Chapter 55: The Academy
"So much for this place being abandoned."
Avaryss grunted as she stared through the binocs.
In this Temmin was not wrong.
The planet that Lord's Reach had been built on was a world of mist and mesas. The high stone outcroppings rose out of the fetid swamps below. Even from here, on one of the smaller rock formations, she could smell the bog-stink below.
As with Butcher's Clearing, the academy had used those swamps for decades. A place to test their students, while the academy lorded over the world like the lord's it had produced. Once, before the reclamation of Korriban, it had been the jewel in the Empire's crown, the training ground of future dark lords. It retained some of that prestige during the first galactic war and the civil war that had followed.
This was the place where the Sith sent their brightest, if not best. The wealthy could afford to send their young ones to Korriban straight away, but those discovered by Sith masters, those without the wealth or prestige, generally started here.
Had Darth Feer claimed her, and accepted the role of her patron, young Keera Lylos might have begun her training here. Not that she would have accepted his patronage, not after what he had cost her.
Looking back, she could understand why he had chosen her to suffer through the harshness of Fury 9. It had sharpened her, honed her, far more than a year or two on this place might have.
In that, her master had been correct, and besides, had she not gone to Fury, she wouldn't have met Overseer Adaz, and been shown her destiny.
Her role as the heir of Hecaetus.
Yes, whether by the Force, or her master's will, her training had gone the only way it could have gone.
She would never have fit in at this place. Her resentment for her patron would have been a distraction rather than an advantage.
Ironic that it was now a place she needed to break into, to find the key to her final ascension.
A Fury student invading the playground for lordlings…
Perfect.
Not that breaking in would be easy.
As Temmin said.
The place was far from abandoned.
Lord's Reach was alit with spotlights, two Sith troop transports had touched down in the main courtyard.
Sith soldiers were everywhere, far more than Avaryss had seen since the empire had been beaten down by the Zakuul.
She didn't see any house markings, but it was a safe bet that they had lost this leg of the race.
She frowned.
Darth Feer had beaten her here.
Strange, she thought, there had been no Sith warships in orbit. The sensor net used by the academy had been offline. The Knightfire had picked it up, but still slipped in undetected.
The school's main defenses seemed off line as well, the shields were not up, nor were the turbo laser batteries on the surrounding mesas manned.
Jas had gotten them in far closer than Avaryss would have expected.
For the moment, at least, surprise remained on their side.
Of course, surprise would be lost if another Sith down there sensed her arrival.
She tried to keep her presence small in the Force. She didn't see any Sith down among the troopers, no dark lords barking orders, but that didn't mean that none were there. She reached out with the Force, but gently, attempting subtlety, trying to get an idea of who she might be facing.
She felt…something strange.
The Force seemed to be…echoing? She had no words to describe it, it was a sensation she had never felt before, but…
Her eyes narrowed.
There was one presence down there that she recognized, it was as familiar to her as Taya or Zay…
Beric.
Yes, she could sense her brother down there somewhere. As a non-Force sensitive, she had no reason to fear his detection, still…still…
The fact that he was here, likely leading Feer troops.
She didn't like it. She didn't like it one bit.
She lowered the binocs and looked at the rest of her team. Locke was already set up, her long-range rifle sighted in on the academy grounds. Tara Valenthyne remained on board with Cee-Cee, ready to fire up the engines at the first sign of trouble.
Jas and Temmin stood nearby, the Jedi Master and the half-blood padawan said nothing.
They were waiting…for her.
Waiting to see if they needed to abandon this mission.
Yet, they couldn't, could they?
They couldn't let Feer claim the key.
"I see at least three scanning crews down there," the major informed them. The troops have taken up defensive positions, but I'm not seeing any equipment moving into the structure."
The major looked up at Jas.
"It doesn't look like they are planning on staying."
"They're not," Avaryss volunteered, "they are searching for the key, though…I'm not sure if a basic military scanner would pick it up."
Master Jas nodded grimly.
He looked at Avaryss.
"I don't suppose you know a back way into this place?"
She grinned.
"There is an entrance at the base of the mesa, it might be sealed, but it shouldn't be difficult to enter, not if the security system is offline."
She looked down from where they were standing, the mists covered the floor below.
"We need to be cautious now. This place was chosen because it was a challenge for the students to survive on the ground below. Beasts and prisoners of war were released as a challenge for the students. It was here that they learned to fight for their lives."
"Sounds charming," Locke said dryly.
"Once we're inside, how do we find the key?" Temmin asked.
"I should be able to sense it," Avy answered, "But if I wake it up, any other Sith in the base will pick up on it."
"Can't you find it without waking it?" Jas asked.
Avaryss considered.
Perhaps, she was so connected to the three they had.
She nodded.
"Then we have a plan," Jas said, he looked around, his head turning to a rocky path leading down from where they were standing.
According to scanners, it led all the way down to the planet's floor.
"Gilly, remain here and guard the ship, and cover us if we need it."
"Got it, Jas!" she said settling back into her sniper's perch.
He looked again at Avaryss.
"We need to try and be subtle here. Any guards or patrols down below, we can't engage them unless we have no choice."
Avaryss smirked.
"Don't worry, Master Jas. I CAN be subtle when the mission calls for it."
"Good to hear," he said dryly, "Temmin take point, Avy and I will follow you up, cover you."
"Yes, Master."
The tall gawky half-blood made it way down, pulling up the hood on his robe. Jas, in his traditional black shirt, pants with blood-stripes, and nerf-skin jacket followed, with Avy bringing up the rear.
A hint of a smile came to her face.
She considered what she knew.
Beric was here.
Was this another offering from the dark side.
She had promised Xen she would try to save him?
That would not be easy though, extracting him and the key at the same time.
Then…there was the strange sensation she had felt through the Force.
Was this some trap from Darth Feer?
Had he acquired a new apprentice, someone who could disrupt her senses?
So many possibilities.
She almost laughed.
A chance to get not only her wayward brother back, but move one step closer to her domination of this wretched galaxy, and all the while doing it under her former master's nose, or whoever it was that was trying to claim his title.
It was all so…invigorating!
Delicious!
They did live in interesting times.
They were fortunate indeed.
Most fortunate.
IOI
The swamps below the academy mesa were what the dark lord would have expected, stinking and dangerous.
Marsh gas, shadow wasp nests, quick sand, and dark side dragons gliding through the marshy waters. Exactly what she might have expected from a Sith academy.
The type of challenges to test a student's mettle, though no longer a challenge to her.
As a Dark Lord, she could have delt with them easily, with a wave of her hand.
Avaryss smiled.
It was great to know how much she had improved.
They Force made the going challenging, but difficult, the three leapt from fallen tree, to rock formation, moving too quick for any mundane eye, or monster, to see them.
Even Temmin seemed to be much improved, getting used to his new size and growing strength. Either that, or he was trying extra hard to impress his master's master.
Jas Dar Bynn remained cool, and focused. He saw only the journey in front of him.
A slight mistake, that.
You never knew about the person behind.
Someone…who…might just want to stick a dagger in your back!
She tried not to dwell on such thoughts. The time would present itself; she was sure.
She needed to be both patient and cautious.
This…ending needed to be handled delicately.
She could not afford to be foolish. No blame could fall upon her, things needed to be arranged so she could not be caught in a lie, by Fenn or anyone else.
Jas had to die, but in a way that left her seemingly innocent.
Everything…had to be flawless.
Not easy to arrange, but she wasn't worried.
After all…she was Sith.
Impossible was part of their trade.
As they reached the base of the mesa, they were greeted by the academy's defenses, or rather…the lack of them.
A dry duracrete moat to keep the beasts out. Twelve feet wide, and protected by a ten-foot-tall fence, signs warnings of electrical danger were posted on the fence, but Avaryss sensed no power. Even the automated sentries at the doors of the mesa were powered down. The only thing keeping things out was a bridge, that was retracted, and a heavy blast door.
None of these should have presented a problem for Avaryss and her allies.
Her thoughts turned to Darth Feer, that arrogant smirk he had worn when he thought he had something over on his rivals.
You're slipping, old man.
Even if he was trying to keep a low profile, provided it even was him, he should have realized that she would not be cowering in a corner. She would not hide and wait for him to succeed, oh no.
The keys would be hers.
She reached out with the dark side again, scanning for traps. Sensing none, she advanced on the fence.
She raised her hand, drawing on the Force, if she was wrong, if there was still current running through this fence. She would be able to absorb it, possibly burn out the power source from here.
Again, she felt nothing.
She made her way to the bridge. They would need to jump it, of course, but again, not a problem.
The only problem she could see was the academy blast doors, but even they should surrender with the right touch of the Force.
She felt the attack from her right, even before it came.
She was already moving when the roar rang out, and had side slipped completely as the thing came down before them, spitting and snarling.
She was hesitant to ignite her blade, it might be seen from the mesa, but…
…the bile rose in her throat as she recognized the attacker.
A creature from her nightmares, a monster that had almost spelled her death a decade ago.
No!
Oh no!
It was dirty and thin, its wicked fangs flashed as it yowled in rage.
A Wookie, she realized.
A kriffin' Wookie!
She raised her hand, ready to call down the power of the dark side. The creature made to leapt…
…and stopped.
Frozen in stasis by Master Jas.
"STOP!" he shouted.
"Avy! Stand down!"
It took all her self-control to do so.
The past remained fresh in her mind.
Her fight with another Wookie back at Butcher's Clearing, its claws ripping into her, slicing her open, nearly disemboweling her.
She snarled at the creature.
She wanted to break its neck with the Force, blast it to cinders with Force lightning!
She wanted to…
Jas stood before the Wookie.
"Easy," he shouted, "Easy! We are friends!"
The beast could not move, but it could hear.
Avaryss could feel its emotions, rage and fury! Yet, seeing Jas seeing the Republic symbol on his jacket.
The beast's fury faded, it blinked, and in that moment, she felt something she had not felt in these creatures before…
…a sense of understanding.
Jad didn't release his stasis field, but he did talk to the creature, all the while projecting images of calm and comfort into the thing's mind. He explained what they were doing and why they were here. The Wookie, their captive audience had to listen.
Slowly, realization sank into the animal's mind.
It arms and legs lost their tension.
Temmin stood next to Master Jas, as Avaryss watched.
He released the creature from his grip.
It went down on its hands and knees. When it rose, it stood up straight, even brushed at mud and muck that clung to its fur.
The creature answered Jas in its strange yowling language.
The Jedi master nodded.
"You have been through much, my large friend, but perhaps that pain is over.
"Perhaps now…we can help."
The Wookie barked, and nodded. It stood down from its violent posturing.
Jas smiled and turned to his fellows.
"Avy, Temm, I would like you to meet Rufotomec. He was a Republic scout in the twenty third regiment. Capture by the Sith and sent here to die."
The Wookie barked and bowed his head, in introduction.
Avaryss did her best to keep from sneering.
"Are we picking up strays now, Master Jas?"
The Wookie growled at her, apparently it could understand basic, even if its primitive tongue couldn't speak it.
Jas' smile widened.
"It may be more of a blessing than you realize, Avy." He informed her.
"Rufo here has been inside the academy. He knows the lower levels…
…He can help us."
The dark lord did her best to hide her sense of distaste, and revulsion.
After nearly dying by one of these creature's claws, she was…unsure about this.
Still…
Still…
She frowned.
She tried not to look a gift bantha in the mouth.
If the creature knew a way in, a quiet way in.
Who was she to question it?
If luck was with them, the key might be on the lower levels, undiscovered by Feer's underlings.
The thought of getting the key out before they realized what was going on appealed to her.
War did make strange bedfellows did it not.
She almost rolled her eyes.
She had gotten rid of one beast when Shyra was lost.
Now, she had to tolerate another one.
Glorious!
IOI
The Wookie led them on a rough path to the left of the main entrance.
Jedi and Sith both did their best to keep up, and despite her feelings for the species, even Avy had to admit.
Wookie's were natural soldiers in such harsh environments.
Rufotomec, or Rufo as Jas called him, had been living on the surface of Lord's Reach for almost four years now, barely avoiding Sith patrols, and hunting parties of students. Then, about a year ago, the Sith had left, no patrols entered the swamps, and no hunting parties left the academy.
Rufo had been one of three Republic survivors at that time. They had watched the academy closely for almost a month. Finally, they realized that they needed to take the chance.
They had hoped to find a working comm station, some way to call for help. They neither knew nor cared why the academy had been abandoned. They had no way of knowing what had happened to the galaxy during their imprisonment.
Even had they known…what could they have done?
Using the path that he was guiding them on now, he and his allies entered the mesa.
He and his allies, a human and a Zabrak, had not manage to reach the academy proper, unpowered blast doors blocked their ascent. They had sought several means to pass, but nothing worked.
Finally, giving up, they had returned to the jungle.
Both the Wookie's allies had been lost to the swamp in the months since. One of them dying to the beasts, the other to sickness. Left alone, he had tried several more times to gain access to the academy, all attempts ending in failure.
Then…he had seen the ships arrive at the academy. Sith ships.
He had figured that the empire had returned.
Seeing Avy and Temmin, he had thought them a Sith patrol, he had attacked them hoping to take their ship, or failing that, gain access to its comm station.
Finding out that the Survivors were a Republic militia was an answer to the Wookie's prayers.
He still didn't know what to think of the fact that they had a Sith travelling with them, but, being so close to rescue, he was not complaining.
Right now, escape was his only desire.
Who the rescuers were, didn't matter that much.
As for Avaryss, she recognized that this complicated matters.
She…she didn't like it.
Now she had to find a way not only to remove Jas Dar Bynn, but their Wookie tag-along as well. The fact that she had a slight phobia of the beasts didn't help matters.
She took a deep breath, and tried to press forward.
Killing a Wookie wasn't difficult for a Sith, she knew half a dozen ways that didn't involve getting near those claws. Still…
…the past was a distraction.
She cursed under her breath.
No matter what, she needed to be careful.
She was so close now.
It wouldn't do just to trip over the finish line, not when she could see final victory.
She would be calm, and she would be mindful.
Things would work.
Be patient, she reminded herself.
Your time will come.
IOI
Rufo led them to a small air intake off the far side of the mesa. Even from here, she could see the security barrier, it had been bent back, and then bent again, back into position.
Again, she reached out, scanning for traps, and again…nothing.
Rufo didn't wait for confirmation, he leapt to the air intake, and peeled back the barrier. He barked over at Jas and the rest, letting them know they could now come over.
Temmin went first, making it with a single leap. Jas followed…
Avaryss rolled her eyes, and leapt.
She touched down easily, and slipped inside with the others.
The dry moats were designed to keep beasts out, not Force sensitives.
Lucky them.
As they moved forward, the light was quickly left behind. The duct was black as the void, Avaryss closed her eyes and focused, trying to get a sense of what was ahead.
The Wookie bent the barrier back in place. He chuffed to Jas, likely some assurance that it was safe to proceed.
The Dark Lord was not sure, but since she couldn't sense anything amiss.
She couldn't even guess how the Jedi understood those barks and howls, but he did.
Single file, the group proceeded. Temmin in the lead, and the Wookie bringing up the rear.
Again Avaryss reached out, trying to sense the key, and again…sensing nothing.
No, not nothing, that echo effect that she had felt outside was growing stronger.
Stronger…and more urgent.
What that meant, she couldn't even guess.
What could cause such a thing?
She had never felt anything like it.
The Wookie barked behind them.
"He says the duct turns left up ahead, Temm," Jas offered, from there it is about thirty steps to a vertical shaft, that will open up into the lower levels."
"Got it, master," the boy replied.
Avaryss pursed her lips.
She didn't like to think that they were too late, that all that waited up ahead was a trap.
If Feer's people had beat them to the prize?
She heard a light bumping sound, and as she did, the duct before them began to lighten.
It seemed they had reached their destination.
She took another deep breath, and readied herself for battle.
Whatever waited up ahead, she would face it with the courage and ruthlessness of a true Sith.
She was ready.
IOI
Once they had cleared the duct, they found themselves in a long stone corridor.
Avaryss looked around, recognizing the stone architectures of a Sith Academy.
Jas shivered, he licked his lips, and for the briefest of moment, she…she had felt something from the Jedi Master.
Recognition?
Fear?
Whatever it was, he dismissed it quick enough.
Just like that, he was all business.
He asked the Wookie where they went from here.
Rufo growled and pointed.
Jas gestured for the group to follow. He led them up two landings and a flight of stairs.
They arrived at a large blast door, the door that the Wookie, and his companions, could not get passed in their earlier visits here.
For Avaryss, it was child's play.
The locking mechanism used the Force to release, it was literally built inside of the door. Only a Force sensitive could get into the academy proper.
She reached inside with her mind, and triggered the latch.
She felt the lock disengage.
As she knew…child's play.
The blast door rose with a hiss, and…and…
Avaryss and the other's paused.
Voices…
Voices, and the sound of lightsabers.
Another door was up ahead, not as heavily armored as the one they had just gotten through.
The sounds were coming from the other side.
The group backed up.
Avaryss reached out again, just enough to get an idea of what was…
Again, that echoing sense, it made her stumble back…disoriented.
Jas gave her a concerned look.
"You, okay?" he asked.
She shook her head, and narrowed her eyes.
She had sensed Beric, again.
She felt…satisfaction.
He was enjoying his mission here.
It…it felt like he was mocking her.
She would NOT be mocked.
Her anger starting rise.
She had come too far.
She would not be denied, not by her dear brother, the Force…!
…NOT BY ANYTHING!
"Avaryss, wait!" Jas hissed.
No.
Enough of this, she thought.
Whatever was happening.
She was done playing nice!
She…
The door before them hissed open, blinding lights shone in her eyes.
Her allies stayed back cloaked in the shadows.
She didn't hide.
Avaryss didn't blink, she stood straight and tall.
She glared outward.
"BROTHER!" she shouted.
As her eyes adjusted, she saw him, and he was not alone.
Beric was once again clad in the uniform of an imperial Moff. Proof she supposed that Acina had not punished him too harshly after the events on Sullust.
The uniform was far bigger and bulkier than the original one, why that was, was quite clear.
From the creases in the uniform, she could tell he was wearing one of the refrigeration suits underneath it, suits designed by Dr. Vrann, suits meant to slow down the progression of cell degradation from earlier Death knell experiments.
The suit would keep her brother alive and functional for a time.
His face and head were covered by a black rounded helmet. The face plate was flat blank metal, with two small tubes running down out of the neck and up into the chin. His eyes visible through two circular slots built into the helmet itself.
He wore a Sith officers cap, atop the helmet, it fit well enough, as if the mask was part of an officer's uniform.
He turned to face her, his breath hissing.
"Sister," he replied, his voice emerging from the vocoder in the helmet.
"We have been waiting. What kept you?"
She held her lightsaber before her, but she didn't ignite it not yet.
Beric was not alone.
Two young acolytes stood before him.
From the look of things they had been training, each held a crimson lightsaber, clad in black training clothes with full robes. Their hoods pulled up hiding their features.
Avaryss shook her head.
It was from these that the echo in the Force was coming, standing so close to them…
…it…
…it was…disorienting!
She pushed such feelings away, they…they wouldn't stop her.
They COULDN'T stop her.
She would have her key!
"And who are these," she asked, "More nerfs for me to slaughter?!"
Her brother coughed, more of a sound of contempt than weakness.
"You would do it, wouldn't you? Family means so little to you, doesn't it?"
Avaryss' blinked.
Family?
Beric crossed his arms, he continued to glare at her. The two acolytes lowered their weapons, powering down their lightsabers.
Beric nodded in approval.
He didn't want this to be a fight, not yet.
"Children…remove your hoods, let my dear sister see what her master has wrought."
"Yes, uncle," the shorter one said.
"Of course, uncle," the taller one giggled.
They did as he asked, and…
Avaryss jaw dropped.
She…
They…
What?!
Both were strong in the Force, that was obvious, if she had to guess they were about nine or ten, but their faces…
…those faces.
She swallowed hard.
The boy…he…he looked like Beric, or Andur Lylos, his eyes, dark hair, and features marked him as a Lylos, but that was impossible!
His bone white skin shone in the dim light, his yellow Sith eyes ringed with dark circles. His mouth twisted into an evil grin, his lips red as fresh blood.
The girl, she…she shared her siblings features, if not his grin, her expression was cooler more guarded, her lips a deep purple.
Both looked upon the dark lord with morbid curiosity, as if she was some insect they could pull the wings off of for sport.
Beric approached them placing one heavily gloved hand on each of their shoulders.
"As you can see, sister. House Feer had given back what they took from me. Even as you sought our destruction. May I introduce you to Blyss and Jeer…your children."
Avaryss was speechless.
What?!
Children?
"Welcome, Mother," the girl, Blyss said with a slight bow.
"Hi there, Mom," the boy, Jeer cackled.
His smile widened, turning venomous.
"How nice to meet you at last, here…at the end."
The dark lord glared.
She had no idea what was happening.
Children?
They…they felt like her, they were clearly of Lylos blood, but how…
How?
A growl escaped her lips, far more savage than any that the mongrel or Wookie could do.
Darth Feer, she thought angrily.
What did you do?!