Chapter 59: The Fall

"Was THAT an atomic?!"

Fenn looked in the distance, the mushroom cloud rising from what had once been the Feer's fighter terminal.

His brow furrowed.

What the hell was Forn's men doing?!

They didn't need to use atomics to put the Feer family's fighters out of action!

He turned to Major Locke, a look of horror on the old sniper's face.

Having fought during the first war, she had seen many Sith atrocities. Atomics used to destroy military targets had been fairly common early in that war, or so history said.

When the Sith had first returned, and took Korriban, they had struck hard at Republic targets in the surrounding systems, most they took intact, with overwhelming numbers of troops and droids.

Others were wiped away, just as that fighter terminal had been.

He shook his head.

He couldn't believe Avy would have wanted that?!

Those fighters could have been used against the Zakuul. The pilots and technicians too.

This isn't about the war, a shadowy voice in his mind seemed to say.

Feer has threatened Avy's power. Shamed her before other Sith.

She cannot let that pass.

If she wished to rule…

it CANNOT pass!

He didn't have time to think about it, none of them did.

The Survivors were engaging the main troop barracks, tying down the ground forces that could have come to the aid of those in the main complex.

They had no time to question the motives of their allies.

The barracks opened, a Sith officer stepped out, flanked by troopers in jungle climate armor…

The sniper's rifle barked once…the blast catching the officer in the left eye, sending him falling back into his own men.

That had been the signal.

The Survivors opened up, their blasters cutting into the emerging enemy.

Grenades exploded near the doors, scattering the few troops who had made it out. Easy prey for Locke and the other snipers.

Fenn frowned.

This was not much of a battle, but the Survivors had yet to fully replenish their losses, and besides…

…this was not meant to be a battle.

House Feer was not meant to survive this.

The realization didn't please him.

This was not the proper work for a Jedi, it felt like…an execution.

Jedi were not executioners.

Yet, had they any real choice? House Feer had been watching them, using Avy, they likely knew more than they should. If that information should slip back to the Sith Empire proper, and from them…to the Zakuul…

No, this was not proper conduct for a Jedi, but it needed to be done.

The mission had to come first.

The Survivors couldn't afford the enemy to know too much about them.

Locke's rifle coughed again, another Sith trooper fell.

Fenn took a cleansing breath, and drew his lightsaber.

Like it, or not, they were committed.

Fenn had been surprised how easy it had been to breach this world's security, but, as Lana had said in their last briefing, slipping in was the easy part. House Feer's greatest security was their anonymity. No one was meant to no they were here.

Why would anyone attack a world where no enemy was visibly present. It was not much different than Survivor Base…

The comparison didn't fill Fenn with comfort.

If the Sith or Zakuul knew where Survivor base was…

…things would not go well for the Survivors, not if they were caught at home.

He tried not to dwell on that.

For now, Survivor Base was secure.

Right now, the battle needed to take precedence.

On the way down, the Colonel had spoken briefly with this Major Forn, the Sith officer that Avaryss had asked to aid them in this attack. They had agreed on a three-pronged attack. The Sith attacked the fighter terminal, while the Jedi and Survivors dealt with the reinforcements.

Master Jas, meanwhile, had taken two of Master Onno's war droids and was even now making for the geothermal power station on the island. By dismantling that station, long range comms, and any heavy weapons like turbo lasers, or missile launchers would be disabled for their escape.

Before this night was done, House Feer would be no more.

The Force sent a tingle down his spine.

He looked up, spotting a Sith among the troops, clad in the armor of a Sith Marauder. The warrior drew his crimson blade, blocking blaster bolts, and making for the closest group of Survivors.

He ignited his lightsaber, and leapt down to engage the enemy.

Blue and red blades flashed as Fenn drove the warrior back. He could sense the growing fury in the Sith, just as he could sense his power increase, realizing who he faced.

Fenn was not scared.

He knew about rage too.

Only he didn't need to completely give into it to use it.

Once he would have met this threat with a Jedi's calm and faith in the Force.

Avy had shown him a new way to attack.

He came at the enemy in a place in between light and dark, drawing on both passion and serenity.

The Sith warrior tried to back off, he tried to attack two Survivor soldiers that were drawing fire from the Sith troopers. He wanted to slay them and use their dying despair and pain to make himself even stronger.

Fenn cut him off.

He snarled with his own restrained fury as he outmaneuvered his opponent. He slipped under his guard, as the other man's blade passed over his head.

The Jedi's blade flashed out, cutting the Sith from left thigh to right shoulder.

He fell in two pieces.

Before the body even hit, Fenn came to the aid the soldiers. He blasted the attacking Sith troopers with light side lightning.

He…he tried to keep his calm, but on some small level…

He was starting to like the screams of his enemies.

He knew it was wrong, not the Jedi way…

…but…

…he couldn't help it.

He took another deep breath, trying to remember his training. What Master Jas had taught him.

No.

He would not give into darkness.

He took up a defensive position near their men, drawing the attention of the Sith troopers.

"I have your back, master."

Temmin's blade flared just over his right shoulder, the half-blood padawan wove his weapon back and forth, cutting off more enemy fire from reaching the others.

Fenn was grateful for the boy's presence.

He…he was starting to fear that he was getting lost. His connection to Avy was changing him. He had hoped that he could change her, yet, it seems she had beaten him to the punch.

He had not given up though, not yet.

He still believed in her, still believed she could be what she said she wanted to be, an enlightened Sith, one who accepted that there were other paths in the Force, that the dark side was not the only way.

He needed to believe that.

Because…if he didn't…

His eyes narrowed.

Perhaps it was already too late.

Maybe…he had fallen already, and was too stubborn to accept it. Maybe…

No, he wouldn't do that!

He couldn't do that!

Master Jas was counting on him.

Temmin was counting on him.

He would not simply give up, or give in.

He was still a Jedi.

He refused to accept that he had lost that part of himself.

He would NOT give in!

Another Sith officer, newly emerged from the bunker went down, catching a blast in the head from Locke.

Fenn's eyes narrowed.

So far, so good.

Surprise was theirs.

He reached out with the Force, trying to get an idea of how things were going for Avy.

Through the Force, their connection was chaos, a churning sea of shadows.

He nodded grimly.

It felt like his love was busy too.

He wished her well.

He knew some of what House Feer had done to her.

He couldn't blame her for her desire to see all that come crashing down.

Be brave, my love, he thought.

But be safe.

Yes.

Please be safe.

IOI

Avaryss roared like a rancor on the hunt.

Her blade flashed back and forth, blocking attacks from two different sides.

Synestra had come to the aid of the Warmaster, igniting her own weapon. The lady's crimson blade flaring as she joined the attack.

Avaryss met their attacks, Soresu, and Rain's power, giving her the speed and skill she needed to hold them both back.

On their own, she could have defeated either fighter easily. Lady Feer was no frontline fighter, too much time sitting around and scheming, and not working on her saber techniques. Feore was old, his experience made him dangerous, but his age limited what he could do.

One on one, she could have dealt with either quickly. Together…they were proving to be a problem.

She snarled and doubled her efforts.

It didn't matter.

She would not lose!

She COULDN'T lose!

"MURDERING WITCH!" Synestra howled.

"MY HUSBAND! I WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD!"

Avaryss back pedaled she leapt away from the two, giving herself some breathing room.

As she came down, she gave the lady of the house her most wicked grin.

"Oh, my lady," she said mockingly, "I…I can't imagine how you must feel right now. To watch the one you love die in front of you. To know that your home…your entire future is dying before your eyes…"

Avaryss' golden eyes narrowed.

"No," she purred, "Wait…I DO know how you feel! I first experienced that feeling ten years ago. When your family's enforcer came to my home. I can still see his face, that bored expression, it was tedious for him, exterminating your lord husband's enemies."

The dark lord sneered.

"Tedious, Synestra! He destroyed MY world! Everything I was and might have been! Is it any reason I turned to the dark side in THAT moment? That I found the rage to destroy him and everyone with him, at a time when I had no experience and no training!"

The Warmaster and the lady tried to come at her from both sides. They were attempting to surround her.

She didn't let them have that chance.

She flung out her hand, open palmed.

Synestra took the brunt of the Force push, her shields didn't hold completely.

She flew back, tried to turn her flight into a roll, but again, her skills were amateurish clumsy, she came down wrong on her shoulder, and cried out in pain.

Feore tried to strike, but her blade was there. She whirled it defensively. She let Soresu take her in its grasp. She fell back, Meeting the old one's attacks.

She could sense his exhaustion, after almost two centuries, the old pure blood was not used to this type of exertion.

She glared hatefully at him.

"How many apprentices did you betray, old man? How many did you allow Darth Feer to convert into his puppets."

"I served my house, girl," he spat back, "My oath was to serve the son, as much as it was to serve the father, my friend."

"A friend that the son and his wife murdered," she reminded him.

"My friend had grown tired, drifted towards weakness, new blood was needed to preserve the House."

"Exactly," she hissed parrying a decent overhead strike, "And the son had started down the same path as his father, that is why I eliminated him."

She shook her head.

"You should have accepted that. You should have told me about these copies of your master."

"Lord Feer would not have wanted that."

"FEER IS DEAD! HE WANTS NOTHING! I was the lord of our house; you owed it to me to tell me everything. By hiding this secret, you BETRAYED me!"

Her fury flared, it, and Rain's battle meditation gave her the strength she needed…

What she needed to win!

The old man was the hand that guided House Feer, guiding her late master, she decided he deserved to lose them, both hands.

She took them with a flick of her wrist.

As he stared down at the cauterized stumps, she whirled once, twice.

His eyes widened with pain and shock.

Feore Mon's head fell from his shoulders, fell and bounced around the floor.

His body toppled, his torso falling to the right while his legs fell to the left.

Avaryss glared down arrogantly.

Thank you for your years of service, old one.

Now…be gone.

She turned once again, Darth Synestra was back on her feet.

The name made her sneer.

Darth Synestra?

What a joke!

Acina had been a fool naming her such!

Synestra regained her feet, clearing favoring her left shoulder, even as she dropped into a fighting stance.

She glared at her rival.

"You won't be able to do it!" the lady spat.

"A gutter rat like you will never rule the empire!"

"We will see," Avy smirked, "Now, before you end, you are going to tell me. How many more Feer copies are running around this place?"

Synestra glared and raised her blade.

"Tell me what I want to know!" the dark lord roared, "You are no match for me!"

"FOR FEER!" Synestra shouted, charging her husband's former student.

Avaryss was in no mood to play.

She was tired of this game, this comedy of lightsabers!

No more!

She caught her in a Force grip, and lifted in her in the air.

Synestra had had no defense, she tore through the older woman's shields easily.

The lady of House Feer gasped for breath, suspended a meter above the ground!

The dark lord clenched her hand, drawing deeper on the Force, and crushing the other woman.

Synestra cried out.

In that moment, Avaryss remembered her first few days as a member of House Feer. Back then, she had been less than nothing, the realization that Feer had manipulated her from day one, had shattered her confidence, it had taken months to build it back. During those troubled times, Feer had treated her as a common servant. She had served as his cup bearer for the first month, standing by while her master regaled his friends with the tale of his victory over her, how he had manipulated her into becoming his student. Most of her master's allies had applauded his cunning. They saw her as a fitting prize for such a brilliant and powerful Sith.

Only Synestra had not approved, in fact, she attacked his choice whenever she could.

Synestra had thought her husband a fool for bringing her in. To the lady of the House, Avaryss had been a stray, some pet her husband had brought home, one that she found beneath her notice.

Well, the dark lord thought, I'm not beneath her notice now, am I?

Synestra writhed in the air, trying to free herself.

Avy sneered, enjoying her struggles.

"I say again," she repeated, "How many more copies are here?"

Again, her late master's wife said nothing.

Avy was surprised at the resistance the woman showed. She could not hope to oppose her enemy. Her powers too weak for that, at that moment, she only sought to block her, deny her what she needed to know.

Her Force shields were pathetic, almost as pathetic as Bael had been in the end. Several taunts came to mind, but in the end, she realized they were pointless, and a waste of time.

Avaryss shook her head.

Never mind, she thought.

I'll find out for myself.

She tightened her grip, her hand curling into a tight fist.

The bones in Synestra Feer's body snapped as blood sprayed from her nose and mouth.

Avaryss let the body drop.

She had hated Synestra for a long time, had dreamed often of her end during her apprenticeship.

Now, though, Avaryss had come to a realization.

Meeting Jeer and Blyss had changed her.

She now understood why Synestra Feer had done what she had done.

The dark lord had desired to be a mother, and now…thanks to her master, she was.

That desire had caused her to be sympathetic to the woman last time, which is why she survived the purge of House Feer, the one immediately after Avaryss' victory.

It had been a mistaken, that, but not that mistake had been corrected.

Synestra was gone, and once the other copies were dead, so would be House Feer.

Its fall would be complete.

Once the lady had been a torment, now she looked small and insignificant, a broken doll beneath Avaryss' feet.

The slights that Synestra had leveled against Avy tried to rise up, but she rejected them.

They…It no longer mattered.

It was trash, just like the broken body at her feet.

It was…nothing.

The Dark Lord stood alone, the sounds of battle still ringing in the corridor. Xen, Beric and Abominus engaging the few household guards.

Avaryss took a brief moment, to revel in the power of the dark side, enjoy a revenge so long denied.

Yet, it was not as sweet as she had hoped.

This didn't feel like a victory, it felt like…mere house work. She was not a warrior, but a maid, cleaning up a dirty room.

She shook her head.

Pathetic!

Had she wished such a role, she should have taken the offers that Talitha had made to her years ago.

Thinking of the past…her family, made the dark lord wince.

Even after almost a decade, even after tossing away the life that had been Keera Lylos', Avaryss was still haunted by grief, and the two most dangerous words in the lexicon of questions…

…what if.

"You still think of them?"

She didn't bother responding.

"Does that surprise you, my apprentice?"

Rain didn't answer, perhaps considering, weighing her words.

She need not have bothered.

"Do I still think of my family? Yes. My father, Pamir, and Anj, their lives were snuffed out, most ignobly."

The dark lord shook her head.

"How could I NOT think of them?"

"But isn't it a distraction, master? Such thoughts…"

"Tell me, girl," the dark lord interrupted, do you not think of your mother, even now? Is it easy for you to toss aside what she was to you?"

Again, no response, what could Rain say?

" I miss her, still," she confessed, "Is that wrong, my lord?"

"No, that loss, that rage still drives you, do not seek to let it go, but use it. It…that rage is a path to great power."

She sensed acceptance from her student, and that wasn't all.

Avaryss arched an eyebrow.

"You have something for me?"

"Yes, my master," Rain replied, "There are three more Feer duplicates, my lord."

Hearing that, got the dark lord's attention.

She turned.

Rain stood before her, her lightsaber in hand, but not ignited.

Avaryss looked down at her apprentice.

"Three?"

The girl nodded.

"The older one got away, same with the mundane girl. I felt his thoughts, there are two more like him somewhere in this place."

Avaryss nodded.

Again, she envied Rain her power, how quickly and easily she plucked what she needed from her enemies' minds.

The dark lord nodded.

The cleansing was not done.

The fall was not yet over.

Avy still had work to do.

"You should remain here, with Xen and the others. Your meditations are still a valuable tool for us."

She smiled wickedly.

"I will finish off the remaining pretenders, find the key, and retrieve my children."

Rain pursed her lips.

"Master, do not kill all the Feers outright, if you brought one to me, I think I might be able to enter his mind, and retrieve this…power he has, this ability to copy himself…"

Avaryss frowned.

"Why would I care? Such ability is beyond me."

"It is NOT beyond me," the girl replied, " I could USE that power. Why should such a talent be lost? It IS a Sith technique, one that might prove useful for future generations. You could store the lesson in your holocron. You ARE the rightful Dark Lord of the Sith, shouldn't all Sith powers be YOURS to command?"

The dark lord almost laughed.

Despite the flattery, and all the: "It should be yours," assurances, she could see through her student's façade.

"You crave this power for yourself?"

The girl paused.

"Don't seek to lie, or try to butter me up, speak plainly, please."

Rain frowned.

"I do," she confessed, "Why shouldn't I possess it? It will make me that more valuable to you, and to the Sith."

"There are other ways to make copies of yourself," Avy assured her, "The doppelganger spell, for example, if I possessed the right materials, I could create a double from the dark side alone. It would be me in every way, but contain only half my strength. Useful, if I needed to be in two places at once, a unique parlor trick, but that is all it is."

Rain remained unconvinced, if anything, Avaryss could sense her frustration.

She almost smirked.

The girl believes that I'm trying to deny her what she wants. It frustrates her that I might let such a power pass her by, without trying to preserve it.

The realization pleased the Sith master.

Good.

"Tell me, Rain. Do you believe this power might give you an edge when you finally challenge me? You are barely into a year of your apprenticeship, are you already seeking a way to oppose me? Are you already thinking of ways to destroy me?"

She was curious to hear the girl's answer. Would she stammer? Try to deny it? Would she claim that she wouldn't dare attempt such a thing?

Again, the girl chose her own path.

She smiled.

"Isn't this how my apprenticeship ends? I still have so much to learn, my master. I would not be so foolish to challenge you now, but five years from now….ten years from now…who knows."

The girl's smile widened.

"As for my desire, why not? Is it not wise to cultivate my power, the stronger I become, the more valuable I am to you. The more that I can do, the better I can serve you, aid you in your quest to seize the empire."

Again, Avaryss was pleased.

Rain wasn't denying her ambitions, but was honest enough to admit that she was, at least, considering how their relationship would end.

Rain understood that if she wished to be the master, she would have to seize that title when the time came. She accepted both the risk and the responsibility of being her master's student, just as Avaryss had accepted the dangers and responsibility of being her master and teacher.

It was good that they could be honest with each other.

Honesty should be rewarded…should it not?

"I will try to preserve one of the Feers," she said, "I promise nothing, but I will seek to leave enough so that you may claim this power for us."

Rain beamed.

"Thank you, my lord."

Avaryss nodded.

The girl was pleased, but…

Yet, again, she sensed disquiet in her student.

"Master…these children of yours?"

"I've already told you my reasons for wanting them, Rain. We will not discuss this again."

Avy could still sense the girl's concern, the worry of being replaced.

Sadly, she wasn't the only one who could sense this disquiet.

"What is this, Farm Girl? Dissension in the ranks?"

They both turned. Abominus stood in the doorway, her glamour again in place, though blood now ran down her chin, and covered the front of her shirt."

Blood that was not her own.

Avaryss gave her an arched look.

"From one of the guards," the monster clarified, "Slightly higher Force potential, but not as satisfying as one of those false Feers."

"Escaped you, the older one did, huh?" the dark lord asked.

"For now." The monster hissed.

Rain snorted and turned to the beast.

"There is no dissension between my master and I. I was merely asking a question."

"Such questions can be dangerous, young one," Abominus warned her, "I know, Avy. Her desires go beyond the wishes of others."

"The children are no threat to my apprentice," she informed both Abominus and Rain, "They are tools, useful ones."

She focused her gaze on the monster.

"If you are good, I might just give you one."

The monster's eyes lit up.

"As a student of your own, Abominus, not a meal," she clarified, "You still desire to claim your father's holdings, yes? A powerful apprentice at your side could be useful in putting any would be challengers in their place? Am I right?"

Abominus hissed.

"You are not wrong," she admitted, "Still…"

The beast smiled.

"I would rather have food than a student."

"Do not let your appetites blind you, Nessie. Is instant gratification so important, or being able to claim as many meals as you desire? As a lord, you could slake your hunger, and enrich your palate, provided you remain in control. A monster you may be, but a wise monster can have far more than some basic beast, remember that."

Abominus considered that, and finally shrugged.

"Can't argue with that logic, Farm Girl. I will…accept your offer of a student. It could be interesting…"

In more ways than one, Avaryss thought.

She already had a line on Taya's family fortune, why not create one for Nass's family as well?

Why shouldn't she indulge her own greed?

Why not move Blyss or Jeer into such a position? If Abominus is successful in reclaiming her house, then one day…one of her children would claim it, after the monster lay dead at their feet.

Again, a valuable tool these, these dear children that Feer had created…

Why shouldn't she use them?

Xen and Beric joined them then, both showing signs of battle. Xen's cheek was scorched, likely from a blaster bolt, and Beric's uniform was burned away in some places, his sleeves wet with blood from the blades that were a part of his refrigeration suit.

So the squad was still in one piece…good, the Dark Lord mused.

Again she turned to Rain, reaching out with a gentle hand, and stroked the girl's cheek.

"Serve as you did on Lehon, child, bring me the final key."

"As you say, my lord," the girl murmured.

She straightened and looked at the others.

"Abominus, go with Rain, ensure that no harm comes to her. Beric and Xen, with me."

The Dark Lord's look turned predatory.

"Three more Feers remain in this place. They need to be stamped out."

"Yes, master," Xen said with a bow.

"As you say, sister," Beric said, his voice a little strange.

Avy gave him an arched look.

"What?"

"It is nothing, sister."

"Clearly not, speak your peace, brother."

Beric straightened.

"The…the last time you killed a Darth Feer, my mind was not my own. I cowered behind the man that murdered our family. That was…wrong, I can see that now. In his own way, Feer was responsible for Talitha betraying us."

She could feel it in that moment, the cold rage inside her brother, far colder than the suit that kept him functional.

"I want to watch the last remnant of him end, sister. I want to see all that he has built crumble before him. I…I want to see him destroyed!"

She laughed lightly.

"You will have that, and more…my brother."

As she turned, her commlink beeped, not the one keyed to the Survivors' frequency, but the one to her Sith troops.

She raised her gloved hand to her eyes, and answered.

"Yes?"

The holo sprouted from her wristband. The image of a Sith trooper appeared, standing at attention.

"My lord," the voice was cold and flat, slightly altered by a voice changer.

"KT-E01 reporting, my lord."

Avaryss nodded. The leader of her elites, and captain of her new royal guard.

"Report," she said.

"The fighter terminal is gone. We are now moving across the island, engaging all Feer loyalists, our entry remained a secret it seems, we have taken the locals completely by surprise."

Avaryss smirked.

Captain Cooper's people had done well, she had to admit. She still hated the man for some reason, but he did do good work.

"Continue to engage the enemy, she ordered, "and monitor transmissions. Target one: Darth Feer is still loose, do not allow him to reach a ship, if you detect any signals suggesting such, contact me, and then intervene…he must not be allowed to escape."

None of him, she thought, she didn't bother telling the elite commander of the copies, there was no need.

The Knell Trooper elites wouldn't care anyway, they would do as they were programmed and trained.

They WOULD kill their target.

We have detected Republic transmissions as well," the trooper added, "Shall we engage?"

"No, those should be considered friendly, for now. Avoid detection if you can, if any do approach you. You are here at the request of Major Forn, who sends his regards."

"As you say," the trooper answered.

The trooper didn't end the transmission, it…paused for a moment.

"Is there a problem?" Avaryss asked.

"No, my lord…it…we just picked up another transmission. Known Jedi Jas Dar Bynn is on the surface."

"Yes, so?"

Again a pause.

"Trooper?"

"It…it is nothing my lord, KT-E01 out."

The transmission ended.

Avaryss stared at where the hologram had been.

Hm?

What was that about?

She realized the others were still watching her, she knew it unwise to show any weakness before them.

You have your duties, see to them," she ordered, and turned to head down the nearest corridor, Xen and Beric in step behind her.

Avaryss frowned.

She could sense her children nearby, they…it…it felt like they were unconscious or asleep.

That would make it easier to track them, yet the danger was not passed, not yet.

She still had three false Darth Feers to hunt.

A dangerous prey to be sure, she had caught the first one unaware, the remaining three would not go down as easy, she suspected.

Again…good.

This whole affair still felt like house cleaning, she was getting no real charge from the destruction of House Feer.

Maybe his three doubles could change all that.

She reached out with the Force, and sensed that something more was going on, or perhaps…coming up.

She let that sensation guide her.

Perhaps there was more going on than merely the fall of her enemies.

Perhaps with that fall, a rising would begin…

…her rising.

She smiled wickedly.

Of course, first thing was first.

The children, and the last three copies of her former master.

She would not hesitate, not this time.

Feer had ruled long enough, both his house, and over the minds and wills of his duplicates, his failed apprentices.

Now that was done, she would deal with them, and free herself at long last from her dead master.

She was not worried; her time had come.

The dark side would prevail…

…and…in the end…

She would as well.