"Hi, you wanted to see me?"

Seeing Raina find some time to speak in private was a small relief for Lana, but it was better than the endless doom and gloom she had to go through in recent days. Cassian was on Zakuul, and Jadus's forces hunted him and Vaylin. Lana knew full well they wouldn't stop until they got what they wanted, but she couldn't do anything but watch. And now, as if the matters weren't bad enough, Oggurobb bulged and decided to aid with Jadus's Voidcaller project along with Lokin. She couldn't stand aside and do nothing, not anymore. And when the opportunity presented itself, Lana invited Raina Temple to the cantina. She knew that Temple visited Oggurobb's and Lokin's lab. They needed to plan their next step.

"I did, yes." Lana welcomed Raina as the woman sat down. "Fancy a drink?"

"I prefer not to drink on the job, maybe in the events…So, should we get to the point?"

"Yes, let's. About your visits to the lab…"

"You've been spying on me, haven't you?" Raina said with immediate suspicion, reminding Lana of her past in Intelligence. With a position like this, there was no other way but to always remain alert.

"I kept an eye out; it comes with the territory."

"Making a plan to oppose Jadus already?"

"I wish…I don't have enough resources to pull it off. But the least I can do is to know what is going on behind closed doors."

"And why me? I'm not the only one who visited the lab."

"You're Dr. Lokin's old friend, if he'll tell any of us something even remotely close to the truth, it will be you." Lana explained. "You talked about the Voidcaller, right? What did he tell you."

"Not much." Raina sighed. "I tried to get to him, but he knows how agents play those games, as we both do. He says he doesn't know Jadus's plans."

"Do you believe him?

"Yes. He's loyal to Atiel because she found a cure for his disease back on Alderaan, and that means he'll follow Jadus even if he doesn't share his secrets, just like Atiel would. It's his honor…Not often do you get an opportunity to repay earnest debts in our sphere of work? He must decide to take the opportunity." Raina said in a quiet, pained voice. "But now I know what the goal of his research is; he explained the details."

"I know where it's going, Jadus doesn't try to hide that fact." Lana sighed. "A weapon that can cut the force bond forever. Reduce any of us to to ordinary people for the rest of our lives. I was hoping to learn why, but it seems we're on the same page here."

"Jadus and Atiel will never reveal it until it's too late, and I doubt anyone else knows. I can't quite wrap my head around it…Why would Jadus want such a weapon to exist? The only reason I could think of is destroying his opposition. He could strip the Dark Council and remnants of the Jedi Order from the force so they can't stop his campaign, or maybe he could use it to threaten others and force them to join his side…"

"It still doesn't add up, not completely. There's only a handful of Jedi and Sith in the entire galaxy who can rival Jadus in force mastery, and I'm sure if they were his targets, he'd find another way to get rid of them. Something that couldn't be used against him so easily. Atiel could decide to betray him, and all she would need is one shot."

"Atiel is way too loyal. Ki, I could see turning against him…"

"Point is, it can be anyone, but Jadus still decided it's worth the risk. There's also the stories he's telling to Oggurobb and others but it's hard to believe he actually means it."

"Yes, the Star Cabal will turn on him the moment they get rid of other force-wielders, I'm sure he understands that. But that's all we got for now.

"Whatever the case may be…We can still try and act."

"How?"

"Whatever Jadus is planning to do with the Voidcaller, the consequences would be catastrophic. We should sabotage the development or at least slow it down."

"And then get shot by Atiel or force-choked by Jadus."

"Depends on how we approach it. I'm monitoring Oggurobb closely. Lokin is on you."

"What do you expect me to do?"

"It might be a long shot, but if Lokin's sense of loyalty and honor were impeccable, he would have never gotten a career in the Intelligence. You are his former colleague and friend. After Atiel, you're the only person who has any influence over him. Show him that following along with Jadus's plans won't do anyone any good. There's only so far that repaying debt goes."

"You want me to appeal to his morals?"

"You know him better than I do, Lieutenant, that's why I asked for help." Lana stated. "I'm not sure how successful it will be, but…You understand we need to do something. Anything but just waiting around."

"Very well…I'll try my best."

…

Ever since talking to Kaia, Vaylin abandoned all hopes of sleep. She prepared for a long, tiring night of lying down and wallowing in her own obsessive thoughts. She knew what kinds of thoughts and images would plague her mind tonight. At least it was a partial reprieve, making it much better than nothing at all. Maybe she can try and sleep for a couple of hours…How funny that Vaylin began to hope for some sleep for the first time in years. She knew how chaotic and damaged her soul was, and the moment consciousness shut down, it was free to unleash her inner demons.

Even now, as Vaylin lied in a bed in the room Kaia gave them, it was better to wait in silence, rolling around from one side to another, itching and trying to find a comfortable position. It never lasted, however, as nothing felt comfortable anymore. Nothing except…

Cassian lay on a bed nearby, and every time Vaylin happened to look at him, she felt a split second of peace. She wished it would last longer; she felt it could develop into a beautiful, serene feeling, but it evaded her. Eventually, she began looking at Cassian more and more, wondering if it would help her maintain the feeling. It was a futile attempt that left Vaylin in complete silence once again until she heard his voice.

"Having a hard time sleeping?" Cassian asked in a slightly tired tone, startling Vaylin a little. She was certain that he was asleep.

"I…It's not like it's easy to sleep when that idiot Koth knows where we are!" Vaylin tried to think of an excuse, this being the first that came to her mind.

"As annoying as he is, he won't be a problem."

"But those thugs with the Voidcaller will be…If he tells them."

"If he wanted to do that, they would've already raided this place, you can trust him for now. He is a good man at his core…Just susceptible to clever manipulations."

"I hope you're right…However, if he betrays us, we can always kill him and have fun doing so. Win-win."

"It's not…Not really because of Koth, is it?" Cassian wondered, making Vaylin pause.

"What do you mean?"

"You seem like you have a hard time sleeping. We didn't have anyone hunting us last time, and still…" Well, if anything, he was direct and straightforward, and Vaylin appreciated it. Most of the time, she was the same, but there were some intimate matters that she didn't discuss with anyone. Sleep was one of those.

"I thought we moved past that." She said with slight irritation.

"That's fine, don't worry," Cassian reassured her. "I couldn't sleep either for years after leaving Copero…And I didn't go through nearly as much pain as you did."

"Oh, please, don't start the pity party again."

"Didn't intend to. Simply saying that if you trouble again, come to me."

"And you'll help me…How?"

"I don't know." Cassian sighed. "Just being there by your side seemed to do the trick last time."

"I guess…Thank you." Vaylin didn't plan on saying those words, but they came out of her mouth almost reflexively. "I actually had a nice sleep for a few hours…Doesn't happen often."

"No need to thank me; helping you was its own reward."

"Really, now?" Vaylin raised an eyebrow. "I wonder what did you get out of this…I guess you stopped me from accidentally destroying that room."

"No, that's not it."

"Then what?"

"You'd laugh if I told you." Cassian chuckled, making Vaylin all the more intrigued. He must have played some kind of long game here. There could be no other explanation. Before she could continue, though, Vaylin felt chills going down her spine as she reflexively shivered. A memory flashed before her eyes, one that she desperately tried to avoid all night of how she paced around Arcann's throne, looking at a fearful knight before her like a predator toying with its prey.

"I understand you're both upset…But there was no way to know they would recruit the Mandalorians of all people."

"At what point do you tell me something that keeps you from decorating the bottom of the spire."

"B-but I don't deserve that!"

"Yes, I know, it's going around."

She shook as the nightmare dissipated. Vaylin felt sweat pouring down her skin as she began to breathe heavily.

"Fuck…" Her lips quivered.

"Is everything alright?" Cassian asked in a concerned tone as she avoided eye contact. Don't show fear or shame; she knew she just couldn't afford it. Still, it was hard to keep herself together, not when her hands were shaking at the thought of looking into that sweet, innocent girl's eyes, knowing what she knew.

"I…" Vaylin knew she couldn't hide it any longer. Guilt and shame weren't emotions she felt often, yet now they pierced her from within. At this moment, speaking the truth to someone else felt worth it. Worth escaping the terror. "Kaia's mother, the night…I know who it is. I'm not good with names, but if she was the knight overseeing Darvannis, she was the one who brought her report to me and Arcann."

"You mean after Mandalorians crushed your forces?"

"Yes, that…She didn't have any good news to bring and failed to defend the planet, and I wasn't very forgiving when it came to my underlings."

"You killed her, I take it?"

"Yes…I pushed her off the ledge and made her into a puddle of blood at the bottom of the spire." Vaylin clenched her teeth. "I…I don't understand. I did it so casually at the time. It was funny, even, but…If I knew how important she was for this girl, I…"

"Maybe you changed your outlook. Happens to all of us."

"I didn't!" Vaylin spoke up before holding herself back, swiftly realizing that Kaia could wake up if she was too loud. "I never once hurt a child, I…I know how it feels for them; it's…I didn't want them to feel like I did!" She spoke frantically. "But when I killed my knights, my enemies, I never thought that they could be someone's parents, that if I kill them, I will ruin some child's life. And it….It should've been obvious! It's common sense! Now that I know, I…I wish I didn't do it."

"Hm…You said you didn't want a child to feel what you did, right?"

"Uh-huh. Not that I cared at first, but every time I thought of harming a kid, it was just…" Even now, trying to remember those moments was utterly disgusting. Vaylin saw them as gruesome taint, the one she desperately had to expunge. Every time she imagined herself harming children, she felt just like Jarak. "I don't know; I never felt any child would care if I kill some knight, even if they're a parent."

"Probably because of your own parents."

"Huh?"

"They failed you, didn't they? Doubt you would miss either of them."

"Yes…" Vaylin said with brimming disgust. "I always wanted to kill them for what they did to me. Over and over…Mother was lucky you got to her before I did. I would've made it very slow and painful." She said with spite in her voice. "I would've made her look into my eyes, beg for forgiveness, would've watched her cry and try to justify herself…This pathetic bitch. She was afraid of me, she hated me, and then came to save me, thinking that I'd just come back to her and be the sweet girl she wanted me to be! I just…" She hated her so much. At least Father didn't pretend to care when he turned out to be a monster.

"Save your breath, not like you'll ever see her again now that she's dead," Cassian said calmly. "You'll just end up feeling worse if you think about her for too much and still won't be able to change anything."

"So you're a psychologist now?"

"No, I've just been through something like this too…Been wasting a lot of time being furious at something I couldn't change. It was useful for a Sith; in a way, we take our fuel from rage and emotions, and this was exactly the source I needed, but it became tiring eventually. And I get why you wouldn't think twice about potentially killing someone's parent. Not all of us are lucky enough to have parents worth loving."

"Yours were horrible, too, weren't they?"

"More or less."

"Care to tell?" She asked, seeing Cassian visibly hesitate. "Come on now, you know everything about my life at this point, time to return the favor. I know you hate your dad…"

"And with good reason." Cassian sighed. "Do you know much about Chiss culture? How do they treat force-wielders?"

"They see them as disgusting and contaminated."

"Exactly. I was born as an heir to one of Copero's noble Chiss families, we were known for devising extremely effective weapons for the Ascendancy. My name was Casd'elaos'oattashu, Delaoso for short. I learned about my force powers when I was still a boy. My parents did, too. I didn't realize the gravity of this discovery back then, but my father was not happy. He couldn't handle the thought that his firstborn was 'contaminated' and 'impure'."

"How very stupid of them. Surely anyone would want some strong force-wielders on their side."

"Cultural habits die hard, I guess. My father didn't want to disown me at first, but he made it clear that if he wanted me to inherit anything from him, I must stop using the force. That I should just live my life pretending I'm like the rest…" Cassian clenched his fist. "I didn't listen. First, out of curiosity for my powers, then because I wanted to rebel against my father, but either way, I wouldn't give it up. He tried to use chemical procedures, some of them very painful, to sever my connection with the force, but at most, he could only weaken it for a few moments. He would've loved to have the Voidcaller on his hands…He grew to despise me because of my disobedience because I didn't want to hide my natural talents." Vaylin began to understand. His father feared him, tried to lock his power away, and was ready to torment him for this. They weren't so different, after all.

"And your mother?"

"She tried to remain neutral and mediate, but it was all useless. At most, she would sometimes blurt something out about how her father was going too far, but he'd quickly shut her down. She stood by his side and watched, tried to get me to comply and abandon the force…Eventually, I escaped my house and Copero altogether. I wanted to get revenge on my parents, but first, I needed resources and credits. I met a lone bounty hunter by the name of Jorad Narok; he took me in and taught me a lot about the galaxy at the time. He has been a good friend for a time; we hunted together and were an unstoppable duo."

"Your new name…I guess you took it after him?"

"I did, yes, as a homage. Jorad died in a bloody battle; no one could heal his mortal wounds, and I was alone yet again. However, this very same battle had some Sith notice me and invite me into the Korriban Academy to work on my force powers, something my parents never allowed me to do. I accepted, of course…And you can imagine what happened next. I never spoke to my parents until father's recent visit, and he's as much of a scumbag as he always was."

"Your parents, they…" Vaylin paused for a moment. She felt like she desperately wanted to say something, but her thoughts and feelings were so unusually tender, so comforting, that it was hard to put them into words. "Your parents deserve to suffer for what they did to you. And then have their heads chopped off. Or maybe start with limbs so they feel more pain…You get the point." She said, making Cassian smile as if he understood exactly what she was trying to convey.

"Thank you."

Before Vaylin could respond, however, she heard heavy steps echoing from outside of their room.

"Did you hear that?" Vaylin said, only then realizing that it was for her own benefit to stay quiet.

"Yes…" Cassian's tone immediately changed to extremely cautious.

"That's not Kaia, is it? The steps are too heavy."

"Heavier than most adult men's."

"Skytroopers?"

"Doesn't sound like durasteel…"

Vaylin couldn't help but give in to her curiosity as she slowly moved towards the doors. She wanted to see who it was. After Vaylin was piqued outside, what she witnessed shocked her to her very core.

"What the…"

There were two large, bulky silhouettes standing outside; they had dark skin, which allowed them to merge with their surroundings, and the only element that identified them was a dark violet glow that their bodies radiated. Upon closer inspection, Vaylin realized that those looked like no species she had seen before. The faceless beasts walked around the living room, clearly searching for something or someone. One of them passed by the door to Kaia's room, which made Vaylin's heart skip a beat. However, after a short pause, the beast moved aside.

"What do you see?" Cassian whispered.

"Some purple monsters…Big bodies, creepy faces, if you can even call them that. One just passed by Kaia's room and the other…Wait, where's the other?"

She didn't have to wait long to get her answer. The monster was right behind the door. It jumped forward, forcing its violet arm to go through the opening Vaylin used to peek through.

"FUCK!" She recoiled in shock but couldn't get far away; its claws reached her hand. Vaylin heard many sounds at the same time, two monsters busting through the door, Cassian igniting his lightsaber and her own screams. But all of those were drowned out by the pain that she felt spreading in her veins was too much to bear…But it was also so familiar. It was the void's stinging yet again.

"Nekghouls!? Here?" Cassian spoke in disbelief as he took on his battle stance. "Vaylin, we can destroy them together!"

"They…" Vaylin coughed before showing Cassian the violet wound on her hand, a sight that made the Sith recoil.

"Damn it…" He hesitated, but only for a moment. His next step was to rush towards Vaylin and grab her shortly after he put his lightsaber away. The woman clenched her teeth at the realization that she had no choice but to get saved by him once again. He leaped out of the nearest window, getting both of them away from the cramped space of a room. In the next moment, they were outside of the apartment, standing amidst a shadowy street of the Undercity.

"What are those things!?" Vaylin finally allowed herself to speak loudly as Cassian gave her her lightsaber that he grabbed on the way.

"Nekghouls from Taris, a smarter, sapient form of rakghouls."

"Rakghouls?"

"Never mind…"

"Should they have the Voidcaller in their skin?"

"No, that's the first time I'm seeing something like this." Cassian said with doubt. "Stay close, I'll lure them out in the open, then they won't be a problem…Aaargh!"

Before Cassian could finish, a purple shard pierced his elbow, forcing the Chiss to let out a scream of sharp pain. Vaylin shook as she realized that the beasts weren't their only problems. She did her best not to panic, as hard as it was.

"W-where…" Cassian looked around. The force now left him, too. Vaylin helped him search for the shot's origin until she finally traced it. A tall figure clad in durasteel armor with a jet pack on their back and a sniper rifle in their arms.

"Look out!" Vaylin pointed at the enemy, but they already took a shot, this time with a regular blast. In the few seconds she had, Vaylin activated her lightsaber and reflected the blast back at its sender. By this point, both Vaylin and Cassian realized the threat but they stripped of force, and the assailant was preparing to take another shot.

"Run!" Cassian shouted as he pointed towards an adjacent plateau, the one covered by spires and looming platforms, where it would be harder for the assailant to get a clear shot. Vaylin didn't have to be told twice. She ran after Cassian without looking back. The enemy fired a couple more shots, but they ended up missing, allowing Cassian and Vaylin to rush into the alley. However, Vaylin heard the echo of an activated jet pack; they were clearly being followed. Two of the most powerful paragons in the galaxy were reduced to weak, vulnerable beings in a matter of a few shots; that was the Voidcaller's power.

"What do we do now?!" She asked, making Cassian look around.

"There!" He pointed to a darker alley. "We can try escape through there, it will be harder for them to find us." Cassian rushed and Vaylin followed, both cornered by a mysterious enemy that attacked them. Vaylin remembered her encounter with Atiel on Nar Shaddaa, the Chiss agent had the upper hand, and one shot was enough to make Vaylin powerless. Atiel could kill her right there if she wanted…And whoever hunted them now did not hold back.

Moments after she thought they finally lost their pursuer, Vaylin realized that someone was watching from the shadows.

"Outlander, there…"

Before she could finish, a violent nekghoul jumped at her, forcing Vaylin to the ground.

"No!" Cassian shouted and rushed towards her, but the other blocked his way. Vaylin felt the pressure as the monster forced her down. Without the force, this nekghoul was far stronger than her. It was about to crush Vaylin underneath its weight. The woman clung to her lightsaber, attempting to push it far enough and cut the nekghoul in half. For some reason, the beast didn't persist and didn't try to tear Vaylin apart even when it had ample opportunity. Instead, it hounded and weakened her, which eventually allowed the woman to push back, decapitating the ghoul in a single swing of her blade. Vaylin was about to follow Cassian and aid him, too, but the Sith dealt with his opponent already and sliced the fiend in half. The nekghouls were dead, but their mysterious pursuer was still on their tail.

"Here they come…" Cassian looked up and took a deep breath as a figure clad in armor descended before them. Upon closer inspection, Vaylin realized that the armor was Mandalorian.

"Hah…This Voidcaller really is some solid stuff, I'm impressed." A gruff female voice rang out. Had you two running like cowards in no time."

"Who are you? What do you want?!" Vaylin said with fury.

"I'll tell you on our way to Odessen, bitch…You two are lucky I made a deal with someone who doesn't want you dead yet. You'd be steaming corpses otherwise."

"Wait, I know your voice…" Cassian looked up. "Tasara?"

"So you didn't forget, at least. Wouldn't be too surprised if you did."

"Did you join Jadus and Atiel? I'd never imagine someone with your code of honor would side with terrorists."

"And I'd never imagine you being buddies with a woman who murdered and dishonored my riduur." She raised her blaster, making Vaylin finally realize who it was. Vaylin and her forces killed many Mandalorians during their conquests, but there was only one who was powerless and on her knees when she killed him. "You both are coming with me and one way or another, I will make you pay."

"Wait!"

Kaia's voice interrupted her as the trio noticed the girl rushing towards them, a girl with fearful yet determined eyes, willing to stand between her new 'friends' and their captor.

"Please, don't hurt them!"

"Out of my way, girl!" Tasara stepped forward.

"I won't let you!" Kaia shouted, making Vaylin surprised. Was she really willing to risk her life for them even though they only knew each other for a few days?

"Kaia, step aside," Cassian said. "This isn't your battle; she's after us!"

"But if she takes you, that's it for me!"

"What are you talking about?" Tasara said sternly.

"Please, listen! They have been protecting me from Exchange. I have no one else to shield me! My parents are dead and…If they leave, I will have no one left!" She shouted as tears streamed down her eyes.

"You can find someone else to protect you."

"No, no one is as strong!"

"Do you know what they did? What did she do?"

"They saved me two times! I have to repay them." She stood tall, making Tasara pause for a moment.

"So that's where you're at." She said with disgust. "Hiding behind a little girl…" She clenched her fist. Why did she hesitate? Was she afraid to hurt a child? Afraid to traumatize her if she takes her only protectors away? "You're lucky that I have my limits…Unlike you two." Tasara sighed. "You won yourself another day…But I promise you, the only way you leave this world is as prisoners on my ship." With those words, Tasara flew up and disappeared into the shadows.

"That was close…" Vaylin sighed with relief, still trying to process what had happened.

"Are you alright?" Kaia said with worry, making Cassian respond.

"Yes…Yes, we are. Thank you."

Tonight, they met an unexpected enemy…Only to have an even less expected savior come to their rescue.