Soon after Jadus's briefing, Vaylin left along with Atiel and a small squad of soldiers as their path was set to Copero, boarding the Chiss's ship called "Phantom." Finally, some action…At least Vaylin hoped for it. The task on paper was nothing more than a simple guarding mission for an evacuation, something Vaylin always hated to do and missed out on the opportunity to cause chaos. However, Jadus mentioned the Outlander being on Copero, which meant that the time for a rematch could be very close at hand.

She wouldn't be surprised if Jadus would try to ensure that she would control the Outlander on Copero despite all of what he says. He needed a major rival removed, and who had a better chance at it than her? After all, she knew that this was the reason he took an interest in her. To use her to his own ends and then betray her when she became a liability, the Sith Lord wasn't shy about admitting that his motives for this Alliance were purely selfish. He was just another SCORPIO, but Vaylin was used to it. He wasn't the first person who'd try to use her, but this time, she would be ready. As long as he could give her the opportunities she needed, Vaylin didn't mind. That is wreaking havoc on Zakuul and, even more so…Seeing the Outlander again.

During their journey, Vaylin stayed in her cabin and mused about what it was she wanted from the Outlander. He was father's vessel; now that Valkorion died, there was no use for him, yet something intrigued the young woman. He showed sympathy and compassion for Odessen and judging by how much Valkorion tried to sabotage it, it wasn't a part of his plan. Was it genuine? His behavior in the mindscape further supported it. Not to mention Arcann's words about him suddenly deciding to offer her brother mercy after chasing him down across the galaxy and killing Senya. It was all very peculiar…

Vaylin's musings were interrupted by Atiel entering the cabin.

"I hope I'm not interrupting." The sniper said and got Vaylin's attention. "Do you like my ship?"

"It's prettier than most," Vaylin said coldly. "What do you want?"

"We'll be on Copero soon, and there are a couple of things I wanted to go over with you."

"Are you going to spell out the rules for me like I'm some kind of kid?" Vaylin raised an eyebrow.

"There aren't many. All I wanted was to talk about others. Our outpost is heavily guarded, and while I'm not going to deny the truth of your identity when it comes to it, it would be better for all of us to not attract any unnecessary attention." Atiel explained, making Vaylin yawn demonstratively.

"Why can't everyone just get to the point…So, you don't want me running around shouting about how I'm that Vaylin and came back from the dead?"

"Yes."

"Done. Can you leave me alone now?"

"There's another matter. Remember my lord's words. We are not seeking a confrontation with Cassian that would expose our entire operation." Atiel warned her.

"Are you saying that I'll jump at every opportunity to grind the Outlander into paste?"

"You wouldn't? You have enough reasons to want revenge."

"Not really. He didn't kill me. That was his Jedi pet." She knew he could've killed her at some point, yet chose not to.

"Perhaps, but I know he stole some kills from you. You hunted Senya and Arcann, only for him to kill them both. Don't you want to make him pay for this?"

"Hm…No, not really." Vaylin sighed. "Apparently, he gave Arcann an opportunity to surrender, which he didn't take, so I'd say it's on him. As for mother…I don't want to think about her anymore. Don't bring her up again."

"You surprise me."

"How so? Did you expect some crazy animal who just wants to kill everything?"

"I expected someone who never lets go. Perhaps death truly can change us a lot."

"Why do you care so much? At least I was never actually a member of the Alliance." Vaylin said dismissively before crossing her hand. "You worked with the Outlander and even helped to break him free from Arcann's prison. Maybe your lovely lord should keep a close eye on you."

"I am an agent; I have been one since my youth," Atiel said after a sigh.

"And why does that matter?"

"Because we understand better than anyone that working with someone isn't the same as being loyal. We are no strangers to using others to our advantage, to manipulating them while it's convenient. Cassian served his purpose. I was never loyal to him." How honest, Vaylin found it refreshing.

"I guess that's my role, too…A weapon to manipulate."

"Don't worry, you're useful," Atiel reassured her. "And my lord keeps useful weapons close." The agent said moments before the echo of a ship emerging from hyperspace pierced Vaylin's ears. "Finally, we're here. Welcome to Copero, Vaylin."

…

Once Cassian and Saganu worked out their strategy, the investigation began immediately. They had to check every thread that connected the three spies that he fought on Odessen, including family and friends. No doubt they would try to keep their involvement in this mysterious operation secret, but with any luck, someone would know the truth. Cassian, Jac, and Jaesa kept together while Raina reunited with her allies from the Ascendancy and began a separate investigation.

Cassian would be ready to employ any necessary interrogation techniques, even though Jac and Jaesa would prefer to stick to a diplomatic approach. Despite their Jedi beliefs, sometimes pain and suffering were the simplest way to the truth. Eventually, the three of them found a lead. A tip from Saganu informed them of Therana, a Chiss woman and a girlfriend of Irol, the only surviving traitor who was now locked in Odessen. According to official data, the two of them were close, and they could've shared some knowledge. By the time the trio arrived at her house, Ascendancy guards were already at the door.

"Commander Narok." A chiss soldier welcomed him. "Aristocra Saganu said you'll come. We detained Therana the moment he informed us of her connection to Irol. She's inside, waiting for you to interrogate her."

"Good work," Cassian said with approval. "If she knows something, I will make sure to get it out of her."

"Interesting methods you have here." Jac shook his head. "Forcefully detaining someone without proof of any kind of guilt?"

"We are not giving potential criminals chances to escape." The guard said dismissively as he stepped aside. "Though we would appreciate it if this interrogation did not get to…Excessive without Aristocra's permission. Do not give it to provocations."

"Do I look like someone who does?" Cassian raised an eyebrow, looking towards his friends.

"No comment." Jack giggled.

"My master knows how to keep his emotions in check. You don't have to worry.

"Come in."

Cassian took the lead as Jac and Jaesa followed. Inside, a woman with dark blue skin waited impatiently and paced around the room. The moment she noticed her guests, Cassian saw her flinch and recoil with fear.

"W-who are you? You aren't of the Ascendancy…"

"We have permission from them," Cassian said. "We need to ask you a few questions."

"What questions?! This is absurd! Those thugs detained me in my own home and don't even want to explain what I'm being accused of!" She spoke with rage.

"It's about your partner, Irol."

"Irol, what about him? He left months ago to become a part of the Eternal Alliance." Therana crossed her hands and shook her head. "He isn't even here."

"Oh, I know that," Cassian explained. "In fact, I saw him there. I'm Cassian Narok, commander of the Eternal Alliance, and I had to learn the truth the hard way."

"Y-you? The commander? But that means you're…A Sith Lord! The tainted one!" She said with shock.

"Is that what they actually say about me around here? I'm not surprised." Cassian said, unimpressed. "But that's not important now. What's important is that your lover turned out to be a traitor who attempted to sabotage the Alliance and worked with some antagonistic conspirators on Zakuul." Cassian wondered if there were some conspirators among Exchange that overtook Zakuul after it separated from the Alliance, but this wasn't the time to ponder on that, not when he saw fear emerge on Therana's face.

"What? That's…No, that's impossible, he would never do it!"

"And yet he did. Even tried to kill me."

"Where is he?!"

"Alive and imprisoned," Cassian said, allowing the woman to let out a breath of relief. "He couldn't give us much information, and there is reason to assume that he is conditioned to stay silent…Hence, we had to expand our search. Seems like you're the closest person to him, so if there is anything you know, I want you to tell me now."

"Know about Irol?"

"About his motives. What were his real reasons for going to Odessen?" Cassian saw a lot of fear and doubt in her, but it was hard to see whether it was a natural reaction to her finding out the truth or because there was something she was hiding.

"What do you think? He believed in the Alliance's cause and wanted to serve it!"

"He clearly didn't." The Sith shook his head dismissively. "I have my doubts about you knowing nothing about his involvement…There must have been some hints."

"There were no hints. He is an honest man! How do I know you're not trying to set him up? This is outrageous!" Therana began to sound increasingly angry once again.

"Do you think I would waste time plotting against a man who I didn't even know personally? Who was just a newcomer in the Alliance? Don't be absurd. I am not intending to hurt him anymore, but I need to know the truth. Has Irol been loyal to the Ascendancy?"

"Y-yes! He was a patriot for as long as I knew him."

"Hm…That makes his sudden transfer to the Alliance more suspicious."

"You're just looking for reasons to frame him!"

"No, I'm reading between the lines."

"Why? You don't trust me?" Before matters could escalate, Jacques interfered.

"No need to fight; I'm pretty sure all of us here want to discover the truth. Therana, we are not accusing you of anything, not at all; we simply think that Carol could've accidentally left some clues. Perhaps you missed them, but maybe the context of his infiltration and betrayal would shed more light on them? No spy is perfect, especially with people with whom they're close to. Are you sure that there is nothing you can tell us?"

"I…No, I'm sorry. I don't know why he would ever want to do something like that…I swear, it's the truth."

"I see." Cassian sighed. "Then there is only one matter to check. Jaesa, use your powers on this woman; let's see if she has anything to hide." He commanded, making Therana shiver.

"What are you going to do? Leave me alone!"

"Please, no need to panic," Jaesa said in a soothing voice. "I promise I won't hurt you. It's a simple meditation process…Just calm down, take a deep breath, and I promise it'll be quick." She tried her best to reassure the panicking woman, eventually calming her down and allowing her to begin the process. Cassian and Jac stepped aside and watched her with curiosity.

"You know, I'm surprised," Jac said quietly.

"About what?"

"Jaesa. I knew you had an apprentice, but I expected someone very different. Someone much more…"

"Like a Sith?"

"Well, yes. Someone ruthless and bloodthirsty, eager to her her hands dirty and completely drunk on the dark side…She is much more like a Jedi. Calm, peaceful, empathetic…How did you meet her?"

"It's a long story." Cassian chuckled. "I hunted her at Baras's behest back in the day and had to fight her master, Nomen Karr."

"Ah, Master Karr. He visited once during my training back on Tython. I heard of his unfortunate fate."

"When I met Jaesa, she was exposed to the lingering darkness inside her own master…She was lost and confused. A scared child who saw her worldview shatter before her, not knowing what she could do to stop it." Cassian said, remembering the shock Jaesa felt at seeing Karr on his knees, consumed by his anger and blind rage. "She only needed a little push towards darkness."

"A push that you didn't give?"

"No…I didn't."

"Many Sith would call it a missed opportunity."

"It's hard to explain…A part of me wanted to do it, but I saw that she simply wasn't ready. Her mind wasn't strong enough to handle it. It wasn't a path that would do her any good; she didn't have the heart for it…Perhaps it would simply not work or break her and drive her to madness and make her a broken husk. I never cared to find out."

"Time and time again, I'm reminded of all the reasons why I chose to follow you…A unique perspective, for one."

"Don't flatter me now, Jac. I might get sentimental." Cassian chuckled, but before they could continue, they focused on the ritual that Jaesa performed.

"I sense…Fear, but also confusion. A desperation to hide something that could be very important, something that she doesn't want to reveal. I sense no malice, however, just shock." Jaesa spoke in a calm voice, relaying her findings. Cassian watched Therana's eyes run around as she was once again overtaken by fear.

"So? What are you hiding?" Cassian said sternly.

"Please, I don't know the details, I…"

"I don't like repeating myself."

"He would leave at times…Said it's for important conventions but never said what exactly. I overheard him one day, talking with some other man on the holo, and they mentioned the mountain falls to the north of our city…That's all I know; I never asked him about it!"

Finally, they had a lead.

…

When Atiel said that the outpost was 'heavily guarded,' she didn't exaggerate. The moment their squad landed, they were met with a welcoming party that offered to guide them. Atiel refused, saying that she remembered this place well enough, and they didn't dare to question her. Vaylin stood behind her with a hood on in an attempt to hide her face, hardly paying attention to what Atiel talked about. Instead, she focused on what she could see of the planet from this landing pad. A bright sun that was about to fall behind the snowy mountains and submerge the world in darkness. Vaylin could also see endless wilds and an extensive river in the distance, unveiling all the beauties of Copero. It wasn't a bad world, far from it…She saw it once, through Cassian's eyes, but this felt different. Much more sweet and relaxing, she enjoyed the breeze and the cool fresh air.

"Come on, Lokin is waiting." Atiel beckoned for Vaylin to follow her deeper into the base, which was located inside one of the mountains. Only the landing pad was visible from the outside, and even so, it was covered by an overground plateau. A good place to hide or spring a trap in.

As Atiel and Vaylin walked through the grey halls, the young woman surveyed this place with curiosity. It was busy; the halls were filled with men and women in soldiers' uniforms, though notably, they followed no single pattern. Some of them were Imperial, others Republican, and, of course, some bore the emblem of Chiss Ascendancy. They had something in common, however. Whenever Atiel passed by them, each stopped and gave her a salute, welcoming her like any loyal soldier would their commander. The most intriguing part was the large containers standing by the walls, each filled with a purple substance that Vaylin had never seen before. This must have been the Voidcaller Jadus talked about, some kind of anti-force poison that Atiel used to weaken her. A dangerous weapon, the presence of which only made Vaylin more curious. Soon, the two approached a gate guarded by two soldiers dressed in Imperial uniforms.

"Ninth Siren." One of them addressed her as both saluted. "Welcome."

"Greetings, soldier. How are the preparations going?"

"As scheduled. We have already begun transporting Voidcaller to our ships. However, there is a slight problem with wampas infesting the tunnels. They make the transportation a bit slow."

"We don't have much spare time, soldier."

"Yes, of course…Fifth Forger was working on it; he should tell you more."

"Where is he?"

"In his lab, as usual."

"Good, I'll talk with him."

"Any orders for us?"

"I brought reinforcements. Make sure they're welcomed and fed, other than that, as you were."

"Yes, ma'am."

Soldiers stood aside and allowed Atiel and Vaylin to pass further into the halls. Those were similar but even more crowded. Some people didn't even notice them passing by, which Atiel clearly didn't mind. Hardly surprising that a spy preferred to keep to the shadows. Meanwhile, Vaylin continued to watch others until finally discovering two who wore Zakuulan uniforms. One of a knight and another of a regular military man, intriguing enough for Vaylin's gaze to slide towards them.

"Come on, you're telling me you can't clear out the wampas? They are just wild animals!" The soldier said arrogantly.

"There's far too many; it would require days to clean out." The knight said and shook his head. "We nearly lost some of our men to them."

"Really, now? They are just some pests. You should be ashamed."

"Very vicious pests. Perhaps you shouldn't judge when you haven't even tried…"

"Zildrog, take me!" The soldier said loudly as Vaylin realized that he had noticed her. I'm looking at them; she unveiled her face, allowing the soldier to see. He immediately looked away, but she could see the dread in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" The knight said with caution.

"I…It can't be…"

"Calm down, what are you talking about?"

"That woman with the Ninth Siren, I saw her and…"

"What?"

"She looks just like our last Empress…That psycho skank bitch, Vaylin!" He said in a quivering voice, making the knight raise an eyebrow.

"You sure you didn't have any…"

He never got a chance to finish.

Vaylin wasn't eager to tolerate this insolence. Her discussion with Atiel immediately left her mind. She snapped her fingers, making the soldier's agonized screams spread through the room as he felt the pain of his hand being broken.

"AAAAAARGH!" He fell on his knees and screeched, causing everyone in the room to look at them in horror. She began to choke the soldier and pulled him closer, making the man shrivel before her as he screamed in fear and pain. "Please…Why…"

"I don't have any hearing problems, dumbass," Vaylin said, unimpressed. "You know, I almost started to forget how bratty our people were; thanks for reminding me."

"What are you doing?!" Atiel raised her voice with anger and took out her sniping rifle, immediately pointing it at Vaylin. The young woman saw the Chiss clench her teeth. "Let him go, or I will shoot."

"Sorry, Ati, can't let badmouthing go unpunished. Surely you understand."

"We. Had. An agreement!"

"Yes, we did, but you didn't warn me how rude people here are." Vaylin looked at the knight. "You said some things. Mind saying them to my face? I'm sure you want to, well, now's your chance. At least you have keen eyes…I'm exactly who you thought me to be."

"P…Please…Let me…Go."

"Say the things."

"I…Didn't say…"

"You're lying…And I hate liars." Vaylin chuckled. "Say it, or I'm going to break another one. Miss Siren needs to hear it, too.

"Fine, fine!" The soldier said. "I…Called you…A psycho skank…Bitch…"

Those words made Atiel take a deep breath and bring a hand to her forehead in a facepalm.

"And that is why I hate being a commander." She said quietly. "Vaylin, let him go."

"Thank…You…" The soldier spoke through pain.

"And you, keep quiet. Your running mouth cost us." She dismissed him before looking at Vaylin. "So?"

"I'm not going to let him live after saying such nasty things." Vaylin shook her head.

"Yes, you are! We had an agreement!"

"We did but…I didn't expect them to be so mean! Besides, I had already broken his hand. He's useless and will only take up space on your ship, right?" Vaylin said, making Atiel ponder for a few moments. "He insulted me, and I get to make him suffer and then kill him. An eye for an eye."

"Alright…I suppose we don't need useless mouths on board."

"W-what?" The soldier's voice shook, but Atiel ignored him.

"But I need you to promise something, Vaylin. From now on, you will not attack our soldiers except in cases of direct self-defense. If you have any complaints, you will bring them to the commander, which is me. Do you understand?"

"I'll try."

"No, 'try' isn't enough."

"Fine…I promise not to be naughty anymore."

"Good. This is your first and only indulgence. Kill him, and let's move on."

"Yay!"

As Vaylin snapped the soldier's neck, Atiel turned around towards other people who stared in fear.

"Yes, Empress Vaylin came back from the dead. Yes, she is on our side. No, I'm not disclosing more until we get off this planet. As long as you follow your orders and don't step out of line like this imbecile just did, I promise no harm will come to you. As you were."

As soon as the panic deteriorated, Vaylin and Atiel made their way to the lab, although the surrounding room grew much quieter as many were still in shock at the revelation, even if they wouldn't dare ask questions.

"Sorry about that; I got a little snappy," Vaylin said and chuckled.

"Don't apologize. Just never do it again."

"Yes, ma'am!" Vaylin said playfully, making Atiel roll her eyes.

"Do you ever get the feeling that you're a tad too immature for your age?"

"No, I just know how to have fun."

Soon, the two of them arrived at a lab on the other side of the corridor and found a man inside. He was of age and wore a lab coat. He had a grey beard and pale skin, utterly focused on the purple substance he'd been working on. When the door opened, he turned around and smiled.

"Ah, finally! Welcome, Atiel. Jadus told me of your arrival. It was a welcome surprise."

"Hello, Eckard." Atiel greeted him.

"And who's this lady near you?" Eckard said with curiosity. "She looks familiar, though I'm not quite sure."

"I'm the tenth dragon," Vaylin said calmly.

"Tenth? I wasn't aware we had anyone past the Ninth…"

"Didn't you hear anything from the outside?" Atiel wondered.

"Some mumbling, yes, but I didn't pay much attention. We have people from all around the galaxy here. Can't assume they'll always get along well; that's the guards' job, not mine."

"Well, that explains it. Vaylin, this is Dr. Eckard Lokin. Eckard, this is former Empress Vaylin."

"Empress Vaylin?" Lokin said in disbelief. "Truly, now? The one from Zakuul?"

"You know another one?" Vaylin smirked, causing Atiel to intervene.

"I'd love to explain, but that will have to wait until we're safe. I take it Lord Jadus informed you of the severity of our situation?"

"Indeed, and the evacuation is already underway. There is a problem with a Wampa infestation; I was hoping your reinforcements could help…"

"Vaylin can." Atiel looked towards the former princess, who was focused on the Voidcaller syringes. "Can't you?"

"Yes, you can always count on me to kill things…Is this purple goo the Voidcaller?" She said with curiosity.

"Yes…" Lokin nodded. "A combined project which had many minds put into it. Myself, Jadus, our allies…Even the Emperor helped with what he did to Nathema, albeit indirectly. 'A power turns gods into men.'"

"And a highly-treasured resource for us," Atiel explained. "We need to talk logistics, Lokin. Our agents on Zakuul nearly gave a vial away to the Alliance. This can't be repeated."

"Of course, you can count on me." He reassured her.

As the two began discussing details, Vaylin quickly lost interest. However, she quickly noticed something else worth focusing on. A lone knight standing at the door, the same one that talked to the soldier, now looking at her with fear. The moment their eyes met, he shivered and took a few steps back, but it was too late to run.

"Looking for something?" Vaylin smiled and walked towards him.

"I-I…"

"Come on, speak up. You heard the Siren, don't say nasty things, and you won't get hurt."

"I just couldn't believe…That it was really you." The knight spoke with horror. "How is it possible?"

"My father is the immortal emperor, and I'm his immortal daughter. Why wouldn't it be possible? Better tell me this: why would a knight of Zakuul join some shady organization."

"To…To bring peace and equality to everyone on our planet and the entire galaxy." The knight said. "So that…So that tyrants like Emperor Arcann would never rise and make us suffer under their heel…"

"And?"

"W-what do you mean?"

"Emperor Arcann and?"

"Just him…"

"Come on, you aren't that stupid, be honest!"

"Emperor Arcann…And you."

"See, that wasn't hard."

"Please, I just…"

"That's fine, don't worry." Vaylin smiled. "We're on the same side now. Whether we like it or not, killing you is no fun. And fun is all I'm here for."

The fun that was about to begin.