Once the Void Hammer was prepared for a strike, Jadus and Atiel's path led to Zakuul, their next destination. A world shrouded in mystery and overshadowed by the immortal Emperor's influence now went through a crisis. People lost their faith after all their gods fell, they had no one to turn to but themselves, and many were simply not used to this. They used to have a glorious protector who would always shield them from despair and save all of their souls. Many people looked to Doran Mart, the Seventh Paragon, to become this new figure for them, but the truth was that Doran sought such a figure himself. Someone with far more power and resolve, someone who could guide Zakuul to a brighter future. He chose Jadus, a Sith Lord who was willing to become an ally, allowing Doran to rekindle his own faith.

When Jadus's shuttle landed atop the Paragon's penthouse, Doran and his elite guard were there to meet him and Atiel. The Agent could only hope that he would not be as pathetic as Aster was.

"Archon Jadus!" Doran spoke with admiration and excitement as he laid his eyes upon the duo. He bowed respectfully, as Zakuulan customs required, but he was able to maintain his composure. Doran was an old man whose main strength was politics and negotiation, and yet after Exchange came to claim Zakuul, he was one of the first people to openly protest against them and gather a large following. "I see you've brought Ninth Siren with you, too. I'm glad to meet you both. Zakuul isn't a very welcoming place right now…But I will make sure that you don't notice it at all during your stay."

"Have you received our message about the prisoner?" Jadus asked.

"Lord Scourge, you mean? Yes, I have. Who would've fought that the former Wrath of our Immortal Emperor could fall so low…But that's the sign of changing times, I suppose."

"Indeed." Jadus acknowledged. "Zakuul needs a strong message, and you know which one." He said sternly, making Doran let out a nod of agreement."

"I'm with you, Archon, until the very end. You've done a lot for Zakuul; if not for your resources, this war would've been lost a long time ago…And I will never forget your kindness."

"They prove your dedication. Take Scourge prisoner and await my instructions. Tomorrow, we will broadcast Scourge's fate to Zakuul, and everyone will watch and see that the age of gods is over. That they are free to forge their own destiny, unburdened by control and short-sighted power struggles. Your people will be free, and soon, all of the galaxy will."

"I dreamt of this day for years…I know mere words aren't enough to thank you, Archon, but I am truly grateful. I never expected an outsider to be the one to give us hope in this hour, yet I admit that I was wrong."

"You had your reasons to distrust me. Besides, it's better to save the gratitude until we've set our plan in motion."

"And before we forget…" Atiel interjected. "We know that you housed two…Fugitives that my lord and I sought." As she reminded Doran of his failure, the grimace of shame emerged in his eyes. "Why didn't you stop them?"

"I tried, I swear! I even managed to wound Vaylin with Voidcaller and almost caught Cassian, too…But when it came to seeing them again, they had me at their mercy. I could either do what they demanded or die…I'm sure you can understand my choice."

"I can understand it, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to question your dedication…"

"Enough, Atiel." Jadus's calm yet standing voice echoed in her ears, making the Chiss hold herself back. "What's done is done; bickering only wastes our time and energy."

"I…Of course, my lord, I'm sorry."

"Let us focus on the task at hand." Jadus changed the topic and looked at Doran. "We will sever Scourge's force connection tomorrow; as for now, I expect you arranged a proper welcome."

"That I did. Follow me, Archon Jadus; there's a private dinner waiting for you and The Siren."

…

Atiel knew that nobles always kept up with the highest standards of hospitality, yet Doran managed to impress her. He led her and Jadus through the halls of the highest level of his luxurious golden spire, eventually showing them a terrace with a captivating view that made Atiel open her mouth in awe. It was a view of the Eternal City from one of its tallest buildings, allowing its vast expanse to seem like something so small and insignificant Atiel could grab it in the palm of her hand. And, of course, there was a table filled with the most exquisite meals of Zakuulan cuisine, a welcoming gift from Doran. The thought that this man put so much effort into appeasing his guests, not having the slightest idea of the fate Jadus had in store for him.

"Anything else you need?" Doran asked.

"That will suffice. You can go." Jadus responded.

Eventually, Doran left to tend to the prisoner and prepare him for tomorrow, allowing Jadus and Atiel some privacy. They did exactly that, using this opportunity to try out some of the meals. It felt surreal, sitting in front of her master during an even so casual. Atiel spent months by his side, and yet they rarely got a free moment like this, not with endless days of plotting and strife.

"Ahh, delicious," Jadus said as he took a bite. "I must give it to Zakuulans. Their olives are by far the best that I have ever tasted. And you, Atiel? Did you find anything you fancy?"

"Honesty, this feels too…Posh, I suppose. Would've preferred something simpler, like a wampa steak." The woman explained.

"I always considered them too crude for my tastes." Jadus looked at the bustling and majestic city beneath them. "I imagine some of them would be willing to kill to have a dinner like this. Only some…Until tomorrow. From then, everyone who survives will pray for a chance to ever taste something so delicious again."

"We've come far, my lord." Atiel smiled and said in a supportive tone.

"And that earns a small celebration in itself."

"I don't know…We should hold off the celebration until Zakuul is cleansed."

"Not in the mood?" Hearing those words from Jadus could make anyone unnerved, even Atiel. "Then let's make a single toast, one in your honor."

"M-my honor?" Atiel's voice trembled. "My lord?"

"Is it so surprising? You played a key part in the success of my eradicators and ascension among the Dark Council. You carried out my will without hesitation, even when I was distracted by other matters. You remained loyal even after my disappearance and liberated me from the jaws of Nathema. I would not have gone this far if not for you."

"I…Thank you, my lord."

"You are a perfect example of the kind of person that will survive in the new galaxy. You have no forced gifts or privileges; you only have skills that you have learned through hard work and dedication. In the new world, those self-righteous Jedi and deranged Sith would fear you…Because without force, they are nothing. But you never needed it, not to make them feel true despair. Cheers."

Both of them drank the crimson wine in celebration of approaching their final goal. Atiel could feel tears of pride forming in her eyes, but she had to hold those back, as now wasn't the time, not when they still had work to do.

"And you, more than anyone else, deserve to see my triumph in this doomed world," Jadus said with pride.

"A perfect choice for a first target; now Zakuul can finally feel the pain they inflicted on the galaxy themselves."

"Yes, and besides, their force-sensitives are unique. A nexus between light and darkness where only their loyalty and dedication to their world and leaders grants them the gift of the force. From a certain point of view, they have everything when it comes to force powers. I don't expect that many of them will be able to achieve the perfected state of being, but I am open to surprises." Sometimes, her master spoke cryptically, though Atiel had no doubt that it wasn't out of any intent to hide information from her, but simply speaking in terms that others didn't find as clear as he did. Still, Atiel knew him well enough to know what he meant.

"You mean those force-sensitives you saw on Nathema?"

"Yes. They are an inspiring group, and I have to admit that they changed my perspective quite a lot…But I don't regret it; if not for those years, I would've still been blind to the truth."

"Do you think others would be able to become the same? To break through the Void's barriers and reclaim the force."

"Most won't, and I don't expect them to," Jadus said dismissively. "Only the strongest, only those who proved themselves worthy by surviving in a broken world without force, will have their gift back." Atiel knew it full well. The Void Hammer had two modes, one for the Voidcaller and one for general destructiveness. The kind that would cause a cataclysm similar to eradicators. Cantor and his fleet agreed to spread across the galaxy and formulate a chain that would spread this blast across countless populated planets, even those like Coruscant and Dromund Kaas. They didn't know about the second blast, believing that the plan was simply to eradicate the force, but Jadus would not stop at that. He wished to create conditions in which one could only survive, not live. "I will do what Darth Traya could not; we will inflict a wound that will take centuries to heal, and by the time it happens, the galaxy will be a changed place. A powerful place, the one where fear, despair, anger, and hate are used as weapons. A world of true Sith ideals."

Atiel was the only person with whom Jadus shared the full extent of the plan, but there was one recent alteration to its course, something that Atiel couldn't quite understand or accept, no matter how hard she tried.

"And Vaylin? We need her to make sure those conditions last. Can I take it?" The Chiss asked with slight suspicion.

"Indeed, I explained her purpose already, didn't I?"

"Yes, my lord, but I wonder if she's necessary. Isn't the Void Hammer and Cantor's fleet enough to create a galaxy-wide void."

"Every plan needs an insurance, and Vaylin is mine. After we create the Void, we will lure her to Iokath and chain her again. This time, I won't hesitate to use any methods to hollow out her mind, perhaps even replace her conscience with one of Iokath's artificial intelligence, if that is possible. Then, she…No, it will be my weapon, the one that is able to consume life on planets and create a Void anywhere I send it. It would surpass even Vitiate in power and yet have none of his selfish desires, a symbol of a new age."

"Hm…"

"You doubt?"

"Forgive me my boldness, but if our main weapon in the new world will not only still have the force but be the most powerful force-sensitive being in existence…Then, it's not a world without force. Not truly."

"And what are you implying."

"That using Vaylin goes against your ideals, my…Argh…" Suddenly, Atiel felt pain in her neck and an inability to breathe, no matter how desperately she tried to grasp for air. Jadus lifted his hand and amplified the force pressure, making Atiel shake and grab her throat, all while wheezing and grabbing what little air she still could. Those were a few seconds of agony and utter shame, but soon, she felt Jadus releasing her. Atiel took a deep breath as she was finally able to grasp for air.

"My ideals are inviolate. Do not question them again." His voice was stern and commanding, making Atiel feel her heartbeat increase.

"Y-yes, of course, my lord…I'm sorry." She responded meekly.

"Good. Now, clear your throat and have a drink; this may be your last chance before our final war begins."

Atiel breathed out and looked down in shame. How could she do this…How could she think she had the right to question him? Lord Jadus was merciful, and he granted her another chance despite this insolence. It was up to Atiel to prove herself worthy, whatever challenges awaited.

…

Cassian never thought this moment would truly come. He spent so many years trying to bury his anger and disdain, trying to move on to a better life and become a bigger person. He thought that he wanted his parents to watch as he rose to success without their guidance and influence. For a time, he was content with it, but after realizing what Dezuno had done, there could be no forgiveness. He put on a friendly face to weaken Odessen, to allow Jadus to conquer the planet, and to kill Jaesa. He must have known that Jadus would not spare his son, considering Cassian's position, and yet this changed nothing. He did not care for his son's wellbeing. Even though Cassian left the family, took a new name, and was no longer a 'stain upon their bloodline,' this wasn't enough for Dezuno…And if that was so, simply letting go would not be enough for Cassian, either.

The peace in the estate was interrupted the moment Vaylin crushed one of the durasteel doors; with her force powers, this didn't take any effort. There were two guards on the other side, yet Vaylin was swift to crush them with the plucked door. As expected, there was no alarm signaling invasion. The duo stepped into the golden hall, which immediately made Cassian hesitate. He remembered this place…Those emerald ornaments that colored the walls and doors, this immaculately clean crimson floor with a lush carpet covering most of it, all of this reminded Cassian of the privilege he supposedly had. Yet the pain he suffered at the hands of his parents, every single time he fought back and pretended not to care that his father called him a failure, a disappointment…All of this was enough to turn this place of royalty and richness into a nightmarish prison, to make Cassian prefer not having a home at all to living here. Cassian felt his hands shaking; even the grip he had on his lightsaber weakened.

"Are you alright?" Vaylin said with caution.

"Yes…" Cassian took a deep breath. He needed to focus on the battle. This would be difficult, and there was no other way, but this was no reason to hesitate. There was still one final battle to win.

"Urgh…" Cassian's musings were interrupted by a lone coughing guard who managed to survive the attack. The Chiss immediately grabbed her with force and brought the wounded woman up into the air.

"Where is Dezuno?" He said coldly and with emerging disdain, slowly tightening his grip. "Where is he?"

"The…Conference…Chamber…He is with…The council…"

"Wonderful!" Cassian smiled and snapped the guard's neck. "If she didn't lie, then Father is probably holding some council meeting deeper in the estate. That means he, mother, and their vassals are all in one room."

"We won't kill them too quickly, will we?" Vaylin wondered. "I know you're in a hurry, but…"

"When we get there, I will show you my parents. Then, aim to kill everyone except them."

"Want to rub some salt in their wound?"

"Of course, who'd waste an opportunity of a lifetime like this?"

"I'll make sure to make a good impression on them; that's what the best girlfriends do, right?" Vaylin blurted out playfully before noticing Cassian's confused look on her. The Chiss loved hearing this sweet, lovely word; it made his heart skip a beat, yet this wasn't the time, and he couldn't reciprocate the feeling. Vaylin noticed this, too. "Oh, I don't mean I'm…Ah, forget it, let's just kill them all." The woman shrugged and said lightheartedly.

As soon as the two of them stepped into the next hall, they were met by an ambush. Cassian heard a distant echo of a shot and noticed a small violet shard emerging from the shadows. Vaylin felt it, too, and the two of them jumped back, allowing the shard to be torn apart as it collided with the floor.

"Not a step further!" A loud voice echoed from behind the opening passage, the duo's path was blocked by a group of Chiss sharpshooters, no less than a dozen.

"Very bold of you to assume you can stop us with some guns," Cassian said with pride, sensing how some of them had their knees shivering from terror. They knew who it was before them and just how much power he controlled. There was no chance for them to leave this hall alive, and Cassian didn't plan on giving them hope. "Bring twice as much, and the result won't change!"

"OPEN FIRE!" One of the Chiss shouted, making the soldiers unleash an entire array of Voidcaller shards at them. Just before they could reach the duo, Vaylin raised her arm and forced all of them to freeze. She let out a prolonged, demonstrative yawn.

"Pathetic."

Vaylin forced the shards to revert their course and pierce the Chiss' rib cages, disorienting them and forcing them to drop their weapons. The few seconds of pain and hesitation were more than enough for Cassian and Vaylin to rush into the fray and annihilate all the enemy forces.

By this point, both Cassian and Vaylin were feeling the joy of the moment. With each hall they passed, with each enemy they killed, the feeling of triumph became stronger. The guards did everything to resist, threw grenades, used more Voidcaller, hid, called for reinforcements…It always ended the same way. First, Vaylin would submerge the entire hall within force lighting along with all their enemies. The lucky ones died immediately. Others couldn't feel their limbs, sensed the agony scorching their organs, their every movement forcing them to go through agonizing suffering. Some still tried to run and call for reinforcements, but not a single one made it out.

There were some guard droids, too. Six of them attempted to attack in a synchronized manner, opening endless fire upon the duo. Vaylin was the first to react, creating a powerful force aura around her and Cassian, soaking dozens of direct shots at the same time. The shield didn't break, but the droids' continuous onslaught left some cracks.

"Damn…YOU!" Vaylin shouted from a sudden surge of pain and unleashed a shockwave that arose from Vaylin's aura. It annihilated all the droids, tearing them apart, but she didn't stop there. Vaylin's power was so uncontrollable that she managed to tear apart two closed walls, scorching them and leaving nothing more than a pile of ash.

"Careful, now!" Cassian shouted.

"Relax, I'm not going to get us buried, I just want them to feel some nice seamless stress before they die."

Before Cassian could respond, he noticed someone. A small group of Chiss sitting in a small room behind the wall Vaylin just destroyed, shivering and weeping in despair. They were mostly women, but with some men and children, all stayed close to each other with only a few daring to look at the threat with tears streaming down their eyes.

"Please…Mercy! We won't tell anyone…I beg you!" One of them spoke in a broken, horrified voice.

"Oh look, we missed some," Vaylin said lightheartedly and with some feigned tiredness. "Chiss, Chiss, and more Chiss, wherever we look…Even Arcann didn't have that many cockroaches in his room."

"Stop," Cassian said sternly. "They are just maids and servants, not even armed."

"So?" Vaylin wondered, making Cassian pause and look at those servants.

"We will let you run, and if you know what's good for you, you'll run as far away from the estate as you can. And do not dare warn any guards or lords…If you do, I will kill every single one of you. Slowly, limb by limb. Understood?"

"Y-yes…Thank you!"

"Then go already."

There were still some things Cassian considered far too grotesque to engage with. They didn't hurt him or side with the conspirators, they were just unlucky enough to work here. The armed guards were the same, in many ways, but with their Voidcaller-infused weapons, there was no point trying to hold back when fighting them. Even Vaylin remained silent and the servants ran, perhaps that's exactly how she felt about the thought of hurting children.

"Let's go…We're close."

…

After a dozen of halls, the duo finally reached the Conference chamber. Even after all those years, Cassian remembered where it was. It was a place where all clan leads gathered and chatted the course of the family's development, sometimes of the entire Copero. He was supposed to sit there beside his parents one day, an honored representative of his family, but that chance has long since dissipated. Only vengeance and wrath remained.

When Vaylin tore the door apart, Cassian finally witnessed the chamber. A dozen Chiss, all sitting at the table looking at him with their eyes wide open and full of primal terror. The two that sat furthest away were a man and a woman wearing golden robes, the ones Cassian focused on as he watched his victims.

"De…Delaoso?" The woman's lips quivered as she spoke with faint hope. And then this smile of relief…After all they'd been through, she still dared to smile.

"Hiya." Vaylin waved playfully.

"Everyone but those two." Cassian pointed at Dezuno and Demawre and said in a morbid tone. His lightsaber and Vaylin's lightning only needed a few seconds to turn those politicians into an array of corpses falling off their chairs and their limbs flying around scattered. Now, there were only four of them in the room, with both of Cassian's parents looking down in shame.

"Stay back…" Dezuno looked at his wife. "I'll handle it."

Cassian looked at Vaylin, too, about to say something, but she was quicker.

"Don't worry, I'll let you have your fun, your parents, after all…Bot, you allowed me to have fun with my mother, but I'm in a generous mood today."

"Thank you," Cassian said quietly and turned towards Dezuno. He could end his father's miserable life at any moment, but he didn't want to rush it. He wanted to look him in the eyes, the eyes of a hateful, cowardly man who poisoned his own son with self-doubt that forced him to go through inhumane methods and cruel experiments. The one who only cared for his own image, never for the wellbeing of his own son.

"You really need better security here, father. It was way too easy. You'd think by now our people learned that the Ascendancy's planets aren't safe from our 'tainted kind.'" Cassian chuckled as he approached Dezuno, but his father remained silent, all confidence gone from his ashamed face. "Nothing to say to me, really? You were way more eager the last time."

"What do you expect from me, an apology? Want me to beg you for forgiveness even though we both know that you won't let me live? And I see you didn't even have it in you to come alone…You could've done better than this psychotic whore."

Moments after, Dezuno let out a mortifying scream and fell to his knees. With a simple movement of his hand, Cassian broke his father's arm with force.

"Dezuno!" Demawre shouted with horror, about to run towards him, but Cassian pushed her back.

"Shut up!" He snapped before looking at his father again as he was shivering and clutching his broken arm."

"Do you really…Care that much about her!?" Dezuno said with pain and disbelief.

"I do. And she cares about me more than you ever did." Cassian kneeled down and looked his father in the eyes.

"I know what you did. The spies you brought to Odessen to set the stage for Jadus's invasion, your contacts with Liorel Merr, I know that you're the Eight Lord and that you deliberately helped him hunt me down."

"Ha-ha…I see." Dezuno coughed quietly, not trying to deny it. "And here I thought you just came here for revenge…"

"I tried to let go of you, and you should've done the same. Perhaps you would've lived to see another day."

"Don't expect me to apologize."

"I don't. I just want to know why you did it. Why didn't you just stay on Copero, away from all this conflict?"

"Because…" Dezuno paused for a moment. "Because I want to live in a galaxy without gods." His words echoed an all too familiar sentiment that Cassian heard from Jadus. "Without aberrations and deviant brats like you." He continued, growing more spiteful with each word. Cassian shouldn't have expected anything else; that's who his father always was. "I gave you a chance after chance; you could've renounced the force and become my heir, become the son Demawre and I deserved, but no. You decided to remain this…Spiteful mutant, you even enjoyed it! That's why the force is a plague. Look what it did to you! You could've been among our brightest and most respected leaders, but instead, you were drunk on your own power and believed yourself a god! You thought you deserved this power and that it's a natural part of you…I tried to get you off this path, but you didn't listen!"

"And look where it got me. I'm far more successful than you have ever been. The Empire's Wrath, the Alliance commander…A long list."

"Don't pride yourself! Your force plague and other people got you this far…You never deserved all those titles and privileges, and you still don't. You don't deserve the warm welcome Saganu gave you; you deserve what any other traitor does! I had to remind you of this, to show the galaxy…That our people won't be defined by a force-contaminated runaway…"

Cassian couldn't listen to this pathetic drivel any longer. He took out his lightsaber and immediately decapitated Dezuno, ending his father's life. He could've allowed him to spout this derangement for longer, even planned to…But Cassian didn't have it in him. At this point, he simply wanted to end this. To strike back at the man who abused him and finally allow himself to move on.

"Dezuno, NO!" Demawre screamed and ran towards her husband's corpse. Cassian watched her kneel in silence as tears streamed down her eyes. "Why, Dealoso….WHY?!"

"Do not call me that," Cassian said with dismissive anger. "Did you know, mother? Did you know what he planned against me? That he worked with Jadus and wanted to kill me?"

"I did…I'm sorry, I…I couldn't stop him."

"Always the same excuse, is it?" Cassian mocked her. "Will you say he did this for my own good, too? That I was foolish and naive for…For what? Wanting to live?"

"I'm sorry…"

"I DON'T CARE!" Cassian raged and began force-choking his mother, watching her wriggle pathetically. "You said that I'll come around…That I'll understand why he did it! Why did you support him!" Cassian continued to shout as he stuttered and was unable to hold back his desperate tears. He remembered how he felt as a young boy, betrayed and pathetic, but there was still a part of him that wanted to please them, wanted to be the son they wanted to have, the one they 'deserved.' But he was never destined to be that man, and nothing would change that any longer. After tormenting Demawre for a little more, Cassian dropped her.

"I…Wanted to help you." The woman whimpered. "The only way our society could accept you is if you rejected the force. Otherwise, you'd never be able to live a happy life! I…I thought if…I'm sorry for all the pain we caused you, but there was no other way! You wouldn't listen!" That's all she wanted of him. To listen and become what they wanted him to be. As bitter as the truth was, she didn't care for what he truly wanted, just like his father. It was time to end this.

Cassian raised his lightsaber…But no more.

He couldn't swing it and cut off Demawre's head or pierce her heart. She was so weak, so pitiful, so broken…All it would take was a swift strike, and his traitorous, lying mother would be gone for good. Yet, moments passed, Cassian felt his hands shaking, and he still couldn't do it. Not when every time he tried to focus, a song echoed in his mind…Demawre's lullaby is one of the few calming and relaxing memories of his childhood.

"Will you…Will you kill me, too?" Demawre asked with waning hope in her voice.

"Of course! You stood aside and did nothing while he…While he tore me apart! As he tried to kill me! You deserve to follow him, you…" Cassian's mind wanted to kill her once and for all, but his hands shook, and he hesitated. No…Was this the result of all his Sith training? A moment of weakness? Was he really unable to finish her off because of some perverted sense of sentimentality? No, he had to do this, he…

"Aaargh…" Demawre let out a swift and pained cry as Vaylin's lightsaber pierced the Chiss woman from behind and then tossed her corpse aside, leaving Cassian shaken.

"What…Why did you do this?"

"You were hesitating. I decided to help a little. And I gave you enough time."

"I…"

"You wanted to kill her, right?"

"Yes." Cassian took a deep breath. "That's what she deserved, it's just…I had to be the one."

'Well…" Vaylin said in an awkward tone. "At least we are even now. A mother for a mother."

There was no point in arguing. The deed was done.

Dezuno and Demawre were finally dead.

On their way out, Cassian and Vaylin used the estate's communication system to send out a signal that only Cassian's most loyal allies would recognize. Only then did the realization truly hit him.

Those who hurt Cassian and set him on the path that led him to Sith were gone.