Chapter 56: The Children

Avaryss faced her family, her weapon in hand, in hand, but not lit.

She frowned.

No…not HER family.

These were not of the House Avaryss.

No.

These…were Keera Lylos' family.

Keera Lylos had been laid to rest. The Avaryss that now ruled was not her.

She…

…she was…more.

She sneered at them, the boy and the girl, and Beric.

Did they really believe this would throw her?

Did they really think that this would distract her from her mission?

How foolish they were…no…

…How foolish the Feers were.

She looked at them, the boy and girl, and found herself asking a single question…

She looked at Beric, his face hidden behind the face plate of his refrigeration suit.

"How?" she asked.

"How are they here?"

The boy, Jeer cackled.

"Well, Mommy," he began, "when a boy really likes a girl, and she really likes him…"

She stopped him with a withering glare.

He knew enough to shut his mouth, though a manic giggle did escape his lips.

The dark lord rolled her eyes.

"I know how THAT works, boy. Typically, however, that results in the woman dealing with a youngling growing within her for nine months or so.

She smirked.

"Since, I don't remember carrying either of you. I'm guessing that your origin was not as…mundane as all that."

She looked at the girl, Blyss.

"Care to enlighten me, child?"

The girl blinked her Sith eyes.

"Jeer and I were raised by droids, mother," she said, "We've spent our whole lives at one of Master Feer's mining stations. We were…kept away from the empire proper, little contact with the outside galaxy, save our tutors…of course."

"Tutors?" Avaryss asked.

"Enforcers," Jeer volunteered, "Weapons in Lord Feer's service, to teach us the basics of the Sith."

A poor excuse for an instructor, the dark lord thought.

And…as for the rest, raised alone, raised at an automated mining station?

Droids only, she thought.

A wise choice.

Droids wouldn't talk. They would only obey orders.

Synestra wouldn't have been happy, not while Bael was still alive. She would have seen these children as a threat.

In that, her master had been wise.

As for their teachers, it was unlikely that the children would have grown attached, or the children attached to them, nameless enforcers, shifted around, possible weekly, if not daily. Feer would have been quick to discard them, and why not? They were easily tossed away, especially in the middle of a war. Enforcers were expendable enough. Emperor knew, Feer had his share to expend.

She turned her attention to Beric.

"Did Synestra tell you anymore? I'm sure she was the one who…introduced you to these…children?"

"What makes you think that, sister?"

"The fact that you are here suggests that you are acting on House Feer's orders, and who else would have had access to my genetic material? Much less, who would care to create children of my blood, who but Feer…who saw me…as family."

Beric couldn't sneer, not visibly, not with his faceplate…

…but she could sense his amusement.

"The lady didn't know, not for a long time, not until in the last year."

Avaryss nodded.

Suspicions confirmed then.

Darth Synestra did put these three together, but how did Darth Feer fit into this?

She needed more.

"So my old master created…these…but from where? Why?"

"I don't know all the details, sister. What I do know is that Feer had your genetic material harvested after your…interrogation on Korriban."

Avaryss nodded.

That made sense.

Feer was on Korriban, he had saved her from the executioner's blade.

Why not help himself to some blood and tissue?

She had been unable to complain, or even realize what happened, she had lost weeks, most of those spent in a kolto tank.

He would have had no problem doing such a thing, he had proved that, by what had also happened while she slept. Had he not already taken other liberties. Had he not used that period to sterilize her as well…

…why wouldn't he have taken genetic samples before that was done?

The only question now was…why?

No, she realized.

The real question was…

…where were her Jedi allies?

She could not sense Temmin or Master Jas. Had they moved off, taken their Wookie guide, and were now trying to try to turn this trap to their advantage?

If so, she needed to stall, buy them time.

She could do that.

She needed to do that.

Had Master Jas heard what had passed between her and Beric?

If so, what did he think?

She wasn't sure what to think herself?

Children.

She knew it to be true.

She had TWO children.

Which, of course, brought up another question.

The two were both human, purely human, that was clear.

No pureblood markings, so…

…they were not from Fehl and her.

Human…so…who?

Who?

"Who was the father?" she asked.

Beric shrugged.

"I wasn't told, only that it was a worthy donor, a loyal warrior, more than worthy considering the mother's betrayals."

Avaryss shook her head.

"Is it betrayal in following the Sith imperative? I challenged my master, and won."

"If that was so, mother," Blyss said, "Then…why did you never come for us?"

The girl's brother cackled as he pointed at the girl.

"She used to cry herself to sleep at night, thinking you would come. That we would be taken away and be real Sith," Jeer informed her.

His sister glared angrily, but didn't deny it.

She pinned her mother with an icy look.

"Lord Feer said you didn't want us. That you didn't want to be tied down."

Avaryss frowned.

She had said those words, true, but that was more about marriage than children.

Had she known what Feer had done?

What would she have done?

She couldn't say.

She looked at the two.

"I had no idea you were created, my children, but…I should have."

Jeer sneered at her.

"Yess, you should have."

The venom in his voice surprised her.

She sighed.

"Had I known…I would have come, you are mine…"

"We are no one's but our own," Jeer replied.

Avaryss glared.

"You have no power base, boy, and without one, a Sith is nothing."

It was then that Blyss glared at her, golden eyes flashing.

"And what power base do you have, mother? You have hidden for almost two years."

The girl frowned.

"What gives you the right to talk down to us. You…who has so little."

Avaryss smirked.

The girl had a bit of fire in her…good!

She would need that if she was to grow into more than one of Feer's puppets.

She regarded her "children" no matter their origin, they were now hers.

She would protect them, get them away from Feer, and prepare them. She didn't believe in wasting things that could be valuable.

And then…there was Beric.

She had promised him to Xen.

If Zay could restore his mind, bring back the young man he was before…

He would need to be brought back to Survivor base.

Perhaps she would need to put her plan to kill Jas Dar Bynn on hold.

She would see, there were still many lightyears between here and Survivor base.

So many opportunities for mischief.

She would make the best of all.

Yet, now it was time for the two most important questions.

"Where is Darth Feer, Beric?"

He tensed; his armored posture became as rigid as a statue.

"He is dead, you killed him."

Avaryss almost laughed.

"Don't try lying to me brother, you have no talent for it. Stick to following orders, that is what you are good at."

She glared at the three, demanding answers with her eyes.

"I will ask again. Where is Darth Feer?"

Jeer giggled.

"What would you do if you knew, mommy?"

"Pay him a visit, of course, Son."

"You would attack Grandfather Feer in his home?" Blyss asked frowning.

She glared at her progenitor, Avaryss couldn't quite see herself as a mother, not just yet.

Yet, as tools they might be useful.

Fenn would give her true children, in time, but that didn't mean she couldn't make good use of these in the meantime.

Plus it would take away from Lord Feer.

A win-win scenario as far as she was concerned.

"I thought you a warrior of the empire," Blyss said, "that is what the holos we saw on you said. Where is the honor in attacking your old master?"

"Honor is a fool's prize, girl," the dark lord informed her, "As for the rest, well…"

She smirked.

"Feer has had this coming."

He girl looked hurt.

"Grandfather Feer gave us life," Blyss said, " He had us taught and protected, he…"

Avaryss had heard enough.

"Feer is NOT your grandfather! He believes himself to be a Sith Master, but in truth, all he is, is a cowardly and treacherous maggot."

She could almost see her lord's face again at that moment, he was not in her head, her mental shields were fully up, but their history together came back in bright colorful life.

She needed to make these kids understand.

"Feer, if it truly is him, is not behaving like a Sith Master. Had he survived our final duel. Why has he never attempted to reclaim his place as head of my house? If he was so strong, why didn't he seek me out while I was hidden in exile. From what I've seen outside, he has access to troops, ships, and even had the two of you hidden away."

Avaryss shook her head.

"A true Sith would have sought me out. He would have found me in my exile, and challenged me for the right of being Dark Lord of our family. As a Sith he should have killed me, and reclaimed his place as a master, but did he do that? Did he even try to reassert his dominance?"

She smirked.

" He didn't do that, did he? No. He hid, and waited and watched. Now, when my plans are finally so close to completion, he thinks to just reappear in my life and take all that I've built for his own. He expects me to simply fall on my knees and accept him back as my master."

She shook her head.

"How is THAT proper Sith behavior? How is that the rule of the strong. Where is the strength in letting your former ally do all the work?"

"How is it Sith behavior to hide, and run away?" Beric demanded.

"There is a difference in running away from something and running towards something, Beric. I was betrayed on Pholus. I needed time to gather my strength, and the resources that I needed. In all cases, I have taken what I needed to rebuild my house and powerbase. I've not hidden and hoped that others would deliver everything I needed into my hands."

She again turned her full attention to the children.

"Feer created you, but has he done anything more than that? He had tried to make you into…what? Weapons? Tools to distract me, and force me back into my place? I'm a Sith Master, children. I have grown and evolved. I have my own apprentice now, and am preparing her for the future, to take the reigns when my time of strength ends."

She shook her head.

"What example would I set for my apprentice if I simply fell back into an old role and accepted my place as Feer's student? What example do I set for you? You are of my blood; you deserve more than to be simply pawns in my former master's game."

"HE BEAT YOU!" Beric spat, silencing her.

She glared at him, but let him continue.

"He beat you. We have already located the Sith trinket you came her to claim, it is already on its way to our masters. Lady Synestra and Lord Feer will make good use of it."

"They don't even understand what I wanted the keys for," she spat back, "I will not share my plan with him, nor will I share my final victory. A new dawn is coming for the empire, a resurgence of power. The Zakuul will no longer have us by the throat when I'm through."

She glared at Beric. She was forcing herself to remember her promise to Xen, but he wasn't making it easy.

She continued.

"I will not simply roll over and accept that all I have worked for should now be handed over to a coward who would not reemerge and face me as a proper Sith Master should have."

The realization that he had taken the key had not surprised her, she had not felt it since their arrival after all. How he had found it so quickly though…"

She looked at the children.

"They…they found it for you, didn't they Beric? If they are born of Avaryss' blood..."

"We heard the strange song," the girl volunteered.

"I wasn't hard to follow it to its source," the boy added.

Avaryss nodded.

Again, the Force showed that it was not merely about crude matter.

Even if she was no longer Keera, these had sprung from her shadow.

More proof that they should be hers, and that they must be hers.

She pinned her brother with a withering glare.

"I STILL have leverage over you, brother. You are still mine. You can struggle against the least, but it is still there. You will tell me where Feer has taken my key. You will tell me where he is hiding.

Again she sensed amusement.

"You also ordered me to play the villain in your little charade. That does give me a little leeway in how much I offer up to you. You wished these toys of yours to be in Sith hands. Well, the one we took from here, still is, it is in the hands of Lord Feer, and he will use it to make you kneel. You will accept…"

"Grandfather Feer is on Kraaz."

All fell silent, all eyes turned on the one who had spoken.

Jeer smiled wickedly; his actions having shocked all in the room.

"Brother!" Blyss gasped.

"Boy," Beric shouted, "What have you done?!"

Avaryss smiled.

She should have known.

Treachery was the coin of the Sith.

Jeer laughed.

"She is not wrong, Uncle Beric," he said, "If grandfather is so powerful. Why should he not prove it. He claims to be the superior of our mom, well…let us see him prove it."

"Silence, boy," Beric growled.

"Not another word!"

Avaryss regarded her son.

"Kraaz?"

"A tropical moon," he informed her, " One of his worlds in the Zahn system. Something of a retreat for House Feer. He and the lady are there. Celebrating their reunion."

"Brother," Blyss said, "Stop, you mustn't…"

"Oh, come on, sis. Do you actually not wish to see mother come for grandfather? If he is as strong as he claims. Let him prove it in battle. Let him show everyone…"

"TRAITOR!"

Blades popped from Beric's wrists, long steel things half a meter in length.

He didn't get the chance to use them.

Avaryss pinned him with the Force.

Jeer drew his lightsaber, cackling he turned the glowing blade on Beric.

Avaryss stopped him. She pinned him with the Force as well. She glared at him until he dropped his weapon.

He complied without a word of sass.

She released him.

Her brother was not so accommodating.

GUARDS!" Beric shouted, "GUARDS!"

Alarms began to blare.

Emergence blast doors came down sealing the chamber.

Almost sealing it.

The door behind Avaryss, the one that she entered through remained open.

The sound of lightsabers behind her, drew her attention, she could see the blue and violet color on the cobblestone floors.

She smirked.

"Master Jas? Temmin?"

The Jedi Master appeared, he looked upon the two kids, and the frozen Sith officer.

"Avy…we should go," he said.

Avaryss winced.

"You heard?"

"Most of it, yeah," the Jedi admitted, "We lost this battle, but the war has not been decided yet."

He put a hand on her shoulder.

"We must go now. Rufo has sealed the lower levels, but the guards will be here soon."

Avaryss nodded.

"One thing, first," she said.

She flung Beric down…hard.

He hit with enough force to render him unconscious.

She smiled.

She had promised Xen after all, and Zay could use the practice.

She would have her brother back, her true brother.

"We're leaving," she said, "Temmin pick up Beric please, he is coming with us."

The boy didn't even wait for Master Jas' nodded, he moved to comply.

The two children looked at her.

"Are…are we coming too?" the girl asked hopefully.

"Will…will you take us with you?"

Avaryss gave them both a sad look.

"I will come for you, but for now, you must return to Darth Feer. Make sure that he doesn't flee his hiding place."

Jeer smirked.

"You still intend to face him? You want to take back all that he possesses?"

Avaryss nodded.

"I will not abandon you," she promised, "Now that I know you exist. I will be coming."

Behind them there was a muffled explosion, the guards having reached the chamber.

She frowned.

They were out of time.

She gave the children…her children a longing look.

What would her life have been like had she knew of their existence?

No.

She would not dwell on the past.

They were hers, and she would reclaim them, and all that Feer possessed, and why not?

She had bested him once; she would do so again.

She would not settle for the role of apprentice.

She was a Sith Master.

Darth Feer would learn that soon enough.

"Watch over each other," she said to the children, "I will be coming for you soon enough. Protect each other until then."

The girl's expression turned hopeful; Avaryss' words seemed to be what she had wanted to hear.

"We will, mother," she said, "I promise."

"Bye, Mom," Jeer said waving excitedly, "See you on Kraaz."

"You will," Avaryss promised, "Until then, my children. May the Force serve you well."

"And to you as well, mother," the girl said offering a bow.

"See you soon," the boy said, "Looking forward to seeing your fight with grandfather."

Avaryss nodded, as she turned away, running towards the air intake they had come in through.

The final fight with Feer, she thought.

The FINAL one!

Yes.

She was looking forward to that too.

Until then…she reached out with the Force, touching the minds of the children. HER children.

Stay safe, young ones.

Farewell.