Chapter 10: A Gift
"They're not buying this, Major," Tara Valenthyne said with a worried look.
"We may need to get out of here, fast."
Galadriel Locke nodded grimly from her place in the co-pilot seat. Yet, she didn't give the order to run…not yet at least.
Good, Avaryss thought with a hint of a smile on her lips.
She had told her new allies going in this wasn't going to be easy.
It pleased her that they had some courage, even if they were both Republic dogs!
Avaryss leaned back in the officer's chair, staring out the viewport at the space station in the distance. She took comfort from the familiar sights and smells of a Sith shuttle, she had ridden in many since beginning her training so long ago; though…she had to admit that this one had been tainted…stolen by Republic saboteurs, and likely used many times to harm the Empire she had been raised to love.
It was almost enough to make her want to bash in the heads of the two women before her…almost.
She glared down at her two pilots, both pubs dressed in Imperial uniforms, it sickened her sensibilities, but she did her best to hold any disdain in check.
She massaged the bridge of her nose, halting the headache that wanted to come into being.
Stinking Pubs!
Still…what choice did she really have?
You used the tools you had available. How else could one hope to achieve greatness.
Any path to greatness began with a single step, and this one…was in the form of a gift.
A gift of death to her new allies.
The first step on her road to the throne…
Avaryss had risen to the top once…
…she was eager to do so again.
"You both need to relax," she said brushing a bit of lint from her black cloak. It was not as grand as the one she had worn to Dark Council meetings, but then again, she was not here as a Dark Council member, she was here as an agent of Darth Ravage, and had been sent to fulfill his desires, at least…that is what the Sith stationed here were told.
"We're within weapons range, Sith," Valenthyne reminded her.
"I'm surprised you're not more worried."
Avaryss sniffed. Her manner remained cool and indifferent; the pubs didn't understand. Imperial thrived on bureaucracy.
It was amazing they could do anything without the guidance of their masters.
"They need to verify the codes we gave them, which is likely not easy considering the state the Empire is in right now."
Tara Valenthyne looked back over her shoulder. Her green eyes meeting the Dark Lord's gold ones.
"What if they changed the codes? Didn't you say you have been in exile for over a year?"
"I have been, yes, but these are not my personal codes, they are executive codes reserved for use by the Dark Council and the Emperor's office. A hold over from the days when we still hid from your Republic. Changing such codes were difficult, because it sometimes became necessary for a dark lord to be out of contact for months…even years at a time."
The major nodded, as a senior officer, she likely understood what that meant.
"Your Empire wouldn't want to leave their own stranded," she murmured as she continued to watch the ship's sensors.
"The codes had to remain valid, in case some dark lord needed to send word back home."
"Exactly, Major," Avaryss said clapping slowly.
"Exactly that."
That seemed to put her two escorts at ease, for the moment at least.
Avaryss was not worried, the Force would warn her if things turned ugly.
They could afford to be patient a bit longer.
The codes were a useful tool, the Dark Lord acknowledged, but also…a bit of a nuisance. Her enemies back on Oridanna had used those same executive codes to sow chaos and division on her home world.
She had put a stop to that, and now, the time had come to put a stop to the rest of her enemies, both in the service of Zakuul and the light side of the Force.
She intended to do both, with a single brilliant stroke.
A gift of death.
Major Locke didn't respond to her compliment, she barely acknowledged Avaryss at all. She simply continued to watch the station before them, keeping an eye on their power levels, just in case they started to charge weapons.
If they did, they would need to flee quickly.
Though, Avaryss didn't think it would be necessary.
The codes were good, as was the fear she was sensing from the station. Zakuul may have hobbled the Empire, but its troopers still feared the Sith Masters.
They wouldn't risk angering someone from the Dark Council.
They wouldn't dare.
Come on, she thought, your master has sent us, let us aboard.
Her golden eyes narrowed.
Come on…take the bait.
Finally, the comm system crackled to life, Locke answered, audio only.
"This is shuttle Eclipse 5?"
"Eclipse 5, this is station control, please proceed to hangar bay three, do not deviate from your present course."
The two pubs looked at each other and nodded, a sense of relief radiated out through the Force.
Avaryss' smile widened.
"There…you see," she said jovially.
"You're welcome."
Captain Valenthyne fired up the main drive, following the station's beacon to their destination. If everything went as planned, they would soon be docked in one of the main hangar bays, and from there receive four large containers, containers filled with some of the most lethal small arms and explosives that the Empire produced.
A fitting gift for a group looking to fight a guerilla war against a superior force. Darth Avaryss' gift to Jas Dar Bynn and his allies. The first of many, though…they would not all be pleasant.
This is only the first step, the Dark Lord realized, they need to trust me as we move forward, it is the only way to guarantee success.
Avaryss rose from the command chair and made her way back into the cargo section.
"Proceed as ordered," she said, "We can afford no slip ups."
The two Republic officers didn't respond, not that she expected them to.
She was still an outsider to them, they only tolerated her because they needed the codes, and the weapons she had promised.
A small gift that will pay off in large dividends later, but first the pubs had to play their part.
Avaryss had gotten them in…now…it was up them.
IOI
Only one other person had accompanied them, Master Jas had thought it wise not to put too many of his best people in harms way, not on Avaryss' word, not until she had proven her value.
She smiled at her companion, the only other Force user present.
"We've been cleared to land, mongrel."
"I do hope you are ready to play your role?"
Shyra Viel growled, the Jedi Knight was clad in the armor of a Sith Marauder, armor that the common imperial would expect to be worn by a lord's bodyguard.
Not that my safety matters a whit to her, Avaryss thought smiling.
She continued to smile at her old rival.
The beast would happily tear her throat out, if she were allowed.
"So, you got us in?" the Jedi responded, picking up the helmet that would soon cover her features.
"You had doubts?" Avaryss asked, "You surprise me, beast, I thought you knew better than to underestimate me."
Shyra gave her a toothy grin of her own.
"Oh, I do know you Sith," she replied, "I know how it looks to see you run away."
Avaryss smirked, if the Jedi thought to bait her, she was gravely mistaken.
The past was in the past, Avaryss had laid it to rest.
All that concerned her now…was the future.
"Your still annoyed with me for what happened between us on Voss," Avaryss sneered, "If it makes you feel any better, neither of us got what we wanted out of that mess."
Shyra growled, a low menacing sound in the back of her throat.
"Mess? Is that what you call what happened?"
Avaryss shrugged.
"What should I call it?"
The beast girl snarled.
"You killed an innocent man, a good man!"
Again, the Sith Lord shrugged.
"Technically, that was Mister Rink that shot that Voss you were with. Besides, it isn't like you didn't get anything out of it. You made me look like a fool before my master."
Shyra's eyes widened, shock radiated through the Force.
"Is that supposed to make it better?!"
Avaryss sniffed dismissively.
"What is the life of one Voss in the name of the galaxy as a whole? In a life of destiny, where the empire itself is the prize. You made me bleed that day, mongrel. You hurt my plans…stalled them, but…you did claim a victory that day."
The Jedi's large hands clinched, she looked about to reach for her lightsaber.
She resisted that temptation.
A shame, Avaryss thought, such a shame.
"That Voss…had a name," the Jedi continued, "it was Arn Le, an innocent man who only wanted to make his world safe, and you had your pet murder him as you ran away."
Avaryss snorted at that last part.
"Innocent," she spat, "there is no such thing, all are guilty of something, and all deserve to be punished, from the highest lord, to the lowest slave."
"Does that include you, witch?" Shyra asked.
"Of course," Avaryss said, "And if my enemies ever get the chance, they will try. Of course, they will still have to capture me first, and that…will not be easy."
The dark lord sneered.
"Innocence, and goodness are an illusion, mongrel. You need to learn to accept that, or you will not find true freedom in this galaxy…"
The Sith smiled serenely.
"I know."
"Freedom," the Jedi hissed, "To do what?"
"To fulfill your desires of course, and…I think I can guess what at least one of those is."
The Jedi didn't take her eyes off her, but she kept her desires in check.
Go ahead, Avaryss thought, try it…
Try and strike me down!
Shyra would lose of course, but it would be a good first step.
Avaryss could sense it the hate swelling in the girl's breast, despite her training, despite her allegiance to the Jedi Order, the dark side had had a hand in creation…
…it would always have some hold over her.
She would always be that fool Terrog's creature, and that was simply the way it was.
The tension held for another few moments, as the shuttle grew closer to their destination.
Well, the dark lord thought.
I'm waiting.
Shyra didn't rise to the bait, she held her temper.
Finally, her rival took a shuddering breath, and her anger went with it.
"Why do you do this now? We're on mission, and you try to anger me?"
"To serve the mission of course, my sweet little cur," Avaryss replied, "If a Sith comes to meet us in the docking bay, you need to be feeling at least some anger, another Force user would expect that, given your station, you are supposed to be a Sith Marauder…what Marauder walks around without at least some flicker of anger blazing in their heart?"
Avaryss pulled up her hood hiding her features, leaving only her golden eyes blazing beneath her cowl, that and her wide white smile.
"We need to keep up appearances, don't you agree?"
Shyra didn't respond with words, perhaps she didn't trust herself to respond…
She simply put on her helmet, and locked it into place.
"Just focus on getting us what you promised, Sith."
Again, the dark lord almost laughed.
"Trust me, my friend," she purred.
"I promise, you will get everything that is coming to you, and more."
She giggled.
"Sooo, much more."
The shuttle began its final approach, its wings folding upward.
It is time, Avaryss thought.
Let us begin.
IOI
"Welcome, my lord, welcome, it has been too long!"
Avaryss nodded as she made her way down the shuttle's boarding ramp, a disguised Shyra Viel at her side. Six Sith Troopers stood honor guard for them, protecting the commanding officer who had been sent to meet them.
Avaryss turned on the charm.
"Greetings, Captain," she said in her most convincing Dromund Kaas accent.
"Darth Ravage sends his regards."
Hearing their master's name relaxed the captain, a wiry dark-skinned man with cold black eyes, she could sense his desire to gain the favor of his master, but that was not surprising, Darth Ravage had always preferred the company of sycophants.
His reaction in the Force disgusted her, she preferred servants who had a bit of back bone.
The fool captain practically radiated gratitude, he never would have guessed that she was not here under orders from that fool Ravage.
"We had hoped to hear from the lord councilor," the officer continued, "We have continued on as commanded, but after what we heard from our last supply ship…"
"Fear not, Captain," she said stopping him in his tracks, "Our master continues to fight on, and with the aid of his loyal followers, we shall prevail."
The man nodded, glad to hear that his master had not fallen to the enemy.
Foolish dog, she thought.
In truth, she didn't know Ravage's fate, he could be dead now. When the Zakuul attacks had begun in earnest, she had been one of the first to seek shelter from that particular storm.
Ravage had stayed, and might have paid the ultimate price, no great loss, as far as she was concerned.
Yet, he had been smart enough to begin stockpiling weapons and other supplies, perhaps expecting for the Empire to go into hiding again, not an easy challenge considering the power they now faced from the Eternal Fleet, but nothing was impossible.
Ravage's last order, or so she had heard from one of her agents, was a complete communications blackout, to protect what he had hidden here.
So…here these soldiers had sat for months, not knowing about the war, or what was happening in the galaxy. They welcomed any news at this point.
How lucky for them, that she had come at last.
She could sense the relief of the officers stationed here, knowing that they still contributed to the war effort, and had not been forgotten.
A foolish sentiment, but…a useful one.
"I am Lord Fallon," she said, "this is my servant, Scrape, our time has finally come, Captain, the Empire is finally ready to begin moving against the filth that has opposed our destiny for too long."
"And glad I am to hear it, my lord," the captain said grinning widely.
"The stage is set, dear captain," she continued, "The players have taken their marks, and now…all they require is the tools to begin our new campaign…"
"The invaders will be driven off, my lord," the captain said, "The weapons that we have stored here are ready just waiting to find their way into skilled hands."
The man licked his lips eagerly.
"My people are eager to join the fight! First, this new enemy, and then it is on to Coruscant to finish what we started, the Republic and Jedi will be overwhelmed."
Avaryss paused, wondering if Shyra would take offense to the man's statement, she didn't, she maintained her Jedi calm.
Fortunate, indeed.
"They will get their chance," she assured the officer, "For now you must continue to guard this cache, we shall return soon to gather more supplies, and bring stories of our latest victories."
"I'm most eager to hear them, my lord, For the Empire!"
"Yes," she smirked, "For the Empire."
She looked at the loading crew standing near the back.
"To work, all of you," she shouted, "Get this ship loaded!"
Avaryss smirked and looked over at Shyra.
See mongrel, she wanted to say, all too easy. We…
"A moment, my lord."
Avaryss paused.
"What is it, captain, history is on the move."
The man gave her an uncomfortable look.
"There is one last matter, my lord. Lord Ravage's chain code…we need it for the release of the shipment."
Avaryss frowned.
Chain code?
What?
She knew nothing of any chain codes. Her agents had not informed her of this! She had the Empire's executive codes, those…those should have been enough!
"My lord?" the man said respectfully, "The chain code…please."
Avaryss fought the urge to curse under her breath.
Damn Ravage!
Damn him!
Ravage had always struck her as a Sith with little vision or imagination. The idea of a chain code to protect his holdings was inspired, she might have come up with something similar herself…
Who knew the man was capable of adaptation?
It was annoying.
Shyra glanced over at her, the mongrel didn't need to speak for Avaryss to see the question there, it was clear.
Well, what now?
Avaryss smiled.
She had an idea.
Oh yes.
"The chain code," she said dismissively, "Yes, of course, I…have it right here."
She reached into her robe, but was quickly becoming aware of the change in the hangar, the guards were growing suspicious, and the officer, despite his gratitude of hearing from his master, was growing that way too.
Ravage might have warned these men of potential thieves, perhaps they had dealt with others already.
She became aware of the heavy turrets mounted through the station's hangar; four of them, those guns could rip an unshielded shuttle to pieces.
She looked over at Shyra, the mongrel had not moved, though she did tilt her head.
"Do you have a plan B?" she asked in a low voice.
"My lord," the captain said again, his hand reaching for his sidearm.
A shiver ran down Avaryss' spine.
No more time, but she didn't need any.
Yes, she had a Plan B, and a Plan D.
She grinned.
"Of course, captain, of course," she said bowing respectfully, her voice both sweet and venomous.
"Here is my authorization."
She reached out with the Force, snatching her lightsaber from her belt, its crimson blade ignited with an evil hiss.
She ducked under the weapon as it spun like a saw blade, taking the heads of the captain, and his troopers. The multiple crystals giving the lightsaber extra length.
Ravage's pawns died with barely a whimper, the captain with a look of shock and surprise on his face.
Avaryss laughed.
Plan B: Beheading.
Plan D: Decapitation.
And…we are just getting started!
She gestured as she caught her weapon in her right hand, the bodies of the slain flew upward, spoiling any shots from the turrets above.
Shyra, anticipating the threat, threw her own lightsaber, its emerald blade spun through the air and struck each of the four turrets in turn, disabling them.
Alarms suddenly blared overhead, warning lights flashed, as the hangar was filled with the cacophony of slaughter and war.
Avaryss laughed. After a year of inaction, she was finally back in her element.
Darth Feer had known it from the beginning.
From Tatooine to Oridanna…she was a Sith born to slaughter!
It didn't have to be this way, she thought, but she was glad that it was.
We could have done this clean, but…
She chuckled.
So much for the easy way.
Oh well.
She had not massacred anyone in a long time, she feared she was getting out of practice.
Time to change that!
She leapt like a Tukata, springing on the workers who had failed to obey her orders; with an old Imperial Army Marching tune on her lips, she began to butcher them all, two she struck down with her lightsaber, the others tasted Force Lightning.
The chaos made her blood race.
It had been far too long!
"CRAZY SITH!" Shyra growled, "What are you doing?!"
The dark lord didn't dignify that with an answer.
What did it look like, they had no choice, they needed these weapons. They would take them, which meant…
…we must kill them all!
No witnesses!
NO MERCY!
She heard the fire of the shuttle's forward cannons, Sith troopers had begun to pour into the hangar, Major Locke was making sure they couldn't form up and attack.
"Let them come," Avaryss purred.
"Let all of Ravage's rats scurry out of their holes."
They were but grass, and she was a scythe.
She welcomed the chance to cut them down!
She had promised her new allies these weapons, and she always delivered on her promises.
She dealt with the last of the troopers and turned to Shyra, her eyes glowing wickedly.
"See to the weapons, mongrel," she said handing her a pad from one of the slain workers.
"The loading process is automated to a certain point; you should be able to figure it out."
"And what are you going to be doing in the meantime," the Jedi asked, even though she likely knew the answer.
Avaryss grinned.
"Carnage," she said walking away, her dark heart pounding with excitement.
"Don't worry, she promised.
"I'll be back."
Avaryss could not hide the spring in her step.
A Sith Lord's one true gift to the galaxy was death.
She smirked.
She was eager to give it to the fools on this station, and to everyone else as well.
It was a gift that kept on giving…
Again…and again…
She cackled to herself.
…and again.