Finally, a proper break!
Vaylin didn't hate relaxing on the ship, especially not with the kind of fun Cassian provided her with, but Alderaan was different. The two of them decided to wait until Liorel arrived on the planet tomorrow and, while they had the chance, wander a little in the forests near the spaceport. Soon, Vaylin realized that this was exactly what she wanted. A beautiful planet full of nature without a single snobby noble in sight. She could hear birds singing their tune, allowing Vaylin to soothe herself. Every tree she laid eyes on was different, thin or thick, short or tall, dark or bright…Each of them looked beautiful under the rays of sunlight that the shining star above them sent.
Eventually, they found a spot that was by far the most beautiful, a crystal-clear lake filled with azure waters and the light dancing on its glade. This place was just like the lake, as shown by the image Vaylin often looked at in the sanitarium and in her own palace, the picture of serenity and beauty. Just like places she went to as a child to play with her mother and brothers.
After they had spent time sitting by the glade and an adjacent river, Vaylin noticed a large boulder lying close to them. Without putting much thought into it, she raised her hand and grabbed the boulder with force, tossing it right into the lake. The shockwave that emerged was so powerful that both Cassian and Vaylin got drenched underneath a rain of lake water.
"Oops." Vaylin giggled.
"And what what was that for?" Cassian asked with genuine surprise but without any anger or annoyance.
"I wanted to see how big of a splash it can make…Didn't expect it to be that big."
"Do you even realize how childish you are sometimes?"
"Come on, don't be such a sourpuss." Vaylin giggled. "I'm having fun, and you know what? You should, too!"
"I am having fun. Breathing in the fresh forest air, looking at this beautiful nature nest, you…I'd say that's fun."
"Not nearly enough."
"For some, it is…"
"You know, now that I've been thinking, this reminds me of one book I read. The two lovers reunited in a place that was a lot like this one. They spent some nice time together here, and…I don't know how to put it."
"You mean it feels like a date?" The Chiss chuckled.
"Maybe? I don't know, you might know it better. How many dates you've been on?"
"A lot."
"Very macho of you…Well, I've been to just as many! If you can count on watching or reading about them…" Vaylin paused for a moment. "Oh well, we both know it doesn't. I wish I could have a real boyfriend, and you probably had many girlfriends in your life."
"Not as much as you think, to be honest," Cassian admitted. "Most were flings and not particularly healthy."
"What was your longest one?"
"Hm…It was back when I was a risk apprentice with a fellow Stih, Darth Lachris. I met her on Balmora during one of my operations and we worked together. I helped her conquer Balmora, she helped me find my target. We need went on a 'date' afterwards, thought the place wasn't nearly as pretty as this…I guess everything is better than Balmoran battlefields filled with blood and bones of our enemies."
"That's romantic! We should try this one out someday." Vaylin said with joy. "Did you break up?"
"War broke us up the moment she died fighting defending Empire's grip on Balmora."
"Oh…I'm sorry." Vaylin said, noticing pain and grief emerge in Cassian's eyes.
"I mourned her, even if I had to accept that it was just the reality of war. Perhaps we should've run away together, gotten far, far away from all of this before the war began again. She'd never give up on her master and her duty, however. She fought to the death and did so without regrets. There was much I liked in her."
"Did you throw your own allies aside for her, too?" Vaylin wondered.
"No, it never came to that…" Cassian said before looking at Vaylin. "But jokes aside, when I sit near you, I feel just as good as I did with her, maybe even better! I like being with you and especially seeing…It's hard to explain." Vaylin had never seen him stutter and be so shy before; this behavior caught her by surprise, but she wanted to know more.
"You've done harder things than that; surely you can explain it. Just…What do you like about me? Apart from my beautiful face and unhealthily pale skin that I had."
"Your wit, sense of humor, courage, loyalty, and…Just how much you enjoy life." He said, making Vaylin feel herself blush though she maintained her composure.
"No way you seriously just said that last one; everyone I asked said I'm gloomy."
"You were, but not now. I think you've had a lot of fun on Alderaan already, am I wrong?"
"Hm…I guess not. Oh, and thanks, I'm glad you like those things in me." Vaylin said though it ended up sounding rather awkward.
"Your turn now. What do you like about me besides my hot-colored skin?"
"Hm…." Vaylin took a long, dramatic pause. Answering questions seriously wasn't her thing, and she didn't feel like answering properly. "Your Chiss eyes look nice, like you swam in blood without goggles and forgot what a towel is. That's kind of it."
"That's it!?" Cassian said in a dramatic tone.
"You wanted anything else?" Vaylin grinned. She looked away to hide her giggling, but the moment she turned away, she felt cold water drenching her skin.
"HEY!" Vaylin shouted as she shivered from the cold. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR!?"
"For ruining the moment," Cassian said with a smug smile emerging on his face. "I know you like a lot of things about me…It's just painfully obvious."
"Yeah?" Vaylin stood up. "Well, get ready; the High Justice won't leave this crime unpunished!" She stood up and focused on the water in the lake, creating a large sphere of icy flow.
"Bring it on, I welcome the challenge," Cassian encouraged her.
For a moment, they forgot the mission and the passing of time, allowing themselves to play with water like careless children, a friendly fight among the beautiful vistas of the forest; it was far more exhilarating than Vaylin could've assumed. She wanted this moment to last forever, yet even as short-lived as it was…
She adored every second.
…
Every day, the Void continued to call.
Lokin spent countless hours working on a perfect formula, sometimes with Oggurobb, sometimes without. Eckard barely even left the lab with how busy he was, and the recent incident with Sazen killed any desire he had. At this point, it was better not to think and simply continue his work. He knew he could create a perfect formula and make his groundbreaking discovery and contribution to the world of science. It will come at a high cost, but the time to consider those costs was long since left behind. Terrorists like Ki will use the Voidcaller to spread chaos and destruction, becoming one of the most powerful beings in the entire galaxy. His hands will forever be stained, and he will play a part in this disgrace.
One synthesis after another.
He got closer with every hour.
Eckard's musings got interrupted as a shadow emerged behind him, with a familiar, unimposing yet still somehow menacing voice.
"Good evening." Atiel stood beside him with a faint smile emerging on her face. "I see there's no rest for the weary when it comes to your work."
"Come to check on my progress?" Lokin said dryly, not wishing to prolong this conversation any more than it needed to be. He thought that his reunion with Atiel was a welcome change, that they will work together as a team like they did before. But Raina was right, her goals lied with Jadus and Jadus only, everyone else came as an afterthought.
"As shrewd as ever, doctor. Lord Jadus is curious to know how close we are to synthesizing a formula for the permanent Voidcaller."
"He isn't doubting my skills, is he?"
"Hot at all, and neither do I. But we need to know how soon it will be ready."
"And why do you need it so soon?" Lokin wondered.
"We are about to enter the next stage of our plan. Lord Jadus's weapon is almost ready."
"Yes, of course…Hard times, billions dead, a time of cataclysm from which a new, glorious era will arise, I heard all that many times…"
"Then why do I hear doubt in your voice?"
"Because the more I think about it, the more I doubt that anything will arise from the kind of chaos your lord wants to stir." Lokin sighed.
"It's too late for doubt," Atiel said sternly. "Nor there is any reason. You were in the Intelligence, Eckard, just like me. You know how it feels to be used by arrogant and careless Sith overlords who use us as their pawns, and the Jedi are no better. Perhaps you simply don't know the feeling that well. You weren't the one the Dark Council brainwashed to turn into a weapon, not the one Ardun Kothe forced to obey with a matter of a few words. Lord Jadus has his grandiose goals; he had a vision few, if any, can understand, but there are many reasons for each and every one of us to follow his lead. To tear down the institutions that held us back, to give force users a taste of their own medicine. To create a world where we have a choice." Atiel spoke with pride. "So…When can we expect it?"
Lokin wasn't sure whether he was doing the right thing, whether there was anything worth working for, whether repaying his debt was worth annihilating so much and so many. He knew those answers deep inside, yet he couldn't admit to them yet. But this wasn't the only truth he knew.
"It is almost done. A matter of hours."
Lokin's prediction came true.
One final synthesis.
The first test.
The Voidcaller was perfected on this night.