Iris disembarked her ship with Kira by her side after the uneventful trip. The jedi sent the rest of the crew for a supply run and for recon. If Theron was here, that probably meant that danger could be around the corner. She checked her datapad again and found the small office space in the large building in front of them that Theron indicated.
"What do you think he found?" Kira wondered as they walked past the large water feature. Iris glanced around, watching the shadows and corners.
"I'm not sure, but it feels like something big is going to happen," she replied.
"I feel it, too. Something in the Force feels off," Kira mentioned. Iris nodded, feeling something both new and familiar. She couldn't quite place her finger on it, but the uneasiness wouldn't leave.
Iris was surprised to see how open the building was with its hangar-like doors and hallways that could house a herd of banthas. Luckily there was a large door to the office, offering some form of privacy. Kira knocked on it twice before opening the door. Theron was standing next to a large table across the room, which was larger than the hallway, and he was talking to someone just out of sight. The jedi approached him before freezing in their tracks as they saw who he was talking to.
Their minds raced, they unmistakably saw three sith standing in front of Theron, all engaged in an intense conversation. Kira reached for her saber as Iris reached for hers. One of the sith turned and Iris's eyes widened. She was a pureblood sith, and she was the one from her vision. The new Wrath. Iris stared as she saw recognition in the Wrath's eyes as well. The conversation quickly stopped as the rest stared at their newest guests. The youngest sith whispered something into the Wrath's ear as Theron stood quickly and walked around the table. Iris kept her eyes on the sith as Theron began.
"Good timing," Theron informed before Iris whipped her head toward him.
"Explain," she hissed as she felt something unfamiliar through the Force. Something was examining her, but she couldn't explain it further. Iris ignored it.
"I'll start with introductions," Theron sighed, shaking his head. Kira kept her hand on her saber as she watched in earnest. "This is my newest contact, Sith Lord Lana Beniko."
"Lana is just fine," the woman informed before bowing to the jedi. Iris found herself bowing in return, surprised by the sith's polite greeting. "It is an honor to meet you, Master Jedi. Both of you."
"This is her associate, Alys Renata, and Renata's apprentice, Jaesa," Theron concluded.
Iris's eyes rested on the duo, and she found that the strange presence in the Force she felt was Alys. She found that her uneasiness subsided slightly, and she found that there was a moment of trust between the sith and jedi. Alys met her gaze, but hers was guarded and unsure. Jaesa stood slightly behind her teacher, glancing between the two.
"And these are my associates Master Iris Vao and Jedi Knight Kira Carsen," Theron finished. Iris bowed again as Kira only nodded, releasing her hilt. "And now we're all acquainted, I think we can talk about why we're here."
"Please," Alys replied with a nod. Theron walked over to the desk and brought up the holo of Darok and a sith man that Iris didn't recognize.
"It turns out that Darok was indeed acting strange, as we now believe that he is working with a sith, Darth Arkous. However, this isn't simply a traitor running to the Empire," Theron began.
"Darth Arkous also played us for fools. The attacks on Tython and Korriban were indeed meant to coincide with each other. We know that both parties took something out of both the Jedi Temple and the Sith Academy. We just aren't sure exactly what they retrieved," Lana added as Theron nodded.
"Another strange instance was that Alys and her crew were also distracted by a strange retrieval mission instead of helping with the incursions. They were sent to find a group of archeologists and a piece of an artifact. However, we aren't quite sure what it was other than a piece of an ancient weapon," Theron explained. "Lana and I have separately followed each of them here to a deep underwater laboratory. We aren't sure what they are working on down there, but we can almost guarantee it won't be good."
"So, we know that they are working together?" Iris asked as she crossed her arms.
"They are both confirmed members of a cult called the Order of Revan. The Empire had suspected that they had secret members in our ranks, but we never guessed it would have branched out to the Republic," Lana answered as she placed her arms behind her back. "It seems that the Revanites have more reach than we realized."
"And what's the plan now?" Kira wondered, turning toward the imps.
"It would make the most sense to work together on this. We don't know how deep the cult is in either government. We can't trust anyone outside this room with this information. Our best hope is to retrieve Arkous and Darok to learn what the cult knows," Lana added. Theron leaned against the table as the holo disappeared.
"It's not ideal, but we don't have much of a choice. It makes more sense to create a temporary truce than to fumble over each other for the same goals," he relented.
"How are we supposed to work together?" Iris wondered as she stared at the Wrath.
"Both parties need to infiltrate the lab and find the Revanites and any other information you can possibly find," Lana answered.
"I don't think I can trust you three that easily," Kira informed plainly.
"Then we send Lord Renata and Master Vao. Willsaam and Carsen will stay here with Theron and I to help monitor," Lana suggested as she looked at Theron.
"It would be easier to create trust between you two than all four," he suggested. Alys and Iris exchanged a look, and some sort of understanding fell over them.
"I will accept those terms," Iris replied as she dipped her head.
"As will I, given the circumstances," Alys added.
"Then it's settled," Theron concluded before picking up his datapad. As he sent the maps and coordinates that he had excavated as Kira pulled Iris aside.
"What are you thinking?" she whispered.
"We need to see what Darok is up to. If this cult runs deeper than just a handful of people, we could face worse than a couple of sith," Iris reminded as Kira huffed. "Look, one day we want this war to end. Sometimes that means making strange alliances, even if it's for a short time. Didn't we talk about ending the war with nonviolence?"
"I didn't think that we would end up on a recon mission with a couple of imps, though," Kira countered.
"Neither did I, but I will trust in the Force and see where this goes," Iris replied.
"If that sith so much as looks at you wrong, I will make sure she is held accountable."
"That's all I can ask. I'll be fine."
"Are you ready?" Alys asked as she approached. Jaesa stood close to Lana as Theron stared at the jedi. Iris stood straight and nodded.
"Ready when you are," the jedi answered with a firm nod.
After getting the last bits of information and suggestions, Alys and Iris made their way towards the laboratory. The walked next to each other, keeping pace perfectly. Iris lifted her hood to try to hide her lekku, not wanting to raise suspicion. Alys didn't seem to notice and walked proudly to the entrance. Iris hesitated to evaluate the situation while Alys ignited her saber, striking fear into the guards. With a groan, Iris followed suit and lit her sword as well. However, the fright didn't deter them from doing their jobs and firing on them.
The battle was short lived as the selkath and droids dropped to the ground. Iris sensed a few still clinging to life, and she moved on. Alys didn't seem to notice as she leaped across the room to fight the reinforcements. Iris ran across the floor with her saber extended, slicing through the few that slipped past the sith. As they fell silent, Iris retracted the blade and lowered her hood. Alys turned to the jedi, hearing the sword turn off.
"I think we should discuss a game plan before we continue. Are we going to cut down everyone we encounter?" Iris wondered. Alys paused a moment in thought.
"What would you propose?" she wondered.
"I don't know, maybe trying to sneak past some of them," Iris suggested before shaking her head. "We don't have to massacre the whole laboratory."
"I do agree with that," Alys whispered, powering down her weapon. "I don't think any of them would be open to negotiation, though."
"I'm not saying we try talking to them, just avoid them. Sneak through the place."
"It's not a terrible strategy, and it would limit the alarm caused."
"Exactly," Iris replied with relief.
"Wrath, Jedi," Lana called them through their earpieces. "Theron has found a potential ally ahead of you. We suggest you try speaking to him and see if he would be willing to help."
"Who is this ally?" Iris asked.
"It looks like someone was imprisoned in the lab down the hall," Lana explained before a brief pause. "There isn't much more information on the prisoner, though. The chief of security is guarding them, so keep your eyes open."
"So much for sneaking," Iris sighed as she rubbed her cheek.
"Cheer up, Jedi, we get to cater to your savior complex," Alys chuckled, bumping her arm with her shoulder.
"I don't have a savior complex," she replied quickly as Alys started down the hall.
"Don't all jedi have savior complexes?"
"Well, aren't all sith homicidal?" Iris countered. Alys glanced down the hallway, only half paying attention to the jedi.
"Far too many at least," she replied before they were spotted.
More droids and selkath descended on them with the same outcome every time. Iris wondered about the training these guards had or if this was their first time trying to keep someone out of the lab. Regardless, Iris and Alys made their way to the chief, who had the brains to have a personal shield.
The battle lasted a little longer than the others, but soon the chief fell with his droids next to him. Iris walked over to the main computer as Alys watched the door. The jedi powered down the security alert as she heard a guttural call from the corner. She turned to find a large cage holding a wookie with a droid head strapped to his chest. A few more guards fell into the sith's trap and were quickly dealt with as Iris walked up to the cage.
"You must be the prisoner," she remarked, standing in front of the wookie.
"We're rescued!" the droid cheered as the wookie grumbled an irritated argument. "Please get us out of here. I am Ceefour, former translator of Queen Ina of Onderon, and this is my current master, Jakkaro."
"How'd you two get into this mess?" Alys wondered as she walked back to Iris.
"We were hired by a scientist called Gorima, and when it was time to pay up, he locked us in here for experimentation. Please don't let that happen," the droid pleaded before the wookie yelled at the droid again.
"What sort of experiments call for a wookie and droid?" Iris wondered.
"Thanks to you two, we'll never have to find out," the droid answered. Iris started to unlock the cage as Alys folded her arms.
"Have you seen any imperials or republic people down here?" Alys wondered as Jakkaro groaned.
"They're the ones who suggested to throw us in here," Ceefour explained as Jakkaro vowed revenge on the two enemies.
"We're here to find them and take them down. Interested?" Alys offered as the forcefield came down. Jakarro jumped down to the floor and agreed.
"We're going to check on our ship and then we'll rendezvous with you for sweet revenge!" the droid shouted as the wookie ran towards the door.
"So much for the extra help," Alys remarked before unlocking the elevator to the lower levels.
"I'm sure they'll help in their own way," Iris added with a shrug.
"Maybe they'll distract the guards."
"One can only hope."
The two force users made their way down to the bottom floor and cut their way through the selkath. Lana warned them that some belonged to a force-based cult called the Order of Shasa, and Iris grimaced. What would a bunch of force sensitive selkath be doing at a research lab? Iris was pretty sure that she wouldn't like the answer.
"They weren't so tough," Alys boasted as she sheathed her weapon.
"You seem to be enjoying this," the jedi groaned.
"It's been a while since I've been in a good fight."
"Aren't you the Emperor's Wrath? Don't you fight all the time?"
"I'm more of a glorified figurehead. The day-to-day stuff usually includes intimidating appearances and threatening those who step out of line. It's not very hands on anymore," Alys explained as they snuck through the rooms. "What about you, Hero of Tython? Seen many battles?"
"Thankfully, not lately. A few skirmishes, but nothing intense like the Battle of Corellia."
"Should have known you fought there. I was there as well, but I was focused on something other than Imperial control," Alys explained as Iris hummed a response.
"I wasn't exactly focused on Corellia either," she replied.
"Then why were you there?"
"You're not going to like my answer,"
"I can't imagine why," Alys chuckled before motioning that the coast was clear. "Try me."
"I was there to get the last coordinates so I could kill the Emperor," Iris replied, cutting the levity. Alys froze and turned to the jedi, stunned.
"You killed the Emperor?" the sith repeated. Iris only nodded in the silence. "You're the one who did it? Marr told me he was killed, but I didn't know it was you."
"I told you wouldn't like the answer," she grumbled before Alys laughed.
"You misunderstand. I have you to thank for setting me free. The emperor was the only one who could tell me what to do. Without him, I'm free to do as I please as long as I don't anger the Dark Council," Alys corrected with a grin. Iris frowned at the realization before the sith held up her hand. "I'm not a monster. I just want to be able to make my own choices. I'm no longer bound to a higher power."
"I suppose that makes sense," Iris grumbled.
"If you got off your high horse, you would actually see that we aren't that dissimilar."
"I'm not on a high horse."
"For someone who is supposed to be detached from her emotions and be humble, you're rather prideful," the sith remarked. "My point is that while we are on different sides of a war, we might have more in common than you think."
"Like what?"
"Well, right now we have a common goal to find these traitors and find out what they're up to. We both use the Force, and that's a good start."
"You're more optimistic than I expected."
"Life is good, what's not to be optimistic about?" Alys teased. "Call it a hunch, but I have a feeling that we'll be working closely for a little bit."
"You're probably right," Iris answered before grinning. "Maybe we'll help pave the way for a longer lasting treaty."
"Nice to see my optimism rubbing off on you," Alys replied before leaping across the room to attack the Shasa's leader.
