Chapter 50: A Dark Reunion
The Stolen Heart moved swiftly through hyperspace. The Riptide's engines purred as it made its way towards their destination.
In the small main cabin, sat four meditating Sith. Avaryss, Agony, Xen and Zay were preparing for what was to come when they arrived, preparing to bring Darth Avaryss' plan into its endgame.
The ritual, the dark lord thought with a hint of a smile.
Soon they would be ready…
…soon…they would be able to find the last two keys.
Behind her the comm system pinged, demanding her attention. Avaryss reached out to it through the Force, opening the channel.
"Yes?"
"We will be arriving in four hours, Sith," Colonel Capistan's cool voice informed her.
"I trust you and yours will be ready by then.
"Most definitely, colonel," she assured him, "This matter will be handled quickly, and without incident, I can assure you."
"Roger that," he answered, "I will comm you back before we emerge from hyperspace."
"Thank you,"
"You're welcome, Capistan out."
Avaryss smiled then, despite their initial meeting, Krys Capistan had finally accepted them as part of the group. They were survivors now, and were treated as such, within reason.
She reached out with the Force, sensing their cargo, the three keys in their possession were singing together now. A trio that longed to be a quintet, and sing their one true song…
…the Song of victory.
The song…of the Sith's final revenge upon this wretched galaxy!
Yes, she could sense the keys, but she could sense something else as well, the security measures that the colonel had put in place, just in case the Sith decided to turn on the Survivors during this journey.
He didn't have to worry about that, but if the measures made him feel secure, why not?
The three artifacts were secured in a pressurized crate, coded with a lock that only Capistan knew the code for, and then, for extra security, rigged with four thermal explosives. Explosives that only the Colonel had the disarm codes.
Any funny business, and he would detonate the crate, she didn't doubt that.
Not that she would give him any reason to do so.
She accepted one simple fact. They would not be able to remove the keys without the Colonel. Capistan's mind was quite strong, so it would be unlikely that they would be able to Force persuade him to open it, and that was only the first layer of security.
The second measure was based on if the Sith tried to take the ship. At the first sign of aggression, Capistan could hit a button on the bridge console, jettisoning the crate and the keys inside into hyperspace, jettisoning them into a place they would likely be lost forever.
A warning for Avaryss and her party to behave.
Again, it had been unnecessary.
She had accepted all these safeguards with a smile.
The colonel had nothing to worry about.
The Sith had no intention of betraying the Survivors, not yet at least.
As for the measures themselves, they showed that despite his growing trust in them, Capistan was smart enough to trust his Sith allies only so far.
That fact showed that the man was not stupid, only a fool would have trusted a dark lord blindly.
Her respect for the old soldier was rising in leaps and bounds.
On some level, she was starting to like Krys Capistan. He was…
"They lost a child, did you know that, master?"
Avaryss blinked. Zay had not spoken, but her words entered her master's mind just the same.
The dark lord smiled.
Our connection has grown stronger, or perhaps…the keys are enhancing it. I woke them up, and, they woke Zay's potential, most interesting.
"Isn't it though," Zay responded with a thought.
Avaryss almost laughed.
She would need to be even more careful with her thoughts now.
"Why?"
"Because to be wary is to be smart, apprentice, now…tell me more. How do you know this about Capistan?"
"You did ask me to get close to him, didn't 'cha? Duh."
"Don't be insolent," Avaryss responded with a frown, "Now…spill."
"It happened about ten years ago. Capistan and Locke were on a mission together. She had been feeling ill that morning, but discounted it, thought it nerves."
Zay shivered in the Force, excited for the next part.
"The colonel planned and led the mission. They were both SIS agents at the time. Things…went bad. Locke was shot, a blaster bolt in the side. He got her to safety, but…when the medical droid was checking her out later…"
"She had been pregnant?"
"Yes, the child didn't survive. Neither of them had known, it…caused a rift between them. The Colonel blamed himself."
Avaryss nodded.
Yes, she remembered now.
Locke, when she had been injured, had mentioned a baby, how it wasn't Capistan's fault, she had heard her. She had begged Fenn to help him understand.
So, that was it.
The dark lord winced.
As someone who wished to be a mother herself, she could only imagine how painful that loss had been.
Poor souls, Avaryss thought, a horrible series of events, with no one to blame, but both blaming themselves, and thinking the other blamed them.
Most interesting.
She would need to consider this, see how to turn it to their advantage.
"What advantage, my lord?"
Zay's words reminded her that their minds were still connected.
Avaryss almost cursed.
She put up her mental shields, she needed to do that more and more around Zay.
The girl was powerful, and growing more so.
It would be years before she would have the knowledge and skill to challenge her, but she would need to be more cautious in the future.
Beware your apprentice.
The game would only grow more dangerous as time went on.
Avaryss was excited.
The game…was fun!
She lowered her mental shield now, but slowly, carefully. She would have to screen her thoughts, grow used to doing that. Opening herself up to her apprentice only when she wanted the girl to respond.
Much as Darth Feer had done with her during her training.
Feer…the man had done so effortlessly, at least it seemed that way to her.
Her respect for the vicious old Kath Hound grew.
The degree of control he must have had to screen his thoughts from her, while being able to contact her from almost anywhere in the empire.
Astonishing!
"What happened next, apprentice? Continue your story?"
"Not much left to tell, master. The two broke off their engagement. Locke left SIS and became a commando trainer for the Republic fleet. Capistan stayed with SIS. Until being drawn into our plans, of course."
Zay frowned.
"Master. I…I feel sorry for the Colonel. Is that wrong?"
"No. Pity has its uses, as long as you don't let it stand in the way of your quest for excellence. Why do you feel sorry for him?"
"He should have been a very different man. He…has an artist's soul. I've…I've seen his drawings; he is very good. He could have been a great artist, but an abusive drunken fool of a father forced him to turn his pen and pencil into a blaster and vibroblade. It…it is a bit tragic, my master."
Avaryss considered her words.
An artist, huh? Interesting. Zay's analogy about trading his pen and pencil for weapons was an apt one.
Now, Krys Capistan used the battlefield as his canvas. His soldiers and ships were his brush and pencil. If half the files she read on him were true, he was still a great artist.
He painted in the blood of his enemies. Commendable.
As to his origin, she understood that too.
Feer had taught her to understand.
"The abuse of authority figures can be transformative. We both understand that."
"Yes," Zay replied, thinking of Ankar, the man who had owned her before entering Avaryss' service.
Avaryss frowned.
Yes, they had both known abuses, and abusers.
Feer had enjoyed his student's suffering a bit too much. Zay suffered under her training, but it was never for her master's amusement, only to teach the girl how hard the galaxy was…
…and how a Sith had to be harder.
"I wanted to be singer."
The thought caught Avaryss off guard, Zay's musings.
Zay gave her a sad smile.
"I dreamed that my voice would free me from my bondage, that someone wealthy would discover me, see my talent, and buy me from Master Ankar, buy me and free me."
"What then, Zay?"
"I would travel the galaxy, perform for everyone. My songs would…transform people. I would light up the stars, and my songs would be remembered forever, a legacy that would remain as long as there were those to hear it."
"You will still have that," her master promised, "Your songs will reshape the galaxy, they will guide my armies, and bring terror to our enemies. You will carve your name into the stone of the galaxy. The Sith will honor your name, and the weak will fear it."
"Yes, my master."
Zay looked at her, her green eyes burning. A craving for power, and a hate for their enemies.
Avaryss smiled, approvingly.
Despite what she said, the girl realized the futility of her childhood dream.
A singer? Right.
It was more likely that Ankar would have sold her to some pleasure house when she was too old and grown up to serve him. Her voice and beauty would be smashed in such a place. She would fall into despair and who knew what sin. Zay's end would have been equally cruel. Killed by some customer, or overdosing one day on some substance meant to kill the pain, only to kill herself instead.
A sad pointless end for someone gifted with such glorious power.
No, the Sith was the only way that Zay would know true freedom.
The Sith…would make her a goddess among the mundane.
She…would be a terror to those that opposed them.
A shiver of excitement ran down Avaryss' spine.
She could hardly wait to find the last two keys, to finally spring her trap for the survivors.
She was eager to return to her house, and begin her war of vengeance, a war against…everyone!
The Zakuul would be the first to be annihilated. She would show no mercy to the emperor's mongrels. They would be exterminated, down the last child. Their droids and eternal fleet would be absorbed into the House of Avaryss.
She would then turn her attention to the Sith Empire. Her peers would pay for underestimating her. She would squeeze the empire by the throat until it accepted her rule. All those that laughed at the farm girl from Oridanna would pay, they would be crushed beneath her heel. In the end, they would bow to her, realizing that she, the grandchild of the emperor, was the rightful heir.
Then…the Republic would fall, the Jedi would be hunted down and destroyed, and the Sith would rule the galaxy!
No not the Sith, she realized, the House of Avaryss!
Her progeny would rule for the next thousand years!
Her heart pounded with excitement.
With Fenn at her side, and Zay as her apprentice, and Shadowhand, no one would oppose her.
No one!
I will save the galaxy, she realized.
I will be its greatest hero.
The one who brought order after countless millennia of chaos.
They will fear me, and then…
…they will love me.
IOI
Avaryss was on the bridge when they finally emerged from hyperspace. She watched as the stars stretched and returned to winking lights in the distance.
A green and yellow world floated before them.
A shiver ran down the dark lord's spine, even from here, she could sense the dark side on this world. It was a place of shadow and malice.
She smiled.
And it had all started with her.
The command crew stared out at the world. Tara Valenthyne and Krys Capistan could not feel what she felt, but the two Jedi that accompanied them…they surely could.
Temmin shivered, his pink skin color lightening as he looked out, and upon the dread planet.
Master Onnothone'Sui hooted as his cybernetics accessed whatever information he sought.
He blinked and recited mechanically.
"Vennoa-Skaii. Accessing Republic and Jedi database. Jungle terrain, evergreen and fungal growths primary among the local flora. Native species, the Kaii, degree of Force sensitivity, above average. Hostility level, eight. Jedi database…"
"I'm familiar with this world, Master Onno," Avaryss interrupted him.
She gave him a cold smile.
"Thank you, for the reminder."
The Rodian cyborg fell silent, hooting quietly to himself.
Avaryss glanced at him, feeling a sense of…relief.
That should have been me, she thought, and would have been had she surrendered to Terrog.
She shook her head.
Terrog.
May he never find rest.
She had been surprised when she had learned the Rodian's story. How he had ended up the way he had.
Like her, he had fought Darth Terrog's apprentice, the machine that was left after the mad Sith had twisted Fehl's body to serve him, and like her, Fehl had injected Onno with the same retro-virus that had nearly killed her.
Had Terrog succeeded, she and Onno would have been partners, Terrog's mouthpieces to their respective governments. Mindless extensions of the being that thought himself above light and dark.
Yet, they had both escaped that fate when Terrog had been killed on his station, his soul bound to a crystal to suffer in eternal torment.
A fate too good for the man by far.
Onno, like her, had discovered what fate had in store for him, that his brain was failing, even as his body improved beyond normal standards.
Like her, the Jedi had not let the virus beat him. He had come up with his own solution to his failing mind.
Avaryss respected that, though she would not trade places with him for a second, no.
The thought of limiting her mind, blending it with a droid brain, the very idea was repellent!
She was a creature of flesh and passion, all you had to do was ask Fenn.
He would tell you.
She pursed her lips.
She had wanted Fenn on this mission, but Master Jas had rejected his request to volunteer. His former padawan had been through much, and needed time to reflect.
Had Jas Dar Bynn realized the changes in his student, the changes beyond his eyes?
He shouldn't have worried; she was taking good care of Fenn. Sometimes…twice a night.
Fenn, certainly, had no complaints.
Master Jas had to know that Fenn and her were sharing a blanket now, and doing much more than that, truth be told.
If the old fool thought to save Fenn, he was far too late, at least, in her eyes.
Fenn knew what he wanted, it would only be a matter of time until he finally threw off the last trappings of the Jedi, and accepted who he truly was now.
It was only a matter of time.
"Nice place," the colonel growled from the co-pilot seat.
"It is perfect," Avaryss assured him, "The dark side presence will mask the keys while we perform the ritual, and if any come searching afterward, it will confuse their senses. All that we will need to do then, is beat whoever else might be looking to the locations of the final two."
She smirked down at the old soldier.
"And since we already know what we are looking for, we have a slight advantage, slight, yes, but just enough to insure victory. We…"
The comm panel beeped loudly. Tara Valenthyne blinked and looked at the readout.
"We got comm traffic on the surface. Krys…they…they are Sith transmissions!"
Avaryss blanched.
Sith?
Impossible?
Capistan gave her a suspicious look.
"Avy?"
"They are not mine. I assure you. I had no idea that any Sith would be in this part of space, much less hiding on a Republic world."
"Tara," Capistan said, "Have they detected us?"
"No," the pilot assured him, "Uncle Jas had me upgrade the Heart's sensor suite, that was the only reason we picked up those transmissions. We're too far away for a ground base to have seen us. They could have picked up our hyperspace ripple, but…"
She checked her instruments again.
"I'm not detecting any ships in orbit, no fighters rising to check out our entry point."
She gave the colonel a nervous smile.
"These Sith might be hiding, they don't want us to notice them, any more than we want them to notice us."
The colonel nodded.
That will change if we try to land. They will pick us up if we get closer."
He looked at Avaryss again.
"You sure you have no idea what these Sith are doing here?"
"None, Colonel," she answered honestly, "Few knew about this place, the team I sent in to secure the dark side nexus we need for the ritual were of my house, and my house alone."
He considered that, glancing over at Temm.
"She is telling you the truth," he assured the soldier.
"Thanks, Temm," Avy replied.
The boy shrugged, a sheepish look on his face.
The Colonel sighed.
"I don't doubt it, or you, Avy," he said, "I'm a pretty good reader of people. You were as surprised as we were when Tara said we had Sith on the surface."
Avaryss eyes narrowed.
This…it complicated matters.
She could reach out with the Force, try to determine who was down there, but if they knew her, they might try to claim the price on her head, or seize the keys for themselves.
Neither outcome was ideal.
She tried to puzzle out who might have thought it a good idea to hide here? Her mission to Vennoa-Skaii had been known to few, many of whom were now dead. Darth Baras slain by his apprentice. Darth Feer slain by her. Sy Dar Bynn killed by Xen. Beric had known about it, but this didn't feel like him. It didn't feel like a trap. He had been here once, sure, but if this was a trap to catch her, where were the Sith forces? Acina wouldn't have been stupid enough to send such a small force. Where were the warships to open fire on their entry point.
No, this didn't feel like a trap set by her dear brother.
No.
So, who was down there?
"Can we hide the keys," Temmin asked, "Make sure that another Sith can't sense them?"
"I could," she answered, "A masking spell isn't difficult."
She could also put the keys back to sleep, she thought, though she didn't want the Survivors to know that, but what did it matter if they did now.
If another Sith killed her and claimed them, it wouldn't matter, would it?"
She looked at the Colonel again.
"I leave this decision to you, Colonel. I didn't know anyone would be here. If you wish to call the mission off. I will respect that decision. I'll find another world to perform the ritual on."
The old soldier cursed, running his hand through his dark greying hair.
He cursed under his breath.
"Tara, where is the location that Avaryss wants us to land?"
She brought up the coordinates on her board.
"They are on the night side right now, Colonel, but so is that Sith base."
She gave him a nervous look.
"Too close if you ask me. We might want to leave. Try another world, like Avy suggested."
The colonel didn't respond, he was thinking, weighing risks.
Taking the keys out were a risk, trying it twice might attract unnecessary attention. They had been lucky this time, but…
"Temm?" he asked, "Any thoughts or opinions?"
"I'm not afraid, Colonel," the boy said, "It is not like we are helpless."
"True," he said, turning to Onno.
"Any suggestions? That computer you got upstairs have any solutions?"
"Planet-side we have the advantage," the Rodian said, "My squad stands ready to assist."
Avaryss frowned.
Squad?
They had no troops, just cargo containers in the Stolen Heart's cargo bay. She had seen them. She…
She reached out with the Force, realizing in that moment her mistake.
Ah.
What she thought mere cargo containers were anything but. She had heard something else about Onno's history. He was a droid smith, and commanded a company of war droids during the last war…
War droids, that were now powered down in the hold, twenty-four in all.
More than enough to defend them on the planet's surface.
Again, Avaryss' respect for Capistan grew.
He had not come unprepared, and had compensated nicely for the losses they had suffered on Tatooine.
Finally, the colonel turned to Avy.
"Any chance you can use the Force, determine if these Sith are enemies?"
She chewed her lip in thought before answering.
"I can try, but in reaching out, I will reveal our location."
"I can get us out quick if I need to," Tara Valenthyne promised them both. "The Heart was designed for situations like this."
Avaryss considered both points.
She didn't like the idea of trying this on another world. They took a chance moving the keys this far.
Another trip might be pushing their luck.
Finally, she nodded.
Neither choice was good, but what could they do?
I'll do it," she said, "but Captain Valenthyne should be ready to get us out of here."
"No prob, there, Sith," the pilot assured them.
"Do your thing."
Avaryss took a deep breath, and reached out. She followed the tendrils of dark side energy, letting them go down in the planet.
Searching…
Searching…
She took a deep breath, and…
She twitched her head, slightly.
Her lip curled into a sneer.
She sensed something surprising. Not just one, but two presences she recognized.
Now, she knew how those below knew to come here.
She should not have been surprised.
Avaryss withdrew her probe without being noticed, at least she thought she did.
"Bring us in closer," she advised, "I need to speak with the beings in charge down there."
"You know who it is?" the colonel asked.
"Another bad credit, colonel," she responded, "One who keeps turning up, whether I want her to, or not."
Tara Valenthyne looked at Colonel Capistan. The old soldier considered the Sith's request, and, finally nodded.
The captain did as they asked, they drew closer, close enough for the base or any satellites it may have launched to detect approaching ships.
Avaryss picked up a comm headset, and used the Force to tune the transmitter to known Sith frequencies.
She hailed the base below.
"This is Darth Avaryss of the Dark Council. Respond immediately, I would have words with the lord in charge."
Silence answered the call, but then, Avaryss had not expected a quick answer.
No doubt the Sith officers down below were rushing around, trying to verify what she had just said.
True, her council designation was not quite true anymore, but it would be enough to scare the average imperial into doing as she asked.
The soldiers were trained to obey the council without question, former member or not, it didn't matter.
The council's name carried great weight.
The minutes ticked by, tension began to grow on the ship, even though scanners showed that nothing suspicious was happening on the surface.
Avaryss began to wonder if she had overplayed her hand.
Perhaps the Sith down below were calling for help right now, if so, they needed to leave, before…
"Unidentified ship," an official sounding voice called out over the comm. This is Lieutenant Kray of Threnody base. Please verify your identification code, Councilor Avaryss."
The dark lord sneered.
Threnody?
Cute, girl, very cute.
Avaryss sent her ID code, once again, it was out of date, but the base officer likely didn't know that, not if he accepted her as a member of the council.
Again, a brief pause. Then…
"Welcome, Councilor," the Sith lieutenant said, "This is an unexpected pleasure, we are honored by your presence."
"You can skip the formalities, lieutenant," Avaryss said dismissively. "I wish to speak with the Sith in charge, could you get her for me."
She heard a sound, like a nervous cough.
"We are currently in our night cycle, my lord. Her lordship has retired to her quarters with her mate. She asked not to be disturbed."
Avaryss almost laughed.
A mate?
Really?
If it was who she knew it was, she was most surprised.
She didn't think her former student interested in taking mates.
Avaryss leaned forward.
"Ask yourself this question, lieutenant. Would your lord be angrier if you disturbed her evening, or if she missed the opportunities I bring. Tell me, what would make her more angry?"
Again, a sound that might have been a gulp of air.
"I will contact her at once, my lord. Please stand by."
Avaryss smirked and stood up straight.
Oh how she had missed handing out veiled threats to imperial officers.
Such things were mild entertainment among the powerful of the empire.
It felt like a homecoming of sorts.
Krys Capistan looked over his shoulder at her.
"I take it that conversation was the verification of what you hoped for?"
"Indeed," she replied.
"We're receiving landing coordinates," Valenthyne informed them, "And a request for her lordship here to meet with the base's commander."
The pilot looked between the soldier and the Sith.
"Should we proceed?"
Avaryss nodded, but looked at the colonel again.
He looked at the pilot and nodded.
The Stolen Heart made for the planet, following the landing signal.
Avaryss leaned back, readying herself for the reunion that was awaiting down the surface.
She didn't think things would turn violent, but then again, her meeting with Phylon shouldn't have turned violent either.
She would have to remain vigilant.
Capistan held her gaze, she gave him an arched look.
"I hope you know what you are doing, Avy."
She sighed.
"So do I, colonel."
"So do I."
IOI
The Stolen Heart came out of the clouds and approached the Sith outpost, the base was lit by half a dozen landing lights.
Avaryss frowned at the sight.
Well, at least she understood why no fighters had risen to challenge them, or at the very least escort them in.
The base was one of the mobile models, the same type as the one she had destroyed on Tatooine years ago. This one…was not in much better shape.
It had power, but of its three landing bays, two were dark. Its armor was scorched and pitted, showing signs of both explosions and blasterfire.
Bases of this type had four bridge mounted turbo lasers, only one tracked the incoming ship, the other three were slagged, or missing.
"Looks like you were right, Captain Valenthyne," Avaryss said, "This base is a hiding spot, it would not survive a frontal assault, this, I'm sure."
"That doesn't make this place any less dangerous, Avy," the Colonel reminded her, "Desperate people can do stupid things."
"True," she agreed, "But they can also fall on their knees and submit to one they think will help them out of their desperation. That is what I hope to offer. I will speak with the base commander; then we shall make the journey to the ritual site and be away from here before anyone is the wiser."
"You hope," Capistan said.
"I WILL do this, Colonel, but, if it turns out that I'm wrong. Keep the security measures on the keys ready. I will not have what we have worked so hard for be lost because the whims of a desperate Sith."
"Counter measures are charged and ready," Tara Valenthyne assured them both.
Avaryss nodded.
Very Good.
"I'm going to cast a concealment spell on the keys, make sure they aren't discovered on accident. I will make sure no one boards the Stolen Heart."
She turned to Onno.
"I trust your friends in the cargo hold are ready if things go bad."
"We are ready," the Rodian nodded, his eyes seemed to be staring off into the distance, but the dark lord thought she heard a shifting sound beneath them. Droids powering up, and going into standby mode.
Again, she was pleased.
Avaryss had always enjoyed working with professionals.
The Survivors were definitely that.
"Do you wish for me to go with you?" Temm asked.
"If you wish, but it is just going to be me talking to the base commander. It is not going to be very interesting."
"I'll come anyway," the boy said, "You and Zay might need back up."
Avaryss smiled, but inside, she was cursing.
She would have preferred to speak openly with the base commander. Temm's presence would complicate matters, but…
It would also put the Survivors at ease.
As she had thought earlier.
Now was not the time to betray anyone.
The survivors still had their uses.
She would be patient.
The time would come.
"Come along then," she said, "You can keep Zay company."
The boy nodded and rose from his seat.
The Stolen Heart skimmed over the tops of the giant mushrooms that made up the forest here. The base's central hangar was lit, its fighter racks empty, with only a few armed shuttles and uglies (cobbled together ships) berthed there.
As the Heart entered the hangar, and settled lightly on the landing pad, a small honor guard formed up before the ship's boarding ramp, a collection of Sith soldiers, and a motley crew of pirates dressed in everything but Sith uniforms.
Avaryss was intrigued.
What was this now?
Now she really wanted to see what was going on here.
She made for the boarding ramp. Agony, Xen, and Zay were already there, waiting.
Xen frowned.
"Am I sensing who I think I'm sensing?" she asked with a frown.
"Yes," Avaryss replied.
Her executioner's eyes narrowed.
"You should take her head off the moment we leave this ship," she advised, "She could have sought you out, as I did. Returned to her duties, but instead, she has been hiding here. You should punish her for her cowardice."
"I may just do that, Xen, but first I wish to hear her side of the story. That will determine how hard my blade falls."
Xen sniffed.
"She has no loyalty. I, at least, returned to your service."
Avaryss resisted the urge to sneer.
Xen wanted her child back, and the chance to be reunited with Beric. She desired that, what Avaryss possessed, that wasn't what she would call loyalty.
Still, Xen was here.
That was more than the one that was awaiting at the bottom of this boarding ramp.
She could sense her now, her and one other. His presence surprised her, but maybe it shouldn't have.
The two had worked together in the past, why wouldn't he seek her out, or, perhaps, it had been the other way around.
She would ask, see where things went from there.
The hatch hissed as the boarding ramp lowered. Avaryss took a deep breath, taking in the smells of the recycled air of a Sith base.
Ah.
She missed that smell!
Xen and Agony went down first. They took up guard positions on opposite sides of the ramp, filling in for Sith guards.
Temm paused as Avaryss stepped forward. Zay took his hand in hers, and gave him a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry," she whispered, "I'm here."
"Thanks," the half-blood replied.
Avaryss said nothing, focused on making the best possible impression.
She needed to be power personified.
If she was anything less, they would likely not have a prayer.
At the base of the ramp, standing before the new arrivals two familiar faces dropped to one knee.
The first was a Devaronian female, her skin as red a Sith blade, the black spots where her horns should have been stood out starkly on her bright skin. Clad in black the robes of the Sith, with a tri-corned shaped miter on her head.
She looked every bit the Sith she was.
She bowed her head, but her yellow glowing eyes were open, her white teeth showing, her cruel mouth stretched into a wide feral grin.
The young man standing next to her looked as slovenly as Avy remembered, his dark hair longer, his jaw covered with a two day's growth of patchy beard. His uniform coat three sizes too big, with its sleeves rolled up.
He was a captain in the Sith navy, she knew that, she had granted him the commission herself, not that he looked the spit and polish soldier, but then again, he never had.
She smiled.
Despite everything she was glad to see him again, happy to see he had escaped Acina's nets.
Avaryss stood before the two, she waited a full twenty second before addressing either.
Then, she smiled.
"Arise, my friends."
And so they did, these two, once part of her inner circle.
"Howdy, Boss," Mister Thranton Rink said with a wide grin, "Good to see you again."
Avaryss smirked.
Mister Rink, her personal pilot and driver, and companion in several dangerous adventures.
She was happy to see him again.
"My master," the Devaronian hissed, "Welcome to Threnody base."
"Necris," Avaryss said with a slight bow.
Her former student smiled.
"Darth Necris," she corrected, "I was granted the title a year ago."
Xen snorted.
"And who would be so foolish as to name you Darth?"
Necris glared at her former fellow apprentice.
"Darth Synestra," se replied, "She was making me a Darth before sending me out on a mission against the invaders."
Avaryss frowned.
Darth Synestra?
As in Synestra Feer?
"Lady Synestra named you a Darth?"
"That is being so, my master," Necris answered, "Before she was sending me into a trap. The commander on this base had been given orders, he was being rewarded if my death was assured."
The Devish grinned.
"He failed, but the base was being damaged in an ambush. I have been hiding here ever since. Me and my fellows, those being still loyal to you, my master."
Necris bowed her head again.
"We are awaiting your command, my lord. We are being your humble servants."
Avaryss smirked.
That…remained to be seen.
She looked at the young men and women wandering the deck, those not dressed in Sith uniform.
"And these?" she asked.
"My contribution, boss," Rink said, "You told me, before you left, to recruit among the lost and angry of the galaxy. Most of them are here, but a few small groups are bunkered down in both Sith and Republic space."
He stood a little straighter.
"Mission completed, boss."
She nodded.
Again, very good.
It was strange, most of those loyal to her had switched sides, or fled.
The fact that Rink had not was telling.
He had done well.
What she didn't like was how he cozied up to Necris, and how she glanced at him with…affection.
What an odd paring those two were, she thought, but she did remember that Necris had showed interest in him years ago.
Rink had lost the girl he loved. He had killed her when she had tried to kill Avaryss on behalf of a machine cult she had joined.
Rink's turning to Necris, taking her as a lover, surprised her, but maybe it shouldn't have.
He had known Necris for years, maybe he simply took comfort in her presence.
Maybe.
"It seems we have much to talk about, Necris," Avaryss said, "I need to know about what is happening in the empire right now. Acina has made Synestra a Darth?"
"And raised House Feer anew," the Devish informed her, "The lady has remarried, and…there is much more you must hear."
"I'm most eager to hear," she said.
"Then follow us, if you are being so kind," Necris said with a motion, "My quarters are this way."
As they turned to leave, Rink finally noticed Zay and Temmin.
He chuckled.
"Hey boss, your serving girl has gotten big, well bigger, and why is she carrying a lightsaber, and who is the half-blood?"
He smirked.
"You trade the girl to the boy for his service? Wasn't sure your little slave was…was…URK!"
Avaryss paused and turned.
She could hear the dark side roaring in her ears.
Rink was up on his toes, his hand at his throat, gasping for breath.
Zay stood next to Temmin, her hand raised, her thumb and forefinger pinching together.
Necris gasped. She had known Zay, briefly before everything had fallen apart.
"Master! Your slave! She is being…?"
Zay shot the Devish a cold look.
"I am no slave!" she hissed.
Rink continued to strangle. He looked at Avaryss his eyes almost pleading for help.
Agony looked at Avaryss awaiting her to intervene. Xen, who enjoyed the suffering of others, watched with hungry eyes.
"Zay?" Temm said looking at her, his expression worried.
He didn't want to see Zay become a killer.
He didn't realize she already was.
He looked at Avaryss, he knew she would stop if ordered.
Avaryss waited.
Zay grinned.
"I'm no slave," she repeated, her words directed at Rink.
"Say: you are sorry."
Rink gasped, his face turning red, soon it would go blue.
"Zay?" Avaryss said.
"He will apologize," The girl insisted.
"He can't if he can't speak, apprentice."
Zay, realizing she was right, loosened her grip, but not by much.
Rink coughed.
"Yes," Zay said.
"Suh…suh…so…reee!"
Zay nodded, and let him go.
Rink tumbled to the deck, gasping and coughing.
Necris looked at the girl with cold loathing in her eyes.
Zay glared right back.
The Devish looked her former master.
"Apprentice?" she asked, "This girl is being your new apprentice?!"
Xen cackled.
"There have been many changes, Necris. If you had actually come back to serve our master; you would be a part of them."
Necris glared at her.
"Silence whore!"
"Kriff you, necrophile."
"Enough, you two," Avaryss hissed, "You are proper Sith now, both of you. Try to act like it."
Both of her former students muttered an apology.
Zay and Temm, in an interesting show of cooperation helped Mister Rink to his feet.
He coughed and rubbed his throat.
Zay smiled sweetly at him.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
He nodded, and managed a smile.
He tried to appear nonchalant, but he looked upon the girl with a bit of fear.
He glanced at Avaryss.
"You didn't tell me the kid was Force sensitive."
"I didn't know at the time," she informed him.
"And now, you do," Zay said brushing at Rink's coat straightening it for him.
"Please try to remember."
Rink nodded.
He would not speak so rashly around Zay next time.
The dark lord was pleased.
She let Necris guide her, with the rest of her party forming up around her.
Avaryss looked around the base.
Yes, she thought.
Everything was coming together, but she also had questions now, questions that needed answering.
Darth Synestra?
House Feer was rising again?
She needed to know more.
She hit her wrist communicator, informing the Colonel aboard the ship that things were under control.
Temm was no doubt doing the same.
Avaryss frowned slightly.
The galaxy had moved on while she had been in hiding.
She needed to know how, and quickly.
Those that could not keep up would be left behind.
She would not be among them
This was her galaxy now, or soon would be.
She would not be left behind.