The attack on the manor didn't go exactly as Vaylin expected it to, but the outcome was good enough. The Aloys eagerly handed over half of their life savings in exchange for their lives and thus gave Vaylin more than enough to buy a starship while still having enough on her not to worry about trying to get anymore in the near future. She purchased a ship of the defender class, similar to those Jedi used. Of course, Vaylin tried her best to avoid that particular Zabrak; if he had as much as a single brain cell, he would be surprised by her having more than enough to make a purchase, considering their previous interaction.
And from there on, Vaylin charged into space, finally free from all restraints and with her identity being kept secret from everyone in the galaxy. If she felt like it, she could keep it buried forever and start her life anew…But Vaylin knew better than to try. Her experiences defined her, and no matter how hard she tried, she would always remain Valkorion's daughter, a former empress, high justice, and 'patient' on Nathema. She didn't want it to be this way, but that was simply the truth of the matter. Vaylin spent hours drifting in space and thinking about what it was she wanted to do; the woman's mind still remained empty when it came to ideas…But eventually, one sprung up.
It came from Vaylin taking a look in the mirror, reminding herself that she was still confined to Syl's body. How incredibly disappointing…Vaylin didn't like her looks, the hair especially. When she first regrew her hair after losing them on Nathema, Vaylin colored them in dark brown; her natural blonde hair reminded her of the days before Valkorion took her…She thought she was ready to let go of them at the time. Alas, she grew fond of her long dark hair and wanted it back…Vaylin tried to imagine how this body would look with her hair. She would look just like Vaylin's old vessel, minus the pale skin that she had thanks to malnourishment suffered by Nathema. Not the worst outcome. She'd gladly take it. Yes, a do-over was in order…
Vaylin chuckled at the thought. Before she died, she was hellbent on conquering the entire galaxy and destroying her father, arguably the most powerful being that ever existed. Now all she can come up with is getting a haircut…Well, everyone had to start somewhere. At least this would give her an opportunity to think more about her more grandiose plans.
As to where she should set course…Planets like Coruscant or Dromund Kaas were the obvious assumptions, but Vaylin didn't want to get too close to the political centers of the two warring factions, especially ones filled with Jedi and Sith. Some of them might sense the power inside her and try to chain her again. However, there was another world with countless opportunities, though many would consider it too chaotic and dangerous. Vaylin had no reason to fear anything, and considering that this was the world where people from all over the galaxy would come to for the most…Exotic embellishments, so to speak, it was her best choice.
It was time to set the course to Nar Shaddaa.
…
Just when Cassian began to get invested in learning more about this mysterious chemical for all the wrong reasons, he had to get interrupted in a very unceremonious way.
"Eh…Did everyone hear that?" Theron looked towards the elevator, which led to the lower levels, directly to the place from which an explosive sound raged. Vette raised an eyebrow.
"You'd have to be deaf not to hear it! What in the world is going on there?"
"Perhaps a malfunction," Cassian suggested. "Wouldn't be the first time. Remind me to hire engineers that can actually do their job next time… I'll check it out. Stay here for now." The Sith commanded and made his way toward the elevator, but his Jedi battle partner decided to follow.
"Hold on, I'm going with you!" Jacques spoke up.
"I've defeated Arcann twice without any aid. Do you really think I can't extinguish a fire?"
"I have a bad feeling about this…This doesn't feel like a trivial malfunction."
"Even if it's sabotage, you know I am well prepared for it."
"I know, but I want to see what's going on for myself and aid you." Jac was firm. "I remember you saying that those were the duties of a second-in-command, so why the change?"
"Trying to win over with polemic, aren't you…Fine, come along, but don't distract me."
The Sith and the Jedi descended to the storage rooms below the throne hall, and it quickly became clear that the shockwave came from there. The two blade masters saw a cracked yet still-standing metal wall. There was a fire started, but it was fainter than what Cassian expected to see. Soon he realized that they weren't the first ones who noticed the fire; there were three others. One of them, Cassian quickly recognized as Raina Temple, Nile; the other two were blue-skinned young Chiss men, recent recruits from the Csilla system Raina was so passionate about.
"Did you see what happened here?" Raina asked her associates.
"No, sorry." One of them said. "We heard the sound, but by the time we checked, there was absolutely nothing except for the fire. You arrived at this very moment…"
"At least no one is hurt…What happened here?" Raina wondered, but soon she noticed the two warriors approaching.
"Does someone care to explain what is going on here?" Cassian looked over his allies.
"Commander Cassian, Blademaster Jacques…" Raina said respectfully. "I'm afraid we know no more than you, it all happened so quickly, and surprisingly, I wonder if there might have been a malfunction…"
"Malfunction, you say?" Jac pondered. "I talked to our engineers when they showed the layout of our base, and I remember that there are no pipes or anything that might otherwise malfunction at this spot."
"That's…A good point." Cassian sighed. "Perhaps I should've spent some time on getting to know that, too."
"Would definitely be more useful than another reckless battle."
"Anyway…Any other theories?" Cassian looked over Raina and the Chiss; there was something very suspicious about this. The two recruits seemed a little too shy, they avoided eye contact, and Cassian could see the fidget from time to time. They couldn't have known about this, could they? The Sith threw a glance at Jacques. It was more than enough to convey his suspicion; after years of fighting side-by-side, the former enemies knew each other very well.
"Where were you exactly when the explosion happened?" Jacques looked at the two Chiss. "Was there anything suspicious happening around?"
"Not really, no." One of the recruits shook his head. "We were delivering some reagents for Dr. Oggurobb and happened to pass around here."
"Are you…Sure about that?"
"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"
This was the moment when Cassian noticed that the second Chiss took something out of his pocket, a long-distance controller, which immediately reminded Cassian of the ones miners used on Quesh…
"Jac, get back now!" The Sith shouted just in time for the Jedi to react reflexively and jump back as the recruit pressed the button.
Another explosion followed immediately, shattering the section of the wall that separated the duo from the agents of the Ascendancy. Jac and Cassian got pushed back, as were the other three.
"AAARGH!" Raina shouted as a shard of the wall pierced her leg. She looked up at her Chiss brethren with disbelief and shock. "Ganet, Formbi, what are you…" She spoke up, but it was too late; one of the recruits took out his blaster and aimed it at her, ready to shoot at any moment.
"Wait!" Another one shouted. "She can be our hostage, take her and go to the rendezvous point! I'll kill those two and follow you!"
"Understood." The second one nodded and grabbed Raina. The woman would've resisted, Cassian knew she was a good fighter, but the wound and shock were too much for her at this moment, making her surrender to agents who matched her in skill. The Chiss that held her displayed remarkable might by pushing Raina out of the room to the outside hall without it affecting his speed whatsoever. If they weren't quick enough, he would escape. As for Cassian and Jac, no muddled vision or the painting echo in their eardrums prevented the two from seeing the second Chiss taking a grenade out of his pocket.
"Don't even try to get up!" The recruit shouted mockingly and tossed this grenade right at Cassian, but of course, he underestimated the Sith. Moments before it landed, the Cassian raised his hand and slowed the grenade down, making it freeze in the air, it was his to control, and there were still a few seconds before detonation.
"I don't need to." The Sith said arrogantly and used the force to push this grenade right towards their opponent, a push that occurred far too quickly for him to avoid. The grenade exploded in front of the Chiss recruit; the shockwave and flames quickly laid him low. When Cassian and Jac stood up, what was once a man became a charred corpse.
"How crude…" Jac shook his head.
"Would you rather he kill us? Come on, we have another one to deal with!" Cassian commanded, and Jacques followed him to the outer hall, which led towards the Cantina.
"Don't you dare shoot!" The other Chiss's angered voice pierced his ears moments before Cassian saw him passing by a squad of Alliance soldiers with their weapons pointed at the saboteur. "Or I will kill her here and now!"
"Ganet, what's going on?!" Raina shouted as she attempted to push him away and break free, the initial shock wore off, and now Cassian could sense her anger and disbelief at what her comrades did. It was enough to ascertain that she was either an impeccable actor or didn't know anything about whatever those Chiss tried to accomplish. When Ganet noticed Cassian and Jac encircling him, his hands began to shake, though he still attempted to feign his confidence.
"Stop, or I'll shoot! I'm serious!" He looked at Cassian with rage in his eyes.
"No, you are not. She is the only reason you're still alive; you won't let go of it so easily."
"You want to risk it?" Ganet put his blaster right at Raina's cheek. If he decided to shoot, no one would be quick enough to stop him.
"Calm yourself, please." Jac stepped forward. "Don't hurt her; we can talk this out."
"See, this is why I didn't want to take you…" Cassian sighed with disappointment.
"You will…You will let me go!"
"Absolutely no," Cassian said dismissively. "You try to threaten a Sith with a single murder? That might anger me…But it definitely won't stop me."
"Sith? I heard you rejected that title!"
"Since when did rejecting titles the same as becoming weak? I am not going to repeat myself, but I can give you some time to consider…No more than a minute, though. If you surrender now, we will take you to custody and treat you with… Let's say, measured respect."
"I…" The Chiss hesitated, and his grasp weakened. This was the moment when the tables turned. Raina seized the opportunity, pushing Ganet back with force. She was not nearly as strong as a properly trained Jedi or Sith, but it was enough to catch him off-guard.
"Get away from me!" She shouted as they finally separated. "What were you even thinking?! Aristocra Saganu said…"
"You…Can use the force? But how… Doesn't matter, die!" Ganet was about to shoot, but Cassian tossed his lightsaber forth, cutting through Ganet's flesh like paper. In the next instant, his splintered body fell to the floor. Cassian didn't wait for a single moment and turned toward his soldiers,
"Lock the spaceport; let none leave until I allow it! We have saboteurs in our midst!"
"Yes, sir!" The troopers chanted and got to work.
"And you, Raina…I have questions." Cassian said with little patience in his voice as he looked at the terror that overtook Raina's face.
"I…I swear I had no idea!" She spoke up. "Those were the volunteers that came here after getting their permission from Aristocra Saganu. I never knew them before they came here…"
"I hope you are not lying, lieutenant. I do not tolerate lies."
"Cassian, calm down." Jac's voice echoed from behind. "She came here before any of them; why would she know?"
"I am not letting a single potential lead slide." Cassian shook his head. "Now…"
Before he could continue, however, the Sith heard his comlink. It was a call from Lana…He didn't hesitate to answer it.
"Cassian, where are you?!" She said with worry in her voice.
"Dealing with a little uprising…"
"We need you here! We just had one of the recent Chiss recruits, Irol, come here to deliver a 'message.'" That hardly sounded promising. "But the moment he approached, he threw a stun grenade to disorient the three of us; it got him only a few seconds, but he was already gone…He took the chemical."
"What?!"
"He's heading to the hall that leads to the eastern landing pad, I've already sent some troops there, but you can intercept him quicker!"
"I'm on it; he won't escape," Cassian said with confidence, turned the comlink off, and looked at Jacques. "I'll go to the landing pad; you gather some troops and join me."
"I will be as quick as I can. You should hurry, too!"
There was no doubt about that. Cassian made his way towards the landing pad as he wondered about what was the point of this 'operation' All of the Chiss recruits were recent arrivals, and all came within a span of one week; all turned out to be involved in this sabotage. Could this be some kind of revenge from the Chiss? No,
It wouldn't make sense. The timing was far too late if it had anything to do with the operation on Copero. Raina, one of Saganu's most trusted advisors, didn't know about it, either. If they took the chemical, they must have known something about it? Renegade spies, perhaps?
It was time to find out. When Cassian approached the pad, he saw a lone and visibly fearful Chiss holding back the violet reagent. When he saw Cassian, he immediately charged to the edge of the platform.
"Of all people, it had to be you…" He said with spite.
"Too many incompetent people to trust anyone to do my dirty work. At least you see when you're outmatched." The Sith ignited his red lightsaber. "You know, for some reason, I'm not surprised that your kind ended up causing a problem so quickly."
"'My' kind? You are a Chiss yourself, yet you dare speak like that? My friends were right…You are a traitor to our entire species."
"You cannot betray someone who never cared about you in the first place."
"Even after the Ascendancy welcomed you with open arms…Delusional."
"You can whine about it in your cell. Surrender now, and I won't make you suffer and beg for my mercy."
"Ha-ha…" Irol put his blaster to the vial. "I know you need this; I know you want to learn more, to discover what this is, but if you attack me, I will destroy this vial here and now!"
"How unoriginal…Come on then, humor me. What's your proposal?"
"Let me go, and I'll give you the vial." It wasn't the simplest of choices, Cassian had to admit. Having a sample of this mysterious chemical would give an opportunity to learn more about its properties a purpose, but having a saboteur to interrogate would allow Cassian to learn more about his motives and connections to the renegades, perhaps even the formula itself. The Sith decided to take his chances.
He was ready to toss his lightsaber at the saboteur, but Irol was faster. He blasted the vial in front of Cassian, unleashing a dark cloud that spread around him. The Sith's heart skipped a beat at the realization that the reagent was lost, but he didn't stop the onslaught. He rushed right into the dark cloud, attempting to force choke Irol. To his surprise, the force didn't listen to him…No matter how hard the Sith tried, his enemy wouldn't surrender to him and instead continued to blast at Cassian, making him continue his attempts to evade the shots. The Sith felt his connection to the force weakening, felt the silence that overrode any powers he had. It might have been to a lesser extent, yet the parallels with the dead Nathema were clear. Could it really be another virus? Another of Vitiate's weapons?
Despite the weakness, Cassian didn't hold back. He raised his lightsaber, cutting off the saboteur's hand that held the blaster.
"ARRRGH!"
The agony caused him to scream and cling to his wound while Cassian grabbed him by the neck and tossed him to the center of the pad, away from the spreading poison.
"You've made a big mistake…Be glad I still need you for info, or your head would've already fallen down to the abyss."
This was when the trooper squad arrived, led by Jac. They were hasty, but once they realized that the saboteur was apprehended, he slowed down.
"Sorry, I should've come earlier…Are you alright, Cassian?"
"Fine enough…Take this scum in; we have some questioning to do."
…
"And here it is…" A proud Mirialan woman spoke with delight as she rested out for the mirror, leaving Vaylin alone in the chair for a few moments. The transplantation and coloring were never quick if one was to do it correctly. Vaylin remembered getting angry when the servants that 'stylized' her hair went overtime. For some of them, it ended up being the last order they ever did…But now, she still had nowhere to go, no goal to pursue, and thus no reason to get angry.
She was lucky to find a talented barber on Nar Shaddaa among all the crooks and charlatans that called this city-planet home; she did her job in time and did her best not to cause her client any discomfort. It was so soothing that a few times, Vaylin even felt like falling asleep. It was quite an achievement considering how much she despised sleeping.
"Take a look at your new hair." The barber put the mirror before Vaylin's eyes, allowing her to see her new appearance. Long brown hair that reached her shoulder and went even lower. It was only the hair that got changed, but somehow this made Vaylin see herself very differently. The realization pierced the woman's mind…It was her. Not a spirit, not Syl, it was her…And she was still alive, for better or worse. Her new life. "It really suits you. Just look at how pretty you are!"
"It looks just like…Well, just like I want it to." Vaylin allowed a saddened smile to emerge on her face. Once again, she had to think of the past, no matter how much it hurt…There was nothing in her past that did not hurt.
"I'm glad, then. Thanks for your payment; now you're free to go and enjoy the new look. Come visit me again if you need a haircut!"
"Yes, yes…Sure." Vaylin wasn't engaged in the conversation; she was too focused on watching her own reflection. It will take time to get used to.
Vaylin walked past the barber, saying her goodbyes and leaving. This woman seemed very genuine and friendly, a surprising quality for someone from this planet. Vaylin knew younger her would've found the mirialan annoying and would've killed her like some kind of nuisance, but she was too tired to care about hurting bystanders at this point. Let them be and enjoy their purpose. They were lucky to have it at all.
As for Vaylin…She walked the gigantic streets of Nar Shaddaa with spires rising to the heavens all around her, surrounded by partying crowds, drunkards, and warring gangs. The cycle of life continued just like it must have been before those people knew the meaning of the word "Zakuul." And amidst all of this, a woman who should've long become one with the force lost in the void of thought and confusion, the question she asked the moment she opened her eyes still remaining a mystery.
Why did she choose to live? Why did she want to live? What kind of goal did she want to achieve when she didn't even know which planet to go to?
This stream of thought outs have lasted for a long while, but soon Vaylin noticed someone…A slim figure hiding in the shadows of the large houses with what looked like a sniper rifle behind her back. A silent watcher staring right at Vaylin.
She was being tracked.