Chapter 64: The Complication
She lay in his arms, lost in that moment between waking and sleep.
Darth Avaryss smiled contently. She was enjoying the feel of him, the thump of his heart, the feel of his skin, and his breath warming her neck.
Yet, it was far more than that. They were truly together in the Force. It surrounded them, and bound them together like a silken tether. Tangling them up until there was no her or him, but something that was both…something…glorious!
She snuggled amongst the sheet, not the silk she had enjoyed back on Dromund Kaas, but this was nice too, made even more so by the company.
For once…she had let her guard down, and it felt good…safe.
A lie, true, but one she wished to enjoy…at least…for a few more moments.
She almost giggled.
This is the way it should be, she thought.
The way it should have always BEEN!
She sighed and moved against him, even now she could feel his body responding, he was not awake yet, but soon would be. They had made love twice tonight already. Once when he first came to her, and again, when she had awoken and found him pleasuring Taya.
Of course, she couldn't just go back to sleep after that. The sight aroused her. She rose, putting her arms around him, and demanded attention.
As always…Fenn…rose to the challenge.
Jedi stamina was good for something…after all.
Mmm.
She pulled his arm closer, enjoying the scent of him, the maleness of it…it reminded her of her time with Fehl, only better!
Better because there was no initial distrust, we were always part of each other, and…
…we always will be.
Oh yes!
This was nice, far better than anything she had had in the past. Fehl had come the closest, but he had not shared the connection with her that she and Fenn possessed.
No, this was different…better. Fenn knew her in ways that Fehl had only begun to explore when he had been taken from her, but even that had been the will of the Force, she realized.
Without Fehl, she would not have understood the desire for physical love, or how to bring her lover to where HE needed to be.
Well, she had learned and, it was safe to say that, Fenn had no complaints.
She shifted again, sensing him just starting to rise from sleep. She was ready…again. She was not tired, and there was a pleasant soreness between her legs, one that she had come to not only endure, but enjoy.
The price of being with the one that I was meant to be with. No deceptions, and no distractions…
…we are one. We have ALWAYS been one.
She pulled his hand to her mouth, gently kissing his fingers, moving her lips over them.
Fenn groaned in his sleep, already responding. She…
She gently reached out with the Force. She let her emotions flow outward, desire…want, and need. She…
She paused; realization struck her.
They…were not alone!
It wasn't Taya, no, her friend had left shortly before she had fallen back asleep. Besides, Taya would have responded positively to her waking Fenn, knowing what was to come.
No, this presence was cold…disappointed, and…
She frowned.
…very familiar.
She stayed perfectly still, not wishing to tip her hand too soon. She had not felt her old rival's approach, her mind had been on…other things.
She was fully awake now, measuring risk, and coming to a decision.
How best to respond to this intrusion?
Had this been Sith space, had she been interrupted in her own holdings, the intruder would not have left alive, but here, she needed to be more careful, besides, she was curious…
…how did she make it back undetected?
Where had she been?
Why was she here?
Avaryss gently moved Fenn's arm off her, and sat up. She wore nothing, of course, but that didn't mean that she was harmless.
She stared into the darkness, without concern for threat, or modesty.
Show yourself then, she thought.
I KNOW you are here!
She turned her head and saw it. Two yellow eyes watching from the shadows.
They were not Sith eyes, no, these were feral, eyes not born, but created.
A beast's eyes…
…a MONGREL'S eyes.
"Did you enjoy the show?" she asked dryly.
A disappointed snort emerged from the near human muzzle.
"Didn't see anything," the other woman responded, her voice a low angry growl.
The beast girl showed teeth, her fangs white and sharp.
"Only just arrived a few minutes ago. Was looking for Fenn. I felt Master Jas' end, thought…thought he might need someone to talk to…"
Avaryss sneered. She looked down at her sleeping lover.
"As you can see, he doesn't," she smirked, " So you can go now, mongrel. I'm sure Fenn will be happy to see you in a few hours."
Now, the mongrel, Shyra Viel did growl.
"No, you don't have a few more hours, witch. Someone is here to see you. You are going to want to hear what she has to say. Fenn too.
Fenn groaned, and shook his head.
He opened his eyes and looked up, waking with a start.
"Shyra!" he gasped.
If she felt anything for startling her friend, she didn't show it.
She continued to radiate controlled anger and disappointment.
Disappointment directed at her friend.
"Hello, Fenn," she responded, "It seems that I've interrupted…your…mourning."
Fenn didn't say anything, he should have been angry at the creature sneaking in here like this. Interrupting them, another Sith male would have been angry. Avy was certainly angry.
Through their connection, the dark lord could sense…guilt in her lover.
That didn't please her.
Guilt? Why?
Was it not natural to seek comfort from a loved one after a tragedy? A tragedy that was as useful as it was painful.
The three faced each other. Shyra looked at Fenn, once she had desired him, Avy remembered that.
Did she feel a sense of betrayal in seeing him with her rival? Even though the beast had moved on with her nerdy little doctor?
Regardless, Avaryss was not intimidated.
"Shyra," Fenn said, now fully awake, covering his modesty with a single blanket.
"What is the meaning of this," he demanded.
The beast girl gestured with the Force, turning on the lights. Letting the two lovers get a better look at her. The sleeveless combat suit she wore looked familiar, but Avy wasn't sure from where, her brown fur had been shaved on her left arm, the kolto patches marked where the beast had received medical attention.
If she was still injured, she didn't show it, her eyes shifting from yellow to the familiar brown as her face resumed its more human-like features.
"I have arrived with Gabe Cooper," she informed them. "He brought us here from his base. We hoped to make it before the funeral, but…"
She kept her gaze locked on Avaryss. Her expression cold and menacing. Her eyes then fell to Fenn.
"You two need to get dressed. We have company, Fenn. Master Jas would have expected you to receive them, and you definitely will want to hear what she has to say."
Avy frowned.
She?
Fenn cleared his throat, and shook his head, suddenly he was all business.
"We will be out shortly," he informed her, "If you would be so good to wait outside."
Shyra nodded, and bounded out of the room, shifting back to her beast form, moving on all fours. The door opened and shut with a hiss, leaving the two lovers alone.
Avaryss' eyes narrowed.
What was this now?
She reached out with the Force, sensing a new presence, one that was familiar, but not.
"It seems that I have business," Fenn responded, rising from the bed, scooping up his clothes.
Avy glared at the closed door.
It never fails, she thought angrily.
Every time I feel safe, every time I think happiness might be possible…
Her hands curled into clenched fists.
She wasn't really sure what the mongrel's game was, and if she was being perfectly honest. She didn't care.
Something had changed, something that moved against her desires…her plans.
She would need to deal with it swiftly.
The end game was nearly here.
She would not be stopped now. She had come too far, and too close.
No!
She wouldn't be stopped now.
IOI
They were waiting for him in the mess hall.
Fenn tugged at his shirt; he had dressed quickly after being startled out of a sound sleep by Shrya.
Even now, that interruption annoyed him.
What had she been playing at?
Shyra could be terse sometimes, she had done her best to work on that, but simply sneaking into his room without even a knock?
Intolerable.
Avy walked at his side; he could feel her anger smoldering through their connection. He knew that Shyra didn't like her, but that was no excuse for such rudeness, she…
He paused when he entered the mess. Colonel Capistan was there. Shyra stood to his left, next to a woman in a full hood and cloak, a woman whose face he couldn't see.
Cooper stood to the right, clad all in black, shirt, trousers, and vest.
Some of Fenn's anger cooled.
The old smuggler didn't look well.
Why would he, his conscience chided, Jas had been a brother to him. They had known each other for close to sixty years, and spent much of their youths working together.
Why wouldn't the old man be in mourning.
"Captain," Fenn called out, feeling more sympathetic now that he could see the pain in the old man's eyes.
"Hey, kid," he said, not even trying to hide it, keeping his voice light.
"Sorry we're late."
"You are here," Fenn reminded him, "Your presence honors my master's memory. Trust that he would be grateful for your coming, and that his love and respect for you remained to the end."
The old man chuckled at that.
"Not sure about the "respect" thing," he replied, " But it is good to hear that my brother is so honored by his friends and student."
"Captain," Avy said, her voice colder than most would have expected, given the circumstances. She looked at the chrono on the wall, it was still three more hours until sunrise.
She glared at the smuggler and his party.
"The circumstances of your arrival aside, may I ask what this is about? Surely, this could have waited until morning."
"Timing is everything, my lord," the hooded woman answered, her voice that of one raised on Dromund Kaas.
"But you understand that more than most. Your own timing was almost flawless up to this point, was it not?"
Fenn blinked.
He KNEW that voice!
Avy gave the woman an arched looked.
"You have me at a disadvantage," she said, "And you are?"
The woman turned her head, and lowered her cloak, revealing shoulder length blond hair, an attractive face with pale skin, and the burning yellow eyes of a Sith.
The face of Lana Beniko, her dark red lips formed into a deep frown.
Fenn blinked.
"Miss Beniko! it is a pleasure to speak with you in person, at long last."
The former head of Sith intelligence turned to him.
"Ah, you must be Fenn Shadowstone. Captain Cooper, and Master Shyra have talked about you."
She paused looking him up and down, evaluating him, perhaps.
Her gaze falling on his Sith eyes, eyes so close to her own.
"Most unusual for a Jedi," she murmured.
He didn't need to guess what she meant.
Fenn's brow furrowed.
Something was not right here.
"Talked about me? Miss Beniko, you know me. We have spoken several times during briefings. You have offered up much to us, and been an ally to both Master Jas and the Survivors for several months."
Again, the blond Sith's eyes fell on Avaryss.
"I'm afraid that things have not been what they seemed, young Jedi. You would be surprised to know that this is the first time that we have spoken. In fact, I was not aware that the Survivors had been so active until a few short weeks ago."
She turned to Colonel Capistan.
"Captain Cooper has informed me of what has been going on. Colonel, I am not sure who it is you have been speaking with, but…I can assure you that it was not me."
Again her eyes fell on Avy. His lover held that gaze. Her expression was neutral, but inside, Fenn could sense her rage through their connection, her fury a storm held only in check by his lover's iron will.
Had they not been here, she would have attacked Beniko, torn her to shreds, or at least tried to.
What?
Fenn…he…he didn't know what to say.
He looked at Avy. He wanted to pull her aside, demand an explanation.
Avy?
What is she talking about?
What is going on?
Avaryss smiled, a cold acidic smile. Her eyes moved from Cooper, to Shyra, and then to Colonel Capistan.
Fenn felt her reach out with the Force, seeking aid.
Shyra must have sensed it too.
"Don't bother," she growled, "Your people are all unconscious. Unhurt, but unable to respond, stun gas was released into their rooms before I went to find you."
"On whose orders!" Fenn demanded.
He didn't like this.
Technically he had taken Jas' place, he should have been consulted before…
"It was my call, kid," Capistan informed him, "We will discuss it later if you want, but considering what has been going on. I thought it safer to act quickly."
Neither he or Avy answered.
Could Fenn understand, sure, but he would have never authorized such a move, not before hearing what was going on, he…
That is why they acted, the woman's voice in his head sang out.
Can you honestly say your judgment hasn't been compromised in this? Do you really think that the Colonel acted rashly?
Fenn considered it.
No, he realized that the Colonel had not been wrong. He might not agree, or even like it, but the call had been his to make.
Avy didn't seem extremely bothered by it, if anything, she seemed resolved, perhaps she had even suspected that something like this might happen…eventually.
Fenn looked at the three facing them, Avy's accusers. Them, and the newly arrived Lana Beniko.
She said that it had not be she who had been working with them, but if not her…then who?
He…he was not sure what to say.
Shyra's expression remained hostile. Cooper appeared merely curious. The Colonel kept his expression guarded, but Fenn could sense a hint of betrayal.
"We need to talk, my lord," Beniko said flatly.
"There are matters that need to be discussed. Now."
Avaryss smirked and looked down at the floor.
"I couldn't agree more, Miss Beniko," she answered.
Fenn's brow furrowed.
What the hell was going on?!
Avy gestured for the other Sith to take the lead.
"After you, of course."
Lana crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing.
"No, after you, councilor," she replied.
From the looks on the faces of Both Shyra, and the Colonel, this was not a request.
Avy shrugged.
"As you wish," she answered.
"So, be it."
IOI
Heads will roll.
That was the thought that came to mind as Avaryss sat waiting in the Survivors' interrogation room.
She slouched in a chair, rubbing at her neck, which was still sore. She had agreed to the injection that Dr. Tagge had given her. The chemical cocktail already working its way through her blood. She remained lucid, but would not be able to summon the emotion to activate her Force abilities. The drug was…pleasant, in its own way, it left her with a sense of euphoria as it took effect, a high that passed quickly, leaving her calm, but unable to touch the Force.
Far gentler than the Sith poisons she had been exposed to in the past.
She had not resisted; she had even insisted that the Survivors take this step. She told them she had nothing to hide.
A lie, true, but a necessary one.
Time was what was important right now. She needed to stall, give her people at Sanctuary Base time to move to the next phase. She couldn't count on her allies here, no doubt they were waking from their stun gas induced naps, to find their own Force powers blocked by the drug that was currently affecting her.
It was annoying, but for the moment, she had to trust in the officers that she had put in charge of her holdings.
Her powers would be hers again, soon enough, but for the moment she had to play along.
She could endure a bit of Force blindness if it bought her what she needed to achieve victory.
Plus it kept the Survivors off balance. That was never a bad thing when dealing with one's enemies.
But…were they enemies?
She would know soon enough, and so would they.
Let's hope, she thought, that they make the right choice.
The ONLY choice.
She had surprised them. It is what they would have suggested had she not done so. They had thought she would fight against it, expected her to protest.
Why?
This outcome had not been unanticipated, but she had hoped to have had more time.
Shyra's return, somehow making contact with the real Beniko. The two of them reaching Captain Cooper…a series of events, clearly brought together by the light side of the Force. Seeking to impede her plans, to throw chaos on both her mission, and her relationship with Fenn.
She smiled slightly.
No matter.
Despite the problems, things were still going well.
Holli knew that they had all five keys. Colonel Capistan himself had sent off a message to her, in her guise as Lana Beniko. She knew what the plan was, and was, hopefully, at this moment, putting the next stage into motion.
Avy only hoped that she would not try to contact the Survivors for verification.
That conversation could be a bit awkward with the real Lana here.
The Dark Lord frowned.
Damn the officers she had placed in charge of her assassination section at Sanctuary Base.
The real Lana should have been dead months ago! Holli should have had full control over what was left of Imperial Intelligence. The agents sent to do the job would need to be eliminated. The officers who trained them, well, she would need to evaluate them before making a snap judgment. If they showed even a hint of incompetence, they would be killed too…
She pursed her lips.
Those that she killed; their families would have to be eliminated as well. She would tolerate no chance of reprisal. In this, her master had been right.
Eliminating the families of potential rivals was wise.
After all, had he done that correctly, she never would have risen to destroy everything he had worked for, and claimed the remnant for her own.
His failure was a monument to her success.
An hour had passed before Lana and Colonel Capistan had come to see her. They had waited until the drug had fully taken effect.
She looked up as they entered, offered a polite smile.
"Where is Fenn," she asked, "Should he not be part of this…conversation?"
The Colonel frowned.
"Fenn has decided to sit this one out," the soldier informed her, " He is watching though, on the cams."
She looked up and smiled at the device. Then turned her attention to Lana.
"I'm curious to hear what this woman has told you?" she admitted.
Lana didn't answer. She let the Colonel take the lead.
The old soldier didn't look happy.
"Who have we been talking to these last few months, Avy?" Capistan asked her.
The Dark Lord shrugged.
"Lana Beniko. I assumed."
The real Lana frowned.
"You expect me to believe you had no hand in this?" she asked.
Again, Avaryss shrugged.
"I assumed what the Survivors assumed. I heard rumors of you trying to form an alliance against the invaders. I also know that you have not been having much luck. Few people trust Imperial Intelligence, not that I blame them."
The dark lord chuckled.
"Imperial Lack of Intelligence, some of the common soldiers call it."
If Lana was insulted, she didn't show it, she didn't even respond to the jibe.
"I know your people were trying to assassinate me, Avaryss."
Again she shrugged.
"Try proving it."
Colonel Capistan frowned.
"What is Sanctuary Base, Avaryss?"
She showed no sign of concern as she regarded the Colonel.
She just kept smiling.
He knew somethings, she realized. Lana had told them some of her plans, but not all.
That was okay, she thought.
Stall…
…just stall.
"Sanctuary Base was a dream of mine," she replied, "But it has no relevance here."
"How do you figure?" the Colonel asked.
She shrugged.
"You are judging me for having my own agenda. Why? You knew that I had my own plans the moment that I walked into this base. Yet, I have never disobeyed an order, nor refused to aid an ally when they needed it."
She pinned him with an accusing glare.
"Did you forget that it was Fenn and I that saved the life of your former lover? Galadriel Locke would have died on Tatooine if it wasn't for us."
"You have my gratitude for that." He replied.
"Yet, you still seek to condemn me?"
Lana interrupted, stopped the Colonel before he could answer her.
"He is merely being cautious, counselor, and with good reason, given your crimes."
The dark lord snorted.
"Crimes? If you mean my alliance with the Survivors, then I accept that accusation. At least, they have not given up, and are still resisting the invaders."
"It is not your alliance with the Survivors that I'm referring too," Lana said, "It is your violation of the Nethema Accords. You violated the very oath you swore when you joined the dark council."
Avaryss' eyes narrowed.
The Nethema Accords? That is what you seek to charge me with?"
The blond Sith glared.
"You are guilty of carrying out a class three ritual without the permission of the either the council or the pyramid of knowledge. A ritual that you used to save your life. Do you deny the charge?"
Avy sneered.
Really?
A class three ritual? Again the council underestimates me…
The ritual that she used was a class five easy, but that was neither here nor there.
Capistan looked at Beniko.
"What is the Nethema accords?" he asked.
"A law passed by the dark council centuries ago," she informed him, " It was designed to prevent another Sith from using a forbidden ritual to increase their power."
"It was designed to prevent anyone from growing strong enough to challenge the emperor," Avaryss clarified. "The Emperor suggested the Accords, I'm sure, he had no desire to see another lord try to step on his godhood."
Avy snorted.
The council had never wanted to risk the creation of a second immortal Sith. They had passed the law, to prevent another mass ritual like the one that had been performed by Vitiate on his home world of Nethema. It had made him immortal, almost a god.
Surely the council must have realized that that had not been her goal.
She had only wished to be healthy, strong…for Fenn.
Always for Fenn.
It was the way.
The galaxy. Her lover, they needed her, and she had needed to survive.
She made no excuse.
She would not be judged, not by the council, or anyone else.
Especially not Lana Beniko. The woman wasn't even a proper Sith!
She snarled at her.
"Those accords are Bantha poo-doo, and you know it, Beniko!"
"They are the law."
"A true Sith Lord is above such drivel!"
Lana sniffed.
"Do you deny the charges, my lord?"
Avaryss didn't respond.
How dare this little…creature seek to judge her.
HER?!
She was a Dark Lord of the Sith!
She didn't answer to the laws of sentient beings, she was far beyond their concept of right and wrong.
Lana leaned in.
"You sacrificed a thousand of your own people," she hissed, "Do you deny that?"
Capistan's eyes widened.
"She did WHAT?!"
"Put a thousand people to death, to perform some healing ritual, is that not so, Avaryss?"
Avaryss sneered.
"Try proving it," she spat.
Lana sneered back.
"That is easy enough. Before I left imperial service, I read reports from your home world, intel gathered by imperial agents within the Oridanna resistance. They managed to save a few dozen of your would-be victims. Their testimony was all the council needed to condemn you, my lord."
Avaryss frowned.
She had not had the full number of sacrifices during the ritual?
Did that explain why she had lingering memories and experiences from her host body?
If so…
She smiled again.
Heads would roll!
Whoever betrayed her would answer in blood!
Everyone on Oridanna, anyone that helped try and spoil her ritual, and those rats who sang to imperial intelligence. They would pay.
They would ALL suffer.
She was furious, but again, she hid it.
Cold hate was better than wild rage.
It was a scalpel, and that was better than a bomb, sometimes...
...sometimes.
Again, she didn't rise to Lana's accusations.
She felt no shame, and why should she?
They were just mundanes, their very lives existed to serve the Sith.
Still, she considered what Lana had said.
In that moment, she had realization.
Yes.
Everything made sense.
"That is why I was betrayed on Pholus, wasn't it?" she asked, "Acina used my…violation to convince the others to deny my reinforcements?"
"It was not Acina," Lana informed her, "It was Lord Marr himself. He was not pleased that you overstepped your bounds. Had you needed help, you should have come to him. He saw himself as your mentor, and you betrayed him."
That realization shook her.
Marr okayed her betrayal?!
He was willing to lose Pholus, the Empire's primary source of fresh water, just to punish her?
The fool!
Beniko stood up straight. Her expression cold and imperious.
"And now you have convinced the Survivors into helping you gain these artifacts, these keys…"
She gave the dark lord a cold stare.
"What is next, counselor, another ritual?"
Avaryss didn't respond.
What could she say?
She wanted to tell the woman everything. Let her bask in the power of Avy's coming success, but no...NO!
Patience was better.
Cold was better.
Patience.
Stall, she thought to herself, she still needed to buy time.
She needed to stall.
She looked up at the holo-cam.
"What I have done in the past is not relevant," she shouted, " Fenn! Hear me!"
She swallowed and looked as pained as she could.
She needed to sell this. Her lover needed to believe it.
"I did what I had to do. I had to save my life. I make no excuses. If I obeyed the council's rules. They would never have given me permission. I would have died. Even if they had said yes, I would have died."
She glared at Beniko.
"Marr would have assigned members of the Pyramid of Knowledge who would have sabotaged the ritual. They would have called it an accident, I'm sure, but I still would have died, and they would have claimed all my holdings and research for themselves."
She turned again to the camera.
"I promised that I would only take the keys if you gave them to me, and I hold true to that. Know this, if you let Lana take me back to the empire, then all that we have planned for it will be lost. I will be executed, and when the Zakuul fall, the war will begin again, only this time, the council will have access to all my work, and perhaps the keys as well."
She shook her head.
"Are you prepared to let that happen?! I offer you a real peace, a chance to end the fighting between the empire and the republic."
"That is enough, Avaryss," Lana said.
"Is it?" she hissed back, " I think not!"
She looked at Colonel Capistan.
"What I've done or not done is irrelevant. You have the chance to win the war, Colonel. The Republic is not worthy of your loyalty. They have surrendered twice, betrayed you and your friends, twice. Given up on two wars, we can change that. We can win. I can win! Join me, and we will end this destructive conflict. We will end the Zakuul and bring order to the galaxy.
The Colonel didn't respond.
Avaryss frowned.
She had hoped for more, but probably she shouldn't have.
She again looked at the cam.
She knew Fenn was watching.
She could feel it.
"I'm your last chance, Fenn!"
"Avaryss," Lana said coldly.
The dark lord ignored her.
"I'm the last chance for peace."
"That enough Avy," Capistan said.
"You know that I'm right, Fenn!"
"Avy!"
"Counselor!"
"You must choose, Fenn!"
"AVY!"
She rose from her chair.
"CHOOSE! Peace or a war without end!"
"FENN!"
"CHOOSE!"
A/N: It is a bit early, but I wanted this out for the big day. May the Fourth be with you all. Only a few more chapters left in Fallen Hero, then the last Avy story begins. Looking forward to the changes coming soon. Avy' life is about to change in big way. Hope you will all follow me for that journey. Until the next chapter dear readers.
May the Force serve you well.
DG