Chapter 11: Masters
He looks older than I remember.
Darth Avaryss kept her expression neutral as she sat in a chair before Jas Dar Bynn. They had no sooner returned when the Jedi Master had summoned her to a small office within the group's underground base.
He is older, she noticed, his dark hair far greyer than the last time they had fought, his eyes seemed more troubled, the wrinkles around them more pronounced.
The first time she had met Jas Dar Bynn, she had not even recognized him as a Jedi, he had managed to conceal his powers from her. At the time, she had still been a fairly green apprentice, unused to meeting with Force users that drew on the power of the light.
Jas Dar Bynn had taught her to be wary of the Jedi, the power he wielded, his connection to the light had shocked her, back then…she had known that she was no match for him, his power had been too great…
Though she no longer feared him, she remained careful in his presence, he still burned with the light, and the respect he had earned remained…
As a Darth, she was confident that she could match him in power. Yet, any battle between them would be a struggle, a challenge that would test her abilities.
Part of her craved that challenge, she wanted to face it before the Jedi became as broken down as this room.
One day, she thought, yes…
…one day.
She wrinkled her nose, this place smelled of dust and neglect. Yet, the Jedi seemed comfortable here, perhaps he had used this work space before. What she knew of him from reading his intelligence files is that he had worked almost exclusively with the Survivor Squad during the Sith's first war against the Republic.
This place is like the Jedi himself, she realized, old and tired. He had fought two wars against her people, and now was caught up in a new war, not against the dark side, but something different, something…that even she found troubling.
These Zakuul, she didn't know what to make of them. Their warriors embraced neither the light nor the dark, they held duty to their empire above all else. Admirable, she supposed, but limiting to the Force-wielder.
Moderation was not the path to power. It stunted you in a way that could not be overcome. Which, was probably what the so-called eternal emperor Valkorion was going for…
He had not wanted his people to evolve into a new Sith, they had been tools…nothing more.
All the more reason for them to be destroyed, she thought, they were a mockery of everything the Sith were, a bad joke on the galaxy.
She could not deny that she would enjoy ending that joke, once and for all, but in the meantime, she had to play the good little soldier.
There were still items she needed to acquire, Jas Dar Bynn and his people could help her with that.
She glanced over to her right, the hyper-comm was active, the blue image of Lana Beniko hovered there. Master Jas had contacted her, he wanted to see if Avaryss' actions on Ravage's hidden station had had any unforeseen consequences.
Once she might have been concerned about such a thing, worried that she had angered the powers that be.
She no longer felt that way, that was a different Avaryss…her outlook on the things had changed drastically, but for the sake of goodwill, she said nothing and listened.
No point in causing her allies any issues, not until those issues suited her in some way.
"I've spoken with my contacts within the Empire," the blond Sith began, "So far, no one seems to have acknowledged the attack on Darth Ravage's weapon depot, at least not publicly."
Beniko turned her attention to Avaryss.
"I was not able to speak with anyone associated with Darth Ravage, he is either dead, or so deep in hiding that he himself doesn't know about the attack. I suppose we should count ourselves as lucky."
Avaryss shrugged, she had no use for luck.
"You understand the ways of our people, Miss Beniko. If Ravage is dead, we have no concern for retaliation, and if he still lives, he is too weak to respond to the attack…"
She sneered at her fellow Sith.
"The weak are left behind, they cannot be allowed to slow the progress of the strong."
Jas Dar Bynn frowned at her statement, though she didn't know why.
He knew what she was…she made no apologies, or excuses, she was justly proud of what she had become…
And…besides…
…It wasn't like he hadn't gotten what he needed out of the deal.
Avaryss had taken no chances in dealing with Ravage's fools. She had made sure that there would be no witnesses, and no evidence. She had slain everyone she had found, and then set the station's reactor to overload, but not before loading as much ordinance aboard their shuttle as it could carry.
It was disappointing that they had not been able to maintain the charade, it would have been nice to have been able to go back and raid that depot again, sadly, it was not to be…
Unfortunate.
Master Jas turned to her, his expression remained unreadable, but she could feel him reaching out with the Force. He seemed curious…about both the mission and how it had ended, beyond the field report.
She was not really sure why.
She had acted swiftly, and decisively.
What else was left to say.
"The weapons that Avaryss has provided us with should be useful in all future operations," Jas informed Beniko.
The Jedi Master leaned back in his chair.
"All we need now is a target, something that will make the invaders think twice before mindlessly following Arcann's agenda.
"I'm looking into that matter now, Master Jas. I should hopefully have something for you, and your team, soon…"
A hint of pleased smile came to Lana's lips.
"Then we can start showing people that the war is not over."
"A victory would be useful," Avaryss agreed, "But we shouldn't strike too quickly. Zakuul has spies everywhere, and they will likely respond brutality if we start interfering in their plans."
"Like wiping out a weapons depot because you couldn't guarantee that no one would report back to their superiors about your presence there?" Master Jas asked her dryly.
Avaryss shrugged.
"That was merely a matter of maintaining security," she answered, "Our security, at this early stage must take precedence, yes?"
The dark lord grinned.
"We can't afford to be discovered here, why take chances?"
If the Jedi agreed with her, or not, he didn't respond, he simply turned his attention back to Beniko.
"Is there anything else, Lana? We shouldn't keep an open channel for too long, just in case the hyper-signals are being monitored."
Beniko shifted uncomfortably, her golden eyes focused on Avaryss.
"There are two matters that have come to my attention, matters that involve Lord Avaryss herself."
"Indeed?" Avaryss asked, "And what might those be, may I ask?"
"Several of your former associates have disappeared recently. Intelligence on the matter is vague, but it is clear that something has happened to them.
Avaryss' eyes narrowed, several possibilities came to mind.
"Which ones have vanished?"
"The pilot Thranton Rink, and an alien woman, a Chiss named Vrann, both were escorted from your former holdings on Dromund Kaas and neither have been seen since…
Lana's frown deepened.
"Most suspicious, I dare say."
Avaryss nodded.
Yes, it was…
She understood.
"The second matter involves Oridanna. As you know, the planet, and its resources, have all fallen under control of Moff Beric Lylos. A week ago, two Oridannan processing centers were bombed, one in the settlement of Worro, the other in Orid. Most unusual."
Again, Avaryss nodded.
Processing centers?
It could be left overs from her sister's failed rebellion, she supposed, still, even if it was, the attack was pointless. The harvest was still months away, by the time those stations were needed again they would be up rebuilt, and ready to receive the next crop.
There was another possibility however, those centers had served another purpose for her recently, if someone knew about that?
She would need to give it some thought.
"Is that all, Lana?" Master Jas asked.
"For now, yes, I will comm you back later if I should hear anything else."
"Do that, please," Jas said, "And thank you, once again."
Beniko smiled.
"Think nothing of it, until next time, Master Jedi."
The transmission ended, leaving Avaryss and Master Jas alone again.
She frowned, considering what she had been told.
Rink and Vrann's disappearance, it could have been Acina, or the two might have realized how much trouble they were in, and chose not to return to their former stations. It had been a risk for them, staying where they were for so long, especially with Acina and Beric making power moves…
Still, she was not concerned, they were either still alive or they weren't…
…it was as simple as that.
The processing center was more disconcerting, she would need to look into that, eventually, she had no desire to see her own games threatened by some fool blundering around with explosives.
She looked at Master Jas, he seemed curious, though he remained silent.
"Is there something you need, master?" she inquired.
"Merely gaging your reaction," he replied, "It sounds like someone has taken your people, I would have thought you would have been more angry about that."
She shrugged.
"The disappearance of my people was not unexpected, I have many enemies back home, even after a year in exile. Any one of them might be trying to strike at me."
She shook her head.
"The best thing that I can do now, is nothing, as I said, we need to maintain our security, the mission comes first."
Jas nodded, but she got the feeling he didn't entirely accept her explanation.
"What? She asked, "go ahead, if you have a point to make, make it."
The Jedi sighed.
"You've changed," he said.
"Indeed, I have," she said pleasantly.
"Thanks for noticing."
"I can't say for certain if it is a good thing," he continued, "I remember how you were on the Wreck, Hoth, and on Terrog's station. The girl I fought with that day was not the type to dismiss the loss of an ally, not if they were close to her."
He frowned.
"I don't think I like the fact that you could simply wave off the loss of one of your own, your people were quite loyal to you, I remember that from the Inferno Nebula."
"They were, and they are," she agreed, "Sadly, I can do nothing for them right now."
She snorted angrily.
"What do you expect me to do, Master Jas, drop everything and go rushing off to Dromund Kaas? Do you think that would end well? It would be a pointless gesture, if my people are still alive then they will find a way to safety, they are survivors. If they are dead, then all I can do is try to avenge them, but that will take time to arrange, and as of right now, Arcann and his people are the larger threat, I hope we can both agree on that."
Jas nodded, but still seemed unconvinced.
"I must say, I'm a little surprised Sith. You went into exile with so few followers at your back. One ally and a slave girl, hardly anything for a Dark Lord of the Sith to work with. You didn't even think to bring any of your apprentices along, they could have aided you, I'm sure."
Avaryss smiled.
She needed to be careful what she said now, fortunately, she had rehearsed such questions many times in her head.
She knew how to respond.
"My servants were scattered when my exile began, and there was no opportune time to contact them. As for my three apprentices, well…the title of disappointment fits them better than students…"
Avaryss' eyes narrowed.
She had had such high hopes for all of them, but in the end…they had proven themselves unworthy of her teachings…
Xen had chosen Beric over her, a foolish gesture. Necris, her Devaronian servant was more loyal to the dark powers she had learned to tap, her necromancy made her both unpredictable, and…unstable.
She had struck out on her own, without her master's permission. She sought powers beyond her master, powers that would give her an edge in their final confrontation.
Avaryss should have been proud of that, and would have been had the former Jedi not been discovered. Her arrogance had been all the proof the Dark Lord had needed to abandon her training.
Necris lacked subtlety, it would not serve in the Empire, another dark lord would eat her alive…
As her master, Avaryss would save her from such an ignoble fate. She would slay the girl herself.
They would fight one day, but it would not be as teacher and pupil, it would be as rivals.
On that day, Avaryss would destroy her.
Necris would learn the folly of her choice.
Then…there was Dym, her Muun apprentice. Korriban trained, he had showed a cunning that could have taken him far, but, in the end, he had become far too attached to the physical trappings of power.
The last time she had heard, he had been in Hutt space, pushing for the Cartel to end its neutrality, and all the while gathering more wealth and baubles.
No, Dym was far from worthy, and no longer worth her time.
She had learned the hard way that desires were not the endgame for a true Sith, only power mattered.
It would be another lesson that she would teach the Muun, right before she tore out his throat.
Unworthy of the title of Sith, unworthy to take her place as master of her house.
He was more crime boss than Sith Lord. Yet, another loose end she would need to tie up before beginning her real mission.
Jas frowned, she didn't expect a Jedi to understand.
"So…you have no students?"
"None that I would consider taking over my holdings, and certainly no one with the capability to take the final step and slay me."
The Jedi Master sighed.
"The way your order behaves, it is amazing that your Empire grew as large as it has, it is hard to believe that it didn't implode from all the infighting."
She saw no reason to comment further on that, an outsider, much less, a Jedi, could never understand.
"Do not underestimate our methods, Master Jedi, only the strong rule us, and without the test of strength, no apprentice would ever achieve their true potential.
She didn't think he believed her, and quite frankly, she didn't care if he did or not.
She knew the system worked, defeating her own master in single combat had defined her.
She would never accept another student that was unprepared to take up the final challenge. If an apprentice was unwilling to strike at their master, they were useless to the Sith Order, and unworthy of the Sith teachings.
"So, you see, Master Jas, I did have a legitimate reason not bring my loyal followers with me into exile. I could not risk them bringing my enemies down upon me, not until I was ready. Agony is my most loyal ally and sworn to my service. I could think of no one else to accompany me. As for Zay, well…she knows her place, and besides, what would she be without me?
"I couldn't risk it, leaving her behind. Zay will be no trouble, I promise."
He nodded, she still doubted if he understood what it meant to be Sith, a servant of the light could never truly understand. Power was…
"Do you care, Avaryss?"
The question stopped her musings in their tracks.
"What?"
"It is a simple question," Jas Dar Bynn continued, "You Sith like to say that you are superior to the Jedi because you don't hide from your emotions. You claim that you use all your passions to make yourselves stronger?"
"We do, that is what the dark side is all about."
"Then, I ask you again, do you care? Is the welfare of your people important to you, or are they just tools to be tossed aside when you are done with them?"
Avaryss frowned.
She…she didn't want to answer.
He was not like her.
He couldn't understand.
"Is the question so hard?"
Avaryss only just suppressed an angry hiss.
Damn you, Jedi!
Since claiming her new body, her restoration, she did have to admit that some things seemed…distant. It was through her rage and hate that she had been reborn, her weaker emotions could not compare to that. As for the lives of a few mundanes, even loyal ones…
…she…she…
She shivered.
She had cared about her people once.
Why did the thought of it seem so pointless now?
She had been a patriot once, she had loved the Empire, with all her heart. She had loved her family, it had been that desire that fueled her quest to become Sith in the first place, but now…now…
Now…she wasn't so sure.
Maybe it was some lingering effect of the transferal, maybe something of the Jedi's detachment remained. Perhaps her lack of feeling when it came to her underlings stemmed from that, a piece that was lost in the transition…?
Or maybe, the darkness within whispered, this is what it means to truly be Sith. What do lesser beings matter, you are far more than any of them. Rink, Holli, HK and the others…what do they matter they are mundane, meat to be fed to the beast when they are no longer useful.
The dark side's touch should have been a comfort, a reminder of why she was here, and what she hoped to gain…
Instead, it left her haunted, Master Jas' question haunted her.
Why don't I care?
If she tried to find the answer, she was afraid that it would undo everything she was working towards, the true plan, the reason she was here.
Her goals were set.
Kill her former students, seduce Fenn to the dark side, find the keys, and conquer the galaxy, grind it beneath her heel.
That is what mattered.
What truly mattered.
The Jedi couldn't know that, not yet.
I need to get out of here, regroup, I can't let this old fool unsettle me.
She managed a smile, barely, she let the darkness guide her, she needed to tell the master what he wanted to hear.
"Do you remember one of our first conversations?"
"Which one," he inquired.
"The one where we discussed the chance for peace between the Empire and the Republic. You told me, that, if the right leader came along, it was possible for the Sith and the Jedi to find a rapport, a common ground of respect.
Avaryss leaned forward, she wanted to stress what she said next, it was not entirely the truth, but there was enough grains of truth to snare an arrogant Jedi Master, or so she hoped.
"I could be that leader. I've sat on the Dark Council once, and more to the point, I've come to respect my enemies. Once Arcann and his people are defeated, if the Jedi and Sith work together, I believe it is possible to reform the Dark Council. It is vulnerable right now, so many of the old guard are dead or missing. If one struck fast and hard, it is possible to bring the change you desired, and in the process, I will gain the ultimate prize, the Empire itself."
She smiled slyly.
"That is the reason that I'm here, Master Jedi. That is the reason that I'm willing to sacrifice my loyal allies. In the face of such a greater good, isn't anything worth the risk? Should we not pursue that goal without hesitation?"
She had thought her argument would win him over, she thought she would feel acceptance. Instead, she felt something else, a touch of sadness and weariness.
"You are not the first person to quote the greater good to me, Sith, and you probably won't be the last. I won't deny that I would like to see peace come to pass, but I know the desires of others, and how those desires can corrupt and destroy them."
Jas shook his head.
"I'm willing to accept what you say, but I would advise you to reflect on what I've asked. What is the point of saving your empire, winning a throne of you lose everything that made you want to fight for it in the first place?"
Avaryss smiled, but inside she was fuming.
How dare you lecture me?
Don't you know who I am?
Why don't I care?
The question remained, and she feared that it would remain…
Yet, now was not the time to deal with it, she pushed it aside for now.
"Will that be all, Master Jedi?"
"Yes," he said with a nod, "Feel free to explore our little base as you will, make sure you and your people are comfortable."
"I will, and…thank you again, for your hospitality."
"It is no problem, we are all in the same fight now."
He nodded respectfully to her.
"Dismissed."
Avaryss rose, eager to get away from the old man.
She didn't even dare a glance back at him.
He is still dangerous, the darkness whispered, he makes even a Dark Lord of the Sith question her motives.
He is strong, and his words…they…they had left her shaken; she found herself questioning her plans.
The realization was disturbing, she was right to respect him. His final dismissal should have been insulting, but in her eyes, he had earned such power.
Jas Dar Bynn is dangerous, she thought, but in that thought came another, a more comforting one.
It will be satisfying when I finally kill him.
Yes.
It would be most gratifying.
Avaryss left his room, went in search of Agony and Zay.
She now had another step in completing her overall plan.
Jas Dar Bynn would have to die before the end, but that was for another day.
Other steps took precedence.
First, she would check on the others, make sure they were settling in, and then…she would find Fenn. She needed to talk to him, start him going down the dark path.
She looked forward to this part of her plan, it would be…enjoyable.
Fenn.
Even thinking his name made her shudder with pleasure.
They had not seen each other in such a long time.
She walked a little faster feeling some of the old excitement.
It was time; time to start his conversion.
They…needed to talk.