"Can I come with you?"
"I would love it."
Vaylin hated that it took so long for her to realize the extent of her dreams. Despite her fear and worry, despite her pushing Cassian away, she always wanted him to try again. No matter how difficult she made it, no matter how dangerous it was to stay with her, Cassian never stopped trying his best to help her, and Vaylin was grateful. In fact, the only reason she decided to continue living was a chance to stay by his side. And now that she accepted this truth, there would not be a single moment wasted between them.
After they returned to the ship and calmed down, Vaylin and Cassian shared a passionate moment of pleasure between them. It was as relieving and beautiful as the first time. She couldn't get enough of his touch, this hand that channeled both gentleness and strength…She wanted to bask in his hands for the rest of her life.
When they were done, there was some time to relax before their next mission.
" Here, I got you some." Cassian entered the cabin and placed a cup of golden-leaf tea before Vaylin.
"Thanks…And what's that for?" Vaylin raised an eyebrow upon seeing a blanket Cassian brought.
"You said you were cold, right?"
"Come on, I didn't mean this." She chuckled.
"If you don't want it, I'll gladly take it myself."
"Hey, I didn't allow you!" Vaylin spoke up, making Cassian smirk, and gently put the blanket over her shoulders. "That's better." After a brief pause, Vaylin grabbed the teacup and took a small sip. It was just hot enough for her to feel it without any discomfort. The woman couldn't help but smile at this relaxing sensation.
"Anything else?" Cassian asked with concern.
"No, I'm good…Thank you." Vaylin said with slight warmth. "I see you're really enjoying it."
"What do you mean?"
"Caring for me," Vaylin explained. "I couldn't even imagine you could be so…Lovey-dovey before today."
"Not as surprising as you actually allowing someone to care for you."
"True, I guess today is the miracle day." Vaylin chuckled.
"To be honest, you aren't the only one I felt this way with," Cassian confessed. "Remember I mentioned Lachris? I wanted to care for her, too…Same with Vette, though it wasn't romantic. Guess I have an eye for people with whom I feel a kinship." Cassian's voice became colder. "People that suffered from the same kind of degenerates as my parents. Revenge is important, but it won't solve all problems; I'm glad I learned it before it was too late." He was right on that front; Vaylin knew the feeling. For so long, she believed that simply killing her parents would be enough to end her misery, but it was not. What she needed was someone who would listen and offer her kindness, which the little girl in her heart yearned for.
"I'm lucky I found you." Vaylin smiled. "Am I helping you, too? Be honest." She asked, making Cassian pause for a moment.
"With what?"
"Well, I know your father is scum, now he's back, and you're feeling pretty pissed about it. Does talking about them with me make it easier?"
"Hm…Now that I think about it, yes." Cassian smiled in relief. "Thank you."
"Just repaying in kind."
"I wish I could let go of them for good, but now that father dared to work with Jadus…He has to pay." Cassian spoke with anger. "This might have been a dead end, but now we know who the Eight Lord is, and I know exactly where to find him."
"So where are we going next? Please say it's going to be fun."
"My family's estate on Copero. We'll pay my father a visit…And make sure that nothing is left there but dust and ash." He said, noticing a sly smile on Vaylin's face.
"That's the best idea you've had so far…Count me in!"
…
"Are you sure about this? You know that the First Archon won't be happy if it ends up being for nothing."
"I swear on my life, we've had some immense progress over the last few days, the Void Hammer is working and I have proof! My last subjects are still alive, yet they lost all of their force connection, First Archon has to see it!"
Atiel was always skeptical of the eccentric researcher, but Aster was confident that he had something to present to both her and Jadus, and in the end, it wasn't up to Atiel to make this decision. Aster was the Third Creator, one of nine individuals who gathered on Alderaan to discover the prospect of a world free of force. Aster, much like Lokin, was in it only for the prospect of fame and discovery, especially those regarding Iokath technology. His solemn word was a good enough reason for Lord Jadus and Atiel to establish contact.
However, the First Archon was busy with his experiment regarding Vaylin, and Atiel spent her time waiting and examining their new prisoner. The Emperor's Wrath is the man who lived for multiple centuries, Lord Scourge. A Sith who only few in the entire galaxy could match. As horrendous as this thought was, if Scourge was to stand against Lord Jadus alone and without either party having the Voidcaller, the wrath would win. But this wasn't the case, and he fell just like the rest of those weaklings. Atiel's mere presence made Scourge scowl in his own cell.
"Why are you still here?" The Sith said with disgust as the Chiss paced around his cell after receiving news from Aster. The Void Collar certainly grated on him. "Don't you have other things to do? I'm sure your master's boots need licking."
"He has his own mission. I have mine."
"Really, now?" Scourge spoke up, unable to contain his spite. "If watching over a subdued prisoner is the best task he has for you, then he doesn't think very highly of you."
"I'm here because I want to be," Atiel responded coldly. That was true; Scourge did not need any additional supervision, yet the sight of him chained and broken delighted the Chiss agent. He was one of the most powerful force users in existence, the kind the Star Cabal despised with a burning passion, and this was his downfall. After his kind used her and other 'undesirables' as fodder and servants who they brainwashed, seeing the tables turn was magnificent.
"Are you sure? I don't think you do anything because you want to. I know what kind of creature you are…Just like the Hand of the Emperor. What does he call you, Ninth Siren? Servant Nine would be more fitting."
"If you think I'll give in to your petty insults, you're wrong."
"Of course, you simply lack the will to respond."
"I do, just don't want to waste my energy. You're like a chained kath hound barking at its masters because he's powerless to do anything else…"
Before Atiel could continue, a pale silhouette emerged in the doorway, immediately making the Chiss turn around.
"My Lord." She bowed respectfully, noticing a faint smile on his face, an incredibly rare display that never happened without a good reason. "Has your experiment been successful?"
"It has." Jadus nodded. "It was more successful than I have anticipated, the contrast between her mind and body, the sheer dichotomy…I have never seen anything like this before." Jadus spoke with delight, making Scourge shout in anger.
"What are you talking about, lunatic? I'm tired of your deranged games, Jadus, so answer already!"
"I see we won't be able to speak here without this savage interrupting us." The Archon said dismissively. "Come on."
"You'll lay for that! For everything!" Scourge shouted with rage as Jadus and Atiel left the prison, moving into a secluded room.
"I'm all ears, my lord."
"The Fourth Manipulator is dead."
"Liorel?" Atiel said in shock. "But…How did this happen?"
"Don't mourn him; he played his part and exited the stage at a perfect moment."
"We might need another agent in the Empire."
"Soon, there will be no Empire." Atiel was well aware of the truth. The seven others, people with whom Jadus shared details of his goals and ideology, were nothing but tools, and none were destined to see their plan come to fruition. The same could be said of Ki Sazen. "Liorel played a pivotal part in my experiment. We subjected Vaylin to her worst nightmares, isolated her, and created a split image of her paddled cell on Nathema. The results were astonishing." Jadus indulged in his pride. "Vaylin's power eclipses any known being, yet she is weak. After seeing what she endured on Nathema, I wondered how she managed to remain cohesive at all, but now I see that she always toes the line. She's always on the brink of hysteria, a breakdown, her psychosis overtaking her. Yet those strong emotions allowed me to see her true potential…I witnessed her purging the Voidcaller from her body. I made an error in assuming there is any worth in securing her voluntary support. She yearns for the simple pleasures that Cassian provides and doesn't care about the big picture. Her broken identity is a disease that must be cured. With the enhanced Voidcaller in our hands, she will eventually fall to me. Then, I will reforge her into a weapon…A weapon that will spread my will long after I'm gone and forgotten. All that remains is the Void Hammer."
"Speaking of…" Atiel interjected. "I got a message from Aster. He says that he perfected the weapon." Those words made Jadus freeze for a moment. "Are you alright, my lord?"
"Yes, just…Never imagined this moment before. We are closer than ever before. All that remains are a few final steps."
"Command me, my lord, I will do anything."
"Prepare our prisoner and a shuttle, then notify both Aster and Doran that we will be visiting. First Iokath, then Zakuul."
"Does this mean that…"
"Yes. It is time for the galaxy to witness the Hammer's might."