Vaylin despised insolent bastards who thought they could harm her. At least when it was Cassian or Jacques, they had the power to resist her unyielding force. When freaks like Exchange tried to attack her, it was downright insulting…Especially when they managed to wound her. Vaylin's pain and shame at showing a weakness combined into a whirlwind of fury that she wanted to unleash. She would tear them apart and make them suffer. They must have felt proud, coming so far as to wound the former Empress with a sneak attack, but they had to pay for it. But just as she was getting close, the kill got stolen from her by their welcoming party. Vaylin didn't feel like joining, but they provided some kolto to nurse her wounds, and Cassian was adamant about following through with the plan.
It was time to see this 'Paragon'.
As it turned out, he led a lavish life atop one of the towers with an entire penthouse dedicated to him and his operations. Koth spouted some more drivel about him on their way, but Vaylin didn't pay too much attention. Whoever this man was, he couldn't have been anything more than a deluded 'hero of the people,' just like Vinn Atrius. At least he could prove amusing.
When they landed atop the penthouse platform, Koth was ready to lead them into the reception area. Cassian discussed something with him while Vaylin followed behind without concerning herself with the future. Strange, after all those months of dedicated revenge, now Vaylin simply felt as if she was along for the ride, just an attempt to find some cheap entertainment…Something she shouldn't have been so content with.
By the time Koth and the military led them to the reception room, Vaylin's gaze focused on a soft crimson sofa at the heart of the room, along with a lavish carpet lying beside it. There was only one man sitting on it. It must have been the Paragon; he was older than Vaylin expected. Pale skin, slim build, blonde hair that began to lose its color, occasionally exposing the shades of grey. His eyes showed echoing doubt and even fear the moment he looked at her and Cassian, though he was good at feigning confidence and certainty.
"Welcome back, Koth…Thank Scyva, you're alive; when I lost contact, we all feared the worst." The man welcomed him with a kind, relieved tone.
"I'm not that easy to kill, especially not for some Exchange rascals." Koth declared confidently before noticing Cassian giving him a side-eye. "Though…I had some help." He admitted, making Vaylin chuckle.
"That's very modest, considering we saved you from a beatdown."
"Hey, I was already beaten up by the point we barged into you! I guess you did save me from death, so…Anyway." He looked at the man before them. "Guess I'm the one who needs to do introductions. Doran, this is Cassian and Vaylin, the ones you think about…And this is Doran Mart, the Paragon and one of the last people who gives a damn about Zakuul's future."
"You're honoring me, Koth; no need; this is a team effort," Doran said before standing up and looking at Cassian and Vaylin. "I can't believe my eyes…" Doran said in shock as he looked away for a moment, allowing Vaylin to sense his nervousness. He might have had the power and influence, but he was still just one man. No doubt he had a dozen defense protocols and escape routes in case they tried to attack him, but none of them would be strong enough. "Koth told me about his guests, but I assumed that there was a mistake. But that's clearly you…"
"Have we even men?" Vaylin raised an eyebrow.
"Not in person, no. I was one of the councilors under the Eternal Empire and saw you during the party at the palace of the Eternal Dragon; I was very lucky to escape before the bombardment."
"And what did you think of that day, then? Of me?" Vaylin wondered. "Are you afraid? Do you hate me for what I did? For how I annihilated my own people…"
"I was afraid back then; I can't deny it. I'm sure you understand the reasons for it. But now I'm simply fascinated by your return…How was it possible?"
"Easily. I broke my father's chains and became far stronger than he could ever hope to be! He came back a couple of times…I can, too. You shouldn't question it unless you want to lose a couple of limbs."
"And do you want to reclaim the throne of Zakuul?"
"No, I not a masochist."
"That clears it up, I suppose." Doran sighed and turned towards Cassian. "I've always wished for an opportunity to talk with you, Cassian Narok, a shame that the circumstances have to be…This."
"Did Koth tell you about the situation?"
"He did. As far as I understand, Darth Jadus, a powerful force-sensitive from your old Empire, returned with a new Armada and conquered Odessen with you two as the only ones that escaped." Doran recounted, making Cassian nod.
"Yes, and I won't leave it like this. I will reclaim Odessen and make Jadus pay for what he did."
"I see…And you want my help?"
"Koth said you are one of the most influential people in Zakuul nowadays. Was he lying?"
"No, I wouldn't say so." Doran shook his head. "Though this influence came at a high cost." He spoke with a grim, saddened voice. "I walked through the streets of our city after Exchange made their move, I saw our people suffer…There was no one else who cared to try and give them hope, so I had to step up. All of my connections and knowledge, all resources, all is spent on a just cause. And I'm grateful for brave allies who are ready to risk their lives for the cause." He said and looked at Koth with a proud smile.
"Zakuul is my home, too, and I'd love nothing more than to see it finally left alone."
"We will drive the Exchange out together; don't doubt it," Doran said proudly.
"Ahem," Vaylin interjected. "I'm sure you love patting each other on the back, but we're getting off-topic. Outlander?" She looked at Cassian.
"To keep it short and concise, we need a ship," Cassian stated. "We can't pay for it now, but once we retake Odessen, I promise the Alliance will compensate."
"I assume a traditional Zakuulan shuttle wouldn't do…You need an off-world transport."
"Naturally."
"Hm…I can give you one of my starships. They aren't a priority when it comes to fighting for our planet. But perhaps we could come to an arrangement? I won't ask for credits if you help me with something."
"I'm not your errand boy," Cassian said sternly. "I'm reasonable, but we have no time to waste, not when my friends are suffering under Jadus's thumb. If you don't want to give it to us, then we can always take it by force."
"No, please…Just listen. I have something that will benefit all of us!" Doran pleaded. "Our nearest spaceport that I had under control for months was ransacked by Exchange squads a few days ago; they breached the border and took over the Nahut's spaceport! We have a lot of our resources there, as well as our best starships that those thugs laid their hands on. You two are among the most powerful force-sensitives in the galaxy…You're practically gods! If you retake the spaceport for my men, you will do all of them a favor. And then I will gladly give you one of the starships docked there."
"That's…Reasonable." Cassian admitted. "As long as we don't have to wait for long."
"We might need some time to repair the damage those radicals dealt to the place once we have it, but you can move out as soon as you wish. Koth, will you fly them there?"
"Sure."
"So, what do you say, Commander Narok?"
"Very well, just this once." Cassian nodded. "For your sake, I hope you're not trying to drag us into your war."
"No, of course not! I wouldn't demand anything of a man who did so much for Zakuul." Doran said before looking at Vaylin. "And you…Many on Zakuul despise you, but this can be an opportunity to show them that you are different now."
"You're funny." Vaylin chuckled. "Come on now, I know you're smarter than to think that I actually care for your or any other Zakuulan's opinion of me. They can seethe all they want, music to my ears."
"Some things never change…" Koth whispered.
"You said something?"
"No, nothing at all."
"Don't worry, I'll still do it for the ship. And an opportunity to finally get off this swampy rock."
"Very well," Doran said. "Thank you for your help; you can depart whenever you wish."
…
Despite this interrogation ending up simply confirming her suspicions, Atiel was pleased with the results. She has spent some time away from Cassian, and gaining a perspective of those who served beside him for years was an opportunity she could not miss. Commander Narok was an enigma to many; he was not driven by any cause or aspiration, only by his feelings and devotion to the people closest to him, be it love or hatred. Of course, many people were like this, but none held a position so important and a title so prestigious; perhaps his desire for vengeance against the Emperor simply happened to coincide with what the galaxy wanted at the time. Now that this was put behind them, their motives diverged once again. Lord Jadus believed that Cassian might form an attachment to Vaylin similar to that he had with Vette or his other friends. Atiel wondered about the possible reasons for him to do it, but it wasn't her job to question.
It was clear, however, that whatever Cassian's feelings about Vaylin were, they weren't one-sided; otherwise, she wouldn't have saved him. Atiel and Jadus agreed with each other's assessment; it was too much work to simply savor the kill she never seemed interested in before. If, for some reason, Vaylin wanted Cassian to remain alive, they had a considerable problem on their hands and the most powerful obstacle to their cause yet. Atiel was about to pay a visit to Lord Jadus and give him a status report, but as the Chiss Agent entered his chambers, she heard him talk.
"We both walked the path of the Sith. I have no doubt that you understand how vital it is for us to adapt." Jadus spoke calmly, contacting a figure on his holo-comm. "Otherwise, you would have never sat on that throne."
"Indeed, but there are many ways we can adapt. Moving away from Sith games and towards ideals Cassian's Alliance espoused was one of them." A stern female voice responded, which Atiel immediately recognized, Empress Acina, the new leader of the Sith and one of the key figures in today's galactic politics…As well as someone who shouldn't have been aware of Odessen's downfall. "Commander Narok was an ally with whom we fought the Eternal Empire. If not for him, Jacques Elias, Lana Beniko, and others, we would have never rid the galaxy of Zakuul's grip. Even after I went behind his back on Iokath, he still chose to put his trust in me. Some Sith would call that depiction foolish, but we ended up prospering because of it."
"I am not denying that he was of great use back then, but times changed. Narok is not here to negotiate, but I am, and I urge you to consider the benefits of altering your agreement." Jadus explained calmly. "I seek no conflict with the Empire nor the Dark Council."
"I doubt that." Acina shook her head. "You always strived to gain more power in the Empire. Everyone knows about what scheme you pulled off to earn your influence. Faking your death, terrorism, pulling Intelligence's strings…I could go on. To be honest, the moment Vitiate abandoned us and Arcann's war created a power vacuum in the Empire, I expected you to return like you did before. The Empire was in disarray, practically ripe for the taking. During every step of my scheme, I always kept you in the back of my mind." Acina admitted. "You would've complicated matters, but you never made your move."
"I was…Distracted."
"And now? Am I to believe that the prospect of restoring your power just doesn't interest you?" Acina said with suspicion.
"You may have no reason to believe me, but that is the case. I'm sure Darth Xarion fulfills my duties in the Empire; you have no need of me.
"You're right, I have no reason. Are you going to give me one?" The Empress crossed her arms. "Explaining your plot will suffice."
"You do not truly expect me to reveal all the details, do you?"
"Who knows, perhaps you've changed, too."
"Not in that way, no." Jadus shook his head. All I can say is that the core of my plan shall remain constrained to the reaches of Wild Space and Alliance territories."
"What's stopping me from sending the Imperial fleet and taking Odessen for myself?"
"Nothing, but consider the outcome. I have an armada that will not go down without considerable resistance. Your fleet will suffer great losses, and I will most likely withdraw before you can reach me. Then you will have to take charge of a planet that houses far too many disgruntled men and women of the Republic, like Major Jorgan. They might have followed Cassian's lead, but they won't follow yours." Jadus explained, making Acina pause.
"I…I see."
"Perhaps a gesture of goodwill is in order? I know you're at war with the Republic and that your forces are spread thin, not to mention the loss of your new Wrath, Malgus."
"You know of him?"
"I have eyes everywhere, as I always did. My proposal is this, you have a need for Alliance soldiers, correct? I will ensure that you will get as many as you did under Cassian, perhaps more. Your operations will continue uninterrupted, and you will continue your war on your terms."
"You do realize that I will question whoever you send about what is happening on Odessen?"
"They will not know any more than I'm willing to reveal, but if you want to try and waste your time, I won't stop you."
"I see. And what do you want from me?"
"Only to turn a blind eye." Jadus laid out his terms, making Acina pause to consider.
"You're forcing me to take quite a gamble…Well-played. I agree with your terms. The Empire will not aid you with your plans, but we will not intervene, either, as long as we have suitable support for the war."
"You can count on that."
After Jadus ended the call, he immediately turned back.
"Come here, Atiel, I know you're listening."
"I wouldn't want to interrupt." The Chiss said as she walked forward. "I have to say, I have questions…"
"First, tell me of the interrogation."
"There isn't much to say. Cassian's associates confirmed our assumptions. Some of them tried to lie and spin a misleading narrative, but no one's facade was flawless."
"I see."
"Do you truly think he cares for Vaylin, my Lord? It doesn't make any sense considering their history."
"Perhaps the pain she went through reminded him of something from his own past. There was a reason she took his side."
"True enough. Vette said that the bonds he forms are extremely strong; we'd have to be careful."
"Indeed. How is the mood around the base?"
"Most made peace with their situation. We're putting those who didn't in their place." Atiel explained.
"Good."
"That was Empress Acina, and I take it she knows what we did. How?"
"An anonymous message sent through various frequencies from the galaxy did the trick," Jadus said in a grim tone. "It mentioned our attack and conquest of Odessen, and every major faction received a copy. They didn't think it more than a rumor, but they still decided to investigate."
"There are only two people who know what happened and managed to escape Odessen."
"Yes, Cassian and Vaylin are spreading the truth."
"Did we at least track the broadcast origins?"
"The encryption key was masterful, so not precisely." Jadus shook his head. "But I managed to identify the world it came from, Zakuul."
"So they went for Vaylin's old home…Didn't think she'd ever want to return."
"They might not have had a choice depending on how much fuel Cassian's ship had."
"I will go to Zakuul at once if…"
"No." Jadus shook his head. "We will deal with them once my agents find them, I have something else for you."
"Anything you need."
"We were bound to be discovered sooner or later, but it happened faster than my estimations said it would; we can afford no delays; if we want to proceed, the time is now." The man said coldly. "Get Oggurobb to talk. I need all the relevant data he has."
"Understood, my lord, I'll get to it."
"You know what to look for."
She did; among her Lord's plans, there was one word, one planet that remained constantly present, a key to their victory, just like the Voidcaller itself.
Iokath.