struggled to get even a single ship to their destination.

Aaric grinned to himself. There was only one thing left for the resistance to do: Retreat and return to fight another day.

Like hell I would let them do that.

In the midst of the factory's main hangar bay, Jedi Knight Sedoya Senn faced the grim reality of the situation as he conversed with Grand Marshal Cheketta, the de facto leader of the Balmorran Resistance forces.

"The fleet may be lost. But my Padawan and I can hold the Imperials while you regroup offworld." Sedoya Senn suggested, his gaze filled with determination.

Cheketta, recognizing the dire circumstances, considered the best course of action. "No. You've got your ship, we've got a few of our own. I want you to get the non-combatants and wounded off Balmorra…" Cheketta paused, spotting the approach of a formidable figure. "After we handle this."

As Aaric, the Sith Warrior apprentice, stepped forward, Cheketta acknowledged the Sith's resilience in the face of adversity. "I've heard the reports of a single Sith leading them imps. I've seen snippets of holorecordings watching you fight. You're a damn tough bastard, you know that?"

Aaric, wearing the badge of pride in Cheketta's acknowledgment, replied with a touch of dark humor. "Coming from you, I'll take that as a compliment. Look around you, Grand Marshal… How many years have you survived under siege? It's over. Time to tap out and admit you had a good run. Your precious resistance is crumbling all around you. Surrender and give in to Imperial authority."

Cheketta laughed in the face of Aaric's challenge. "Ha! We'll see about that. I've got Jedi at my back and the finest armor, weapons, and tech the factory has produced. Ignore the scratches."

The charged atmosphere crackled with tension as the adversaries stood at a pivotal moment, each faction unwilling to yield to the other. The fate of Balmorra teetered on the brink, waiting for the next move that would shape the outcome of the conflict.

"Grand Marshal, you are the heart and soul of this resistance…" Sedoya pleaded. "if you fall, Balmorra may not have another chance at overthrowing the imperials again! Please go, we can cover your escape!"

"Nah." The hulking old soldier cracked his knuckles in anticipation. "Let's see what an old man can do for his troops. Cover me while I charge up my cannon!"

Aaric immediately leapt back a distance and the Sedona and his padawan leapt to chase after him. But he opened his mouth to bellow a devastating force-induced roar. The sound screeched against the Jedis ears and stunned them whilst the shockwave of charged air particles knocked them backwards and onto the durasteel floor.

All attention was now on Aaric as he ignited his lightsaber and lightfoil; twirling it in a twin Makashi-style salute, beckoning the knight and padawan to attack again.

The duo shared a knowing glance and decided to flank him from both sides. Circling the Sith, the pair charged forwards to engage from the front and rear.

The Sith danced about like an eye of the storm, weaving, shifting and side-stepping his way out of his enemies' wide, swinging attacks with almost effortless form.

Cheketta had deployed his personal ray shield to ensure he wasn't attacked while charging up his custom-made assault cannon. It was made specifically to deal with high-level threats like heavy vehicles, large assault droids and even Sith in a pinch. The energy blasted from the cannon was slow, however, and he had developed a tactic with Sedoya to ensure that the chosen target would be immobilised long enough to get hit by the high energy bolt.

Unbeknownst to the trio, Vette had once again been left unnoticed; his force roar diverting all attention to him as the most dangerous and the only target in the hangar bay. As she hid behind a console, she adjusted the sights of her disruptor pistol to target the Grand Marshal.

Her aiming had to be just right. It was obvious that Cheketta's armor looked state-of-the-art and left little that could be exploited. Even on the highest energy setting, her pistol would not be enough to punch through the thinnest plating at this range. She had to find an opening fast!

The Twi'lek scanned every last inch of the Grand Marshal from head to toe. Until…

Yes! Got it! Vette cheered mentally.

There was a small but noticeable gap between the armor plates on the left side of the ribs. If she could pierce that point the blast could go right through and seriously injure the Grand Marshal enough to incapacitate him, if not kill him outright.

Now she just needed him to deactivate his ray shield…

The whirlwind of red and blue was halted with blades locked when Cheketta shouted "NOW!"

Both Knight and Padawan leapt backwards and hosltered their lightsabers, extending their arms and palms and then pulling clenched fists towards themselves.

Aaric was alarmed as an unseen force tugged on his arms and locked him into place. Looking ahead, he saw the grand marshal with his personal ray shield finally deactivated, smirking and pointing an obnoxiously large handheld laser cannon with a bright ball of energy welling up within its barrel.

Heh. Well that's not good. Aaric chuckled to himself, a sweat dripping from his brow. If you're going to do something Vette, do it fast!

As if on cue, Vette prayed as she squeezed the trigger before Cheketta could. By the Goddess please hit!

Cheketta noticed a glint at the rear of the hangar bay just as he pulled the trigger on his blaster cannon. A solid stream of disruptor energy flew past Aaric's head ten times as quickly as a normal blaster bolt could and struck true in the gap between the grand marshal's armor plates; penetrating deep and dematerializing a portion of muscle and bone at his left ribcage.

The old soldier uttered a guttural cry of pain as he grabbed his smouldering side and dropped to a knee. Sedoya and his padawan cried out in worry; distracting themselves for a split-second.

That split-second was all it took for Aaric to pull himself free from the divergent force pulls locking him in place. He jumped out a way mere milliseconds before the highly energised blaster bolt could hit, throwing his lightfoil at the knight and charging towards the padawan at breakneck speed.

The padawan only had a moment before he noticed his philosophical mortal enemy was in his face and managed to parry a backhand slash from Aaric. The more powerful and experienced fighter grabbed the padawan's upper arm and stepped into his personal space; dropping down to his knees and using the padawan's own center of gravity to pull and throw him onto the ground.

Sedoya effortlessly blocked the thrown lightfoil only to focus his vision back onto the main target and screamed in horror. "NO!"

The padawan had the wind knocked out of him as his back slammed against the floor. He was about to scramble back to his feet when he saw the smirk of his enemy above him. Next thing he knew was pain erupting from one side of his head to another before darkness enveloped his vision.

Aaric grinned evilly as he savored the knight's anger, loss and frustration reverberating through the force. Jedi and Sith charged at each other and re-engaged in a fierce lightsaber battle once more.

Vette knew her cover was now blown, she quickly drew her blaster pistol and emerged from cover; taking potshots at Cheketta so he couldn't assist the knight. The veteran quickly turned his back to let the blaster bolts bounce of his armor harmlessly.

But the damage was already done.

The Sith warrior gained the upper hand and had Sedoya on the defensive. Aaric pulled back a step and thrusted his palm outwards. Sedoya braced himself to be pulled towards the Sith but blinked as he felt nothing. His senses went into overdrive as he felt an object fly at him from behind.

Sendoya twisted himself to block an ignited lightfoil that tried to skewer him, only to realize that he had fallen into the Sith's trap and presented his back to the enemy.

His hunch turned out to be right as a crimson blade erupted from his heart. Sendoya was one with the force forevermore.

Now that the more dangerous of the three had been killed, Aaric turned to face the Grand Marshal.

"Stand back, Vette!" Aaric shouted towards his slave, who promptly ceased fire.

"Let's see what you've got, old man." The apprentice goaded. Cheketta spat out some saliva and sprayed some pain-numbing, crystallized dressing to patch up his wound.

The Grand Marshal stood up and faced his adversary despite the pain. He wasted a significant amount of energy from his battery pack on that cannon gambit but he still had some tricks up his sleeve. Looked like he needed to get down and dirty to finish the job.

Cocking his arms he activated his shield gauntlets and readied himself, advancing upon the slightly shorter and less hulking Sith. If he was anything like the typical frontline fighting Sith, he could probably brute force his way to victory.

Unfortunately, Aaric was anything but a regular sith.

Aaric swung his blade at the combat veteran who blocked them with a shield and pushed it away. Again and again, the Sith tried to find an opening but the grand marshal was quick for his age. To his surprise, the blade of a jumping downward slash was caught in Cheketta's hands.

"Gloves made from Phrik alloy weave." He smirked before delivering a massive heel kick to Aaric's gut. "Surprised?"

The Sith flew a couple of meters backward before skidding to a halt. It was an impressive trick and the strength of the kick even more impressive. However, it was not nearly enough to knock the wind out of him. Aaric simply smirked as he dusted the boot marks off his abdomen.

"Yes. You fight well for an old man. Not like Rylon…" Aaric commented offhandedly, enjoying the noticeable twitch in the grand marshal's brow. "he died so pitifully. Never even gave me a challenge."

"So… you killed Rylon." Cheketta muttered darkly. Fury slowly welling up within him. "Well at least It was a swift death. Rest in peace brother."

Aaric holstered his weapons, cocking and flexing his own arms. "If it's a fist fight you want, then it's a fist fight you will get."

The Sith took a moment to compose himself as he delved into the force deep inside of him. Unbeknownst to him, the symbol of Marka Ragnos materialised on his forehead. Unnatural power surged through his body.

"Let's dance."

One moment he was there and the next moment the Sith was right below him. Before he had a chance to react, Aaric charged and shoulder-slammed right into Cheketta's abdomen; lifting the larger and heavier soldier a couple of inches into the air.

The apprentice followed up with a devastating one-two uppercut to the stomach that further lifted the grand marshal a couple more feet into the air; grabbing his foot and slamming him chest first into the ground. Not done with his combo, he easily flung the old man towards the door of a parked Rendaran-class assault shuttle.

Before he could even reach the shuttle, Aaric leapt forward and crashed into Cheketta in mid-air, propelling the duo faster and finally blasting them both through the doors and landing the grand marshal back first onto the floor of the shuttle.

"Surrender now, pain stops. Real simple!" Aaric grinned as he delivered a blow intent on turning Cheketta's head into paste.

Cheketta leaned his head to the side just in time for his enemy's punch to penetrate through the floor. Following up with a punch to the face on his own which staggered the Sith backwards a step before delivering a double heeled kick that sent Aaric flying back and out of the shuttle but still safely landing on his feet.

The old soldier flew forward with jetpacks blazing and shield gauntlets activated. He attempted to punch once again but his clenched fist was caught by a still grinning Aaric; who skidded backwards momentarily but was able to bring both to a halt quickly as the durasteel floor tiles buckled and detached themselves from under the Sith's feet.

The grand marshal, growing frustrated, threw another punch with his free hand but was was caught all the same. His enemy's smile was beginning to grate on his nerves!

Summoning as much strength as he could muster Cheketta roared as he headbutted Aaric, surprising the Sith and staggering him back a step.

"LEAVE." A punch landed on his left jaw. "BALMORRA." Another landed on is right. "ALONE!"

The apprentice recognised the telegraphed punch and swiftly slinked under the thrown arm and right behind the veteran; grabbed his torso and threw Cheketta backwards in a devastating suplex that hurt his cervical vertebrae and stunned him.

This was followed by a force-enhanced kick to the very side Vette had shot which flung the grand marshal into a mass of stacked crates nearby. Penetrating the crystal formations that held his wound together and reopening it again.

Seconds passed in silence before Aaric slowly stepped towards the mound of destroyed material. The Sith was put on the defensive once again as Cheketta stood up and shook off the destroyed bits around him, but a couple steps forward and the old soldier finally grunted in pain; dropping to a knee and raising his hand in surrender.

The grand clash had concluded, leaving Grand Marshal Cheketta, facing the victorious Sith Warrior apprentice, Aaric. The aftermath of the battle lay scattered amidst the dimly lit hangar bay.

Cheketta, wounded, out of breath, but composed, acknowledged the Sith before him. "Good fight! You've got… well, you've got something I don't have anymore."

"It's not youth, fool. It's the power of the dark side. No fancy tech can overcome its sheer power." Aaric's rolled his eyes. his voice carried the weight of his recent triumph. "But I have to say… for a non-force-sensitive, you fought relatively well. And for that you have my respect. Pity you have to die."

Cheketta, despite the setback, sought to negotiate. "Please wait! I know how much the Empire wants to expose the Republic's involvement in Balmorra. Publicly. I can confess the truth… if you help my men."

Aaric deadpanned, his expression unyielding. "You must think all Sith are brain-dead battle junkies, do you? The evidence is all around us! Dead Jedi, downed Republic transports… I've already met squads of Republic troops before I even stepped foot into the factory! Why would I need your confession?"

Confident in his proposition, Cheketta offered a compromise. "Because you know the truth. But the rest of the galaxy doesn't… and they'll trust my word over yours. Let the Balmorrans and the non-combatants leave. Treat the Republic soldiers fairly; as prisoners of war. Help them, and I'll tell everyone we violated the treaty."

After a moment of contemplation, Aaric relented and scoffed. "Hn. Fine. Whatever happened to the Grand Marshal Cheketta that showed defiance every step of the way?"

"It's just us now." Cheketta sighed. "None of my boys left to inspire."

Addressing his troops over his comlink, Aaric issued a directive. "This is Aaric to all troops. Take in any surrendering combatants as prisoners until further notice. Do not harm the medical staff and non-combatants."

Cheketta, visibly relieved, expressed gratitude. "Thank you. You have my word I won't renege on my part of the deal."

An Imperial squad approached together with Vette, delivering a message. "Sir! Squad eight-one-five. We have been sent by Darth Lachris to reinforce your position."

Aaric, acknowledging the soldier, made a decisive order. "Relieve the Grand Marshal from his armor and take him into custody. Deliver the armor to my personal quarters in Sobrik. We're done here for now."

"Understood, milord. There's fighting all over the factory but it seems like a clear victory. Orders are to regroup at the outpost when you can, sir." the soldier confirmed before leading Cheketta away.

Once he was out of sight, Aaric scoffed and issued another directive less squad eight-one-five to ensure Cheketta was kept in the dark. "This is Aaric to all troops. Belay my previous order. Take everyone who surrenders as prisoners first. Then separate one out of every five and move them to a prisoner-of-war camp. Treat the prisoners within the camp as per the treaty of Coruscant. As for the rest… interrogate, torture and then dispose or enslave them."

Next he switched frequencies to squad eight-one-five. "This is Aaric. Make sure the grand marshal is kept in solitary confinement. He will have no contact with any of the prisoners. Is that clear?"

"Yes, milord!" came the reply.

Vette blinked, but said nothing. She finally learned that war was different from a firefight. Cheketta was dead set on making good on his part of the deal. but Aaric basically reneged on it in a minute's notice. The Twi'lek knew that this was out of her hands and there was nothing she could do to change her master's mind.

Who was she to try to influence the outcome of an entire campaign? As long as she was under Aaric's protection it was good enough. She didn't need to think too much. Compared to others, she had it good and was grateful for it.

With the immediate battle concluded and the terms settled for the moment, the Balmorran Arms Factory echoed with the sound of conflict and the weight of a complete and total imperial victory as the corps planned their next steps in the final consolidation of Balmorran territory.

As Aaric and Vette stepped outside of the main hangar complex, the duo watched as the last pockets of resistance died down and the battle subsided with a resounding imperial victory.

As if by an invisible hand, all the nearby troopers of the consolidation corps noticed the Sith as he emerged. Knowing that all attention was on him, Aaric lifted up his lightsaber above his head and ignited the crimson blade as a sign of triumph.

All at once the imperials below him roared and cheered in unison, lifting their own weapons in the air and chanting his name repeatedly.

He let this go on for about half a minute before he holstered his weapon just as his holocommunicator pinged for his attention.

Surprisingly, The hologram of Quinn appeared before him; tension marked her features.

"My lord. I believe we've got trouble," Quinn's voice sounded with concern. "I heard your entire conversation with Commander Rylon. I was having the Jedi investigator surveilled as she was snooping around the Balmorran Arms Factory. Apparently, she bugged Rylon's quarters. And as she listened in on your conversation, I heard what she heard. The investigator knows everything, my lord."

Aaric's expression shifted to alarm. "Where is she now?"

"She is heading to her ship, but I had your men move in and cut her off from the Republic landing bay. I am systematically blocking her avenues of transmission and escape; herding that Republic scum to her only hope: The spaceport at Sobrik," Quinn reported.

"Good work. Stall her as much as possible. I will be there soon," Aaric acknowledged, focusing on the urgency of the situation.

Quinn hesitated slightly before continuing, delivering further concerning news. "I'm afraid there's more, my lord. My men who engaged her report she is wielding a lightsaber. It seems this investigator is a Jedi Knight. I advise caution when facing her."

Aaric's response was one of confident anticipation. "Excellent! A female Jedi Knight… Just what I needed. Gather the remaining men, and I'll meet you at the spaceport. Together, we will capture this Jedi!"

The pursuit of the Jedi investigator intensified, setting the stage for a critical and potentially dangerous encounter. Aaric's determination was unwavering, as he prepared to confront the Jedi Knight head-on at the Sobrik spaceport.

Darth Lachris would have to wait for now.

The Jedi investigator Mashallon moved quickly through Sobrik's spaceport. All she needed was to steal a shuttle and her mission would be fully complete. Before she could, however, she sensed the presence of a powerful individual approaching. There was no possibility of escaping unless she defeated this new foe.

Turning around to face her adversary, Mashallon calmly spoke. "You're too late, Sith. I have transmitted the conversation between you and Commander Rylon to the Jedi Council. Nomen Karr now has the proof. Master Karr and his Padawan will expose every Sith agent in the galaxy."

Aaric remained confident. He trusted Quinn to ensure any outgoing communications to be intercepted and blocked. He could see why the Lieutenant was such a valuable asset to Baras. The officer was a multi-talented genius of the highest calibre. "Sure they will. I'll let you enjoy your delusions."

Mashallon retained her neutral tone. "Enjoyment is not part of the equation. I seek neither thrills nor satisfaction. Unlike you, I live an enlightened life. The dark side shall fail you, Sith. Surrender, and the Jedi Council may offer you redemption."

Aaric's eyes bugged out and he placed his hands on his hips in response to the incredulity of the investigator's statement. "You are surrounded and stuck in imperial territory and you ask me of all people to surrender? Looks like you're really living a delusion if you ask me."

"Then you leave me with no other choice." Mashallon stated. Igniting her yellow lightsaber blade and lunged at the Sith.

Only to have her lightsaber obliterated into tiny pieces from a disruptor beam emerging from under Aaric's armpit.

The apprentice's brow twitched as he made a mental note to ask Vette to find other ways to employ sneak attacks on their enemies apart from hiding and poking out from behind his legs, armpits and shoulders.

Not only did it not look cool, it was downright embarrassing if he was caught employing such a tactic in public.

Mashallon looked at her empty palm in shock before Aaric was upon her, delivering a force-enhanced punch to the gut; causing her to crash onto the floor and empty the contents of her stomach.

Through the hacking and coughing, the defeated Jedi still remained composed. "*Koff!*-Your victory means nothing. The proof has been *Koff!* transmitted. I am at peace knowing the greater good has been *Koff!* served."

Vette noted curiously as her master's fists clenched and unclenched. His teeth were gritting as his expression turned into an annoyed smile.

The way this jedi bitch talks is getting on my nerves… Aaric seethed. We'll see how she feels when I turn her in for my experiments!

"I hate to burst your bubble Jedi." Quinn's voice could be heard as she appeared with a squad of imperial troopers. She was obviously enjoying it. "No, that's a lie. I'm reveling in it. I intercepted your transmission. The Jedi know nothing."

Aaric grinned, hoping to see the look of despair on her annoyingly neutral visage. "Heh. Your failure is now complete. How do you feel now?"

Yet again, Mashallon remained stoic. "Gloat all you like. It means nothing. I remain at peace. Nomen Karr and his padawan will defeat you."

"Tch!" Aaric snarled. "I'm giving you one chance, jedi. Tell me the name of Nomen Karr's padawan."

A shred of defiance flashed across Mashallon's expression. "I will never betray her identity. I'm resigned knowing that it will come to pass. Strike me down. I offer no further resistance."

Aaric smirked. So deep inside her there was emotion after all. It had not been eliminated; simply pushed down into the depths of her mind. He could still break this jedi yet.

"You think I'm some simpleton Sith that relishes in death?" Aaric hissed gleefully. "No… death is too good for you Jedi. You simply become one with the force when that happens. Death is a relief that I shall relish in keeping from you. And I will not let you slide into the abyss as long as I breathe. You shall suffer for as long as I keep you until you are begging ro death!"

Aaric turned to Quinn. "Take her into custody. Lock her up in my ship's cargo hold and strap her down onto the table next to my other prisoner. The force will not serve her there."

"At once, my lord." Quinn snapped to attention before clasping shackles on the arms behind the investigators back and unclasping her lightsaber from her belt. "Your lightsaber, if you will, Jedi. Men, bring this jedi scum to her new home."

Once the squad had left, the Lieutenant addressed the apprentice with a hint of confusion. "I'm sure you know what you are doing, my lord. But sparing the Jedi is a… curious… choice. Is it not?"

Aaric simply smiled with a glint in his eye. "Worry not, Lieutenant. Trust me: A Jedi investigator contains a wealth of information."

Quinn decided not to pursue the line of questioning further and nodded. "Of course, my lord. What matters is that the threat has been averted. Lord Baras is anxious to know what became of this. When you're ready, I will contact him in my office."

"Noted. I will be there soon."

Once Aaric and Vette had cleaned themselves up they strode into Quinn's barracks finding, to Aaric's suspicion, already conversing with his master instead of waiting for him to arrive.

The apprentice narrowed his eyes dangerously. He surmised that Quinn must have already briefed Baras the moment she returned to give him as much dirt she had potentially obtained from her experience with him.

"It is not my place, Lord Baras." Quinn maintained, "I will leave the details for your apprentice to convey."

Darth Baras' hologram then turned to notice Aaric's presence and beckoned him to approach. "Then step aside, Lieutenant. My apprentice has arrived! Quinn refuses to update me, insisting that the pleasure be yours. I assume the Jedi Investigator has been stopped?"

Aaric smiled confidently. "The Jedi is no longer a concern, master."

"That is a relief." The Dark Lord sighed. "I had hoped to avoid confronting the Jedi, but our hand was forced. What matters most is that Rylon can no longer be exposed."

Waving his hand towards the imperial officer, Baras questioned. "And how would you assess Lieutenant Quinn's contribution?"

Aaric gave Quinn a knowing glance as he smirked from the corner of his lips. "She has been instrumental in the course of my duties, master. I have nothing but high praise for her analytical, strategic and tactical abilities."

"High praise indeed!" Baras chuckled. "You have made much of an impression by your efforts alone, Quinn. As such, I hereby consider your debt to me repaid. In addition, I am putting you up for a Captaincy and transmitting an executive order allowing you to be stationed anywhere you desire. You are dismissed."

Quinn, positively surprised, bowed in gratitude "I-I am grateful, Lord Baras. If my actions benefit the empire, they benefit me. I would have done the same regardless of our past."

Turning to Aaric, she bowed her head. "My lord, before I depart. It has been my extreme honour to serve you. I must say… you are the epitome of everything the Empire stands for."

Hn, you flatterer. Something tells me I haven't seen the last of you. Aaric thought. Yet, he smiled and returned the compliment, gazing lustfully at her hourglass figure once more. "I will certainly miss working with you Quinn. Abilities notwithstanding, I too must say that it's a pleasure working with someone as easy on the eyes as you."

Quinn could only look away and blush, cursing herself to have been born as a woman!

"Ahem!" Baras intervened, "I hope you both have had enough flirtations for the moment. Quinn, you are dismissed!"

Quinn snapped to attention, saluted and strode away.

"She will have her hands full." The dark lord commented offhandedly. "There are many imperials above her station that are dedicated to ensuring that she is kept down. But if Quinn can overcome them and rise to the occasion, there is great hope for our imperial allies. Your presence on Balmorra is no longer needed. Wrap up any remaining business you have and contact me once you have returned to your ship. Baras, out."

Vette let out a breath she was holding. It seemed that whenever she was in the presence of Baras regardless if he was a hologram or not, she always felt like she would be cut down in a moment's notice.

Now that he was gone, she was back to her usual self. "So… we're leaving right?" She chimed. "On to our next destination in domination and destruction?"

Aaric rolled his eyes."Obviously."

"Well, I hope where we end up next has a beach!"

Aaric chuckled, "Keep hoping, Vette. Keep hoping."

The apprentice allowed Vette to have some rest and relaxation time for herself in addition of some credits as a meager reward for her efforts; which the Twi'lek accepted gratefully and without complaint. Next, it was time to report back to Colonel Vrain and Darth lachris.

"Lady Lachris, Colonel Vrain." Aaric addressed the two as he stepped into the command centre. "Apologies for not reporting earlier. There was… other business I had to attend to."

"Understandable." The pudgy officer replied. "We have no qualms since most of the work has been done. We have sent the head of Vol Argen back to the Senate as a warning to those who would try to circumvent the treaty."

"Yes," Lachris echoed in agreement. "our work was done and that is all that matters. Reporting back to me is just a formality at this point. Come, let me show you something."

Bringing out a holocommunicator from her pocket, she tapped the buttons to reveal a holorecording of Grand Marshal Cheketta. His armor had been stripped and his hands bound in shackles.

"My forces received manpower and supplies from the Republic." Cheketta stated bitterly. "We knowingly and illegally attacked imperial targets by order of the Senate. We broke the peace treaty that kept our worlds whole… and for that I apologise to all citizens of the galaxy."

Lachris deactivated the device. A triumphant smile across her face. "There are reports of protests lining the streets of Coruscant. Republic ships are withdrawing from three sectors. You humiliated them."

"As was my intention all along." Aaric smirked. "What are you going to do now?"

"I'm completing a clean sweep of the Balmorran Arms Factory." The dark lady replied. "I'm going to make it my new base of operations and will work on reconstructing it to produce weapons for our eventual breakout of war with the Republic once again someday. I have to say… my governorship will be very different without you. You have my utmost gratitude for your assistance."

Aaric, sensing an opportunity, glanced at the Colonel and nudged his head towards the exit; of which he promptly bowed silently and signaled the remaining occupants to leave.

Lachris, simply bit her lip, also sensing what was to come.

"Your enemies are beaten and your governorship is secure…" Aaric slowly approached his female senior. "but our partnership doesn't have to end there."

Lachris giggled at the half-subliminal messaging he was trying to convey. "Shall we take a walk among scorched ruins and skulls while discussing plans for the future? I admit, you have put me in the mood to celebrate. Tell me, why should I bother with you?"

"Here's why." The apprentice closed the distance and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her towards him and delivering a deep kiss on her lips.

The Darth was stunned at his boldness at first, but quickly melded into his kiss and slowly wrapped her arms around his neck. They continued their lip and tongue battle for a minute or so until they extricated themselves, gasping for air.

"You're… definitely not one for words." Lachris panted. Her heart racing a mile a minute, the fire in her loins igniting once again. "Behind me. Hidden room. Button underneath the console."

Aaric didn't need any more prompting as he swept the cream-skinned, veiny woman off her feet into a princess carry before using his foot to activate the hidden button just as she had instructed. A hidden door slid behind them to reveal a basic but still well-furnished room.

It would do well for now.

The door slammed shut the moment they entered and Aaric plopped Lachris onto the bed and started discarding his armor and clothes. Lachris enjoyed the show as he relished at the sight of his well toned and chiseled body. It wasn't like Darth Marr, but it held it's own masculine charm all the same.

Dropping his underpants to the ground, the apprentice turned around to hear the small gasp escaping Lachris' lips.

By the force! He must be as hung as a Fathier! The thought crossed the dark lady's mind. And he isn't even hard yet!

"Now it's your turn." Aaric approached, his member starting to throb at the chance of seducing a member of his order above his station.

Lachris licked her lips and stood up from the bed. Turning around and presenting her back to him. "I'm having a little trouble reaching the zipper, Aaric." She stated salaciously. "Care to assist me?"

"Your wish is my command." The apprentice whispered as he came up behind Lachris and grinded his now semi-hard dong against her clothed ass cheeks. A sucking hiss elicited from her mouth as he unzipped the dress, he salivated tantalizingly over the dark lady's tantalizingly creamy skin. The veins that criss crossing her skin, evidence of dark side corruption, a charm he found sexy all on its own.

The zip went down all the way to the crack of her butt. Surprisingly warm hands caressed Lachris' shoulders as they slid down her arms together with the dress that quietly dropped onto the floor; revealing a well-developed body perfect for fucking.

How in the force did she manage to sustain such dark side corruption, yet keep this body in top condition? Aaric thought.

Grabbing an arm, Aaric turned Lachris around to face him. His passionate gaze penetrating her own as he picked up her hand to lay it on his schlong. The dark lady was no stranger to sex, despite her lack of experiences and knew exactly what he wanted.

Both palms wrapped around his girth and she began stroking it even as globules of precum erupted and slid down the shaft to cover her fingers with the sticky substance.

Meanwhile, the apprentice's hands roamed; exploring Lachris' body as much as he could: Grabbing a handful of her breast while squeezing her asscheek. Each action eliciting coos and moans. But Aaric was not yet done with the foreplay.

Unlike his other conquests, he had to be careful with handling Lachris. She was still his superior and a person of influence he had to seduce and win over. She was an important tool to expand his power base. He could not treat her roughly like any of his slaves or prisoners.

The apprentice supported her back and gently leant her down onto the sheets. Lachris gave a questioning look, but Aaric simply smirked as he slowly pried open her legs and knelt down. Diving mouth-first into her welcoming pussy.

"OH KRIFF!" Lachris screamed. This was more than what he could have hoped for! No other man would have dared to bend a knee and given her, or any other woman for that matter, a well deserved session of head. Their pride always won out and it was one thing she hated about the male gender in particular.

But Aaric? He certainly surprised her in more ways than one. The dark lady's fingers grabbed and pushed the apprentice's head further into her love hole as his tongue penetrated deep and lapped up the juices she had already been excreting since the start.

He turned her attention to her now exposed and enlarged clit and gently sucked on it as he delved a couple of digits into her that brought Lachris even more pleasure than she could possibly imagine without the use of a male appendage. Aaric started to suck harder and pump his fingers into her faster as she bucked her hips. A feeling she had not experienced for such a long time welling up in her nether regions and threatening to explode.

In one swift movement, Aaric sucked on the clit hard and pulled his fingers upwards in a 'come hither' motion. Inadvertently brushing against her G-spot and allowing her crescendo to peak.

Lachris screamed and her eyes rolled up into her head as she lifted her hips up into the air and came the hardest she had ever felt in her life; Aaric stepping backwards and enjoying the sight of his superior spraying her liquid all over the floor.

Once she came down for her high, Lachris tilted her head to see Aaric's tool at full mast. The angry red glans spewing precum in spades. The female Darth simply smiled salaciously and opened her legs once more.

"Come here and put that thing out of its misery, apprentice." Lachris whispered.

"Thought you'd never ask." Aaric grinned as he climbed onto the bed and hovered over his senior. Positioning the head of his cock against the entrance of her sopping wet pussy, Aaric gave Lachris a glance: Of which she returned a silent nod.

In one gigantic thrust, Aaric shafted his entire dick into the older Sith's pussy and squinted his eyes at the tightness of her passage. Lachris' mind exploded as she creamed once again, her mouth open in a silent scream. Her bucking hips only caused the member to rub her internally in ways she never felt before and sent shudders of micro-gasms through her spine.

Not wanting to wait, the apprentice began to extricate his tool almost all the way before thrusting once again; gradually picking up the pace and settling into a comfortable rhythm. The dark lady managed to come back to her senses and gazed at Aaric as he continued to pummel her poor pussy into submission.

This continued for a long while and Lachris was beginning to wonder how much stamina Aaric had to last this long. She had never had the pleasure of taking in a man's seed and she wanted to know how that felt like!

"Come on, Aaric." She cooed. "Give it to me. Pour your powerful seed into my womb! Fill it to the brim and make me yours!"

Aaric grinned but said nothing as he complied. Picking up the pace, Lachris almost regretted letting the words escape her mouth as the pleasure started to crescendo once more. The apprentice was now humping her at break neck speeds and the dark lady's tongue was now lolling out of her mouth.

With a final triumphant roar, Aaric thrusted and buried his dick as hard and deep as he could into Lachris. The tip penetrated into her womb and spewed his force-imbued seed into her. Lachris was knocked back to her senses she gasped as she felt something inside her expand. Looking down at her abdomen, she watched in morbid curiosity as Aaric continued to grunt and her stomach began to bulge from the amount of cum her womb was receiving.

My my… how long does his orgasm last? Thought Lachris as she felt her insides could take no more seed. The pressure welling up within her and forcing the rest of the baby batter to spew from the edges where pussy and cock met.

Finally slowing down, the apprentice extricated himself to observe his latest work. A dark lady of the Sith brought to pleasure by his size and ability. A stream of cum pouring out from her love tunnel.

The sight made him visibly hard once again as he approached Lachris and turned her over onto her stomach, eliciting a yelp from her lips. With seamless precision Aaric entered her once more. The governor of Balmorra moaned at the different feelings of pleasure the new position gave.

A hand grabbed Lachris' jaw and pulled her head upwards to meet Aaric's golden irises as he growled. "I'm going to fuck you until you can take no more, Lady Lachris. Please allow me the pleasure of exploring your depths to the fullest extent possible."

Lachris could only nod, entranced by his gaze, his power over her and the feeling of protection and superiority he exuded. Yes. Aaric would be the only man worthy for her body.

The apprentice smirked as he grabbed Lachris' head and forced her cheek into the mattress as he immediately increased his rhythm tenfold. The dark lady could only allow her body to relax and enjoy the long sex marathon she was about to receive.

For the next couple of hours, Aaric came into Lachris in every position imaginable save for her oral and anal cavity. He knew her jaws and anus would not be able to take his girth and making the governor of Balmorra kneel down to him would only work against his overall plans.

He did explore a digit into her puckered hole while she was temporarily out of it. But decided to save it for their next encounter.

By the end of the day, the pair were drenched in sweat and cum. It took a long while before they summoned the energy to remove themselves from the soiled sheets and take a long hot shower together whilst feeling each other up; which ended up in another round of sex.

Aaric decided to remove the soiled sheets into a pile on the side and had both of them lay down together on the bare pillows and mattresses as Lachris laid her head on the apprentice's chest. Her finger tracing circles on his pectorals.

"Mmm… it definitely has been an enjoyable day." The governor of Balmorra cooed.

"Let me know if you need any more… assistance." Aaric wiggled his brows suggestively. "I have more skills you haven't seen."

"Oooh, I'll definitely remember that." She giggled.

Lachris sighed, stress returning to her features. Her tryst with Aaric was definitely a welcome change of pace. But she had her duties to fulfil.

"It's time I return to ruling." Lachris frowned as she picked up a datapad that pinged next to her. "There are new reports of resistance activity. Should you choose to remain on Balmorra, perhaps I'll call you again."

Aaric smiled sadly. As much as he enjoyed their newfound relationship, he had more pressing matters to attend. "Unfortunately my master, Darth Baras, calls for my attention." He lamented. "I am duty bound to put his interests first."

"Understandable." Lachris kissed his cheek. "Then we part ways here, for now. When you think back on Balmorra, remember the armies you laid to waste and the enemies you slew… and remember me, and the rewards I gave you.

"Oh I can imagine the sorts of awards you're thinking of." Aaric grinned playfully.

"That… among others." Lachris winked as she got up to put on her clothes once more. "I must return to my duties. Farewell, Aaric. I'll be expecting to hear great things from you."

A/N: AND CUT!

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. It's so much fun and I hope to continue writing this story for a long long time.

I'd like to answer some questions in the reviews and I hope the answers are adequate:

Am I open to requests?

Unfortunately, No. You guys should probably know by now that its hard for me to find time to write. Requests would just slow me down from the main story.

Why not *insert suggestion here* ?

Despite what you may think, I am actually reading the reviews and taking into account suggestions so that I can integrate them into the story. So keep those suggestions coming! Hopefully you might see it come to life in one of my chapters!

Will I write separate stories for the other classes?

I don't see myself doing that anytime soon. The storyline for one class is already long and detailed enough. Plus I have always loved the Sith warrior storyline out of all others. That is why I started out with that.

Will I extend the story to include the expansions?

I'm not sure. That's way ahead and it's already taken this long just to get from Korriban to finishing Balmorra. Let me finish the main storyline and I'll see if it's worth advancing into the expansions.

I still can't visualize a genderbent Quinn.

If it makes it easier on you, just visualize Miranda Lawson from the Mass Effect series in an imperial uniform. That's the best I can do.

That's all for now! Remember to Review, Review, Review!