There was no time to waste when it came to the newly-started investigation. It was clear that there was a conspiracy brewing among those who called themselves the Eternal Alliance. A conspiracy that took hold on multiple planets at the same time. Zakuul, Odessen, and Copero were confirmed to house those malicious renegades at some point in time, and there was no doubt in Cassian's mind that there were more still hiding in the shadows. Worse yet, they had a newly-created chemical as a weapon, the one that re-invoked the disturbing feelings within Cassian, which the Sith thought no longer existed.
The two main leads were Zakuul and Copero, with the latter being a more pressing concern considering that Chiss managed to infiltrate Odessen and even caused some damage. Cassian was ready to depart the moment he was prepared, and of course, Jac would follow him. The Jedi wanted to uncover the secrets of this conspiracy just as much, and it was clear that the unlikely duo had yet another battle to fight. Early on the morning of the next day, Cassian made his way to the shuttle, where Jacques and a number of elite Alliance troopers were waiting for him. However, as he was about to enter, the Sith Lord heard someone calling him from behind.
"My Lo…Commander Cassian!" The voice was confident yet hid undertones of fear. The Chiss turned around and laid his eyes on Raina Temple, who clearly followed him all the way here. "May I have a moment of your time? I wish to help."
"If you want to help, then help clean the mess your 'brethren' made. I don't have time for chitchat." The Sith replied coldly. "And if you've come to speak excuses…Well, let's just say I expected more from you."
"No, I am not here to try and garner sympathy." Raina shook her head. "That would be terribly incompetent and improper of me…But I understand that I made a mistake, and I want to do everything in my power to set things right. I was the one that recommended those recruits and spoke up for them when they volunteered to join and that makes me partially responsible for the incident." Raina sighed with shame. "But considering that you're heading to Copero, my expertise will be of use."
"I have my doubts about that." The Sith was unimpressed.
"I worked with Aristocra Saganu for years now. I know him well, and it will be much easier to convince him that working with you to uncover the conspiracy is worth forgetting our previous disagreements and putting our differences aside." That was true; Saganu might think Cassian and the Alliance were accusing him of supporting those saboteurs even when this was not the goal; having Temple by their side to convince him that there is no ulterior motive would be a boon. "I also have a few theories that I might check and see if anyone on Copero knows…"
"Knows what?"
"I checked up with Irol and how the interrogation is going…He is very pained and looks broken; I think he wants to tell us the truth."
"Then why doesn't he?"
"I doubt he can. See, there was a certain…Point during Atiel's travels when her superiors brainwashed her, or I suppose 'conditioned' would be a better word. She couldn't speak of certain things or commit certain acts, her brain just rejected it. When we met on Hoth, she was under its effects. Not that she could reveal this to me until breaking this conditioning later, of course. I wonder if Irol had something similar done to him on Copero. It would be the most efficient way to prevent someone from giving out crucial info, won't it?"
"Hm…" Cassian pondered, thinking on the likeliness of this theory. He heard of similar techniques, most of which he associated with how the force itself can corrupt a mind. The most recent example he witnessed was among the sights that he would never forget.
Kneel before the Dragon of Zakuul.
It made Cassian's blood boil, but it would explain a lot. It would be invaluable to have Atiel by his side, she would have more knowledge than anyone else when it came to conditioning, but considering that no one even saw her in over a year, her former companion would have to suffice. Combining that with her connections on Copero, Raina had a good case made for her.
"Very well, you've convinced me…Come aboard."
"You won't regret this, commander, I promise."
…
When the necessary preparations were made, Atiel allowed Vaylin to track her ship, which she placed in the same dock prior. Of course, if Vaylin would defy any 'orders' or threaten the mission's secrecy, any opportunity to join the First Archon would be lost, and she would never be able to track the Ninth Siren's ship again. Or so Atiel said, at least; Vaylin decided that there was no point in testing fate before she even knew how worth this endeavor truly was.
And so she followed Atiel into her master's lair.
It was a remote space station deep within the unexplored region of space, finding itself in the middle between a galaxy that the outlanders called 'known' and Zakuul's space. No wonder it was hard to discover; they must have done their best to maintain secrecy. There was an airlock right near the one Atiel took. Vaylin was welcome to join. She hesitated at first, if only for a few moments, but there was something that felt wrong about this. For a moment, she even wondered if remote life on a farm in Aldeeran was a preferable option, but she quickly tossed those thoughts aside. This was an opportunity for true vengeance. Why would she ever think of passing it up?
She landed and entered the gray halls of the station; they resembled classic Imperial design, though there were some elements borrowed from Zakuul, mostly decorations such as statues and paintings. Atiel led on with Vaylin treading behind her. They made their way to the bridge where Atiel's mysterious master was waiting.
"Any first impressions?" The Ninth Siren spoke with curiosity. "Personally, I find this station quite cozy, a perfect place for focusing and doing something productive."
"It would make for an…Alright Star Fortress." Vaylin admitted. "Except it would need actual people or droids guarding it. When you spoke of you and your master running this operation, I assumed you didn't literally mean two people…"
"Of course not. Our recruits are very busy and spend most of their time away on assignments. You should see some of them before long."
Let's hope they aren't too annoying…My fingers can get a little sparkly if they are."
"Try and avoid stirring chaos on board. My lord doesn't take kindly to it."
"Easier said than done."
The chitchat made the time they spent walking around those empty decks flow quicker; it wasn't long before the two women reached the gate that led to the bridge. The moment they opened the door and entered the room, Vaylin immediately sensed a familiar presence which made her more cautious. Something that reminded her about Zakuul and the eternal throne, of a particular moment from a long time ago, even though she wasn't sure which one it was. The presence came from the man in dark robes that stood in front of Atiel and her. He gazed right at the stars through a transparent window and wore dark gloves. The moment they entered, Vaylin saw him slowly turn his head towards his guest.
"You have done well, Atiel." He revealed his face. A man with pale skin, black hair that stopped just above his shoulders and had a few spots of withering grey in them, some barely visible stubble…But the most noticeable part was the lack of one eye. It was covered with a black patch, with the other eye carefully analyzing Vaylin. Why was he so familiar… "I did not expect the scouting mission on Tython to bring us this unexpected yet fantastic reward, but here we are…" He slowly stepped forward, getting closer to Vaylin with every second.
"It was a pleasure, my lord. An opportunity which couldn't be missed." The Chiss sniper responded.
"Indeed, for with an ally like this…We can truly be unstoppable."
"Wait…" Finally, she remembered the man that challenged her father shortly before Marr and Cassian arrived, who battled against her and her brothers and faced a humiliating defeat, a one-eyed Sith… "I remember you! You were the Sith Valkorion captured. He gave you the opportunity to fight me, Arcann, and Thexan!" As she said those words, she remembered the punishment Valkorion gave to him, the worst nightmare one could conceive of…And yet here he was, smiling and chuckling as he clearly enjoyed this moment.
"I'm glad you remember me, Princess…Or should I say, Empress? Much and more has changed since we last met. My name is Jadus, formerly Darth, though most know me as the First Archon." Now she remembered the name. It was her father's old acquaintance from the Sith Empire.
"Now let me make this clear…" Vaylin reached out for her lightsaber. "If you lured me here to get your revenge for what happened in the throne room, I will resist! And guess what, good boy Thexan isn't here to hold me back." She smiled, anticipating a fight, but the Sith remained still.
"No need to ignite your blade; leave that for our enemies," Jadus spoke in a confident, stern voice. "I do not hold onto petty grudges, not when there are far more important matters for me to attend to. My purpose here is, as Atiel described…I only want you to listen."
"Well, I suppose that is alright…" Vaylin let out a breath of relief. "But first, tell me this. How are you even alive? You were on Nathema at the Sanitarium. I annihilated that place…I have questions."
"And I will gladly answer them." Jadus nodded. "The truth is, there is nothing miraculous in my survival. Valkorion sent me to Nathema to a sniveling worm by the name of Jarak…" If there was anyone Vaylin despised more than her parents, it would've been the deranged scientist that tormented her in the Sanitarium. She wouldn't wish upon anyone to become his victim.
"I wish I could imagine how 'fun' it was…" Vaylin spoke quietly and looked to the floor. "But I don't have to imagine."
"He was quite interested in breaking my spirit, thinking that an adult like me would be a suitable next step after his successful work with a child."
"He mentioned me?"
"He talked about you a lot; it was akin to listening to an architect describe his greatest sculpture yet…" Jadus's tone conveyed a fraction of insanity Vaylin remembered hearing from Jarak. It was enough to make her blood boil.
"Enough! I can guess the rest myself."
"My apologies; it must be a very hurtful subject for you." Jadus sighed. "But rest assured, if there is anywhere you would find understanding and someone you may share your struggles with, it is with us. Atiel was once a victim of conditioning that limited her free will, and as for me…I believe that requires no explanation. Having to feel him cut my skin, having to fight ravenous beasts day and night as he watched. It might have been an opportunity for me to perfect my skill with a lightsaber which I certainly used, but everyone has a breaking point…Even I could not last forever without the force. And living without the force for five entire years…It made me feel broken and powerless, but it also opened my eyes in many ways. The pain I endured, the chemicals, the shock therapy…It made me stronger in the end, yet no words can describe the pain it took." As Vaylin listened to his words, a gleeful voice echoed in her mind.
"Wake up, little princess, or you'll be late for our morning session…The chair is waiting."
Vaylin felt her heart begin to beat faster. A few more seconds, and she will begin shaking. She took a deep breath and focused on Jadus. All of this was in the past…She was here, far away from Nathema, and Jarak was dead and gone, as was mother, as was father…She was alright, she was alright…
"So…You escaped?" Vaylin tried to support the conversation.
"Yes. It was in the wake of the chaos that overtook the Empire when SCORPIO claimed the throne, and Arcann threw all of his forces towards the mission to destroy Empire's Wrath once and for all. He needed all the support he could get, even going as far as to call off some security from the Sanitarium to aid him in the coming battle…This was my chance." Jadus smiled. "When Jarak conducted one of his experiments, I managed to break free and reach one of his communication terminals, a place that would usually be far more guarded than on that day. It was enough for me to give away my location…Atiel can tell you the rest." He gestures toward his agent.
"I was on Odessen when I received the signal from Darth Jadus. I've spent all those five years searching for him and wondering whether he was alive, but I did not expect to find him on the planet I did not even know existed…Needless to say, I abandoned all my duties and prepared for a rescue operation."
"You broke into the Sanitarium and rescued him without any aid? That sounds far-fetched…" Vaylin crossed her hands.
"You underestimate the Ninth Siren's capabilities," Jadus said with pride. "Her skills were enough to convince Sith Lords to change their opinion on those without connection to the force."
"Thank you, my lord, you flatter me," Atiel spoke with gratitude. "But coming back to our story, I infiltrated the Sanitarium on Nathema and rescued Lord Jadus. Jarak didn't even know I was there."
"Then why did I hear nothing about the Sanitarium losing a prisoner?" Vaylin said skeptically. "Those should've been in the first report I received as an Empress."
"Perhaps Jarak thought you would not be interested," Atiel suggested, and Jadus spoke next.
"Or perhaps he feared your wrath if you learn of such a failure. I imagine he was always walking on rather thin ice…"
"That he was…" Vaylin said and giggled. The mental image of a terrified Jarak desperately trying to cover up the fact that he couldn't keep his own subject brought a smile to her face. "I only kept him in case I would ever need consulting on all the things he did to me. And as you might know…That moment time came sooner rather than later."
"Either way, it was fortunate that he decided to keep the truth secret," Jadus explained. "I became practically non-existent to the entire galaxy apart from Atiel, a perfect cover that would have given me time, for I already had a plan emerge in my mind…" His voice gleamed with enthusiasm. "A plan the fruits of which you've already tasted…" The Sith looked at Atiel's rifle, giving a rather clear hint.
"That anti-force poison?"
"I use the term 'voidcaller'," Jadus said. "An invention which took many brilliant minds to create, and even now, its formula is far from perfect, but the strides are marvelous. I studied Vitiate's trace on Nathema, the state of absolute absence of force, lifeless void by any other word. Atiel, meanwhile, searched day and night for those who would help our cause, and she did…We discovered a method by which one can capture the void on Nathema and later even replicate it, something that destroys midi-chlorians and cuts off one's connection to the force. Only temporarily, so far, but you have to agree that it is a breakthrough. You've felt it yourself."
"Yes, and I don't appreciate being shot at." Vaylin scoffed.
"An unfortunate but necessary measure that will not repeat again. We want you as our ally, not an enemy, after all…"
"Speaking of which, an ally for what? I am still not privy to your goals." Vaylin said with suspicion.
"If I revealed all my intentions to any potential recruit, I would have been dead a long time ago. You, if all people must understand…My goal is to change to the Galaxy, to put it simply, to shift the order of this world. A Great Reset is coming, the one that history has never seen prior." She could feel the enthusiasm in his otherwise calm voice. "And whatever the end goal is, I can reassure you that the path towards it will be everything you ever wanted. Zakuul will feel your wrath, the wrath of a woman about whom they whispered behind their back, who they despised and mocked, who showed their true colors once a more powerful being came into the spotlight…"
"The Outlander?!" Vaylin spoke up. "He is nowhere near as powerful as me."
"And yet he defeated you."
"He wasn't alone!"
"I see…In that case, this would be another opportunity for you to prove to the whole Galaxy that they were wrong for believing in the Empire's Wrath. I have the connections and resources that will give you much-needed allies so that this time, you wouldn't be alone either." Jadus spoke sternly and confidently; Vaylin could feel the anticipation in his voice. It all sounded lovely and cathartic, yet she couldn't help but feel reluctant at the mention of Outlander… "That is your heart's desire, is it not?"
Was it her desire?
Before Vaylin could answer, she heard a fearful voice coming from the door.
"My lord!" She looked around only to see a Zakuul knight with scorched armor rushing toward Jadus. The Sith immediately turned towards him with a stark look of disappointment in his eyes.
"I did not give you the right to interrupt my council." So he had Zakuul knights at his service…Intriguing.
"Please, forgive me, my lord, but this is urgent!"
"I know what you are going to talk about." Jadus sighed. "A failure of some kind."
"Well, I…"
"Your voice is dribbling with fear. It is rather obvious. Go on, then, do not keep me waiting."
"The squad I was in…We attempted to lure some Alliance leaders into a trap…Lana Beniko and Jacques Elias wanted to negotiate, but…"
"What?"
"The trap didn't kill them…They fought back with their own reinforcements and killed most of our men, and worse yet, they…They got a sample of the voidcaller." The knight looked down in shame. Vaylin expected Jadus to rage or unleash his fury, but the Sith remained silent. "Our Chiss spies on Odessen followed the orders you left them for such a case and did their best to destroy the sample before they could study them on that very day…They succeeded, but it cost us two deaths and one captured prisoner…"
"I see," Jadus said in a grave tone. "Anything else to say?"
"I'm…I am sorry."
"Apologies will do nothing when you haven't fought hard enough."
"But we…I swear; we did everything we could!"
"Were that the case, either they would've been dead, or all of you would've been." The Sith shook his head.
"I…That will not repeat again, sir."
"I know it won't. But we will make sure of that." Jadus turned towards his agent. "Atiel?"
"At once, my lord." The Chiss sniper looked at the knight.
"No, please, there's no need; I learned from my mistakes…"
"Codeword: Onomatophobia."
The agent spoke coldly, and those words triggered something in the knight's brain. The man immediately froze like a droid who sought to shut down. He stood in a stationary military position and looked directly into Atiel's eyes.
"I await your instructions."
"Go to the waiting room and wait for lord Jadus. He will come for you in time."
"Yes, ma'am." The knight said in a robotic, emotionless voice before turning around and walking towards the exit in utter silence. All fear that he experienced was gone in an instant; all those human emotions that held him back became obsolete at him hearing a single word. Vaylin only looked for a few seconds before feeling the disgust in her stomach.
Kneel before the dragon of Zakuul.
She turned around as swiftly as possible, once again trying to take her mind away from this grotesque image. She was used to seeing this before her death; the pain GEMINI droids experienced when she subjugated them felt natural and didn't make her care, but now…
"He won't bother us again," Atiel said calmly as she looked at Jadus.
"Let's hope he will prove more useful after I do some corrective work with him." The Sith sighed. "We lost three agents and the element of surprise because of his squad's failure, but this is a loss we can recover from." He said with hope and confidence. "The Black Codex's secrets proved invaluable…As would she." Jadus looked towards Vaylin. "Have you made up your mind?"
"You brainwashed that man…" Vaylin said. "And if you know recent history as much as you claim to, you'd know what it reminds me of."
"I see." Jadus didn't sound surprised. "You're fearful to see me act in a way similar to your father and what he did to you…But you must understand the necessity of those procedures. I require loyal and impeccable soldiers, and for them to arise, certain emotions that are common to each and every one of us need to be numbed, sometimes even erased. If it makes it any easier for you, they agreed to it."
"Why?"
"Because they believe in our cause. There are many across the entire Galaxy who harbor certain…Misgivings, yet they feel powerless when it comes to acting upon them. Indulge them, and they will follow you to each and every world in the hope of achieving their dream."
"Is that what you want to do with me, then? Indulging my misgivings to your own ends?"
"I propose a mutually beneficial partnership. The rest is irrelevant. You have suffered through trauma, Vaylin; I knew people like you…Some, rather closely. If you agree, then in time, you will realize that I am not your enemy and that you can let go of your distrust of others. But for now, if you need to see what I've gone through, to know how much I can understand you…Close your eyes and surrender to the force's flow in this place. You will see. Oh, that you will." He sounded soothing and even understanding, yet Vaylin still didn't feel like he spoke the truth. Jadus had father's aura…The aura of a liar, just like Atiel. But if she went that far already, perhaps it was simply too late to retreat…
Vaylin closed her eyes.
"And a little more!"
She heard the buzz of an electrical current piercing a human body and heard screams of a tormented man tied to a metal chair amidst the hell she grew up in. A man in rags with blood dripping from his endless wounds, his lone eye staring at the fading light between him, barely able to react. A powerful Sith Lord reduced to a lab rat for Jarak, he hasn't seen the light for years, and even now, cracks have formed in his spirit. In fact, the only emotion that still held his sanity was his desire to be free, to grow stronger from this torture. No matter how painful the ordeal was, the Sith did not show weakness and remained strong, even when staring into the eyes of slow and painful death, the eyes of Jarak. He wanted to live, wanted to avenge himself, and now he finally got his chance…Vaylin wanted that, too.
…
The path to Copero wouldn't have taken too long when having an advanced shuttle that can easily jump through hyperspace, but it still would take some time when accounting for all parts of the journey. Cassian was not a patient man. He despised waiting, especially when the research he undertook was vital to the Alliance's future. Many at their base underestimated this threat and believed it was another uprising; Cassian wished he could stay as confident and calm as those people. Yet the burning feeling that the chemical reignited within him did not allow Cassian to maintain this confidence. Only the Emperor's foul stain could evoke such powerlessness within him or Lana; this was enough of a cause to worry. To think that he might have yet another plan to return back to life…This being truly was eternal, as much as Cassian despised to admit it.
"No rest for the weary, eh?" Cassian heard Jacques's voice as the Jedi entered his chamber. The Sith Lord didn't mind company; anything that would keep his thoughts away from their new issue would be enough bliss.
"Is that sarcasm I hear from you?" Cassian chuckled. "I had my doubts whether you were physically capable of such feats."
"Remind me not to indulge you next time." Jacques shook his head and sat in front of Cassian. "I simply find it ironic that it has barely been a week since we destroyed the goddamn Immortal Emperor once and for all, and now we are already dealing with a new threat of unidentified scale."
"We will root them out," Cassian said firmly. "Though I would say I much prefer it when our enemies are courteous enough to make their intentions and possibilities obvious…Like Arcann did."
"Him and Vaylin both," Jacques added. "And I'm pretty sure we don't want to encounter anyone on their level."
"Still prefer them to Revan and what his little cult did…Poisoning our ranks and infiltrating highest orders, all while spreading their agenda, manipulating our leaders as if they were some playthings."
"Look at it from the bright side. That's when I met you and Lana, and even up to this day, we keep defending the Galaxy together. Maybe it's not as strange nowadays, but most would've laughed at the absurdity of suggesting an alliance between Jedi and Sith." He was right; if it wasn't for Revan's conspiracy, Cassian would've never met Jacques and Theron, maybe not even Lana, all of whom he considered close friends after all they went through together. Their quartet led the Alliance with wisdom and dedication, each of them balancing others' weaknesses with their strengths. However, there were some doubts he harbored in regard to how durable this Alliance will prove in the current political climate.
"Jac, I've been meaning to ask…" Cassian looked into his eyes. "Ever since the battle on Iokath, really."
"I'm all ears."
"Why did you stay with the Alliance?" Cassian asked. "I have supported the Empire on Iokath, Ossus, Corellia…I fought side by side with Malgus against the Jedi, and even though I kept the Alliance independent, we have still clearly taken a side in this war. Many former Republicans decry it; I had some extensive talks with the likes of Jorgan since that decision."
"Huh…" Jacques sighed without showing any surprise whatsoever. "You're not questioning my loyalty to the Alliance, do you?"
"I thought that you might want to return to your people in the Republic and the other Jedi. If you want to, I promise I won't hold you here."
"I'm not going to lie; I don't approve of this deal with the Empire. It might be your home, but I still consider it a nest of vipers, especially the current Dark Council. Any noble Sith who could be reasoned with are either dead or left their posts. My loyalty doesn't lie with them. It lies with the Alliance…Because I trust you, Lana, all others I fought side-by-side with, Republican or Imperial. The Republic blended their knee before Zakuul while you fought for the freedom of all Galaxy." He spoke with pride and admiration, reminding Cassian of the path they went on together.
"Thank you…" The Chiss sighed. "And sorry for doubting you, Jac. I remember you saying you were disillusioned when it came to the Jedi philosophy."
"Yes, this was why I don't seek to return…" Jacques said with sadness in his voice. "As much as I hate to admit, there are some things that we can learn from the Sith…"
"Now, that is something I never expect to hear, even from the wisest of Jedi." Cassian crossed his arms. "Make your former allies don't hear it."
"I have nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of, not to mention that I was once as young and idealistic as any Jedi." He spoke with shame. "But when I became a part of the team that attempted to turn the Sith Emperor himself to light, it made me learn an important lesson in a gruesome way…We foolishly extended our hand, and he took control of the masters and me, causing them to wreak havoc in the Galaxy to serve his twisted will."
"The boundless mercy of your order never ceases to amaze me, even if the endeavor is objectively moronic and has no chance of success."
"He was a creature of pure darkness and evil, he had nothing redeem, he couldn't be saved…He didn't deserve to be saved. He deserved to die so that Galaxy could be safe and gain justice." Jacques clenched his fist. "When Arcann and Vaylin attacked, I wouldn't have trusted the Jedi order. They would've given them a chance after chance, spitting on the wants of people they're supposed to protect. I didn't care if I had to join Sith at that point; anyone who was ready to end those monsters deserved my support." He spoke with admiration. "Senya's death was a tragedy; she did not deserve such a fate…But I'm grateful that you realized that this sacrifice was necessary to make. You rid the Galaxy of Arcann and I of Vaylin…Before we defeated Vitiate together once and for all, as it should always have been."
"Indeed, indeed…" Cassian sighed. He should've agreed enthusiastically with Jacques; after all, their philosophies were very similar when it came to such matters, but for some reason, he couldn't force himself to do so.
"You don't sound too sure."
"I was just thinking of my own reasons for leaving the Sith and how similar our conclusions are."
"Didn't you say you got tired of their intrigues and strives for galactic domination?"
"Yes, exactly…Politics bore me more than anything, and I'd rather…Well, doesn't matter." Cassian undercut himself; he was close to admitting that he struggled to care for the Alliance after the Emperor's death, and all his later actions made him feel confined to the war. He no longer had stakes. "Suffice to say I prefer a more pragmatic approach than some of my more unhinged colleagues."
"I'd call what you did to that Chiss pretty unhinged…"
"I said pragmatic, and that includes getting my hands dirty when there is a necessity for it," Cassian spoke sternly. "It's an approach we will need when dealing with…Well, whoever those assailants truly are."
"I rarely see you worried, especially when it comes to uprisings like this one…But there's something different about this one. Is it about the chemical?" Jacques asked cautiously. "Lana said it reminded of dead Nathema…I never visited that planet before life returned there, but I imagine it has been…An experience."
"If there is one subject I would rather not talk about, it is Nathema," Cassian said rather confidently. Even thinking about the drain, he felt as he explored the Sanitarium, to think of the things he found and how powerless he felt…Those were the ruins of an entire civilization with a nightmarish prison built on their bones.
"Lana didn't feel like discussing it either…That gives me enough of an impression."
"It was worse than any of us expected…" Cassian sighed, he wasn't going to tell the entire story, and he knew Jac would not demand it; they understood each other's limits well. "Sometimes even the most dedicated Sith reach a breaking point…" Cassian said, thinking of a secluded room at the very heart of the torture facility where a child had to spend years getting broken by her own father and his merciless servants. "A point when even they can no longer justify the depravity they see, when they can only look at the nightmare before them with their eyes wide open, praying it would soon end…But it doesn't. Lana and I will never forget Nathema, and you should be grateful that you don't know how it feels."