As it stood, there was no possibility of a safe landing, not after the damage Fury sustained, but Cassian still had to try. The Sith Lord did his best to reach the safest spot and save his ruined starship from any major damage.

He wasn't entirely unsuccessful.

He landed it in a secluded swamp with mostly even terrain and barely any rocks to collide with, the best he could possibly get in this situation. As Fury approached the ground, Cassian halted its descent and prepared for collision. Just one more resilient push and then silence. Nothing but the fading echoes of the creatures that lurked within those swamps.

He survived, and that was a start.

Once he landed the ship, Cassian ran a system check, wondering how much of the Fury still remained operational. This starship was a gift from Baras, one Cassian piloted for years now, broken and tarnished by the fall and fleet's cannons. Even the comms were broken. There was no way to reach out to anyone else. In a matter of hours, Jadus destroyed Cassian's starship, just like it took only one day for him to take Odessen, a planet Cassian and his allies turned into a stronghold and beacon of hope across years.

Cassian felt the persisting irony of his situation. It was just like the day Lana and Koth freed him from his carbonite prison and they had to escape Eternal Empire's clutches, ending up in this same swamp. However, this time, Cassian escaped his own home along with a woman he once ran from.

The first action he took after landing was to check on Vaylin and put her in a more comfortable position. She hit her head and went unconscious during the fall but was thankfully still alive and stable. After applying some icy kolto on her head, Cassian put Vaylin on one of the beds at the ship where she could rest for now.

He would check up on her from time to time. She was sleeping in silence, taking regular, slow breaths. It felt unusual to see her like this, so calm, so serene, quiet…And rather pleasant to the eye. There was nothing to restrain her with, and even if there was, Cassian wouldn't do it. The time for chains was over, and she was right in that they did nothing to prove his genuine intent. She saved him when she didn't need to, and this was enough proof that she felt something when they talked back about Odessen. And whatever Jac or Lana would say, Cassian felt like trusting her.

However, he still had many issues to deal with, starting with getting out of here. The Sith sat on the bridge, pondering on his next move. He was on Zakuul now, a world that separated from the Alliance after the loss of the Eternal Fleet but maintained diplomatic relations with Odessen. From what Jac and Lana told him from their previous visits, the world was in turmoil. Without a strong government, it got invaded by Exchange and other major galactic gangs, who were taking control of entire districts of the capital and fighting for control. No doubt, the Zakuulan council regretted cutting their ties with Alliance, but this was beside the point. All Cassian needed was to find some Alliance supporters with influence. The Sith had no doubt some remained after he liberated their planet from the tyranny of the Eternal Family. Then, he needed to contact Jacques and Lana, reclaim Odessen as soon as possible, and…

"Live…"

An image of the duel flashed before Cassian's mind. The sight of Jadus piercing Jaesa as she shielded him, ready to sacrifice her life without hesitation. Cassian felt his fist clenching at the thought. She was one of his most loyal friends, supporting him through times of conflict and doubt despite remaining strong and resilient during Cassian's attempt to push her toward the dark side…He remembered this pure joy in Jaesa's eyes when they reunited on Ossus. Even after all those years, her loyalty did not waver. Now, she died for nothing, cut by a power-hungry lunatic and tossed aside like a broken toy. She had no force, yet she was the one protecting Cassian, not the other way around…

Cassian felt a few tears fall down his eyes. He wasn't able to hide his weakness anymore, never if he didn't remain vulnerable for long. Pain turned into fury as Cassian slammed a wall with his fist.

He will make Jadus pay. Him, treacherous Atiel, and all of their accomplices.

Cassian felt something as if a small metal part beside him moved, a cushion that slid away a little. Good, that meant his force powers were finally returning, even if the poison still permeated his veins. Cassian raised his hand and focused on the furthest cushion, trying to drag it right into his hands. Normally, it wouldn't be a problem, just as simple as standing up, but it was different now. As Cassian tried to concentrate, he felt his hand ache and shake as the Chiss recoiled and let out a moan. It was a grotesque feeling, as if thousands of needles pierced his hand, all at the same time. It hurt, and the more Cassian tried to resist this pain, the worse it became. It was just like…

He froze at another image emerging before his eyes, a far more distant one, a stinging memory of the past, something he rarely thought about nowadays, but the sense of pain and malnourishment was far too familiar to him…

"It's alright…I promise you will be alright."

He heard a soft, gentle voice from behind him. A memory of a blue-skinned woman looking down at him with a somber smile, a pathetic attempt to comfort him. Her warmth, touch, and reassurance were what kept Cassian going, what kept him complacent for so long.

Out of all the memories that plagued his mind, this was by far the most disgusting and bitter.

…

If only they knew that such a precise strike would follow soon…But it was too late to prepare and resist. Everything happened far too quickly for most to even process, and now valiant warriors of the Alliance were put to shame by the conspirators. Raina was defending the war room and saw everything that transpired in there. The Voidcaller's effects, Jadus and Cassian's duel, the nearing execution, and an unexpected salvation. She could only guess what it was that drove Vaylin at this moment. Did she want to kill Cassian herself? Or was this a part of some ploy against Jadus and Atiel? Perhaps there was no need to explain a madwoman's actions, but thanks to her, the commander escaped death at Jadus's hands. If only there was any way of knowing what happened after…But all they could do was hope that Cassian would return, even if their hope waned with every passing hour.

After the battle was over, Jadus ordered everyone to the hangar bay, where he prepared an announcement for everyone on Odessen. After such a crushing defeat, most didn't resist. Few who did were killed immediately. The base was piled with corpses, among them Jaesa Wilsaam, Cassian's apprentice, Sergeant Fideltin Rusk, and Kaliyo…Despite their differences, Raina wanted a moment to pay respects to her fallen friend, but she didn't expect Jadus to allow it.

When Raina walked into the hangar, she saw a crowd of disarmed Alliance members. Soldiers, engineers, diplomats, and some familiar faces like Vette or Gault were there, surrounded by Jadus's knights and infantry. The Sith Lord stood on the podium, likely waiting for everyone to arrive. Even after his victory, Jadus's stone-cold expression didn't change. No joy, no pride, no emotion, just a desire to get it over and done with. This is the man Atiel dedicated herself to by the time they met, and even after he disappeared off the Empire's radars, she followed.

"I'm glad I didn't kill you." Raina heard another calm voice behind her. "Your expertise would be most useful when we deal with the Ascendancy," Atiel said with mild amusement as she stood beside Raina. Wherever Jadus went, she was right behind him, a shadow and a hand…That's who she always was. Raina shouldn't have been surprised. Atiel's loyalty didn't lie with any faction or government but with one deluded man. "Get in line, Temple."

"Why him, Si…Atiel? Out of all the Sith Lords and Moffs and…Why him?"

"You wouldn't understand." Atiel shook her head. "A shame, out of all the people, I'd expect you would." The Chiss said with disappointment before turning around; Raina heard approaching steps. "Is there anyone left?" Atiel asked, though this clearly wasn't addressed to Raina.

"No, I think that is everyone." Another familiar voice echoed from behind, making Raina take a few steps back in shock.

"Doctor Lokin?" She stared at him as if she was seeing a phantom. They separated soon after Atiel's mission to Zakuul, and Raina didn't expect to see the man again. Even so, seeing him again wasn't as surprising as realizing that he stood among those terrorists.

"Hello, Raina." He said in a somber tone. "Congratulations on your promotion…As overdue as they are."

"I'm sure you'll find a lot to discuss," Atiel said. "I'll check in with our lord. If she tries something, you know what to do."

"Of course." Eckard nodded moments before the Chiss agent left them alone.

"You are one of them?" Raina asked, still fighting her disbelief.

"Yes, I am," Lokin spoke confidently, though without any pride in his voice.

"Why? Atiel would follow Jadus anywhere, but you were loyal to Intelligence.

"Loyalties tend to shift over the years. I wouldn't expect to find you as a member of the Eternal Alliance either."

"So…Even you believe in their cause?"

"You know about it?"

"Atiel said some things, but she was discreet…Is there some anti-force agenda? They created Voidcaller for a reason!"

"Yes, but if I may point out, they didn't create it, only gave us the resources to do so."

"Us?"

"I was among the scientists that worked on its current version, providing all the necessary expertise. Ghastly business, I admit, but the breakthrough almost makes it worth it." Lokin was an inventor and a visionary at his core. Raina knew that. Yet even he knew better than to throw all his morals away and support terrorist causes like those.

"I don't believe you'd take part in it just for the thrill of discovery. You are above this!"

"I never said I did." Lokin shook his head. "I am repaying a debt."

"To whom?"

"Atiel." His voice grew quieter. "To spare needless details, my experiments caught up with me. I thought myself invincible, 'evolved,' but all of it was temporary…My cells began to err and deteriorate. I grew weaker with every month until I wasn't in a condition to travel, much less fight." Lokin recounted the tale with a shameful tone. "I retired to Alderaan to one of my safe houses. If my time was coming, I would rather meet death in peace and comfort of my home. All my past endeavors became a sweet memory, even our crew…Until Atiel found me. She showed up at the doorstep of my safe house to ask me to join her and her mission. I wasn't in any condition for it, of course, but that wasn't all. She didn't leave me alone and immediately volunteered to help. I didn't have much hope for the endeavor, but she saved my life. Any obscure ingredient from another world, every single element…She found them all and did everything I asked of her. And here I am…Alive and feeling better than ever!" Lokin spoke up as if still in disbelief that he found his miracle cure.

"You mean you would do anything for her?"

"Within reason, of course, humans aren't Wookiees. I just consider it well-mannered to help someone who gave me a future." Lokin chuckled. "She promised me a new lab, resources, and an intriguing new project to work on. As dubious as the cause may be, I am content to continue my research for it. This is why I follow her…And it isn't a story I would share with anyone, but now, with mistress Kaliyo dead, you are the last surviving crew-mate of the Phantom, you deserved to know." It was a nice gesture, but something did not add up. Kaliyo and SCORPIO were gone, but…

"What do you mean, the last one?" Raina asked with caution. "Last I heard, Vector was alive on Alderaan, surely you didn't forget him…"

"Ah…You don't know." Lokin sighed. "Atiel met master Vector, too, giving him the exact same proposition. I assume she wanted to gain Kiliks' support for Jadus's cause. He refused…And never walked away from their meeting place."

"Are you serious?" Raina said in a trembling voice. "So not only did she kill Kaliyo, she killed Vector?! He was the most loyal among all of us back in the day, if…If she had no issue killing him, why would she have any with you?"

"She won't." Lokin undercut Raina. "I'm sure if I refused, she would've handled me in the same way."

"And you still follow her? Even after all this?"

"That much is an agent's life. For us, attachments are just a hindrance. Vector was a good friend, but I won't waste time ruminating about a dead man." He said sternly, unveiling one of the harshest truths in their life. "And I would advise you to do the same. If you want to live, you'll cooperate with them."

Before Raina could respond, she heard Jadus's loud, cold voice ring out from the podium.

"People of Odessen!" He began his announcement, making everyone turn towards him. There was something unnerving about Jadus…His emotionless, uncaring expression, his lone yellow eye staring at people in front of him as if they were maggots beneath his heel. "Thank you for your attendance. I am sure you have many questions about your current situation, and I am about to provide you the necessary answers. I am Archon Jadus. From now on, I have officially seized control of the Eternal Alliance and Odessen." He spoke as if he owned the place, and no one dared to speak up. Not after such a crushing defeat, not while they were within the firing range. "For those who fear for your own life, you have nothing to worry about. None of you are my targets and are more useful to me alive. You are not allowed to leave the planet without my permission nor use any kind of communication. All landing pads and holo-channels are under my control; you won't escape unnoticed. If you follow my commands at any given time, then you will live, that I promise. All I need is resources and some people's cooperation…As for those who are not afraid to die for your cause and the leaders who abandoned you, I have words, too. None of you may be my targets, but neither are any of you essential to my mission. If you attempt to resist or cause trouble, you will be exterminated without a warning. I hope this is clear. And if you don't care for my word, perhaps hearing it from your former leader's chief advisor would be more appropriate." Jadus stepped aside, allowing Lana Beniko to walk onto the podium. She looked down with eyes full of shame as Atiel followed right behind. Eventually, she looked at her people. Raina knew she didn't want to admit defeat, yet defying Jadus would just kill them all. It was a necessary decision to make, no matter how painful.

"As the Advisor to Commander Cassian…Stand down." Lana spoke sternly. "I understand your pain and hatred, even fear…I share most of those feelings. However, dying in defiance achieves nothing. If any of you want to have a chance to battle in the future…Now is your chance to secure it."

"I do not intend to give you any chances." Jadus shook his head. "But she is correct; as long as you are alive, the tiniest of possibilities exists. There are certain measures that I shall implement to avoid any violent accidents. A number of you are capable of using the force…That is a weapon you can't be allowed to wield." Jadus looked at Atiel, commanding his agent to step forward. She held a collar in her hand, looking just like the one put on slaves in the Empire, but this time, it gleamed with a dark violet tint. "The force-sensitives among you will be adorned with void collars. Another invention of my engineers. Every hour, it will release a dosage of the Voidcaller into your veins, keeping your connection to the force permanently severed for as long as you keep the collar on. If a collar's essence is damaged even slightly, it will explode along with your head. I am sure that your code of conduct is clear." After those words, Atiel adorned Lana with the first void collar, making the Sith let out a pained moan as it released the first dosage into her neck. "I hope our work together will prove most fruitful."

…

It took time for Vaylin to recompose herself after opening her eyes. She tried to remember what happened, but it was all a chaotic blur. The battle on Odessen, an unstoppable army of void-wielding attackers, her walking among them before making the final choice. Running away as the Voidcaller weakened her, the starship, then darkness…Now that Vaylin woke up, it was silence once again, only a faint echo of monitors that she could hear.

Vaylin was shocked the moment she realized that she was unrestrained. Once her vision returned to her, Vaylin looked around, finding herself in one of the small rooms aboard Fury. She lay in a fairly comfortable bed, free to move. She clearly was unconscious for who knew how long, yet apparently Cassian didn't even attempt to tie her? He was a very brave man…Brave or foolish. Vaylin hoped it was the former.

She took a deep breath and stood up. Her legs were still a bit shaky, but she was getting better with every moment. Something within her changed, as well, Vaylin felt the force returning to her…The Voidcaller couldn't hold her back for much longer, and as her powers returned, Vaylin couldn't help but allow herself a smile of pleasure. She turned towards the door, raised her hand, and ripped it apart, creating a pathway into the heart of the ship. It felt good, feeling unchained once again.

"It was open, you know?" An amused voice echoed from her right, making Vaylin turn around and see Cassian sitting at the table, looking at her with a rather unimpressed stare. A little amused, but not afraid…Yes, he was certainly intriguing; perhaps she had made the right choice after all. "At least you got your force back. Now we know for certain that it's not permanent."

"I needed a little warm-up. Not like this scrap is ever flying again!"

"As if you wouldn't do the same thing anyway." Cassian sighed and crossed his arms. "I got my force back, too."

"For how long was I out?"

"A few hours. Plenty of time for me to check around the ship and see all of our broken comms…"

"Wait, why didn't you chain me? You could've put me in a kolto tank or something, or…"

"There was no need."

"Are you stupid?" Vaylin said with emerging annoyance; he was too calm and collected as if he didn't understand what kind of power he faced. "I can kill you in a second, and you won't even be able to react…If you aren't scared, you should be."

"Something tells me you wouldn't…If you really wanted to kill me, we wouldn't be here now."

"I said you aren't dying without my permission." Vaylin clenched her fist. She still couldn't grasp what it was exactly that she felt as Jadus was about to swing his lightsaber and end Cassian's life, but she couldn't let it happen. She wished it was as simple as not allowing the bastard to steal her kill, and yet…

"We are alone now, Vaylin," Cassian said. "You can try, but no one here is here to take that chance away from you."

"You're…You're impossible!"

"So, are you taking your shot or not?"

"I…No! Not yet!" Vaylin shouted angrily, having to admit the obvious.

"Good, so we're on the same page, then."

"Huh?"

"We need to find a way out," Cassian explained. "Out of those swamps, and then, off from this planet."

"Ah, of course…We've come home." Vaylin said with disgust that Zakuul was the last place she wanted to be.

"Your home. I was hoping we reach the city and land there, but that shot ruined that." The Sith stood up and walked towards the half-broken door leading out to the swamps. "Good news is that none of Jadus's underlings showed up here; they lost us."

"Maybe they think we're dead."

"I doubt Jadus will stop until he has proof. From what I heard about him back in the day, he never leaves a task unfinished…" Cassian sighed. "And I am not going to back down, either. He humiliated me and took Odessen in a single strike…And he killed Jaesa." Cassian said quietly as he looked away for a moment, breaking his stoic facade. This young woman clearly mattered to him, and Vaylin could easily mock her, yet a faint shadow of conscience stopped her.

"So, it's revenge, then? Kill him, kill them all, right."

"Yes," Cassian said with confidence, which made Vaylin smile.

"I knew you can be fun…"

"First, I need allies. Some Alliance envoys are on Zakuul."

"Didn't Zakuulans tell you and the Alliance to fuck off?" Vaylin chuckled.

"They thought that without Eternal Fleet, Alliance's protection and government were worthless; it didn't end well for them. Now they're overrun with Exchange and have gang wars all over the place."

"Oh, this is too fun!" Vaylin giggled, imagining her people caught in all this chaos. "This would never have happened with me in charge. Shouldn't happen with anyone in charge, not when you can just bombard them into dust!"

"I doubt they have the firepower now that the fleet is gone…Or maybe they just don't want to kill thousands of their own as collateral damage."

"What a boring government…"

"Anyway, I'm sure we'll see how they're doing soon," Cassian spoke up in a more authoritative tone. "There is an Alliance embassy in the city; if I get there before Jadus does, they will help me get off-world." He sounded confident, clearly knowing his course of action. "And you?" He turned towards Vaylin, making her raise an eyebrow in surprise.

"What?"

"You're free now, I can't chain you even if I wanted. You can go and start killing everyone you see in the city for all I care…And if you will, you'd better avoid the Alliance embassy."

"Hm…" Vaylin hesitated. This was true, she could go to the city and annihilate every pathetic Zakuulan in her way. That's how Jadus got her to aid his plan in the first place, was it not? The promise of sweet revenge on the people who betrayed her. But now that this opportunity was closer than ever before, Vaylin began to lose interest. "I think I'll stay with you for a while." She smiled. "Zakuul is a dangerous place. I wouldn't want to see poor little you die to some gangsters." She said with a tone of playful mockery, but Cassian ignored the veiled insult. He seemed to have gotten exactly the answer he expected.

"Good, that will make things easier…No time to waste, then. We shouldn't be that far from the city."

It was time to find civilization.