Chapter 29: The Face

"MY LORD?!

"Wha…what it is happening?!

"I…I don't know?!"

"Avy?"

"AVY! Can you hear me?"

She could hear them, the man and the woman, she thought she knew their names, but, at that moment, names were irrelevant.

In THAT moment…all there was…was pain.

Avaryss lay on the floor of shuttle, writhing in agony. Her thoughts disjointed, the pounding in her head eclipsing all else.

She would have given anything in that moment to stop the pain, she who had come to see pain as an old friend, but…this was different.

It…it felt like someone had taken her into hyperspace and slammed her head first into a wall, again and again.

She gasped, struggling to pull herself back into the here and now.

But she was struck…again…

…and again.

"Avy, hear me," the man's voice said, I'm reaching out to you, follow my voice…my will.

She felt a hand in hers a gentle squeeze that draw her in, despite the pain.

She blinked.

"Come back, now, Avy," the man said.

"Come back to me."

She reached out, and found it again, the place where only she, and one other existed, a place between the light and the dark, and with finding that place, the pain receded, like flood waters, the flowed away, leaving her, giving her a chance to crawl back onto the shores of the now.

Avaryss took a shuddering breath, and with the pain's absence, her mind began to work again, she remembered the names of the man and woman.

Fenn.

Holli.

She shook her head, tasting blood in her mouth. She had bitten her tongue. The physical pain helped her focus, and allowed her to pull away from the chaos that she had been lost in.

She lay back, and opened her eyes. Fenn and Holli stood over her. Her dream friend was dressed in the armor of a body guard, Holli in robes far too big for her slender frame, she looked like a child, the garments of the dead antiquarian looked ridiculous on the Imperial engineer.

Avaryss took another deep breath, the pain and confusion were all but gone now.

What was that, she wondered.

What…had just happened?

Her thoughts…they were still a bit jumbled, but with Fenn's hand in her's she felt the last few hours come back, and with it…a realization.

Both Jas and Cooper had warned her, do not underestimate Kivan Obando, the man had had many tricks up his sleeves in life, and in death, who could guess what he had set up, now…the Dark Lord understood.

The two men had been right.

They had been travelling through hyperspace, now riding in the shuttle that Coop's mercenaries had provided, a ship that would be recognized by the natives of Kivan's Holdings, and would be acknowledged as their master's transport. It was a gaudy looking thing, pale chrome armor plate with bright gold and silver trim. Not the type of ship Avaryss would have chosen, but necessary as part of their deception.

She had been meditating, her mind and will deep in the Force, she had reached out their destination, trying to sense their prize, the key that Obando had hidden among his trove of stolen Force related artifacts.

She had not found the key, what she had found was something else…something…impossible.

She shook her head, and tried to sit up. She started to fall back, but Fenn was there, bracing her head.

"Easy now, we just got you back, take it slow."

She nodded, though, she didn't like the condescending nature of his tone.

It is not condescension, it is concern, her conscience chided.

Don't let your ego take you down places you don't wish to go.

She reached out, let Fenn and Holli help her up into a sitting position, as she looked around she understood where she was, what was going on.

The ship had emerged from hyperspace, she could no longer feel the rumble of the drive engines, the sub-lights felt different, which meant they must be closing on their final destination.

"What happened," Fenn asked, "I…heard you scream, felt your…"

A shiver ran down her spine.

Yes, she could guess what Fenn had felt.

It had been no picnic for her, either.

"I found the planet in the Force," she informed him, "I was trying to find the key, wake it up, but…"

She looked into Fenn's eyes trying to make sense of what she had felt. His gentle gaze did much to order her thoughts, his presence…soothing.

"There is something wrong on Kivan's Holdings, Fenn, something very wrong indeed."

His brow furrowed, through their connection she felt him starting to reach out, trying to find what had hurt her.

"Wait," she warned him, her hand going to his shoulder.

He met her gaze, again, she felt the shimmer bond between them. He had not connected much with her since leaving the Folly. He had kept his distance, distracted by his emotions, and what he had observed between her and the young mercenary.

Yet, in spite of that, he was immediately drawn back when he felt her pain.

Interesting.

"I will guide you," she offered, "But slowly…carefully."

He nodded again, and closed his eyes. Holli remained where she was, watching them.

Avaryss took a deep breath, and once again, submerged herself in the Force.

She didn't rush ahead, this time, she stayed with Fenn, their minds going forward, finding the planet.

What they found, gave both of them both.

"Wha…What is that?" she heard Fenn say distantly, his voice echoing out.

"I've…I've never sensed anything like it."

The Dark Lord nodded.

He was not alone.

She could feel the planet before the, sense the life that moved across its surface, feel the many minds that made up the people that toiled on its surface, but…there was something else, something…that should not have been.

Bubbles?

Gaps?

That was the only way she could think to describe it. The Force was everywhere, it flowed through all living things, but on this world…something was amiss.

The Force, was like a sea, that is the way she had seen it in the past, and Fenn had described something similar. The waters that made up that sea should be everywhere, but…not here.

There were huge…bubbles in the Force. They were pushing it away. Some large, some small, but they littered the surface of Kivan's Holdings.

She was not sure what to make of it.

She had never heard of such a thing.

Avaryss opened her eyes. Fenn and Holli remained at her side. Her dream friend gave her a concerned look.

"You felt it," he said.

She frowned.

"I…I've never heard of anything like that." He said, his voice filled with disbelief, "What do you think it is? How is it even possible?"

"What is it?" Holli asked, "What is going on?"

"When Master Jas and Captain Cooper first mentioned what Kivan Obando did, keeping Force-related relics hidden. I wasn't sure I believed it, but now…I think I see how it was done."

"There are…breaches in the Force on Kivan's Holdings," Fenn informed Holli, "I…we…we can sense nothing from within them, they are simply dark spots. It should be impossible, the Force is everywhere, but…"

"Yet, the man found a way to do it," Avaryss said struggling to her feet.

"Thai is how he hid his prizes, from both the Jedi and the Sith. He hid them in vaults where the Force is pushed back, the items within cannot be sensed, and, I suspect, used. Obando found a way to block the Force from his treasures. These…blank spots, they cloak his toys, not only from prying eyes, but the ability to feel their presence. Hidden from all who would claim them."

The dark lord shook her head.

It was…brilliant in its own way.

She turned to Holli.

You will need to convince the man's followers to remove the key from its hiding place. I had hoped to use the powers within it to aid our escape, but…"

Holli nodded, but her expression remained worried. She turned to Fenn.

"Master Jedi, can you check on the pilots please, inform that we should wait a bit before coming in for a landing. We may need to figure something out."

Fenn nodded, but his focused remained on Avaryss.

"Are you sure you're, okay?"

Avaryss smiled.

"I will be," she promised, "I should have been more cautious, I expanded my senses without any forethought, and my mind crashed into those…blank spots."

She shrugged.

"It felt like someone was slamming stones in my mind or like I had ran into a door that was too small, and cracked my head in the process."

"It seems that Captain Cooper was right," Fenn said, "We need to be careful here."

He rose without another word, leaving the Dark Lord and the changeling alone.

"What is it," Avaryss demanded, "Why did you want him to leave?"

"What if we have to enter one of those dead zones, my lord. The ones where the Force is blocked, what will happen?"

Avaryss shook her head.

"Fenn and I will have no powers in that place. We will be blind and deaf to the Force. No lightning, no telekinesis, or enhanced reflexes…

"What about your disguise?" the changeling asked.

The dark lord frowned.

"What about it?"

"Will it still function if you are cut off from the…"

Avaryss' eyes widened.

No.

Her hand went to the pendant around her neck.

No.

Holli was right!

NO!

In that one brief moment…she felt something she had not felt in years…panic! If the Force didn't work inside these dead spaces…then…

He'll see!

She swallowed hard.

He'll know!

The realization struck her.

It…it would all fall apart! Fenn was not ready to accept her…not yet. He would blame her for the death of a friend, for the life she had taken from the Jedi whose body she now wore, and what was worse…

He would know how she intended to keep the keys for herself. Fenn was not stupid. He would be able to put one and one together, and when he solved that.

I'll never see the rest of the keys! Plus, the Survivors would find Sanctuary Base, it was not yet ready to resist an attack, not by the Survivors, the Zakuul, or anyone else.

Everything she had fought for, planned for the last year and a half would die stillborn. The galaxy would remain on its course towards oblivion, she would not be able to save it.

She…would be a failure!

The realization paralyzed her, for a moment, but then…she watched the Holli, the changeling was going into the small pack she had brought with her, the one that had come from her hiding place.

"We need to hide your face, my lord," she said, "We can't let your plans be stopped because of this."

Avaryss took a breath, willing her heart to slow down, and to hold the panic in check, she had no desire for Fenn to sense it and come running. No.

He could not be allowed to see, not yet.

"You have something in mind?"

Holli nodded, and pulled a certain item from her pack, a familiar looking item.

The Dark Lord smiled.

Oh…Lujayne, she thought with the slightest of chuckled.

You shouldn't have.

"I made some modifications," she said, reenforced the face plate, even used some parts from your original artificial arm, the plates altered by…what did you call it, alchemical means."

Avaryss held out her hand, and took it, looked down into the smooth mirrored surface.

Perfection!

The mask had once belonged to one of her Darth Sadi's battle-ragers. Avaryss had killed him shortly before killing his master. The mask had saved her life back on Oridanna, it had kept her alive after the shard of the Emperor that had hidden inside her mother's soul had tried to drain her life away.

She had worn this mirrored face plate she when she had fought Darth Feer, it had been damaged during that battle, but Holli had repaired it. While it had been in the engineer's care, she had worn another battle rager plate to all council meetings, her fellow Dark Councilors had gotten used to seeing her wear it. It had hidden her sickness, and then…hid her new face from them.

It was not just a tool, or a disguise, it had become a part of her.

She saw her distorted reflection in the plane of red chrome. The mask was flawless, showing nothing, no features, no eyes, no nose, and no mouth.

My true face, she thought, the face of the dark lord.

The face of Darth Avaryss.

The face so many of her enemies had come to fear, that, and their own distorted reflections seen in that mask, their last sight...as they died…violently.

It felt good to feel it in her hands again, a gift she had needed.

She turned to Holli.

"Thank you, my friend."

The girl bowed her head.

"It is no problem, my lord, what are friends for."

Now, Avaryss did laugh, a good-natured chuckle.

"You have never thought less of me, have you Lujayne. You have always been so loyal."

The Changeling shrugged.

"We have been through plenty of battles, my lord. We have shed blood and saved each other's lives many times."

The girl lowered her eyes.

"I've seen what the galaxy is becoming, I grew up seeing the chaos of the outer rim, and how the Republic ignored it, and now these new invaders come promising little more than the same."

Avaryss reached out, and touched her friend's shoulder, giving it a friendly squeeze.

"I appreciate your faith in me."

"I know what kind of woman you are, my lord. I want to see what the galaxy looks like after it is yours. I want to see the peace you will bring."

Avaryss nodded.

She could have reminded Holli that peace was a lie, there would always be conflict, and there should be, but that would not be a problem for the known galaxy for much longer.

Let new threats try to take away what was hers. They would learn the lesson that Avaryss would soon teach to both the Republic, and the Sith Empire.

Avaryss…rules.

And if anyone questions that, all they will need to do is look at what she would leave of the Zakuul and their empire. Dead star systems, gardens of skulls staring up into the heavens.

A warning to all, that the Empress of the True Galactic Empire was on her throne.

And that soon…they…like everyone in the Republic, and the Empire, would all…be a part of her, and together…they would be…perfect.

Perfect...and... Eternal.

Avaryss stood back, and slipped the mask over her features, the crimson metal turning her vision to blood.

"You should get changed," she informed her friend, her voice rasping out of the mask like the hiss of a venomous serpent, "Kivan Obando will be needed to greet his subjects.

As she watched Holli expanded into her robes, her features once again becoming that of the dead antiquarian.

"As you say, my lord," she said in the dead man's voice.

Avaryss nodded, and once again, reached out with the Force, once again she felt the blank spots…the hidden vaults of Kivan's Holdings.

"Once we know what is causing the Force to be pushed back," the dark lord added, "I will need you to do what you can to turn off these defenses."

"I will do as you command," Holli promised, "And then what…we escape?"

"Eventually," Avaryss answered, "Yes."

Yet, she wanted more. How dare these peasants try to hide from her the very treasures that were hers. The galaxy, and everything in it belonged to her. She was the granddaughter of the emperor. His one, and true, rightful heir.

The mundanes of the Holding would pay for their arrogance. The whole planet would pay for seeking to deny her power.

The thought sent a chill down Avaryss' spine, the old excitement was back, the one she felt before a mission where she would leave no witnesses.

She felt Fenn touch her mind, he didn't understand what he was sensing, he sensed her determination and excitement, he thought it just battle nerves and sent calming emotions back to her through their bond.

Her smile widened.

How little he understood, but he would soon.

Yes…soon.

This…was going to be…fun!