Chapter 17: The Truth
"I'm afraid, that…well…I've not been entirely honest with you…
Avaryss smiled shyly at the men before her, seeking to project only a sense of humility, it was not easy for her these days, but…she gave it her best shot.
The dark lord chuckled.
"Of course…I expect you already knew that."
The men before her said nothing. Jas Dar Bynn, Colonel Capistan, and the Rodian Jedi that had arrived with Captain Cooper. Now she would need to convince them of just how dire the situation that was developing around them had become.
She was up to the challenge…at least…she thought she was.
Fenn stood nearby; they had come here together. She licked her lips, remembering the kiss he had given her, the memory warmed her, and gave her the boost she needed.
Meanwhile, she could sense the emotions of the beings before her. The mongrel had already given her report, no doubt. Avaryss wondered what she had said, and what they thought when all was said and done.
Master Jas would keep an open mind surely. The Rodian was an unknown to her, and the Colonel was openly hostile.
He sees only what I've done, she realized, he looks at the actions and not what was behind them. The taking of the arms from the Empire, now the destruction wrought on those Kun worshipping fools.
He doesn't understand, how could anyone but another Sith understand?
She almost shook her head.
The colonel thinks I'm a monster.
You are a monster, Avaryss!
The thought came unbidden, but hit like a slap in the face.
Avaryss blinked.
What…was…that?
It had not come from outside, but that didn't bother her.
She was used to voices in her head, the dark side often whispered to her, but this had sounded…it had sounded like…
She ignored it.
It didn't matter.
She had her reasons for doing what she did.
She would not explain herself to anyone, not even a random voice in her head.
Capistan was the first to speak, but again, she was not surprised. He had already made up his mind about her.
"So, a Sith lied," he said dryly, "What a complete shock."
Avaryss shrugged.
"I deserve that, and probably more," She agreed, "but…I said I was not completely honest with you, that doesn't mean that I've lied."
She glanced at Fenn.
"There are some that I will never lie to, any deception on my part was for my protection, not something insidious."
Again, she sensed their skepticism.
Good, they would have to be stupid beyond belief to completely trust her.
She had no desire to work with fools. She needed them to be more than that.
Master Jas glanced at his former padawan, who nodded to him, confirming what she had said.
Fenn knew her, and his master likely knew about their connection.
Jas would trust in that
"Then what does it mean, my lord," the Jedi Master asked, "Shyra has already been debriefed, she told us what happened on your last mission. What you did…"
"That was not me," Avaryss clarified, "The mon…I mean…Shyra Viel…she didn't completely understand what she was seeing. Though I touched the key with my powers, woke it up, so to speak; what happened to those people had nothing to do with me. They burned or froze based on their own feelings their own desires…"
Avaryss shrugged, her expression turned thoughtful.
"I only wish that Zay had not gotten caught up in it, poor girl. I would like to thank you all for not calling me before you in the immediate aftermath of our return. After seeing to my servant, I…needed to…decompress a bit, gather my thoughts and find my focus again."
Master Jas gave her a sympathetic smile.
"You care about the girl, that much is certain."
"I will not deny that. Many Sith prefer to focus only on hate and anger as a source of power, but the other emotions work just as well. As I have told your padawan. We Sith are a passionate people. I will not limit myself to only a few emotions, not when there is so much more to use."
The Colonel sneered at that, not that she blamed him.
Who knew what he had seen during the last two wars?
"Some Sith might call that a weakness, Avaryss," he said.
"I am not like most Sith," she said with a smirk, "I was not raised on Dromund Kaas. I came up through my own skill and cunning. No one gave me anything, I was forced to flee my home with nothing but the clothes I wore, and yet…I still managed to ascend to the Dark Council chamber.
Avaryss found herself thinking of Darth Feer, and all the other lords she had faced on her journey. Most of the old guard were dead now, but that was as it should be.
The old and weak passed away to make way for the young and the strong, and she intended to be the strongest of the new order.
She had come too far to stop now.
The memory of her trials, her losses still burned within her. From the death of Fehl, to the disease that Darth Terrog inflicted on her.
She had survived all those challenges, rose to be so much more than any of her rivals had thought, but it still wasn't enough.
She still desired more…MORE!
And the very item she needed was close by, so very close.
Ahhh!
A shiver ran down her spine. Even now, she could hear the key's song, the Jedi had hidden it, but it was awake now, and it called to her, wanting her to give into its power.
She resisted that desire…there would be a better time.
She…would be patient.
She continued to speak to those before her, the leaders of the survivors…
…her pawns.
Yet, they would need to become more…yes…
…they would need to become far more.
"All that I possess is mine because I earned it," she reminded them, "It is mine because I took it. I took it from my lessers, men and women who believed they were my superiors because they were born with a famous name, or had powerful friends."
She snorted at the memory of those fallen foes, people all best forgotten.
"Their wealth and schemes were nothing to me, nothing to the power of the Force."
The Rodian Jedi suddenly jerked up right, his empty eyes focused on her.
She almost quailed under that gaze.
There was something about him she didn't like, how he felt in the Force.
It felt…wrong…yet…familiar…somehow.
He spoke quickly, his basic thick with the accent of his people.
He listed names, names with military titles, or Jedi ranks attached…so many names.
Avaryss' eyes narrowed.
A few…she recognized.
Darzu…Pondar…Rhad Loro…Sy Dar Bynn
Avaryss grinned.
"I didn't realize that anyone was keeping score," she said.
"Master Ono?" Jas said, "What are you doing?"
"I suspect that he is listing my enemies, Master Jas," Avaryss answered, "Enemies that I have slain in battle."
"People you murdered, you mean," the Colonel said glaring at her.
His words made her frown.
"People die in war, Colonel," she said dismissively, "I'm sure you have a list of dead foes somewhere too. As for these, I happen to recognize some of the people that our Rodian friend is mentioning. They were renegade Jedi that walked the edge of the dark side in a vain attempt to destroy my home."
Avaryss snorted.
"I make no apologies for doing my job, and the one that you and yours should have done. Sy Dar Bynn and his traitors threatened a treaty the Sith signed in good faith. They provoked combat among my people, they sought to destabilize the Empire, the home that I love."
Avaryss glared at the Rodian; he was still listing names, so many names.
"Can you silence him, please. I'm here to tell you the truth, and make an offer that you will definitely wish to hear, not revel in my past accomplishments."
She realized her words were a mistake the moment they came from her lips, the sudden shift in emotions from those standing before her.
Avaryss cursed under her breath.
She realized her mistake immediately.
I'm too used to being among Sith, those that see the death of Jedi as a positive thing. Those trained in the Jedi way, or born into the Republic simply didn't understand, and probably never would.
Showing pride in the death of their comrades, that was not smart, in fact, it was downright stupid.
In the meantime, the Rodian continued to babble, name after name of this soldier or that. All beings that had died in some way at her hands.
Silence fool, she wanted to snarl.
SILENCE!
He was ruining everything!
She had been ready to intervene, to silence him herself, perhaps that was why her dream friend did what he did.
Fenn stepped forward, he went to the Rodian and put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Master Ono," he said, "thank you for your information, now…please stop, and come back to us."
The Rodian's large eyes turned to Fenn, his small ears twitched, the cybernetic devices built into the back of his head blinked and whirred.
Finally, he fell silent, the creature shook his head.
"Fe…Fenn?" he said.
"Yes, master," Avaryss' dream friend said to him., "I'm here. We're all here, your friends."
The Rodian snorted and looked around, again his eyes found Avaryss.
"Not all are friends here," he said, and looked to be fading away again, but shook his head, and quickly turned back to the young Jedi at his side.
"I'm having…trouble," he said.
Fenn gave him a gentle smile, and a friendly tap on the shoulder, the Rodian finally fell silent, and seemed to be back in control.
For now, Avaryss thought, she didn't share Fenn's pity for the creature.
The dark lord only just held back a sneer.
He was having trouble?
That was an understatement, she thought.
She still didn't understand why the creature was here. Whatever it was that had been done to him had clearly hobbled his mind.
She wasn't sure what to make of that.
She had always heard that the Jedi didn't fear death, that they considered it merely the next step on their journey through the Force.
Why would this one submit to such cybernetics, knowing that they would leave him so limited?
Again, the voice that had called her a monster spoke up.
These people are no mere pawns, Avaryss. They know what you really are, you can't fool them like you did the people of Oridanna. They know better than to trust you. They can see through your tricks.
Take a good look.
One of these people is going to kill you one day.
That thought stopper her in tracks.
Wait?
What?
She had been close to death many times, but that had always come at the hands of another Sith. No Republic or Jedi enemy had truly threatened her except for Shyra Viel, the mongrel had nearly killed her when they fought on Voss, and again, when she destroyed Avaryss' research vessel the Shadow's Embrace. Beyond that, she had never feared any Jedi, or saw them as a life-threatening threat.
Perhaps…she had been wrong. She…
ENOUGH!
The voice of the dark side, or perhaps it was that of her own will finally spoke up, and…it was not pleased.
You came here with a plan, do not abandon it simply because you have come to realize that manipulating these fools is going to be harder. So, the plan must change to accommodate new information, so what?
Make those changes…and adapt.
She nodded to herself.
Yes, she was a Lord of the Sith, the rightful and true DARK LORD OF THE SITH!
She would not be thrown off her game plan.
She smiled and bowed her head.
"I ask your pardons," she said humbly, "I'm too used to speaking with other imperials and Sith, what I said about my past deeds was not…appropriate."
She raised her eyes to meet the leaders of the Survivors once again, this time when she spoke, it was with new steel in her voice.
"I didn't come here to debate my past. I came here to talk about the future, for both me, and the Republic that you all claim to serve, that…and to enlighten you on things that I've held back until now."
"Why now," Colonel Capistan asked her, "What made you change your mind?"
"Two reasons," she answered, "What happened during my last mission, opened my eyes, the artifact that we found was more powerful than I expected, and now that our enemies are seeking them too, it has become prudent for me to reveal what I know…"
"And the second reason?" The Colonel asked.
Avaryss smiled slyly.
"I didn't trust you, but now, it seems that I will need to, for the good of us all."
Jas Dar Bynn snorted with amusement.
"YOU didn't trust US?" he said dryly.
"The last time I was around Republic forces was after the Battle of the Inferno Nebula. I came to you injured, and from a side that fought beside yours. I was treated…decently, but still…as an enemy. I woke up in chains, and was NOT going to be returned to my people. I was to be sent to the Jedi Temple for imprisonment and interrogation.
She shook her head.
"That treatment didn't inspire much faith, especially when I come to you, once again, as an ally.
Avaryss was pleased that none of them chose to dispute her on that point. Perhaps they even understood.
Good, that would make what she said next even easier.
"But as I said, I'm not here to talk about the past. Marr's archivist pointed us to a powerful Sith Artifact. Far more powerful than even I realized."
Avaryss sighed.
"It pains me to admit, but I miscalculated, and now…I will need to ask more of you, but in return, you will get something far more valuable, something the Republic and Jedi have wanted for years."
"And that is?" the colonel asked.
"Peace, Colonel Capistan," she said with a smile, "I'm prepared to offer the Republic peace."
The words had almost stuck in her throat, but she had managed to get them out.
Peace.
Even thinking the words made her ill.
"If Lana Beniko is successful in building this alliance she is working towards," Avaryss continued, "I believe it is possible that we will have the power to defeat Arcann and his empire of pretenders, but even if we do, what then? What is to stop the Republic and Sith Empire from immediately returning to the state of war we were in before the invaders came?"
"You believe the war should stop?" Master Jas asked her.
"Both sides will need time to rebuild, and reconsider the direction the galaxy is taking."
Avaryss chuckled.
"I'm willing to explore new options, aren't all of you?"
The three beings looked at each other, again, she sensed their skepticism.
Again, it was to be expected.
"I take it you have a plan?" Jas Dar Bynn asked her.
"I do," the dark lord admitted, "We spoke once of putting a new Sith leader on the throne, one willing to open a dialogue with the Republic, and end the war."
She sat up straighter.
"The leader is before you now. I WILL be Empress, and I will end the war."
"Just like that?" Capistan asked.
"Just like that," she answered.
"How?"
Her smile turned colder then, crueler.
"With the aid of the key we have found, of course, and its four brothers; the threat of them at least."
She reached out with the Force, again, she could feel the key nearby, it sang as she touched it, the song made her shiver with anticipation, and she was not alone…
Master Jas also reacted, she could see it, he shivered.
I knew it, she thought.
He was not some innocent Jedi drone; he had tasted the dark side before. She glanced back and Fenn, he didn't seem to have heard it, either that, or he was hiding his reaction from her.
Something to discuss later.
"So," Jas Dar Bynn said, "You know more about this thing than you let on."
"Much more," she confessed, "In truth, the key is the reason that I'm here."
"I thought you were here because you were stripped of your power and position," Capistan said, "Lana claimed you had nowhere else to go."
"I was a dark council member," she reminded him, "I controlled three full sectors of Sith Space. I ruled over the bread basket of the Empire. Such power does not just evaporate. My forces were scattered after my defeat, but they didn't completely abandon me. Yet, had I chosen to use them, if I had tried to hit back like any other Sith. Either Arcann or that shutta, Acina, would have destroyed me. I had no base, and no means of replenishing my troops and ships. My forces, would have been overwhelmed."
She sighed.
"I needed to draw attention away from myself, hence, my exile, but I also needed help, help to locate the keys and move my plans forward."
She laughed lightly.
"I needed allies."
"Dupes, you mean," Capistan spat.
Avaryss shrugged.
"In the beginning, perhaps, but, as I said, the situation has changed."
She shrugged.
"I knew Fenn, and I had plenty of intelligence reports on you, Master Jas, and your survivor squad friends. I knew that you had not surrendered with the Republic, and knew that Lana Beniko would reach out to you."
Avaryss glanced at Fenn, she probed him with the Force, she hoped that he would not feel betrayed by what she said next. Honesty was not always best, but it was necessary if she was to be successful moving forward.
Best to just rip off the bandage, better a little pain now, then… they would be able to move on.
"Using your people to find the keys was my plan from the very beginning. Once they were found, I would summon my remaining forces, seize the keys, escape this place, and make sure that you would not be able to oppose me any further."
None of the Jedi said nothing, they may have suspected this from the beginning, but it was another matter entirely to hear her admit to it.
"What changed your mind?" Master Jas asked.
"As I said, the keys are more powerful than I realized. Plus, I had not planned on the Zakuul hunting them as well. If even a single key falls into Arcann's hands, that could be catastrophic for both the Empire and the Republic."
Avaryss smiled.
"Which leads me to my offer. Help me find the keys before my rivals, and they are yours. You may take them to the Jedi Temple, lock them up, destroy them, whatever. All I ask is that you do so in secret. As far as the galaxy is concerned, I WILL have them. The threat of that power should be enough to revitalize my strength within the Empire. I can push my rivals out of the way, and seize the Sith Throne. From there, I will sign a proper treaty with the Republic, and the galaxy will know…peace."
Again, she sensed skepticism, these beings likely found it hard to believe that a Sith would seek peace.
They didn't understand.
It was not peace she sought, but order.
Order could only come through power.
"Other Sith will oppose you," Master Jas reminded her.
"They will be dealt with. I already have several plans in place. My allies are in place and loyal."
She smirked.
"There will be some blood, yes, but what thing is born without a little blood. Once those deaths are done, the others will fall in line. As empress, I will rebuild the dark council with my own allies and followers, and once they are in place, the new treaty will be honored. Fear and respect will keep the Empire in line, fear and respect of me."
She chuckled.
"Surely having an ally on the Sith throne is no so repellant?"
"And the fear of these keys can do that?" Master Jas asked.
"It can. Marr and I made sure the other lords knew what they could do. We were planning to use that fear to secure the throne, to put the proper puppet on it, and now…that is no longer needed. I'm not only willing, but skilled enough to rule on my own. You will find me a good ally and a skilled monarch."
The Colonel shook his head, he remained unconvinced.
"If what you are saying is true, why would you let us have these keys, why risk letting us have them," he asked, "why not keep them for yourself?"
"Because I won't risk them falling into a rivals' hands. Once you have them, do with them what you will. The threat of using them will be enough."
The Colonel frowned.
"And how do we know that we can trust you? That you will just give away something of such power?"
Avaryss' smile widened.
She had hoped he would ask that.
"Because, I give you, my word."
"Your word?"
She nodded.
"I swear to you now. I will not seek to keep the keys. The only way that I will take them is if you give them to me…freely."
She raised her right hand.
"I swear by the power of the dark side, the power that I covet above all else."
Master Jas looked at Colonel Capistan, and then at Fenn. She could guess what he was thinking.
Fenn knew that she would never lie to him, and she wasn't lying now.
Jas trusted Fenn, but he knew the Sith.
He was no doubt seeking any sense of deception, in this, he would not find any.
She was being totally honest.
The only way she would take the keys is if they gave them to her.
She would not break her word.
She sensed the change, the agreement that was unspoken, they were considering her offer, and why not. It was a good one.
And it would be honored.
The galaxy…would know peace.
"What are these keys," Capistan asked, "What do they do?
"I can't say for certain," Avaryss admitted.
Capistan didn't like that answer.
"You can't say, or you don't want to say?"
"I can't say," she spat back, "Even the keys' creator was not entirely sure what he had forged when the work was done. He knew what he wanted, what he intended to make, but the Force does not always perform as we desire. Sometimes things can be created on accident, or develop in a way we didn't expect."
She grinned hungrily.
"Such was the case with the keys of Darth Hecaetus."
She let her new allies digest that for a moment, she hoped that her honesty would sway them into helping her, not as pawns, but actual allies, or at least, see themselves as actual allies. She could no longer afford to string them along. They needed to move faster.
By now, news of the failure to acquire the first key would have reached the Zakuul royal family. They would respond. Then there was the Sith side of things, her dear brother knew about the keys too. He hated her now, and would happily see her suffer. If he performed as she expected, he would tell Acina about them, and the witch would likely choose to hunt them as well, likely giving Beric whatever he needed to pursue his desires.
She needed to be faster, they needed to be faster. Arcann, his sister, Moff Lylos, she could not allow them to get to the keys first, she needed to have all five in her possession.
Only then, could her true work begin.
"Who was this Hecaetus," Jas Dar Bynn asked, "What did he intend to do with these keys?"
"Hecaetus was a self-made Sith," she replied, "He was born the illegitimate son of a dark council member, and rose from nothing to be a very powerful lord in his own right. He began as a common battle-rager, but through study and training became a skilled alchemist and sorcerer."
Avaryss paused briefly, once again listening to the key's singing.
She shivered again.
"I…sympathize with what he accomplished."
She made no mention of the fact that her first master was one of Hecaetus' followers, she would reveal that later, when the time was right.
"As for the keys, they were created to do what all keys do, they were to open doors, or rather one door in particular."
"And what door was that?" Capistan asked.
"The only one that mattered," Avaryss said. She gestured, whispering a spell under her breath.
The Jedi in the room tensed, even Fenn. Capistan started to go for his pistol, but stopped when he realized what she was doing. A simple illusion, not to deceive, but to enlighten.
It floated before them or rather THEY floated before them. Three figures summoned from Avaryss' memory, or rather, pictures of three beings. An old man in fine robes, with a long flowing white beard, his eyes calm and centered, a young girl, long blonde hair flowing down her back, her face shining with innocence and compassion. And finally, a young man, clad in armor of midnight black, his bald head pale as bone, his lip curled with disdain, his red eyes boiling with barely controlled anger and hate.
Avaryss smiled; wondering if any of the Jedi recognized them, it was said that these three had been known to the order once.
"Tell me, my friends," she purred cruelly.
"What do you know…of the Mortis Gods?"