Chapter 18: A Party
They still don't understand.
Avaryss smiled as she led her guests from the landing pad. The Sith technicians, troopers, and construction workers all but ignored the arriving nobles. They tended to their work without even looking up curiously.
That pleased their Sith Master.
She liked people that knew their place.
Construction of the Grand Temple had resumed. The new girders had arrived, and the restoration of the damaged sections was well under way. Soon they would be able to begin work on the final five towers, completing the work, and ushering in a new era for the galaxy.
Tonight, however, would see another milestone in the rule of Darth Avaryss.
Tonight…would see the beginning of the end for her problems on Bantoon.
She had sent out twenty invitations for tonight's event. Her guests chosen for a number of useful reasons. Of the twenty only twelve had responded in the positive, ten males, two females. The other perspective guests had offered polite refusals, or no answer at all.
The wise ones, she reflected. They would likely cast the blame on some underling for not receiving her offer.
Oh well, after tonight she would not have to worry, she would have what she needed to keep an eye on the nobles.
If they were plotting against her, she would know in short order.
She would know…everything that this lot knew.
"I would like to thank you all for coming," she said turning to them, walking backwards as she led them out of the landing bay, and into the finished lower levels of the grand temple.
"And I promise," she added, "You won't regret it."
The collection of nobles nodded and murmured affirmatives, they acknowledged her, but their eyes were now directed to the grandness around them.
The greatness that was her glorious Grand Temple.
The walkway that they were now on over looked the main floor, down below, construction workers were cleaning up, the carvers and artisans having finished their work on the decorations. The hundred-foot pillars that were spaced throughout the central hall were all carved into the shape of legendary Sith Lords. Mark Ragnos, Naga Sadow, Ludo Kresh, Exar Kun, Darth Nihilist, Darth Malak, even Lord Revan had a statue.
She had debated the last inclusion. During his return Revan had caused much harm to the Sith as a whole, bringing back the treacherous Vitiate.
In the end, though, she could not fault one action after so many successful accomplishments…
…so, Revan had joined the pantheon of Sith that she had chosen to honor.
"This is amazing, prime minister," a young noble named Varo said.
"Indeed," a woman named Ziza added as she squeezed the arm or her paramour.
"Is it not amazing Tigg?"
The large man nodded with an audible grunt.
Avaryss smiled.
That one would be useful.
Physical strength was always a plus.
She had chosen those that she had selected for many reasons. Her intelligence agents had been watching Bantoon's ruling class for years. Everyone here was a noble who had little prospect of inheriting their family's station or power. They were third or fourth daughters, and first-born sons that Bantoon law tended to ignore. Their families would not miss them when they disappeared. Plus, they all possessed other attributes that were most interesting in these exciting times. These had been picked for their degree of cunning, ruthlessness, and just a hint of Force ability.
Her guest of honor, and…
The dark lord suppressed a laugh.
…The perfect lab animals for tonight's experiment.
Yet, the evening was far from perfect. Those that had chosen not to attend had made things…difficult. One such guest in particular.
Underlord Go had chosen not to come. His had been the first invitation she had sent, the one she had desired most.
He wielded great power in the underworld, but as Jas Dar Bynn's son, he was only held in check by the fact that she held his sister and mother. What happened tonight would have insured his loyalty, and been another subtle punishment for the mother.
She had thought the promise of greater power would entice him to attend tonight's gathering, but he had chosen not to respond.
Unfortunate, but not entirely unexpected.
She would need to deal with the Underlord later.
"Prime Minister?"
Avaryss turned to the speaker.
"Yes, your ladyship?"
"Major is fine," the woman responded, "Major Atta Caz."
Avaryss nodded.
A pretty one, this major, dark haired, with strange pale blue eyes, and a fourth born daughter if she remembered correctly.
She could feel the frustration and anger in this one's heart, anger directed at the society that she had been born into, and then denied her what she felt was hers.
A perfect candidate.
"I was a bit surprised by this invitation," the soldier said, "My mother thought it a mistake, that you surely must have meant my eldest sister."
"I do not make such mistakes, major. You and these others were chosen to be a part of a new…and secretive group. A group that will become a major power in this galaxy, once my work here is concluded, of course."
"And how much longer will that be," the woman named Ziza asked, "Those of us that serve you so loyally look forward to the rewards you promised."
"And you will receive them all in due time," Avaryss answered, "Once this place is completed."
And the final rite is carried out, she thought to herself, the rite that will bind the temple to Hecaetus' keys, and complete the great weapon he envisioned years ago.
The thought made her shive with anticipation.
Finally, the galaxy would know security and order, with the final sacrifice the galaxy will be mine…
…and my spirit will belong to the dark side forever.
That last thought gave her pause.
Forever.
The dark lord frowned slightly.
It was rare that she questioned her place in the Sith and in the dark side. For close to twenty years now she had studied the ancient secrets, sought out their power.
She thought she had accepted long ago that what happened at the end was unescapable. Her final binding to the Sith for all time was how she completed her work, and saved the galaxy from itself.
She shook her head.
She saw no reason to get maudlin about her choices now.
Yet it wasn't really your choice, was it? Something within in her reminded her.
Feer tricked you, the empire tricked you. You wanted revenge for your family, and to make your world a better place, and now…look at you…
…when did Keera Lylos want to rule the galaxy?
She dismissed that thought.
However she came to this place, it no longer mattered.
Power mattered.
It was too late to turn back now. She would rule, and Andur would rule after her, and his children after that!
She would not run from the legacy she had built.
She would not do that to Andur.
Her smile sprang anew on her face.
"This way please," she said to her guests, "Refreshments have been prepared for our first meeting."
Her expression turned sly.
"Then our real work can begin."
IOI
The dining hall had been set up in one of the lowest levels of the temple, A dark chamber with no windows, not that there was much to see on the ground level.
Since construction had begun, storms and mists had been drawn to the structure, the dark side cloaking Avaryss' weapon in a concealing, chilling shroud.
The dark lord nodded as she entered, her people had done well with this place. The lights they had brought in made it seem less gloomy, a small blue crystal overhead spun rainbows in the light, and the yellow and red tapestries distracted from the black stone.
The wall to her right was one large great mirror, reflecting images of the splendor in the chamber. In each of the rooms four corners were gold statues, Adjacent likenesses of Darth Feer and Darth Hecaetus.
The two men that made this place possible, Avaryss thought, glancing at her master's golden visage.
A brief surge of hatred passed through her, but it was gone just as quickly.
If not for him, she would not be here…
…She would not be so close to absolute victory.
The banquet table was full of food and drink. Avaryss took her place at the head of the table, while her guests filed in, sitting quickly and reaching for the bottles of wine that sat so near each of their seats.
Avaryss filled her own goblet, and put it to her lips several times, but did not drink herself. She sat back, merely letting her guests indulge themselves. They had not asked for her permission, merely took what they thought was their due, and chatted about the various events that they thought was so important in their mundane lives.
She waited five minutes, more than enough time to make sure that everything was working out. She listened to the back and forth between them. She heard the various gripes and snide comments that came from lives of privilege, privilege, but not power.
She smiled then.
As a Dark Lord, she was more than ready to offer them all…something more.
When she felt things were well underway, she stood, lightly tapped her goblet, with her fork, getting everyone's attention.
She grinned.
"I would like to thank you all for coming. For joining me on this grand adventure that I have planned. As I stated in my invitation, you have all been chosen to join a new and elite group, a group that will be lauded in the histories forever."
Most of her guests grinned eagerly, others seemed vaguely distant.
The Dark Lord continued.
"You may not realize this, but your world is quite special. Twice before has the Sith Order seen value in this place, in both its resources and people. Darth Revan was the first to reach out to you, but forces beyond his control stopped him from showing you all your full potential. Then…came Baron Hudlo, a great man…a man of vision…"
Avaryss sneered.
"His vision was denied by Queen Vessaria, and her Jedi bedwarmer, but tonight…oh tonight!"
She laughed, and not a single guest joined her, they had all fallen silent, watching her…lost in her voice.
"Tonight, we take a step into a brand-new era. You have chosen, and so…you are now ALL chosen. I thank you for that courage, that ambition. As I have promised, you will all be granted more than you believed possible. You will…quite literally…change the course of your world.
Avaryss held up her glass.
"A toast," she exclaimed, " A toast to new beginnings!"
No one raised their glasses; they sat quietly in their place staring blankly.
Avaryss sneered as she emptied her glass on the floor.
Shaking her head, she pulled her commlink from her belt.
"They are ready," she said, "Begin."
The ceiling above the chamber irised open, revealing a great shaft, and in its center, a large crystal, a crystal whose tip had only been visible a moment before.
Avaryss looked at it and shuddered slightly, it had been a few years now, but she still felt connected to it.
The crystal, it left her feeling slightly off, like she was not connected to the world.
Unsurprising since this was the very same crystal, she used to transfer her spirit into the body she currently occupied. Through it, she had cleansed this shell of the Jedi turned smuggler Tru Halcyon, and in turn, took it for her own.
She shivered, as she left the room, leaving her guests at their chairs, unable to move.
She stepped out into the hall, and pulled the lever next to the door, sealing it behind her. Quickly she made her way to the room next to it, the one behind the two-way mirror.
Rain awaited her there, Rain, Blyss, and HK, and at their side stood her pet scientist, the Chiss female Doctor Vrann.
The blue woman beamed, her red eyes flashing in the dim light.
"I would like to thank you for this opportunity, my lord. The chance to observe Sith Alchemy in action, it is a most profound gift."
"You are welcome, doctor," the Sith replied, "But this is no mere reward. I will need you to examine these test subjects after this experiment concludes. I need to make sure that they are stable, as stable as the lab animals I used were."
The Chiss nodded.
"I will put forth my best effort."
Rain crossed her arms. She frowned at the gathering behind the glass.
"Is this really necessary, master? I can find Temmin on my own. I'm certain of it."
"Perhaps," the dark lord shrugged, "But this should speed up your hunt, provided that the…enhancements take as I believe they will."
Her grin turned wicked.
"Even the best hunters use hounds from time to time."
HK Sigma 3 turned to her; its stance more stiff than usual.
"Desperate plea," the droid said, "Master. There is no need to send me aid. I WILL find the Istillo woman for you. Given enough time, I would have succeeded before. It is not my fault that your meatbag body failed before I had the chance."
Avaryss smirked.
"Have I hurt your feelings, HK? Have I harmed your sense of honor?"
The droid's eyes flashed.
"Explanation: Master, I am a droid. I have no feelings or sense of honor. Such things would be a waste in my work. What I have…is programming. A desire to succeed above all else, to serve my master in the most complete of ways, and to exterminate any meatbag she desires, of course."
"Of course," the dark lord said, "You should not take this as a punishment or me looking down on your abilities. The creatures that we are about to create will prove useful to me, and hopefully serve you well.
Avaryss laughed.
"And look at the bright side, HK. If they don't come back, I will not be angry."
The droid didn't reply, she could almost hear his processors whirring.
She hoped that meant he would not seek to throw away her toys. She didn't mind if some were lost, but did hope that they would not be lost foolishly.
Blyss seemed uninterested in the nobles, her eyes were on the cage in the back of chamber, the one connected to the crystal through a nest of cables and wires.
In that cage was the reason that they were here.
The three animals were small, about the size of a common house felinx, their skin a deep lavender, their furry manes a dark bluish purple.
They huddled together in their cage, but not in fear. Being together seemed to increase the sense of menace in the cage, they bared their teeth at the Sith standing around them. Their eyes were pure glowing yellow, and to a Force sensitive, something else was clear…
…these creatures reeked of the dark side.
"They don't seem to like us, mother," Blyss said, shaking her head. The girl seemed…disoriented for a few moments.
Avaryss was not surprised, she knew what these creatures could do. That is why she had to keep them separated the larger the number, the more dangerous they became.
Three though…three were more than manageable.
"We are greater predators than they are, child," Avaryss reminded her "They can sense that; it is not surprised that they show us fear and caution."
Rain snorted.
"So, these are the animals that Darth Revan mentioned in his treatise."
Avaryss' apprentice shook her head.
"They are small, and don't look like much."
"Looks can be deceiving, apprentice," the Sith Lord replied, "Lord Revan didn't turn his gaze on these creatures lightly, he saw they had their uses."
"So I read. He thought they might be improved with Sith Alchemy, made larger, and more fierce."
Again, Rain shook her head.
"That doesn't explain why we needed you to bring the noble brigade here."
"You will see soon enough, apprentice, and then…all of Bantoon will see."
She turned to Dr. Vrann.
"It is time to begin, Doctor. Start the procedure."
The Chiss nodded and pulled a lever next to the wall.
The statues of Hecaetus and Feer slid outward, as gas began to hiss into the chamber with the paralyzed nobles.
We need to give it a few moments, Avaryss realized, let the transformative fill the chamber, and soak into her guests' skins.
She looked down at creatures in the cage, and smiled.
Revan had had a good idea, but he had not gone far enough.
The creatures were called Tuku, or Tuku-cats. They lived on a series of small islands along Bantoon's equator. They were one of the smallest predators on their islands, and lived with several different types of large beasts, and yet…they were the dominate predator on their home, and more than capable of bringing down animals three times their size.
It was this ability that Avaryss wished to tap into. Revan, despite being a true Sith Lord, skilled in magic and alchemy, did not look farther than their use as hounds for the Sith.
They could track Force sensitives, the larger the group the larger the web the creatures could cast. Few escaped the larger packs, and they always found their prey.
Reven saw that, and wanted to use it, and would have if he had not have been betrayed.
Of course, the creatures were capable of so much more
Revan had not understood that.
She didn't blame him. Despite his tactical brilliance, he was still just a soldier, and had been a pawn in Darth Vitiate's games.
As so many of her fellow Sith had been, as she had been once upon a time.
Avaryss looked down at the cage, and small creatures inside, they hissed and moved closer to each other. Their cries were between a meow and a Gran's bleat.
She could feel the creatures reaching out with the dark side, they drew strength from their pack mates, and used that strength to cause a disorienting effect in others.
She grinned, resisting them.
In their native habitat, a pack of thirty or forty of the Tuku could even bring down a Force sensitive, make him or her so disoriented that they couldn't move, and then…the beasts would devour their still living prey at their leisure.
She turned to the glass, the gas had filled the chamber, she could see her noble friends slowly starting to regain the ability to move, soon they would be struggling.
It was the best that she proceeded before that came to pass.
She took a deep breath, and began the chant.
The spell she was using worked both through the dark side, and the apparatus that held the creatures, apparatus that now came alive at her call through the Force.
Above the chamber the crystal that had once allowed her to cheat death began to glow.
Vrann watched as the process began. She had attended Avaryss during her first tests over the last week. First using lab animals, and then using two prisoners brought in from one of Bantoon's prisons. Dissection of those first subjects yielded much information, that would make this latest attempt succeed far beyond anything the Dark Lord had done before.
Through the apparatus, and the crystal that it was connected to, she bound the creatures and her guests, calling on the changing powers of the dark side.
"You have chosen, and now…are the chosen," she murmured into the Force, her voice filling her guests' minds. You wished power, now reach out and seize it."
The glow of the crystal intensified.
"Now, my friends…feel the power of the dark side!"
Blasts of dark side energy filled the chamber, illuminating the gas and the men and women inside.
The screaming began.
Avaryss turned away from the beasts in the cage, eager to watch what was occurring. Even through the swirling mists she could see the nobles stumble from their chairs, shaking their heads and tearing at their own skin.
The dark lord savored their pain.
Yes, she thought, this is how it must be, how it should have always have been!
During the empire's golden age the Sith Order had been more than lightsabers, schemes, and Force lightning. They had been the masters of life and death. Through sorcery and alchemy, they had created wonders for the ages. They had bred warbeasts and monsters to hunt and slay their enemies. They had conjured illusions that could cause physical damage to their enemies. They had been the sorcerer princes and princesses of the galaxy.
Under Vitiate that had changed. He had horded the ancient secrets for himself, and the Sith Lords that ruled under him became more interested in politics and combat. The Sith Order changed into a dark mirror image of the Jedi Order, with Vitiate as their grand master and god.
She would change that.
She had gathered many of the ancient secrets, tomes and scrolls from before the age of Vitiate. Those secrets were now safely stored in her holocron, or hidden in places where those she favored would be able to find them.
The sorcerer kings and queens of the past would return, and the old ways would become the new ways. She would wash away Vitiate's rabble, and see the Sith restored to a better time, a more powerful time.
An age…of Sorcery!
Her nobles struggled weakly. Varo lay in the corner by a statue of Darth Feer, scratching his arms bloody. The lovers Tigg and Ziza held each other, even as their flesh bubbled and reshaped itself. The major woman, Atta threw herself against the glass, Avaryss could see blood running from her eyes nose and mouth, even as her flesh twisted, and melted, melted…and reformed.
Bones extending, as organs failed, melted and reformed.
The woman tried to cry out but only a familiar bleating cry emerged from her throat.
She sank to her knees, blood staining the two-way glass.
Avaryss nodded.
She didn't doubt that what her guests were going through was painful, but pain was a part of it.
Birth was painful.
Rebirth…was equally so, but if power was to be gained, it needed to be endured.
Power…was what mattered.
She looked at her companions. HK watched with a sense of boredom, eager to be given a mission and be back on the hunt. He had excelled in his last two assignment, grateful not to be playing nursemaid to Xen and Beric's daughter anymore. The girl was safe here in the capital tended to by her mother. Though, her father tended to avoid them.
The changes that Beric endured had made his attempts at a normal life…difficult.
Eventually she would have to deal with him. For Xen and Mya's sake. Either remake him as he had been, or remove him.
Vrann was busy taking notes, her mini droids flying around her head, taking readings from within the birthing tank.
The Chiss couldn't take her eyes off what was happening. She was a woman of science, who sought to understand everything.
Alchemy was something she didn't know, and was eager to learn.
Blyss stood in a corner, looking everywhere, but where she needed to look, upon her mother's creations.
That did not please her mother.
Jeer would have had his face pressed against the glass, salivating at what was happening, then, he was almost too much like his father, and that didn't please Avaryss either.
With Blyss, she hoped to achieve a happy medium, some of Jeer's cruelty, but also a degree of her mother's control.
Avaryss reached out with the Force using it to lift the girls chin towards what was happening.
"This is part of your education, my dear," she told her daughter, "You MUST watch."
"Ye…yes, mother," the girl replied, making herself look, though she looked pale, the faces she was making suggested she might get sick.
She needs to toughen up, Avaryss thought.
She will have a high place at court soon, and so she can not afford to be squeamish.
Rain stood beside her master, their time together on Bantoon had toughened the former serving girl to a degree that a bit of blood didn't bother her.
"So," Rain said, "You will soon have your own creatures like Shyra Viel?"
"I will have my own monsters," Avaryss replied, "Sadly, these will not have the same transformative capabilities that the mongrel possessed."
The dark lord sighed.
"Sadly, the secret of creating such things died with Darth Terrog. The fool kept it to himself, no notes, not even bothering to create a holocron."
Avaryss shook her head.
"It is a shame that such secrets can vanish in such a way."
Rain nodded in agreement, but it was clear her attention was elsewhere.
"How long until these things are ready? I wish to be off to search for Temmin."
"A few days, no more," her master promised, "Provided that all twelve survive, we will divide them up. Four will go with you, and four with HK."
"As you wish," Rain said, "Though, I must ask, what about the remaining four?"
"They will stay here, for further testing."
And to ferret out my enemies among the nobles and Sith living here, Avaryss though to herself, once the transformation was complete, these creatures would be bound to her, as Abominus was, they would have no secrets, and would tell her what she wanted to know without resistance or reservation.
If they knew anything of treason, they would tell her, and if they knew nothing, they would find someone who did.
I will find the rats scurrying around in the palace. I will find them…and execute every last one of them.
Avaryss smiled.
She had let her conquests here lull her into a false sense of security. She had forgotten that she was at war with the entire galaxy.
She only needed to hold out a while longer, keep her enemies' eyes focused on each other, and not be concerned with her.
The weapon was almost ready.
It would begin with Arcann and the Zakuul. They would be the first to die out. The first…but not the last.
How many others followed them into death was their choice.
An inferno was coming…
…and she would be the spark that ignited it.