"Two months here, and your place is still emptier than my bank account," Kaliyo said, shaking her head at the agent's apartment.
"I don't like distractions," the agent replied.
"Speaking of, are we doing anything tonight?" Kaliyo asked.
"Not tonight," the agent replied. "Our Sith friend is here."
"Scary Sith bitch is coming over?" Kaliyo said.
The agent shook her head. "She's already here, hiding in the shadows."
Kaliyo coughed. "Oh. Don't tell her I said that." She looked around but saw nothing. "I'm gonna go." She left quickly.
The agent sighed. "You do have an effect on her."
"Nice to know," the assassin said, stepping into the light. "Have you looked at the mask?"
"I have, but before that," the agent said. "I need you to check me over. Jadus did something to me. Knocked me out, because I wouldn't kneel to him."
The assassin held the agent's head and closed her eyes. "Oh, yes," she said after a moment. "Brute force attack, not an intrusion." She released the agent. "You might have a headache for a day or two, but you'll be fine."
"Do you think I should have knelt? I wasn't sure."
"Jadus has always valued obedience over independence," the assassin replied. "Now, what about my mask?"
"It looks like a code breaker," the agent said, retrieving the mask from a hidden panel. "I could build an interface, but I need the full code. It will take weeks reading all of it."
"I know," the assassin said. "I wish I could have gotten Grathan's data. He had about a third of it done."
"Did you ever figure out why Mau'te was there?" the agent asked.
"There are no coincidences in the Force," the assassin said. "It wanted me to have this mask. And you were right. I need to work on my mundane skills. I missed an alarm and had to deal with security. If Mau'te hadn't been there, I would have faced Grathan, and I wouldn't have survived."
"How did Mau'te survive?"
"He killed Grathan," the assassin replied.
"Of course he did."
The assassin waited for the agent's irritation to pass. "I want to show you something." She activated the agent's holoprojector. It opened to a paused recording of the Grand Melee. "Were you there?" the assassin asked.
"Of course not," the agent said. "I watched it on holo. He did very well."
"I know," the assassin said. "I watched it too." She loaded a recording into the projector. "This is when Mau'te brought Vette to the hospital." She paused the playback when Mau'te grabbed the doctor's throat. "That is when the doctor called Vette a slave."
The agent stared at the image and said, "Yes. All right. That's more like the old him. It's still not enough. Not for me, anyway."
"I understand," the assassin said.
"No, you don't," the agent snapped. "I will always be grateful to you and Agenord, but you got the easy part. You weren't there for the recovery. You didn't hear her wake up screaming every night for weeks. You weren't there the first time she saw the scars. Or the first time she tried to kill herself. Or the second. You didn't see the walking corpse she became."
The assassin switched off the holoprojector. "You're right," she said. "But I'm not trying to forgive his crimes, and I don't have the luxury of indulging my outrage. The Force made him a Champion for a reason. If Vette can save him, he can save the galaxy."
The agent looked at the inactive holoprojector, remembering Mau'te attacking the doctor and Vette standing next to them in pain. "Will you really let me get her out, if it comes to that?"
"Of course," the assassin said. "I'm not that much of a bitch."
"That's not what you are," the agent said with a sigh. "My handler asked for a meeting. Unscheduled meetings are never good."
"We're not in it for the fun," the assassin said.
"True," the agent replied. "He thinks you and I are meeting too much."
"He might be right," the assassin said. "But it won't matter soon. We're both being prepped for field work."
"Any messages?"
"Not this time," the assassin replied. "I want to hear what he says first."
After the assassin left, the agent switched on the holoprojector, watched the recording of the Grand Melee, and laughed, again, at the Gamorrean.
"Consider this an entirely informal conversation," Watcher Two said.
"Of course," the agent replied.
They sat across a table from each other in a sound isolated room, politely sipping a morning stim-tea. Kaliyo was at the gun range, working off a hangover.
The Watcher began, "Why have you been meeting with the apprentice of Lord Zash? We have received no requests for an agent from Lord Zash, and the apprentice appears to be studying ancient Sith languages. Not really your field."
The agent shrugged and sipped her tea. "The apprentice wants a political union with Lord Mau'te, the apprentice of Darth Baras. She sees great potential in Lord Mau'te, and believes a political union between the two of them could benefit Twi'lek in the Empire." She paused for another sip. "She asked me to train Lord Mau'te's companion. Darth Baras is not fond of Imperial Intelligence."
Watcher Two nodded but did not interrupt.
The agent continued, "Vette, Lord Mau'te's companion, is to provide those skills. Zash's apprentice-"
"Do you happen to know her name?" the Watcher asked. "We've had a devil of a time finding it."
The agent shrugged again. "She was given a name by the slavers, but she isn't fond of it."
"Whatever for?"
"Roughly translated," the agent said, "It means, 'skinny bitch'."
The Watcher held in a laugh. "Oh. You were saying."
"She asked me to train Vette to improve Lord Mau'te's chances of survival. We're all Twi'lek. If they gain power, we all benefit."
"What do you think of this companion?"
"Annoying at times," the agent replied. "But far too good for a Sith Lord."
Watcher Two nodded and sipped her tea. "Would she make a good agent?"
"She's not... determined... enough."
"Oh, yes," the Watcher said. "And, thank you. I was hoping the answer was something simple. Asking such questions of an alien can be a... delicate... task in the Empire. Fortunately, this conversation never happened. I will see you in the control room."
"There she is!" Lord Kirnan said, looking up from the considerable mess on the floor of Darth Skotia's office. "It's Lord Zash's apprentice. Surely she knows."
"She wouldn't tell us if she did," Lord Calaverous replied without looking up from his work.
"It doesn't hurt to ask, does it?" Kirnon said. "Everyone knows Lord Zash was at the party when Skotia was killed, and yet everyone knows she killed him. She's somehow devised a way of being in two places at once."
Calaverous shrugged in defeat and continued gathering evidence.
"It's not as impressive as that," the assassin said. "She had me kill him."
"This is a serious investigation," Kirnon told her.
"She looks fairly dangerous," Calaverous said, looking her up and down. "Perhaps we should bring her in. Tie her down, work her over a bit." He smiled at her. "I know all sorts of techniques."
"But a Dark Lord of the Sith!" Kirnon said. "She's only an apprentice, Calaverous." He turned to the assassin. "You must tell me-how did Zash kill Darth Skotia?"
"You know, I'm not exactly sure," the assassin said. "I asked Lord Zash if she wanted to get some lunch. She told me she couldn't; she had to kill Skotia, and she'd eat at the party later. So I got lunch at that Rattataki place."
"I love that place," Calaverous said.
"Yes!" the assassin said. "I had no idea Rattataki had such wonderful cuisine. Anyway, I met Lord Zash at the party. She told me she'd killed Skotia, but she left something in his office. Could I get it for her? Well, I thought, I am her apprentice, so I suppose I should. Then I came over here and found the two of you."
"But she didn't tell you how she did it?" Kirnon asked.
"Sorry, no," the assassin replied.
"Fine, then. Fine," Kirnon said. "But I'm warning you, Calaverous- Lord Zash is becoming too powerful, too quickly. Since when has anyone in the history of the Sith committed a murder so brazenly, yet make it appear that she was somewhere else the entire time?"
The assassin replied, "Lord Ptoma, one hundred and eighty-three years ago."
"How did he do it?" Calaverous asked.
"They never found out," she said. "They also never found out how wound up in the river. Price of being too clever, I guess."
"Well, we should all be killing our rivals so efficiently as Lord Zash. Isn't that right, apprentice?" Calaverous said.
"We could all learn something from Zash," the assassin replied.
"From that insignificant little apprentice?" Kirnon said. "No, I don't think so."
"I wouldn't put anything past her," Calaverous said. "I still say I should work her over. Thoroughly."
"Fine," Kirnon said. "What did Zash lose?"
"You know, I don't see it anywhere," the assassin said. "She must have lost it somewhere else. I should look for it. Are we done?"
"We're done," Kirnon said.
"With that part, anyway," Calaverous added. "I am curious about one thing. Why is a master of assassins interested in the Sphere of Ancient Knowledge?"
"Perhaps she wants to kill something very old," the assassin replied.
"Fine, then. I'll just have to find out some other way," Kirnon said as they walked out.
"More prattle," Khem said. "It hurts the ears."
"You should have taken him up on his offer," Zash said, emerging from a shadow. "You don't indulge your baser drives nearly enough."
"I'm not interested in emotional commitments just now," the assassin said.
"I just met with the Dark Council, and I have good news," Zash said. "Our favor for Darth Charnus has paid off. I went in to a reprimand- but I emerged a Darth."
"And Darth Thanaton?" the assassin asked.
"I'm sure he'll make a nuisance of himself eventually," Zash said. "What's important is that we are finally free to act. Remember the map you found on Korriban that pointed us to the power of Tulak Hord? The first piece of that artifact, that power, is here on Dromund Kaas. This piece is in the deepest chamber of the Dark Temple. Skotia always hoarded the key to the chamber like a Hutt hoards his credits."
"Why didn't he want anyone to enter the chamber?" the assassin asked.
Zash replied, "He had this foolish idea some powers are best left undisturbed- hardly the Sith way. Now I have Skotia's title, his chambers, his research and his key. He always said I would enter the Dark Temple over his rusting corpse. However, I won't be the one to go into the Dark Temple- you will."
You're afraid of it, the assassin thought. "Of course, master."
"There's a reason I picked my apprentice from the lower classes-a reason you, and not that blue-blood Ffon, had to come here," Zash said. "Before I went to Korriban to choose an apprentice, a furious apparition awakened in the Dark Temple, implacable in its anger, murdering all who trespassed on the innermost chamber. But I had a dream. An apprentice of low origin humbled herself before the apparition, pacifying it. That's why you and your peers were chosen."
Bullshit, the assassin thought. A true vision would have been vague about my origin. You were afraid the Council would destroy you for wasting a blue-blood. "I've always suspected I was special."
"You've been a far more capable apprentice than I even hoped- but for this task, you must put aside your pride," Zash said. "You must go into the temple and face the apparition, and when you do, I believe that your humility will be the key."
You're guessing, but it's a reasonable guess based on prior attempts.
Zash continued, "Still, I want you to know- I'm not certain you're the one from my dream. I fear I may be sending you to your death."
Genuine concern? Of course not. Attempt to inspire loyalty? Unlikely. No, she did have a vision, but something about it confused her.
"Don't worry about me, master," the assassin said.
"You're right," Zash said. "You retrieved the holocron on Korriban when no one else could- if that's not proof of your destiny, I don't know what is."
The holocron must be linked to the vision, the assassin thought. But in a way you don't understand.
"Use this glyph to enter the innermost chamber of the Dark Temple," Zash said, handing her a key of titanium-iridium alloy. "Humble yourself before the apparition, and bring back the piece of the artifact."
Once they were outside the chamber, Khem said, "Her breath stinks of Sith lies."
"I noticed," the assassin said.
"Even the great Tulak Hord did not tangle with spirits," he told her. "Tread lightly, little Sith."
"Always, Khem." You're hiding something, aren't you? Something Zash said sounds familiar to you. There are no coincidences in the Force. I was meant to find you, Khem, but you don't know why yet. It'll be fun finding out.
"So, who is this guy?" Kaliyo asked, nodding toward the Twi'lek Sith apprentice.
They sat deep in the shadows of a cantina booth and watched the apprentice consider the various women around him.
"Lord Mau'te Onoka," the agent said, with a sharp flick of her lekku. "Our Sith friend asked me to keep track of him."
"Oh, yeah?" Kaliyo said. "I knew a smuggler named Onoka on Hutta. We had some good times. But, really not your type."
"I'll take your word for that," the agent said, flicking her lekku again.
"Are you nervous about something," Kaliyo asked.
"Lekku language," the agent said. "That waiter is trying to ask me out. I am trying to refuse him politely."
Kaliyo looked the waiter up and down. "Not bad. Might be worth a three-way. If you think you can keep up with me."
The agent sighed. "He might be an enemy asset. I can't do anything until I know."
"Too bad. I like the idea of you two at either end of me."
The agent paused at that. "I've often wondered, do you prefer men, women or both?"
"Oh, please," Kaliyo said. "There are more genders than those two. There's this one tentacled race-"
"Thank you. That's more than enough." She continued flicking at the waiter.
"He must really want you," Kaliyo said.
"He says he doesn't see enough free Twi'lek," the agent told her.
"Whatever," Kaliyo said, standing up.
"In the mood for more bounty hunters?" the agent asked.
Kaliyo shook her head. "I'm liking that Sith Lord. Tell scary Sith bitch I'm taking one for the team."
"She might not approve."
"Then don't tell her." She headed in Mau'te's direction.
The agent continued her conversation with the waiter. The exchange was clear and simple, dull, in fact, to anyone who could read the language. The waiter eventually gave up and returned to his work. The agent departed unnoticed, hoping Kaliyo would be safe.
Kaliyo navigated a sea of Imperial officers, all hoping to draw the attention of one of the various Sith Lords. The officers, both male and female, were dressed somewhere between demure and do-me-now. Kaliyo, in her mercenary's attire, couldn't have looked more out of place. She shoved her way through the hungry and desperate, stepped past the slutty and submissive, and slid around the overconfident, finally stopping before Mau'te's seat.
"May I help you?" he asked.
Kaliyo straddled his legs and sat on his lap. "Never had a Sith Lord before. Someone told me you got a reputation."
"Did they?" he said, putting his hands on her waist and considering her value. "Who said this, exactly?"
"She's training that friend of yours," Kaliyo said. "I don't really pay attention. I'm just here for the money and gunfire."
"What's your friend like?" Mau'te asked. "I haven't met her yet."
"Dull. By the book. But a lot of fun in a fight." She inched forward and put her arms around his neck. "Onoka, right? I knew a smuggler named Onoka on Hutta."
"My cousin," Mau'te said.
"Seriously? He never mentioned you."
"I wonder why," Mau'te replied.
"Right," she said and inched forward again, almost close enough to grind him through her clothes. "Now, show me what you got."
He slid one hand under her shirt and up her body until he found her small breasts, rubbed the firm nipple with his thumb. He pinched the nipple and delivered a quick jolt of Force lightning.
Kaliyo gasped silently and whispered, "Fuck yes. You got a room?"
"I can get one," he said.
"Let's do this," she kissed him and pulled him to his feet.
Some time later, Mau'te carried Kaliyo into the hospital, naked with her coat draped over her. She shuddered uncontrollably and gasped for breath. He lowered her onto the nearest gurney.
The closest nurse saw her and said, "Shit. It's Kaliyo again! How many did she take?"
"Three, I think," Mau'te told him.
"You idiot," the nurse said to her.
"T-t-t-totaly w-worth it," she replied. She huddled under her coat and shivered.
"Thank you, my Lord," the nurse said to Mau'te. "We know who to contact."
"Will she be all right?" Mau'te asked, watching the giddy, shivering Rattataki. He wiped some of the cold sweat from her head. She giggled, kissed his hand, and tried to suck on his fingers.
"I believe so, sir," the nurse said. "She has a remarkable tolerance."
"To-totaly worth it," she said. She whimpered in pain and curled into a ball.
A medical droid arrived and wheeled Kaliyo out of Mau'te's sight. He watched the droid leave, and continued watching the door after the droid was gone.
"We know what we're doing, sir," the nurse said. "We get a lot of Rattataki in here. And a lot of bounty hunters. I've seen... worse. Technically."
Mau'te nodded.
"Is she needed for something, my Lord?"
"No," Mau'te replied. "No, she's not. Thank you." He considered waiting for Kaliyo's contact, but suspected she might not appear if he were there.
"This place stinks of betrayal and failure," Khem whispered.
The assassin had to agree. The Dark Temple was a prison to those Sith Lords too angry to face the reality of their deaths. She and Khem paused as a possessed soldier wandered past, demanding to see his apprentice. The victims remained trapped here unless someone dragged them from the Temple's influence or forced the spirit from them. Fortunately, the spirits focused on their own memories. Slipping past them was relatively easy.
They made their way to a spiral stairway, and climbed it to a corridor cut deep into the mountain. The Sith Lord must have been special indeed to warrant a tomb like this. Dust and cobwebs covered the floor and walls on the way to the tomb. Much of the Temple had been cleared by archeologists, it's stray artifacts removed and cataloged. But the path to this tomb showed little use or attention. They reached the door to the tomb, tortured souls carved into its surface, and the assassin searched for the keyhole that would admit the glyph. The assassin examined the glyph for a moment. Titanium and iridium, the primary ingredients in phrik alloy. The key was intricate, but very strong, with little wear on the more delicate edges. Someone wanted this key to survive centuries. She found the keyhole and inserted the glyph. The ancient machinery turned more smoothly than expected, and the door slid open releasing a wave of fetid air.
She entered the tomb cautiously. She might have said she had a bad feeling, but that would be a grotesque understatement. The Dark Side and the rage of the apparition weighed on her until she felt buried in sand. She approached the dias before the sarcophagus, scanning the room for the ghost. Khem followed with his same stoicism, as if impending death did not deserve his attention. As she stepped onto the dias, the apparition appeared. With a wave of his hand, he slammed her to the stone floor. She struck back with lightning, but he ignored it. He choked her until he had her full attention.
"I have been waiting for you," he said. "I felt your movements in the Force, and they stirred me from my nightmare. I am still too weak to leave, but I knew if I made myself enough of a nuisance, you would eventually come. And here you are, blood of my blood."
"Blood of my blood?" the assassin said with a cough. "You're not Twi'lek."
He continued, "Has our family fallen so far that the daughter of my daughters does not know the name of Kallig, the name so long revered in the annals of the Sith? You are my descendant-by how many generations, I do not know-but know this: Your strength in the Force has awakened me from my stupor."
"You're not Twi'lek," she repeated. "Even if you chopped off the lekku, you couldn't get a Twi'lek head in that helmet."
"Do not mock me, child. You do not even begin to understand who you are dealing with." He paced in impatience. "I sensed one of my blood rise to power. When you freed the artifact on Korriban, I knew it must be you. Only my descendents could obtain it. Only they knew the secret."
Oh. "Of course, my lord."
"I knew your strength would return our family to glory," Kallig said.
"How did we fall so low, my lord?" she asked.
"I was once one of the greatest Lords of the Sith. If I'd been wiser, I could have secured my family's greatness. But I let down my guard and was betrayed by a man called Tulak Hord, whom I trusted as a friend."
Khem growled but did not speak.
Kallig said, "In restoring our bloodline to glory, you must not make the same mistake. Treachery is the Sith's endless game-you must win it. Beware your master, beware your apprentice. Never be taken by surprise. Do these things, and you will be unstoppable."
"I will, my lord," she told him. "But, for now, I must have your artifact."
"Don't speak of it," Kallig said. "Wretched thing. Its master murdered me and laid me to rest in this catacomb."
"And yet you speak as if alive," Khem said. "I would serve my master well to correct that."
"Your master is dead, beast," the apparition said. "You serve the child of Kallig now. Flesh of my flesh, you should teach your servant to obey."
"I will deal with him as I see fit," the assassin said.
"I only caution you not to take obedience for granted," Kallig told her. "Take the artifact, but be careful-I know not what it does. Only that betrayal follows it everywhere."
The assassin nodded, and recovered the artifact from the tomb.
"Don't worry," she said. "I'll be careful."
"I hunger for the day when our power will be restored," he said and began to fade from view. "We will meet again."
She turned the artifact in her hands, its design similar to a holocron but even more complex.
"Have you seen this before?" she asked Khem.
"My master had it," Khem said. "And others like it. He hated them, and used them to conquer Dromund Kaas."
"Let's not mention that part to Darth Zash," she said.
"My master would be pleased with you, little Sith."
"Wonderful," she said as they departed the tomb.
Betrayal follows it everywhere, she thought, and inconsistency. Tulak Hord betrayed and murdered Kallig then buried him in a place of honor with an artifact of immense power. And let Kallig make a map to it and hide the map on Korriban, all for Kallig's descendants. The Force may not have coincidences, but it certainly has mysteries.
"What did he do to you?" the agent asked Kaliyo, standing over her hospital bed.
"Lots of good stuff," Kaliyo replied.
"Why are you in the hospital?"
Kaliyo shrugged. "The stims, like last time. But I think the lightning made it worse."
"Lightning?" the agent growled.
"Just his fingertips," Kaliyo said.
"Where?"
Kaliyo smiled. "Everywhere."
"Show me," the agent said.
Kaliyo rolled her eyes and slid out of the bed. She dropped her gown as if nudity in front of the agent, and the two orderlies in the room, meant nothing. She raised her arms and turned around slowly, giving the agent a clear view. Kaliyo was tall, thin, and firm, with long legs and small breasts. She had the type of body that normally sold clothes in holovids, if not for the scars and tattoos crisscrossing her skin. The scars came from knife wounds, blaster marks, and even whip marks on her back, but no Force lightning.
"If you like what you see," Kaliyo said, "Grab that waiter, and we'll party."
"No thank you," the agent said. "Put your gown on."
Kaliyo saw the two orderlies watching her, winked at them, and put the gown back on.
"I thought this guy was important," Kaliyo said.
"He's still Sith," the agent replied. She looked at the orderlies. "Some privacy, please." She waited until they left. "Did he say or do anything that made you nervous?"
Kaliyo shrugged. "That girl you've been training. He said her name in bed. Tell anyone, and I'll kill you."
"Not a word," the agent replied. "That was all?"
"Yes," Kaliyo said. "Other than that, he was a decent fuck. The stims put me here like last time. If it had been anything worse, we would have both been in the hospital."
The agent smiled. "You're quite right. I hadn't thought of that. Well, get dressed. We're needed at Intelligence."
"Watcher Three, I need that linkup to the Dominator," Keeper said, the distaste clear on his face. "If Lord Jadus wishes to observe, we must accommodate him."
"Establishing hololink, sir," Watcher Three replied. "Dataflow is synchronized."
"Glad you found the time to pay us a visit, agent," Keeper said, just noticing her. "Take your place-the briefing starts now."
"Hey," Kaliyo said. "I was in the hospital."
"For sex," Watcher Two said. "That hardly counts."
"She's right," the agent said to Kaliyo. "But we weren't told this was urgent."
"Sorry, agent," Watcher Two said. "It's been hectic."
The hologram of the Dark Lord sparked into view, immediately dominating the room.
"I am. Proceed, Keeper."
"Very well," Keeper began. "You all know we've been attempting to determine the dissidents' plan of attack. Thanks to recent operations, we have the information we need. Unfortunately, the news is worse than we expected. A major strike is imminent. The dissidents are targeting the ancient power conduits that run beneath the capital."
Watcher Two added, "Their intention is to overload the power grid, causing a cascade failure that would detonate the power relay stations. The resulting explosions would kill hundreds of people, and the blackout would leave us vulnerable to further attacks."
Why was this urgent? the agent thought. Why did Jadus want to observe? How did a pathetic group of slaves turn into a threat to the entire city?
"Sir," Watcher three said. "Aren't all access points to the power grid under military control?"
"All but one," Keeper said. "The terrorists intend to access the power conduits through the Dark Temple. It rests directly above a key power junction. If the dissidents can push past the, ah, phenomena, they can access the grid. These dissidents have been planning-they have supplies, maps and weapons, and they're not counting on making it out alive. This is a suicide run."
"Phenomena?" Kaliyo whispered.
"Later," the agent whispered back.
Keeper continued, "We have security footage of dissidents heading toward the Dark Temple. A full squad of operatives will pursue-"
"No," Jadus said.
"My lord?" Keeper asked.
"There will be no squad," Jadus said. "The Dark Temple is sacred ground and will not be unduly disturbed. My agent will go alone."
Your agent? she thought. "Is this wise?"
She saw a hint of a smile from Watcher Two.
"My lord," Keeper said. "I strongly urge you to reconsider. If the dissidents succeed-"
Jadus shook his head. "The spirits of the temple must not be disturbed- not by terrorists and not by Imperial Intelligence. One agent will suffice. My role here is finished. Do as I will, Keeper." The transmission ended.
"Very well," Keeper said. "You will go to the Dark Temple. Stop the radicals from reaching the conduits and detonating their charges."
"Yes, sir," the agent said. "I want to assure you, I never volunteered to be 'his' agent."
"I understand," Keeper said. "As you might have noticed, Lord Jadus rarely 'asks' for something."
Watcher Two said, "We'll monitor you as long as we can, but the temple blocks most transmissions. So just, ah- good luck, agent."
The agent smiled. "If I survive, you're buying the drinks."
"It's a deal," Watcher Two said.
Kaliyo looked her up and down. "Good call. She might be worth it."
They looked at her.
"What?" Kaliyo said. "I'd have you screaming and begging for more."
Watcher Two rolled her eyes. "Whatever gets you through the mission, Kaliyo."
"Fantastic, apprentice," Darth Zash said. "You're just in time for my surprise. Since you left for the Dark Temple, I've been reading and reading and reading. Skotia's chambers are a treasure trove of research. Who would've thought a man like that had such a curious intellect? It almost makes me regret that we had to kill him. But I digress- I trust you were successful in the Dark Temple?"
"Did you expect otherwise?" the assassin asked, handing the artifact to her master.
"Of course not," Zash replied, her eyes gleaming as she examined the ancient relic. "Tell me, how did you manage to pacify the apparition?"
The assassin shrugged. "He believed he was my ancestor."
"Believed?"
"He wasn't Twi'lek," the assassin said. "He sensed when I opened the pyramid on Korriban, and believed only his descendant could manage it. I think he had an important task, something other than the artifact, and to hold onto his message, he had to sacrifice his lucidity."
"Whatever was his task?" Zash said.
"I don't know," the assassin said. "But he said we'd meet again."
Zash smiled. "I can't wait-"
A vision struck both of them, its intensity sending Zash against her desk and the assassin against the wall. They recovered and looked at each other.
"A Republic attack?" the assassin ventured.
Zash shook her head. "They're better strategists than that." She peered into the vision, searching for answers.
"But... stay in the Sith Tower," the assassin said. "For now."
"Yes," Zash agreed. "Stay here."
"You mentioned a surprise," the assassin said, sitting down. Khem scowled at her weakness but said nothing.
"Ah, yes!" Zash said. "I've requested a ship for you. This artifact is one of five that together describe a peculiar ritual used by the great Tulak Hord when he conquered the Dromund system. The other artifacts are scattered across the galaxy; some hidden by Tulak Hord himself, and some wrenched from his hands by betrayers. If you're going to find these artifacts, you'll need a ship and so I have ordered you one. It will be ready soon." She held up the artifact and examined it again. "First, I must test this to verify its authenticity. I trust you apprentice; I do not trust a half mad apparition. When I am done, you will repeat the tests, so I can gauge your skills. But, I have little doubt."
"And the vision?" the assassin said.
"The Dark Council has three strong precognitives. I'm sure they're handling it."
After they left Zash's office, Khem said, "She will never command the power of Tulak Hord."
He sounded very certain.
"Tell me, why did he hate them?" she asked.
"Hope you never learn, little Sith."
Kaliyo fired a tight spray from behind a barricade, taking down another opponent. The agent fired more selectively, target, kill, target. They cleared one group of enemies and started on the next.
"Is it just me, or are these guys really weak?" Kaliyo asked.
"It's not just you," the agent replied. They were engineers or former slaves. They weren't a threat. Maybe the dissidents didn't want to lose their best on a suicide mission.
Kaliyo fired on the next group, careful not to hit the charges. The agent targeted the lead engineer and killed him before he could finish his work. The two moved to another barricade and focused on the next group. Another rookie mistake. They engineers should be on the charges, and the defenders should be at the barricades watching the entrance. The agent wondered how this team made it into the Temple in the first place.
Kaliyo groaned suddenly and ducked down behind her barricade.
"Were you hit?" the agent asked.
"Not exactly," she said. "I had a sudden urge to engage in elaborate Sith politics. And spank my lieutenant for disappointing me. It's gone now. The politics part, anyway." She started firing again. "Why hasn't it gotten to you yet?"
"More training," the agent replied. "And some people have a higher resistance."
Kaliyo nodded. "If I start talking about joining a council of any kind, you have my permission to knock me out."
"Understood," the agent said.
They worked through the terrorists group by group and disarmed each of the charges. They cleared both with barely any effort.
"You weren't kidding," Kaliyo said, as the agent rapidly disarmed the last charge. "You do know weapons."
"Of course," the agent said. "It's why they recruited me. A weapon designer is a valuable asset in the field."
They reached the primary conduit node and tested the connection for interruptions. Someone groaned nearby, and they spun toward the noise. A terrorist leaned against some crates, wounded but not by them. He tossed his weapon away, and put up his hands.
"You're with the military, aren't you?" he said. "I can't believe you actually followed us in here. None of us are going to make it back out- you know that, right?"
"You should've known you couldn't pull this off," the agent said. "What did you mean to accomplish?"
"To show the Empire what it means to fight for freedom- and we still will." He winced suddenly and clutched his side. "You can shoot me now. You can save the power grid, preserve the Imperial lifestyle for a little longer. But-"
"Yes, whatever," the agent said. "Listen- it doesn't have to happen like this."
"Yes. It does," he said. "I saw what happened to my friends. I took comfort in the fact that I'd die when-"
"I don't care," she said. Fucking zealots. "Take this medpac. Patch yourself up and get out of here. And remember who saved your life."
"I'll remember," he said, clutching the medpac. "I won't side with you, but I can show my gratitude."
"Yes. Just go."
Kaliyo watched him leave then looked at the agent. "Are you sure you're not affected?"
"None of this made sense," the agent said. "We might need another witness someday." She finished checking the conduit node. "That's it. Let's go."
"I don't care about the radiation damage, damn it!" Keeper yelled. "Get me security footage, communication logs, something we can use."
"All military channels are reporting in," Watcher Two said. "The Dominator has been completely destroyed."
"Sir?" the agent said. "What's the situation?"
Watcher Two said, "It's good to see you back, agent, but there was a secondary target. Apparently-"
"Watcher Two," Keeper said. "I still need confirmation. And, agent, get ready to move. We need everyone operational."
"Sorry, sir," Watcher Two said, more sharply than she needed to. "But there were over three thousand people on that ship. Half of them civilians-"
"I'm aware of that," Keeper said like a seasoned general. "Do your job, Watcher Two. Run the numbers."
Watcher Two nodded, her hands dancing across the console. She entered the commands easily enough, but her arms were locked tight from the elbows up to hold in the shaking. The agent moved toward her station.
Watcher Three said, "Lockdown procedures are in place- all traffic has been grounded."
"Initial analysis is done," Watcher Two said. "Cross-checking with the droids." She took a deep breath. "Nothing could have survived that explosion. All sources confirm: Casualties are one hundred percent."
The agent reached her station and whispered, "Focus."
"I just calculated the likely circumstances of each passenger's death," Watcher Two whispered back. "Don't tell me to-. Sorry."
"Agent!" Keeper called out. "I know you're just back from a mission, but your recovery will have to wait. I need you in the field."
A lot of shouting, a mouse droid, and a cargo port later, and most of the fires had been put out.
"We've made mistakes today," Keeper said to the room. "We underestimated the dissidents and their leader. But all of you performed above and beyond expectations when called upon. I am proud of each one of you. But now, we have a new job." He turned to the agent. "You are going to head our operation to dismantle the Eagle's network. You will locate and eliminate his terror cells through infiltration, manipulation and assassination. I am assigning you a rank and designation that suits your new position. You will now answer to Cipher Nine."
"Of course, sir," she said.
Keeper continued, "With the rank comes certain privileges-including a degree of operational independence. You may recruit your own operatives, and you will be outfitted with a starship. With the lockdown in place, you won't be leaving for a few days. You may have the time off. Use it well. You won't get it very often. Watcher Two, you will remain Cipher Nine's liaison to base."
"Yes, sir," Watcher Two replied.
"Begin analyzing all reports on recent dissident activity. I want Cipher Nine fully briefed before she departs."
"Understood, sir," Watcher Two said.
"And, everyone," Keeper said. "Be careful of these people. Destroying the Dominator was no mean feat. We underestimated them once. We cannot do that again. All right, get to work."
"You didn't have to," Cipher Nine said to Watcher Two, trying to be quiet but audible over the noise in the bar.
"I promised you a drink," Watcher Two said. "You certainly earned it."
Kaliyo threw back a shot and called for another.
"So did she, technically," Watcher Two said.
The agent leaned close to the Watcher's ear. "Tell something. Who wanted that conduit node in the Dark Temple in the first place?"
Watcher Two whispered back, "In Imperial Intelligence, it pays to be clever. It does not pay to appear clever."
"Keeper said killing Jadus was unthinkable."
"Of course," Watcher Two said. "He had a lot of allies in Imperial Intelligence."
The agent nodded. "I wasn't one of them."
"Are you talking shop?" Kaliyo asked.
"Just asking about the mission," the agent said.
"You two need to go off the clock," Kaliyo said. "What about you, Watcher? Are you ready to party?"
She looked around the bar. "I'm... considering it."
"Cool," Kaliyo said. She pulled the Watcher in and kissed her deeply while the Watcher froze in shock. "I love melting an ice queen. Come on, I know where we can find some bounty hunters that are worth the effort."
"Uh, bounty hunters?" Watcher Two said, still recovering from the kiss. "Those crude, foul, rough... I get the cute one."
"Honey, you don't want the cute one," Kaliyo said. "You want the one with the most scars. It means he knows how to get the job done."
"Interesting theory," the Watcher said. "Will you be joining us, Cipher?"
"I have a prior engagement," she replied.
Kaliyo threw back another shot. "Scary Sith bitch again?"
Watcher Two stared at Kaliyo. "Do you call her that to her face?"
"Fuck no," Kaliyo said. "Most Sith Lords are run of the mill assholes. That bitch is truly scary."
"Why do you help her?" Watcher Two asked the agent.
"There are far worse ways of gaining the favor of a Sith Lord," the agent said.
Watcher Two nodded.
"And, Kaliyo," the agent said. "Try to stay out of the hospital."
"Buzzkill. Let's go, Watcher. I know some guys who can crack that ice wide open."
"What did your handler say?" the assassin asked.
"I'm not to watch Mau'te again," the agent replied. "Someone else will be assigned to it."
The assassin shook her head. "It's slipping out."
"That was to be expected," the agent said. "You were not mentioned."
"There's that, anyway."
"Watcher Two asked about you," the agent continued. "I gave her the cover story. She seemed satisfied with it."
"Good enough," the assassin said. "Your handler was right. That story doesn't justify us meeting too much after this. How ready is Vette?"
"As ready as I can make her," the agent said. "Jadus did something odd. Dissidents infiltrated the Dark Temple to plant bombs on a power conduit. Instead of a team, Jadus demanded that Kaliyo and I deal with them alone."
"Did he say why?"
The agent nodded. "He said the Temple was sacred-"
"Sacred?" the assassin said. "Jadus never gave two shits about the Temple. He always said the power of the ancient Sith Lords was to be admired, not their decaying monuments." She thought for a moment and said, "How did the Temple affect you?"
"Not much," the agent said.
"That's it then," the assassin said. "That mental assault was your first test. The Temple was the second. You passed, and he could proceed."
"You don't think he's dead," the agent said.
"Officially, the Empire mourns," the assassin said. "Unofficially, I suspect the Dark Council is watching and preparing."
"Then, so will I," the agent said. "Any messages?"
"Still promising. I've been given a mission too important to refuse. I will watch as best I can. That's all." She indulged in a smile. "For now, it's up to Vette. Anything else?"
"Yes," the agent said. "I've seen a Zabrak Sith Lord watching Vette. She's starting to make me nervous."
"Thank you. I'll deal with it."
"Good luck," the agent said.
"There's no such thing as 'luck'," the assassin said.
The agent sighed and left.
Vette groaned and massaged her shoulder. Our last session, her instructor had told her. So, she made it the best she could. Don't stop training, don't let your guard down, and watch anyone with a lightsaber. She hated to admit it, but the training had helped. And the regular food. And him. She really hated to admit that, but he was there for her sometimes, lightsaber and all. He'd get bored of her and throw her away eventually. That's what they did. That's okay. She got the chance to see Mako again. That was worth a lot. She'd had much worse prison stays.
Lord Hexid watched the Twi'lek girl from across the street. She really was very pretty. Such a shame. The things I could have done. But, Lord Mau'te is far more valuable than you know. Than they know. Yet, anyway. Very sorry, my dear.
Vette turned a corner, and Hexid hurried to catch up. As she passed an ally, she sensed the attack and spun away from it. Her opponent was obviously skilled in stealth, and had obscured Hexid's battle awareness. Her reaction saved her from a lethal strike, but she still caught the lightsaber on her leg. She ignited her saber, blocking the next attack, as her opponent pressed her advantage. The enemy, a slight Twi'lek woman with impressive speed, struck at her with precise, efficient moves. She was a bit younger than Hexid, probably still an apprentice, but attacked with dispassionate confidence, as if combat were surgery. A flurry of attacks from Hexid and a spray of Force lightning did nothing to confuse her or slow her down. Hexid had only one option left. She deactivated her saber, fell back, and threw up her arms.
"I surrender," she said.
The Twi'lek Sith paused but did not drop her guard. "Surrender?"
"Yes," Hexid said. "This is about Lord Mau'te, isn't it? You're that apprentice of Lord Zash, aren't you? I recognize the combat style."
"Darth Zash. She was promoted."
"Quite right," Hexid said. "Terribly sorry. I heard a rumor you were interested in Lord Mau'te. Not sure why you're protecting a rival though."
"That's not what she is," the assassin said.
"Well, whatever," Hexid said. "He's all yours."
"Just like that?"
"Yes, of course," Hexid said. "He is a very handsome man, and a very good fuck, but not worth dying over. An alliance with him might be nice, but there are other ways to make that happen."
"Very well," the assassin said. "Just to be clear. If you go after Vette-"
"You'll kill me," Hexid said.
The assassin shook her head, and a large, scary something stepped out of the shadows.
"He'll eat you."
"Not in the good way, I expect," Hexid said, looking at Khem cautiously. "Speaking of, a good fight always gets me excited. I'd love to go down on you. To the victor the rewards, and all that."
"Go to the mercenaries tower. Find a Rattataki woman named Kaliyo Djannis. Tell her I sent you. You won't be disappointed."
"Very good," Hexid said, and stood up with a wince. "Oh, shit, that's right." She looked at her leg. "I'm going to steal that move, you know. Good day." She limped away.
"You should have let me eat her," Khem said.
"I might need her one day," the assassin said. "Besides, I thought you had your fill at the Temple."
"Dry and tasteless," Khem said. "I hunger for something fresh."
Back in her apartment, the assassin stared at her computer screen, but her mind wasn't on it. Would Hexid keep her word? the assassin thought. Probably. Vette was an easy target. Another Sith Lord required careful evaluation as a potential enemy. Or ally. She struck from out of nowhere, the hunter hunted. Hexid would be impressed by that. More than that. She saw Vette as something else now. She wouldn't attack again until she knew Vette's real value. The assassin sighed and returned to her scans of the markings in Kallig's tomb. They didn't match the artifact at all. Kallig's resembled some ancient Zabrak texts. The artifact was much-
Someone knocked at her door. Khem didn't stir from his meditation, so probably not a threat. At the door, she found a rather handsome human Imperial Lieutenant.
"Good evening, my Lord," he said. "Darth Zash sent me."
"Am I needed?"
"No, my Lord. I am a gift."
"Are you?" the assassin asked.
"Indeed. Darth Zash believes you need to relax. You told her you wanted no emotional commitments, and I am engaged."
"Your fiance' doesn't mind?"
"She understands," the lieutenant said. "It is the Empire after all. And it has helped my career quite a bit. I have also been told I have excellent technique and am a comfortable size."
"Lovely," the assassin said. "You might have noticed I don't have Darth Zash's pendulous breasts."
"Neither does my fiance'," he said. "It hasn't bothered me."
"Well," the assassin said, opening the door. "You're very skilled with your tongue. Let's start there."