05. Book of Ciphers: Limbo - Anchanted

Chapter 1: Day of Loss

Chapter Text

16 ATC
Kouhaush Muin

Lana was almost starting to feel normal again. Content, hopeful.

The sun was setting on a lazy evening. Sunsets were quite pretty here on Kouhaush Muin. Romantic, too. The forests and meadows and lake, which were more emeraldine than any natural features had a right to be, almost looked like it was lit by a green flame. Lana Beniko remembered the first time she’d come here with her husband, a week before they joined the Coalition on Yavin. Their first real vacation together. On their host’s recommendation, they’d taken a speeder out to a nearby hill. Just watched the sunset painting the surrounding lowlands in all hues of color.

Lana took another sip of tea as she read the Ón éitear. It was an ancient Muinar epic, composed three thousand years ago. This one wasn’t just the first edition copy, it was the first one to be printed, period. Lady Kai’s ancestor, a fan of the author Lugh McRea, had requested it. It was virtually all that High King Tormark was known for. This book was written in the old Muinar language, and required her language implant to translate.

The work followed a rather common path, as epics went—a tale about a commoner who won the heart of the queen herself after many dangerous quests, including the hunt for a deadly dragon—but it provided a lot of insight into ancient Muinar culture that Lana was glad to glean.

She read it out loud, and in a slow, soothing tone (and in the original language); a habit she’d picked up in the early weeks of her second pregnancy. Like her child had already arrived, and she was reading to it. Although it had been more than a month since she’d lost the baby, she still kept with the habit. It helped her cope with the loss. With the trauma of entering the bath that day, only to… and all that blood…

No. Don’t think of it.

For it wasn’t just the pain of a miscarriage she was dealing with, but the destruction of Ziost as well. Of leading the defense of an Imperial world through the worst catastrophe the Empire had ever known. And she had only saved two-thirds of the population. The world itself—and all of its records, infrastructure, and resources—were a complete loss. To make matters worse, she had experienced the betrayal of her closest aide. It had all piled up. She no longer felt her confidence from her days fighting the Revanites.

At least she was no longer ignoring her most powerful gift. She Felt Vajra’s heart through their Bond, and could feel his many emotions that rippled beneath the surface even at this distance or even communicate telepathically. At closer range, they could each hear most of the other’s inner thoughts. Above all, she could feel his love for her, and it was like a warm cocoon to her still-broken and mending heart. With his help—or even without it—she was determined to heal; to be strong and whole once again. Perhaps she could even reach for greater heights as a woman. Find a new life, unfettered from her thankless tasks as a Sith.

But she Felt more from his end. His own sense of loss. His own trauma. And his own anxiety. Every fiber of his being was tense, like he was expecting the next blow to come from even the nothingness of Hyperspace.

“It’s alright, my Knave,” she told him gently. “It’s just the result of Ziost. Everyone who was there must be on edge. You’ll be fine. We will both be fine.” She felt like she owed him a proper apology. So desperate was she to hide her own inner turmoil, that she had forgotten that he had been hurt by their recent losses too; and with no one to help him bear his burden.

When he got back, they would go on a long retreat together. Perhaps to Shinju. That resort on that world had been on his vacation list for years now. They finally had a nice, long period where they could just disconnect from everything and see what the world had to offer. Especially since tourism was dying down to more manageable levels.

Perhaps in the tranquil river valleys, lush forests, flowering meadows, and misty hill stations of that world, they could try again. Maybe they could visit her parents; incognito, of course. Or meet up with Theron (whose freedom she was plotting to secure), Kira, Jasme, Ashton, Shara, and Satele.

It was these thoughts that kept Lana comfortable and chipper. Dreams of simple happiness in her future. Time with her husband, and her parents, and her closest friends.

Unfortunately, her peace was shattered several moments after her husband’s vessel emerged from Hyperspace. She Felt his fear spike, and was infected by it herself. She was in his head when he beheld the loaded Shatterpoint, moments from erupting. She abandoned her previous stance faster than even Darth Nox would’ve.

“Come back at once!” she said without hesitation.

“I… I can’t,” he replied. “If I do, the coming storm gets much worse. I’m… I’m needed here… the Force is clear… but why?!” He sounded confused and shocked. “I’m sorry, my Wolf. I can’t run.”

He was silent for a few moments as he took stock of the situation. It was all quiet for now. Ships were lined up and waiting for their mission to begin. A few more were arriving. In fact, the Kairvette appeared on the scene too. Two of the top three warriors in the known galaxy were now at Elgrind. That did not comfort her at all.

Keenly aware that her pestering could distract him in a potentially deadly situation, she piped down. Instead, she began making her own, hasty preparations.

“HK? We’re going to Elgrind. We might be going into a warzone.”

“Acknowledgement!
Statement: I will carry my new munitions into battle, Master! I’ve learned some new tricks I’m eager to try out!”

After penning the hastiest, untidiest messages she’d ever written, she raced to the Azure Phoenix—the magnificent ship she co-owned with Vajra. An impressive ten minutes later, she was in Hyperspace as well.

With nothing else to do while she waited, she tried to See through his eyes and Listen through his ears as he began to navigate the most terrible day of their lives. She was watching in growing alarm when Zakuul attacked. It was far beyond anything she had ever imagined.

Elgrind

When the Phoenix dropped out of Hyperspace, the Eternal Fleet was in the process of leaving. In their trails, they left what was once the most prestigious Star Destroyer in the galaxy.

Lana had her Force Sight open the whole time, so she knew at once that Vajra was alive, but not in the rubble. One detail did jump out at her: the presence of a man she had hated and feared for most of her career in Intelligence; whom she had been trying to find, but couldn’t until now… but whom she could care less about, this day. To the point that she forgot about this detail soon afterwards.

The most important thing was Vajra.

Her husband. Her soulmate. The most literal one she could possibly have. For their souls had been bonded, which allowed them to feel each other’s thoughts, emotions, and to an extent, locations, at any given point in time. This meant that Lana was well aware that Vajra was alive, but he was unconscious. And he’d been taken.

But where? Zakuul? One of its systems? How many systems did it even possess? And how to get to them? She didn’t know. Left with no other choice, she decided to board the dead husk of Darth Marr’s ship in search for answers.

“HK? I’m going to wear the armored enviro-suit. Take over the controls. Get us to the closest safe airlock aboard the Indomitable,” she ordered.

“Objection: Master, that wreck is still not safe to board.
Suggestion: Allow me to search for clues in your stead. As the ultimate model of Assassin Droid, I am fully capable of conducting on-the-spot investigations and analyses.”

Lana hesitated. She dearly wanted to conduct the search herself, but there was no denying that HK’s instruments and sensors were better suited for this mission. He could see things long before she could. But there was also the Force to consider. She could Feel its currents better than the majority of Sith, and perhaps most Jedi too.

“We’ll both of us go in,” she said at last.

“Acknowledged,” HK said reluctantly. He fiddled with the controls for a moment before stopping her. “Statement: Scanners are picking up three escape pods.
Analysis: Their hyperspace appears to be down, but their life support has seven hours’ worth of power. Emergency protocols have kicked in, and the occupants have been put to sleep.”

“Bring them aboard,” Lana said. “We can interview them later. But make sure the cargo bay is sealed, so they can’t roam the ship freely. I’ll heat the food in the refrigerator for them, and leave them some more items for comfort. I’ll record a message for them, explaining that they’ve been rescued.”

“Acknowledged.”

Corporal Ralo woke up feeling groggy. His neck ached dully. “What happ—oh.” Marr’s ship. He’d been aboard, serving alongside Imperials on a joint mission when they’d been attacked by a third party. Mostly droids.

They were inside an escape pod now. But if he was awake now…

“Hey, Sergeant Dol,” he said, shaking the Imperial soldier.

“Oh… my head—oh.”

“I think we’ve been rescued,” he told the other soldier.

“Better than dying in space,” Dol sighed. He took off his helmet, revealing a rather handsome; ruddy light-brown complexion, with green eyes. His short hair was black. “I still can’t believe… do we know if Darth Marr is alright?”

“We know nothing,” Ralo told him. “Come on. Let’s greet our rescuers. I thought you’d like the honor, as the ranking officer here.”

“Thank you.” Ralo followed Dol out of the pod. Others he’d been sharing the pods with also began to stir. There were two others on board, and its occupants were likewise starting to emerge.

“The door is locked and ray-shielded,” Dol said. “We’re stuck here.”

“Looks like there’s a message on this terminal,” Ralo said, heading for a holoprojector with a blinking light.

<You have: One, new, message:> the electronic voice sang when he pressed a button.

A young woman with blonde hair and tired, yellow eyes appeared on the holo. “Good day, everyone. I am the owner of this ship. Pardon me for sealing you in the cargo hold right now, but I’m getting ready to investigate what’s left of Darth Marr’s ship. This vessel is more than just a means of transportation for me. It’s my home. It holds a great many memories. I will not risk it being taken from me. I hope you’ll understand. I’ve left some food and bedding in the cargo hold. This terminal has a large collection of holomovies to choose from. Please, make yourselves comfortable. I will return shortly.”

“Did you recognize that woman?” Ralo asked.

Dol shrugged. “She looks familiar.”

“I know her,” an Imperial marine said. She was leaning against her pod, clearly still dizzy. “That’s Minister Beniko.”

She was a Twi’lek, of all things, but a Lieutenant. Considering the low esteem her people were held in, in both the Empire and Hutt space, her presence and rank were both indicative of the shift in the Empire’s xenophobic policies. Or perhaps it was just how Marr had operated, all along.

“Minister of what?” Ralo asked.

“Intelligence. Lana Beniko, Minister of Intelligence.”

“Wasn’t the Minister of Intelligence sacked for incompetence a few days ago?” Dol asked.

“No, she was sacked coz them on the Dark Council needed a scapegoat for Ziost,” the Twi’lek said angrily. “She did a good job in a sh*te situation. I know, I was there. Imagine, saving two hundred million people, only to be called incompetent and sacked!”

“If she’s here then—”

“Yeh. She’s here to gather intel.”

“Well, that’s bloody fast,” Dol said, looking at his chrono. “It hasn’t yet been that long since the Indomitable was destroyed. How did she get here so soon?”

“I dunno. But she is with Intelligence, after all. No doubt she has her sources.”

“Sources? She’d have had to leave before we even got the first contact on sensors!”

“I wish we weren’t confined to the cargo hold.”

“At least the food is good,” a marine with her mouth full commented. Ralo didn’t know her, but she wore a mishmash of armor typically worn by newbie mercs… which was improbable, as she looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties. She was thin, with dyed-black hair. Skin and eyes were both dark too. Her accent was Republic, though. “Better than military rations.”

“Look at the Princess over here, fussing about little things like taste,” a Republic soldier mocked.

“Let’s not pretend I’m the only one,” the freelancer snapped. “I’ve been in Republic Military messes. I’ve seen soldiers complain endlessly about everything, from sunup to next sunup. Politics, weather, terrain, food, missions, spouses, officers, each other… like they’re in a f*cking bellyaching contest.”

“Shut your mouth, merc.” The soldier did not like that. He took a swing at her, only to get knocked out by a kick to his chin; the most fluid move Ralo had ever seen an Ungifted perform.

“Nice move! You secretly a Jedi?” he asked her as he secured the stunned soldier. It wouldn’t do, to have him attack her again.

“I wish!” she snorted. “I just practice a lot. What, never seen a well-trained martial artist before?”

“Easy there, merc. We’re all in the same boat here.”

“What’s your deal, anyway?” another Republic soldier asked.

“I don’t like being cooped up,” she replied, looking haunted. “I mean… I get why this Sith doesn’t want us running free on her ship, but I don’t have to like it.”

“Sure. How about we distract each other then? Just talk.”

“Yeah. How about introductions first? I’m Ralo. What’s your name?”

She exhaled and turned back to the food. “Call me Kanner.”

Aboard the Indomitable

Marr’s Terminus-class Star Destroyer was in fairly good shape, considering the hours-long pounding it had taken. Its shields and armor had held out quite well. Aside from its hull being poked full of holes, the ship was in four large pieces, which had begun to drift away from each other. Lana and HK needed their jetpack and cable guns to get past particularly big holes. Truthfully, this was rather reckless, but Lana was on a clock here. The more time she lost, the less likely she was to find her husband alive.

Which was why Lana left the mundane data collection to HK-51, instead choosing to See what insights the Force had to offer. Having caught snatches of Vajra’s thoughts and impressions as he fought, she was able to listen and glimpse echoes of the many skirmishes that had taken place all over the ship.

Seventeen droids here, thirty-six there… she poked her head inside a still-attached boarding pod and confirmed that it was even smaller than the ones the Empire and Republic used.

Makes sense. The droids don’t need to breathe or shift. They don’t even need to be activated until their pods have breached the enemy vessels.

“HK? The Imperial and Republic will both have sent in forces to investigate. We’re short on time. You focus on slicing the droids and retrieving their computers, while I look for the ship’s logs.”

“Acknowledgement.”

Lana did not stray too far from HK. She was disheartened to find the central computer already removed—proving that Zakuul had taken its own spoils of war. She dearly hoped that Marr’s crew had wiped it before they were slain, for the flagship of someone like Marr was bound to have a lot of valuable finds for enemies like Zakuul.

Maps, secrets, intelligence, clearance codes, and worse. Including things that were changed in recent years.

Thankfully, they hadn’t been too thorough in their job. Several terminals around the bridge, including Darth Marr’s, were still live. Lana quickly attached her datapad to Marr’s, and her backup one to the Captain’s. While she was waiting for preloaded programs to crack the encryptions and download everything on the consoles, she walked to the front of the bridge.

“Marr used to like standing here,” she said to herself. “Like a gargoyle on watch. Strange to think that I might be the one to stand here too.” She didn’t linger long. On her right, she saw a small pyramid. This must be what Nox used to track the Emperor’s spirit to this place… with a little luck, she might be able to use it too. She quickly pulled it off its mount and placed it inside her pack. She closed her eyes and Reached out. The Dark Side still stirred here; proof that Nox had been working his craft diligently. Unfortunately, she couldn’t divine what she needed to do in order to get things to work. Perhaps she could ask Darth Imperius for some help.

She did however, Sense echoes of Vajra.

I can… I can almost see him! Hear his voice! It’s… it’s all over the place, leaking out in places where his emotions ran particularly strong!

But how? This had never been possible before! It was a sign that their Bond was evolving.

Her imagination was captured by the desire to find the places where his emotions had flared the strongest. The first place was right here on the bridge, of course. A short and tense exchange between him and Marr. His anxiety was plain to see over here. His knowledge that something big was coming, and his certainty that he couldn’t escape… As for the second one…

“I wish I could leave,” she thought she heard him whisper again. “But if I do… something bad is coming, Lana. But I can’t flee. I really want to. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” she whispered back futilely. She was cross that she couldn’t wipe her tears with this helmet on. “HK, are you done?”

“Answer: Nearly, Master.”

“I’m heading over to… elsewhere. I’m leaving my tracker on. Come find me when you’re done.” Lana quickly trekked over to the second location. It was a long corridor with almost a hundred dead droids floating around in the zero gravity confines.

What felt strongest here was resignation. Reluctance. Defeat. And words that went with the emotion. “Run, T7. There’s no way I’m getting to you now. You’ve got to get word back to everyone else. The enemy has taken out secondary power, so the escape pods are inactive right now. Do me a favor, and take Lady Kai with you. She’s not a good pilot; she’ll get herself killed trying to help us.”

Vajra had surrendered here, on this very spot. Given up his final, lingering hope that he could escape this debacle before the ship went down. It was here that he had come to accept that there was no turning back. He now faced a future that frightened him; and the only way out, was through.

The realization shook Lana. Her husband had always been one of the bravest men she’d ever met. He had faced the Sith Emperor just weeks after escaping from the most hellish torment. He had taken on every deadly mission thrown his way, and triumphed. He had never backed down…

Well, perhaps that was sugarcoating it. He had had doubts on many an occasion. He had faltered, he had tripped, and he had been broken. Multiple times. He had even attempted to end his own life, once.

But this felt different somehow. Perhaps this was the first time she had Felt his fear for herself. But there was something else there too; something that made him unwilling to risk his life for unknown gains. But what? She hoped she’d find answers at the final spot.

Luckily, she didn’t need to walk too far. Since the ship was in pieces, the deck below was easily accessible for her. All it took was a brief stroll and a quick jump. She didn’t even need to engage her jetpack. No doubt Vajra’s trip had been a bit more tedious. She found herself before a triple-reinforced durasteel door. One of Marr’s saferooms, she thought. A chamber that was better protected than others, and would help those within outlive the ship. By design, it wasn’t completely indestructible; for anyone protected inside would need to be extricated once help had arrived. And someone had already breached even this door. That did not surprise Lana. Although she had given it no thought, she’d known from the start that Marr had also been taken.

This was where she could feel Vajra’s emotions strongest. This was where he’d allowed himself to fully feel the reality of his situation. She could sense his regret and his sorrow. She had heard his words across their Bond before; they echoed in her heart now.

“I was hoping to die a more meaningful death. Perhaps striking a blow against Vitiate. Instead, I have no idea where he is. Or if I even accomplished anything of note against him. My last memory of him is his triumph. Right now, my biggest fear is that he’ll do it again. That nothing I did mattered, in the end. I thought I understood how Revan felt but… I really didn’t. I was so mistaken.”

“No,” she whispered, feeling a swell of helplessness. “You did more than… you did more… you…” There was no point. He was unconscious. It would be a while before he could hear her words. But it was unfair that he had such thoughts, despite all he had accomplished. Recently, she had herself faced execution for failing to save Ziost. The likes of Nox and Rictus had all but demanded her head, though they’d settled for her ignominious sacking. Vajra now faced it too… the realization that he might die a senseless death.

Instead, she knelt down inside the strongroom—which was small enough to make her feel a bit claustrophobic.

She closed her eyes to meditate, like Vajra liked to. She held her Lightsaber in her right hand and focused on the song of its primary crystal. Discovered in the ancient Jedi city of Keleth, It had belonged to Vajra before the couple had exchanged their primary Lightsaber crystals at their wedding. It bore the mark of his soul. It sounded like him. Its inner light was the same color and intensity as his. She could even smell his scent in the air when she focused on it—cool, crushed pine needles.

With the precious gem as her focus, she sought a deeper connection to her soulmate. She became blind to all external stimuli, but for what the Force had to say. She saw images. Vajra slipping his mask on to hide his weakness. His shoulders drooping Her crystal—the Keleth stone—seemed to whisper to her. Words in his voice, clear as day; the words he’d left unsaid. The true contents of his heart, which he’d shared with neither Marr, nor herself.

“I’m so, so sorry, my poor Wolf. You are in so much pain… you’ve suffered far too much in the past month, and are struggling to get back on your feet. I was hoping to be there for you. And I am leaving you alone with your grief. And worse; I’m adding to it. This will cause you so much pain… I wish I’d never come on this stupid, stupid mission. I’m so sorry, my Love. I should’ve quit while I was ahead. It’s too late now. I hope… I hope you can forgive me.”

His words held a finality that struck her like a charging Wampa. “Vajra…” she whispered. “No… no….”

It was here, at last, that she heard what her instinct was trying to tell her. Heard, but tried to deny.

It would be a long time before she saw Vajra again. If ever. If only she had listened when he was considered turning Marr down… if only she’d allowed him to quit while he was ahead.

“NO!” she shrieked. “NOOOOOOOOOO!” But it was difficult to deny her own despair. She didn’t just sob. She wailed. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Chapter 2: Preparing for the Haul

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Lana sniffled one last time, not caring how sticky her face was. According to her chrono, it had been twenty minutes since she’d stepped into the strongroom. Good, she’d not lost too much time.

A durasteel-silver droid was standing behind her, its blue eyes scanning the area for threats. It focused on her when she straightened.

“Query: Are you alright, Master?”

“No, I’m not, HK. Vajra… my beloved husband has been captured. For all I know, he’ll be tortured and executed ages before I can find him.”

“Reassurance: That is not yet set in stone, Master.”

“Of course. Have you found anything useful?”

“Reluctant answer: Only tactical information, Master. Data of the sort that might be useful if we have to fight these ‘Zakuulans’ in war.”

“So, they are Zakuulans?”

“Answer: Oh, yes, Master. That is a certainty.
Prompting: Please forgive my haste, Master, but I think SIS and Sith Intelligence will be here in shortly.”

“Come then. Let’s return to the Phoenix. We can interview our rescuees on our way back to civilization.” She sighed extra heavily.

“Query: What is the matter, Master?”

“This mission… we’re hunting for an enemy we know nothing about. Where they are, how many planets they control—and which of these they’ll imprison Vajra on, or what their combat capability is like. I’m going to need—we’re going to need more than just the two of us.”

“Query: What will you need, Master? Give me a list, so I can begin searching immediately.”

“Send a message to T7. Ask him to meet us on...” she thought for a few moments. “At this space station. I stole it from the Cabal in case I ever needed a big hideout. It has a few good ships there already, in addition to equipment caches and about a hundred and fifty million credits. We’ll need something more discreet than either the Garuda or the Phoenix.” Perhaps we can use my KL-91B. It’s the right size, ordinary to look at, and it’s got a good mix of sensors, instruments, space for both cargo and personnel, stealth, and speed. “But most of all, we need people. One or two more soldiers, a few Hyperspace explorers, an investigator, a slicer, and a steward. Although I think it’s foolish to expect to find everyone I need. At least T7 can play a few of these roles by himself.”

“Declaration: I will also help you, to the best of my abilities, Master.”

“Thank you, HK. Once we enter Hyperspace, I want you to look through all the data we’ve gathered. Tell me what we’ve found.” Hopefully, we learn a few locations. What we’re getting ourselves into. And what we’re dealing with. “I’m going to go meet our new friends.”

Aboard the Azure Phoenix

Ralo stood and stretched before going for the last handful of nachos. He was glad it was this Sith, this Lana Beniko, who’d been the one to rescue them. She’d tried to make them comfortable. Most wouldn’t have, not even Republic personnel. But they’d been left with good food, a selection of holomovies, and even sleeping bags for a bit of comfort—not that anyone needed a nap, but they piled a few on top of each other to make a few comfortable places to sit. She had even left some beer, though it wasn’t enough for anyone to get drunk on unless they hogged the whole supply. And there were a few freshers in the corner too.

“What are you going to do after this?” Kanner asked him.

“It’s back to the Republic with me. The Jedi will want to know what happened to Vajra.”

“What happened to him?”

“He didn’t get off the ship—”

“But we don’t know if he’s dead, or taken prisoner.”

“They’ll still want to know. And the Republic will need a full debrief of what we saw here. Ain’t no way these bastards are gonna stay away from our borders.”

“You’re assuming a lot. For all we know, they only attacked because we blundered into their territory.”

She had a point. “What will you be doing?”

She looked nervous. “Most of my company are dead. They got taken out by one of the advanced war droids. And this was just our fourth assignment too…”

“The Republic might be able to use you. Or the Empire,” he added, looking back at Dol, who nodded reluctantly.

“I’ll think about it,” she sighed. She looked like she’d already made her decision though.

The internal comm crackled. A familiar voice spoke up. “Attention all passengers,” Lord Beniko said. “We are preparing to leave the Elgrind system. Please make your way to the passenger section and strap yourselves in. I apologize if there aren’t enough seats. This vessel isn’t a passenger transport, after all.”

The ray shields disappeared, allowing the soldiers to leave the cargo hold. They were a few seats short, just like Beniko had said, but the extras squeezed in with a few of their comrades.

About a minute later, the ship began moving. There was no talk as they left the disastrous battlefield. Everyone stared out of the viewports, staring at the remains of Darth Marr’s expedition one last time. About three minutes later, the ship had cleared the debris field. A countdown appeared on a nearby terminal. Three, two, one… the ship lurched as it made the jump into Hyperspace. It was among the smoothest transitions Ralo had ever experienced. He was expecting another update on the comms, but did not expect the woman to make an appearance, herself.

“Hello everyone,” she said tiredly. “My name is Lana Beniko. Formerly of Sith Intelligence. I’m going to Nar Shaddaa first. I’ll drop you off there, as close to the Promenade as I can manage. You’ll all be able to report to your respective embassies, then return to friendly territory.”

The Imperial soldiers saluted more eagerly than the Republic ones. “We deeply appreciate your rescue, Dark Lord. You saved our lives.”

“At ease. Is anyone in need of medical attention?”

“No, my Lord. Just a few cuts and bruises, but we had enough supplies on the pods to patch ourselves up.”

“Good.” She leaned against one of the walls, and ran a hand through her blonde hair. Her slightly red-rimmed eyes looked desperate and exhausted. “I’d like to ask you all for your accounts of what happened today.”

Everyone looked around. The Twi’lek went first.

“Ummm. Before I begin. I’m Lieutenant Anri. I was on Ziost. You saved my life. And those of my comrades. Thank you so much.” She coughed and rushed ahead. “I was stationed near the bridge. Things were going smooth, but everyone was on edge. Master Devarath was probably the most skittish of them all. At first, I was a little weirded out, but I later realized he’d had some inkling that something was coming. Damn Force and all. He had a few words with Darth Marr, so soft that I doubt even Nox heard. Whatever it was that the Jedi said, Marr took him very seriously. Ordered extreme vigilance. Record everything, he said. And prepare to raise shields. It wasn’t too long after that, that a probe appeared. Scouting us out. After that, they came. The enemy fleet. Never seen that many ships in one place. They began pounding us all at once. And by us, I mostly mean the Indomitable. They occasionally fired on other ships that got too close, but they mostly focused on our flag. On Marr… and perhaps Devarath. Maybe Nox too, but I saw that worm running for it the moment the first droids set foot on our ships. I used to respect him.”

“Watch your tongue, Leftenant,” Dol said halfheartedly. “Whatever else he is, he’s a member of the Dark Council.”

“Not for much longer, I’d wager. Anyway. Marr tried to save the ship, but our secondary power got taken out. And our Hyperdrive was disabled, too. Not destroyed though. In a last-ditch effort, Marr requested Devarath’s aid in retaking Engineering deck.” She snorted. “I understand why… last I saw that man, he was doing an impersonation of a humanoid-shaped typhoon. Quite well, too. In fact, I doubt most storms can be quite that graceful.”

The Sith couldn’t seem to help but chuckle at that.

“Anyway, I followed Marr as far as the elevators, where I got pinned down by several squads of droids. They were damn mobile, thanks to their jetpacks, but the tight spaces limited their maneuverability. They were versatile too. Carried three types of low-yield grenades—sonic, frag, and ion. They had blaster rifles as their primary, with a grappling cable gun for additional maneuvers and trapping enemies. Several carried electronets, but I think it’s not a standard attachment. Armored, but not heavily enough to stop our own rifle fire. And a wrist-blade too. I saw my mate get one stabbed in the throat.” She sighed. “That fight went on forever! I needed a breather after the last one. I was just about to follow Marr down when someone gave the order to evacuate. From all the quakes and flickering, I knew the ship hadn’t got long to survive. So, I ran. I think I was the last one to board a pod before they lost power again.” She shuddered. “I hope Marr survived that. Or Devarath.”

“They survived,” Beniko said tonelessly. “But they’ve been taken prisoner.”

Ralo was the first, whose knees gave out. “Oh, holy crap.”

Nar Shaddaa

“Thank you again, Lord Beniko. For everything.” Lieutenant Anri saluted, and the other soldiers followed suit.

“What will you do now?” Lana asked.

“Report to our embassy as you suggested,” Ralo answered. “I think… at this point, we’re all certain that this ‘Zakuul’ is going to keep coming. The Republic will need all hands on deck.”

“As will the Empire,” Sergeant Dol added.

“Intel is of primary important right now,” Lana reminded them. “And ships second. We can’t waste precious naval power against each other in a time like this. Make sure your leaders know that.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Lieutenant Anri said. She was the most determined of this bunch, but most of the Dark Council still didn’t value aliens as they should. Lana wondered if she should send the Twi’lek a private message, directing her to Kouhaush Muin. The Tiarna might use her better. Not wear her down unless forced to.

But she had a different concern right now. “Then don’t let me keep you any longer. May the Force serve you well.” She fixed a stare on one soldier in particular, who hadn’t started moving to leave yet.

“What is it?” Kanner asked defensively, fidgeting with her mismatched armor.

“Lieutenant Anri might’ve mentioned this, but I worked in Intelligence for a good many years before my early retirement. I can spot a holodisguise when an amateur wears one.”

The woman looked cornered, but didn’t go for her weapon. “Look… it’s not what you’re thinking. I’m… I’m…”

“Yes?”

“I’m not a spy, I’m a convict,” she finished in a small voice. “A… a traitor.” Those last two words were almost whispered. “I… I made a mistake when I was in a really bad headspace. Followed a man whom I’d looked up to my entire life, without really thinking about what I was doing. And I was captured, shot, and imprisoned for it. Locked away, key thrown out. That kind of thing. I thought I was going to waste away in that prison. A really kind young lad thought I didn’t deserve a life in prison for a mistake I made as a dumb kid, so he arranged for my escape. But I’m still a wanted woman in the Republic. Assuming they know I’m missing. I’m not with Zakuul. Or the Hutts. Or any other third party. I’m just trying to…”

Lana nodded slowly. “You… you seem to be telling the truth.” After Rane Kovach, she didn’t trust her instincts as she once had. But she had to start somewhere.

“May I go now?”

“Is that what you’d like to do?”

The woman looked at her suspiciously. “Why wouldn’t I want to?”

“That’s for you to say.”

Kanner glowered at her for a few moments before giving up. “Look… I don’t know what to do. I don’t have a place left in this galaxy. I have only a few friends left out there, but they’re eking out their own new lives out there. I don’t want to be a bother to them. I… I’d only recently signed up with this new mercenary unit, the Argonauts. Thirty of us, all with good combat skills, who had made dumb mistakes in the past. Who’d wanted second or third chances. We were trying to become decent people again, one mission at a time. And make a bit of money too. But they were all killed. Even… even Yurek Fenton. He’d asked me out during the mission. We were going to go out on our first date once we got back. My first date in over… over ten years. I guess I really am marked.”

“Many of us deserves second chances,” Lana said carefully. “Were you paid for this last excursion?”

“Yes. We were paid in full when we landed. I guess no one crosses Marr.”

“He has a presence so strong, it’s difficult to refuse him. Where will you go?”

“I… I guess I start over. Again.”

“I have a proposition for you.”

The mercenary looked at her suspiciously. “Well, what is it?”

“Before I begin, you should know that I was dismissed from Sith Intelligence, and from the Imperial structure as a whole. The Dark Council pinned the blame for Ziost on my head. I am not with the Empire anymore.”

“Oh? Then what’s your stake in this? Why risk your life by speeding towards Elgrind?”

“My husband. He was on the ship. He was one of the unfortunate souls taken prisoner by Zakuul. And no, he’s not a Sith either.”

She looked cautiously intrigued. “So let me see if I caught your meaning. You’re on a self-assigned mission to save your husband?”

“That’s right. And I’m likely to find a lot of Intel along the way. Things that the Republic and Empire can use in their fight against them.”

“I don’t care about the Republic anymore. Or the Empire. Revenge for the Argonauts… maybe. I don’t know.”

“I can pay you,” Lana added. “I’d like to see you in action before settling down on a proper sum, but I’m willing to start at 8,000 credits for the first month. More, if you prove yourself in combat. Plus expenses, of course. And I will buy you some better arms and armor. You don’t have to stay with me any longer than you want to. Just… don’t betray me.”

“I’m done with betrayal,” Kanner shook her head. “Why are you doing this?”

“I have a good feeling about you. And I’m desperate. I have HK helping me, of course, but I need help. Preferably, unaffiliated help.”

“Sounds too good to be true.” She stood there for a moment irresolutely. In the end, she sighed. “I—Like I said, I betrayed the Republic once before. I got forced to work for a Sith Lord. A particularly evil one at that. Angral. Imperial or not, you are Sith. If I join you, I’ll be looking over my shoulder every ten minutes. Or sleeping with an eye open. I’m sorry.” She swallowed. “If it makes any difference, I want to like you and trust you.”

Lana shrugged. “As you wish, then. Perhaps our paths will cross again someday.”

Kanner blinked. “Wait, that’s it? You’re leaving?”

“I’m afraid so. My husband was taken prisoner. Every second I lose takes him closer to his doom. For all I know, bringing you this far may already have cost me too much time.” She tried not to sound too accusatory with that last statement, but the woman did look guilty. “Don’t take that personally. I made my decision. It’s not on you.”

With that, Lana left. She felt quite annoyed with herself. She’d gained precious little in helping these adrift soldiers. There was no doubt in her mind that they would’ve been rescued by other investigators, if she herself hadn’t stepped up. Instead, the Intelligence she’d gained from interviewing them had amounted to nothing. And she hadn’t secured any kind of aid either. She would have arrived at her borrowed space station by now, if she hadn’t made the detour to Nar Shaddaa…

No, she told herself. Don’t waste brain power ruminating on what didn’t happen. The risk was calculated. Depression and self-blame are paths to reduced clarity and decisiveness. A few setbacks are nothing. I will save you, my Knave. Hold on.

Chapter 3: Priorities

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Remote Space Station, Silent Nest

Lana felt torn between two options.

First one, she could take just the bare minimum of resources. This would allow her to get an initial boost to her speed. She could make up for time she’d lost in her fruitless hunt for clues aboard Marr’s ship, as well as ferrying those castaways to Nar Shaddaa. She would be throwing preparation to the winds, and relying on guile, wit, and creativity to overcome all the problems she faced along the way.

The second, of course, would be picking sufficient tools, disguises and weapons. This would sacrifice time she might not have, but would grant her a lot of flexibility and room for maneuvers. Her chances of working through an obstacle were greater; she wouldn’t be forced to take the long way around.

In most circ*mstances, she would have chosen the latter in a heartbeat. Even in her old Cipher days, she had chosen prep over haste whenever the situation called for it, but in this case, haste was definitely alluring. If the Zakuulans were going to execute Vajra, they would do it sooner rather than later. He was still unconscious; she could tell that easily thanks to their Bond. But he would wake up, and when he did, he would be likely dragged before their Immortal Emperor to decide his fate. Lana did not think he would choose mercy. Even if Vajra was just another Jedi, the Sith Emperor was not known for his kindness. And her husband had chased him out of two bodies already.

Adding to the pros, Lana felt a tug in his general direction. While she had little experience in blazing Hyperspace trails, with T7’s help, she could chart short jumps in his direction. The real challenge would come when she faced the Zakuulans guarding him. Having looked at the Skytroopers on Marr’s ship, she’d found that their technology was different from both Republic and Empire. Similar enough that she could work with it, but not so similar that she could do so in a timely manner.

In the end, that was what had decided it. She would only get one shot at this. So, she began the task of looking through her inventory and choosing what to take with her. The process would’ve taken a less experienced person several days, but took her just a few hours. It was still a loss of time that she resented. It was now seventeen hours since Vajra had arrived at Elgrind. She hoped there would be no more roadblocks or bad decisions.

T7-01 whistled a few times for Lana’s attention. “I’m nearly done here. With this equipment, I can forge cover identities quickly, slice multiple computers concurrently, decrypt enemy communications, and sift through a lot of data without overclocking your processors. Eighty million credits. And enough food and starship fuel to last several months. And some things we can sell for money, like gemstones and precious metals. We can leave at once.”

HK-51, who had been loading cargo onto her chosen ship—the Unsolved Mystery—poked his head out of her ship. “Statement: Master, we are receiving a high-priority transmission.”

“Is it from Lady Kai? Or Jasme?”

“Answer: No, Master. The sender is encrypted. I do believe that it’s Republic, however.”

Who could that be? The Jedi? Theron? Major Queens?

Lana felt her stomach sink. She could not afford to ignore it, for they might have something for her. “Patch them through.”

HK obeyed.

After a moment, a man with dark skin and a close-cut salt-and-pepper beard appeared. He looked uncomfortable, but saluted politely. “Minister Beniko? Thank you for accepting this call. I don’t know whom else to turn to.”

“SIS Director Marcus Trant. I’m not a Minister anymore.”

“Of course. Forgive me. The demotion was undeserved.”

“I apologize for dispensing with the pleasantries, but I’m in a mad haste. Is this about the battle of Elgrind?”

“I wish it was, Miss Beniko. No, it’s about Theron Shan. His life is in immediate danger.”

Lana could say nothing.

The Director sighed and ran a hand over his face. “After Ziost, Saresh threw him inside her political prison on Coruscant; though I’m sure you know about that by now. She is attempting to use him to force his parents into line. But they… they can’t compromise everything. Not for Theron, and not for his sister. They will sacrifice their child, and weep bloody tears when the inevitable comes. Saresh is running out of patience. She already has a death warrant signed and waiting for the slightest excuse. She had her Warden cut out his cybernetics and sent them to S… to his mother. But she is unlikely to be moved in the direction Saresh hopes. Nor will his father. Unfortunately, they might feel compelled to take the other course, especially since Saresh attacked.”

“She did what, now?”

“You haven’t heard?”

“I’m looking into the Battle of Elgrind. Everything else is unimportant right now.”

“Well, she sent out a lot of ships to attack over a dozen Imperial worlds. If they were well-led, they might’ve done some damage to your side. But they were pathetic. Every single attack failed to destroy anything more than a few starfighters.”

“Sounds like Saresh, alright.”

Trant chuckled dryly. “A reckoning is coming, Miss Beniko. High Command is fed up with her maverick antics. And Theron is undoubtedly going to be caught in the crossfire. I want that boy saved. You know why. He’s one of the best spies in Republic space, and might be critical in the war with Zakuul. Besides, I’m quite fond of him.”

“As am I,” Lana admitted. “We did good work against the Revanites. I can’t pretend I’m his closest friend, but… but if he’s in danger…”

“He once told me that if ever a time comes when I can’t use Republic resources, I can turn to you.”

Why, in this situation…? Any other day, any other time…! This was absolutely horrible! She had to choose between Vajra and Theron!? The spy was one of maybe fifteen people whom she couldn’t just abandon! Especially since she neither knew what Vajra’s location, nor what his fate was to be.

She thought hard. Vajra might die in the next few hours…

“Master Devarath,” she said in a soft voice. “He’s been taken by the Zakuulans. Perhaps to their Immortal Emperor. I needn’t tell you who we believe him to be. What our greatest fear is. Vajra might also be in immediate danger. If he dies…”

Trant’s eyes grew round as golf balls. “Oh sh*t…”

Lana was utterly and unexpectedly torn. Was she really having this much trouble choosing Vajra over Theron? She liked the spy, but not this much! Her hesitation probably didn’t come from herself, she thought. But who? Her husband? The Force?

She closed her eyes. She sought guidance from the Force. It came easily enough. Far too easily.

Now, of all times? The Force never gives me answers this quickly! Why now? Do you wish for my husband’s death, too? Are you bound to the Emperor?

“I’ll do it,” Lana replied, hiding her bitterness. Her mind was already racing, thinking up all the resources she needed to engineer a jailbreak in the heart of the Republic. “But tell me… among the prisoners. Is there a Captain named Elara Dorne?”

“Yes. Yes, she’s in the same building as Theron, along with her brother Aleksei. His neighbor, in fact.”

“Good. I’ll start making preparations for their extraction. In the meantime, I’d like the holo frequency for Major Aric Jorgan.”

Dear Force. If you have led me astray… now, of all times, no less… I will kill Arcann, then finish what Darth Traya once attempted to. I swear it.

Aboard the Havoc Cry

Major Aric Jorgan was finishing up his leg day exercises when the call came.

“Excuse me Sir,” Dengril called. “You’re getting an urgent call. Private, though. I don’t know who it is.”

“Tell them I need a minute.” Jorgan quickly made himself presentable before approaching his private terminal, in his room. “Who is this?”

On the other end, he saw a pale woman with yellow eyes. A Sith?

“Ah. Greetings, Major. My name is Lana Beniko. Perhaps Major Queens has told you about me?”

“Yes, he did,” Jorgan confirmed. “He spoke quite highly of you. Because of his respect, I’ll hear you out. But I can’t promise more. Why are you contacting me?”

“A friend of mine—a Republic friend of mine—is presently languishing in Saresh’s political prison. If you know who I am, you should know Theron as well.”

“Theron?” Jorgan was perplexed. “Why is he in Saresh’s prison?”

“His family. They’re… important. Saresh hopes he’s leverage enough to control both of them. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Both his parents are soldiers first. And incorruptible to boot. This, of course, means that his life is forfeit.”

“And you want me to get him out.” Jorgan sighed. “Look, I feel for him. Most soldiers get screwed over by political bodies and leaders. And Theron… he’s a good man, from what I’ve been told. Dedicated to the people. He’s done a lot for us. But—”

“According to my source, his neighbor is a good friend of yours. Captain Elara Dorne. And Saresh has her death and disposal planned as well.”

Jorgan’s pupils became slits.

“I can get most of what I need to break Theron—both of them, and Aleksei Dorne—out in just a few days. Everything… except an accomplished team of operatives that can quickly enter Coruscant. I don’t know much about Deadeye Squad, but I’ve heard a lot about you in particular. You’re nearly as skilled as your former CO, and are much less high-profile. I’m confident that you can save my friend. And yours.”

Jorgan sighed. “I… Elara… I need proof. That her life is in danger.”

Beniko pressed a few buttons, and a document appeared on his screen. And a recording. Saresh really had ordered her execution herself. It was set two weeks from now.

Jorgan hesitated no more. “I’ll do it. Oh, and two things. First of all. Why didn’t you call Queens instead of me?”

“You’ve got fewer eyes on you. Major Queens… he’s a celebrity. Just like SC Malcom. Saresh is not the only one who has had their eye on him for years. Even Darth Marr was familiar with his record.”

“Of course. By comparison, no one knows who I am.” That suited the Cathar just fine. “Second thing. We’re not Deadeye Squad. A new Havoc Squad has been reinstated. And Havoc never leaves a comrade behind. I’ll do it.”

Beniko looked deeply relieved. She must really care about Theron. “Thank you. I’m sending you all I have on Saresh’s prison. Schematics, guard rosters and duty logs, and a more comprehensive prisoner list; there might be some others in there whom you want freed, after all. Or those you think should never escape that place.”

“We’ll be ready. Do you want us to head over to Coruscant right away?”

Beniko considered that. She shook her head, looking conflicted. “Meet me on… Dantooine. Juriam Cantina, in Khoonda. I’ll give you everything you need, including a few of my recommended plans. And some money, should you need it.”

“What’s wrong?” Jorgan asked, noting her looking sicker with each passing moment.

“Time is a luxury right now,” she said reluctantly. “There’s one more person I’m desperate to save before he’s killed. Unfortunately, I don’t know where he is, yet. And this mission…” she sighed heavily. “I’ll see you soon, Major.”

Jorgan saluted. He found himself a little intrigued. Few people received Major Roban Queens’ unfiltered respect the way this woman had. He was looking forward to meet this woman. See what she was made of.

Emerging from his cabin, he called the other soldiers. “I want you all to listen to me very, very carefully. A former member of Havoc has been marked for death.”

“Then we must save them,” Sergeant Torg said resolutely.

“Do not interrupt your superior officers, soldier. Captain Elara Dorne has been marked for death by the highest echelons. Chancellor Saresh and her inner circle. From what I can gather, Saresh wants to send her body—and her brother’s too—back to her father. He’s quite influential among the grunts of the Empire. She thinks their deaths would hit him badly, even though they’ve been estranged for over a decade and a half now. We’ve got to rescue them. Unfortunately, that means going against the higher-ups. Going rogue. If any one of you cannot follow me down this path, say so now. Let me be clear: it is not my intention to ever raise my weapon against a fellow Republic soldier. Not a real one, anyway. I will always fight for my home, and the people living in it. When there’s a new Chancellor—and a shift of power away from Saresh—we ask for full pardons. But that won’t stop them from calling us traitors. And sending people to catch us, even good people.”

His soldiers didn’t even blink. They saluted at once. Jorgan got the metallic taste of irony. Havoc was about to go against the Republic. Again.

That doesn’t mean you were right, Tavus! he thought stubbornly. Your defection and my… my actions… they’re totally different things. Hang on, Dorne. I’m coming to save you.

Nar Shaddaa

The woman who currently called herself Kanner sat in a no-name cantina in the Corellian Sector. She had taken about ten minutes to choose between a cheap beer and a more expensive Corellian whiskey.

And another five to decide her meal. Mac and cheese, with a side of ranch-fried fried grrst chicken, shredded lettuce, and chips.

When the Rodian waitress brought it before her, she closed her eyes and raised it to her fallen comrades. She felt tears form in her eyes as she named each one of them, starting with their leader, Leo, and ending with Yurek.

She realized several things that made her progressively sadder. She hadn’t really known most of them. Due to the shadiness in their individual pasts, they’d all kept to themselves. To the point that twenty-four of them had used pseudonyms. Including Kanner herself. She was already starting to move on from them. All except Yurek… though even that didn’t feel like losing Arche, Jarome, Breg, Hoffman, Bolt, Tivon, and the others of Gamut Squad. No, it felt like she was mourning the relationship that had never even had the chance to begin. Her first one since…

With a frustrated grunt, she forced herself to down the first glass and signal for a second before stabbing her food with a spork.

She tried not to think of her lost squad, for it only reminded her how hollow her time with them had been. Just like her life for the past… how many years, now? Definitely more than ten.

I don’t even recall my age anymore. Or feel the need to calculate it. f*ck, I need something to do.

She was starting to regret turning down Beniko’s offer. Her instincts told her that the Sith—or ex-Sith—wasn’t that bad. In fact, her mission was downright romantic. And the pay she’d offered was good too. Not that money was a big deal to her right now; she had the combined pay of all thirty Argonauts. Enough to live on this world for a full year. Or five, if she rationed. (She didn’t feel guilty about using it for herself. It was hers by right, since no one had family.)

But it wasn’t credits she wanted; it was work. Company. A new life. Even if it was just for a few months, while she found a different job…

That decided it.

Regretting the inconvenience, as well as having to go crawling back to a woman she’d turned down, she pulled out her comm and dialed in Beniko’s frequency.

“Hey, it’s Kanner. From Marr’s ship. Listen… about your offer. Is it still open? Not as a permanent position, but just for maybe a month or two.”

There was silence from the other end for a moment. “As it happens, there’s been an emergency in Republic space. I have a team ready, but more help would be welcome. Meet me on Dantooine. At the Juriam Cantina, in Khoonda.”

“I’ll be there. And sorry for the—”

“It’s no trouble at all. I’m grateful. Your timing was most impeccable.”

The Sith disconnected at once. Her tone had been… a little brittle. Had she gotten word about her husband? Bad news?

No. It’s too soon for her to have heard anything. Still… an assignment on Dantooine? And she has another team ready? Maybe I can ingratiate myself into their good graces. Who knows…? I might find myself a new team this time next week.

Silent Nest Space Station

Lana felt quite sick after ending the second call. She had to rush to the fresher, though her nausea passed. The dizziness, however, remained. The feeling of icy shock in her chest. She lost control of her breathing; it came out in rapid sharp gasps that quickly left her vision spinning, and her hearing muffled. Her legs started to feel like jelly, and she had to grip the sink with jelly-like fingers to stay upright. She was on the verge of tears again.

No, she pleaded with herself. This is a waste of time and energy. Pull yourself together. For Vajra… and for Theron too, I suppose… She forced herself back into a more even rhythm of breathing. For her muscles to regain their strength. For her mind to shed its weakness. Vajra’s Lightsaber crystal—set inside her Lightsaber—helped her out immensely, soothing her in a way that its former owner used to.

“Theron’s in imminent danger,” she told him. “And… and it looks like I need to save him.”

The Astromech was silent for a moment. <But why Sith Lord: Lana Beniko = distressed?>

“I’m sad, because I had to prioritize between my husband, and a close friend. And I chose Theron.” Please don’t make me regret this, she begged the Force again. “I hope I haven’t betrayed Vajra… abandoned him by making this choice…”

“No matter how fast I go, it will take a while. I’m sorry, T7.”

The declaration shocked Lana. It seemed droids could pray as well, under the right circ*mstances. “Let’s waste no more time. We need to meet Aric Jorgan and Havoc Squad on Dantooine. I need to acquire a few things first.”

“Yes. Yes, please. I can’t do this alone.”

“Thank you so much.”

Chapter 4: A Gathering on Dantooine

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Dantooine,
Juriam Cantina

Havoc had arrived early. Which happened, more often than not. Jorgan decided not to hold it against Beniko. She sounded like she had a lot on her plate.

Marr’s disappearance is probably her top concern, at the moment.

It gave him the unusual opportunity to try and relax. Take a walk round the park nearby. Things hadn’t been great for years. Since that mission on Zygerria. He’d watched his entire team get taken out by some kind of Force spell right before his eyes, everyone except young Luis Bardoc. The poor recruit had also been captured, tortured and killed a short while later, along with the families of his other teammates. And they’d failed to kill their target.

That incident had served Jorgan with the rudest possible wakeup call. The Force was dangerous. Sith were not to be trifled with. After that mission, he’d stopped agreeing to any assignments involving the bastards. In fact, he was still nervous whenever he stepped out into the world.

I’m next. I know I am.

And yet here he was, ready to meet this Lana Beniko. Roban respected her. Asserted that she was a level-headed woman who wouldn’t hurt people indiscriminately. That was enough for him, apparently.

‘Indiscriminately,’ he thought bitterly. It’s not like that one killed my people out of the blue either. We tried to kill him first.

He’d just finished his third lap around the park when he heard what sounded like a small child crying out in distress. He raced towards the source of the disturbance, only to find it wasn’t as urgent as it had seemed. A kitten caught up a tree. The tallest one in here, overlooking a small, artificial pond.

Besides, help was already there. A young human woman was clambering over the branches. She had to be an experienced climber; her moves were practiced and confident, even though the tree was swaying like crazy. Aric joined the back of the nervous crowd that was looking on, their mood swinging between anxiety and admiration. In less than eighty seconds, the woman had climbed all the way to the top, where the tree moved almost two meters each way. She gently scooped up the cat, then began making the descent with the same surety as she had made the climb.

Everyone began to applaud when she deposited the rescue into its owner’s hands. Aric joined in, impressed by the show of dexterity. He didn’t hear the woman’s words to the child, but could tell the tone was soft, gentle, and kind. And also, familiar, somehow.

He took note of her physical appearance, now that the crisis had passed. She was younger than Queens and Dorne, he thought. Of middling height for a human woman, with loose robes and a heavy pack. Her hair was blonde.

But it was only when she stood up and smiled at him in mild surprise that he recognized her.

“If it isn’t my new acquaintance,” she said airily, and without a trace of her Kaasi accent. “I didn’t think I’d run into you here.”

“Me neither,” Jorgan played along. “I got to the cantina a bit early, and decided to take in the sights.”

“Dantooine really is beautiful.”

“Yes. That it is. This way.” He began leading her through the park, to the exit closest to their destination. “You can call me Jorgan,” he said softly.

“You may call me Lana, or Beniko,” the Sith whispered back. Her eyes were green right now, probably thanks to contact lenses. A droid joined up beside them as they reached the gate. “I believe you already know T7-01.”

“T7?” Jorgan almost tripped. “As in, the same one that served with Master Vajra?”

The Astromech whistled a series of notes.

“He says it’s nice to see you too. And he and I share a common goal.”

“Which is?”

“Master Vajra. The Emperor is still out there, so we need to find and rescue Master Vajra.”

“And he thinks you’re the best shot at finding him?”

The Astromech warbled again.

“Yes,” Beniko said.

“That sounded like a lot more than a yes.”

“There was a literary expression in there. Quite a poetic one, actually. Proof that Jasme has had an influence on him.”

“Jasme. Another woman who earned Queens’ respect.”

“She’s a civilian. Neither Jedi nor Sith, just an Archivist working for the Order. She’s also Theron’s twin sister.”

“Is she, now?”

“Yes.”

“Will she be joining us too?”

“No. She’s… occupied. And like I said, not military. I don’t want to risk Saresh getting both of them.”

“Right. Makes sense. We can start the briefing whenever you’re ready—”

“Actually, I’ve invited another soldier along. A freelancer. I pulled her out of an escape pod at Elgrind. I have a good feeling about her.”

“Is that right? Well, this is your op, after all. But since Elara’s fate is also in the balance—”

“Don’t worry, Major. I promise you, I want my friend safe and sound, just like you do.”

There was that sad, apprehensive expression again. But it wasn’t his place to dig.

“Very well. In the meantime, maybe I can introduce you to the team.”

“Right. I’m eager to see the new Havoc Squad.”

About twenty minutes later

Kanner felt quite lucky. She’d chanced upon a shuttle to Dantooine about twenty minutes before takeoff. And since it was Nar Shaddaa, they hadn’t cared that her mercenary unit was expired. It was enough that she had a somewhat-valid ID for carrying her weapons. The flight was just long enough for her to skim through a book she’d got her hands on—a war story called ‘By Her Stride.’ The characters kinda rubbed her the wrong way, especially the male lead—he was definitely based off of Roban Queens.

Still, the plot was just fine for passing the time. For a while, at least. By the time she got fed up, the captain was announcing their imminent arrival.

“Thanks for the comfy trip!” she called as she leapt off the ramp. The cabin hostess smiled kindly at her, though there seemed to be some tension in her eyes. Once she cleared Customs, Kanner visited a nearby terminal for a free map.

“What’s the name of that cantina again? Ju—Ju something?” Juriam. That’s it. Hmmm. Quite a long walk. “Excuse me?” She waved at a droid. “Where can I find a taxi station?”

“Destination?”

“The… the Juriam Cantina, I think?”

“I’m sorry, Ma’am. But Dantooine does not have taxi services. Most of those who try, give up thanks to the low numbers of customers. Inter-city shuttles are all you’ll find.”

“Okay. Can I rent a speeder, then?”

“You may,” the droid nodded. “But the process typically takes a full two hours. It’s quicker to walk.”

“Damn. Thanks, then.”

“I am sorry I couldn’t be of assistance, Ma’am.”

“Don’t worry about it. I guess it’ll be just like old times.” Kanner shouldered her twenty-kilo pack and left the spaceport at a brisk walk. Guided by her trusty datapad, she attempted to navigate the city. Even with the dim dusk lighting, it was easier than she thought; the streets were wide, the buildings—which were no higher than three stories—were spread out. Just when she was starting to get comfortable, she took a turn into a dark alley.

And into an abduction in process.

Seven Mando thugs were jeering at a lone woman and her child. A man, who Kanner assumed was the husband, was barely conscious on the ground, his swollen face covered in bruises. His right arm looked bent in a lot more places than it should be.

Kanner needed no more time to take in the situation. Dropping her pack, she rushed for the Mando at the back, her dagger in her hands. She aimed for a small gap in his armor, between his helmet and his cuirass, and was gratified when she struck home.

“Kazam,” she whispered.

The man went down wordlessly, but his friends heard the thud. Before they could fully make sense of the situation, Kanner had buried her dagger in another Mando’s armpit.

“YOU STINKING TURD!” A Mando cried, leveling her blaster at Kanner’s face. Kanner hurled her dagger at the woman, shocking herself—and perhaps the Mandos—with another perfect hit, this time in the throat.

Nice, she thought happily.

“Why you so happy, Wench?” the fourth sneered. “Now you ain’t got no weapon!”

“I see someone’s not really a Mando. I don’t carry weapons. I am a weapon.”

To prove her point, she closed in while he was thinking of a retort and tossed him over her shoulder, straight into another of his comrades.

“RUN!” she shouted at the woman, who obeyed without hesitation. But Kanner was in the contested stretch now. The Mandos were fully alert and ready to fight. And she had no more weapons in easy reach. If she could just whip out one of the dead Mandos’ weapons…

She didn’t waste any more time on what-ifs and maybes. Realizing she did have one last tool available to her, she engaged her stealth field generator. Before her opponents could register this new development, she flanked them from the left and kicked one in the head, sending him barreling into another. She tried and failed to grab his blaster in the exchange, but she did catch another one’s blade in her bare hands.

“Nice move,” the Mando gasped, sounding impressed. And a little fearful.

“This is nothing,” Kanner bragged. She kicked him back and aimed a spear thrust at the Mando’s neck, snapping his trachea. His body began to flail uncontrollably in his final moments, and he wildly swung his knife around until he got her in the arm. “AAAAH KLIMMEKS!” She cursed. There were still three alive, and she was almost out. She attempted to use the stealth field generator again, but was interrupted by a punch from one of the Mandos, which connected with her left cheek.

Shaking off the pain, she trapped his arm and broke it at the elbow. But the final two Mandos… they now had her all immobilized. But she was saved at the last moment. Both men were raised into the air, gasping for breath.

“It’s always hit-or-miss with your kind,” a familiar voice sneered. “You’re either honorable warriors—the Mandalorian version of honor, anyway—or you’re glorified thugs.”

“S-S-S-S-Si-th…” the man whose hand Kanner had broken gasped, right before he was kicked over and shot by a serious-looking Cathar. The other two flailed about in the air, still floating, until their heads were turned around 270°. They were dropped into a trash pile a short way off.

“Beniko…” Kanner whispered.

“Kanner?”

“Is this the one we were waiting for?” the Cathar asked, as he checked on the unconscious man.

“Yes, it’s her. How is Sergeant Dengril?”

“He needs medical attention.”

“I can provide it. Kanner, don’t take off that gauntlet yet, please.”

“Right.”

Beniko gently picked Kanner in her arms and led her away. “Nice job,” she said. “The woman you saved ran into the cantina crying bloody murder. I half-expected them to be done by the time we got here.”

“It’s not everyone who can fight seven Mandos so proficiently,” the Cathar agreed. He was carrying the man, whom he’d called Dengril. There was something familiar about the Cathar…

But she couldn’t figure out where she’d seen him before. She passed out just when an answer teased the fringes of her awareness.

“My pack…” was the last thing she managed to say.

Afternoon, the next day

“Unbelievable,” Jorgan said. “You picked us quite a good melee fighter. To think, she was able to hold off all those Mandos all by herself. And half of them after she’d lost her weapon.”

“As I said, I had a good feeling about her. But she was far better than I had anticipated,” Beniko said tiredly. She’d stayed up most of the night, tending to not just the woman called Kanner, but Dengril too.

“Thank you. You said time is precious right now, but you still… thank you.”

The thought of lost time brought that stricken look back to her eyes. “No problem, Major. But if you don’t mind, I’d like to get started now.”

“Very well. But I need you to be straight with me. Who is Theron, really?”

“I promise you this, Major: if it were my secret to share, I would. Unfortunately, it’s not. Theron’s mother is… quite influential. Most of the galaxy knows her. His existence—and his twin sister’s—is a secret to protect them from her enemies. His father is only a bit less prominent, but he does have a lot of sway among the military.”

“I… I see.”

“You can ask Theron, when you see him. Perhaps he won’t mind telling you.”

“I… I guess it’s not really important. But this is; why is he so important to you?”

“I’m afraid I don’t have some big logic behind my actions. He’s a very good friend, and I owe him. That is all.”

“Never known a Sith who cared that deeply about their friends.”

Beniko gave him an ironic smile. “Oh? And how many Sith have you gotten to know, in your lifetime?”

“Well… good point.”

“I’d wager you see most of us in the thick of battle. Not only is that a somewhat biased setting, that’s also where you’re likely to see the worst of us. The Malgus, the Angral, the Decimus…”

“The Nox.”

“Quite. Though he doesn’t get into the thick of battle anymore. There are a great many of us out there that value other qualities. Pragmatism, like Marr and myself. Honor, like Praven, who is now with the Jedi Order. Friendship, like Darth Vowrawn, Shaar, Travvor, and Scorn. And adventure, like Tiarna Kaimeryn. Well, I suppose I value all of those, not just pragmatism.”

Really? She doesn’t look very adventurous. “I see. Sorry for the sidetrack.”

“It’s no trouble, in fact…” Beniko looked to the side. “I see it may have been warranted. Welcome back, Kanner.”

Jorgan turned. The woman had woken up. “Ohhh… my hand…”

“How does it feel?” Beniko asked, walking to her. “Is there any pain? Do you have full range of motion?”

“That’s affirmative, Ma’am. Thank you. You saved my life. Again.”

“Think nothing of it. Kanner, this is Major Aric Jorgan. He’s the CO of the reformed Havoc Squad.”

“Is he, now?”

Jorgan saw the dark human’s eyes flash in his direction. He saluted. “That’s affirmative, soldier. Thank you. You saved not just that poor local when you stepped in, but my man as well.”

“I—you’re welcome.” She looked confused for a moment. “He… he was the one who’d been badly beat up, right? He looked bad.”

“His face was practically pulp,” Jorgan admitted. “And he had several broken ribs. But Beniko here was able to save him.”

“High-grade kolto in conjunction with Force Healing techniques,” Beniko said modestly. “It’s something I learned during the hunt for the Revanites.”

Damn, with that voice and that mindset, Jorgan could almost think she was a Jedi. When he’d first met her the day before, wearing contact lenses to cover her yellow irises, he had almost not realized it was her. She’d been talking kindly to that child at the park, enough to put not just him and his family, but also the shaking kitten at ease. Yet more evidence that she was the opposite of a stereotypical Sith. But yesterday, she’d used an ability Jorgan had only ever seen Sith use; she’d Choked two Mandalorians. Then snapped their necks. And she’d done so without hesitation. Clearly, she was no Jedi either.

“I thought Havoc was under Major Roban Queens,” Kanner muttered as she tested her hand.

“By all rights, it should be,” Jorgan growled. “He’s the greatest soldier of our age. But the higher-ups didn’t like a Special Forces soldier who became a celebrity. They disbanded Havoc—temporarily—and put him on other duties. He’s in charge of Meteor Squad now. They’re a new unit, but quite good.”

“They were ‘new’ four years ago,” Beniko said in amusem*nt. “They’ve served on nine tours, including Yavin. I’d say that allows them an upgrade to ‘tried and tested.’”

“Perhaps. But Major Queens did most of the heavy lifting in those missions. The only time they were deployed without him, they made a bunch of mistakes. Small ones.”

“Is that so?” Beniko looked surprised. “I hadn’t heard. They impressed me on Yavin.”

“Still, I suppose your point stands. They have been forged in hot fires.”

“Um. Excuse me, but where are we right now?” Kanner interrupted softly. “Where’s my pack?”

“We’re in an inn attached to the cantina, and your pack is in that locker over there,” Beniko pointed. “No one went through it, though we did retrieve your dagger from that Mandalorian’s throat. It’s cleaned, and beside the pack.”

“That was a nice throw,” Jorgan commented. “In fact, you have a wicked aim. Every single one of your strikes hit a vital point. Despite the Beskar.”

“We also retrieved the armor, by the way,” Beniko said. “Mandalorians always offer a large bounty to anyone who returns captured or seized Mandalorian Iron. If you wish, I could return them, and name you as the beneficiary.”

“No thanks. That would put me on their radar. Even if it’s as a potential ally. You can do what you like with it.”

Beniko turned to Jorgan.

“More credits are always good,” Aric allowed. “But I don’t want that heat either. You can use it to fill up your own war chest, if you like. Sounds like you’ll be needing it.”

“Right then. I’m already ‘on their radar’ anyway, so I lose nothing. Can you summon the rest of Havoc? I can get the briefing underway.”

As the others filed in, Jorgan noticed Kanner sizing them all up. He had seen such looks before; almost always from very experienced soldiers when sizing up other soldiers who might pose a threat.

She was pretty, he noticed. Lean but muscular, and as tall as himself. Perhaps a bit taller. He guessed she was a martial artist first, accustomed to striking hard and fast, agile on her toes.

“These are the new Havoc Squad,” Jorgan introduced them. “Torg is our assault specialist, similar to Sergeant Queens. Xaban is our medic. Abbeth is our explosives expert. And Dengril, who’s still in recovery, is our tech.”

“Charmed,” Kanner said softly. “You can call me Kanner. I’m good at stealth, sabotage, close combat, and infiltration. I could be an assassin if pushed, but I’ve never tried that.”

“That’s quite the skillset,” Jorgan said. “Beniko told me you were looking for a more permanent arrangement afterwards. Would you like to join Havoc for real?”

A strange look passed on her face. “I’m not…”

“It’s not all that keen about joining the Republic. Or the Empire.”

“Perhaps it’ll be better if I begin the briefing,” Beniko put in gently. “Once she knows the whole story, she might have fewer compunctions.”

That seemed to get the other human interested. “Okay…”

“So here’s the mission outline…”

This was purely for the merc’s benefit, but everyone listened along. Kanner’s expression seemed to grow more amused with each passing word.

“You’re a weird Sith, you know that?” she said snidely. “I didn’t think your big assignment would be another rescue mission.”

“Sith can have friends too. Lovers. Husbands.”

“Which one is this Theron?”

“A very close friend. One whom I owe my life.”

“Alright then. And you—” Kanner turned to look at Jorgan, still amused. “Havoc is really abandoning the Republic?”

“I’m afraid so. But we’re not taking up arms against our brothers-in-arms.”

“Except for those watching the prison.”

“Those aren’t soldiers, they’re thugs!”

“In any case, I don’t intend for you to kill anyone,” Beniko said hurriedly. All good humor seemed to drain out of her, and she began speaking more quickly. “That will make the opposition that much more likely to respond with overkill. I have procured grenades with knockout gas and Bothan stunners for all of you, in addition to uniforms and dye packs which will look very close to the prison guard outfits when you combine them. And these identities will help you get inside.” She quickly went over all the schematics and cover identities with them. She had already marked out areas of interest, including entry and exit points, suspected traps, and terminals they could sneak data out of, once they had Theron. The covers were solid enough to withstand the sort of scrutiny one might expect from Saresh’s private prison. Still, something about her demeanor changed subtly as the briefing went on, and Jorgan began to wonder if she had her attention divided between two things.

Jorgan summed up. “Once we’re inside, we just gotta deactivate cams and alarms, lock the guards and undesirable prisoners in their rooms and wings, and knock out those that remain outside.”

“Correct.”

“‘Undesirables’?” Kanner asked, her nose wrinkling.

“Saresh has a lot of political prisoners,” Jorgan explained. “Many of them would be locked away for good, if they ever made it to court. But Saresh can’t let that happen, since it would mean the truth getting a chance to come out. And she doesn’t want to kill them off either, since they still hold some value to her. Her worst prisoners include corrupt collaborators who got too greedy. Or puppets who were given commands strongarmed from real soldiers, but who screwed up. And then of course, are the mob bosses. The ones she leans on to get several gangs in line.”

“It sounds to me like a lot of those guys do need to be busted out,” Kanner exclaimed. “So they can testify against Saresh.”

“And who’s gonna protect them?” Jorgan asked. “The second they agree to go to court, they’re already dead. And they know it.”

“Saresh is a lot more powerful than you seem to realize,” Beniko told Kanner. “In fact, Darths Marr, Ravage, Nox, Mortis, and Vowrawn have all remarked that she’s an Empress in all but name.”

“What she said,” Xaban said. “That woman’s a blight on the Twi’lek race. First of our kind to get elected in six centuries, and this is what we get. People will remember. They always do.”

Beniko looked over at her chrono. “I’m afraid I have to insist we cut the small talk here. I’m sorely needed elsewhere, and I fear that… no, I hope...” she shook her head. “I need to leave.”

Jorgan nodded. “Sorry to keep you. And don’t worry; we can take it from here. You’ve given us enough to plan four different ways in and out of that prison.”

“One last thing. I’ve arranged for some transport off the planet. Master Shan herself recommended her to me—”

“Wait, what?!” Every face was as shocked as Jorgan’s. This Sith was in contact with the Grand Master of the Jedi Order?

“—but it’s imperative that her cover isn’t blown. She’s on the Jedi’s Trusted Pilot Registry. And is a civilian, besides.” Beniko sighed. “I met her once, though I was disguised at the time. She’s… quite a nice person. I’m… uncomfortable using her for this. But she’s scheduled to dock near the safehouse in three days’ time. And her flight plan was approved two weeks ago. No one will have any reason to suspect her. You will board posing as new, temporary hires carrying medical supplies back here to Dantooine.”

“Got it.”

“I’m also providing you with a hundred thousand credits in case anything goes wrong. Kanner, I’ll pay you the eight I promised—”

“Never mind,” Kanner said. “Consider this one on the house. I need work more than I need cash. And this Theron sounds like a guy who deserves saving.”

“Thank you.”

“If there’s nothing else, I think we should scramble—Beniko?”

The Sith screamed and staggered all of a sudden. Her yellow eyes went wide, and her mouth trembled. “Oh, no…”

“What?” Jorgan asked urgently. “What just happened?”

“I just Sensed Darth Marr. He’s been killed. The Zakuulans have killed Darth Marr…”

“Oh no…”

Beniko looked back up; the fear on her now-chalk-white face was now open. “That’s it. I’m out of time. Jorgan, get to your mission. Save both our friends, and anyone else you deem worthy. T7, with me!”

Jorgan and the others were rooted to the spot for much longer than they’d ever care to admit. Darth Marr? Dead? That news was almost as momentous as Malgus’ or the Sith Emperor’s! And much less sought-after, since he wasn’t the sinister force they were.

Eventually, Xaban rushed to the fresher to throw up, and Torg knelt down to pray. Abbeth, meanwhile, collapsed on the sofa.

“What just—” Kanner asked and swallowed. “She can’t—she didn’t—she doesn’t—” She swallowed again. “Tell me she could be wrong? Please…”

“Why do you care?” Abbeth asked.

The woman swallowed once again. “I was… I was at Elgrind. I saw that fleet, that Zakuulan fleet. Something tells me this new faction, this ‘Zakuul,’ is too powerful for us. We need everyone we can get. Even people like Marr, or especially like him. He’s not evil like Malgus and Angral.”

“Besides which, Marr is at the top of a very short list of Imperial leaders who wasn’t trying to utterly destroy us,” Jorgan added. “With him dead, the blood-hungry ones on the Council will try stepping into the power vacuum. Aruk, Rictus… and especially Nox…”

Kanner hissed angrily. “Nox? I saw that guy. Real coward. Ran before the first wave of boarders were dead. Neither Marr nor Devarath seemed too bothered about him.”

Jorgan frowned. Truthfully, Queens’ account of Rishi had also not touched upon Nox’s evil. Had he imagined it then? Or was Nox only brutal when dealing with enemies? Perhaps.

“I think we need to pick ourselves back up quick,” Kanner said tensely. “If Marr is really dead then—I dunno, Major. I’m feeling really jittery right now. Marr’s death was just the beginning, mark my words.”

Unfortunately, she hadn’t known how right she was. Less than five minutes later, the Force buckled under another wave, this one so powerful that even the likes of Jorgan and his squad could feel it. A sudden sensation of warm, pure water pouring over their faces.

Everyone cried out and fell, clutching their heads or hearts.

“WHAT WAS THAT!?!?!?!” Kanner cried out.

“That was familiar,” Jorgan panted. “I’ve felt this exact sensation once before. Just once. When I was on Dromund Kaas, and Vajra killed the Emperor. I think… I think someone just killed him. Again.”

“Oh. Holy. Crap.”

Chapter 5: Journey Into the Unknown

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Aboard the Unsolved Mystery

“No, no, no, no, NO! NO! NOOOOOOOOO!” Lana slammed a fist against a bulkhead in pure frustration.

“Request: I would like an update myself, Master.”

“Yes, of course.” Lana had to work to collect her thoughts, but it helped her better understand the events, too. Not only was she able to give the Droids a structured answer, she was able to sift through it herself.

“Sometime during the briefing, I Sensed Vajra regaining consciousness. I caught the gist of what was going on; I saw a lot of what he witnessed, and heard some of what was said. Though it was not the most precise and objective of gleanings. Time and space distort things a lot.”

Lana snorted. “Not long after waking up, the twin with the white robes visited him. The one who was wounded on Korriban. He identified himself as Prince Arcann, and he knew exactly who Vajra was. They exchanged a few sentences. Somehow, it looked like Vajra was getting on his good side with a few of his… trademark jokes.” She had almost been amused at the almost playful banter between Vajra and Prince Arcann. “Then he took him out of his cell. He admitted to Vajra that his father, the ‘Immortal Emperor,’ had been a being ‘as ancient and powerful’ as the Sith Emperor. And that he was greatly interested in Vitiate’s vanquisher. They then reached another cell. Darth Marr was being held there.” Lana was surprised to have discovered what Darth Marr really looked like. An unexpected treat that had almost made her forget the seriousness of the situation. “Unlike Vajra, Marr proceeded to verbally attack Arcann. He was able to confirm that the other twin—Thexan—had somehow died. When Arcann tried to claim he’d died of wounds he had sustained earlier, Marr caught him off-guard by saying that Thexan hadn’t been wounded in battle at all.”

HK piped up at T7’s confused warble. “Translation: It was a subtle jab. He was suggesting that this Thexan had been slain on Zakuul. Possibly by Arcann himself.”

“Arcann’s reaction certainly betrayed that this was what likely happened. Though it may not have been intentional. He led them to the Throne Room, where they were hit with a pair of shocks; a girl with the cruel smile, who was far more powerful than Vitiate had ever been. And behind her, the Immortal Emperor himself. Emperor Valkorion. One look, and Marr and Vajra both knew. He was Vitiate. He even admitted to being him. He goaded the two of them, trying to make them realize how helpless they were. He then freed Marr and offered him a chance to kneel. Marr took that as an affront. He declared that he would never bow down before Valkorion again, then attacked his guards. The Emperor slew Marr—one of the most prominent Sith of the past century—with just a gesture. The slightest application of effort.” Lana shuddered.

“But then something incredible had happened; Valkorion dismissed everyone except Arcann from the Throne room and tried to court Vajra instead of killing him right away. Offered him a chance to stop all wars and injustices in the galaxy. At his side. Vajra could not accept it, of course, but Valkorion wanted to give him more time to think. He ordered Arcann to give him a room in the Palace. He was to be a prisoner in a gilded cage. For a moment, I dared to hope. That he would be kept alive long enough for me to break him out. But then, Arcann showed his true colors. He destroyed Vajra’s restraints before attacking his Emperor. His Father. It was a power grab, and he forced my husband into it. Vajra could not just… he was… he was caught up in… he couldn’t run away.”

T7 warbled sadly.

“My Vajra waited until Arcann had been defeated before stepping in. You know him. Mister fair-fights.” She chuckled wildly. “And then I saw him fight Valkorion. It was a dazzling performance, far beyond anything I’ve ever witnessed. Vajra—the Storm of the Jedi—had lived up to his monicker, yet again.” She began ranting excitedly, pirouetting, and swinging and jabbing with her hand like a child would while telling a story. “He evaded or reflected all of Valkorion’s powerful attacks back on himself while assailing his shield, switching between attack, defense, and evasion iso fast that even a Force Sense could not keep up with it. After a brief battle, Valkorion had given up on the Force and attempted to win by the blade. It was a desperate gambit… which ultimately failed.”

“Not fifteen minutes after the death of Darth Marr, his killer was brought low… again. For a moment, I—who at this juncture was preparing the ship for takeoff—rejoiced. Then, something happened. A whirlpool of energy formed and exploded, and it knocked Vajra out again. We were right back to where we started. I don’t know what’s going on, but the odds are good that Arcann isn’t going to thank him for his service and send him on his merry way. We are running out of time.”

“Statement: We are breaking into orbit now. I am ready to begin plotting our Jump.
Query: What is our heading?”

“Elgrind. Again. T7, I need your help. Prepare every last sensor and antenna for Hyperspace exploration, and load up all relevant programs. We’re going to see if we can find Zakuul the old-fashioned way.”

“Suggestion: Master, I know you didn’t sleep well last night. You stayed up patching up the two wounded Organics. Elgrind is a full six hours away. Take this chance to get some rest. I will wake you when we arrive.”

Lana simmered for a moment. “Fine,” she grunted at last. She needed her strength, after all.

“Analysis: Master, my scans detect that you are in a highly excitable state. You are full of restless thoughts and unfocused energy.
Statement: Perhaps you should allow me to inject you with a mild tranquilizer. In your state, I do not believe you can attain adequate rest.
Declaration: In order to save Master Vajra, you need to be in peak physical and mental form.”

“You’re right, of course. Thank you, HK.”

“Acknowledgement: it is my humble duty to serve, Master.”

“T7? I want you to look through what we gathered at Elgrind. Forward any relevant information—tactical data, for instance—to Lady Kai. Once you’re done, compile a summary and a full report for me, then begin analysis of Zakuulan entry and exit vectors.”

Sleep did not come easily to Lana Beniko, even with the tranquilizer HK gave her. Fearful thoughts raced through her mind, thoughts she could not ignore; thoughts of Vajra’s safety. She obsessively entertained all thoughts of likely scenarios, and counted the seconds like a miser counted coin, for each one was a precious treasure she was seeing wasted right before her eyes.

At least she could Sense that he was alive.

She sighed again, and pulled out a book she’d been purchased on Dantooine. It was a light story, she was told, and perhaps it could help her take her mind off things.

“What do you think?” she asked herself in as light a tone as she could manage. “This here, is a tale of a fierce heroine named Zada Drake. A Hyperspace explorer who got in trouble with more than one band of pirates.” She cleared her throat and began reading slowly, calmly. “‘It was only 09:00 hours, and Zada Drake was in trouble again. This time, she’d managed to insult the whole Krayt Dragon Pirate crew—the scourge of the Antiva sector—before breakfast.’ Now that’s not very pragmatic, is it? Sounds entertaining, at least! ‘She had just finished a three-day vacation at the expensive Summer Vale Resort, and had charged it all to the Krayt Dragons’ boss, Commodore Tyrannus Karldin!’ Now see, that’s a bad idea if ever there was one. Don’t ever tick off a man with ego enough to call himself ‘Tyrannus.’ Unless you’re Zada Drake, apparently!”

The book did calm her down a little, though reading like this—pretending she was entertaining her unborn child—made her miss not only her husband, but also the child they lost. After the first ten pages, she couldn’t go on. She regretfully put the book away and tried to lie back and meditate. To hear the song of Vajra’s Lightsaber crystal. Eventually, this gentle melody was enough to soothe her restless spirit. She managed a steady slumber for a few hours when T7 came to wake her up.

“Are we there yet?” she asked the Astromech.

<Negative. T7 = finished decrypting all retrieved files>

“That was fast,” she murmured. She pulled out her datapad, to which the Astromech had already sent the relevant files. “Hmmm. The droids don’t know where Zakuul is?”

“But many of them have been to Zakuul…”

“So this is a security measure, then?”

<Negative. Zakuulans = leave all astrogation to the Signal. Eternal Throne = emits a signal to all Zakuulan ships, guiding them where they need to go>

“So the Zakuulans don’t even know the general direction they need to go in? That’s remarkable.” Remarkably stupid, since it wasn’t a security measure.

<Zakuulan reliance on droids and artificial intelligence = 150%> T7 agreed.

“I suppose this means their technology is frightening?”

<Negative. Complexity of Zakuulan droid components and programming < 120% standard Republic War Droid. More advanced, but not concerningly so>

“Is that right? And yet they trust their entire civilization to them, according to this report.”

<Conjecture. Some droids could be more advanced than others>

“We’ll need to keep a look out. Take nothing for gratned.”

“Let’s head to the co*ckpit. Hopefully, I’ll be able to lead us to Zakuul with just the Force Bond.”

“Greeting. Ah, Welcome back, Master.
Statement: You have received seven new messages from Tiarna Kaimeryn, Jasme Shan, Darth Vowrawn, Darth Zhorrid, and Darth Imperius.”

“Imperius?” Lana sat down.

“Dear Lana.
Forgive the delay, but things have gotten a little hectic since the Battle of Elgrind. Far too much to do. Here is everything I have about the Searching Ritual we used to find the Emperor.
I hope you find your husband.
Love,
Minara.”

Lana quickly read through the document, and realized with dismay that although she was capable of performing the ritual, she had no prayer of doing so. The pyramid was attuned to Darth Nox’s touch, meaning it wouldn’t answer to her. According to Minara’s notes, it had been constructed by Darth Damonus as a personal favor to Darth Marr. He wouldn’t help Lana without a great deal of persuasion, and perhaps at a steep cost. She could reverse engineer it, but she would need to invest years and years into the esoteric art of Sith Artificing first.

“Another wasted avenue,” she railed. “Why is it that now—when I need speed more than I have ever needed it in my life—do I stumble over so many stupid hurdles!?!”

“Prompting: Would you like to read the other messages, Master?”

“No. We’re almost at Elgrind.”

A little less than thirty seconds later, they were here again. The debris field—which was seven hundred kilometers to the north—was already scattered, Lana noticed. Much of it had fallen into the planet’s atmosphere, no doubt. And burned up as meteorites. The galaxy did not care that one of the most significant events in galactic history had taken place here; it had already begun to dispose of all the evidence.

This is it. I’m right back here. Everything I did since leaving the Indomitable was a long distraction. I wish I could’ve begun this step right away!

“T7, do you have the telemetry? The Zakuulan ships’ entrance and exit vectors?”

“Good. And I can still Sense Vajra. Begin scanning ahead for nebulae and gravity wells. Give me a safe zone. I’ll take us as far ahead on that path as we can go. If we overshoot, we know we’re close.” They could only jump a few light weeks ahead at a time unless they were willing to be reckless. They couldn’t afford that. Hyperspace was deadly to anyone who chose to take it lightly. Even now, with every second more valuable than ever before, she couldn’t risk it.

As if to remind her of that fact, T7 updated the map to indicate a rogue giant planet three light days away, and a particularly large asteroid field seven light days away.

Please. Please don’t let me have already lost this race.

Chapter 6: The Rescue

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

The Onyx Marshes,
Coruscant

Theron Shan attempted to maintain his routine even now, despite being locked away in this facility. He was a military man, like his parents. And he would be damned if he allowed himself to slack off just because he didn’t have a datapad or computer to help him keep track of his daily schedule. He woke up thirty minutes before dawn, and did a moderate regimen of exercises; the little that his tight quarters allowed him. Gymnastics—his favorite regimen—was out. All he had were calisthenics… though he couldn’t push too hard thanks to his throbbing face.

A visitor appeared at his door at the crack of dawn.

“Good morning, Elara. You don’t have to come see me so early in the morning.”

“Oh, I disagree,” the ex-soldier said crisply. “Someone needs to see to your injuries.”

“I’ve had worse.”

“Oh, please. Those cybernetics of yours were connected to some very important nerves. The way they were ripped out, it would’ve been a miracle if it hadn’t been infected. And lest you forget, it is infected.”

“That’s right.” Theron shuddered. Dorne had had to beg on her knees to get their jailors to give them simple but nearly-expired penicillin. After that, she’d checked in on him every day. He looked forward to these checkups. Not only was she one of the most gorgeous women he’d ever met, she was kind, professional, and caring. A girl who’d get along very well with his sister.

The tight prison uniform did her no favors, hugging her shapely body like a bodysuit. Many of the seedier inmates openly catcalled, while others—like Theron himself, her brother Aleksei, Kardin Aygo, and other military men and women—worked hard to make sure no one ever had a chance to jump her. Theron had even offered to switch uniforms with her, but she’d refused.

“It’s not looking too good,” she said worriedly. “The infection has slowed, but not stopped. At this rate, we’re looking at permanent neural damage in a few days. Worse, if it’s left untreated longer. You could be left paralyzed or dead.”

Theron was proud of himself for appearing unfazed, though the prospect was more frightening than he’d ever care to admit to anyone beside Kira, Lana, or Vajra. “Don’t… don’t worry too much about it. Please. I have a feeling my days are numbered anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t matter. Look, I heard you yesterday. You went to the warden for help, and she offered to give you the medicine in exchange for—I don’t want you to take up her offer… not for me, at least.”

Elara looked like something else had caught her attention, and she wouldn’t let it go. “Why do you think your days are numbered?”

“Well…” Theron rubbed the back of his head. “The implants. They’re a message. You get that, right? They were taken to remind certain people—my parents—that I’m in Saresh’s grip.”

“You’re here because you have influential parents?”

“Yeah. If I didn’t, Saresh would’ve executed me for Ziost. Anyway. They’re both… not the sort to sacrifice the Republic just for me. Not that they don’t love me,” he added hurriedly. “They’ve both proven they do. But—they… they…”

“It’s okay, Theron,” Elara said sadly. “You don’t have to say it.”

“Thanks. Anyway. She is definitely going to have my head once her threat backfires. So don’t throw away your dignity for just me.”

Elara gave him a look for a moment, as if she was debating with herself. Then, she carefully pulled out a plain iron pendant. She opened it to reveal what looked like a jewel inside. “So long as there’s life, there’s hope,” she said softly.

“What’s this?” Theron touched the gemstone and nearly jumped in shock. “Hey! I’ve seen one just like this before! This is a Lightsaber crystal, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. I want you to hold on to this for me. Just for the next few hours. Vajra gave this one to me. On Taris.”

“He did? Wow!”

“Yes. He noticed that I was feeling lonely and isolated and… nearly depressed. On account of my background. He gave this to me, despite only having met me. Told me that I was a good person, and this would help me find a light when things got dark. And it has helped me through many times since then. Including… including…” Her voice broke a little.

Theron patted her hand. “It’s okay.”

She wiped away a stray tear and tied the necklace around his neck before quickly moving on. “So you’ve seen a Lightsaber crystal before? Felt one? You knew, the second you touched it.”

“Yeah… I think you may have heard this, but Vajra was given six of these crystals back on Tython. They were all a part of a hoard he unlocked during his Trials. I guess the intention was for him to build several Lightsabers for himself, but he gave them away instead, in the spirit of sharing. All six of them.”

“Did he now?”

“Yeah. To my knowledge, one went to a former SIS Agent called Galen, who was made Power Guard.”

“Oh damn… I heard about that one. Nasty business.”

“Yeah. The third went to Kira, the fourth to my twin sister, Jasme. She shared that with me too. It made me feel alive during the endless gloom of our underground mission. Its song is completely different from this one.” Theron listened to it for a moment. It really did give him strength. “The fifth he gave to T7.”

“The droid?”

“The droid,” the spy confirmed. “He was going to keep the sixth, but he exchanged it with… with a Sith Lord named Lana Beniko.”

“A Sith Lord?” Elara gasped. “Why ever would he do that?”

“She was one of the good ones. Is one of the good ones. She was with us during the Revanite incident, and partnered with him when we split up. She helped him overcome his traumas.” Theron didn’t want to tell her that they were in love. Or that they had exchanged crystals during their wedding. It wasn’t his place to.

“He overcame—”

“Yeah. I wish I could show you the holo, but… well, the first time I saw him, he was really thin and… well, morbidly underweight. But when I saw him on Rishi, he was almost healthy-looking again. Despite still having a lot of nightmares. By the time we were done there, he looked like the strongest man in the galaxy. Mentally, I mean. Jasme was so pleased, she started to cry. Even… even my mom, when she saw him again. She rarely gets emotional. It was all thanks to Lana Beniko.”

“I see,” Elara said. Her blue eyes were wide. “I’ll… I’ll reserve judgement then. I suppose I did meet several ‘good’ Sith in the Empire. Krovos, for instance, back when she was called Amarna Halleck. Darth Marr was alright, and Darth Vowrawn. Darth Shaar. Shaar’s Apprentice too.”

“Mirabelle Travvor? I met her. She’s a really nice lady. Saved my life on Yavin, in fact.”

“Really, now?”

“Yeah. My squad came under attack by the former leader of the Revanites and a few of her grunts. I was the only survivor. Lord Travvor—Mira—was the one who responded to our distress signal. She arrived just in the nick of time. After she killed Lord Darkspanner, I remember her saying that payback was worth squat. I asked, ‘Revenge not what you thought it would be?’ and she got all sad and said, ‘It was exactly what I thought it would be. She used to represent something pure to a lot of us. A way out of the constant infighting. Her betrayal of her own values broke my heart. But since she betrayed everyone who believed in her, it’s only right that a Revanite who remembers what we were supposed to be, was the one that put her down. Doesn’t make it a reason to celebrate.’”

“That’s profound.”

“She is a philosopher and scholar after all. Extremely well-read. Cultured. Thoughtful. Unfortunately, Ziost left her in bad shape. Her boyfriend was possessed by the Emperor moments after he proposed. She was forced to kill him, and everyone else in the ballroom they were in. It left her wounded. But her best friend, Darth Rrayden, is taking care of her now. He’s a good sort too.”

“I see. I suppose it’s a big galaxy out there. I shouldn’t be surprised there are good people among the enemy.”

“Why not? You were one too, right?”

She tilted her head. “I suppose,” she allowed. “For years, I thought to myself ‘They can’t be good, since they don’t care enough to do what I did.’ But I realize now, that’s a naïve way of thinking.”

Theron glanced at the chrono. “Wanna grab Breakfast with me?”

She looked at the clock too, and nodded. “Yes, let’s,” she said, offering him a hand. He took it. It was warm and soft, and he let go before he could betray how reluctant he was to do so.

“I hope it’s hashbrowns with three-week-old ketchup again.”

Elara chuckled.

My day’s better already.

Former General Kardin Aygo sat with Theron this morning. “Hope you don’t mind.”

“We’re always happy to have you, Sir.”

“Thank you. I miss talking to my children. My wife. My siblings. The gloom can get a bit much, in here. That’s not an invitation to waste all your time on this old Bothan.”

“Yes, Sir.”

His voice lowered by an octave or two with each word, as it usually did. He’d developed this habit to disarm the guards. Now, they never suspected when he had something important to say. Now it was a low whisper. “Theron, I have some news for you. A lot has happened these past few days.”

“Yeah, tell me about it. The Emperor dying again… that’s big.” Theron still recalled the day before yesterday, when he and everyone in the facility had felt a… disturbance in the Force. One which even the ungifted could feel.

“I wasn’t talking about that… though, yeah, it’s nice to know that the Emperor has been killed. Again.”

“Vajra really pulled through for us,” Elara whispered. “Again.” No one doubted it was him… though Theron was certain that Lady Kai could do it too.

“Hmmm. This ‘Zakuul’ you were talking about… they’ve attacked. They smashed a fleet Marr put together to hunt down the Emperor in Wild Space. They were at some world called Elgrind. Zakuul captured both Marr and Devarath. This was before… what we felt.”

“Wait, Vajra’s been taken prisoner?”

“It gets worse. Master Shan Sensed Marr’s death. About fifteen minutes before the Emperor’s. No one knows about Vajra, but he’s still a prisoner of Zakuul, if he’s still alive. From what I gather, their ‘Immortal Emperor’ really was the same Emperor we know and love.”

“And Vajra killed him…”

“Yes. His son—the Emperor’s son that is—has now declared war on the Republic.”

“Oh. Holy. sh*t.”

“But that’s not what I wanted to talk about. Thanks for sidetracking me.”

“Sorry.”

“Right before we heard about Elgrind, Saresh ordered her personal forces to strike out at a dozen Imperial worlds. Massively ambitious, but ill-led. Every single ship was destroyed or captured, and all hands killed or taken prisoner. Without terms for ransom. High Command was not pleased. They threatened legal action against Saresh. Unfortunately, they got distracted by the two deaths. That, and Emperor Arcann’s declaration, allowed her enough breathing room to seize control of the Republic. She has unprecedented emergency powers now, and has sacked all of High Command. Has them under house arrest.”

“No,” Elara whispered, eyes wide. “No f*cking way!”

“Word is, she tried to use you as a bargaining chip. But you already know that. But now that your father is out of the picture, Saresh is looking at disposing of you. According to my source, you don’t have long before they start trying to poison your food. Or kill you in your sleep. Might be as early as tonight.”

“Thanks for the heads-up.” Theron sighed. “I wish we got news in here.”

“Do you need it to plan your escape?”

“It’ll take some time, but I can do it. In fact, I can get us all out.”

“Don’t worry about us,” Elara said. “You can always come back later. Save yourself first.”

“If it was you, could you take that chance to leave others behind while you ran?”

She glowered at him. Theron grinned. Kardin Aygo chuckled. “I love being with the good guys. I hate it, but I love it.”

The guards began herding prisoners into workshops a few minutes later. Theron’s breakfast was left untouched. As was Elara’s.

In all this, it was truly one piece of news that had left him truly shaken. Vajra… please be alright. Please.

Shift changed at 17:00. Prisoners were always taken to their cells at 16:30, to reduce the risk of escape during this vulnerable time. Theron noticed wardens glancing at him and whispering to each other.

Looks like I have a wrestling match in my calendar. Good thing he’d stolen and sharpened that butter knife. Elara gave him a worried look before they were pushed into their cells. Theron almost wanted the guards to attack him now, but they couldn’t, what with everyone watching.

Theron placed a worn plastic cup under the leaking pipe to count the minutes. Usually, it would be about one-seventh full before they were released. But soon it was nearly one-sixth. Then one-fifth. A whole quarter. Theron grew nervous. He picked up the knife and took up a position beside the door. The cup was almost half-full when the door finally opened. A pair of guards he’d never seen before entered the room; a human woman with dark skin, and a Twi’lek with green. Theron leapt at the former, but she surprised him with lightning-fast reflexes which may have given her a chance against lesser Jedi. She caught his knife, trapped his arm, and flipped him over her shoulder like he was nothing. He landed quite neatly on his mattress.

“I gotta admit, I’ve always wanted to toss a man into bed,” the woman said drily. “Maybe we can try that again sometime. Theron, right? Lana Beniko says hello.”

“Wait, you’re with Lana?”

“Yeah. Sort of. For this operation, at least. Willing to hear me out now?”

Theron nodded suspiciously. The woman tossed him her holo, on which there was a recorded mission. A familiar young Sith appeared when he played it. She looked harried, like she had on Ziost, where things were unfolding too fast for her to control. Theron instantly knew why she was like this: Vajra.

“Theron! If you’re seeing this, then we made it in time. These good people are with me. I reached out to them to break you and a few others out of the prison. You can trust them. I look forward to seeing you again in the near future.”

The message was brief, but it did the job. Theron nodded and stowed away the makeshift weapon. “Who else you rescuing?”

“Dorne,” the Twi’lek replied. “Aygo. Others. Come on. The boss is already working on her door.”

“The boss?”

“I think you might know him,” the human said. “Don’t worry about cameras and bugs. We disabled everything when we came in. We’re free to talk as we like. I’m Kanner, this is Xabaan.”

“Nice to meet you, Sir.” Compared to her talkative human companion, the Twi’lek was soft and brief.

“You don’t have to call me Sir. I’m just a spy. No ranks.”

“Got it.”

They left his room just in time for the one outside Elara’s room to break the lock.

“Dorne?” the man cried. “Captain Dorne?!”

“Is that—oh, my!”

Theron slipped in behind the man—a Cathar—whom Elara clearly knew well, going by the backbreaking hug she was giving him.

“Jorgan!” she whispered. “I’m so happy to see you again.”

That’s Jorgan? Which makes this—

“We’ll have time for a reunion later. We gotta move. Lots of prisoners to free.”

“Of course.”

“We’re clear to talk, by the way.”

“Good to know.”

“Major Jorgan?” Theron ventured, when the Cathar turned back to the door. “Hi. I’m Theron.”

“Nice to meet you, Agent Theron. Queens says nice things about you.”

“I’m… is it weird that a spy is glad he made an impression?”

Kanner laughed out loud, and Elara hid her laugh behind a hand. Xaban and Jorgan cracked smiles. “Only in the right circles. I know you’re a good man, and can be counted on.”

Theron caught his meaning. “If I’m part of the exit strategy—”

“You are.”

Kanner cut in right then. “Hey, Lana has a present for ya!”

“Really?”

She handed him a package. Opening it, Theron found replacements for his implants. Upgrades, unless he was mistaken. There were also a pair of silent AJ-10 blasters; these babies could be toggled between firing heavy shots and five-round bursts. And they had a range of nearly three times a standard blaster. Also in the package were about fifty data spikes. And a large chocolate, wrapped in a thin film of flimsiplas. She’d probably made it herself. Theron chuckled.

“Eat that later,” the Twi’lek said.

“She even remembered to pack medical supplies,” Elara said disbelievingly. “I’m starting to really like this Lana!”

“She’s definitely a good sort,” Jorgan said. “I saw her help a civilian. A child. Talked to him very gently. Like you would have. I almost can’t tell she’s a Sith. Except when she killed those Mandos…”

“She wouldn’t do that unless they attacked first,” Theron began.

“They did,” Kanner said. “In fact, she saved my life.”

“Dorne, we hadn’t counted on Theron’s implants being removed. Beniko did plan for it, but—”

“I can do it here. Especially since she’s given us the medical supplies. Aleksei, quickly, clear the bed.”

“Take your time,” Jorgan told her as Elara’s quiet, withdrawn brother did what she asked him to. “We have four hours.”

“Good.”

“What happened to the guards?” Aleksei asked. This was the first time Theron had heard him speak.

“They’re either knocked out, or locked in their barracks.”

“Theron, we don’t have time to put you under,” Elara whispered furiously. “All we have is local anesthesia, kolto and ryll. I’m going to treat those infections before I put these in you. Got it?”

“Yeah. Don’t worry. I trust you.”

His trust was well-placed. Elara was care itself, yet somehow she was still done in thirty minutes. When Theron stood back up, the itching and throbbing from the infected cuts were gone. “Owww…”

“How are the implants?” she asked. “Try them out. If I installed them incorrectly, I need to know now.”

“Right.” In quick succession, Theron tried out the aim, electronic warfare, scanning, analysis, infrared, programming, memory, and commlink functions. He was pleased to know that these were working almost 220% better than his old implants. “She gave me quite the upgrade. My old implants were solid, but… well, they were a little outdated. I’d used parts from an RE-1 Scout droid my mother had given me as a kid. I held onto them from sentiment, but…” he sighed. “These are better. Maybe it’s for the best that Saresh took my old ones.”

“Alright then. We’ll start breaking out the others. Dorne, you’re with the rescue team, in case anyone needs medical attention. You know how soldiers are… we don’t ask in such situations.”

Elara laughed. “Of course. ‘I can rest when I’m dead.’”

“I’ll need to talk to you privately first. Kanner, you lead Theron to our exit. Watch his back as he slices the high security door. It’s the only way forty of us can get out of this place, unnoticed.”

“Got it,” Kanner said cheerfully. As she led Theron to the basem*nt, she pointed out her comrades. “The Kaleesh is Torg. The Kel Dor is Abbeth. The guy with the eye-bernetic is Dengril. They’re the new Havoc Squad.”

“The ‘new’ Havoc? And ‘they?’ You’re not one of them?”

“No, Beniko found me at Elgrind.” She scrunched up her nose and sighed. “Which reminds me. If you’re a comrade of hers, I should tell you what happened there. What I saw.”

Theron almost fell flat on his face. “Tell me.”

Elara was appalled. “Saresh wants me dead? Me?!”

“And Aleksei, too,” Jorgan confirmed. “She’s stopped leaning on Commander Vasil Dorne to turn spy for her—to replace the one lost on Ziost. Made one last threat. ‘Join me, or your children die.’ He refused that time too, though I’m told he was devastated. She was going to send him your bodies as a token of her… ‘respect.’”

Elara nearly broke into tears at that. “I… I can’t believe it!”

“Why not? I did. Easily.”

“The Republic is supposed to be better than this!”

“Yeah,” Jorgan grunted.

“I defected for this!” Elara went on. “We both did—” she pointed at her brother, who was watching Xabaan’s back as she picked another lock. “We left everything behind! I left my fiancé and friends, and…” she trailed off.

“And now, it’s my turn,” Jorgan ventured into the gap. “Havoc is leaving the Republic. Again.”

Elara felt dizzy. Jorgan caught her before she stumbled, but she was okay. “Havoc is defecting?”

“No, just leaving. We’ll continue to protect the Republic and its people. We won’t hit Republic military unless really pushed hard. But for the foreseeable future, we’ll be acting from the shadows. As vigilantes.” Jorgan patted her shoulder. “Listen, Dorne… whatever else happens, there will always be good guys in the galaxy. You definitely are one. Devarath knew that at once.” He nodded at her necklace, which Theron had returned before leaving. “And… well, I’ve done too much sh*t to make that claim myself, but I’m one of many people who cares what happens to you.”

“I wish that was true. Arry left me. He couldn’t take the pressure. Last I heard, he’d found someone else.” Elara tried not to sound too bitter.

“I’m sorry, Dorne. But that’s on Saresh too. She’s been making your life miserable for three years now, hasn’t she? Squeezing you dry, hoping you’d go begging your father to do what she wanted. Few can take that kind of pressure. Didn’t you say Arry was becoming a nervous wreck? That he was having rumors circulating that lost him clients and friends?”

“I know, I know. I don’t hate him for it. I just hate… all this.”

“Dorne? What is it?”

She sighed. Aric could see through her façade, unlike Theron or General Aygo, or even Aleksei. “She got to me, a little. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Okay. Well, then it’s just as well we’re leaving soon.”

“Where will we go?”

“We’re going to have to wait a few days for Beniko’s contact—Trant has prepared a few safehouses for us here, on Coruscant. Beniko’s friend will get us to Dantooine. From there, we take the Havoc Cry into a neutral port. Trant has prepared parcels for all of our rescues, including yourself. Everything you need to start a new life. Anyone who wants to stay, can stay. Beniko has given us extra funds for after. A hundred thousand.”

“She’s being awfully generous.”

“I thought the same. But I got the sense this was for Theron. I think she cares for him. Maybe, she’s even in love with him.”

“Well, he is easy on the eyes,” Elara commented, hiding mild, defensive annoyance. “And quite competent, going by his record alone.”

“Yeah, well… if not for Theron, she wouldn’t have bothered with this op at all.”

“If she cares so much, why isn’t she here to break him out herself? Because this is Coruscant?”

Jorgan’s eyes widened. “Huh… that’s a good point.”

“Let’s… let’s just get out of here. You said we had forty prisoners to free?”

“Thirty-four,” Jorgan nodded. “And us. Havoc Squad.”

“Havoc?”

“I kept your old badge and rank cylinders, if you want them. Not that it means much. We’re a rogue outfit now.”

Elara chuckled. “I’ll take it. Come on. Need to check on the others.”

Theron Shan needed a moment after Kanner was done talking. “I… I can’t believe it.”

“Neither can I. And now, I hear that Marr is gone. The Empire… I don’t like them, but… well, if Zakuul comes, they might fold without him.”

“They won’t,” Theron reassured her. “They’ve still got Tiarna Kaimeryn. She’s a friend, and she won’t sit idly by while Arcann attacks the galaxy.”

“And then there’s Devarath.”

“I hate to say it, but if he killed their Emperor…”

“Yeah. I know.”

“Still, killing the Emperor isn’t the same as destroying him for good. I wish it was. We need Vajra. I wish we didn’t, and he could just live the rest of his life in peace. He’s done enough for us.” Theron got back to slicing the door. “How did you guys pull this off, anyway?”

“It was simple. On paper, at least. We had everything we needed to know. Beniko got most of it from Trant, apparently, though she did have a lot herself. Timetables, schematics, rosters, patrol routes… we knew enough to infiltrate from the roof. I entered first, with Dengril. He’s the tech specialist. He deactivated all electronics in here. Locked the barracks, cut the silent alarms. Everyone was inside by 17:00, right on schedule. Together, we took out the guards getting off-duty. Used knockout gas, stun bolts, and ion and low-yield sonic grenades to incapacitate everyone. Locked them in a couple of unused cells. And now, here we are.”

“That sounds like a textbook-perfect mission.”

“Havoc is everything they say it is. Even this new version.”

Havoc managed to impress Theron one more time today. In the thirty minutes it had taken him to slice open the door, they’d liberated every one of his comrades—the good guy prisoners—and made it to him. As promised, they were forty in total, including Aleksei, Kardin Aygo, and others who usually hung out with Theron and Elara.

Kanner saluted casually. “All clear, Sir.”

“Good. Then it’s time we left.”

“Where to next?”

“We stashed a whole set of clothes and other supplies in that warehouse.” Jorgan pointed it out. “Once we’re changed, we head for a tram station four hundred meters to the north. Next train gets here in twenty minutes. We get off at the last stop, in formerly Justicar territory. That’s where our safehouse is.”

“Well done, Major,” Aygo said with a relieved expression. “We owe you for our escape.”

“Thank us when we’re safely away. And write a thank-you to Beniko and Trant as well. This was all thanks to them.”

“Right, right.”

In a Laundromat opposite the prison

Jakk Keriar lowered his mug. “Wouldja lookit that, boys? A jailbreak.”

“Ah recognah’ze tha’ one,” Stede said, twirling a pink lock in her finger. “Major Jorgan. ‘Avoc Squad. An’ tha’s Ellara Dorne. Also Havoc. An’ General Kardin Aygo… whoo the f*ck does Saresh ‘ave locked up insahde them prisons?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Keriar snapped. “We’re here to prevent anyone from escaping from here. Now, get out of our way, ‘Genos.’ You’re here as a courtesy, to pretend that your kind are still needed when you’re really not, anymore. Just smile and nod, tell us your inspection is done, and get the f*ck out of here.”

“Okay, ‘Aradan.’”

Keriar smiled to himself. These Genos types were a real pain in the patella. Always had been, with their moral superiority and their tight grip on the organization. But thanks to Saresh, those days were gone. The organization was on the rise, and soon, it would become a force that would be feared by every shadow in the Republic and Empire—

He heard a few dozen shots, but he hadn’t given the command. He didn’t feel angry though. Didn’t feel anything at all… except for the burning cold in the middle of his head.

Captain Juun Stede sighed. She flourished her blasters before holstering them. The action distracted her from what she had done, but only for a moment. She felt a little filthy for shooting a bunch of her supposed comrades in the back.

She raised her comm. “Genos 1? This is Genos Aurek-1.”

“This is Genos 1. Go ahead.”

“Ah just killed ‘em. The ones Ah was sent t’ inspect.”

Genos One was silent for a moment. Juun could almost see the man running both his hands through his hair. “Why? Why in the Force did you decide to do that?”

“Did you know what they wuz doin’ out here?”

“They were… Outpost Narlock, right?” Genos One checked his records for a moment. “Guarding the backdoor to a prison, wasn’t that right?”

“Yuh. An’ guess oo wuz in said prison? General Kardin Aygo. Elara Dorne of ‘Avoc Squad. Ex-Senator Bev Zukar. That actress, Joni Manka. Theron Shan o’ SIS, also the son o’ Satele Shan and Jace Malcom.” Stede was pissed by now. “These ‘r polit’cl pris’ners. GenoHaradan is waitin’ here tuh kill any who Saresh don’ like.”

“Only those who break out.”

“ARE YOU f*ckING SERIOUS!?!?!” she roared, losing the accent. “Do you realize that this is not the purpose of our organization? We kill underworld threats to the Republic before they can hurt anyone. Not threats to the Supreme Chancellor’s personal power! Serial killers, rapists, terrorists, insurgents, assassins… we don’t kill people whose only crime was getting on the Chancellor’s bad side!”

“There’s nothing we can do,” One said frustratedly. “Saresh has… she has us in a death grip. Genos. She’s removed the brakes on the Haradan.”

“Then maybe it’s time the Genos did our duty. We need to clean house.”

“We can’t do it. We don’t have the resources to.”

“One…” Juun sighed. “Hang on. I’m going to call Zero.”

“What? You can’t be serious! Why would you call Zero?!”

“Because you’re giving me no choice. I used to respect you, One. But you’ve gotten too scared to do what needs to be done. We’re not some squabbling body like the Senate. We have rules. Hard rules. The sort that, if we don’t follow them, we become what we swore to fight. Find your balls, One. Or retire. Your choice. But I will warn you: if you try to tip off the Haradan, I will find you, and I will end you!”

A plaintive sigh. “Got it. I’m enacting Protocol X. We can’t win this war, Aurek-1. But we can make thin their ranks a little.”

“When do we start? When do we draw first blood?”

“No sooner than four months.”

“Four months? They can do so much damage in that time! Saresh can execute every last one of her opponents in the Senate thirty times each!”

“You’re exaggerating,” One sighed. “In any case, we keep watch on them. We will step in if they commit a taboo.”

“Got it. I’m cleaning up and heading back.” She hung up and reverted to her natural accent. “Good thing Ah’m in a laundromat already, ey, boys?”

Chapter 7: End of Communication

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Aboard the Unsolved Mystery

Lana was beginning to feel frustration in the very pit of her marrow. Her progress had been excruciatingly slow.

They spent twenty minutes mapping ahead, scanning the next Light-year for any and all anomalies that made Hyperspace unstable. Even a comet or dense asteroid field would end her quest prematurely, unless she was careful. What made the process longer was that they were receiving information that was over a year old, so T7 had to work with her computer to chart all astronomical objects, their expected paths, and their estimated positions. This was a safe way to travel, but even if she was crunching each scanning cycle so she was spending the least possible amount of time between jumps, it was still progress at a Senate meeting’s pace. Every day, they moved ahead by a measly seventy-two Light-years. Not nearly enough!

And just when she was starting to feel reckless enough to make a longer jump, the scans found something that made travel in that direction quite dangerous. She could not save Vajra if she was dead, but at this rate, she wouldn’t be saving him at all.

I won’t give in to despair, she thought stubbornly to herself. She allowed herself to sleep for about an hour out of every four, reasoning that if they shot ahead, they could always backtrack when she woke up again. But she knew this was a wishful way of thinking. Zakuul had to be at least a thousand parsecs in that direction.

A thousand parsecs. Even on the low end of the estimate, I’d need to hold to this pattern for more than a month.

About two days after she’d begun, she got some good news. The operation on Coruscant was a success, and Theron was free. Due to security concerns, she couldn’t call him at once, but she did send him a coded message expressing how relieved she was.

But about seven hours later, her luck turned. Vajra woke again, disoriented and groggy. And strange somehow, in a way she couldn’t quite identify. But she couldn’t think on it, for he wasn’t alone. The powerful young woman was with him, and she was… her personality and her words frightened Lana almost as much as her potential.

She had hated her father, it seemed; and was grateful for his death. But she was also extremely furious that Vajra had stolen ‘her’ prey. She allowed him a moment to register that revelation before the torture began.

Lana howled in unimaginable agony in tune with Vajra. Dense blue Lightning fell on his skin like heavy torrents of rain, carefully tuned so it wouldn’t kill or even permanently impair the Raudra. Lana fell off the seat, insensitive to the Droids’ urgent demands for an explanation. She shrieked and squealed as she felt her husband’s torment like it was her own. Her back arched and twisted, and she hit her head and face against metal surfaces again and again. She Sensed Vajra attempt to dampen the connection to protect her, but she refused to allow it to happen; if he was to die, she would Feel his heart until the last possible second. She was only partially successful… for all the good it did. She continued to buck and flail, screech and choke until HK fired a potent paralysis toxin into her neck. It did some good at least; she stopped thrashing around, damaging her own body. But she was still awake enough to feel every moment of Vajra’s pain.

In the background, she could hear the deranged monster’s laughter.

Mentally, she reached out her hand, and she thought Vajra reached out in return. Just, only just, she could feel his fingers brush against hers before the blaze rose up to consume them both.

Tython

It was a lovely day on Tython. The sunlight brought out the best of the greenery from the lawns, the bushes, and the trees, yet the temperature was just as good for swimming as it was hiking.

Unfortunately, no one—not a single Jedi, Apprentice, Youngling, soldier, or support staffer—was of a mood to exploit this perfect setting. Recent events had left everyone on the highest possible alert. The cataclysm on Ziost; the ambush at Elgrind; Chancellor Saresh’s unprovoked resumption of hostilities, and Lady Kai’s breathtakingly expert but bloodless rebuttal; the death of Darth Marr and the second known true death of an Emperor’s Voice; Vajra’s disappearance; the declaration of war by Zakuul’s new Emperor; and most importantly, Saresh’s surprise takeover of the Republic Senate. Any one would’ve been enough to worry the humblest apprentice. Put together, it was a setting that brought insistent thoughts that the final days of the Republic were nigh… and the Jedi Order’s. Most Jedi above the age of fifteen could recall the last time they’d felt this stark sense of doom, when Angral had turned up in orbit, ready to destroy the Jedi Temple here. Or mere years before that, when the Sith had sacked Coruscant and razed down the center of Jedi Power for millennia.

Grand Master Satele Shan was not immune to the gloom that permeated the Temple, despite decades of experience in reining in her turmoil. For her, there was something a lot more personal at stake.

She sat nervously at her desk, contemplating the small collection of ceramics and metallic parts before her. These had belonged to Theron Shan, her son. Her secret pride, along with his twin sister Jasme… and her… sort of adoptive son, Vajra Devarath. The Storm of the Jedi.

Vajra was missing, and everyone already presumed him dead. Satele was not so sure. Weak in the Force though he was, she was certain they cared about each other at least enough for her to Sense his passing!

It’s so unfair! His potential may be low, but his many deeds still echo through the Force! Surely, it wouldn’t allow his passing to go unnoticed and unmourned?

But even contemplating Vajra’s unknown fate couldn’t keep her from returning to the most immediate concern plaguing her thoughts.

Theron. Now that she’d rejected Saresh’s demands, his life was in danger. She had eagerly accepted Lana Beniko’s call, had even given her resources to aid in her mission. It still shocked her that the Sith cared that much; surely, she was more concerned with Vajra right now? Still, she did care. It was good that even now, her son had friends who fought for his life.

Her ruminations ended with a knock on the door. “Come in, Jaric.” Satele could Sense her colleague behind the door. Alone, as he usually was.

Master Jaric Kaedan was on his hoverchair today; the injuries he’d sustained from the Battle of Ilum had left him with permanent adverse effects.

“Ah, Satele. I see you forgo your morning exercise again.”

“Yes. I fear old age is finally starting to catch up with me.”

“It always does. Time never stops.” He approached her workbench and laid a bowl of hot porridge on top of it. “I didn’t want you to skip breakfast too. It’s going to be another long day.”

“Thank you, Jaric.” Satele was touched. Brusque and irritable though he was, her old friend looked out for her and some of their other colleagues.

“Hmmm. What’s this?” he asked, looking at the cybernetics in front of her.

“They belong to Theron. Saresh had them torn out and mailed to me. To remind me that she can have him killed any time she chooses. Or worse.”

“Hmmm,” he growled again, looking mightily upset. But not with her, Satele thought. He didn’t mind her occasional indulgences. “That Saresh… we really should’ve tried something earlier. Instead, we stood by, using our traditional abstinence from politics as an excuse.” He sighed. “Did I tell you that I once heard Kira joke about running for the Senate? At least, I think she was joking. You can never tell with the secret saint.”

Satele chuckled.

“She had some good ideas for policies. I was cautious and disapproving back then, and had to restrain myself before I burst out of the bushes and yelled at her for insinuating that a Jedi might enter the world of politics.”

Satele laughed again, this time harder. The image of an annoyed Jaric Kaedan literally jumping out of bushes to scold a bashful Kira was quite a hilarious one.

“But I’m starting to think that she was right. We should have done something about Saresh. Even if it was through allies and intermediaries. Now she stands poised to crown herself Empress.”

“We can both be grateful that she is unlikely to take that final step,” Satele remarked. “She genuinely hates the Empire, and wholeheartedly believes that she is in the right.”

“Thank heavens for small mercies. If we can hold on for just a while longer, long enough for her opposition in the Senate to find a way out of this mess, we might return to normal.”

Before Satele could pick his brains for more insight into how likely he thought it was, or how long he predicted before it took place, her holocom chimed. It was a recorded message, and a short one.

It was a young woman with pale skin, blonde hair, and red-rimmed yellow eyes. “Master Satele. I received word from my team on Coruscant. They made a clean getaway from the prison. They should be at the safehouse now, waiting for their ride off-world. I’ll let you know when they’re safely away.”

“That woman…” Jaric said softly, not recognizing her.

“That’s Lana Beniko. She was with my children and Vajra during the Revanite incident. Theron considers her a good friend. I suppose she cares about his wellbeing more than I’d imagined.”

Jaric snorted. “Imagine that! I’m tempted to ask her if she can solve our other problem too.”

“If you mean Saresh, she’s probably too distracted trying to tackle our most pressing issue.”

“Which is?”

“Vajra’s disappearance.” Satele decided not to expose the truth. Not until Vajra and Lana were. “As the one who took command on Ziost, she knows how dangerous the Emperor is. She is looking for the one man capable of challenging Vitiate, before Emperor Arcann can execute him.”

“I pray for her success,” Jaric said somberly. “She’s right. I hate to put it all on him again, but he just defeated Vitiate yet again! He’s the galaxy’s most important person right now.”

“Indeed, he is. Come. Would you share this with me?” Satele indicated the porridge.

“No. Doc droid gave me a head’s up a few days ago. I’m diabetic now. I need a different menu from now on.”

“What? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Jaric blinked, taken aback by her vehemence. “Well, in the grand scheme of things, it seemed so small…”

“Please don’t do this again, Jaric. We’ve had each other’s backs since the early days of the first war. We’re a team. Aren’t we?”

“Well… yes. Yes, we are. But diabetes isn’t that big a deal. Sure, I need to adjust my lifestyle a little bit, but it’s not like it’s some degenerative disease, or a cancer. I don’t need support or aid from those around me.”

“Perhaps not. But I would like to know. All friends would.”

Jaric chuckled after a moment. “I suppose they would, wouldn’t they? It won’t happen again. I’ll see you later, Grand Master.”

Three whole days later

Lana felt terribly sore when she woke, and disoriented besides. But she quickly recalled what had transpired.

She rose gingerly, holding a head in pain.

“Statement: Take it easy, Master. You were malfunctioning, and quite severely.” He hit the comm. “Summons: Comrade T7, Master Beniko has woken up. Please come here as soon as you can.”

“How long was I out?” she asked.

“Answer: Three days, Master.
Statement: Luckily, you went quiet after the second day, though it was clear you were still experiencing some difficulties.”

T7 rolled in so fast, it was like he’d used his jets. <Sith Lord: Lana Beniko = must talk now!>

“Vajra woke up,” Lana replied. Her throat was dry enough that she started to cough. She accepted the glass in HK’s hand and drained every drop of water. “Thank you. Vajra woke up,” she tried again, but didn’t feel up to a longer explanation. She hoped a summary would suffice. “There was someone in the room. The powerful young girl I mentioned earlier. She was upset that he’d killed her father before her; so, she tortured him. Nasty little bat… such malicious, insane, monstrously evil little psychopath…” she exhaled forcefully and checked the Bond. Vajra was awake too, and letting her know he was okay for now. I love you, she told him. I’m coming. Please stay with me.

He didn’t respond for a while. “I… I love you,” he responded at last. It seemed to cost him a lot of energy, but she was glad to feel the warmth of his love.

<Vajra Devarath: Status =? > T7 asked.

“He’s alive. He’s teetering on the verge of passing out again.” She swallowed. “What’s our status?”

“Answer: After much discussion, we decided to continue forging ahead, on the grounds that when you woke, we could backtrack as needed.”

“Excellent work.” She concentrated on the direction of the Pull. “I think… the bridge faces that way, yes? Alright. We need to keep going in that direction. T7, plot our next jump. HK, I need some food and water.”

“Statement: I have some soup and bread ready for you, Master. Take it slowly.”

As Lana wolfed down the soup, another annoyance entered Vajra’s cell, waking him right back up. These were regular Knights, the same as the ones who had been present at the court a week ago. The ones whom Jedi and Sith slew with ease. Of course, Vajra was bound and suppressed, so he couldn’t resist their own feeble attempts to torture him.

“Any word from Theron?”

“Answer: They are still waiting at the safehouse, Master. There is no sign that they were followed, or detected. Their ride should be there in just four hours.
Aside: We did not think it necessary to inform them of your malfunction.
Addendum: Per your instructions, Captain McIntyre will be provided with five million credits on Dantooine, with another reminder to stay away from the core for a few years.”

“Good,” Lana said distractedly, finishing the last of her meal. She was feeling quite weak at the moment. Her muscles were numb and uncooperative, as if they too had been directly subjected to the Lightning. In hindsight, was it foolish to deny Vajra’s attempt to protect her from his pain?

No, she thought to herself bitterly. My presence is unnecessary at this juncture. I could sleep for a week, and T7 would keep us on course.

There was another situation she needed to monitor at the moment. The Knights who had barged into Vajra’s cell were beating and slapping him, but it didn’t affect him at all. After the girl’s delicate attentions, this seemed like nothing. For goodness’ sake, Vajra had taken harder knocks from falling off his bed!

“I need a bath. And a change of clothes.”

“Statement: Of course, Master. We will see you again soon.”

Lana’s trip to the bath was not a pleasant one. The bones in her legs must’ve been replaced with jelly when she was out, for she wobbled with each step. At least five times, her eyes seemed to lose vision completely. Each time this happened, all she saw were the Knights torturing her husband. Gritting her teeth, she willed herself back into an upright position. Her back stiffened involuntarily, causing her to trip again. Her arms bound themselves, as if she was the one tied up.

But she couldn’t turn away. Some part of her mind knew that Vajra might not make it through the day, and she could not help but share as much of his life as she could.

She tried to center herself in the shower. The water was quite cool, just as she liked it, and the sound of falling water was therapeutic after several days of nonstop pain. She felt around the various parts of her body, especially her throat, and found that they were not damaged at all. HK must’ve treated her, bless him. She calmed down a little, but was as helpless as she’d been this past week. A moment later, something changed again.

The worst. The Knights seemed to be preparing to execute her husband. She gasped raggedly, holding her chest and stomach. She tried reaching out desperately, only to find her mental probes slipping over his suddenly slippery consciousness. What happened next, she could not tell. An explosion of power which engulfed all of her husband’s tormentors. Two were charred, melted hulks fused to their armor. Two more were still recognizable. That was the last thing she saw through Vajra’s eyes as he finally faded out again, as his mind been threatening to for the past hour. But he was unmistakably alive. Using that to keep her flagging spirits afloat, Lana closed the faucet, toweled off, and emerged after only enough time to throw on undergarments, shorts, and a loose bathrobe.

“How is that next jump coming along?”

Lana felt dizzy again. “Listen… I’m going to try some light exercises in the lounge. Let me know if something comes up.”

Kouhaush Muin

“Hello, Jasme. Sorry I’m not staying in touch right now. I’ve focused almost everything on my husband. But I thought you’d like to know; Theron is free. I made a few new friends, who agreed to save him for me. And a few others too, all fellow inmates. He should be leaving Coruscant in a few days’ time. He’ll probably reach out to when he’s safe. Give you a better explanation himself. Take care, Jasme, and pray for Vajra. And look after Lady Kai for us.”

Jasme Shan rewatched Lana’s message once again, for the third time today. It brought her some hope in these dark times. Things were falling apart.

“Aunt Jasme?”

“Ah, Ashton! Come right in, please!” Jasme rose to greet her nephew. Her delightful young nephew, who seemed to be everything his father wanted him to be; strong and resilient, but kind and cheerful. Forgiving and understanding; he never seemed to hold it against his father, that he couldn’t be there for him. “How is your training going?”

“Quite well. I’ve got a small gift for you,” Ashton said, pulling out a small flower for her.

Jasme gasped in surprise. “For me!?”

“I picked it off the Kindred tree,” Ashton said happily. “I can make it all the way to the top now.”

“Really!?!?” Jasme leapt up to celebrate with a dance. “You’ve progressed that far? You should’ve called me! I’d have loved to see you hit this milestone!”

“Well… maybe you’re free later this afternoon?” he asked looking hopeful. “My scores for the last exam should be out. I’m expecting a perfect ten on most of my tests for the first time in my life!”

“Are you now?” Jasme asked eagerly. “Of course I will! I gotta get dressed! I’ll treat you later. Where would you like to go? What’s your treat of choice?”

“Ice cream,” he said at once. “From Kevelt! They’re the best of the best! A bit expensive though.”

“I think I can afford it,” Jasme said lightly. “How about we go shopping afterwards? We can get your first speeder, and equipment like the Kage like to use, and—” she tilted her head. “Actually, maybe you can wait a few days for that last. I think your dad might be joining us shortly.”

Ashton’s face lit up like a life day tree. “Really?!?! That is the best thing ever! Do you think he’ll stay long?”

“I don’t know, Ash. Dark days have come to the Republic. Saresh just took over the Senate. And the Republic.”

“Wait… really?”

“Yes. And knowing your dad, he can’t turn away from them right now. His life will be more dangerous than ever… but I promise, I’ll beg my hardest for him to stay a few days.”

“I’d like that!”

“Good.” She knelt down to hug her nephew. He wasn’t short, she was tall. “You’re a good boy, Ash. But it doesn’t look like the galaxy is going to find peace any time soon. One day, you might decide it’s your turn to step out there and keep us all safe. But until then, I’m going to be here for you.”

“Thanks Auntie Jazz.” He kissed her cheek. “You’re the best aunt a boy can ask for!”

“Now… I need to get dressed. How’s this?” Jasme pulled one of her less ornate robes out of her closet.

Ash grinned. “They’re perfect. I’ll leave so you can get changed.”

“Remember to shower, little nephew! Kevelt is a niche place!”

As she started getting dressed, Jasme worried. Her Sister-in-Law had saved her twin, for which she was grateful. But what about Vajra? She dearly hoped he was alright.

Aboard the Unsolved Mystery

The workout was not going well for Lana, so she gave up. Instead, she tried meditating in the lounge. She did not go the relaxing way, instead focusing all her attention on contemplating the Force. She concentrated so hard that she felt sweat pour down her face despite the low temperature in the cabin. But at least she had full control over her mind.

She was only vaguely aware of all small objects floating around her, of her concentration slowly suspending the artificial gravity in this room. She willed the Force to do more than that, she willed it to heal her body and spirit so she could return to the task at hand. She willed it to stop playing games with her, and reveal what she needed to know.

The concept of time seemed to vanish from her consciousness, and a way forward was slowly revealed to her. A planet, strong in the Force, but striking a balance between Light and Dark. And a way to get there… she frowned, trying to figure out exactly what path she needed to take. But it was not easy; it required tremendous concentration, and she was at the end of her rope right now. She figured she’d need to work hard to find this place.

But her contemplation was interrupted by the final curveball. Out of nowhere, her skin began to feel extremely hot; so hot that she abandoned her meditations.

What was happening? She began to gasp and pant and whine, trying in vain to stop the burning sensation. “HK—!” she choked. “I—something’s… something’s happening… Aaagh!”

“MASTER!”

The heat faded as abruptly as it had begun, but she realized that she had lost two things; first, all sensation in her body was gone, like she was paralyzed. But worst of all… she could no longer Sense Vajra. Her Bond… it was still there, she was certain of it. But all communications from Vajra’s end of their Link had ceased.

Noooooo… nooooooo! NOOOOOOOOOO!

Adumar

Kira Carsen practiced her drills, just as her Masters had taught her. The crystal’s song filled her heart, and guided her body through the immaculate dance that was Lightsaber combat…

Once, on their very first meeting, she’d inwardly laughed at Vajra for describing Lightsaber Forms in this way, but a decade of practicing his ways had taught her the true wisdom in his words. Not a year later, when he’d offered to teach her to become a better fighter, she had balked at warding off shots from a mere nine remotes. Now she could easily defend herself against fifty. Seven well-programmed saber droids—whose combat ratings were marked about 80% of a Keleth Guardian Droid’s—assailed her from all sides, but she kept them at bay as only a disciple of Vajra could.

At the door, her husband cleared his throat.

“End program!” she called, and the droids sheathed their swords and backed away.

“Nice form, Bombshell,” Seraphim remarked. He walked forward to kiss Kira.

“Hey, stay back! I’m sweating like a mule over here!”

“I needed a bath, anyway.”

Kira snorted. “You here asking me to join you?”

“Why not?”

“Good idea. But I’m having a really hot shower today.”

“What a coincidence… so am I. Every time you get into the water, its temperature rises. I wonder why!”

Kira laughed along with him before feeling seriousness return. “I’m afraid,” she said at last. “Vajra… he’s been missing for almost a week.”

“I know. But we know he’s still alive. Who could have killed the Emperor, but him?”

“Good question. I’d like to believe it was him, but… well, it’s a big galaxy, and Zakuul seems to be beyond what we expected. Did you hear the report?”

“Master Satele forwarded it to me,” Seraphim confirmed. “A thousand automated ships with pinpoint accuracy and uncanny coordination. But that’s just a technological advantage. Their Gifted are laughable compared to Jedi and Sith… with exceptions, of course. Those twins, for instance. Arcann and… the other one.”

“Yeah. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have anyone else in the wings. Heck, one of their Paladins managed to wound Lady Kai! And she’s a better duelist than I am!”

“So you think it was a Zakuulan that killed the Emperor? Don’t forget what Emperor Arcann said about an outsider assassinating his father. Given the timing, that had to be Vajra.”

“Well… true. But also unsettling.”

“Kira… I hate to be the one to say this, and now of all times. But everyone dies. You need to be ready in case Vajra’s time has come.”

Kira wanted to slap him for saying that. “The boss is three years younger than me!”

“People far younger die, every single day. Heck, wasn’t one of his dead family his younger sister? Wasn’t she three, or something?”

“Yes, she was,” Kira said disgruntledly. “But that doesn’t mean—”

“Kira. Please. You have to let go, if the time comes.”

“But when will I know when it does?”

Seraphim had no answer. “I suppose… I suppose you will know,” he said eventually. “Like I did, when Lucretia died. The Force talks. But we need to listen.”

“I’ll remember that.”

Aboard the Mystery

The paralysis started to wear off about an hour after it had started. At least enough for Lana to begin communicating with her droid companions. Both were by her bedside, nervously waiting for her to rise.

“Master!” HK exclaimed. “Query: What just happened?”

“I… I don’t know,” Lana responded. “HK, can you bring me the book titled ‘Force Bonds?’ Open the final chapter and read it out to me.”

“Acknowledgement.
Statement: Ah, I see this is one of your notebooks? You rarely ever let me see your writings.”

“Not precisely. They’re annotated compilations from different authors.”

“Statement: Oh, I see, Master!
Recitation: ‘While the Force Bond brings a plethora of benefits, especially to a couple in love, it does carry a few inherent risks, namely the transmission of injuries and traumas. But can it carry death? My comrade and guide, Kreia, once hinted to me that our Bond was strong enough that if one of us died, the other would follow. Instantly. Certainly, our connection was an especially deep one, deep enough that I thought it a distinct possibility. I will not lie; when I struck her down on Malachor V, I did not expect to walk away alive. And indeed, I was affected, just not in as extreme a way.’
Continuation: ‘When she died, I Felt her passing, like the last droplets of water evaporating from a once-vast lake. Or, like the final ember of a dying blaze. The final spark that grew brighter for a brief moment before it vanished. As for how I was affected, I took a blow unlike anything before; a hit to the heart that left me stunned and weeping for a few days. In addition, I could feel the Bond being completely severed. I have heard amputees describe the loss of a limb, and the phantom pains that followed; which sometimes persisted for their entire lives. It was rather similar to this. Quite different from Bastila, who maintained until her dying breath that Revan was alive, just beyond her ability to Sense. She hadn’t Felt him in over forty years by then. I wonder if it has to do with the certainty of bearing witness to the Bondmate’s passing? I can only speculate. But in times like this, I look to the Force. And my heart, which tells me to trust Bastila. I do not know what became of Revan, but if she says her Bond lives, that it merely waits for… something in order to resume its proper functionality, then I will believe her.’”

“Indeed, it is relevant,” Lana whispered. She Felt her Bond again. It was very much alive, she knew it. It stretched out into the void, and still bound her heart to Vajra’s. But… it was like he was… frozen? He was in a dark place where she could not reach him, but that place was not death. “I can no longer Sense Vajra. But he is alive. I’m certain of it. I will continue to search for him. But…” she tried running a hand through her hair, but her limbs were still frozen at her sides. “But I need to think of a better way. I’m… without a heading, we can just keep going forever and ever, and not know when we’re there…”

Lana was shocked. T7 had always been a little distrustful of her, though she hadn’t heard it voice this distrust since their arrival on Vortex, ages ago. But this was the first time she felt like she was included in his inner circle. “Thank you, T7. I’ll be counting on you too. And you as well, HK. I’m afraid… I’m afraid that, until I recover…”

“Statement: We are here for you, Master.”

“Good.”

“Statement: Forgive me, Master. But I have to recommend a return to the Silent Nest space station. You are in poor shape, and I believe we are in need of urgent medical attention.”

<HK = Absolutely correct> T7 said before Lana could respond. <T7 = setting course back to Silent Nest.>

“Assurance: We have already mapped the way till this spot,” HK continued. “We can return here as soon as you’ve sufficiently recovered.”

Lana was feeling too tired to argue. “Of course. I did have something else… a… some sort of Call from the Force. A Draw to… somewhere. Perhaps I’ll be able to pinpoint it once I’m better rested.”

“Declaration: This course of action sets me at ease, Master.”

<T7 = content.> The Astromech hesitated.

“What is it, T7?”

Lana was certain she knew what this meant. “Do you think the premise behind his instruction is flawed?”

“Do it anyway,” Lana said reluctantly. “In addition, I have my own messages to send out to everyone.”

“Offer: I can type them out and send them for you, if you dictate them.”

“Thank you, HK. They’re not terribly complex anyway.”

<T7 = returning to co*ckpit. Setting course = Space Station : Silent Nest>

Lana nodded, and began dictating holomail for Jasme, Satele, Kira, Theron, Lady Kai, and her other allies.

Chapter 8: Escape from Coruscant

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Coruscant

Elara Dorne made her rounds at 06:00, as usual. Just as Aric had predicted, most of the escaped prisoners had some kind of medical issues that they hadn’t talked about while imprisoned. But after a heartfelt entreaty to accept her help, they’d grudgingly come forward to disclose things from upset stomachs and ulcers, to severe aches and bruises.

Elara was happy to be of help, and there was no shortage of medicine. She was sure it was no coincidence whatsoever that SIS (Ex) Director Marcus Trant had housed them next to an SIS base that used a pharmaceutical company as its front. And since Beniko had supplied them with enough credits to pay for all the drugs for months, she had enough supplies to look after everyone.

Never before had Elara gone from depressed to vindicated in such a brief span of time; while the uppermost echelons of the Republic had betrayed her, many soldiers and friends still had their backs. And speaking of friends, it was time to check on Theron.

He had been a little inactive since the day before, but she’d left him to himself, trusting that he would inform her if he was coming down with something.

“Theron?” she asked, entering his bunk.

He was sleeping with his back to the door. He scrambled up at her arrival. “Oh. Elara. I’m sorry. Is it time to leave yet?”

“Almost. Our spacer has arrived in orbit, and is awaiting clearance to land. She should be here in two hours.” She frowned at him. “What’s wrong?”

“I—umm.” He swallowed. “I got a letter from—well…” he took out a small slip of paper, but he hesitated. “No, maybe now’s the wrong time. We need to be on our toes. Is it okay if I share it later?”

“Of course. So long as your symptoms are not acting up again.”

“They’re not, but I’ll leave that for my doctor to say.”

“Good boy,” Elara said approvingly. As always, she felt tingles run up her fingers when they brushed against his forehead and chin. She examined his pulse, looked for any signs of more-than-ordinary pain when she probed the flesh around his new implants, as well as bruises from the beating he’d endured when the goons came to take his first implants. “You never did tell me who your parents are.”

“I didn’t, because it’s not really my secret. But from what Trant told me, she basically owned up to it during the disastrous confrontation. So if you really want to know…”

“Know what?” Kanner asked, stepping inside. Aric followed her in. Elara wanted to give them a stern death glare for their choice in timing.

“You can do it later,” Jorgan rumbled. “We have a problem. We’ve got a lurker outside.”

“Jorgan or I can take em out if we have to—”

“But it’ll show our hand,” Jorgan explained. “I want you to go out and meet them. See what they want. We’ve got a holodisguise for you.”

“Do you have two?” Elara asked, and Jorgan shrugged.

“Yeah, but don’t worry. We’re not sending him in alone. Kanner will have his back. She’s proven herself even better than Wraith at stealth and close combat.”

“I’ll say, she detected my attack and pinned me down like I was a little rookie,” Theron said. “Don’t worry. I’m at nearly 100% now, thanks to you and the medicine. Unless it’s an elite fighter waiting there, I’ll be just fine.”

“Still, extra backup won’t hurt,” Kanner chimed in. “I can use my stealth generator, and Dorne can be the… visible backup. You can cover them from the balcony.”

“Alright,” Jorgan relented. “There’s a reason why we need to do this fast. Thanks to some help from Captain Stede, McIntyre managed to get through the checkpoint early. We’re moving out in forty minutes. Beniko was very clear that we are not to jeopardize her safety.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Say, you wanna hear a funny story? On Yavin, I heard a very interesting exchange between Stede and Major Queens. He was looking for a spacer with pink-and-blue hair. He’d had a one-night-stand with her back on Iridonia, and later found out that she’d had a baby. His baby. That’s Captain McIntyre.”

Elara and Aric blurted a synchronized “Whaa—?”

“Queens had a baby?” Kanner asked interestedly. Way too interestedly, in Theron’s opinion.

“If this is the same McIntyre, she’s family. To you guys, anyway. And no, there’s no way Lana knew.”

“I suppose that’s all the more reason to protect her then,” Elara commented, and Jorgan nodded fiercely. Not trusting the holodisguise to glitch out—they tended to do that when they were used on default settings—Elara opted to use a hood and paint a few large moles beside her nose and lip. “How do I look?” she asked as they walked away.

“Gorgeous,” Theron said. “And me?”

“I can’t see your real face,” Elara said, faking disappointment. “This one’s a bit… dull.”

“C’mon,” Kanner said. “For Missus Queens.”

Elara followed Theron out, yelping slightly when he placed an arm around her shoulder. “Sorry. Should’ve asked first.”

“It’s alright. I’ve seen you naked after all.”

Theron snorted. They took a slightly roundabout route to reach the snoop, a lethan Twi’lek. She really did stand out, what with the obvious blaster at her hip and the shiny pauldron on her right shoulder.

“I heard you liked to keep ladies waiting, Agent Shan,” the Twi’lek said with a toothy smile. “I thought I’d have to come inside. Catch you with your pants down.”

“Who are you?” Theron asked while Elara took a sharp inhale.

Agent Shan!? He mentioned he had a famous, important mother, but surely he didn’t mean her!?!

“My name’s Rima,” the Twi’lek said quickly. “Have you ever heard of the GenoHaradan? They’re an outfit of assassins. Very professional, very deadly, very covert. For hundreds of years, they functioned as a mostly self-governed black ops unit that targeted the scum of the Republic: serial killers, rapists, the most violent gangb*ngers, seditionists, assassins, and high-level traitors. They also served as the Chancellor’s protection against assassination attempts. But recently, they’ve undergone a restructuring. The clamps put in place to keep them on their mission have been removed, and they hunt anyone Saresh tells them to for money. They’re after you now, and they’re on your trail. I know Captain McIntyre is due to land in forty minutes, but it’s best you leave in twenty.”

“Great,” Theron muttered. “This feels like the Revanites all over again.”

“Good comparison, honestly.”

“Why should we trust you?” Elara asked. “We don’t even know what you are—”

“Well, Theron compared us to Revanites, right? You can think of me as another Mirabelle Travvor.”

“What?”

“Theron understands. Look,” she said, and pulled out her datapad. Elara winced when she saw herself and her comrades escaping from the Onyx Marshes. “Our boss intercepted this message. We’re the reason Saresh took this long to find out about you. But she knows now. And she’s not happy. Not only did you escape her clutches, another one of our old guard made a snap decision and took out everyone in the bureau overlooking this exit. And then we came back and made off with a few high-value prisoners, just in case their testimonies were needed. You have to escape. Now. And tell McIntyre not to return to the Core worlds for now. Even if she’s not compromised, every single name on the Trusted Pilot registry is now an enemy of the Chancellor. Tell her. Now go! We’ll clean up after you.”

Theron pulled Elara away from their new friend almost at a gallop. “You trust her?” Elara asked incredulously.

“Jorgan was wrong,” Theron explained. “She wasn’t alone. I noted seven gunmen who had her back. There were likely more I didn’t spot. If they wanted to sneak in without us noticing, put a few trackers on us, they would have. Besides, there’s too much at stake not to trust her.”

“What’s that about Mirabelle Travvor?”

“She was a Revanite back when they were nothing more than a benign secret society. Who strived for personal growth and a stable, steady group of friends. She didn’t know about the restructuring until much later, and when she found out, she resisted. Now come on! We gotta break out. Kanner?”

“I’ve notified Jorgan,” the infiltration expert whispered. “Hey, I have a request.”

“Name it.”

“I don’t want to go to prison. If it looks like we’re about to get caught, please put me down.”

“I—”

“Please, Theron.”

“It’s alright, Kanner,” Jorgan’s voice crackled over comms. “I’ll do it. You’ve earned that much.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

The evacuation took place quickly. Havoc aside, everyone in the safehouse had only enough possessions at the moment to carry in a small bag.

Major Jorgan didn’t join them. Instead watching over them from the rooftops along with Xabaan. Torg and Kanner scouted ahead while Dengril and Abbeth held the rear. They were about 80% to the landing pad when they ran into a small group of what appeared to be ordinary vagrants.

Something about them made the hairs on the back of Theron’s neck stand up. One pair passed right in front of General Aygo, and recognition lit up their eyes. Theron saw their hands slip into their sleeves, and moved first. Pulling out the sharpened butterknife, he stabbed one in the throat, then pulled her dagger out of her limp hand and stabbed the other in the nape of the neck.

“Help me,” he muttered, and Aleksei caught the first one before she fell. “Thanks. Too suspicious to leave them out in the streets. Put them on the bench. Elara, alert Kanner.”

“Right.”

With their group shielding them from prying eyes, Theron and Aleksei deposited the corpses in sleeping positions on nearby benches and covered them with newspapers from a nearby bin.

The comm crackled. “The other ‘vagrants’ have taken notice,” Jorgan growled. “But I’ve jammed their signals. Take their weapons and keep going. Prepare for a firefight.”

Unfortunately, they only got to the next bend before they encountered another group of assassins, who had taken their weapons out this time. But before they or the escapees could open fire, a heavy figure dropped behind their enemies; a Palliduvan male in heavy armor.

“GenoHaradan sonsofbitches!” he roared in an almost electronic baritone. “You’re mine now!”

He opened fire on the assassins, who looked like they’d been caught in the bathroom. The gunman shot nineteen of the twenty-two faster than Theron had ever believed possible, then began beating the last three to a pulp as he and his group watched with their mouths hanging open.

“You guys ain’t so tough without your little glovatrixes, are you?” he sneered. “Now don’t worry. I have you just where I want you, so I’m not going to kill you.” He looked up at Kanner and barked a laugh. “You’re not my targets today, little girl. Be grateful. Scram.”

“I know you—” Elara stammered. “You’re Mark Fodorn! The Bounty Hunter who killed Chancellor Janarus!”

“He put a hit out on me,” the big Bounty Hunter shrugged. “I kill people who put hits on out me, no matter who or what they are. Listen. Most of you are unarmed. I can more than take you all on. Even the snipers on the roof. But I’m in a good mood. It’s not every day I get to take these bottom feeders when they don’t have their magic gauntlets on. Just count yourselves lucky and leave. The GenoHaradan and I have old scores to settle. Isn’t that right, little baby?” He picked up one of the assassins, who was hyperventilating by now. Fodorn fired stun bolts at all three prisoners and easily picked them up in one hand. He left without another word.

Jorgan called on the comms. “We don’t have time. Pick up their weapons and run. Now!”

Elara was the first to reach for a fallen blaster, followed by General Aygo and Aleksei. Theron pulled out his blasters; the whole block was on alert now, so there was no point in keeping them concealed any longer.

They ran as fast as they could to a maintenance hatch about half a block from the landing pad. This attempt to cover up their escape route was probably a vain one at this stage, but they had to take that chance.

Aygo and seventeen other soldiers who wished to stay behind took a path straight ahead while Theron joined Havoc and the other six who turned into the landing zone. Theron and Aleksei quickly washed their hands clean in a fresher near the landing bay and followed their comrades out.

Waiting for them were two young women in their early thirties; one a petite brunette, and the other a flamboyantly dressed girl with pink and blue hair.

“At last!” she cried. “Come on. Juun said we don’t have a lot of time. We’re clear to leave already, so all aboard the Ruby Sea!”

The first thing Theron noticed after climbing the ramp was a teenage boy, about thirteen years of age. The sight of him made Theron’s heart skip a beat. But of course, this was Captain McIntyre’s son. Hers and Roban’s, who looked absolutely nothing like Ashton except for the age. As most hybrids, he took after his mother in appearance, except that he lacked eyebrows. When he smiled, he displayed canines which were more pronounced than humans’.

Everyone hurried to their seats, though Theron noticed Jorgan, Elara and even Kanner take a long hard look at the youth before stowing their packs in the cargo hold.

They piled onto seats in no particular order, and Theron found himself sandwiched between Kanner at the window, and Elara in the aisle.

No one breathed a word as the ship began preparing for takeoff; nor when it made for their jump point. No, it was all silent until they were pressed into their seats by the pseudo acceleration of a ship jumping into Hyperspace.

“Well… Kazam,” Kanner said in a low whisper which only Theron heard. “We’re free.”

Mark Fodorn carelessly boarded his ship and primed it for takeoff. He had three prisoners in the brig, all beaten within an inch of their lives. Actually, it was worse than that. Mark had made sure to break three places in each limb. He’d scanned their mouths for hidden poisons, and found none. If he’d had the time, he’d have simply pulled out all their teeth.

This treatment was far better than these GenoHaradan vipers deserved. They were smug little assholes who pretended that they were honorable and the best of the best, much like the Mandalorians did. But to him, they were co*ckroaches. They indulged in kidnapping, skulking in shadows, running like mice when caught, using poison when honest fighting didn’t work, and attacking soft targets. He was going to dismantle their organization if he could.

“I dunno who this disgruntled employee was, but their tip was good,” he grinned to himself. His droid spoke up tonelessly.

“Incoming Transmission. From Ord Radama.”

“Patch it through.” He grinned. “Hello, Judda.”

“Hiya, Mark. You finished takin’ care of business?”

“Yes. It was easier than I thought it would be.”

“Good,” Judda smiled. “It’s late here. Will you be home in time for breakfast?”

“I think so. Why, making anything special?”

“Just missin’ my hubby. You’ve been busy again.”

“Sorry, Doll. I had a good contract.”

“You know you don’t need those anymore, right? You were rich when we married, and thanks to all of our investments, we’re billionaires. We don’t need to work a day in our lives!”

“That’s quite true,” Mark admitted. “I only take work when I know either the client, or the target.”

“And who was the target this time?”

“Just a bunch of posers who think they’re the greatest the galaxy has ever seen.”

“Oh… if you say so. Anyway, it’s baked beans, sausages, tuna, bread n cheese for breakfast. I know it’s simple, but I wanna spend some time with you. We’re going to the club after. Oh, and the Jade Scorpion called. Said he might need have a job for you.”

“Good. With him, it’s always targets who need their teeth pulled.”

“Uh-huh. Don’t keep me waiting this time. Please”

“Sure thing. I’m almost in orbit now.”

“Safe trip, Champ.”

Mark had long since stopped watching the starburst and the blue of hyperspace. The first time he’d seen it after joining up with Braden, he’d been awestruck. But he was an old hand by now. No longer the Ralph Corbin who had always been the galaxy’s victim. No, he was one of the oppressors now. That fact had bothered him for a little while, until he’d accepted that it was better than the alternative.

He’d made a lot of changes, he realized. Enough that he didn’t enjoy anything as he used to. Not travel, not exploration, not sex, not food. The only thing that got him excited anymore was the hunt. But he would do what Judda wanted; he would give her her perfect day. He expected Jadus would keep him busy for the next couple of weeks. And perhaps, his informant would find more GenoHaradan for him to kill.

Life was good.

Chapter 9: New Directions

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Once the Ruby Sea was finally in Hyperspace, the ragtag escapees breathed a collective sigh of relief. No one spoke for nearly three minutes until Elara broke the silence.

“So,” she whispered. “Theron Shan, eh?” Everyone looked around in interest. Theron had promised to tell everyone the truth once they were free, which was why Elara must’ve felt free to broach the subject. He felt he owed them that much.

“Yeah. And it means exactly what you think it does. Satele Shan, Grand Master of the Jedi Order, is my mother. Mine and my twin sister Jasme’s. My dad is Supreme—I mean ex Supreme Commander Malcom.”

Jorgan whistled. “You must’ve been Saresh’s most high-value prisoner.”

“I was,” Theron agreed. “Until my parents made the only choice they could. After that, well… she needed to make a statement. To remind others that she follows through on her threats. I owe you guys. I owe you my life.”

“So do we,” Aleksei said, bowing his head in relief. “It seems you came just in the nick of time.”

“It was thanks to Beniko and Trant,” Jorgan said. “Without them, we wouldn’t have known anything at all.”

“Hey. Does this mean Satele Shan owes me a favor?” Kanner asked. “I… I want her autograph. And a picture. Think she’ll oblige me?”

“I’ll make sure she does,” Theron promised her.

“I’m only kidding,” she winked. “I was happy to bust good people out of a prison.”

The co*ckpit doors opened a moment later, and Captain McIntyre emerged, a wide smile on her face.

“Please excuse the mad rush,” she said, bowing low. “My name’s Juniper McIntyre. This is my First Mate, Kory, and this here’s my son Adam.”

“Hello, soldiers,” Adam grinned.

All the military personnel saluted formally. “Pardon us,” Jorgan said, his voice tight. “We were told that… that…”

“We’re Havoc Squad,” Elara continued. “We’re Major Roban’s former subordinates.”

“I’d heard,” Captain Juniper nodded. “That was why I begged Master Satele to let me have this assignment. She wasn’t too keen on it, but no one else was available. And you, sir,” she turned to Theron. “You’re Jasme’s brother, aren’t you?”

“That’s right, Ma’am. She says good things about you.”

“Ah, Jasme says good things about everybody,” the Captain shrugged. “Anyway, I know which one of you’s Theron. What about the rest of you?”

“My name is Elara Dorne. This is my brother, Aleksei.”

“My name is Aric Jorgan, current CO of Havoc Squad. Umm. I didn’t want to take Queens’ old command.”

McIntyre snorted. “I’m sure he doesn’t mind.”

“These are Sergeant Abbeth, Dengril, Xabaan, and Torg.”

“You can call me Kanner.”

“I am Bev Zukar, formerly the Senator of Corulag. I tried to stop Admiral Navril from giving in to Saresh’s demands. Handing over his fleet in exchange for not being tarred and feathered.”

“Fun fact,” Kanner said wryly. “Navril’s fleet is one of three that attacked Kouhaush Muin, of all places. I heard about it at Elgrind. Several hundred captured sailors requested deals when they realized they weren’t going to be ransomed. They’re dead now.”

“Moving on,” Theron said quickly.

“I am Tosi Manka,” the middle-aged Kiffex said. “Actress. You may have seen me in ‘Down Falls the Flag,’ ‘Call of Kala,’ ‘Cardinal Luni Kessen,’ and ‘My Dream Diaries.’ I know, I don’t look the same without my makeup.”

“I have a few spares in the cargo hold,” Captain McIntyre assured her.

“And I am Jerome Stonewell,” a tall Devaronian said. “Accountant. Whistleblower. The Blastwell accounts scam that broke seven months ago, but ended up getting swept under the rug? That was me. The discovery, I mean. Not the coverup.”

“Pleasure to meet you all,” the Captain said again.

Kory spoke up at last. “We get the sense that most of you will be running the second we hit the ground. I thought we’d throw you all a little party in the lounge. There’s some fancy Corellian and Alderaanian food and wine.”

“That’s really thoughtful of you,” Manka said in delight. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to repay you for your generosity—”

“The ‘generosity’ has been paid for,” Captain McIntyre interrupted kindly. “Well, I guess that means you have someone else to repay after this is done.”

“With that said, let’s get this party started!” Kanner cried. “I’m going to start sampling the goods.”

“Please do,” the captain invited. “Droids have already laid out the tables. It’s a buffet!”

Elara smiled as Theron joined her and Aleksei for their meal. It looked like a habit had been formed, and she was pleased for it. “So, we’re free,” she said.

“We are, indeed.”

“I… I have to admit, I don’t know what comes next,” Aleksei admitted. “For so long, I just found myself in a life that had been chosen for me. The Republic, the Empire… imprisonment. I suppose this exile was also chosen for me, but I do have some freedom that comes with it. I do not know what to do, when we reach our destination.”

“Dantooine is fairly remote,” Theron remarked. “But it gets a good amount of traffic. With the money Lana has left you, you can travel anywhere in the Outer Rim. It won’t be an extravagant reset, but you will be able to set yourself up anywhere else.”

“Sound advice, isn’t it, little brother?” Elara remarked.

“Do you have something in mind?” Theron asked her.

“I’ll stay with Havoc for the time being. Or rejoin them, once I’ve had the opportunity to spread my wings a little. What about you?”

“I… I want to meet my sister. It’s been quite a while. And she’s bound to be…” he trailed off and shrugged. “I miss her.”

“Where is she?”

Theron smirked at her question. “I… I really can’t say. I’ll send her a message once we land, asking her to pick me up. I don’t think she can come herself, but she should be able to send out a nice little ride. I don’t think we need to wait more than a day or two.”

“You’re hiding something, aren’t you?”

Theron sighed. “Several things. But… I can’t go into them right now.”

“As you wish.”

“Anyway, I also intend to send a coded message to Satele. Mom, I mean.”

“Do you think you can meet her?”

“No. Too dangerous. For her. Saresh has got to be itching for an excuse to smear her good name. And Jace’s too. It’s bad enough mom had us, but if the Chancelor manages to convince even a fringe group that mom is freeing prisoners and defying her authority…”

“That’s reaching,” Aleksei said. “Losing millions of soldiers in her ill-advised invasion was bad. Tiarna Kaimeryn’s reprisal made her look like a downright imbecile. But it was Saresh’s own takeover that has turned most of the people against her.”

“Listen, that woman convinced everyone that Taris was not her blunder, or that she had a hand in the victories at Corellia and Dromund Kaas—”

“No, she didn’t,” Elara disagreed. “Well, maybe to the first bit. But people were just happy that the other two happened, enough that her ratings felt the celebratory mood. They saw it as a good omen, that maybe she had the Force on her side. Few believed she was actually the one to thank. Most reserved their gratitude for the ones who deserved it; Master Satele and Vajra. The Jedi. High Command and the Armed Forces. By going against them, Saresh will only further alienate the people. The only way she gets out from under these dark clouds would be a major propaganda coup. Like if she scores a string of telling victories against the Empire or Zakuul, comparable to Dromund Kaas. Or if she introduces legislation that improves quality of life for everyone immeasurably. In short, she needs to prove herself the most adept general in her own right, or the most praiseworthy politician.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“So don’t hold back. Reach out to Master Satele. Tell her whatever it is you need to say.”

“Got it.”

“Do you mind if I tag along? When you go to… wherever?”

“Sure, why not? I have a little surprise waiting for you.”

“A surprise, eh? That sounds lovely. Now come on. Let’s eat!”

Aric Jorgan’s eyes followed Kanner as she piled her plate with a little of everything. After setting her claim down on a table in the corner, she got herself two tall glasses of both wines.

Jorgan continued to watch her as she breathed in the scents of each spoonful before consuming it. A plethora of pleased expressions crossed her face, and a few tears. Unable to contain himself any longer, Jorgan chose a few dishes for himself—the steak, a few cheeses, some bread, gravy, and a glass of wine—he walked up to her.

“Alright if I sit here?”

She nodded. “I’m almost done here anyway.”

“You have half remaining.”

She snorted. “I’m almost done with part one. 100% focus on the meal.” She closed her eyes, and Jorgan realized he was being shut out. He said nothing as she placed a piece of pie on her tongue and squeal in delight. “I really needed that!” she cried, not caring that a few others turned to stare at her.

“You must’ve lived quite a hard life,” Jorgan said carefully.

Kanner’s eyes grew a little cautious. “I made a mistake when I was a younger woman. Barely even an adult. Spent my twenties in a prison. In their defense, it was a stupid mistake.”

“Did anyone get killed over it?”

“No,” she replied. “Well, some people did. But not as a result of my actions. They would’ve gotten hurt even if I wasn’t there. Only one who was truly hit was my best friend.” Jorgan saw the shadow of deep guilt.

“I made a dumb mistake too,” he said. “And it haunts me. I can’t even close my eyes without remembering…” he coughed. “Me and my squad—the Deadeyes, not Havoc—were dispatched to kill Darth Karrid. This was before she became someone important. Instead, we ran into…” he couldn’t say the name. It brought chills.

“It’s okay,” Kanner said softly, and he nodded in appreciation.

“We ran into a Councilor. He wasn’t doing anything really bad, just buying himself a few slaves. I mean, slavery is bad, but according to Intelligence, he’s good to his slaves. Even takes off their shock collars. Guarantees a minimum level of freedom, safety, and dignity. Anyway… this guy was… he was important, but the Jedi had insisted on assigning him a ‘Do Not Engage’ label. At least for ungifted. Even so, it was far too tempting an opportunity to pass up. We—I mean, I—made the stupid decision. Andrew Bells took the shot. It was perfect. Caught him when he was passing by a window. Hit him in the gut. But this guy… he was…” he took another deep breath. “He had something up his sleeve. A ritual of some sort. One which triggered at the moment before his death. It saved his life by eating the life force of everything around him. For three blocks. Me and a rookie on my squad were just outside its range. We saw them all die. We saw their souls… being ripped out from their bodies. Like some sort of… mirage version of themselves was being scooped out by a web-like fishing line. Their bodies burned with an indigo light when they struggled to keep their souls. But they failed. And when their corpses struck the ground, it was like 75% of the color had been bleached from their skin. Their bodies looked like they’d turn to dust if we even touched them. It was the most frightening thing I’d ever seen. And it happened because I made a bad call. By all rights, they should’ve demoted me and tossed me out of the army for getting greedy.”

“So, where’s this rookie now?”

“Dead. The Sith Lord in question was not happy with the attempt on his life. He killed not just him, but the families of every single one of Deadeye squad.”

“Holy sh*t…”

“And that’s just me. Everyone makes stupid mistakes. I’m sure Theron has made some. Elara… well, I’m sure she’s worked extra hard to keep her nose as clean as she could. Too many people looking to take her down.”

“I feel for her.”

“The point is… well, I’ve been watching you these past few days. You think fast on your feet, you fight like an Umbaran shadowcat, and you look out for those around you. You are better than most elite soldiers I’ve ever had the pleasure of serving with. You have a place in Havoc Squad… if you want it.”

Her eyes grew round in surprise. “Seriously? You’re offering me a spot on the team?”

“It will be… well, we can’t make it official, since we’re on the run. Not yet. But once we get back, I can.”

“No,” Kanner said quickly. “I mean, I’d love to join you guys. Honored. But I want to stay away from the Republic and Empire, both.”

“Fair enough. Odds are, we’ll take a long time to get to that point, anyway.”

“Thank you. I accept. Gratefully. I won’t let you down.”

Jorgan was sure he’d heard her say ‘again’ under her breath, but shrugged it off. His instincts told him that she was a good person. She could keep her secrets, and her past. Instead, he offered her a hand, which she shook. He waved his squadmates over. Elara joined in as well.

As she should, she’s Havoc too!

“Ladies and gents, I give to you our new squadmate.”

“Hi,” Kanner waved, looking quite pleased with this turn of events.

As Havoc clapped and cheered, the tough young woman actually burst into tears and sank onto the floor.

Theron approached their hosts again after his meal. “What will you do now?” he asked them.

“Plenty of assignments in the Rim,” Captain McIntyre said genially. “Even in unaligned territories. I can get by. I got word from your friend’s representative. She’s gave me five million credits and a request to stay low. I was kinda touched she cared that much.”

“Lana’s giving you five million credits?” Theron asked in disbelief.

“Yep. With that, I can take it easy for a little bit. Focus more on sightseeing than working. Maybe I can get my boyfriend to join us!”

“And what about you?” Theron asked Kory.

“I follow the Captain around,” she said lightly. “I’m her little puppy. Also, it’s fun to tag along on her trips.”

“Do you have a partner too?”

She licked her lips, a strange, sad expression on her face. “No. No… I can’t. There’s only ever been one man.”

“Got it.” Theron knew who this man was. Darth Nox had mentioned her, back during their drinking game on Rishi. And Vajra and Jasme’s story had mentioned that she was the same woman who worked with a Trusted Pilot. It was difficult to believe that this open, seemingly guileless-looking woman was once an Acolyte at Korriban.

And she clearly still carried a torch for that man. Theron decided not to tell her that he had met him, and he had considered seeking her out.

“Hey, wait a minute,” McIntyre said. “You have any place in mind we could visit?”

Kouhaush Muin, Theron thought. “Well… I’m going to meet Jasme next. But she’s… at a… something of a secret location. Quite beautiful though. Their queen is really nice. To her friends and subjects, anyway. I’ll need clearance first.”

“Well, you’ve gone and gotten me intrigued,” McIntyre said, raising her eyebrows. “What about you, Kory?”

“Well, why not? Got nothing better to do.”

“It’s settled then,” Theron grinned. “I’ll send you our flight path once we’re cleared.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Elara sat with Jorgan, Kanner, and Xabaan for one final drink before the party ended.

“So… Aric, I wanted to ask you. What are your plans, from here?”

“To be honest, I don’t have any right now. We need to find a place where we can lay low, but still hear about anything that happens.”

“How about Corvus?” Kanner asked. “It’s technically an Imperial world, but its leaders—Darth Rrayden and Mirabelle—have declared neutrality. They’re making their world a commercial fortress now, but there’s potential for a new Mercenary company to find roots. It has strong ties to the underworld too, so whether its money, work, friends, or info, we’ll find what we need there.”

“A Sith world,” Jorgan said softly. Elara was surprised to see the fear in his face.

“Or not,” Kanner said quickly, also noticing.

“Theron said they’re nice people,” Elara remarked. “He met both of them on Yavin. He said they’re both unlikely to attack someone unless provoked.”

“And their only connections to the power structure are Kaimeryn and Vowrawn,” Kanner added. “They have no other ties to the Dark Council.”

“Fine,” Jorgan said tensely. “At least we’ll be far from Saresh’s agents.”

“We can use my old group’s name,” Kanner suggested. “The Argonauts. They already have a bit of a name, but it’s still small. We did good work on Nimban, Ubrikkia, Eriadu, and Hutta. And since I didn’t formally retire the name, I can still register everyone under it.”

“Sign me and Theron up too,” Elara said. “We can join you there as soon as we’re done with… whatever. He seems to know Lord Scorn and Travvor anyway.”

“Glad we have a plan,” Jorgan said. “With luck, we’ll be back to helping people soon.”

Kanner stretched. “Hey, Dorne? If you don’t mind, can you give me a quick medical exam? It’s… been three years since I took my last one.”

“I’d be happy to,” Elara smiled. “In fact, maybe I should look at all your soldiers, Major. Come on. I’ll ask the Captain permission to use her medbay.”

Chapter 10: Twin Shocks

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Notes:

Just to let you know.
This chapter takes place before the end of Secret Superpower (Previous book). For the first twenty or so chapters, the events run concurrently.

Chapter Text

Aboard the Ruby Sea

Elara was a mix of nerves and excitement, as she always was when a surprise was finally revealed. She recalled the surprise she’d received from her parents on her twentieth birthday—her final birthday celebration at home—a trip to the Beniko Family’s Hesperides Garden on Dromund Kaas. Three of the most sinfully luxurious days of her adult life.

Nothing could compare to that, she thought.

“Okay, we’re almost at the coordinates,” Captain McIntyre said brightly. “Everyone strap in… re-entry in four, three, two…”

The planet that flew out of the sea of stars was a lovely one; a lot of water and forests, if the view was anything to go by.

“Transmitting your clearance code now…”

“Ah, welcome back, Master Theron!” a voice crackled from the comms. “It’s good to see you again. Lady Kai was quite worried about you!”

“And Jasme?” Theron asked.

A snicker. “She trusts her brothers, that one. Told you more than a week ago that you’d be escaping from your… unfortunate circ*mstances. We hope you enjoy your visit. Staying long, this time?”

“Maybe a couple of days.”

The sender sighed. “Ah well. Lady Kai indicated that she’s going to get really busy for the next couple of months.”

“Umm. Theron?” Elara piped up, her voice at least a million octaves higher than normal.

“Yeah?”

“Is that… am I dreaming, or is that a fleet of f*cking Harrowers in this world’s orbit?”

“That’s right,” Theron grinned cheekily at her. “And not just any old Harrowers. The flagship… well. Look over there.”

Elara couldn’t see it, they were still too far out… but the closer they got, the more its colors became visible to the naked eye.

“Oh. Holy. f*ck. Tha—tha—tha—thaaa—”

“That’s the Gae Bolg. Most powerful Harrower in the galaxy. And this is Kouhaush Muin. Welcome.”

Elara lost her ability to speak all the way to the ground. So too did Captain McIntyre and Kory, for that matter; Theron had to take over and land. To add to the shock, they weren’t just directed to Castle Rook, they landed in the green directly outside the Tiarna’s own chambers.

“Just who is Jasme?” Elara asked at last.

“I really really can’t,” Theron said apologetically. “Well, that’s her out there.”

Elara took a look and blanched. “Her. And the Tiarna herself. f*ck you, Theron Shan. Why did I let you get me into this mess?”

“Because of my air of mystery?”

“From now on, I hate mysteries.”

“But we haven’t even gotten to the good part yet.”

“There’s more?”

“A bit more, yeah.”

“You’re having fun, aren’t you?”

“A little bit, yeah. It’s not often I get to share my secrets. My good secrets.”

“I’m going to keep an open mind for ten more minutes,” Elara warned him. “After that…”

Theron nodded, not looking too worried. That set her at ease, somehow.

She followed Theron, the Captain, and young Adam down the ramp, and into the arms of a royal greeting.

“Theron!” Jasme cried happily, and picked her twin up for a tight hug, which the reserved spy returned. “It’s great to see you again! I’m so glad you’re alright!”

“I owe it all to my friends,” Theron replied. Elara did not know why, but she was amused to notice that he was a good ten centimeters shorter than his sister. She’d seen the Archivist a few times before—once aboard the Dauntless, following the Emperor’s defeat; and the second on Tython, when she was taking care of an increasingly glassy-eyed Vajra—but was certain the other woman didn’t know her.

Theron knelt down to greet another person, this one a dark-skinned young lad in his early adolescence. “Ash!” he said, and he sounded a bit choked up now.

“Hey there!” the boy grinned. “I got a perfect score on my last exam.”

“That’s my boy,” Theron said. He looked around.

“Hello, Theron,” the Tiarna had a tired smile on her face. “I’m sorry I’m a bit down. It’s been a long week.”

“I understand. I have a few people I’d like you all to meet.” Theron turned them to his companions. “This is Captain Juniper McIntyre and First Mate Kory of the Ruby Sea.” The women bowed when they were named, dumbstruck. “This is Adam, her son with Roban.”

The Muinar did a double-take. “Wait, what? Really?” She knelt down to give him a good look and a smile. “Nice to meet you, young man.”

“Nice to meet you too,” the boy said, rather more bravely than Elara felt.

“And this…” Theron said, “is Elara Dorne. Havoc Squad.”

“It’s… it’s a pleasure to meet you, Tiarna.”

Theron forestalled the alien’s response. “Since you already know her and my sister… meet Ashton.” He led the youth forward. “He’s my son.”

Jasme Shan excused herself to discreetly wipe away her tears. Happy tears were one thing, but upset ones? She couldn’t let it affect her guests. When she left the fresher, she was treated to the sight of Elara Dorne sitting by the study, her gaze unfocused and far away.

“Heya,” Jasme greeted her.

“Oh, hello, Lady Jasme.”

“You can call me Jasme. The Muinar aren’t too big on ceremony. What’s troubling you? Can’t believe Theron’s a dad?”

Elara chuckled ruefully.

“Neither could I,” Jasme laughed. “If it makes you feel any better, he only told me on Rishi. Two years ago. At least, I think it was two years ago… he was paranoid about his son’s safety. Didn’t want anyone to use them against him. Or worse, our parents. Given recent events, his fears turned out to be well-founded.”

“That, they did.” Elara turned her blue eyes to Jasme. “But… how did this happen? You and the Tiarna… and…”

“It’s… well, she captured me at the Foundry—a long story by itself—and while I was waiting for a ransom that never came, she put me to work making her library pretty. I did a good job, and she liked my company. Before I knew it, we were in a relationship together. Things were complicated for a long time, but we figured something out.”

“I see.” Elara looked like she didn’t, in fact, see.

“The funny thing was, I didn’t tell her about my parentage until Rishi. She was a little shocked when she saw me next to mom for the first time. Until Ziost, I split my time between here and Tython. But afterwards, Lana told me that Saresh was out for blood.” She sighed. “I guess… I guess I owe her so much.”

“What’s she like? This… Lana Beniko?”

Jasme thought about that. “She’s… a spy more than she is a Sith, I guess. So far as way of thinking and Modus Operandi are concerned. She’s a pragmatist most of the time, but becomes more of a romantic when fewer people are watching. She interprets the Sith Code on her own terms, and is very sure about who and what she is. She has discipline that most monks and nuns would envy. On Yavin, when the Dark Side was turning everyone into a very moody mess, only she, Vajra, and Mom were able to remain unaffected. Even Kai and Marr were angry and shouting. But overall, she’s that fussy friend who looks after all the smaller details… including us. She took care of Vajra like it was her mission in life to heal him. And she did end up healing him. You have no idea how badly that shocked me. Or Kira, or Mom, or Master Devel. She did some crazy things too, including a few decisions that were borderline Sithy. But such moments are few and far in between. Aside from that, she’s witty, charming, soft, beautiful, well-read… I mean, the first time we met, she asked if I could sign her copy of my articles.” Jasme snapped her fingers. “Which reminds me! She’s a fan of your work too!”

Elara almost fell off her chair. “EXCUSE ME!?!”

“Yeah, you write a lot of poetry, don’t you? And articles on philosophy? She loves that kind of thing. She says her last ex-girlfriend even broke up with her over it.”

“I see.” Elara still looked a bit cross-eyed. “I had no idea anyone out there read my work. Other than Major Queens, Jorgan, and maybe Vajra.”

Jasme gave a small laugh. “I remember that feeling. Lana was the first one who ever made me realize that people outside the fraternity of archaeologists were reading my work.”

Elara returned to her surprised melancholic state.

“Now that you know Theron has a son… what next? Does he fall off your radar?”

“What?” She looked at Jasme for a moment. “Oh. No. No, it’s not his son. It’s…” she sighed. “The news about Vajra. Theron knew for several days, but didn’t tell me.”

“Oh. Oh…” Jasme felt her light leave her heart. “Right.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I understand.”

“I want to as well. The time just wasn’t right. He always intended to tell me when things calmed down. I can see that. But… I dunno. I’m still upset. Is that wrong?”

“No. I get it. Want to… want to get something to drink?”

Elara nodded. “Something strong, please.”

Lady Kai watched the grounds from a gazebo.

If he’d met her before she’d started dating Jasme, Theron might have been captivated by the sight of her sitting in the late afternoon sun. She was gorgeous, tall, strong, and hilarious. Besides which, she had the sort of unbridled energy that drove people to things like extreme sports.

The two spacers were taking in the sights of the castle town, but Theron’s son was playing with McIntyre’s. The two got along well, despite being so different. Adam was small and a little on the plumper side; someone who didn’t train daily or even weekly. Ashton, on the other hand, had grown up in a military school, where some level of morning exercise was mandatory. And here on Kouhaush Muin, his host’s Kage guards had taken a liking to him. Taught him their ways. At thirteen, he was already in really good physical condition.

But you couldn’t tell at all, the way they passed that ball between themselves and the other children of the town.

“Theron, we need to talk,” Lady Kai said abruptly.

“I’m all ears.” He’d suspected this when she’d called him aside. And she was looking so worn out, too.

“Zakuul has begun its invasion of the Core Worlds. Adumar and Ketaris have been taken.”

“What?!”

“Yes. Apparently, the defense fleets were dwarfed by the invaders, by more than twenty-to-one. The Starfighters of Adumar—elite as they are—did some damage, but they couldn’t stop it.”

“Kira is on Adumar.”

“Right. She slew the enemy commander in single combat. And quite easily, from what I heard. But the enemy had legions of war droids on their side. Lana’s notes called them ‘Skytroopers.’”

“You’ve been in touch with Lana?”

“I wouldn’t call that ‘being in touch,’” Lady Kai said with a bitter look. “She asked T7 to send me their findings. We know what they call themselves, we know the specs of their Skytroopers, weapons, armor, munitions, and ships, we know how comparable their technology is to ours. We also know enough to think about cracking their communications. And we saw their preferred swarm tactics in action at both worlds and Elgrind. In short, its enough to defend ourselves. For now. I will be taking over the Imperial military. Absolute control.” She snorted. “It’s ironic, isn’t it? I’m doing exactly what Saresh did.”

“Different reasons,” Theron pointed out. “And you know what you’re doing.”

“Better than Saresh, anyway. I wish I could go the rest of the way, too. Purge the Council of its most sinister elements. But I can’t do that carelessly, at this point. But that’s not why I wanted to speak to you.” She turned around and looked him dead in the eye. “We’ve lost Vajra, but Zakuul lost this ‘Valkorion.’ This strange voice in my get tells me that Valkorion would’ve been a far deadlier commander than his children. Some would say it was a fair exchange, but me…” she emptied her cup and poured herself another one. “I can’t do this alone, Theron. Lana won’t be joining me, Vowrawn is getting old, Ray and Vette just became parents, Mira is… not in a good place. And even if they were able to help, what I really need is for the Republic to also resist Zakuul. To ease the pressure on us. Or to even work with us again.”

“But Saresh is in the way.” Theron also drank his champagne in one go. “Unfortunately, I don’t see what I can do, anymore. I’m compromised. Anyone I reach out to from now on can be clapped in irons. Likely worse. We got away because we were lucky, but we nearly got killed by an unforeseen complication.”

“The GenoHaradan.”

“Yes. I don’t know if Saresh can toss them at all her problems, but… Trant. Queens. Teff’ith—”

“I don’t know who Teff’ith is. SIS?”

“No, she’s a smuggler. Pilot. Scoundrel. A real rascal. And a very good friend. But she’s a known associate. Enough that the Revanites tried to get a shot at her. Look, the point is, anyone I call now might get killed. I risked sending a message to Satele. That’s all I’m comfortable doing. If you need their help, you need to talk to someone who’s in good standing.”

The Muinar sat down roughly, almost spilling champagne all over her clothes.

“What… is there anything I can do?”

“Not in the Empire, no,” she said bluntly. “Many Sith, including Nox, Aruk, Rictus, Ravage, Mortis, Zhorrid, and even Acina, remember the role you played on Ziost. Or mis-remember, I should say. They blame you for the Republic’s presence. Their breaking the fragile truce at our most vulnerable. If I were to induct you into my ranks, you’d be a target the moment you set foot someplace I’m not looking.”

“Damn. Again, is it weird a spy feels happy he’s noticed?”

She made a vain attempt at a smile. Theron was quite worried about her now. “Very,” she said. “The job of the spy may be what suits you best, but you cannot abide the anonymity. But that’s fine. I suppose it’s a logical byproduct of your life.”

Theron felt a little annoyed by that inexpert psychoanalysis, but shrugged it off. “I guess so. I… I can help you how I can. On the front lines. As an independent.”

“Alright. I can finance you to a degree, but I have some really big plans in the works. You will get twenty-five million credits as a lump sum. With luck, that’s enough to get you a mobile base and enough resources for whatever schemes you dream up.”

“That’s a lot. Thanks!”

“Don’t get too excited. Jasme told me about your year underground. The relentless barrage of expenses really ate through your budget, didn’t it? Rent, fuel, medicine, food, spare parts, maintenance, bribes, clothes… spending to maintain your cover,” she snorted. “It’s alright if it’s just you and Dorne, but you mentioned that you’ll be joining up with Havoc Squad later. That’s, what, six more people? If you end up on a lot of backwaters, but require high-end parts and products, you will run dry in just a year. Probably less.”

“We’ll have to keep an eye out for jobs then,” Theron shrugged. “We did that while hunting the Revanites too. Guarding, procuring items, busting slaver or bandit gangs.”

“You’re looking at me funny.”

“Well… I know what you’re worth, Kairegane. Under ordinary circ*mstances, twenty-five million is nothing to you. But now, you’re being forced to count your expenses?”

She shrugged. “From what little intel we have, I am very certain that the fight against Zakuul will be about naval superiority. Which I’m sure they have. Not only do they throw around vast fleets with greater range and maneuverability, the files Lana sent included mentions of what their masters call them; the Eternal Fleet. She believes that Emperor Arcann has an armada that dwarfs ours. Worse, their location is a secret for now. So not only do they have more ships, they don’t have to worry about small things like reprisals.”

“Yeah, the Republic used to have that same problem till we figured out where Dromund Kaas is.”

“It was thanks to Jadus that we discovered that the Republic had those coordinates… and Marr was the one who reorganized the defenses in a matter of days. A mere hour before the Republic’s raiding force was launched. But Zakuul does not have Jadus’ brilliance, or his extensive eyes-and-ears network. They’re only ahead of this game because their Emperor was ours too. And he gave them a lot of what he cared to remember. Anyway, even with naval superiority, they can’t just swoop in and take the capitals. Or major worlds. No, the best way to do that is by disrupting our trade routes and attacking our production.”

“So, you have to move both,” Theron concluded.

“Yes. And that’s a costly venture, one which the Empire cannot back on its own. And that’s not all.”

“Go on.”

“Has Jasme told you about my… condition? No? Well, I need you to know, Theron. Since it involves me, it will impact your son too. And I need you to take care of Jasme once I’m gone.”

“Captain!” Kory called. “Hey, Juniper!”

“Ye called?” Juniper asked, jogging over to her friend.

“You’ve got to try this!”

The captain eagerly took a bite of the piece Kory was holding out for her. “Oh, that’s so good!”

“Four star?”

“Yeah, definitely!”

“Out of how many?” a nearby customer asked; a young adult with no horns.

“Six,” Juniper replied.

“Four out of six?!” his friend cried. “That’s bloody outrageous, that is! Mam Glenn sells the best Fish n Chips in the whole galaxy!”

“Calm down, kind sir,” Juniper said sweetly. “It’s a very big galaxy out there. I only give five and six stars to food that really knocks my socks off.”

“She’s only ever given that six star to one dish,” Kory added. “It was a Tandorn Lal Chicken. On Golak.”

“Sounds fancy.”

“It wasn’t,” Juniper shook her head. “It was what the locals ate once a month in the village we stopped it. It’s quite a poor world—almost wrecked by—urm. Never mind.” She couldn’t say it was the Empire that had destroyed many of their cities and taken a good portion of their wealth! “But they had the most amazing food, clothes, music, and dance!”

“Their booze was kinda unremarkable though,” Kory commented.

“You sound like you travel a lot,” the shopkeeper—the eponymous Glenn—commented.

“Oh, yeah!” Juniper replied enthusiastically. “We’re spacers by trade, but explorers in our hearts! We’ve visited over twelve hundred worlds together, and experienced some of the food, sights, and culture that they had to offer! It’s the very best life in the galaxy.”

“We post our experiences and holos on the holonet,” Kory added. “On a public domain. Articles, video logs, stills, sound files… even the occasional skit. Please check it out. The galaxy really is a wide, wide place. We all know that in our heads, but it’s something else to see just what that means.”

“Will you be talking about Kouhaush Muin?”

“I’ll be talking about food and styles,” Juniper replied. “As well as some landmarks. But your Tiarna asked me not to post videos and the like. Absolutely nothing that shows the night sky. And I’ll be registering all of my content with your ministry to see what they’re comfortable putting out there. I follow the rules.”

“Good,” an old man said. “Well, if she has the Tiarna’s personal permission…”

“That’s right,” Kory said with a hopeful smile on her face. “Do you have any place you’d like to show us?”

“You could come to my tavern. We make cheese in the old, traditional way.”

“My hotel makes shellfish paella to die for.”

“We’re celebrating Tyne’s in two days. It’s a festival,” the youth they’d ran into first explained. “It’ll be an evening of drinking and dancing. Would you like to attend?”

“Ohhhhh, of course!”
“We need appropriate clothing. Where can we get some?”
“And an inn! We really need an inn with a good bath and dressing table!”
“This is so exciting! I owe Mister Theron a huge favor!”

Theron approached Jasme in the garden outside the library. This was her domain in the castle, even though she was technically the lady of the castle.

She took one look at him and sighed. “Kai told you, didn’t she?” she asked. “About the Rot?”

“Yeah. I’m sorry, Sis.”

“Thank you, Little Brother. I tried not to let it show, but—” She shuddered. “I’m scared. We only had two years together!”

Theron hugged her wordlessly, aware that she—and Lady Kai too—had been expecting Vajra to be the one to look out for her when the time came. He realized that the Raudra had been a much better brother to Jasme than he had. It made him want to punch his own teeth out.

Jasme returned the hug, and broke down soon after. Theron carried her inside, to one of the chintz sofas in the corner.

“It’s not fair at all,” he muttered.

“As if that wasn’t bad enough… why did the galaxy have to take Vajra away too?”

“Lana says he’s alive.”

“She also says she can’t feel him anymore. I want him to be alive, I want to be able to believe it. But… I’m so scared to hope. It feels like hope is always met with disappointment. The galaxy is full of damaged people who were let down one time too many.”

“I promise that I won’t do that to you ever again.”

Jasme hiccough-laughed and gave him a terribly tearful smile. “Thank you, Theron. But I won’t hold you to it. It seems you have your own future to live. Elara. She’s a very nice young lady. But you’re about to lose your shot with her.”

“What?”

“I had a chat with her. She was… sad that you waited too long to tell her about Vajra. She understood your reasons, of course, but…” Jasme took a deep breath and drank a cup of water that a droid had provided. “Thanks, P5. Anyway. You know her history, right? She needs stability in her life. Certainty that she’s working in a team. Where there are no secrets between you two. Go to her. Talk it out. Maybe give her her first kiss in three years.”

“But—”

“Forget about me, I’ll still be here tomorrow. But Elara won’t. Emotionally, at least. Once she turns in, your window will close. Forever. Do you want that? You like her, don’t you?”

“I—I—” Theron had heard this talk before. When Jasme had been trying to persuade Vajra to accept his feelings for Lana. That had worked out quite well. She’d never given Theron the same talk. Well… she had badgered him to find a partner, but this was the first time she was really telling him to go for someone. She hadn’t really been serious about Arra.

“Please, Theron. You’re not going to find another girl like her for a long time. And she’s not going to find someone like you. Someone who doesn’t care where she comes from, or what pressures certain pricks try to put on her. She needs someone who can be with her a hundred percent. And you need that too. For your own good. Please.”

“I’ll do it.”

“Then go now. Here, I got you this,” Jasme pulled a small box from her pocket. “It’s got a nice little bracelet. Next time, you pick out her a present yourself.”

“Deal.” I’m picking one out for Jasme next. I came here hoping to be there for her, but she’s there for me instead.

“I love you, brother mine. And I’m glad you’re not dodging your happiness like blaster bolts.”

Theron kissed her forehead and walked away. He entered the guest wing less than ten minutes later, and knocked on the first door to the left.

“Come in,” a tired voice said. It was thick, like someone with a blocked nose.

Theron pushed it open. Elara was sitting on a recliner next to the window, looking out at the night sky. She was in a lingerie, which she’d bought from the town with some of the money Lana had provided. “Oh!” she blurted. “Theron!”

“I’m sorry,” the spy said, closing the door behind him. “I… I made a huge mistake, didn’t I?”

“It’s alright. I understand why—”

“But you don’t like it. You felt… blindsided.”

She didn’t reply, instead wiping her eyes on a tissue. Theron knelt down in front of her and took her arms.

“I… I was stupid. I thought that the second you heard the news about Vajra, you’d shut down.”

“You weren’t wrong.”

“I thought I’d allow you to feel some relief at your freedom before telling you. But I can see that you’d have preferred being told as soon as I found out.”

“Mhm.”

“I won’t do it again.” Theron recalled Lana’s apology to him, back on Rishi. She’d shown him her sincerity by discarding her pride and dignity. By giving him an apology on her knees. He decided to follow her example, but Elara caught him before he did it. Holding his face in a grip that was both gentle and viselike, she looked deep into his eyes.

“I accept your apology. Thank you for making it. For even noticing I was upset. Most people don’t. Those who do… well, they end up in a special place in my heart.”

“This is for you,” Theron said, pulling out the present. Elara raised an eyebrow.

“Jasme got this, didn’t she?”

Theron’s lie died before it escaped his lips when he remembered a comment Jasme and Lana had each made about honesty. “Yeah. And she’s the one who told me just how badly I messed up. If that changes your opinion of me, so be it. But I won’t lie to you. I’m not good at this kind of tells. I’ve only ever had a few relationships, and I sucked at them. But I can promise you this; if you give me a chance, I will learn. I will try my hardest not to let you down.”

Elara didn’t answer for a while. Eventually, she held out her wrist. Understanding the cue this time, Theron tied the bracelet around her wrist. “Honestly, Theron?” she said with a smile. “I was going to turn you down. Anyone can buy a pretty gift. But that part about wanting to learn is what got me. It’s fine you don’t know who I am, right now. But you want to. Just like I do. You’re going to discover me, one little tidbit at a time.”

“Going slow, instead of cracking the safe on day one?” Theron smiled back. “As a spy, I like the change of pace.”

“Oh, we’re not going slow on everything,” she shook her head. “Only the growing part. We’re going to go out on progressively better dates over time. Find out new things. But other times, it’ll be fast. I don’t want to miss out on the opportunities life throws at me, ever again. Now, for instance…”

Theron smirked and kissed her proffered lips. The contact lasted less than thirty seconds, but it was enough to spin Theron’s world a bit.

“Amateur,” she whispered playfully. She unhooked the clasp of her lingerie and went for a hungrier, deeper kiss, seating him on the recliner and climbing on top of his lap. Theron felt his hands caress her body as he finally—after all these years—remembered why this was called a ‘passionate’ kiss.

Chapter 11: First Resort

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Corvus

From space, the resort world looked no different from others of its like. All three landmasses were largely forested, with plenty of rivers and lakes dotting the emerald landscape.

Chapter 12: Taking the Big Risks

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Remote Space Station, Silent Nest

“Encouragement: Easy does it, Master. One step at a time.
Exasperated Statement: Or, you could just try acting like all systems were never anything but the brightest, most emeraldine green, I suppose!
Somewhat Surprised Statement: Hmmm. Actually, keep going.
Analysis: Near-perfect balance has been achieved. Your movements are straighter and steadier now. You are about 58.3356% of what you were a week ago… but incomparably better than the last few days!”

“Thank you, HK. It’s not enough, I fear.” Lana Beniko had mostly regained all sensation in her limbs. She had torn several muscles and bruised her limbs in several places while thrashing about, which were now healed; and still felt the ghost of the treatment Vajra had received on those last days—like electric mites were crawling all over her chest, stomach, and shoulders. Her muscles spasmed every now and then, and her head swayed. She felt an awful nausea in the pit of her belly whenever she was vertical.

But she was up again.

If only she had better news from other fronts. “I still can’t Sense Vajra,” she reported, feeling panic nipping at her toes. But she fought it off before it got its hooks in any deeper. “We don’t have any more leads… or a heading. I’m afraid we… we need to return to the old-fashioned way of looking.”

<Old fashioned way = Charting Hyperspace?> T7 asked in confusion.

“No. We scour battlefields and wreckage for clues. We find and crack Hyperspace computers, look through ship memory banks, and interrogate prisoners.” Lana walked with deliberate calm to the computer station. “Here, listen to this. It’s a message from Kira.”

“Lana! I’m sending you my current coordinates. I defeated a Zakuulan war leader right at the palace gate, and took his comms and datapad. Unfortunately, I dropped it somewhere during my escape. It could be anywhere between where he fell, and my current location. You’re the only one who’s looking for Vajra right now, so I want you to have that data. Find what I lost, and take all you can from it. I’m sorry, Lana. I was going to join in your search. But now that Adumar has fallen, my place is here. I hope you find your husband. Tell him I’m sorry.”

What was left unsaid was that by all rights, Kira should’ve given the heads-up to Republic forces. Or even Adumar. But she had chosen to give it to Lana. A huge sacrifice, one which might costly not just for her personally, but Adumar—her husband’s planet—and the Republic.

“So there you have it,” Lana said. “We need to find Kira’s present.”

“Protestation: Master: You are not strong enough for any mission, let alone one in the heart of hostile territory!”

“I have to, HK.”

“Negatory: We droids can do this by ourselves, Master.”

“This investigation is about more than just physical clues,” Lana said tiredly. “I need to See what the Force has to show.”

“Statement: But if you get caught or killed, all is lost for Master Vajra. No one else will look for him while the war wages on.”

“I’m aware, HK. Unfortunately, I can’t hold myself back. Some risks need to be taken. I’m sorry.”

“Objection: Master, please. See reason! Your systems and components are functioning at subpar levels!
Statement: You are 58.3356% of what you were a week ago, but that missing 41.6644% is telling!
Exasperated Declaration: I’ve killed Jedi and Sith who were functioning 10% better than you are now!”

“Luckily, it’s not you I have to contend with on Adumar, is it? We’re up against Zakuul.”

“No plan, unfortunately. We enter the system and engage the stealth drive. We descend to the surface. We take what we can, including the computers. We get out. If we can steal a few uniforms, that’s all the better.”

“Statement: I do not like this at all, Master.”

“Neither do I. But it’s the only path open to us.”

The silence was a moody one, until T7 broke it. <Ship = fueled and stocked>

“Then we’re leaving right away.”

“Earnest Request: Master, if you insist on taking this foolhardy course of action, I have to insist that you take all necessary precautions. You will stay in the ship, and leave if we run into risky encounters not worth taking. You will even abandon myself or T7, and keep your own survival at the forefront of your mind.”

“If the risks are not worth the reward, so be it,” Lana agreed. She did not like the idea of abandoning T7 lightly, but she accepted the stipulation. The Astromech knew how to take care of himself, anyway.

There was no more discussion. The droids got busy with final preparations, while Lana focused on centering herself. HK was right. She was taking a huge risk at the moment. But she could not shake the feeling that she couldn’t afford to sit this one out. Perhaps it was just her own desperation that she was mistaking as a premonition, but she trusted herself.

Vajra had trusted her, after all, and she trusted him. The thought made her snort. It was not the kind she entertained, back in the day.

You changed me completely, she thought at Vajra, accusing and fondly. You will return to take responsibility. Got that?

There was no answer, but she didn’t allow that to dampen her spirits. Vajra was alive right now; this was a fact she knew with absolute certainty. Her real fear, was that she did not have very long at all.

Adumar,
The next day

The Unsolved Mystery emerged out of Hyperspace on the dark side of Adumar’s second moon, and close enough that they were within its thin atmosphere. It was a necessity to avoid their reentry being detected. T7 engaged the stealth drives at once, allowing them to slip around the moon and make it past the defenses.

Lana got her first look at Zakuulan warships right then; they had a hammerhead profile like Republic cruisers, but a blockier version of it. It was also quite a bit larger, though not as big as a Valor or a Harrower.

Lana remembered their specs, but HK helpfully recounted them for her.

“Revision: The armor is weaker than a Republic Hammerhead, let alone a Star Destroyer. The ships are armed with 8 medium Turbolaser cannons, 4 missile launchers, and two tractor-beam projectors. Maximum power is no more than 75% that of a Hammerhead. But their range is 250% greater. In addition, they are 125% faster and 70% more maneuverable.”

“But their real claim to fame is that it’s operated entirely by droids,” Lana finished. “That gives them a great edge when it comes to coordination and speed of carrying out orders.”

“Statement: Indeed, Master. Perhaps fittingly, their scanners are more powerful as well. But they are not capable of detecting a cloaked ship.”

“Thank heavens for small mercies. Could you scan the destroyed Zakuulan ships?”

“Is that right? How fascinating. In fact, I recall there were no Zakuulan fighters present at Elgrind.”

“Statement: Indeed, Master. It seems the Zakuulan navy believes itself to be above the need for starfighters.”

“And so, the famed starfighters of Adumar have proven their worth. I hope they liberate their world soon. Bring us in for a landing. As close to the coordinates as possible.”

“Acknowledgement.”

They got very lucky indeed. They landed the ship near the gardens, which were within sight of both the palace gate and Master Kira’s last known coordinates.

The Master closed her eyes to meditate the second they broke atmosphere, her mind set on decoding what the Force had to show seekers.

While she conducted her own task, HK and T7 got to work on their own. The assassin droid scanned the area for threats, and there were several out there; the enemy had several mixed patrols of both droids and organics making the rounds around what was once a beautiful city, though several individuals seemed to be running their own errands in different places. Many large groups merely waited for further instructions, some in hiding places like basem*nts or maintenance hubs… though upon reflection, HK decided that these were probably locals, hiding from the invaders.

None were in sight, though scans did say that several individuals were skulking around within the ruins of the palace itself.

“Query: What do you think, T7-01?”

“Statement: Agreed.
Command: Activate timers. We search for no more than twenty minutes before returning to the ship to reassess.”

The Astromech accepted the order at once, though both droids knew they were equals. T7-01 went towards Master Kira’s broadcasted coordinates, while HK-51 engaged his stealth field generator and moved towards the riskier place, close to the door.

HK’s sensors immediately picked up traces of burnt blood, indicative of where someone had met their demise at the end of a Lightsaber. HK wished there was a way to see a recording, to assess the threat these Zakuulan Knights offered compared to Jedi and Sith.

Unfortunately, he did not find their objective. Nor did T7. Both droids had started moving towards each other from their start points, and met up near the middle.

“Statement: It appears it is not here,” HK said regretfully.

They both heard the Master’s voice over the comm. “Or… someone got to it before we did.”

“Contradictory: You cannot know that, Master.”

“You’re right. But I suspect it. And I didn’t say it was Zakuulans who found it. It might have been the locals. People scavenging the battlefields for anything they can use. Perhaps something that might help them liberate their homes later. HK, there seems to be a hatch near the fallen pillar to your left. Look around for signs of recent activity. T7, continue searching nooks and crannies like you suggested.”

“Acknowledged.”

Lana watched both droids as they began their assigned tasks, all senses on alert. There was a gentle warning in the Force, a threat lurking the grounds. She could not afford to ignore them by immersing herself in the Force, chasing whispers.

She looked at the palace from the viewport, feeling… quite sad at the state the palace was in. Kira had sent her holos over the years, showing off how beautiful her new home was; the palace itself had been as lovely as any from Alderaan or Chandrila. The architecture was a lot more reflective of the planet’s love for starfighters; the taller buildings were spaced far apart, and many homes had large balconies, rooftops, or gardens where a single starfighter could land. In fact, these spaces were decorated, and often the heart of each house. Parties and gatherings all took place in them.

Now look at it, she thought bitterly. Everything had crumbled and fallen after mere hours of battle. Zakuul had cracked down hard on this world, no doubt intending to start their conquest strong.

“Statement: Master, I have discovered seven corpses down here,” HK reported.
“Elaboration: They were all decapitated by a Lightsaber blade. They seem to have been nothing more than civilians. They’ve been here no less than a day, but no longer than three.
Statement: The victims have their belongings. Or some of them. The only computers I have found, are of local make.
Declaration: I shall search the footage in the security room nearby. Perhaps the cameras can tell us if their killer took anything; and if so, what they might look like.”

“Yes, please. Thank you, HK.”

Even the pragmatist in Lana failed to see the point in massacring civilians. Any fear factor would be undercut by resentment. These people might toe the line outwardly, but they would resist for years to come. As the Balmorrans did. As too, did the whole Republic, which had stubbornly fought on despite nearly two decades of back-to-back failures and setbacks. Each Imperial victory had only further served to infuriate the people, who did not appreciate their brethren being enslaved, conscripted, tortured, or put to the sword.

It had happened, of course. Far more often than Lana had believed for a long time. It was one of the reasons why she no longer wished for the Empire to win this war; yes, Marr had led the Council down a less brutal path, but she did not trust the current members to do the same. And yes too; Tiarna Kaimeryn was a force of good in the Empire, who sought to bring peace between the two factions… but her own mother had been a barbaric warrior who had ordered massacres of cities and continents that had wasted her time by holding out.

No doubt Decklan and the others would follow their cousin’s path once she was gone, but Lana could not trust in the character of the Sith… though she didn’t much like the Republic either. They were far from the bastion of hope and freedom and civilization that they pretended to be, riddled with corruption, poverty, exploitation, and crime at a much greater rate than the Empire. It was too subject to the whims of its leadership, and oftentimes underwent drastic personality changes when the office of the Chancellor was handed over to the next in line. The only reason both sides were now at war, was Saresh.

But what was the alternative? Was it their doom to fight until mutual annihilation?

Lana’s ruminations stopped dead in their tracks when something struck her. “HK, is there any sign that many people have passed through that maintenance duct in the past few days? Or since the killings?”

“Answer: No, Master.”

“So they weren’t killed as a warning to others.”

“Statement: Indeed, Master. Either these hapless souls committed some infraction that incurred their invaders’ ire, however minor—”

“Or they were killed for pleasure.”

“Confirmation: That seems likely, Master.”

“Oh.” HK said after another minute.

“What is it, HK?”

“Answer: I have finished reviewing the footage, Master. I have some good news. We may have found the computer. One of the refugees who fled this massacre dropped a bag near the door. The killer did not care enough to search it for contraband. However…”

“Yes?”

“Statement: It seems someone is approaching. I do not think they know I am here yet, but an encounter appears inevitable.”

“Hold on. T7, can you create a diversion, somewhere?”

<Negative. Working terminal = not found nearby.>

“Blast it. Hang on, HK, help is on the way.”

Chapter 13: Taking the Big Risks 2

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Giddiness threatened to trip Lana as she dashed for the hatch. She was glad she was covered herself in a Force Shroud; at least no one would see her falter. But she didn’t have any time to waste.

She could not sacrifice HK lightly. Not this soon. She was at the start of her journey, not the end. Losing him now, before she even had the coordinates of her first Zakuulan world, would make things exponentially harder.

And so, she moved as fast as she dared, clambering inside the hatch and sliding down the ladder. Having anticipated her bad landing, she Fortified her body with the Force and rolled to minimize the risk of injury.

Not bad at all, she thought to herself. The first thing she made sure to do after reaching the bottom was to steal the backpack HK had mentioned. It wasn’t hard to find, since she knew where to look. Next, she went hunting for her assassin droid. Using the tracker to direct her, she exited the door and took two lefts to reach the surveillance substation HK was trapped inside. She heard the voices as she approached.

“Protestation: I beg your pardon, Master. I am but a humble maintenance droid—”

“Do not toy with me, droid!” the man was dressed in a less decorated version of the armor which some of the Zakuulans wore on Yavin. “You are like no maintenance droid I have seen on this world!”

“Explanation: I am a prototype model that never made it to full-scale production due to budget cuts. Prince Raphael wanted more funds allocated to the Illyria dam project and—”

“Well… you could be telling the truth. But it’s far simpler to just scrap you and let maintenance check.”

Lana snuck in behind the Knight’s back just as he raised his Lightsaber pike. Once she was close enough, she fired a jolt of Lightning directly into his lower back, knocking him out instantly.

“Surprised Exclamation: Master?”

“Shh. Help me strip him down.” She keyed her comm. “T7? If you’re down already, take any datapads and comms on the people slain near the hatch. We don’t have time to bury them properly, but perhaps we can notify local resistance that they’re here.”

“Nor do I. But we need intel. Who came after them, and why? Did they discover anything of note? Don’t worry. We’ll forward that to the Adumari as well.”

“Statement: Master, I do believe we already have a description of the one who killed those poor organics. I have downloaded the footage for you to see later.”

“Thank you.”

Once the Zakuulan had been pulled out of his armor, then drew her stiletto from her boot and slit his throat. The armor was bulky enough that she wore the cuirass and leg guards. The body, they dumped unceremoniously into a nearby sewer grate after scanning it for chips and identifying marks.

“Accusation: You took a big risk coming down here, Master.”

“Did I? I seem to have done a good job of this.”

“Declaration: I had the situation under control, Master. I had a poison dart aimed at him, and he had no idea.”

“I—I see. I’m sorry. I can’t afford to lose you right now.”

“Statement: Then I will be extra cautious, Master. Perhaps in the future, you can trust me to perform my primary function.
Reassurance: If I ever feel threatened by a situation, I promise I will call for reinforcements.”

“I’ll remember that. Come now. Back to the ship.”

Lana and HK rendezvoused with T7 by the bodies and made the climb to the surface. It was a lot harder going up, Lana complained internally. Once they’d reached the surface, she ran to some bushes and gave up her breakfast, breaking her Force Camouflage for just a moment. HK appeared behind her.

“Reassurance: It’s okay, Master. I’ve got you.”

He helped Lana to the ship, where they put her in a sleeping position.

“Query: Is it best we take off, Master?”

“Hold on. We need to confirm what we have, first. T7, can you see if this comm is, actually the leader’s? And HK, please show me that footage you copied.”

Both droids complied. Lana took a close look at the projector as the relevant feed started to play.

The seven victims were seated by the maintenance hatch, consuming a very frugal meal of rations and water, when a man in green armor with inlaid emeralds dropped in through the hatch. He hadn’t even bothered with the ladder, using the Force to cushion his landing. The refugees screamed in shock.

“Well, well, well!” He said gleefully. “What have we got here?” He wasn’t wearing his helmet, so the maniacal glee on his hairless, chalk-white face was easy to see. “An infestation of rats…”

“Who—who are you?!” the eldest refugee cried.

“I am Duke Tancred Kemshen,” the Knight said, still smiling. “Lord of Kemshen, the Star of the East, the Champion of Ishtra-Nar, descendent of Pluton the Great, and the next in line to the coveted rank of High Dragon! I am the prime candidate for High Justice Vaylin’s hand in marriage… and most importantly, I am your killer.”

“Please,” a teenage child wept, voice unnaturally high. “We’ve already lost everything! All we have left is our lives!”

“Then might as well take that too, yes? After all, what is a life without dignity, but the lot of the lowly beasts?” He drew his Lightsaber and killed all seven with his Lightsaber. He dual-wielded a pair of single-bladed Lightsabers, Lana noticed. Both were blue, with his shorter blade in his right hand.

Watching cold-blooded murder always set Lana’s teeth on edge, no matter how often she had seen it under the Sith. Was this a Zakuulan policy as well, or had she merely discovered a deviant? He had called himself a Duke, after all. It wasn’t unheard of for nobility to think themselves above the common folk.

“T7?” she asked.

“Any idea how high up the title is?”

“I see.” And yet, Kira killed him like he was nothing. Darth Xourn killed the one on Ketaris.

A betting woman would wager that Kira—the current #1 Jedi warrior—might be a match for almost all Zakuulans. Perhaps Lady Kai was, too.

“One last question. Duke Kenshem mentioned a ‘High Justice Vaylin.’ Who is that?”

< Unknown. Will need to decrypt datapad for more information.>

“Alright. I suppose that’s it then. Time to leave.” Once she felt a little steadier, Lana rose and started to clean the armor she had just stolen. She would modify it once they got back to base, so that it fit her more smugly. She would also look through the slain Knight’s personal details looking for ways to sell an identity, should she ever find herself challenged.

Questions like, do they have anything like tracking chips or other invisible identification marks? Where are their academies found, and what sort of training do they follow? Sneaking aboard a Zakuulan ship bound for the capital was one avenue she might need to follow… though she dearly hoped she wouldn’t.

But she did not forget this Duke Kensham, or the people he had so callously killed. She hoped she would have to take him down along the way.

Vajra will be so proud of me, once he hears I killed scum like this Duke! Chuckling to herself, Lana began trying to move about normally again. Her muscles started to spasm, and her nausea made her head spin.

Chapter 14: Giradda's Gauntlet

Notes:

Some health issues have prevented me from keeping to my writing schedule for a few days. Hopefully, I'll be back on track now.

Chapter Text

Hutta

Havoc Squad did not take their Republic-issued BT-7 Thunderclap on this mission. Instead, they used a ship provided by their current employer, Gault; an ugly but rugged MV-88 Rattler christened the Winning Bid. It was a ship with plenty of room for its passengers, with the engines to be fast and the shields to take dozens of hits.

Meanwhile, the Devaronian had promised, their own ship would be disguised so it didn’t trigger alarm bells when entering a Republic-controlled system. But most of his crew agreed that it would be a downgrade, returning to their old ship.

“Major,” Dengril called. “We’ve been granted clearance to land on the outskirts of Bilbousa.”

“How far is it from Giradda’s palace?”

“Ninety-five klicks, sir.”

“Damn,” Kanner said. “Good thing Gault gave us an armored, eh? He’s been… quite generous.”

“And I think I know why,” Theron said. “Back in the day, Hylo had a boyfriend. A Devaronian named Tyresius Lokai. He helped her plan and execute her big op, but ran away with the spoils, leaving her with her hand in the bag… and a lot of seedy guys itching to get a return on their investments. She needed to fake her death to escape. Officially, Tyresius was killed by a Great Hunt contestant, Mark Fodorn, who would go on to destroy a Republic Cruiser for his final bounty. Oh, and um. He killed Supreme Chancellor Janarus. But many people have found it suspect that he found Gault around the same time that Tyresius was killed. They’re just rumors, but his connection to Hylo Visz—and his eagerness to save her and possibly reenter her good graces—proves that Gault and Tyresius are the same people.”

“Is that right?” Rrayden exclaimed. “I never knew! I remember Vette mentioning this Tyresius, but I never imagined he was the same guy as Gault!”

“You don’t vet your employees?” Jorgan asked in surprise.

“I promised Gault I wouldn’t look into his past,” the Sith said. “Heck, I made that promise to most of my employees, so long as they kept their noses clean, and their pasts weren’t so gruesome that they threatened my enterprise. Besides, I’d like to see you dig into his past! He’s a consummate master of masks and false identities!”

“Fair enough.”

“So to recap the plan,” Elara said. “I lead team Aurek. We will take the most direct, obvious route to the outskirts of Hutta. Theron infiltrates the planet’s central network and scrambles all hostile comms. Feeds them false info, while Kanner watches his back. They’re Besh. Major Jorgan and Aleksei—team Cresh—will guard the ship.”

“Right,” Jorgan nodded. “Most of you know this already, but Captain Elara Dorne would’ve made Major the same time as me if the bureaucracy didn’t have it in for her. She’s a good leader, who can make level-headed calls under fire. She’s my second-in-command now. I expect no complaints.”

“Yes, Sir!” Havoc cried.

“And I, of course, will travel with Aurek,” Lord Rrayden added. “Don’t worry about me. I’m excellent at drawing attention.”

“Thanks, my Lord,” Jorgan said. He was feeling less nervous around the Sith now. His humor was playful rather than cruel, and he did not try to intimidate anyone for the thrills. Or flex his authority. “Is everything loaded?”

“Yes, Sir. We can leave as soon as we touch down.”

“We have our stealth belts,” Kanner said. “And jetpacks.”

“And I have my spikes,” Theron added.

“Good. Dengril, take us in for a landing. Argonauts, prepare to move out.”

Bilbousa

Once the speeders had disappeared into the urban mess, Theron waited for twenty seconds before leading the way out. Encouraged by Jorgan’s firm attestations to her proficiency, he followed Kanner’s lead, hoping to see for himself.

He was impressed right off the bat; her movements were so fluid and graceful, he would have believed her if she’d told him her skeleton could turn into rubber at will. Or that she had wings on her feet, or suction cups on her fingers… dammit, he wasn’t the poet Jasme could be!

He was impressed. That’s all.

She easily scaled the high walls without once having to use her jetpack or cables. She moved so low that she was almost pressed into the ground, yet she didn’t make much noise when she moved. She was able to scout really far ahead before giving the all-clear to Theron. He had only seen a few people better than her in fluid movement, and every single one of them were Force users. Satele, Kira, Lady Kai and Travvor… Vajra…

In less than ten minutes, they had made a lot more progress than Theron had hoped.

“Jorgan said you were good, but he didn’t mention you were a savant!” the spy exclaimed.

“Thanks. I had a lot of time to practice in… erm. Prison.”

“I won’t ask. I did crazy sh*t too.”

“Thanks. Bet mine was worse.”

“Worse, but not crazier. I… killed Darth Karrid—a Dark Councilor—while only wearing underpants.”

He was inordinately pleased to see that his words broke her slick movement. She tripped and landed flat on her face, and looked up at him with a look of incredulous amusem*nt. “Bitch, what did you just say?”

“It’s true. I’ll tell you all during the party. I think Lord Rrayden will enjoy it too.”

She rolled over laughing. “You sure have style, Theron,” she gasped, clutching her sides.

“Says the girl who looks like she can dance on the wind. Without the Force’s help.”

“A lot of things are possible, when endless, mindless practice is involved.”

“Vajra said the same thing about his bladework.”

“Oh, don’t compare me to him! That guy is in a league of his own,” she snorted, before looking like she’d spoken too much. Theron was pleased she referred to him in the present tense.

“You don’t have to tell me.”

“Thanks. And yeah. I did meet him once. He was the most graceful athlete I’d ever seen. I got so jealous…”

“Haha. By the way. You know your way around.”

“Yeah, I’ve been here before. Recently. The central computer is… another seven and a half klicks in that direction. We can hitch a ride on the trams. They’re quite fast.”

“We don’t need to go all the way there. See that tower over there?” He pointed at a structure less than fifty meters away. “That’s a substation. Linked directly to the main network. I should have near-total access from there.”

“‘Should’?”

“Yeah. I hacked the central computer on my first mission here. Given how… prominent Hutta was, I created several backdoors for me to exploit in future missions. Gave myself full administrative access on multiple accounts. Each time I came here after that, I made good use of them, so I’m confident the Hutts haven’t found them yet. I’m certain that every last one is still valid.”

“And if they’re not?”

“Then we’re headed to the central station after all. Don’t worry. I may not be a galaxy-class acrobat, but I’ve got my own set of skills.”

“I look forward to seeing them.”

“This ‘Hutta’ smells terrible,” Torg commented.

“Especially considering its name means ‘Glorious Jewel’ in Huttese,” Dengril agreed.

“Hutts are known for their exploitation of planets,” Elara explained. “Including their second home. Industries release their waste water directly into the lakes, rivers, swamps, and oceans. Without any treatment whatsoever.”

“You said this was their second home,” Xabaan looked at her, her arms around her weapon and the case full of credits.

“Yes. They hail from Varl,” Lord Rrayden said. “Though no one knows where that is, anymore. Completely destroyed their own planet. As Vette loves to say, ‘They see a parade, they need to rain on it. Even if it’s their own.’”

“Your Vette sounds like a smart girl,” Abbeth said.

“Incoming message from Theron,” Dengril interrupted. “They’ve… wow! I didn’t think they could assume control of the systems this quickly.”

“I shouldn’t be surprised,” Lord Rrayden smiled. “I didn’t get to see him in action as a spy, but Vette, Lady Kai, Jaesa, and even Pierce were quite impressed with how good he was at the spy biz.”

“We have our path to Giradda’s Palace,” Dengril said. “And we can hear their comm chatter.”

“Good,” Elara said. “Full speed ahead. Abbeth, Torg, get those cannons ready. Xabaan, protect the payment. If anyone takes a hit, let me know at once. Let’s get through this gauntlet in one piece.”

“Yes, Sir!”

They encountered minimal resistance for the first leg of their journey. It looked like Theron had tricked them into entering other gangs’ territories, starting at least seven full-blown firefights across the slums and back alleys of Bilbousa. The spy’s diversionary tactics must’ve taken care of over five hundred of their pursuers, going by the chatter. It was wonderful! Elara without a doubt that if he’d tagged along on three of their most desperate missions, they’d have been far easier!

If ever she got back to the Republic, perhaps she could insist on adding a dedicated slicer to the Havoc makeup.

“We’re approaching the outermost barricade of Giradda’s palace,” Dengril said.

“Cannons, fire at will.”

“Roger.”

Bara Jelk Jilk had served Giradda for nearly twenty years now, and had only now made lieutenant. At first, she’d felt dismayed that she had been ordered to command the outer barricade. She had dearly wanted to be one of the rangers; the ones who struck first usually won the gold, that was common knowledge!

But she felt quite pleased when she discovered that her competitors had blundered their way into Nappa and Parda’s territories. The prize was on its way here… and there was no way they’d be getting past.

“Prepare for glory, boys and girls!” she roared, and everyone roared in approval. “Lock the gate, jam their communications, and prepare to fire all turrets.”

“Bara… the gate won’t lock!” the tech cried.

“What?!”

“I’ve lost control! I think we’ve been hacked… the gate is opening!”

“Turrets are offline,” a gunner called. “They’re not responding to—”

“TAKE COVER!!!!”

The sudden warning left everyone frozen in their tracks a moment too long. A power surge erupted several nearby conduits, showering their munitions dump in sparks. The resulting explosion threw everyone off their feet and left them far too disoriented to fight. Most of Bara’s fighters were too dizzy to shoot straight, but Bara herself raised her rifle and fired at the approaching speeder. She only got two shots off before she got hit. Two shots in the chest, one in the throat.

No, she thought desperately, as she clawed the gaping hole in her throat. It… ends… like this? All I ever wanted was… all I ever wanted was…

“It’s almost too easy,” Lord Rrayden said, looking surprised. And a little suspicious.

“I agree, we’re not used to things going easy either,” Dengril said.

“I suppose it’s the benefit of having Theron along,” Elara said. “But no sense in taking that for granted. We’re approaching the second barricade now. Prepare to fire.”

“Roger.”

Kanner clapped enthusiastically. “That does it. I’m impressed.”

“I live to impress.”

“I’ll bet Dorne would attest to that. Loudly, and with barely any breath to speak of.”

Theron coughed, nearly dropping his datapad. “I donnowhatyou’retalkingabout. Whyeverwouldyouthinkwe—”

“Don’t play sweet with me, that woman giggles like a teen who’s heard her first dirty joke whenever you’re close. You’re lucky, you know that? I saw her return from her swim yesterday. Most men would kill for a rack like that.”

Theron glowered at her, pink like the Sufel sun. “Not every man is after big tit*, you know. She’s a nice girl. One of the sweetest I know. Always thinking others first. The first to offer to help, when people are in pain. And empathizes so much with the innocent that she hates war criminals with a vengeance.”

“I bet you like that side of her, don’t you?” Kanner grinned. “The hell hath no fury like a woman whose limits were crossed.”

“Did Jorgan tell you about the Maelstrom Prison mission? No? Well, Havoc was one of several squads that infiltrated that prison. It was a massive complex built to guard just one man. Revan.”

Kanner whistled.

“And so important, Grand Moff Kilran himself was guarding the cell. Along with a small host of Imperial Guards. A spacer named Jerre Kraot shot him in the caboose—which, I’m told, was large and shapely and springy, till Kraot riddled it with slug shots.”

“Not interested in evil, maniacal butchers.”

“Well, Elara walked up to him. Apparently, her intention was to arrest him. But then she heard him say ‘I don’t deserve this… there was so much left to conquer!’ Elara was highly affronted. Blew his head to pieces and burned his corpse so there was no chance he lived.”

“That does sound sexy,” Kanner agreed.

“Listen… ‘Kanner.’ I’m staying away from your past. Or things you don’t want to talk about. Believe me, I probably could find out, if pressed, but I’m not. I ask that you do the same for me.”

Kanner looked at him for a moment and sighed. “Got it. Sorry for prying.”

The spy returned to his work for a moment. “So about your job on Hutta…”

Kanner snorted. “Oh, you wanna hear about that? Fun little fairy tale it is. We were on an escort mission. A Bith couple wanted to open a major business on Nar Shaddaa, and needed to pay a bribe to the Hutt Council. And just like this time, the final transaction was to be a multi-million credit exchange. The husband, Ruil, thought thirty of us would be a sufficient honor guard. Turns out, the Hutt representative we met brought a hundred. And he got greedy. Wanted to take the money and the business idea. Now, one would think ten-to-three were bad odds, but that was the day we Argonauts proved our worth. We bailed with our client, and hid him behind a statue. We then proceeded to mow down the representative’s thugs. I’m not a fan of tooting my own horn, but I like to think I was the only reason we had it easy. I overloaded my stealth field generator and became this wraith that jumped in and out of sight, shanking enemies in the back—kazam, kazam, kazam!—” she mimed kicking ass like a pro among amateurs “—while they yammered on like frightened pigeons!”

“Overloading your stealth generator? That’s a risky gambit. Can cause debilitating dizziness, seizures, flashing lights, migraines—”

“Not if you’ve trained enough,” she replied with a winning smile. “And you need to train in increments. Find a way to simulate a minor dose of those symptoms, then get used to it. I did it by hacking my stealth belt to reduce its power. It took me two years to get this far. But it was worth the effort. I even killed a few blixii with that tactic.”

“Daaamn! That sounds…”

“But do me a favor, and don’t mention that to anyone. I did it before my incarceration, so it would be easy to discover who I was. I figured I owed you for the prodding earlier.”

“Got it. So how did the incident end?”

“You gotta follow a particular set of rules with the Hutts. If they break a deal, show ‘em you’re not one to mess around with. They will naturally fear and respect you. Unfortunately, I was too squeamish for that job. I left it to our Captain, Leo. He butchered the Hutt and severed his head. Sent it to the Council with the word ‘Oathbreaker’ carved on his forehead. Also sent him a holo of us wiping the floor with those goons. They backed down, after that. And took note of us. They offered us a few more contracts, though Marr had already reached out to us by then.”

“I guess the Hutts really appreciate a lesson, once they’ve f*cked around and found out.”

Kanner laughed. “Oh, you betcha! The trouble is surviving the time they f*ck around.”

Theron was aware of this already, of course. He’d worried about it. About Elara and the others. But he pushed it away.

They’re Havoc Squad. They can take care of themselves.

The petitioners approached the throne room quite warily. The defense had stopped the moment they breached the palace’s main door, though Gault had told them it would only end at the throne room. The best explanation was that they had cowed the Hutt by making such a steamroller of an advance, but it was always a bad idea to trust in a Hutt bowing to good sense until they had been personally taught a lesson.

As it turned out, they’d been right to worry. The second they were all past the doors, they shut tightly behind them, and gunmen stepped out of the wings, weapons pointed at the guests.

Elara Dorne scowled at the Hutt laughing his butt off on his decadent throne. “Giradda… what is the meaning of this? We had a deal!”

The Hutt rumbled his reply too softly for Elara to hear, but his translator spoke up for him

“We did, until you destroyed my palace perimeter security. Killed dozens of my men. Started a three-way war with Nappa and Parda. You owe us much more than the hundred million you brought with you.”

“I’m afraid that was unavoidable, after you set us such a difficult gauntlet to endure.”

“You misunderstand, little bird. My petitioners are not meant to survive my gauntlet unless they represent people of import. Besides, I like Hylo Visz! I like her just where she is!”

He tugged on a chain, pulling a barely-dressed Mirialan woman out of the shadows by the leash around her neck. She was middle-aged, or getting there. Her red eyes held the fury of a woman plotting to blow up the palace.

“She’s an ugly little bird, bedraggled and aging. But her identity makes up for it! Never before have I had a bona fide hero as my pet before!”

“I will kill you, Giradda,” Hylo said sweetly.

“And I will see you get your chance,” Elara called. “Argonauts… take them!”

Giradda laughed—a full-bellied ‘Ho ho ho ho!’ and smashed a button on his throne, which should’ve opened the grate they were standing on. But of course, Theron’s remote—which had sneaked out of the speeder once the organic occupants were out—had taken control of the palace network.

Lord Rrayden stepped out and drew his Lightsaber. “Congratulations, Hutt. You’ve just chosen to book front row seats to today’s premiere: watching clan Giradda evaporate right before you.”

The sound of the snap-hiss had silenced everyone in the large throne room. Eventually, the Hutt cried out in Basic, “SITH!!! HELP! HEEEELP! HEEEEEEELP!”

“OPEN FIRE!” the lieutenant of security called. But Havoc Squad was already in motion. They had made the biggest—and last—mistake of their lives.

Chapter 15: Giradda's Fall

Chapter Text

The tattooed Sith was the first to move. His presence alone was as a magnet. Guided by the most primal instinct, all his guards aimed their blasters at him first. He swung that red blade of his like a bat, swatting blaster fire right back where they came from. After a few moments—possibly to prepare—he thrust his left hand out. Over a hundred blasters were pulled out of their owners hands and in his direction. He turned his open palm into a fist, and the stolen weapons were crushed into a heap of refuse.

By this time, the Argonauts had begun firing at his guards, steadily thinning their numbers while they were distracted by the Sith. The Twi’lek and the cyborg human hurled sonic grenades into the ranks of gunmen. The bangs were quite low-yield, but they were enough to leave the guards disoriented. Some Gamorreans and Weequays drew their axes and rushed at the intruders, but the Kaleesh and the Kel Dor were able to stop their advance with vibroswords of their own as the others took them out. The mercs rolled from cover to cover to avoid taking what few shots came their way, while spraying those few enforcers left with blasters with a hail of fire.

As for the Sith… the droids and some of Giradda’s more courageous guards attacked him with their melee weapons, but it was the most suicidal thing the Hutt had ever seen. The Sith killed them with ease. Eventually, he looked down at the floor.

“Now… about this grate!” He threw his Lightsaber, which cut out a large hole in the middle. He then stretched out his hand and pulled out Duke Death, Giradda’s prized bull Rancor. The beast seemed surprised. And a little amused. “Oh, a Rancor. How imaginative,” the Sith said in a bored tone. “A bit big though.” When it attacked him, he stretched out his arm and it was raised into the air again, clutching its throat this time.

“But that’s impossible!” Giradda shouted. His idiot droid deigned to translate that for him, and the Sith just laughed.

“You have no idea what’s possible. Now, let’s play a game, Fido!” He threw a few small curls of Lightning at the beast, which roared and ran in the direction of one large group of guards. As one, they screamed and dropped their blades, but Duke Death stomped them all in his hasty retreat.

“NOOOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOOO!” Giradda cried, covering his face in his hands. But he could only deny the reality of his situation with such futile gestures. As his eyes refused to close fully, he was forced to watch his unruly guests kill his guards in what seemed like no time at all.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this! He had packed the room with a hundred and thirty enforcers, twenty of them expensive bodyguard droids! These little rodents had no business disposing of them so easily! And yet… the sports fan in Giradda couldn’t help but admire their raw talent. As the main—or as he liked to believe, the only—big name in Huttball, Giradda was used to seeing fighters duke it out to the death, usually while avoiding painful pitfall traps. But he had never seen skill like this! Or perhaps he had, in the early days, over three decades ago. But it had dwindled away into barely-trained, desperate vagrants, and addicts in need of some credits for their next fix.

It was only now that Giradda realized, that his zeal had made the sport too high-risk, for not enough gain.

In less than five minutes after the first shot had been fired, the last of his guns fell dead.

The Sith drew closer, as did the leader of the Argonauts.

“Please!” Giradda wept. “Spare me!”

“Why should we do that?” Elara asked. “You double-crossed us. You swore we’d be met fairly if we played your little game. Not to mention, the state Captain Visz is in.”

“You don’t have to call me Captain, Honey,” Visz smiled nastily. “I lost my ship when Lagertha captured me. And I’m fine. Just a few cuts and bruises.”

“Even so, I believe I heard you say you wanted to kill him yourself?” the Sith smiled at her. He destroyed her chain with his blade and held out something for her. “Here. I saved this one for you. Sorry if it’s a bit too ugly a weapon.”

She accepted it with grace. “It’s perfect for the occasion. It’s not like a dainty Plush Fire will be any less deadly, but it doesn’t scream revenge like this does.” She turned back to the Hutt who was sweating buckets and breathing hard. “Now. Where were we? Ahh, yes. Giradda, if you have any plays left, now’s the time.”

Giradda, who prided himself on his quick thinking in tough negotiations, found his brain all but disconnected. “I—I—I—I—”

“Ten. Nine. Eight.”

“What will your mercy cost me?”

“Five. Four…”

“Alright! Alright! You said you lost your ship, right? I will give you my prize! The Golden Diamond of Varl! It’s in my hangar. You can take it—”

“I’ll be takin’ it anyway. Sorry, sh*tface. But you weren’t inventive enough.” She shot him directly below the chin first, then between the eyes. He felt terrified as the darkness closed in. Why had she given him such a quick death? Why—

Elara felt some satisfaction as the Hutt breathed his last. Giradda was infamous for his love of bloodsport, especially Huttball. He had sponsored two new arenas, one on Quesh, and another on Rishi, which had levelled up the game from dangerous to hazardous. Not only had the fatality rate risen from 3 in every game to 18, the deaths had gotten gorier and more grotesque, too. Fountains of blood were not uncommon, nor were contestants getting caught in poison or electric traps which killed them slowly for a debased spectator’s viewing pleasure.

No doubt it would continue without him, but it was still gratifying to see him go down.

“That was a bit quick though,” Dengril said.

Captain Visz shrugged. “With Hutts, they’d prefer the slow death. They don’t feel pain quite like the rest of us do. And they believe, perhaps not without reason, that someone will come to their rescue if they can hold on long enough.”

“Fascinating,” Elara said, looking at her chrono. “So. Shall we get out of here?”

“Just a minute. With Hutts, you need to make a statement after a double-cross like this. Let ‘em know you mean business. Usually, it means some gruesome crime scene for them to find, but I have a sweeter idea.”

“Don’t keep us in suspense,” Lord Rrayden urged her.

The Mirialan smiled at them. “I noticed some of the Hutt’s buttons and knobs not working. The network has been sliced. Was that one of your people?”

“Yes. He’s not here right now, though.”

“I don’t think he has to be. Can you raise him for me?”

Elara put her comm on speaker. “Besh team? Captain Visz wanted a word.”

“We were listening,” Kanner said. “And she’s right about needing to send a message. But I’m curious to see what she has in mind.”

“So here’s what I’ve got.”

Ten minutes later

Theron Shan needed even less time than he’d anticipated to pull off Hylo’s plan. It was a pretty simple plan, but quite bold. By slicing into Giradda’s central computers, he could bankrupt Clan Dithmaarik, ensuring that their multi-billion credit fortune went up in smoke.

Hutts placed a tremendous value on their lives, but even more so on their businesses and power. Poverty, helplessness, fiscal disgrace… these were mortal sins, so far as the Hutts were concerned.

They’re a lot like Saresh in that regard, Theron thought bitterly. It was no wonder Lady Kai had chosen to hit her in the moneybags. The difference was, Saresh wasn’t easily cowed by reprisals. She would be shaken, but she would work her way back into wealth… though hopefully, it would take her a while to do so. And she’d always be looking over her shoulder for the next time someone took a swipe at her bank. That was what his Sister-in-Law had really been aiming for.

“And just like that, it’s done,” Theron said in deep satisfaction. “All of Clan Dithmarik’s assets have been liquidated and donated to various charities. All documents and transactions were scoured from the holonet. We’re taking a couple million for ourselves, just in case. And I’ve transferred ownership of some of their more lucrative, necessary, honest businesses to you.”

“Well done,” Hylo Visz said. “Though you didn’t have to do that last part.”

“It’s just a bonus. Have you stolen his prize yacht yet?”

“Yeah. It’s a bit gaudy for my taste, but maybe I can convince someone to buy it off my hands.”

“Maybe we can help you with that. What about you, Aurek?”

“We’re about to leave,” Elara replied. “So… it’s really happening, then? You’re really going to shut down the ‘Arenas of Death’?”

“He’s already done it,” Kanner said proudly. “Someone needs to give this man a medal. Or a really nice reward.”

“That can be arranged. I own a resort world, after all.” Lord Ray sounded like he was enjoying himself.

“Huh,” Theron said, distracted by a sudden message.

“What happened?” Jorgan asked.

“A message. Someone noticed me playing around in here.”

“What?!” Elara was on full alert. “Pull out now! Get back to the ship! Get off-world! I’m sure Captain Visz won’t mind giving us a ride out!”

“Don’t worry. Whoever it is, they’re more impressed than threatening. Oh, what’s this? A request for aid? Just who sent this, anyway? Oh… good.”

<Hello, Slicer.
I hope you don’t mind my reaching out to you. I discovered your hacks seven years ago, but I’m a busy man, so this was the first time I got the opportunity to observe your work in real time.
Simply artistic! To say that it has been refreshing watching you turn the tables on Giradda and Clan Dithmarik would be a gross understatement. Giradda’s love of mixing torture and sport resulted in brutal contraptions that leave the gods of science revulsed!
No one will miss them, and no one will miss him; though no doubt the others will be fearful that they might be next. You will want to reassure everyone that this is only how you treat betrayals. A simple letter will do. One which is polite, yet firm. I’ve written one out for you. I’ve also included some… details for each Hutt lord, which might make them think you have a few aces in the hole. There are also promises of future business, which I’m sure they’ll think was promising.
I know you don’t know me yet, but I hope that will change, in the near future.
You see, I am trapped right now. A certain someone, whose name definitely doesn’t rhyme with Barkesh, took me prisoner on Makeb. She kept me for years, hoping I’d give her my ideas and inventions.
She has now made a deal that I find too tempting to pass up; she wants me to help her scientists on some unknown world complete an unfinished Godera design. In return, I was promised my freedom at last. While I am pleased to see a master’s design for myself, I cannot help but believe that she will not honor her word.
Take a note of my frequency. See if you can trace it back to me. Free me, and perhaps I can be of assistance to you in the future.
Yours most sincerely,
Juvard Illip Oggurobb.>

“Who is this guy?” Kanner asked. “‘Illip’? Isn’t that a Hutt clan?”

“Doctor Oggurobb,” Theron said distractedly. “He’s one of the best scientists in the galaxy. And yes, he’s a Hutt. But he has a reputation for honesty and ethics. To have someone like him as an ally… especially given Zakuul’s technological and numerical advantages…”

“Agreed,” Elara said. “That Hutt could be a valuable ally. And I shudder to think what he might be going through, under Saresh’s ‘delicate’ care.”

“Can you track him from here?” Jorgan asked.

“No. But I have his address and his frequency. I can find him with a few trap holomails. I’ll need a few days to write the code.”

“Then let’s not waste any more time,” Jorgan said. “Aurek, load the speeder onto Captain Visz’s new ship, and meet us back at base. Besh, get back to the ship. We’ll start warming up the engines.”

“Copy that.”

Before he left, Theron noticed one more holomail in his inbox. It was from Elara.

<I’ve got a perfect reward for a job well done. Grab two glasses and a bottle of champagne, then meet me in my room at 23:00. I’m wearing the little present the Tiarna gave me.>

Theron tried not to let his pleasure show.

As they were waiting for takeoff, Elara had a question for Captain Visz.

“Please, just call me Hylo,” the Mirialan woman smiled.

“As you wish. But I had a question, if I may.”

“Go ahead.”

“I was led to believe that you owed your debt to multiple persons, not just the one Hutt. Did he buy up all your debt?”

“Indeed, he did,” Hylo confirmed. “And was left looking foolish afterwards. See, he made his move over two decades ago. He was the only one of my backers who expected the venture to fail, and wanted me and my then-boyfriend Tyresius all to himself when that happened. He’s always had an unhealthy interest in me and Ty. If only he knew that he was alive as well…” she sighed heavily. “I think he did figure it out. That’s why he reneged on the deal. He wanted not just my head on a platter, he wanted Ty’s too. Don’t tell him I told you.”

I knew it, Elara thought. “Theron already figured it out.”

“Smart boy?”

“Very.”

“I like smart boys and girls too. But take it from me. Be sure not to repeat my mistake. I trusted Tyresius, when I shouldn’t have. He had told me several times that money was more important to him than love. And I always laughed it off. Claimed it was true for me, too… though it really wasn’t. I thought it was just our little joke. And then he took off with seventy-five million credits, knowing fully well that I would take the fall. I owe him a few bloody bruises.” She sighed heavily, looking a little upset for the first time since Elara had met her… which was shocking considering where she’d been less than an hour ago. “I really shouldn’t have left him alone and unsupervised with our ship and our spoils. So this… Theron. Make sure you can trust him. More than that, make sure he knows what you want from him. Or what he wants from you. Have a sit-down, and form a verbal contract together. No euphemisms or jokes. Leave no room for misunderstandings.”

“Umm. Hylo? You’re talking like he and I—”

“I grew up in all kinds of places, girl. I can read all but the most closed-off people like children’s books. Especially uncomplicated people like yourself. Heck, I’d wager half your team have noticed that there’s something between you. But why are you hiding it? You’re not a kid anymore. Adults do this kind of thing. Own it. Stop having fun only in the shadows. It’s a lot more effort than it’s worth.”

“I—”

“You’re cute when you blush.”

Elara blushed even harder at that. “Thank you. I’ll… I’ll think about what you said.” Elara wasn’t a fan of unsolicited advice, but she thought it was this woman’s way of coping with her own betrayal.

“Everyone’s onboard,” Lord Rrayden reported. “And all cargo stowed away. Dengril has opened the gate.”

“That’s good. Now, let’s see what this monstrosity has got, shall we?”

“Initiating warmup sequence.”

Chapter 16: The Afterparty

Chapter Text

Corvus

The team returned to a hero’s welcome. Gault insisted on personally joining the small team of servants, friends, family and guards who were waiting to greet the new arrivals.

Gault walked up to Lord Rrayden first, wringing his hands in thanks. “Thanks so much, boss! You’re the best. I had ears listening for word, and… well. I’m sorry it went sour,” he said, addressing everyone. “But I’m glad you were able to handle it. And grateful.”

“Think nothing of it,” Lord Ray grinned, quickly looking beyond him. “Ohhhh! It’s lil Kaien and his mommy here to see me! Hey, baby!”

“Glad you’re back, hub-oh,” Vette said with a smile.

“And my dear new friends, the Argonauts!” Gault turned to Jorgan, Elara, Theron and the others. “I’ve got the payment I promised. In addition, you all have five different IDs to choose from—each—and more, free of charge, should they get compromised.”

“Nice!” Jorgan said eagerly. “This will help us a great deal.”

“Are we registered as—” Kanner asked.

“Indeed, you are. The new Argonauts. Congratulations.”

“Gault, I’m gonna need a workstation, with a high-spec computer and a secure holomail terminal,” Theron said. He handed over a copy of the letter from Oggurobb. “I have a scientist to find.”

“Oho! So we finally discover where old Ogg has been all this time, eh?” Gault slapped his back in a friendly manner. “Go for it. Whatever you need, you’ll have. You have my support. Maybe he can set up here, until we find him a more long-term solution.” He then turned to Hylo, who was descending the ship. “And here she is, the woman herself!”

“Hello, Ty,” Hylo said stiffly. She accepted his warm embrace, but not his kiss.

“I’m sorry I didn’t come myself,” Gault said. “Even Giradda would’ve figured out the connection, and we’d both be dead in the water.”

“I got it. Thanks for breaking me out.”

“So… I hope all’s forgiven now?”

“Yes. I am no longer out to kill you. Maybe we can work together again in the future.”

“And… us?”

“Not happening, Ty. Or would you prefer, ‘Gault’?”

It was obvious that Gault was trying hard not to let his hurt show. “I—uh.” He cleared his throat. “I had a feeling that—but I hoped that—”

“Sorry for dashing your hopes. I hate to put it this way, but you more than dashed mine. I lost sixteen years of my life, thanks to you. The galaxy had moved on without me. So many of my friends—our friends—were either dead, or drifted apart in that time. Everything I had owned—that you hadn’t claimed—had been taken by someone else.” She sighed, visibly clamming up. Stopping herself from going off on a larger rant; one which covered all her grievances. “But I forgive you for all that. But I won’t forget. It would take one banger of a miracle to make me forget the sleazy stunt you pulled off with me.”

“I understand,” Gault said, shaking wildly. “If… if it means anything. I’m willing to buy that ship off your hands. I can pay you twenty million for it. Plus the full proceeds from when I find a permanent buyer. And you can have the ship I loaned the Argonauts. The Winning Bid.”

“That thing?” she looked at it approvingly. “I like it. Perfect for what I need. But what about them? Are you giving them something better?”

“We already have a ship,” Jorgan explained. “But it stank of Republic military, so Gault offered to give it a makeover.”

“And an upgrade,” Gault said happily. “Its engines, weapons, sensors, and computers are much better now. A better, more secure holocomm. And I’ve gotten you a really nice collection of droids. Pilot, security, factotum, steward, and Astromech. The small variety too, so they won’t crowd up your ship. You’ll be able to leave the ship behind on assignments, without worrying.”

“Thanks for that,” Jorgan nodded. “Staying low will be a lot easier now.”

“Let’s not keep standing around here,” Gault cried. “Come on! I’ve got a nice little party for you. All the food and booze you like! Hot tubs, masseurs, saunas, pool… I’ve even got a couple of pros available, if you’ve got the itch!”

“I might take that,” Xabaan said, and Dengril nodded.

“I’d like to,” Kanner said shyly. “But… heck, it’s been so long… I want to dip my toes in something, but I also want… a date rather than just a hookup.”

“You can take your time,” Gault said. “They’re not going anywhere.”

“I’ll take that hot tub first,” Elara declared. “Then a nice hot meal. Anything else comes after.”

Kanner tried to dance to the beat, but it felt really weird when no one else was around. Jorgan was—predictably—playing some observation game with himself, over by the balcony. Xabaan and Abbeth had each found a hooker they liked. And Xabaan didn’t talk much, anyway. She had no clue where Dengril was. And Theron was too focused on whatever he and Elara had planned, and Torg had refused to participate in these festivities.

That left Lord Rrayden—who was with his wife Vette, their child, Mira, and Jaesa—Gault, and Hylo Visz. The Mirialan had her nose in a journal of some sort, clearly looking out for some specific bit of news or info. Gault was nursing a tall glass of wine like it was the only thing keeping him alive.

The musicians continued to play, and the few hired dancers continued to twirl and circle, but Kanner just couldn’t. She left the floor, and picked two glasses of brandy. She circled the room for a bit, trying to decide who could help her kill her loneliness.

I wish I was still with Kili, she thought. Should’ve never left Shili. But she couldn’t go back now. K’ilika had found a husband anyway, and Kanner really didn’t want to intrude on a life her only friend had earned.

At last, she chose Jorgan. “Hey,” she said, and offered him a glass. He accepted it, and took a sip.

“All out of options?” he asked.

“Sorry. Yep.”

“Must be pretty desperate if you’re settling for me.”

“Don’t think about it. I’m not a great catch either.”

“Huh?” Jorgan looked her up and down. “Hmm. I guess you’re talking about your past, right? Listen. Lots of people in this galaxy have done bad things. You are not that one bad incident. You are plenty good. I’m sure you’ll find a nice partner soon enough.”

Kanner almost laughed. “I’m… not looking for a partner right now. Sir. I just… I need… friends.”

“What’s wrong with Shan?”

“He’s got a girl on his mind.”

Jorgan’s head whipped around, but he stopped before staring at the spy. “So… him and Elara?” he chuckled. “I thought I saw something. Can’t believe it’s progressed that far already. Elara used to be such a hesitant young woman.”

“And believe me, Theron is worse.”

“Really? That pretty-boy?”

“That pretty-boy.”

“Interesting.”

“So what are you looking at over here?”

“I’ve discovered a love of stargazing. See that cluster over there?” Jorgan pointed. “It reminds me of a Lima-dog.”

“I’ve never heard of one—”

“They’ve got big ears, bigger eyes, and a tail that wags so fast, it looks like a rotor blade.”

Kanner laughed. “Sounds really cute!”

“It is. And they have this high-pitched bark that’s almost a miaow. They only grow to about this big.” He held his palms about twelve centimeters apart. “But they’ve been known to attack much larger prey to protect their children. Or their owners.”

“Sounds like a good friend to have.”

“The best.”

“Is that a hint you want one for your next birthday, Sir?”

“No. Those dogs need a stable house to call their own. I can’t provide one.”

“Real shame.”

“What about you? What can you see?”

“Well—” Kanner had to fish around. “That group of stars look like a Kowakian monkey-lizard. Especially with that fuzzy cloud on its head.”

Jorgan chuckled. “I see it. I had a blaster stolen from me by a monkey-lizard once. Most embarrassing moment of my career.”

Kanner laughed. “Really? Fun! But wherever did you run into one of those little blighters?”

“Nar Shaddaa. We were escorting a Senator’s aide on some errands. Luckily, I saved his life. Took a knife to the gut for him. That bought me enough gratitude that it didn’t get mentioned in his report. I think.”

“Gut wounds…” she shuddered. “Painful way to go.”

“You ever taken one?”

“Yeah. I was fifteen, and I ran into a bunch of Black Sun slavers. They thought I was easy pickings. I mean, I guess I was. I was running a high fever, and the meds had me all befuddled. I still put up enough of a fight that they were forced to knife me. But a really nice man happened to be passing by. A hero. My hero. He saved me, though he took a blow or two as well. Got me to a clinic in time.”

“Where’s this man now?”

“Alive and well, I hope. He was a middle-aged dude back then. I guess he’d be sixty years old, now. Maybe sixty-five. He didn’t even tell me his name.”

“To quiet and valiant heroes.”

“Kazam.” Kanner clinked her glass against his, and they both downed what was left of the brandy.

“You’re alright.”

“Thanks. You too.”

Theron took care not to drink more than a small glass of beer. He wanted to be fully sober for his true celebration. He watched Elara leave, gave her a ten-minute head start, then got back to his own room to freshen up. After a quick but thorough shower, he headed down to the bar and bought two bottles of Mithinvel champagne. He had a private but sad chuckle when he recalled that Vajra’s estate on Alderaan produced this fruit. And sold it, on the advice of his steward, S10-P15.

“Bartender. Any idea where this Mithinvel comes from? Where on Alderaan, I mean?”

“We don’t know,” the bartender apologized.

Theron chuckled again. Just as well.

“Sir, we can have this delivered to your room.”

“It’s alright. Thanks for the offer though.”

Theron tried not to walk with too much of a spring in his step. And to slow down. His first night with Elara had been passionate but… well, quick. He hoped today would be better.

Elara Dorne tried to hide her nerves. And her embarrassment. This lingerie that the Tiarna had gifted her was… many trillions of times more risqué than anything she had in her wardrobe. Ever. Definitely more so than anything she’d ever worn.

But she was feeling a little adventurous today, a bit rebellious. And Theron himself was… she’d scored quite a pretty looker this time. And somehow, just as inexperienced as she was. It seemed like even the gorgeous people got too wrapped up in work for romance, sometimes.

She looked at herself in the mirror for the hundredth time. And for the hundredth time, she noted how it made her figure look more… welcoming. She was exploring something new with Theron today. And behind her nerves, she was looking forward to it. Watching him so expertly end Giradda’s bloodsport ventures with just a few keystrokes had gotten her… quite excited. She almost jumped at the much-awaited knock at her door.

“COME IN!” f*ck, that was loud.

“Hey Elara. I got the—whoa!” Theron almost dropped the bag in his hands. He stared at her, wide-eyed. All thoughts seemed to have fizzled out midspark.

“Close the door, please. Ummm. Theron?”

He jumped, blinked, then complied. “Uh—uh—you look… umm. Wow! Elara… you—”

“Mhm.” Elara had been planning this moment ever since receiving the dress. She’d watched dozens of softcore holos, secretly sought advice from Hylo and one of Gault’s callgirls, and then written out the game plan in her diary. Acted it out in her head for good measure. But now that she was here, all her prep seemed to lose some of their backbone.

With steps that were, in Elara’s opinion, embarrassingly overdone, she led Theron to her bed and sat him down at the foot. She then dropped the thin shirt she’d been wearing to the floor and began to dance.

On his lap.

It didn’t work out like she’d pictured. Her movements were clumsy and jerky, and after less than a moment of dancing, she overbalanced and fell on top of Theron.

Several awkward heartbeats later, she giggled. “Ummm.”

“Wow,” Theron said again, face beet red.

“Uhhm—” Elara tried again. This really wasn’t going how she’d planned.

After hesitating for another awkward moment or two, Theron pulled her down for a kiss. She accepted it with all her melting heart. She stripped him down quickly when they broke it off, allowing her gaze to linger on his body. Theron worked out, that was for certain, but only as a way to maintain some level of fitness. He had the slightest love handles around his waist and belly, though you could feel the muscles hiding behind them. She could definitely feel those on his shoulders, arms, and legs.

Once he was finally stripped down, Elara moved her undergarment aside and took him in. She almost yelped, but bit her lip. Their second time left her much more satisfied than the first, though Theron did need to show off his other skills. It was the first time someone had gone down on her, and she appreciated it.

Once they were both spent, they shared a glass of clear gold champagne, offering each other soft kisses between sips.

“Thanks, Elara,” Theron said.

“I’ll do better next time.”

“Me too.”

Things got awkward again, so they continued to drink and kiss in silence. After finishing just one bottle, they lay down in each other’s arms for a cuddle, and Elara’s mind went back to Hylo’s words. After turning them over in her head a few times, she opened her mouth.

“There’s something I need to talk about.”

Both of their heads jerked towards each other. They’d spoken at the exact same moment.

“You first,” Elara prompted.

“No, you.”

“Please, Theron.” When she noticed he wasn’t budging, she sighed. “It’s something Hylo said. Captain Visz. Maybe you can understand why. She’s still hurt after what Gault did to her.”

“I can’t blame her. Honestly, I’d give Gault a black eye, if she didn’t seem done with it herself.”

“Quite. Anyway, she told me that… I need to make a… commitment with you. A contract, so to speak.”

“Like marriage?”

“Not as formal,” Elara shrugged. “But maybe… I want to avoid misunderstandings. I want you to know exactly what I’m looking for from you. From us.”

“I’m all ears.”

“You know my history. Born on Dromund Kaas, defected to avoid taking an order I couldn’t live with, and forced to leave my life behind. A family, friends, and a fiancé. And the Republic… well, it all happened all over again. I built up my life there from nothing, but I was challenged at every turn. I had rumors and whispers behind my back, often where I could still hear them. And though I finally found a place to belong, and people who cared about me—and a husband too—I was chased away from there too.” She swallowed, allowing the tears to flow, but not the uncontrolled weeping. “What I want is acceptance, love and security. I know I can get the first from you. But the second and the third… Theron, if I’m just a bump on the road to you—a quick fling—I need to know now. I can’t lose a third time. And… I can’t handle secrets and surprises anymore. No hiding anything from me.”

“I can’t share someone else’s secrets.”

Elara frowned. It sounded like he had a certain someone in mind, when he said that. “I’ll accept that. But don’t blindside me again.”

“Deal.”

“That’s it?”

“I’m sorry. I hear your concerns. And don’t worry. If this was to be a fling, I’d have told you at the start. I’m in it for the long haul.”

“Alright.”

“And… I don’t have any more secrets. At least, I don’t think so. And I didn’t hide Ashton from you for no reason at all. Or Lady Kai. My sister’s relationship could hurt her reputation badly, if it gets out. And it might hurt my parents too. Heck, I don’t think even Malcom knows. He probably thinks she’s married a recluse or actor or something. Or a Jedi.” He straightened. “Damn. I hope he doesn’t think she’s with Vajra!”

“Why not?”

“Well, they love each other a lot. Like, a real lot. But they see each other as siblings. On Rishi, when I’d turned my back on her—again—she got all hurt and said Vajra had never tried to turn away from her. Or keep stuff. He always included her in his life. Something I failed to do. But they never saw each other as romantic partners. Anyway, that’s a big aside. You get why I didn’t tell you about Ash, right?”

“Of course. Jasme told me that you even hid it from her.”

“Yeah. I told her on Rishi. She broke a hard oak table when I told her. With just a fist. She’s crazy strong, despite the vibe she gives off.”

Elara had a wild image of the dainty, girly Jasme throwing a large rancor around like it weighed less than a pillow. She chuckled. “So what was it you wanted to say?”

“Well, I had my own… concerns,” Theron admitted. “And they center around Ash. I had him—we had him, me and Klara—when I was seventeen. And she died—got killed, thanks to me—just a few months later. I wasn’t ready to be a father, but I tried my hardest. And when I got pulled into the SIS, I was forced to put him in a military academy. The Aygo family’s, the one on Kothlis.”

“Ohhh! I see.” Theron had always respected General Aygo in prison. Perhaps this was why.

“I met him as often as I could, but he was always… far away. I was always far away. He bore it with as good grace as he could manage, but I never stopped feeling guilty. Even now, he’s on Kouhaush Muin.” He snorted. “I’m trusting a Sith to protect my secret. And protect him. Not that she ever gave me reason to doubt her. Anyway. Because of all this… I can’t… I don’t know if I can… if we can… have another child. It would break his heart, to see a sibling raised with the parental love and care he was denied his whole life. I’m sorry.”

“So… so you don’t want more children.” Elara stated it calmly, but she was reeling inwardly.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve brought this up before we… before we slept together.”

It took quite a lot for Elara to not stand up and walk to the balcony. To remain in Theron’s hands. She had always wanted children. A boy and a girl. Motherhood was one of the delights she had always looked forward to experiencing. And in all her life, she’d only found three partners who could put up with her… her personality.

If Theron… if he didn’t want to… no. She understood. She understood perfectly.

“Do you think Ashton will accept me as his mother?”

“I… I don’t know. He stopped asking me about a mom years ago. Doesn’t ask me for anything, anymore. He just… takes what he can get now.” Theron sounded so close to tears. “He’s just a kid, but he’s afraid to ask for more than he’s got. Not from me, at least.”

“Is it alright if we ask him, before we setting this rule in stone?”

“Alright. But there’s one thing I won’t budge on. The soonest we can manage it, Ashton is getting back into my life. Our life, if he’s willing.”

“I accept.” She shifted slightly in his arms, waiting for his tears to stop. “Do you have anything else to say?”

“Well…”

“Spit it out.”

“Just. Wanted to ask. What do we do next?”

“Meaning?”

“The way I see it, we can join Lady Kai, Lana, or Havoc. Lady Kai is the one I see leading the charge against Zakuul. Lana will continue to search for Vajra until she either finds him, or he dies. Or she does, I suppose. And Havoc—well, that is one path I can’t predict. But it’s the only one where we are likely to help the Republic.”

Elara was silent for a moment. “Why is Lana searching for Vajra so doggedly?”

“She was on Rishi, Yavin, and Ziost. She understands the threat the Emperor poses the galaxy. She believes—perhaps rightly—that Vajra is our best shot at beating him for good.”

“And she’s so convinced about that fact that she’s abandoned everything for it?”

“I was on Ziost too,” Theron said. “It was… simply the stuff of nightmares. I felt it, when he tried to break into my mind. And the feeling I got when I watched an entire world get swallowed up by the void…” he inhaled. “And I know you were on Dromund Kaas. You saw the Emperor’s power too. Felt his death, and the difference it made in the Force. We’ve both met the Jedi Masters; they’re all so powerful you can see the walls reflect their glow. Especially Master Devel. And Marr and Nox… and Lady Kai… and yet none of them can compete with him. Yes, I believe wholeheartedly that the Emperor needs to be vanquished for good, or the whole galaxy might face the same fate as Ziost. And I believe Vajra is our best shot at making that a reality.”

“But Zakuul is an enemy now. People are dying already from this war.”

“Yes.”

“I like Vajra too. But I can’t focus everything on a rescue mission while everything’s on fire. Perhaps if we knew he was alive—”

“Lana is certain he is. She thinks she would—or even Master Satele or Kira—would’ve felt it if he’d been killed.”

“Do you believe that?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I do. I worked with her for several years. I trust her instincts.”

Sounds like you should be with her, then. Elara didn’t say the hurtful words. “If you’re involving me in this decision, I can’t chase after him right now. I’m sorry.”

“I understand. I guess that means—”

“And I can’t go back to Kouhaush Muin. Or any Imperial world. I didn’t appreciate it last time. I won’t, ever again. You’ve no idea how hard that was, for me.”

“I understand.”

“So Havoc, it is.”

“Havoc, it is,” Theron agreed. He sounded like he was cutting off his toes, but he was determined. Elara hoped she was doing the right thing.

Chapter 17

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

The Silent Nest Space Station

Lana Beniko practiced her unarmed combat with several training dummies. It was a good way to exercise while also confirming that she had recovered her full range of motion. She needed the training anyway. While she had been more of an advisor and manager since reclaiming the name Lana, she had maintained her shape enough to take on several skilled enemies at once. But as HK and T7 sent her more intel, her certainty that she needed to up her game increased.

Knights of Zakuul were sh*t compared to Jedi and Sith, but that was largely due to inexperience. She was certain that a few months of fighting would whip them into better shape.

Besides, they did have their elites. That one Paladin, Radamond Fel, had managed to wound Lady Kai of all people. And two of his fellows had done fairly alright against Marr and Satele. If she wasn’t careful, she might find herself fighting a Knight far beyond her ability to beat. So, she worked on her speed, agility, spatial awareness, and reflexes. But most of all, her balance.

The comm station beeped, so she decided to take a break. “Hello, HK.”

“Greeting: It is a pleasure to see you recovered, Master.”

“How did your mission go?”

“Answer: Better than we’d expected, Master. The Adumari counteroffensive destroyed nearly eighteen enemy cruisers, and kept them occupied for well over an hour. We were able to board a few vessels and recover three memory cores.
Additional Information: Per your instruction, the cores were scanned for viruses and other failsafes, and are currently stored in a vacuum-sealed, isolated box. It cannot connect to any external networks through any means we know.”

“Was there anything else of note?”

“Answer: A most curious thing, Master. The ships were emptier than we thought they would be. Not even any active droids on duty. T7 believes that the ships’ captains can directly control every system on the ship.”

“Much like the Ascendant Spear. Theron might be interested in that one.”

“Surprised Statement: I… hadn’t thought about that, Master. It seems a fair analogy.
Continuation: In any case, the droids—the Skytroopers—were all in their charging station. But there was something that we found interesting.”

“Go on.”

“Continuation: There seems to be a reason why these ships are so large, considering they carry no crew at all. They double as mobile factories, capable of producing not just spare parts and munitions to repair the damaged ship, but also additional Skytroopers.
Speculation: Based on our analysis, these ships can each manufacture over a hundred droids every hour… though of course, they cannot carry the resources to keep this up for longer than ten days.”

“That’s still an army of twenty-four thousand.”

“Agreement: Indeed, Master. And when coupled with the fact that Eternal Fleet ships rarely seem to travel in fleets smaller than a hundred vessels…”

“It’s built for conquests.”

“Statement: It would seem so, Master.”

“Are you returning to base?”

“Answer: Not yet, Master. We are headed to Garqi. They are under attack as we speak. They should be occupied soon. We believe we might find something of use. Perhaps even a prisoner or two.”

“That sounds far too ambitious, HK. Don’t get greedy. Zakuul doesn’t field many organics—”

“Statement: Begging your pardon, Master. But there is one group that they have used before. And with great success.”

“Tumult Battalion.”

“Statement: Exactly. They function with the efficiency and coordination of trained special forces operatives. But why them? And them alone? While the Knights are certainly trained in maneuvers and discipline, their combat readiness wasn’t the same as Tumult’s.
Statement: I believe the answer to this puzzle might be worth pursuing.”

“Good luck, HK. Come back in one piece, the both of you.”

Lana decided to return to her training later, and go over what they had uncovered so far. A lot, but most of it was being decrypted. All she had were scattered logs and updates. Before she could get too deep into the data, she had another call; one she’d been hoping to receive sooner.

“Hello, Theron.”

“Is that all I get?” the SIS agent said amusedly. “No ‘Oh, it’s so good to hear from you!’ or ‘I’m so glad you’re alright!’ I thought we were friends.”

Lana sighed. She was in no mood for small talk, but figured she wasn’t wasting time by indulging him. “Forgive me. I’m quite humorless and curt these days.”

“I can imagine why. Has there been any change?”

“None whatsoever. Just so you know, I’ve stayed abreast of the details of your escape. Including the GenoHaradan complication. I’m glad that oversight of mine didn’t get you killed. Or anyone else.”

“Yeah, that… not gonna lie, that threw me off. GenoHaradan have always felt like shadows all these years, and suddenly, they’re on my tail.”

“Do you need any assistance with them?”

“I can hear your reluctance, Beniko.”

Lana sighed. “I’m not sorry. I may have a few extra moments to spare from time to time, but I’m focused on Vajra for the moment.”

“Understandable. Actually, if you could spare a few more moments, we could use your help with another op. Doctor Juvard Illip Oggurobb has contacted me. He’s being held prisoner by Saresh. On Denon.”

“Why there?”

“We were hoping you could find out for us.”

“Can’t Gault Rennow do it? As I recall, he’s got a network of contacts—”

“Well, I’ll put it this way. He had been keeping an ear to the ground for months now, but discovered nothing. If Saresh is the one holding him, chances are, it’s top secret. Not the sort of things Gault’s eyes-and-ears would hear about.”

“Theron, I don’t know if you’ve heard. But the Dark Council sacked me. I’m not the Minister of Intelligence anymore. I don’t have the resources I once did.”

“You could contact… her. Shara.”

“Shara…” Lana felt really conflicted.

“I know you’re going to disagree, but think about this. You can only ignore Zakuul for so long. Once you save Vajra, you will both get back in the fight. And when you do, you will need someone on your side like Oggurobb. Someone who can work wonders with tech. Who can reverse-engineer anything, with enough time and resources; and counteract it. Oggurobb is the perfect ally for us.”

And still Lana hesitated. Her closest friend had been severely crippled by the Star Cabal, and had earned her retirement. But on the other hand, the woman loved putting her mind to work. The entertainment in the facility she stayed at could only go so far. But ultimately, it was her decision. “I’ll send her a message. If she accepts, you’ll be hearing from her directly.”

“Thank you. I know that can’t have been easy. And speaking of not easy, have you discovered anything we can use against our newest pigeon?”

“Nothing actionable so far,” Lana said, smashing a fist into the training dummy in frustration. “But I do have a better understanding of their forces. The composition. In fact, I just got off a call with HK. They had boarded a Zakuulan cruiser, to see what they can get before the captain could wipe all the data. He told me that the ship was basically empty.”

“Say again?”

“There was no crew of any sort. The captains appear to command the ship directly.”

“Sounds like the Ascendant Spear, but less Force.”

“Even the Skytroopers were offline.” Lana realized that Theron might not have read her reports to Lady Kai yet. “That’s what they call their rank-and-file droid soldiers. The backbone of their army. Agile, deadly. But moving on. The ships also serve as large, mobile factories. They can manufacture replacement parts for themselves, or new droid armies.”

“My god!”

“That’s in keeping with their identities, I suppose. Quantity over everything else. Overwhelming their enemy with numbers. They do utilize human crew and soldiers, but aside from the Knights, they have one elite battalion of shock troops. They’re called Tumult Battalion, and they seem to be as well-trained as anything we’ve got. And then there are several major Knightly Orders. The regular Knights are the ones we see the most. The others are the Honor Guards, the Paladins, the Dragoons, the Vigilants—who focus on policing and gathering intelligence, from what I can tell—and the Exarchs. Those last are like… a Grand Moff Darth, as HK said. In rank, not power.”

“Got it. Is it alright if we pass this on to—”

“I’m already sending my findings to Grand Master Satele. I want Zakuul defeated, even if it’s the Republic that does so. But feel free to disseminate it even further.”

“Thanks.”

A thought occurred to Lana. “So, I suppose this means that you’ve decided on your course?”

“Yeah. I’m sticking with Havoc Squad for now. I’m sorry.”

“It’s quite alright.” Except, it wasn’t. Lana felt frustrated again. She had hoped her old ally would step in to help her. Half the reason she’d accepted the call was because she thought Theron wanted to know where she was and how to reach her.

“Hey. I will help you out whenever I can. I don’t abandon my friends. Anymore.”

“I said it’s alright.”

“Right. Sorry.”

“Is there something else you need?”

“We made off with quite a score on Hutta, three days ago. I thought you’d appreciate some of the spoils. I can arrange a dead drop at your convenience. A hundred million.”

“That might be of assistance later. I’ll be headed into Zakuulan territory as soon as I can find it. I imagine this wealth will be of less use there, but perhaps it can help me in other places.”

“Do you have any Zakuulan currency at all?”

“Some. We swiped the computers off some dead Knights and Exarchs. But I have no idea how much their buying power is, yet. Something I’ll find out later.”

“Good.”

“If that’s all, then—”

“Wait. You said you’re heading into Zakuulan territory. Do you have any locations yet?”

“No. But I have fifteen closed computers busy decrypting a lot of datapads and memory cores. Most were fried by failsafes, but I’m able to piece fragments together. I think I’m getting close.”

“If you need help, let me know. Havoc Squad will definitely want to help, when you start your missions.”

“I don’t think that’s advisable, Theron. I’m trying to keep it discreet. Not just for the mission, but… well, they’re overconfident now. Convinced of their invulnerability, their eventual victory. I don’t want to smash that illusion prematurely.”

“That sounds wise.”

“Do you have anything else you wanted to discuss?”

“Well…” he hesitated.

“Yes?”

“I’m… I’m seeing someone now. Elara. Captain Elara Dorne, of Havoc Squad.”

“Really? Wow! Congratulations!” Lana tried not to let her unseemly jealousy show. The galaxy did not revolve around her. It was not wrong for Theron to take his shot just because his friend was missing. The galaxy had been at war too long for such… impracticalities. Besides, she was genuinely happy for her friend. “I hope it goes well for you. For you both. You deserve it.”

“Thanks. This is why… this is why I’m sticking with Havoc.”

“I like that!” Lana smiled. “Does Jasme know?”

“I mean, she sniffed you out at once, didn’t she? And I’m her idjit twin.”

Lana laughed, despite herself. “I’m glad I took her advice. Even if I’m too late to save Vajra, I will never regret my relationship with him. What he and I had. Or our Bond. I’m sure you won’t regret it either.”

“Thank you.”

“But can you allow me this one, small favor? When you decide to get married, please let me be there.”

“Of course, I will. And Lana… I owe you a big one. You really saved my life. And a lot of others’ too.”

“Don’t waste it.”

“Words to live by. I hope you live by them too.”

“No one will look for my husband, if I die.”

“That’s not true.”

“But it is. And I don’t blame anyone.” Though I want to. “One man’s life seems such a small thing, when the galaxy is under attack.”

She made the call to Shara at once.

“Shara?”

“Hello, Lana. Got anything interesting for me? It’s been terribly dull over here.”

“As a matter of fact, I do have something you might like. A mission. Have you been staying informed of Juvard Illip Oggurobb’s disappearance?”

“Have you found him?”

“Yes, we have. We need to know why he’s there, and how to get him out safely.”

After ending the call, Lana felt the need to hit something. She returned to the training room, and this time, she focused on working the punching bag.

Chapter 18: The First Breakthrough

Chapter Text

Lana paced restlessly. The bluish light of fifteen computers working filled the room, displaying the estimated time remaining. It had taken several days longer than she’d hoped, but more than one progress bar on the many displays before her, was approaching 100%.

Then at last, the first console started to flash, indicating that its job was done.

“Finally!” Lana said, and ran to it. Her eyes scanned the first document, hungry for any scrap of data that might be useful.

T7 rolled up to her eagerly, but Lana couldn’t read as fast as a droid could, so she allowed him to interface with the system himself.

“Anything interesting?”

<Image files = found> T7 reported. <Number = 12,782,665. Night sky = visible in 12,478>

“Theory: If we can allocate one or more of the computers to match known or visible celestial objects, we might be able to guess approximately where the sky is, Master.”

“Do it, HK. What else have you found, T7?”

“I suppose that info will come in handy, when it’s time to infiltrate.”

“Statement: It seems you are receiving another important call, Master.”

“T7, would you be a dear and sort out the information for me? Divide them based on topic? Thank you.”

Lana had to run to catch the call before she could miss it. “Hello?”

“Lana? It’s Minara.”

“Minara? Oh, what a wonderful surprise! I hope all is well.”

A chuckle. “As well as can be expected, to tell you the truth. The Dark Council has grown more prickly since the death of Darth Marr. I had thought Lady Kai’s ascension might help quell their ideas, but they’ve just been moved to the wings and shadows for now. It looks like some of them are terrified, since a Prince has never taken the throne before. They suspect she might take over the Council; perhaps even the throne. Kat isn’t making any big moves, but he has grown even more frightened.”

“That’s a shame. If he gets a grip, he could be a great asset against Zakuul.”

“Yes. Unfortunately, that’s not why I called.” The Twi’lek cleared her throat. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away, but something has happened. Something… unsettling.”

Lana had her guard up at once. “What is it?”

“Do you remember the Jedi Master you left under my care? Master Surro of the Sixth Line? She is dead.”

“What?!”

“She died the same moment the Emperor’s death was Felt.”

“Oh no…”

“Yes. Kat and I concluded our investigation a few hours ago. If I had to give an analogy, it was like a puppet feeling its puppeteer die through the strings. She reacted to his death—Sensed it, the same as us—but it resonated much more powerfully in her soul. Enough that it killed her.”

“That is awful!”

“At least she died quickly, and relatively painlessly. But this does prove our theory: our former Emperor really did have his claws in them. If he hadn’t been killed, she might have fallen under his spell once again.”

“What about the others? We saved millions from his control!”

“Yes. Many of them were hit by the shockwave, but not fatally. It seems Vitiate had put a lot more of himself into Surro than the rest of them. Almost all of them have woken up again. That said, I can still find the slightest trace of Vitiate in their hearts.”

“So they’re not completely free.”

“No. Perhaps they won’t ever be, until he is destroyed for good. But if it makes you feel any better, it wasn’t a complete loss.”

“Oh?”

“Though it wasn’t very long, Kat and Lord Rend both managed to study the piece of foreign soul attached to her own. Neither are sharing their findings with me, however. Still, it proves that your decision wasn’t wrong. If we’d been able to study her for a few more months, we would have learned far more. Perhaps we’d have even figured out defenses against… what happened on Ziost. Things like mass possession.”

“Thank you. I suppose I’ll have to break the news to Theron.”

“How is your hunt going?”

“I am hopeful that we’ll have the locations of a few Zakuulan systems by the end of the day. If we’re lucky, even the Hyperspace routes to them. If I learn anything of value, I’ll make sure to alert Lady Kai.”

“Good. We’re on the back foot here. Still… did you know, Lady Kai has begun hiding the big ships? We’re fighting the endless Zakuulan navies with light ships and corvettes only.”

“That’s an… interesting tactic. Is it working well?”

“So far, yes. It’s a lot of work. Space battles take far longer now. But they’re able to keep the big Zakuulan ships back. For now. I don’t think this will last forever, however.”

“I understand.” The sooner we find Zakuul, the better.

“So, that’s all I had for you, Lana.”

“How is Kariya?”

“The recent attacks have made her nervous. She is convinced—not without reason, perhaps—that Zakuul will come for us soon. But more, she fears the Emperor. The incident on Ziost left her more terrified of him than she had been, before. She, along with millions more of our people.”

“I hope this isn’t the part where you tell me that there’s a growing sentiment among our people, that we were better off bowing to Vitiate?”

“That’s the funny part. No one believes in his benevolence or innocence anymore. Everyone has begun to accept that he could devour souls, and would have, had Vajra not slain him five years ago. And since he replicated the feat, people are quite grateful to him. There are many who even consider Ziost avenged.”

Lana chuckled. “Really?”

“Yes. The Way of the Third Eye has come to the Empire. That’s the cult that sprang up in the Republic after his many, many victories. It came to us by way of slaves and conquered peoples who spread their beliefs. Imperial citizens were skeptical at first, but they’re much more receptive to their words now. I see the three-eyed sigil all around Dromund Kaas. For the most part, they follow his lifestyle. Or what they perceived his lifestyle to be. Chivalric virtues like courage, honesty, honor, respect, dedication, resilience, and service. Especially service. I think people noticed his dedication to aiding refugees.”

“He’ll be pleased to hear that.”

“His disappearance has done little to deter them, for the cult never preached his invincibility. They believe that he walked to his doom with his head held high and his back straight. That he attacked the beast in its lair, and won. He defended the galaxy from the Emperor once more, even if it cost him everything.”

“It sounds like more trouble than it’s worth, but I’m glad people love him. After Arcann’s announcement, I had thought public opinion about him would turn to hatred. That they’d blame the war on him.”

“Were it not for Ziost, I think that might have been true, here in the Empire. And the Republic still loves him for killing Vitiate the first time.”

“I see. Thank you, Lord Imperius. This news did raise my spirits a little.”

“Find him, Lana. Arcann may be a dangerous distraction, but the Vitiate… we both know he’s not gone for good. I don’t mind Zakuul winning the war. The upper hand doesn’t last forever, we’ve learned that much from nearly fifty years of war. But beings like Vitiate can depopulate entire star systems and damage the Force itself.”

“I will, Dark Lord.”

When Lana returned to the lab, T7 had some fantastic news for her.

“That’s wonderful!”

<Affirmative!>

“Explanation: The extrapolation of planet’s locations based on starfields was quite successful. When cross-referencing patrol routes, manifests, and star charts of unmapped zones from Zakuulan ships, as well as Hyperspace exit and entry vectors recorded in previous battles, we have determined the most likely paths to these worlds.
Statement: Since the Zakuulan ships have already mapped all major astronomical objects in Zakuulan space, we will be able to reach these star systems without having to discover those trails for ourselves.”

“Let us waste no more time. Quickly, to the ship!”

I’m coming, my Knave. At last, I’m coming!

Chapter 19: On Enemy Soil

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Aboard the Unsolved Mystery

Lana’s heart raced. The time was fast approaching. She was about to set foot on enemy shores—the first enemy of Zakuul to do so, as a free entity.

Am I though? An enemy of Zakuul? All I care about is Vajra.

Well… perhaps she was? She could not soon forget the girl who had tortured her husband for several days, almost nonstop. She wanted to have sharp words with her, before this was done. But even that was quite a low priority. If she had to kiss that woman’s boots to secure Vajra’s release, she would do so.

She forced herself back into reality as the timer entered the final ten seconds.

“Nine. Eight. Seven.”

“Four. Three.”

“Zero.”

They pulled out just beyond the last planet of the system. Lana was keenly aware that Zakuulan sensors had a range greater than Imperial or Republic ones, and she didn’t know what that range was. Hopefully, this world, Nirkuul, was not afforded the best available defenses.

In order to prevent the enemy from picking up the telltale signs of a ship emerging from Hyperspace, Lana had elected a slightly roundabout approach. She pinpointed which planet she needed to visit in this system, then took the ship into a series of microjumps which placed their exit points on the far side of a planet or satellite. Its shadow.

But when they reached the moon of Nirkuul itself, she wondered why she’d bothered. The enemy seemed absolutely confident in their safety. This world had twelve thousand ships stationed here, according to scans. But there was not a single patrol to be seen anywhere. No defense satellites or deep-space monitoring network.

Zakuul had been at peace for far too long, it seemed. They did not understand the threat of invasion like most Republic and Imperial worlds did. She had made the right call in opting for stealth. These people would be hit quite hard, when Lady Kai sent in the first raids. They would lose heart, when they saw the true face of war. Perhaps they would riot and protest the war; beg Arcann for a surrender.

Peace is a lie. Realizing that truth for the first time could destroy you.

“T7, can you confirm that the stealth drives are running?”

“HK, scan ahead for all frequencies. If they see through us, I’d rather be captured than destroyed. If not, I just want to hear what they’re saying.”

“Acknowledgement.”

Lana angled their entry near a location far from any populated areas to minimize the risk of being spotted, even by amateur astronomers. The ship shuddered when it entered the atmosphere, and deep below, Lana saw an ocean like any other. Vast, dark, unknown. But not nearly as unknown as it pretended to be, just like Zakuul itself. Scans indicated no underwater structures like those on Manaan.

After the Eternal Fleet, she had expected a far more advanced civilization. Especially here on Nirkuul, which had the primary Chapel of the Unrelenting Vigil, the Knightly Order in charge of intelligence and policing.

Perhaps Zakuul itself will live up to that expectation. Maybe they don’t share their best technology, as a way of maintaining their centralized power. Yes, that makes sense. Less hassle for me.

The ship approached the Chapel at high speed—for it was there she was headed. She had thought it reckless, at first. But having seen their ironically lax attitude to vigilance, her confidence grew. She got her first sight of a Zakuulan city when it was still quite dark. Her computer informed her that it was around 01:30 in the morning, local time.

And all lights were out.

“Statement: There is a vacant landing pad at the base of that cliff, Master.”

“Bring us in for landing.”

The Unsolved Mystery was very silent even while landing, thanks to several upgrades Lana had installed. They parked it as close to the Chapel as they dared and made their way to the door.

“Statement: Sunrise is at 06:00. We have four hours and forty-one minutes of darkness.”

“Best not count on having all that time to ourselves. Many soldiers rise before dawn. It would be prudent to assume that these did, too.”

The trio made their way to the door, which T7 sliced in under thirty seconds. Once they were inside, Lana had an idea.

“I’ll look in the prisons first, just in case. HK, visit their armory. See if there’s any designs worth stealing, including upgrades. T7, disable all droids, sensors, alarms and cameras as planned.”

Lana tried not to hope too much. Could it really be possible for Vajra to be right under her nose, without her being able to Sense him?

It would be absolutely stupid if I rule that out, only to find out later that he had been right under my nose. I’m not taking chances.

She found the cells easily enough. They were a complex of small, white cubicles with a bed, a basin, a shower, and a fresher. There were four occupants, according to the computer; three were imprisoned for gang affiliations, while the last one was part of a heretical cult called… the Heralds of Zildrog.

The interrogation rooms were close to the stairs she’d come through, and the computers in the observation rooms still had all recordings from the past year. Lana was relieved, as this would give her some knowledge about the underworld in Zakuulan society. It would give her an in, when she needed to live on their worlds. And she could even work with them. Perhaps help them enter the Core Worlds to expand their businesses.

Her ruminations screeched to a halt when she saw records of one very familiar prisoner. But it wasn’t the one she’d been expecting.

“T7. Can you look up a certain name for me? Erisa Wisp. Or Cipher Nine. No, she’s a replacement for the old one.” Lana glanced at her datapad to see what the Astromech had sent her. “Blast. She was here until yesterday! Of all the rotten luck!” But where was she taken to?

Lana scrolled down the short report T7 had sent her.

Zakuul. Right into the lion’s den itself. Lana sighed. Agent Wisper… she was a good person. And a fantastic spy who wanted nothing more than a civilian life. Now, she was going to die in a Zakuulan cell.

If only I’d been faster.

She decided to look through her files later. She owed her that much.

Once she was done with the prison level, she entered the records room, where T7 was.

“Anything else of note?”

“But hopefully, not useless.”

The Astromech gave something akin to a shrug.

“Is there… is there anything about Vajra?”

Lana frowned. “That’s odd. He’s too significant for them to not discuss him at all. Maybe they have him under a different name? How about you search under ‘Valkorion?’ Specifically, who killed him?”

The Astromech obliged. <The Immortal Emperor’s killer = called ‘the Outlander.’>

“Is that right?”

<Affirmative. Searching records for fate and current location. Marked as Executed>

“So, they’re lying. Covering their tracks. I suppose the truth is too much to hope for.”

“Of course I do. I would’ve Sensed his death. What I can Feel is… different.”

T7 piped down, no doubt disturbed.

“We mustn’t give in,” Lana said. “The enemy wants to trick us into believing he’s dead. Not just us, the whole galaxy. Do you believe in me?”

The Astromech didn’t answer, and Lana felt a strange mixture of annoyance and worry. How long would he stay by her side? Would he return to the Republic, if he deemed her cause lost? His expertise was what had allowed her to get this far so quickly.

She absolutely needed him on her side.

<T7 = loves Vajra> the Astromech said at last. <Vajra = loved Lana || Asked T7 to look out for her. T7 will stay with Sith Lord: Lana Beniko until the end>

Lana was touched. She recalled yet again how Vajra had always treated the Astromech as a person. One with not just feelings of his own, but the ability to empathize. Make his own decisions in a way similar to organics than droids.

“Thank you, T7,” she said. “That’s a relief to hear. This would be infinitely harder without you. And… can you stop calling me ‘Sith Lord: Lana Beniko?’ I think we’ve known each other for you to just call me Lana, the way you do Vajra.”

“Thanks. I’ll go snoop around the building a little. Perhaps there’s something else to be found.”

Lana made sure she had a map to guide her, then toured as much of the facility as she dared. She visited the Commander’s office first, and quickly looked through the papers. Zakuul used Galactic Basic—probably thanks to their Emperor—so she had no problems with it.

There were a lot of celebratory letters, gloating about how weak the Core Worlds were, which made Lana want to gut the Commander in his bed. Some routine ones sent to his subordinates, which included details about regular drills, sports, and feasts.

She hoped there was a record of collaborators, so they could be rooted out. But if they had such a document, it wasn’t here. Lana next entered the commander’s bedroom—which was attached to the office. She was almost overpowered by the aroma in the air, some strong mixture of rotten foods barely masked by the air freshener.

Stay strong, she told herself. You’ve smelled worse.

There were some kind of rodents running around on the floor, including a clutch of at least fifteen infants. Lana used the Force to put them in a near soporific state, so they wouldn’t get underfoot. Now that she wasn’t in danger of being bitten, she looked around and realized there was no way she was getting anything in here. Instead, she placed several bugs around the bedroom before doing the same in the office. The only thing that worried her, was if they used their droids to sweep for such devices. The Zakuulans may be lax, but droids were droids. They didn’t get lazy or complacent.

In the end, she thought it was worth the risk. From the state of the commander’s room, she was certain they didn’t have such tight security. And like she’d expected, she discovered several bugs placed by other parties, long since inert after having lost power.

Criminals? Rival Orders? She didn’t know.

She left the room and searched the adjutant commander’s office. Or attempted to. This one didn’t even believe in keeping his public space tidy.

What was with these people?!?

What time is it? 04:45… it’s nearly time.

She toured the halls, memorizing the layout until she got T7’s signal. Just as she reached the stairwell, she hesitated.

“Get back to the ship,” she whispered. “Since I’m here, I want to see what this planet looks like when the sun is up.”

She exited the roof and stood patiently, waiting for the sun to emerge from the horizon. It rose at 06:00, bathing the city in gentle, red light. Beyond the Chapel walls, the city was beautiful and neat. Well-planned, with most buildings only comprising of a single story. Upon a little thought, she concluded that they were all too uniformly large to be homes for single families, unless the Zakuulans—or at least, the people of this world—practiced living with extended families. Much more likely if they were dormitories of some kind. At the center of every block of around thirty houses was a larger building that might serve as an office complex. The neat rows of trees would no doubt provide shade on the sidewalks during the day.

At the center of the city was a spire that rose to the heavens, with many radial branches. The many ships assigned to this system were docked there. A powerful navy, functioning as little more than a decoration. A testament to their power. Though it would probably not look so impressive the second time.

Lana was dissatisfied. This city was very… sterile. Lacking in any kind of personality, even the black gothic one that Dromund Kaas boasted. No statues, no parks, no fountains… perhaps it had not risen up organically, but had instead been founded to support the Chapel and other military operations. She decided to reserve judgement until they reached their second destination.

“I’m coming back now,” Lana whispered into her comm. Although she’d originally intended to dive off the building, she chose to walk down the stairs again (A.N. She has her stealth field generator, in addition to knowing Force Camouflage). To her disdain, not a single Knight was up and above yet. She didn’t run into a single living being on the way down.

“Statement: You seem like you took a walk in a park, Master.”

“I am unimpressed, it’s true. The Vigilants, they call themselves. And this building is the ‘Chapter of the Unrelenting Vigil.’ What an absolute joke! A Gamorrean thug can just walk in and kill them all in their sleep.”

“Query: So I suppose this means you won’t be reprimanding me for my assassination of three Vigilants?”

Lana chuckled. “You almost had me.”

“Statement: I am in a good mood, Master. One might think that since assassination is my prime directive, I’d hate walking in and out of an enemy stronghold without slitting a single throat. But this is entertaining as well.”

“Did you find any useful munitions and arms?”

“Answer: Oh, yes, Master!
Statement: It is regrettable we couldn’t just steal the parts and weapons themselves, but I do have some ideas of how to upgrade me. You see, it occurs to me that I find a lot more use as a bodyguard than an assassin.
Query: Master, how do you feel about changing my primary function?”

En Route to the next planet

Lana was no longer concerned about being spotted. Their next trip would see them emerge right on top of their destination. Even if the world wasn’t a humble Agriworld, she had written off the enemy as too complacent.

Which would be ironic, if it were a mistake on her part.

Still, she had more than just precedent to go off of. She had read T7’s helpful summary about Zakuul’s crime and the justice system.

Most matters—the petty thefts and third-degree murders—were handled by a less deadly model of Skytroopers. The Relentless Vigil handled all matters related not just to espionage on foreign shores, but also serial killers, gang-related crime, conspiracies, treason, heresy, and counterintelligence. They handled many of those jobs no worse than most police forces did, but they had little in place for that last item.

At least, not out here. The Relentless Vigil on Zakuul was much more secure, run by a separate organization, one which insisted on stricter policies, sudden changes, and secret protocols. Things which the Commander at Nirkuul had privately laughed at.

Lana felt confident that she could tour the city in street clothes while they waited for the sun to set.

“Statement: We have arrived at our destination.”

“Good. Any alerts or messages? Or any movement of ships?”

“As expected. Let’s find a place to land.”

Asad

Zakuul’s most remote Agriworld was comprised of three arid continents in a large ocean. Mostly mesas and rocky plains. High-speed winds made sedentary life difficult in most places, and the beaches were assailed by tidal waves.

But there were habitable zones in many river valleys and canyons all over the world. The largest was Red River’s Bend, which had a community of five thousand farmers. In addition, it housed the administrative, military, medical, support, and storage buildings too. But it had no spire. There were no ships in orbit, but for a few grain barges.

The winds made landing difficult, but they were eventually able to set down close to the periphery, by a cave. They all activated stealth field generators to infiltrate on foot.

The local time was 17:35 when they entered the town proper. It was much more alive than the previous world. Lana approved. Many buildings were two- or three-storied this time, but varied greatly in architecture and color. They were also spaced fairly wide apart, with each home allotted between two and five acres of land. There were canals in the ground and aqueducts running overhead, which supplied water to the many farmsteads. The outer wall was high enough to keep out predators and pests, but Lana still encountered many guard animals. Most of who were extremely friendly to humans. And to each other. They played with the many children as they watched their flocks. Plenty of droids walked the roads, most of them looking old and rusty.

Most of the townsfolk were done working for the day, and were on the streets socializing, relaxing, or perusing the market stalls.

This is much more like it, Lana thought approvingly as she passed a crowd which was gathered around a travelling troupe of colorfully-dressed performers. They sang and danced with the entertainment, offering them free drinks and food in their homesteads and taverns.

A curious Lana entered one of the latter, and noticed that the food they served was rather simple. But hearty and hot. The few customers were eating the meal like it was blessed by the heavens. And the ale looked good. The place she visited had a large holoprojector in the middle, and it was playing some animated children’s drama. She watched this for a little while before slipping out.

She passed by a few excitable children, feeling a slight ache in her heart as she heard their laughter fade into the rest of the ambient noise, but it wasn’t as bad as it had once been.

Once I save Vajra, we’ll try again. I promise, our loss won’t stop me.

Still under her stealth field generator, she saw as much of what the town had to offer as she could, before leading the droids to the government center.

This was definitely the residence of a governor; it had high walls and guards who wore Zakuulan armor instead of the simple garments the locals wore.

Not Knights though. Regulars. Between their Knights and the Skytroopers, Zakuulans had no need for a conventional army or police. The closest anyone had seen was the Tumult Battalion, the unit of shock commandos who had destroyed planetary shields on several worlds. The only unit Zakuul had displayed which had quality over quantity. Which had been properly prepared for war.

These guards were clearly not from their number; they chatted animatedly among themselves, not a care in the galaxy. Lana could’ve slipped right past them, if she so chose. Instead, she continued her tour of the town, this time seeing it through the eyes of a soldier. Making a note of the layout, the warehouses, the scant defenses, the outpost of Vigilants…

But then she found a homestead that seemed a bit different from the rest. The people there continued to work, or pretend to. But it was plain for anyone who really looked, to see that they were just doing something that resembled farming.

“Query: Do you want me to look into these ruffians, Master?”

“Yes, please. See if you can make copies of any documents and ledgers—it will give us an idea about the value of their currency.”

It turned out they were members of the cult called the Heralds of Zildrog, and they were attempting to find converts in this world. They were the reason the Vigil was on this world. And according to HK’s findings, they had already killed three Vigilants.

“Good. HK, I have a different assignment for you, come nightfall. Enter the Vigilants’ outpost after the lights go out. Seize one of them for me, someone of middling rank, easy to carry off. Tie him up, and leave him in the cave we discovered outside the town.

“Delighted Declaration: That sounds like fun, Master!”

“You may return to the governor’s mansion once your prisoner is secure.” At this point, Lana did not believe the enemy would notice if a droid was carrying off a body in the middle of the night.

All that was left to do now, was wait.

This infiltration went off just as easily as the last one. The guards were so inept, they might as well not have been there at all. Many had fallen asleep at their posts.

Lana highly doubted there would be anything of value in the governor’s computers, but was willing to be proven wrong. The best she expected to find was routes to other worlds, perhaps slightly more important. Closer to the center of their civilization.

She made sure to swipe a few million credits from the Governor’s bank account, a sum she wouldn’t miss, but would help Lana live on Zakuul itself for more than a year, when the time came.

For now, her main prize was the Vigilant in the cargo hold.

“Please!” the woman cried. “I beg of you! Do not harm me! I—I—I—I have children!”

An amateur would be able to know that for a lie. Lana decided that a harder interrogation was unnecessary here. The subject was already broken, her distress genuine.

“There’s some information I’m looking for,” she told the Vigilant. “The Outlander. The one who killed the Immortal Emperor. I want to know where he is.”

“Please… if I tell you, will you let me go?”

“Three. Two. One—”

“Okay! Okay, okay!” the captive took a deep breath. “He was executed. The body was diced and thrown to the swamp, in the pond favored by the Rancor known as the King of the Swamp.”

Lana was unmoved. “Do you know that for a fact?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Do you have eyewitness testimonies of the execution?”

“No, but—”

“Yes?”

“High Lord Vigilant Kalanor told us. He wasn’t present at the execution itself, but it was part of his Order-wide address before we went to war.”

“Who is this High Lord Vigilant? Where can I find him?”

“He is the overall commander of the Vigilants. He’s usually on Zakuul, for he is among the Emperor’s chief advisors.”

“How do I get to Zakuul?”

“Why would you ask such a question? Who—who are you?”

Lana fired a burst of Lightning into the prisoner. “HOW!?”

“AHHH! I don’t know! Nobody knows! How can we?”

“What is that supposed to mean? How can you not know Hyperspace routes to your own capital!?”

“Hyperspace routes? What is that?” She grunted when Lana hit her with another Lightning. “AAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!”

“How do you get from one world to the other? Do you have navicomputers, or…”

“NO! Please! It’s the signal! The Hyperspace guidance signal! It’s broadcast on a special frequency that all ships have access to! Our droids enter our location and destination, submit our clearance, and the signal does the rest! I don’t know how it works!”

“How do I get clearance? Can I steal a ship?”

“No! Most ships out here don’t have clearance to go all the way. Only ships of the Eternal Fleet are allowed to go directly to the capital, and some ships owned by citizens in very good standing. Anyone looking to go there needs passage aboard one of these. Even us Vigilants.”

“What of the Heretics? How do they get off-world?”

“I don’t know.”

“How can you not? Your organization is tasked with dealing with them!”

“I don’t know… because they don’t know. We’ve never captured anyone important. Only their acolytes and thugs.”

“I see.” That made sense.

“Will… will you let me go?”

“No. I’m going to execute you, dice you up, and toss your remains for some Rancor to find.”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! PLEASE! PLEASE!”

Lana was unmoved by the desperate plea for help, but she couldn’t just discard a vital source of information.

“HK? Put her to sleep. She’s going to be a guest at the Silent Nest for the foreseeable future.”

“Statement: I will take good care of the Meatbag, Master.”

Lana held off the frustration until they were safely away in Hyperspace. “It’s no wonder they’re so certain of their security,” she seethed. “This Hyperspace Guidance System will make travelling between worlds difficult.”

“Yes. We’ll need some legitimate credentials first. Shame there were no ships to be stolen in this world.” She calmed herself down. “Don’t worry. Worst case scenario, we find more worlds like we did these two. What’s our next objective called? Gaharian?”

“Let’s head back to the Nest first. We’ll secure our prisoner first. Perhaps the computers have something new for us.”

She leaned back against her seat, closing her eyes in the hopes of getting a little shut-eye. Perhaps it was time to seek out what had called to her, a few weeks ago.

Chapter 20: Brave New World

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

The Silent Nest Space Station

Lana sat cross-legged on the hard floor; eyes closed off to the outside world. She sought clarity; she needed to See again; See the path it had laid out for her a few weeks ago. But the Force did not replay old visions like some recorder. At least, not to the average Force Sensitive. Perhaps to a sage like Master Devel… or Master Gnost-Dural. But would they help her? Even for Vajra? Almost certainly. But was that the right choice? She was certain that Master Devel would request her presence on Tython. And that might be an unnecessary side-trip. It might even cost her a few months, as the Jedi Master was notorious for taking his time. And for insisting that you can’t rush the Force.

What would you do, my Knave?

It was then that inspiration came to Lana.

Vajra’s words sailed out from the depths of her memories.

“I did this… thing once,” he had said. “Where I wanted some answers, and no book or Holocron had one for me. I meditated on my Lightsaber crystals. The blades.”

Lana recalled her confusion. “You meditated—?”

“Yes. I coaxed the crystals into one, cohesive chorus, then let them guide me where I needed to go. That was how I found the inspiration for my Rath form.”

Her Lightsaber. It had one of the same crystals which Vajra had used for this meditation. Which he had used to seek out answers. Though of course, she could do this just as well with any crystals, this fact made it seem predestined.

I should’ve done this much sooner!

She reached for it and activated the blade.

“Please,” she whispered. “Show me the way.” She focused her attention on the crystal. On its song. She sought the Force through the music which only her soul could hear. And she was startled almost out of her trance, by the ghost of a kiss against her neck. How Vajra used to kiss her when she was lost in thought. “Knave?” she whispered, but found no answer.

Could this be it? Perhaps I can just use this trance to liven the Bond again! And trace it back to him!

Distracted, she sought to penetrate the frozen void that halted all communication through her Bond. It was still resolutely unresponsive. Frustrated, Lana tried harder and harder, seeking to break through the barrier with pure passion. But nothing happened. After perhaps an hour, she found herself giving up.

This isn’t the way, the crystal seemed to say.

Fine, she admitted sourly. She entered the Incorporeal World. She stood in absolute nothingness in the middle of space, with a million stars and nebulae dotting the black in every direction. The crystal seemed to float in front of her, just below her eye level. “Show me that world,” She requested reluctantly. “The one in perfect balance.”

The Crystal took off, a white path trailing in its wake for her to follow. It set quite a brisk pace, forcing her to run. But that was just her mind making sense of something impossible in the real world, with her real body. Her spirit self was covering great distances in moments, but not so fast as a ship running through Hyperspace. Stars in her path grew larger as she approached them. She saw things that couldn’t be seen from a distance. Gas giants. Planets. Satellites. Asteroids. The path shifted to run clear of these obstacles, but she could still see them. More, she could feel their presence in the Force. A great ocean of murmurs from those with life. Eventually, they reached a world she had grown rather familiar with.

“Elgrind.”

The crystal rested there for a moment, then turned slightly. It began following a path out of the Elgrind system, but at a faster pace. And yet, Lana could keep up by just jogging. After about forty minutes, they reached a star system with a lone, dark blue gas supergiant covered in storms. They had traveled in an almost straight line to get here, Lana noted.

The silver road led her to a large star system next, this one with twelve worlds; three of which were inhabited. And two of the moons on the fourth planet as well.

She was then taken to another star system with a single gas giant. But this one had an abandoned orbital station, a large one. The crystal lingered here for a moment, and Lana half wondered if she would find Vajra here.

When the crystal began the next leg of her journey, her instinct told her that it was taking her to her intended destination. They arrived at a beautiful world with pristine blue oceans and lush green continents. As she’d noticed on her first glimpse of this place, the Force was not only very strong, it was in the most perfect balance imaginable. In fact, this close, she had to ask herself why others hadn’t found it before. Why they hadn’t been led here.

“It doesn’t matter. Why am I supposed to come here? I don’t Sense anything, other than nonintelligent life forms. No Knights, no Jedi, no Sith, no people. Why must I come here? What does this have to do with my goal?”

Unfortunately, the crystal had completed its task. All she heard was, “You will know.”

The vision ended. She rose abruptly, before her eyes were opened. She felt dizzy for some reason. And very thirsty.

<Lana?>

“T7!”

“Worried Statement: You have been sitting here for ten days, Master.”

“Ten days?!?!”

“Statement: You have been known to meditate before, but only on the ship. Or when we were waiting for something. And definitely not for this long!”

“I’m sorry. I should’ve told you. But I never expected this would take more than a few hours...” This method was clearly not a time-efficient one. At least the Force slowed down things like dehydration. “I’ve found… I’ve found several promising locations to visit. They’re all in Wild Space, and I know the way.”

“Surprised Statement: You do, Master?”

“Yes. The Force showed me. How soon can we leave?”

<10 minutes. Ship = fueled and ready>

“Good.” Lana began gathering her kit. “Shall we?”

They first made their way to the abandoned station.

It was larger than Lana had initially thought; big enough to house perhaps two or three million residents. It had large docking bays on which ships two-thirds as big as the Super Dreadnought called The Star of Coruscant could land. The design was utilitarian, but built with long-term residency in mind. Perhaps it was built to mine a resource which had been available only on this world. Fuel, tibanna gas, space whales, or anything else.

Her hypothesis was confirmed when she reached the closest computer; this ancient space station had been built by the Republic a thousand years before the time of Marka Ragnos. And vacated fifty years after the death of Naga Sadow, when the tibanna gas had been depleted. A request had been logged for the Republic to send in scavengers, but it had clearly been forgotten.

Lana wasn’t surprised. Things often slipped through the cracks. This place would be good for any number of covert activities.

“T7? Take a look at this station’s generators and fuel reserves. What would it take to make portions of it habitable again?”

T7 complied. <Resources = already in place. Generators = have been turned off, but can be restarted with ease. Checking inventory || Fuel = enough to run for fifty years at full capacity. Repulsorlifts = have enough fuel for fifty-six years. Oxygen circulators + air filters = online. Water recycling plants = dirty, but salvageable>

“Query: What would you like to do, Master?”

“I’m thinking this would be a good place for people like Theron. Or Kira. Or any refugees with no place to go. Perhaps we can find a use for it ourselves, soon.”

Lana took a look around, and saw with satisfaction that this place had room for things like cafes, restaurants, cinemas, and other recreational facilities. As expected of a place that was home to people for over a thousand years.

“What is this place called again?”

T7 unenthusiastically uttered a string of letters and numerals.

“Let’s just call it ‘Asylum’ for now.”

“Statement: Master, I have finished inspecting the surveillance systems on all levels. This station has not seen any activity in centuries.
Conclusion: It is well and truly abandoned.”

“Good. No one here to contest our claim. I think we’re ready to move on.”

“Query: Where to, Master?”

“If only I had a name to give you. It’s a world strong in the Force, but balanced. It was what called to me.”

“Hesitant Query: And you think it prudent to answer this… call?”

“I’m afraid so. Come along now!”

Lana was fidgety with anticipation as the ship reentered realspace before the world she’d so far only seen in her mind’s eye.

It was a beautiful gemstone of a world to behold, especially when you saw it through the Force. It was unlike a world bathed in light, like Tython or Ilum, which promised a false tranquility that would lull you into complacent idleness. Nor was it a Dark world akin to Korriban or Dromund Kaas, which promoted barbarity by heightening passions until they were too strong for reason to easily rein in.

It was life as nature intended it to be; a forest which provided food yet hid predators. An ocean teeming with life and danger, mystery and treasures. Lana loved it.

“Statement: Scans say that the landmass is covered in mountains, valleys, forests, rivers, and lakes. Lots of place for agriculture or industry. Several cliffs and plateaus with a commanding view of the surroundings that would make for excellent military bases. There is a lot of ice in the upper and lower fifth of the world. Tectonically stable. Many volcanoes spotted under the sea, and near certain mountain ranges. The climate seems ideal for most human and near-human life in the galaxy.”

“Anything else that I might have missed? A possible hidden facility?”

“Answer: No, Master.”

“I… I didn’t know what I was expecting.” Lana hated herself for having grown hopeful. But she couldn’t help but wonder why she’d been drawn here now of all times. Any other time in her life—even during the Revanite menace—she’d have been happy to explore for a few days. But Vajra—

Don’t panic, she told herself. If they haven’t killed him yet, it’s because they aren’t going to, anytime soon. We have time.

Her instincts told her that this was true. But that didn’t settle her down at all. She was impatient to reunite with her husband. As soon as possible.

“Take us down. Pick the place that might be best for a military base, and set us down there.”

As it happened, the place the droids chose was close to a fount of power. Lana decided to check it out at a later date. For now, she wanted to operate under the assumption that people would live here one day.

She had been summoned here, that was for certain. But for what? Was it to be a refuge, or a bulwark against Zakuul? Either way, she was in need of more resources right now. And while she had a lot of her own money, she had a better idea. She pulled out her holocom and hailed Theron. The signal took a while to make it through, since she was relying on her ship’s antenna, but when it did, her friend answered almost at once.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Theron. Is it a good time?”

“Of course. We were almost ready to free Oggurobb, but there’s been a complication. Our timetables got pushed back. How can I help you?”

“I was thinking of accepting the gift you so kindly offered me. Can you meet me at these coordinates in the next twenty-four hours?”

Theron checked out the data she sent him. “Wow. This is… very out of the way!”

“Yes. It’s an orbital station, an abandoned one. I discovered it while… well, I was hunting for something the Force showed me.”

“Need any help finding it?”

“Oh, I’ve already found it. But I’m going to keep it secret until we meet.”

“No problem. I’ll be at this… this ‘Asylum’ place shortly.”

“Thank you, Theron.” Lana grinned. “It will be so good to finally see you again. Things were so uncertain when we parted!”

He laughed. “That, they were. And I still owe you a proper thanks, something in addition to the money.”

“I’ll hold you to it. Let me know when you leave.”

“Sure thing. Bye!”

Chapter 21: New Endeavor

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Asylum

Lana only had to wait three hours before Theron showed up, by which time she was able to explore twelve more levels. This place could probably hold more people than she’d originally guessed, as the apartments were as small as possible.

But why? And how did they even water and feed so many people? There were several levels with large greenhouses, but that would be insufficient. They would have to ship in most of their food. That would cost millions of credits every week. Was tibanna mining really such a profitable venture?

It was a mystery for later. Much later. Hopefully, after she’d rescued Vajra.

“Statement: Master, a ship has dropped out of Hyperspace. It will dock in thirty minutes.”

“I’m on my way.”

About the same time as Lana arrived at the landing pad, a ship that looked like a reclaimed BT-7 Thunderclap came in for a landing. The first off was the SIS Agent himself.

Seeing Theron again brought her unexpected levels of joy. She jogged up to him and gave him an awkward but pleased hug. “Theron!”

“Whoa!” He returned the embrace. “Lana.”

“It’s good to see you again. Alive and safe…” She had to fight back tears. As she pulled back, she noticed what looked like a bite mark on his neck, barely covered by the collar of his famous red jacket. She almost laughed. “How are the upgrades?”

Theron tapped them. “They’re really good. Better than what I had before, by a long shot. And they’ve already helped us several times. It’s probably best we got these upgrades just when Zakuul showed up.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“Allow me to introduce you to my girlfriend,” Theron said formally. “This is Captain Elara Dorn. Havoc Squad. Elara, this is Lana. Fully armed Sith Lord.”

Elara saluted stiffly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir. I am grateful to you for saving mine, and my brother’s lives.”

“Nice to meet you too.” Lana was curious about the other woman. She was quite beautiful, with bright blue eyes and a round face. She wore light armor sitting on a dark jumpsuit. A Grissom B950 heavy blaster sat on her left hip, and the hilt of a dagger or machete poked out from her back right. “You can call me Lana. I’ve read some of your work. I like it!”

“Thank you. Theron told me. I was surprised to hear that.”

“Congratulations on catching this man’s eye,” she said. “Though now that I look at you, I shouldn’t feel surprised.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“I told her about Ashton,” Theron confided. “And Jasme. We can talk openly.”

Ashton and Jasme… but not me and Vajra? Good. She didn’t know if she wanted people to talk about that yet.

“Want to come aboard my ship? I made some iced tea.”

“What, no seven-course meal?”

“I can’t, right now. Fair warning, the tea isn’t my best either. It’s just some refreshments.”

“Got it,” Theron said. “I guess there’s a lot on your mind, isn’t there?”

“I suppose.” Truthfully, there’s only one thing on my mind right now. “So, have the two of you worked anything out yet?”

Captain Dorn looked a little frustrated. “Sort of.”

“I told her it’s unfair to Ash if I have any other kids,” Theron explained heavily.

“That’s a conversation you need your son for,” Lana noted. “Or have you spoken to him as well?”

“Well, no—”

“I understand where you’re coming from, Theron. But don’t write it off until you’ve actually talked to him. It’s true that he might resent the idea, or course, but he might also wish for the opposite. He might like the thought of having a sibling. Either way, family decisions are for family.”

“I—I hadn’t thought about it that way.”

“You’ve been living out of this ship for a while now, haven’t you?” Captain Dorn said, looking around cautiously.

“This ship, and a… confiscated space station.”

“‘Confiscated?’” Theron asked. “From whom?”

“The Star Cabal. I siphoned off quite a few of their choicest assets for myself. As did Nine. It’s a nice place. All the best amenities. Perhaps it’s a little too plush.”

“Why this ship, and not the Phoenix?” Theron asked.

“The Phoenix is a much more eye-catching ship than this one. Not to mention the sentimental value it holds. I won’t be using it until it’s safe to do so. The Mystery is good enough to serve my purposes anyway.”

Theron took a sip of the tea. “I got the money in a few crates in the Havoc Cry. Hang on, I’ll go and get it for you. Should’ve just brought it with me at the start. HK, would you mind, please?”

Elara had been watching the Sith for some time now. She looked almost sickly, as Jorgan had described. But she was a lot friendlier than she’d imagined. The hug she’d given Theron had caught Elara off-guard—and, admittedly, made her jealous. But he’d only been a little surprised.

What is her relationship with Theron?

Elara tried to table that line of inquiry right now, and instead focused on properly observing her. The Sith was quite pale, with light blonde hair tied in a loose, messy ponytail that rested just below her shoulder blades. Loose tresses framed her face like crab’s claws. Her eyes were lined with a little red, making her appear older and worn, though Theron had told her she was younger than himself by a few months. And of course, the eyes burned a hot yellow-orange. But by the way her robes sat on her body, Elara was reasonably certain she was eating well.

And she had this weird habit…

“So, you said you’ve been all by yourself, these past few weeks?” she asked the moment Theron was out the door.

“Yes. Just me and the droids.”

“Then would you like to get a quick medical checkup? I’m an army surgeon, so I am qualified to have a look at you.”

“Oh!” The Sith looked surprised. “I accept. Thank you for the offer.” She stood, and led her to the medbay. “I… I won’t lie, I am prone to illnesses. And I set foot on several new worlds without the usual precautions…”

“Not good,” Elara tutted. “And what’s wrong with your stomach? Are you in any discomfort?”

“My stomach?”

“You keep rubbing it every now and then. I suppose you don’t even notice you’re doing it.”

“I—I—” the Sith looked stricken for a moment. She tripped slightly, but caught herself before falling. “I had a miscarriage,” she admitted, much to Elara’s shock. She was the one who tripped this time. “I—I suppose I still have a few habits I picked up before losing… before—”

“I’m sorry,” Elara said sadly. She felt much more sympathetic towards the woman now. “Was it your first?”

“My second. I lost the first too.” She took off her robes and lay in bed. Her body had several scars, like one on her stomach, and a few burn marks on her chest, and a larger, uglier scar on her collarbone. Elara had been wrong; there were signs of sudden weight loss, but perhaps it was due to the miscarriage.

“Any lingering symptoms?”

“My periods were a lot messier after,” she replied. “And I had severe cramps, which are normally more manageable.”

“No other symptoms? Pain, fever, chills, nausea…”

“No.”

“Hmmm. Tongue out, please.” Elara examined Lord Beniko’s mouth, eyes, and heartbeat before taking a blood sample. “Have you been eating properly?” she asked as she placed just a dot of kolto on the spot.

“Well… no. I used to put a lot more effort into meals before. Make sure they all had the right amount of nutrients, in addition to tasting good. But lately, I’ve been cooking whatever’s fastest to make.”

“The miscarriage, or—”

Lord Beniko thought about it for a moment. “I… I wasn’t so far gone until… a lot happened after that, all in a row. Ziost. My right hand’s betrayal. All those deaths… but I was eating alright until Elgrind.”

“You’ve been through a lot, in just a short time, haven’t you?”

“No more than most others, these days.”

“Did you lose someone at Elgrind?”

“My husband. He was captured. I know he’s still alive.”

Her husband. Elara didn’t know why that surprised her. It’s not like Theron could’ve been the father, when they hadn’t met in months at that point. Could he? Or perhaps she was lying? “I didn’t know the Zakuulans captured too many soldiers,” Elara said, as she looked over the scan results.

“Not many, no.”

“Was he Sith?”

“No.”

“Oh.” Again, Elara was surprised.

“If it’s alright, I’d like to stop with the questions there,” Lord Beniko said.

“That’s alright. I don’t need to know all the details. But I do recommend visiting a therapist. You have issues you need to work through.” The console beeped to indicate that all tests were complete.

“How is it looking?”

“Hmmm. Not bad. Low cholesterol, good blood pressure. Organs working just fine… some nutrient deficiencies though. I’m going to prescribe a few supplements. Especially iron and vitamins. Get some sunlight every day. Now, moving onto your resistances and possible infections… you said you visited a few new worlds—” Elara suddenly realized what she was saying. “Wait a second. About these worlds.”

“Zakuulan worlds. This station. And one other, undiscovered one.”

“You’ve been to Zakuulan worlds?” Elara asked incredulously. “Where are they? How can we find them?”

“You won’t,” Lord Beniko said blandly. “No offense, but it’s best Arcann doesn’t discover until we’re ready.”

“You’ve already notified someone, haven’t you?”

“Lady Kai. With Marr gone, she’s the only one I trust to use the information wisely. Well, her and Vowrawn. The others are likely to waste the opportunity. Or lose a lot of men doing it.”

“She’s not wrong there,” Theron said, his voice strained.

“Statement: Oh, please, Master Shan! It’s not that heavy!”

“Those are some very big boxes.” Lord Beniko sounded amused.

“It’s a hundred million credits after all,” Theron gasped, putting down the cargo gently. “So, go on. Tell me. What are you going to use it for?”

Elara was certain that Beniko’s answer was a jest. “I’m going to build a paradise.”

They chatted for a while before parting ways.

Elara began interrogating him as soon as they’d taken off. “Theron, please tell me. How close are the two of you?”

“Quite close… I think?” Theron scratched his head. “At least, we were, until Revan was defeated. This was only the second time she hugged me.”

“Did you know she was pregnant?”

“No. She told me she’d miscarried when we met on Ziost. She didn’t talk about her personal life over the comm.” He looked at Elara. “Why?”

“I need to know. Was there a possibility that you were the father? Of either child?”

Theron almost jumped out of his seat. “Good god no! I’ve never slept with her! We were only ever friends. Besides, she’s married. And not the open type.”

Elara sighed, looking a little ashamed. “I understand. And I’m sorry. I needed to ask. From what Jorgan told me, she dropped something important to come and find you. She chose you over finding Vajra and her husband.”

“Yeah. I was quite shocked too. And touched.”

“Her husband—”

“Won’t answer questions about her personal life from here on. It’s her business.”

“Alright. Do you think she’ll find him? Or Vajra?”

“If anyone can, it’s her. She doesn’t quit easily.”

“Good. We need him. Vajra, I mean.”

“Yeah. But don’t you worry. Lady Kai is more than capable of—”

“Whatever you think of her, the Tiarna is of the Empire. And once she beats Arcann, she’ll turn her sights on us next. An Imperial victory isn’t any better than a Zakuulan one, in my books.”

“You’ve got a point. If only we could trust Republic leadership.”

“If we could, I imagine everything would’ve been different.”

“Yeah. We might never have gotten to know each other.”

Elara placed a hand on his.

“Hey, I’ve got an idea!” Theron said. “How about we invite Jasme and Ash to Corvus? We could have some fun, then have the talk.”

“I’d like that very much, thank you.”

Two days later,
Gameron Industrial Droid Manufacturing,
Eriadu

Lana Beniko felt nervous as she walked into the office. She was running a severe cough now, thanks to the planet’s polluted air. Her host, the CEO Vijeek DeClorr, kindly provided her with a cool drink after she was ushered inside.

“Greetings, Madam Wolf,” he smiled, shaking her hand warmly. “I was given to understand, you are here to make quite a large purchase.”

“Yes, I am. I’ve discovered a new world, and I’d like to claim it for myself. And for that, I need a team of heavy construction droids. Eight will do nicely. Of course, I’ll need the raw materials they’ll need to do their work. And the ships to transport them.”

“That is an expensive purchase,” he replied cautiously. “We can provide you with the droids, no problem. But the ships and the resources! We are happy to give you a discount, in exchange for a partnership—”

“No. I want to own this world outright. For now, at least. Besides, I plan on keeping it secret for the next few years.”

“You understand the cost is exorbitant. Droid?”

His droid answered almost at once. “The total price will be eighty-seven million credits. For this, you will receive eight Skarret-9 Droids, enough raw materials to build a large town, and one Kanassi-class heavy transport ship.”

“We can knock it down to eighty-five,” DeClorr said hurriedly. “Or, if you need a long-term payment plan, you can make a deposit of—”

“It’s alright. I have the money aboard my ship. If you can send a few droids to tally everything and confirm the value, we can begin writing up the agreement.”

“Of course, Madame Wolf,” DeClorr beamed. No doubt he was pleased for a deal that closed so quickly. But Lana felt she got the better end of the bargain. This establishment was the right balance of quality, trustworthiness, efficiency, and discretion that she’d been looking for when picking a factory. Their droids would be on her new planet by tomorrow.

And the architects and engineers Ray and Gault had loaned her should be ready for pickup as well. She was well on her way to achieving this goal… pointless though it seemed to her at the moment.

Vajra. I need to find Vajra. She was overtaken by another coughing fit as she finally left the world the next day. Oh no, she thought as she felt a slight itch in the back of her nose. Don’t tell me… not now!

But it was coming. And nothing she could do would stop it now.

Chapter 22: Some Surprises

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

One Month After the Battles of Ketaris and Adumar

The flu had been much worse than Lana had anticipated. No sooner had she returned to her new world, than she’d been almost completely knocked out by severe weakness and exhaustion. She woke up with a high fever and nausea, and required her medical droids for even the most basic movement.

She’d been forced to leave exploration to HK and T7 while she bitterly complained about how the galaxy had it in for her. And for her husband, whose rescue it had waylaid for the millionth time by now.

At least I didn’t miss anything. The worlds the droids had explored were all unimportant ones, most of which didn’t even have any fresh intel for them. Still, she missed Vajra. She had gotten too used to his presence, especially during her illnesses. He had always stepped up to take care of her, and while she had been self-conscious at first, she had come to greatly appreciate having someone around at her most vulnerable. And for knowing that someone had her back. Once again, she wished he’d just emerge from the morning mists, as if he’d never been gone at all. Pick her up, allowing her to nestle in his arms. Make her feel whole again. The Bond’s inactivity really bothered her.

At least she could leave her ship again. The work outside was coming along nicely. They’d chosen to build their little settlement a few dozen kilometers away from the defensible mesa she’d scoped out. This location was close to two rivers, with a few snow-capped mountains around. It was lightly forested too, making it perfect for parks.

The droids had already laid the foundations for the town, which would be big enough for three hundred large homes. The town-wide plumbing was set, and paths cleared for roads. Power and gas lines had been set too, as had the power station. The comm tower would be up by the end of the day. And all the boundaries for the many houses had been marked. Those would start going up in a few days.

These droids were a fantastic convenience. Not a tenth as big and unwieldy as the ones needed for multi-level ecumenopoli like Coruscant or Nar Shaddaa, they were just right for this job.

Lana had chosen for herself a place with good views, which sat at the edge of the town. Close to the mountains and lake. There was a space big enough for the Azure Phoenix to land. She pictured herself and Vajra settling down here, and even having their family, if misfortune didn’t strike again. She made a conscious effort to keep her hand away from her belly. It was a habit, just a stupid habit. One which betrayed weak sentiment.

Her imagination took Vajra’s voice to whisper in her ear. “Weak sentiment? That has helped us a lot in the past. Besides, your quest to find me—”

“Is totally different,” she told herself. “You’re alive. The baby is not.” Admitting it hurt her, but she said it.

This time, it was Lady Kai’s voice she imagined. “And what happens when the time comes to admit that Vajra is dead too? Will you hold on to weak sentiment? Or will you move on with your life? Will you let him go?”

“I will deal with that when the time comes,” Lana growled to herself. She thought of Bastila Shan. The Jedi had spent her whole life with the absolute certainty that her Bondmate was alive. Would that be her fate, as well? Would she live into her eighties and nineties without seeing—

No, she told herself firmly. I cannot give in to despair. I will see him again. Or I will know when he’s gone. It’s that simple.

After watching the construction for an hour, she retreated to her ship for some hot tea. And to catch up on some news. Some skirmishes across the Empire and Republic; the weakening of defenses and patrols along major trade routes; the deaths of several prominent Jedi and Sith…

Oh, and it looked like Saresh was making some big broadcast. That might either be fun to see, or quite bad. Either way, it would be important.

She hurriedly switched over to a Republic broadcasting frequency and made herself a piping hot soup while she waited. The commercials could be somewhat creative at times, but she felt sure that a lot of viewers tuning in today would be on tenterhooks for whatever bombshell drop Saresh had planned today.

It was an interview. A scripted conversation between herself and one of her old supporters in the media, Lyra Jekk; a friendship which Saresh had—in Lana’s opinion—abused. The talk went about how Lana expected—at least, from Saresh’s side. She tried to downplay Zakuul’s power even though everyone at this point knew that they were the most immediate threat to both sides. To Lana’s incredulity, the slimy politician also tried to claim credit for all of the Republic’s major wins beginning with Corellia.

How can she assert, with a straight face, that she had anything to do with Vitiate’s defeat? Or the attack on Dromund Kaas as a whole—the successful one? Or does she think everyone is fool enough to believe such asinine claims as this!?

But of course, it got worse. The Twi’lek tried to paint High Command as traitors and incompetents—

Wait, did she just out Satele’s relationship with Supreme Commander Malcom? Does she really think this line of attack will get her anywhere?!

Even Lyra seemed to think it was too far. She had been looking increasingly uncomfortable as the sermon progressed, but now she was openly showing her reservations, as if trying to distance herself from her old ally… and the fallout.

Too late. Or too soon, depending on your perspective. People will remember your role in Saresh’s plans for some time now. But she won’t overlook your behavior. And it will be months before the Senate reels her in. Or even years.

“In light of their many years of service, I graciously allowed them to retain a semblance of their freedom.”

“‘Graciously?!’” Lana laughed out loud. “You stupid fool! You wouldn’t hand out grace, if it was a trove as big as Coruscant!”

“But their treachery has left us… weakened. It doesn’t help that no one else is stepping up to help me. If only Vajra was still with us—” the sigh, and the accompanying sadness, were hilariously overdone, but that only got a few tiny grains of Lana’s attention.

“He was a very close, personal friend of mine,” the Chancellor went on. “He’d have helped me in this dark time, I have no doubt of that.”

She… did… not! You… she… I…

Lana tried to calm herself, but it was like trying to wrestle with a helverine. It made sense that an ethically void clout-chaser like Saresh would use famous names to prove virtue or moral high ground, especially if they weren’t alive to clarify their position. But Lana hated hearing her husband’s name used like this by the Chancellor he so heartily disliked, even before she had tried to smear Satele’s name and kill Theron.

Lana was of a mind to challenge her statements—using her contacts and rumors of course—but that would be a huge waste of her energy. By the time she forced her attention back to the broadcast, Saresh was making her request—getting to the point of this farce. She was asking for more resources and more soldiers.

Of course she was. The Republic had lost a good deal more ships, people, worlds, and resources—most important of which was a steady food supply—than the Empire had. Saresh was a fool. Republic High Command could have launched their coup, but didn’t. That should’ve told her something; that they were setting their grievance aside for the greater good. Which was what she should’ve done as well. With Malcom leading the military, the Republic wouldn’t be in such dire straits, at least not a mere month after the first Zakuulan attack. All hopes rode on Lady Kai now… and she couldn’t bear them for long.

Lana felt weak again as the fury left her. She sagged in her seat, closing her eyes and breathing slowly. She needed to sleep. The braindead broadcast had worn her out.

The Next Day

As soon as Lana woke up, she decided to check whether Saresh had managed to shift public opinion. While she was of the opinion that the Supreme Chancellor was the most pathetic liar of all time, it was quite possible most Republic citizens didn’t know better.

Despite the fact that Saresh had a tight grip on all forms of public discourse, it seemed like her ratings had dropped since the interview. People were equally unhappy with the new taxes. Most prices had shot up tenfold since Zakuul had begun raiding all the major trade routes, after all.

Many soldiers seemed unhappy with the treatment of High Command, which should’ve been expected since at least eighty percent of the younger troops had been raised on tales of their heroism and boldness. Malcom had once attacked the infamous Darth Malgus in hand-to-hand combat, and wounded him severely. He alone had hundreds of stories about his courage, skills, and most importantly, his integrity.

Lana had not been expecting any anger over Saresh’s use of Vajra’s name, but she found herself pleasantly surprised. There were no loud protests or public outcry, since those were illegal now. But many hundreds of millions of citizens had participated in wakes all across Coruscant, Alderaan, Balmorra, Corellia, Brental IV, Nubia, Contruum, Rodia, Sullust, Mon Cala, Ryloth, Nar Shaddaa, Ord Mantel, and other worlds. They had all sat before quickly-made flags and banners with the three eyes, the sigil adopted by the cult Darth Imperius had told her about: the Way of the Third Eye. Up until now, it hadn’t occurred to her just how many people believed in him.

She realized that a few of the worlds were actually occupied by Zakuul now, including Balmorra and Adumar. She wondered if… yes. Zakuul had cracked down hard on the civilians, sending many scattering into the hills. Their Skytroopers had soared into the secret gathering to kill everyone engaging in the ‘heretical cult.’

But several thousand Resistance soldiers had stepped in to distract the Zakuulans, led by the unit that called themselves Vajra’s Cubs. Had they planned for it? The new leader, this Zenith, was quite a canny leader. She hoped he survived. She hoped that he got to see Zakuul flee.

It was with a lot more cheer that Lana resumed her day. She was nearly a hundred percent again, so she decided to start with some light aerobics, then move onto basic Lightsaber training. Her long hunt had allowed her to identify a few more Zakuulan worlds, and she was nearly done with a few tentative identities.

Just when she was preparing to welcome back her droids, she got an urgent call from Theron.

“Hello, Theron.”

“Hey. I hope this isn’t a bad time?”

“I was just about to get lunch. What has happened?”

“Zakuul just invaded Denon. The forces there are fighting valiantly, but they can’t last much longer. As horrible as that is, it might be the perfect cover. We need to get there as soon as possible, and get Oggurobb out of Saresh’s clutches. We could use your help.”

“Why do you need me?”

“That was my idea,” another voice chimed in. Shara’s. “I’m sorry, Lana. I know you have your own mission. But this one… if Zakuul is in orbit now, it won’t be long before their boots are on the ground. That means Knights, or worse. Havoc Squad can’t fight them on their own, and Lord Rrayden cannot join in the fun this time.”

“I understand. Where do I meet you?”

“You can come to Byblos. Sending you coordinates.”

“Look at it this way,” Shara said kindly. “With luck, you might find some more intel that could help you out. Perhaps you might even come upon the clue that cracks this case for you!”

It’s cute that she still has this kind of hope, Lana thought fondly. But then, that’s exactly the kind of hope I need as well. “Don’t worry. I’m leaving right away. I’ll see you all in a few hours.”

Chapter 23: Encounter on Denon

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Denon

After much discussion, the two groups took both their ships from Byblos. The Havoc Cry was better suited for transporting larger groups, and could gain clearance into Republic strongholds more easily; while the Unsolved Mystery had access to most of what Lana had learned this past month, things she wasn’t comfortable disseminating among a wide audience just yet.

They arrived at Denon at 18:00 local time. Zakuul had won the orbital battle, as one might have expected. A few Republic ships still burned, though most had clearly been destroyed an hour or more ago. Theron half-wondered if any ships had escaped the debacle.

“Denon was supposed to have thirty Thrantas and three Valiants,” Elara said. “And a great deal of fighters and light corvettes.”

“Scans account for twelve Thrantas and one Valiant,” Dengril reported. “And fifty-six corvettes. One hundred and twenty starfighters. In exchange, Zakuul lost… twenty-eight of their cruisers.”

“That is terrible,” Kanner commented. “Call me crazy, but Zakuul is losing many times that number of ships to the Empire.”

“The Empire has Lady Kai in charge of all military wings,” Lana reminded her tentatively. “And a competent military structure. While the Republic has… Supreme Commander Ozzel. And Saresh. And most of the talent that took decades to nurture, has been replaced.”

“A world of a difference that makes,” Jorgan said bitterly. “I’m almost wishing Queens had just shut up and accepted the damn promotion.”

“He’d have been dismissed after our escape,” Theron sighed. “Or worse. He’s on thin ice right now.”

“I’m sorry to put it this way, but you do him a disservice by overestimating his skill as a strategic commander,” Lana said. “The Major knows where his talents lie; on the tactical level. He has a tendency to get caught up in the action. If I were grooming him for a higher position, I would start by giving him control over a battalion first. Or a regiment. Move him up to brigades after a few engagements. And so on. Get him used to the big picture, prioritizing, and delegating. Otherwise, he’ll just be inundated by the stresses of commands.”

“Sounds like you’re not a half-bad General yourself,” Jorgan commented.

The Sith chuckled. “I served as Darth Arkous’ deputy for over a year, after all. And I led the defense of Ziost. It may have ended in ignominious failure, but I like to think I did alright. Saved a lot of people.”

“You did,” Theron assured her. “Without you, two hundred million civilians would be dead.”

Theron caught Elara’s shudder. Jorgan’s too.

“Alright then, I think that’s enough for now. We’re approaching the blockade.”

“Torg, Abbeth, get on the guns,” Jorgan said. “Elara, Xabaan; proton torpedo tube.”

“What about me?” Kanner asked.

“Do you have experience with weapon systems?”

“Well, no… but I can watch the comms.”

“Do it.”

Everyone was silent as they approached the ecumenopolis, on edge for an attack they expected at any moment. But they traveled through safely. The stealth drives worked even against ships on alert. The Zakuulan ships continued to bombard ground defenses, though it was clear it was not a priority for them. This was a job for their soldiers now. The Skytroopers.

Once they were a safe distance away, Lana hailed them again. “The docking facility Hylo promised us is still undiscovered. But it’s more on the outskirts than I thought.”

“That’s fine,” Jorgan growled. “We’re still close to the objective. Dengril, take us down.”

“Roger!”

The Havoc Cry landed first, followed by the Unsolved Mystery. The hangar hidden behind the waterfall was just big enough for four ships, so there was plenty of room for everyone. Kanner was the first to greet Lana.

“Hey there! If it ain’t my favorite Sith in the whole, wide galaxy!”

“Nice to see you again too, Kanner. Theron told me how impressed he was with your skills. I’m looking forward to seeing them for myself.”

“What’s with your voice?” Kanner asked.

“It was nothing. I was ill.”

“I hope you haven’t been working despite that,” Theron said.

Lana snorted. “Please! Have you forgotten? When I’m out, I’m out. An incoming clutch of Rathtars can’t inspire me to stand!”

“I had forgotten, actually,” Theron said. “But I remember this part clear as day: you always did find other ways to make yourself useful. We rarely ever felt your absence on Rishi.”

“Can we focus now?” Jorgan cut in grumpily. “Republic soldiers are dying all around us. And Oggurobb’s life is in danger.”

“I deployed probes before landing,” Lana reassured him. “I’m just waiting for their all-clear before proceeding—oh, hell!” she frowned suddenly. “Come on. This way!”

Theron didn’t question her, he just followed. The others tried to ply Lana with questions, but she ignored them, darting out of the building’s hidden entrance and through a slew of shady alleys. Everyone followed as close behind as they could, but Theron found himself breathing hard after about three hundred meters of flat-out dash. Dengril and Elara were also having a hard time keeping up.

At last, they reached their destination. Kanner was the first to see what had pushed Lana into action. “Oh, no…”

Theron pulled up beside Jorgan, who was staring at a crime scene in horror.

Twenty corpses, almost definitely all civilians, lay inside a bombed-out shop. They’d been dismembered by a Lightsaber. Twelve of them had been children, no older than ten.

“We were just a minute too late,” Lana said regretfully.

“Who could’ve done this?” Torg asked, the first of Havoc to regain their capacity for speech.

“A Knight,” Lana replied. “My probe only caught a glimpse—”

She trailed off at T7’s urgent whistle. He was standing beside a utility droid, an older model. It had been damaged, but not by the shelling or a Lightsaber. Someone had pushed it with great force into the wall.

“Theron, Dengril, help T7 get that online again,” Jorgan said.

“I’m going to look for any identification on these poor souls,” Lana said. “Kanner, Torg, HK, could you help me, please?”

“You think they were targeted?” Kanner asked.

“No, I think their killer just delights in felling the defenseless,” Lana responded, quickly going through the pockets of the first one. “This is a courtesy. We can notify the authorities of this crime. Help them get started notifying the families.”

“This entire sector was abandoned in the assault,” Abbeth said. “What were these poor people doing here?”

“I thought I saw an underground maintenance shaft close by,” Jorgan replied. “No doubt they thought it was safer going underground than moving to a different place.”

“Especially since almost all the dead are juvenile,” Lana agreed. “The eldest among them can’t be more than fifteen years old. I think they were from the school half a block down.”

Theron risked another glance at the corpses and grimaced. She was right. His quick glance had failed to notice that detail.

Minutes later, Theron and T7 had managed to get the utility droid working. It woke up screaming bloody murder.

“Easy there,” Theron said soothingly. “You’re going to be okay.”

“Did you see what happened here?” Elara asked.

<Affirmative> The droid began playing back its most recent logged memory. It had met the children in the maintenance tunnel, and had been persuaded to help them find their way to a bunker. It had recommended that they scrounge for supplies at this shop, but no sooner had they entered the building, than they were accosted by a tall man in gleaming green armor.

He wore no helmet, so his hairless face was open for all to see. There was a toothy, maniacal smile on his chalk-white visage.

“Another day, another infestation! Die well, little rodents!”

“PLEASE, THERE ARE CHILDREN AMONG US!” the oldest cried, trying to shield one of the little ones.

“Baby rats are still rats,” the man said. “And I am a humble exterminator. Goodbye.”

The slaughter began, but they only had to watch until the second death before he hurled the utility droid away—for the brave little guy had charged at the man and rammed his leg.

“You did good,” Theron said, patting its head. He recalled how Vajra had treated droids like people. “Few could’ve been as brave, in that situation.”

“I’ve seen that man before,” Lana announced, an ugly look on her face. “On Adumar. I came across a pile of corpses in a maintenance tunnel—refugees—and checked the surveillance. He was the one who did it. He said his name was Duke Tancred Kenshem, Lord of Kenshem. Looks like he has a hobby.”

“We’ve got us a cleaner over here,” Elara growled. “We need to find him, and put a stop to his—”

“Not this time,” Lana cut in. “Oggurobb awaits.”

“Do you really think a single scientist’s life takes precedence over a serial killer?” Elara barked.

“Yes,” Lana said evenly. “We are not equipped to search through an active warzone for one serial killer. Besides, he’s a Duke, and a highly-ranked Knight in one of their elite Orders. Do you really think you could take him?” She snorted. “Do you think I could take him?”

“Zakuul Knights have gone down easy so far,” Elara countered. “I heard of one who got shot by a startled kid!”

“And I know one who managed to cut off Tiarna Kaimeryn’s leg!” Lana shot back. “And she’s one of the best swordsmen I’ve ever heard of! Don’t get overconfident.”

“I became a soldier to protect and serve,” Elara growled. “To protect people! I cannot turn away when there’s a monster out there, hunting innocent civilians!”

“Then go and look for him. But you will do so without me.”

“I thought you were a good one,” Elara said disgustedly. “Someone who worked to make the galaxy a better place! Who protected innocents!”

“I never made any such claims. I look out for those I care about, and try my best to accomplish my goals without wasting time, resources, or lives.”

“Captain, I get where you’re coming from,” Kanner said worriedly. “But this is a warzone, in the middle of the most one-sided war in history. We can’t protect everyone. Besides… this conversation is getting… heated.”

She turned down the volume, but not the tirade. “Vajra would’ve gone after this Knight,” she whispered.

For the first time, her words had an effect on Lana. “And if Vajra was here, I’d have gone along with it. Happily. In fact, I’d fight this entire assault at his side. Because he’s someone who can bring down all of the galaxy’s Vitiates and Valkorions. Enemy armies are a mere nuisance to him. But he’s not here. And I’m going to turn this whole galaxy upside down until I find him and free him. Want to save everyone, Captain Dorn? Help me. If we find him fast enough, perhaps we might even end this war before Saresh loses it for you.”

She clammed up with obvious effort and led everyone out. Jorgan looked relieved, while most of the others were uncomfortable.

Elara fell in beside Theron. “Can you believe that?” she seethed.

“Believe it or not, I’m with her on this one. Too many people are dying here—everywhere—and we can’t stop to save every last group. That’s just delaying the inevitable. We need to end the war, to end the suffering.”

Elara threw up her arms in frustration. “Unbelievable!”

“Need I remind you, Dorn, we made this kind of choice all the time as soldiers?” Jorgan whispered. “Heck, Major Queens was forced to choose between saving his fiancée, and five hundred soldiers.”

“But this is a serial killer!” Elara shrieked. “And you can bet he won’t stay here when the fighting dies down! Local law enforcement won’t be able to touch him, even if Zakuul gave them the authority!”

A deep, feminine voice interrupted them. “Who goes there? What’s all this racket about?”

Everyone spun around to see a middle-aged Knight in white armor. Her raven hair was graying, and she had thin cybernetics over her eyebrows. Her expression was stern and hawklike.

“Good day, Knight Commander,” Lana began, using a neutral accent. “We are mercenaries, who were hired to spring a Hutt out of a Republic prison while everyone was distracted—”

Elara, Jorgan, Torg, and Abbeth, who were already in enraged after seeing those bodies, didn’t wait to see if Lana’s attempt at diplomacy led anywhere. They raised their rifles and fired.

The Knight sidestepped the shots with ease and closed in on Jorgan first, perhaps judging him to be the deadliest threat. Lana was in front of him in a blink, her hot orange Lightsaber clashing against the Knight’s blue one. The Sith threw a flurry of fast, probing attacks the Knight’s way, but the older woman blocked every single attack. Havoc opened fire at her when they could, but she returned the shots right back at them, and even reflected a shot onto Lana’s pauldron.

“GO!” Lana screamed at everyone. “I SAID GO! Get the Hutt and leave!”

Theron knew better than to argue. “Come back alive,” he whispered. It took him a few tries, but everyone eventually followed along, looking angry and resentful. But the writing was clear; this Knight had Lana on the back foot. And they were just in the way.

Lana knew she was outmatched, at least in terms of bladework. This ageing Knight was faster and stronger than herself. Her form was athletic and mobile; comparable to Ataru, but with a few differences. A Zakuulan variant, she guessed. The Knight was nimble enough to avoid being pinned down, while being strong enough to knock Lana back whenever their blades locked. Luckily, she wasn’t out for blood.

“Who are you?” the older woman asked. “I would’ve guessed you were a Sith, but you tried to talk first. And your blade isn’t red.”

“How many Sith have you killed?”

“I believe I asked the first question.”

“I’m with a mercenary company. You really think I’d tell a Zakuulan Knight who we are?”

“Fair enough.” The Knight batted away Lana’s Lightsaber and kicked her into a streetside bench a few dozen meters away. Lana barely managed to Cushion her landing, but still twisted her shoulder. “I suppose you won’t tell me who this Hutt is, either?”

“What’s to tell? You meet one Hutt, you’ve met them all.” That was almost true. Oggurobb was one of very few Hutts who broke the stereotype. Lana thought she could seize the advantage by using the Force. But she didn’t feel the need to show her hand just yet. “It’s a job, like any other. We’re not here for this silly war.”

The Knight rolled out of the way of Lana’s next trio of attacks. She spun onto her other foot, then danced out of the orange blade’s way, just a step at a time, until she swept Lana’s feet out from under her. Lana managed to kick her in the stomach, but the Knight managed to roll with it, minimizing any damage. Lana’s next attack was a feint, and she managed a slight cut on the woman’s pearl-white armor, but she struck back, leaving a gash in Lana’s side. The Sith hissed, but maintained her composure.

The woman ran a thumb over the mark on her armor, looking impressed. “If you’re not here for the war, why did your friends attack me?”

“Oh, let me think,” Lana said, making a show of it. “Maybe it was the corpses we saw in that shop over there!”

The Knight blinked. “They were triggered by one pile of corpses in a warzone?”

“A pile of twenty corpses. Not one of whom was older than fifteen.”

The Knight looked shocked. “Oh!”

“And before you ask… none of them were armed. Don’t believe me? Here!” Lana quickly made a copy of the recording the utility droid had shown her, and tossed it in her direction. Just as the Knight almost caught the disc, Lana made her move. She turned and ran, slipping into a nearby alley and engaging not just her stealth field generator, but also activating Force Camouflage for good measure. She scaled the wall with ease and silence that only her husband could’ve outdone, and was gone by the time the Knight got to the alley. Going by the Knight’s loud curse, the small present she’d left behind—a flash-bang grenade—went off at the most opportune moment.

She ran for all her life was worth, grateful she’d taken the time to learn how to stay cloaked at this speed.

It was nearly twenty minutes before Senya Tirall was able to stand again. That merc had somehow managed to outwit her… but she had chosen not to kill her during her momentary weakness, so she let her go as well. Instead, she was interested to see if there was truth to her claim. She investigated all the bombed-out ruins first, and found the shop in question in four tries.

Her heart sank at the sight of the young faces, still bearing the terror of their final moments. “Someone’s going to pay for this,” she promised. They had been cut down by Lightsabers. Cut in half. Many vertically. It was a horrible sight. Senya tried the disc next, inserting it into a nearby computer station, since her personal datapad was not configured to read Imperial or Republic discs. What she saw made her punch the wall hard enough to leave a hole in the wall. “Kenshem… when I get my hands on you…” She keyed her comm. “Come to my position. One of our own is out on a rampage. Killing civilians. We will recover the bodies, seek out clues, then make our case before the Exarch.”

In a caved-in hotel

Elara was gasping for breath again. She really needed to restore her stamina!

“Do you think we lost her?” she asked.

“Her?” Theron growled. “As in, the Knight? I’m worried about Lana! I understand you were upset, but could it have troubled you to keep your voice down?!”

“What?!” Elara was stunned and hurt by the accusation in his voice.

“You heard me,” Theron was glowering at her, his eyebrows knit together in a tight scowl. “This wasn’t your first time on a battlefield! Surely you’ve been trained to compartmentalize! To keep your emotions in check!” He looked at Jorgan, who seemed uncomfortable. “Did you guys shout a lot while on missions, back while Queens led the outfit?”

“No,” the Cathar admitted. “In fact, you’d have been written for a reprimand when we got back, if we hadn’t gone rogue. Maybe worse, since an enemy clearly heard you.”

“Listen, Elara… I know we’re in a relationship. I do love you. But Lana is a very important friend to me, like Queens or Jorgan are to you. I understand that sometimes, sacrifices need to be made; that sometimes, a soldier needs to stay behind for their unit to live. But this situation was entirely avoidable! If she got killed back there—”

“But I didn’t get killed,” Lana’s clear, soft voice whispered from the shadows. She emerged from a collapsed house, holding her side. “She wasn’t trying to. I escaped before she changed her mind. I’m in need of medical attention, please.”

Elara hastened to her side. She was fighting not just tears, but a small panic attack as she examined Lana’s few wounds. The one on the side looked the most serious, which relieved her. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “It’s my fault. If I hadn’t been shouting…”

Lana said nothing.

Elara dabbed kolto on her side, then looked at her shoulder and the bruises on her back.

Chapter 24: A Good Ally, but the Worst News

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

On Kanner’s suggestion, the group went straight to the rooftops, and made their way to the lab above street level.

Republic fighters and troop carriers of both sides occasionally flew overhead, but everyone in the team was equipped with stealth field generators. The only danger was accidentally getting hit; though that danger was quite small at that moment.

Theron, Jorgan, and Lana were all scanning the battlefield, which was a mere three hundred meters away.

“Just so you know, the first one to take a picture of High Justice Vaylin was a sniper,” she told Jorgan. “She could Sense his hostility, even though he was a kilometer away. She dropped a mountain on his head.”

“Thank goodness she ain’t here,” Jorgan muttered, stowing away his rifle and using only binoculars. “The Force scares me sh*tless, sometimes.”

“It frightens me all the time,” Lana muttered. “Even though it does bring me a lot of good. Those soldiers…”

“Yeah. They’re ungifted. And that design on their shuttles and armor. Is that…?”

“Yeah,” Theron confirmed. “Tumult.”

Lana had only seen diagrams before. Seeing the shuttles and speeders which bore the spiked helm and flail was something else entirely. Their unbroken string of victories had gotten them quite the aura lately, and even Lana wasn’t immune to it. The name itself brought chills.

This was also the first time she was seeing them in action, and honestly, they lived up to their reputation. They moved and operated like true special force commandos with either years of experience, or rigorous training. Possibly both. Their coordination was impeccable, as was their discipline and timing.

“I think I’ve seen enough,” Jorgan muttered. “These guys are good. But they’re not the best of the best. Not yet. They can be countered, if they happen to run into the wrong kind of opponent.”

“They’re dangerous,” Lana whispered. “At the rate they’re advancing, they could be here before we leave. Hang on, I think they’re in my range.” She raised both arms and concentrated. For a moment, nothing happened. Then two. Then three. Then, one of the engines malfunctioned. It propelled the troop transport forward with stupendous power, slamming it into fifteen commandoes, killing them and the twenty or so still onboard. The rest fell back in a hurry, though it wasn’t a panicked retreat. Again, signs that they’d paid attention in class.

“Nice one,” Theron said approvingly. “That took some precise control, didn’t it?”

“Yes. Vajra told me the theory once before. He’s better with engines than I am, but he’s never been able to try out something like this himself.”

“Why not?” Elara asked.

“He’s… a bit weak, in the Force. His range is limited to about fifteen meters. But in that limited range, he’s a living typhoon.”

They made their way down, landing just outside the lab. Theron took over the surveillance systems and checked out all floors within.

“Damn! This thing is deeper than I thought. Nearly twenty levels down.”

“Twenty!?”

“Most of it is abandoned though. Not even any droids. The only signs of life are in levels 17 through 19. Far enough underground that they’d evade all scans.”

“Is there any way down, but the elevator?”

“No. And they’re not expecting us.”

“Blast it.”

“What do we do?” Elara asked.

“Why don’t we hail the good Doctor himself?” Kanner suggested. “He might have a solution for us.”

“That’s a wonderful idea,” Lana nodded. She activated her comm. “Hello. Can you read me? You don’t know me, but you called us for a favor, a few weeks ago.”

“This is Lip,” the man on the other end said. In Basic; not Huttese. “Why have you reached out to me?”

“We’re on Denon now,” she explained. “Unfortunately, your forced home is deep underground. You’re about nineteen levels below the ground level.”

“Ahhh, I see. And your only way down is through the elevator?”

“Yes. Zakuul is attacking, so there’s little chance we’ll make it through those doors.”

“That’s alright. Is your slicer there? I snagged full administrator access a couple of months ago. That’s how I’m able to transmit without them noticing. With it, your friend should be able to access the full system. Do whatever he pleases with it.”

“Got it,” Theron grinned. “Okay, time for chaos.”

“We’ll be with you in—” Lana waited for Theron, who signed twenty. “—twelve minutes.”

Theron looked over at her with a bemused expression.

“Less pouting, more slicing. You don’t want to make me wrong, do you?”

With a chuckle, Theron returned to his work. Two minutes later, he closed his datapad. “There. I’ve set off a couple of alarms in the seventeenth level. Caused a few catastrophic failures in a few systems, like I did at that Nova Blade base. And I’ve cut the power on 17-19. Oh, and I’ve closed down all other administrator accounts. We should be able to call the elevator without their knowing.”

“I knew we could count on you. Now, we have ten minutes to reach Oggurobb.”

“How are we going to do this?” Kanner asked.

“Silently, if possible,” Jorgan said. “We don’t want Saresh to have any reason to hate us more, even if she discovers what happened today. Kanner and Torg, take point. Try to herd any opposition away from us.”

Lana put away her Lightsaber, hiding it in the sleeve of her glove. She instead pulled out a holdout blaster that she’d picked up.

“You know how to use that?” Abbeth asked.

“Yes.”

Lana stretched out with her senses, taking note of the subtle currents in the Force. There were no Force wielders down here, though she’d had little doubt of that. Jedi didn’t play watchdogs. Unless the projects down here really were that important. They had to be. Why else would Saresh stick the famous Oggurobb in here?

The doors opened, and everybody filed out. The floor was larger than Lana had expected, and quite lacking in privacy. Most rooms had glass walls, as if to prevent the occupants from hiding or stealing anything. However did Oggurobb manage to… well, he was a genius, after all.

“Everyone’s gonna see it when we open Oggurobb’s cell,” Jorgan whispered.

“No they won’t.” Theron pressed a button, and all lights went out. “Besides, I believe all those glasses are two-way mirrors. Occupants can’t see us. Only guards and cameras could’ve, if there were any.”

“Bravo,” Lana grinned.

Oggurobb’s cell was deep within the maze. They were taking no chances with him. The Hutt was awake, and ready for them. “Ahh, come in, my friends. Don’t worry, I have my night-vision goggles on. They can just barely see you. Hmmm. Twelve minutes. Not precisely, but well done!”

“Are you fit to travel? Good. Then follow us out. Dengril and Abbeth are your guards,” Jorgan said.

“Before we leave, perhaps we should delete all copies of my work,” Oggurobb said. “It’s a new shield design. One of Godera’s last works, though he died before he could perfect it. Remarkable technology! I was humbled to be have a small part in it. But the thought of this falling into Zakuulan hands affronts me.”

“How good is this shield?”

“There are two variants; one for planets, the other for ships. This shield could turn the tide against Zakuul… or give them one more decisive edge.”

“Where is this design?”

“Records room. You can’t miss it. It’s the only design in this once-mighty lab.”

“Theron, T7, HK and I will deal with it,” Lana told Jorgan. “The rest of you, get Oggurobb out.”

“What are you planning?” Theron asked Lana. “And I know you’re planning something. You’ve got the look.”

“You know me quite well, don’t you? I want to save a copy of that file. It’s too good a design to destroy forever.”

“You won’t hear any argument from me.”

“But—and this is the crucial part—I would like to keep it between ourselves, and Doctor Oggurobb.”

“And why the blazing ever can’t we share this knowledge with—”

“Because Zakuul has spies on both sides, and we don’t know how well-placed they are. Oggurobb is right. We absolutely cannot allow the designs to fall into enemy hands. In addition, I don’t trust the Republic, or Empire anymore. This war… whoever wins will reign as an absolute tyrant over the galaxy.”

“But Lady Kai is the one in charge of the Empire right now… oh.”

“She told you, didn’t she?”

“That she’s dying? Yeah. Yeah, she told me.”

“I trust her with my soul itself. But she doesn’t have much time left. And when she goes, the Empire might fall under the sway of the worst of us.”

“And only the maniacs will be left to rule the galaxy,” Theron finished.

“Your girlfriend proved to me earlier that she’s operating as if she’s still a full Republic soldier. The whole squad puts the Republic first. They will not understand. Not yet.”

Lana could feel Theron’s glower. She sighed.

“I’m sorry for putting you in this spot.”

“It’s alright. But can you promise me something, in Vajra’s name?”

“What?”

“If a time comes when we can safely release this shield to the galaxy, you will.”

“I swear it, in Vajra’s name.”

“Thank you. Can you also promise me you’ll never take up arms against the Republic?”

“What, with someone like Saresh in charge?”

“Good point. So what do you have in mind for this?”

“I promise, I’ll show you. Within the year.”

“Thank you.”

The group rendezvoused in the hidden hangar three hours later. The return trip had not been easy. They’d remembered to bring a stealth field generator for Oggurobb as well, but they couldn’t use a speeder. So, they had to march to their pickup at the Hutt’s pace.

They ran into another patrol of Skytroopers, which they dealt with in no time flat. But not before they raised the alarm. Havoc had to stay back to cover their retreat.

Lana went ahead with Oggurobb, Abbeth, Dengril, Theron, T7, and HK. They got their new friend aboard the Unsolved Mystery, and sped off to safety of orbit while Dengril and Abbeth took the Havoc Cry, no longer cloaked, to extricate the rest of their squad. They escaped by the skin of their teeth.

Lana was relieved when they hailed her ship, signaling their successful escape.

“Where to next?” Oggurobb asked.

“Byblos,” Lana answered. “From there, the others will take you to Corvus, while I must return to my own mission.”

“You did astonishingly well,” the Hutt blurted out. “When I reached out to you, I didn’t expect you to actually manage all this. I am in your debt.”

“If you don’t mind, I saved a copy of the shield. I promise, I won’t abuse it. Or share it with those who might.”

“That gladdens me!” The Doctor exclaimed. “The greatest gift to a scientist, is when their inventions are used. And by a good master.”

They were interrupted by an urgent transmission.

“Who is it?” Theron asked.

“It’s… it’s from Lady Kai. A recorded message. Here, let’s play it.”

The Muinar appeared more downcast and upset than Theron had ever seen her before.

“Hello, Lana. I—I’m… I’m so sorry to be the bringer of bad news. But I wanted you to know. I was contacted by Arcann himself. Apparently, he was impressed with my work, and wanted me on his side. I played along, even considered it, if he returned your husband to me. But… well… you can hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.”

She played a recording, a conversation between herself and a man with a deep rasp of a voice that had to be Arcann.

Lady Kai was talking.

“Hmm. I’ll admit, I’m a little tempted. With this, I could bring about what I want. The Sith aren’t going to help me anyway, and the Republic is worse right now. I have just a few nonnegotiable clauses, in addition to my sovereignty.”

“Name them.”

“Vajra. I want him back.”

“You do know he was punished for assassinating my father, don’t you? For regicide?”

“Ah yes, the ‘Immortal Emperor.’ We had one too, you know. He was the most evil being in the galaxy.”

“What’s your interest in the Outlander?”

“Is that what you call Vajra? He is a close friend… and my greatest rival. In fact… I know him so well, that I know you’re full of sh*t.”

“Oh?”

“Vajra loved fighting fair. He would never attack an unprepared enemy from behind. And how would he break out of his chains, anyway? Breaking out of a cell or cuffs, is not in his skillset. No… we of the Empire know something you might not expect us to. We Sensed some of what happened through the Force.”

There was a pause. Lady Kai gaged the Emperor’s expression, what little she could see from the mask.

“Marr died first. On his feet, and while fighting. About twenty minutes after that, we Sensed our own Emperor die. For a second time. We didn’t Sense anyone else’s death, but given the circ*mstantial evidence, we know… our former Emperor and your father were one and the same, weren’t they?”

Silenct.

“Here’s how we have interpreted it. And the Jedi too. Your Emperor released Marr, and killed him after a brief fight. Perhaps he gave him the same choice that you’re giving me right now. After that, he died himself… and then you made your announcement. The only conclusion is this: there was a fight between your father and Vajra. A real one. And the Emperor lost. Yet again.”

“Interesting theory. What happened to the Outlander then?”

“Perhaps he was weakened after that fight? The last one certainly left him in a bad way. We have records of you and your twin fighting, and there is no way twenty of you combined can take him down. But all of that is a moot point. I. Want. Vajra. Back.”

More silence. “He is dead,” the reply came. Soft. Hesitant. “An enemy like him—he cannot be suffered to live.”

“Then I want his remains. And his personal effects.” She sounded so angry now… so, dangerously angry.

“Also not possible. We—we disposed of it. Cut him to pieces and… threw them in the… there isn’t anything left of him.”

Lana felt a blow to her gut. Not because she believed this lying, two-faced, hypocritical monster… but at the very thought of her husband meeting such an unceremonious end.

Lady Kai was openly outraged now. Her voice quaked with fury.

“You have just made a terrible mistake. Our Emperor has already killed millions to fuel his immortality, and he was going to kill trillions more. No one could stop him, no one could even slow him down. No one, except Vajra. He saved the galaxy; even you and your precious Zakuul. If your father really was connected to Vitiate, well… if you knew what we do… And not only did you kill him, you disposed of him like last week’s garbage. And then went after his reputation, for good measure. The arrogance… well. One day, our problem will come back to the galaxy. And when it does, I hope he sucks your whole Empire dry, the way he did Ziost. I’ll see you on the f*cking battlefield, if you have the guts to face me.”

The playback ended then, and the recording of Lady Kai returned. “I’m so sorry,” she said, her eyes tearful. “I can’t imagine how horrendous it must’ve been to listen to that. I don’t know what it is you’ve been feeling, but Vajra is dead. Arcann is right. It makes absolutely no sense that they’d keep someone like him alive long; not after witnessing what he can do. Please return to Kouhaush Muin. We will be there for you. We love you.” She sighed. “If it’s any comfort, your intel has been seen. We are about to act on it. This time tomorrow, Arcann will be well aware that his worlds are no longer secure. We will make him pay for his unprovoked attack… and his cruel murder.”

The holo winked out. Lana became aware that Theron had a hand on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Lana.”

She had to regain control of her hands; loosen the muscles so they weren’t tighter than a miser’s locks. “Don’t be. It’s rubbish. Whatever he told her—whatever he’s telling anyone—Vajra’s still alive.”

Theron looked worried. So too, did Oggurobb. “We Hutts do not share this kind of loyalty to our spouses, but I have witnessed it in humans. It is remarkable. Inspiring. Moving. But after you saved my life, I would be most upset if you wasted your life on a futile search.”

“I understand how this might seem, especially to a scientist like yourself. But I have reason to believe that he’s alive. I cannot share it with you right now.”

“Ah. I see.” The Hutt coughed. “So… you are married to the mighty Vajra! But… correct me if I’m wrong—”

“You aren’t. I am a Sith.”

“Ah. How intriguing! Perhaps I can hear the whole tale, some day! No doubt it’s thrilling and romantic!”

“It is to me,” Lana admitted with a smile. One she did not really feel. Despite what she said, the idea that her husband could be dead—without her knowing—really shocked her. She had read through a dozen accounts of Force Bonds, and they had all said the same things. She was certain that her Bond still existed. It just waited for the other side to resume communications.

Vajra, she begged. Please. If you can hear me at all… please!

There was only silence, of course. Lana shook it off after a few moments. “Thank you, Theron. But I’m alright. And I’m certain.”

“Well… if that ever changes, please don’t hesitate to join me. Or Lady Kai. We’ll help you as best as we can.”

“Thank you.”

Chapter 25: Kindling Hope

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

A Week Later,
Balmorra

The Unsolved Mystery dropped out of Hyperspace several thousand kilometers south of their objective. Close

T7 whistled softly.

“I see it.”

Lana could see their objective from here. It was difficult not to; it was marked by a tall pillar of light ascending from the ground. The shield generator at the bottom, and the newly developed Zakuulan space station up here.

“Let’s hope there’s a way to get aboard.”

“Statement: This is unnecessarily risky, Master.”

“No, it’s quite necessary. Every lead we’ve followed up has either been too slow, or led to dead ends.”

“Statement: Progress has been painfully slow, I will grant you that. But that space station, being the first of its kind, will likely have extra layers of security. And you are planning to board it, and either discover Zakuul’s location, or stow aboard a shuttle bound for that world.”

“I didn’t disagree that it was desperate and risky,” Lana said crossly. “But I think it might be necessary.”

The truth was, she was haunted by the Emperor’s words.

“He is dead. An enemy like him—he cannot be suffered to live.”
“We disposed of his body. Cut it to pieces and… threw them in the… there isn’t anything left of him.”

She did not believe it. Not even in the deepest corners of her heart. But she did believe that this horrible fate might come to pass, if she didn’t get a move on. The reasonable part of her tried to reassure her, that if Vajra hadn’t been killed yet, he wasn’t going to be. That he was being kept alive. But that didn’t stop her worrying. She wanted to be on Zakuul. Yesterday.

“I won’t take undue risks,” she assured the droids. “If it looks like there’s a likelihood of my capture or death, I will back down. But I need to investigate this structure, this… Star Fortress. That’s why we’re not trying to board the station itself.”

They brought the ship to land near a hill close to the shield generator, intending to make their way there by speeder. But they were almost immediately sidetracked.

Sitting discreetly by an outcropping of rocks was a speeder, of a make Lana had seen before. They were Zakuulan. But before she could investigate, HK urgently whispered to her.

“Statement: Master, I do believe there’s a pile of bodies in there.”

“What? Where?”

“Answer: Over there, Master.”

Lana looked where HK was pointing. There they were, in a small cave. Casting her Senses out, she realized that there was a fairly strong presence still in the cave.

Can it really be? Did I stumble upon him again?

Sweat began dripping down her chin as she eased the Lightsaber out of its hook. She approached the cave and risked a peek inside. Something jumped out at her from the dark. She just barely managed to roll out of the way, her Lightsaber coming alive to bat aside several blows from a blue Lightsaber. She managed to kick her ambusher off her, then rose to her feet.

“You!?!”

Both had barked the word at the same time. Lana glared suspiciously at the ageing Vigilant, whose blue eyes crackled with power.

“Why are you here?” Lana demanded.

“Chasing a monster,” the other woman replied. “What about you? Another Hutt you need to save?”

“No, I’m chasing a monster,” Lana answered.

The Zakuulan stared at her for a moment longer, then sighed. “I’ll accept that, for now. Come inside.”

“T7, HK, watch my back.” Lana cautiously followed the older woman inside and looked around. She quickly counted forty bodies, all of whom had been killed by a Lightsaber.

“I swear, these crime scenes get more grisly every day,” the Knight commented.

“It’s Kenshem again, isn’t it?”

“Duke Tancred Kenshem IX, yes,” the Knight nodded. “After our meeting on Denon, I took it upon myself to investigate all mass slaughter of innocent civilians across newly conquered territories. I had expected to find one or two incidents on each world, but instead I…” she shuddered. Then sighed. “Three thousand. That’s the tally I have so far. And those are only the ones I know of.”

“That’s an… impressive figure,” Lana gasped, though of course, she’d seen much worse over the years. Some of her fellow Sith could be a debased lot. “Are you sure they’re all him? I can’t imagine a Duke would have that much free time.”

“Yes, his duties should keep him too busy for this kind of… ‘pursuit.’ But he has a small army of clerks, secretaries, and deputies to take care of his everyday tasks. I cannot be sure it’s him on all counts though. My people are investigating.” The woman scratched her jaw. “You’ve improved a bit since before.”

Lana tried to hide her pride. “I didn’t want to lose again. I hate losing, since it often means losing your life.”

The older woman chuckled. “That’s true. And yet, you are nowhere near ready to face him. Nor am I, for that matter. He is one of the best swordsmen in the Eternal Empire. The best, since the death of Radamond. That’s why I was pleased to discover it was you landing outside the cave.”

The best swordsman in the Eternal Empire? Perhaps I should leave him to Lady Kai.

“You’re proposing we join forces.”

“I am,” the Zakuulan confirmed. “I don’t believe for one moment, that you’re on this world for little Tancred, but I’m willing to overlook your true purpose. I can’t do this on my own.”

The pros and cons waged a rapid war in Lana’s head as the Knight spoke. She’d already made up her mind at the end. “I accept. That man needs to die.”

“Yes, he does. And since we’re working together, my name is Senya.”

“It’s nice to make your acquaintance, Senya. You can call me Lana.”

“These hills are teeming with refugees,” Senya said, donning a helmet. “A serial mass killer will not leave such a target-rich environment, unless someone chases them away.”

“These people died … no more than forty minutes ago,” Lana muttered. “He can’t be that far ahead of us yet.”

“Yes. Come on. I came from that direction.” Senya pointed. “There was another cave there. Now a tomb, I suppose.”

Lana called up a map from her archive. It needed a few seconds to load, since it was in her servers, rather than her hard drive. “There are six caves within a single-kilometer radius. The closest one is in that direction.”

“Let’s get going, then. I sincerely hope we put an end to this madman.”

“As do I.”

The small community of eighty exiles had been talking among themselves, dully going about their assigned tasks. Lieutenant Giselle Havells had made the mistake of thinking that you might find more life in a graveyard when an uninvited guest entered the cavern.

His face was chalk-white and hairless, and his eyes were yellow, like Malgus’. Those eyes haunted Giselle in her dreams, for they had been the last things she thought she’d see. Except this one wore Zakuulan armor. A green set, complete with precious stones.

“Well, well, what do we have here?” he asked with a wide, toothy grimace of a smile. “More rats? Zildrog smiles upon me this day, for it has been busy.”

“No!” a young woman cried out. “Please, we’re doing no harm to anyone here!”

“We’ve lost everything already,” another wept.

“Oh yes, yes you have!” the invader said, still with his big smile. “Consider yourselves fortunate, heathens! For Duke Tancred Kenshem has come to deliver you from your ragpicker life! Embrace the end!”

Giselle pulled out her blaster—which was the only weapon she had left—and fired up at a stalagmite. The stone spear would have landed right on top of the Zakuulan, but his reflexes saved him. “What’s this? A rodent with a peashooter?”

“More than a peashooter,” Giselle growled. “I survived Darth Malgus, and the slaughter at Havidel Pass! I refuse to die to a pale gutter slug that has come up for its one-time only bask in the sun!”

“How dare you!?” the man growled. “You really think you can insult me with your filthy peasant mouth like that?”

“Better than being spat at by overgrown escargot! I guess it’s true; they make anyone a noble these days.”

“GRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!”

A primal rage broke through the Zakuulan’s thin veneer of superior civility, and he charged right for Giselle, two Lightsabers in his hands.

Vencent Moriff aimed a homemade bola at his feet. And for a wonder, they worked! They entangled his legs, making him stumble, but he somehow managed to cut them off with his Lightsabers and continue down his path.

Giselle rolled out of his way; twice since the first time didn’t take her far enough away, and fired three shots that bounced off his lightsabers.

“Run!” Evan Kord called the other refugees, attacking with his makeshift spear. The others, the last remaining survivors of Vajra’s Cubs, stood out from amidst the crowd for their final battle.

Not one of them was afraid. Although it was commonly accepted that they had survived Havidel Pass thanks to Vajra—and not their own prodigious skill—the fighting had given the Cubs something no one else had.

The most steadfast form of courage.

What was death, when you’d spent day after day after day after day for more than a month beset by wave upon wave of war droids, commandos, Mandalorians, tanks, and even Sith marching toward you? Even if they hadn’t been protected by the most ardent defender in the galaxy, a time came when the looming threat of death grew banal and toothless.

They had emerged from that battle with mental scars to match their wounds, but also the sort of fierce bravery that most saw only in the most veteran warriors.

Even if—as was their case—only a few had actual weapons they could use. The blasted occupiers had disarmed everyone, leaving only a few old blaster pistols for the Cubs and others like them to share.

Aware that the man’s eyes were exclusively on her, Giselle tossed her blaster at Shar Goli, and pulled out a knife from her boot. Thankfully, rage had made him uncontrollable and easy to predict. Again and again, he ran into the wall just behind Giselle, who was only able to get out of his way by moving before he could; for once he was moving, he was too fast for her eyes to track.

Don’t let him calm down, she told herself. That’s the only reason you’re still alive.

“What’s wrong, sluggy-boy?” she goaded. “Floor too slippery? Is your slime too thick? I guess this is why slugs don’t normally have legs!”

He answered with another straight charge. Giselle laughed.

“I’ve seen my pet snail do better!”

“SHUT UP!” he shrieked before blundering in again.

“Only if you make me, slimy!”

They were able to drag out the battle for nearly five minutes. But it was one hell of an uphill climb.

Most of her boys went down to deflected blaster bolts. A few Cubs jumped in to exploit weaknesses as they appeared, but got killed for their trouble. Eventually, they were down to just nine. With a curse, Giselle decided she could play chicken no longer. She seized her next opportunity, tossing her blade at the man’s bald head, but his blade cut it out of the air. She picked up four stakes and threw them one after another. He dodged each one. He charged again, and she tried to dodge, but his boot finally connected with her gut, sending her tumbling into Kalindra. Kal’s husband, Martin got between the women and the Zakuulan, and got cut to pieces. But he’d held the villain in place long enough for Roman, who tackled him to the ground, but his knife failed to make it to the cretin’s exposed face. He got kicked into a nearby box of grain.

“Looks like we made it in time.”

Everyone’s heads whipped around at those words, which had emerged from the opening. Another Knight stood there, this one in white armor. Another stood beside her, this one dressed in dark green robes, and bearing a Lightsaber with a blade like angry lava.

“Stand down, Duke Kenshem,” the woman said. The command in her voice was so stark that even Giselle nearly carried it out.

She’s not even using the Force!

“Stand down? Stand down? Do you not know who I am? I am Duke Kenshem! Lord of Kenshem, Star of the East, Champion of Ishtra-Nar, scion of the mighty House founded by Pluton the Great! I am the man who will be High Dragon any day soon! I will be wed to Princess Vaylin before the year is out! I have killed thousands upon thousands! You dare to command me?!”

As he was blustering on, the green woman gestured discreetly to Giselle, who nodded. She gave a few hand signals to the others, who quickly began to retreat, giving the fighters as much space as they needed.

“You are a mere thug,” the White Knight countered. “A debased, mutated monstrosity! The Eternal Throne does not condone the reckless slaughter of civilians! Vaylin would never marry someone with such a pathetic addiction!”

The Duke roared with laughter. “Shows what you know, little Vigilant! Were you born yesterday? Head full of dreams and ideals? Think that our Empire is this lovely paradise full of rainbows and little squirrels? The reality will destroy you… you’re no better than these rats… be grateful, for your misery ends at my noble hands!”

What followed was beyond Giselle’s ability to follow. The woman in white attacked Kenshem from the front while the one in green attacked from his flanks. There was a loud cacophony of Lightsaber crashing on Lightsaber, and the air grew so dense with flashes of plasma hitting plasma that it hurt the eye.

Unable to bear it any longer, Giselle turned away. After a minute or two, there appeared to be a winner.

The Duke screamed in agony. The cavern shook, as if from an earthquake.

“COME BACK, YOU FILTHY COWARD!” White hollered.

“Forget about him. The whole hill is coming down! You there! Get up!” Giselle was shaken out of her stupor. She looked into the yellow eyes of the woman in green, drenched in urgency. “Are there any others in here?” She asked. “Any in hiding places, or deeper inside?” Without waiting for Giselle to answer, she pushed her forward. “Well, go and get them! I’ll keep this place standing!”

She stood up, taking a few seconds to concentrate. She gave a loud grunt and thrust her hands outwards, and the cave stopped trembling.

Giselle got to her feet at once. “EVERYONE OUT!” she hollered. “EVERYONE OUUUUT!” She ran into each one of the smaller caverns, rousing the poor souls cowering inside. “The bad guy ran, but the whole place is coming down. RUN!”

Most of the people were too frightened to stand on their own, but they either helped each other, or just crawled on their own. A minute later, the civilians were out, and those of Giselle’s squad still standing, were checking the last of their fallen for survivors.

“We’re clear!” she hollered at the green woman, who began walking out laboriously. The quakes were getting worse, and it was clear she was stretching herself to the breaking point.

Giselle ran back for her. She picked her up on her back like a fireman and ran for the exit. The woman somehow managed to keep her efforts up even in this undignified position. She only released the Force when they were clear.

She sagged against the ground when Giselle put her down. “I’m deeply grateful,” she panted.

“Not as much as we are. You saved a lot of lives today.” Giselle looked around for her men. “How many did we lose?”

“Well, there are only twelve left alive,” Roman said forlornly. “Only twelve!”

“That’s good,” the green woman said softly. “You survive to protect your people one more time.” She opened a yellow eye blearily. “I—I think I recognize you. Havells, right? Of the Tenth Troi—I mean, Vajra’s Cubs?”

“You know about us?”

“I know him,” she replied. “Quite well. He talked about you a lot. Even had a drawing of your squad in his cabin.”

Giselle felt a delighted thrill pull a smile across her face.

“Congratulations on saving everyone.”

Giselle and the others turned around. White was limping back in their direction. It was clear she’d taken a few hits in that fight. So had Green, for that matter. Her robes and right glove had a few scorch marks on them.

“Thank you. Did you manage to capture Kenshem?”

White snorted. “What, with my advantage? I won’t lie, it was fun seeing that wretch run. But now, he lives to strike another day.”

“Not today, at least,” Green said tiredly. “Not after that wound you gave him. Not after he knows there are people looking for him.”

“Yes.” White looked around at the others for a few moments. She turned back to Green, the features of her face hardening. “Now tell me. Why were you on this planet?”

“Like I told you. I’m hunting a monster.”

“How far will you chase your quarry?”

“As long as it takes.”

“As will I. Can I ask you to help me again, next time I have him?”

“Of course. Here, this is my frequency.”

“Much appreciated. Farewell, Sith. I look forward to ending that cretin’s life at your side.”

“As do I. You should tend to your foot. Take this. We call this kolto. Just dab it on your leg, and it will heal in a few minutes. It’s much faster than the product you use.”

With that, the White Knight turned and staggered away. After about the tenth step, she started walking straighter. After several minutes of silence, the refugees began venting their relief in various ways. Laughter, tears, mild cheers, and excited discussions. They weren’t safe out in the open like this, but Giselle did not begrudge them their release.

“So…” Giselle said, turning to Green, who looked ready to nod off. “You’re a Sith?”

“Hmmm.”

“And you saved our lives.”

“You’ve already thanked me. And returned the favor, I’d say.”

“Well… a matter of scales, right? That Kenshem guy would’ve killed us, if you were a minute later. If you were ten late, he’d have killed everyone in the cave.”

The Sith snorted. “And that’s the difference a few minutes make.” She stood up, a bit unsteady on her feet.

“You said you knew Vajra. That you’ve seen his cabin on the Garuda.”

“I have. There were quite a few drawings in there, all his own work. I think… fifteen, sixteen?”

“And one of those is a painting of us?” Shar Goli asked.

“Wow,” Evan Kord whispered. “Just… wow!”

Green chuckled. “Yes. He was deeply grateful to all of you.”

“To us?”

“For surviving, yes,” the Sith nodded. “I don’t know if you considered this, but he hates killing. If the Tenth Troidans hadn’t been there, he’d have abandoned that defense after the first hour. He didn’t fight to protect the planet, or one out-of-the-way pass, he fought to protect you. For six weeks. The fact that so many of you lived, made it worth all that he had to endure.” She pulled a small bottle from her pack and drank it in one go. “He’ll be proud, when he hears about what you did today,” she went on. “I know everything looks bleak right now. And who knows? Perhaps Zakuul’s defeat won’t come in our lifetimes. But don’t give up hope. Never that. May the Force serve you.”

The Cubs, filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment, gave her a hearty salute as she walked away. They helped everyone pack up what little they had left, and move onto a new shelter. As she fell asleep later that night, Giselle finally realized that the Sith had insisted on using the present tense with Vajra.

Aboard the Unsolved Mystery

Lana arrived feeling quite pleased with herself, despite having let a perfectly good opportunity for more information go. The droids were quite agitated when she showed up.

“Relieved Statement: It is a pleasure to see you alive, Master!”

“Do you remember the Tenth Troidans? The ‘Vajra’s Cubs,’ as they call themselves? Well, I just saved twelve of them. Still think the risk was unnecessary?”

“I’ll tell you about it in a bit. Were you able to…?”

“Answer: Oh, yes, Master! T7 was able to interface with Meatbag Senya’s speeder and steal much of her data.
Regrettable Admission: Unfortunately, we doubt there’s anything that can get us to Zakuul.”

Lana sighed. “Too much to hope for, was it? Anyway, what about this new station, this Star Fortress?”

“Answer: The news is not good, Master. There is no way we can sneak aboard that space station without considerable planning. We might even need a distraction of some sort.”

Lana sighed. “It can’t be helped, then. Let’s leave at once. I don’t want to risk Senya deciding we need to be captured after all.”

“Request: Master, with T7’s help, I have complied a complete overhaul design for both my hardware and programming. If we can find a good droid workshop, I would like to begin my upgradation process.”

“Very well. Set a course for Nar Shaddaa. Any number of droid smiths there that can help us.”

“Delighted Response: Oh, thank you, Master!
Promise: Once completed, I will be able to protect you from a wider range of threats. And Master Vajra too, when we save him!”

Once they were safely in Hyperspace, Lana sat down at the workstation, looking to read up more on the Star Fortress.

The news wasn’t good.

The Star Fortress was designed with subjugation in mind. To bring a people face-to-face with the crushing idea that they would never overthrow their conquerors. It had a weapon powerful enough to render the entire planet extinct, and its defenses were powerful enough to thwart a large fleet. That much had been proven when a trio of Republic cruisers had pulled up in orbit to blast it out of the sky. They were scrap now.

And of course, it was quite well-defended. An Exarch, named Malforia, had been placed in charge, along with five Paladins. Thousands of Skytroopers with—like their ships—the ability to produce more.

And perhaps most relevant to Lana, Zakuulan ships would rarely dock there. Infiltrating that new science project was not worth the trouble. Yet.

Still, there was one weakness, something to keep in mind for future reference. A cloaked ship could dock at one of the lower hatches.

But one could hardly call this day a waste. As she had told T7, it had greatly relieved her to realize she had helped the Cubs. But in addition, she had a new ally. One on the Zakuulan side, and one who clearly did not know just how bad things were at the center. If she played her cards right, she might be able to learn more from her.

Yes, today was definitely good. Oh, I have to tell T7 about the Cubs!

Chapter 26: The Brave New World

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Unknown

Lana felt groggy and dizzy.

She was engulfed by a thick, black fist of smoke, which blocked her sight and made her eyes smart. A grating silence assailed her ears; so quiet, yet loud as the crack-snap of a thousand whips which rent flesh and muscle from bone.

Some dread beast roared in the distance, equal parts angry and pleased.

“Where am I?” she tried to ask. But her mouth wouldn’t work. She couldn’t turn; or if she could, the smoke gave the illusion that she didn’t. She tried to walk forward in a random direction. But she could not escape the gloom.

Her muscles began to burn and strain at once, and it was intense enough that she fell to the ground, curling up in mind-tearing agony.

Yet she could not stay down forever. She rose again. She walked a few steps more. And she fell again, only to rise again, and fall again.

How long did the cycle continue? She could not tell.

“WHERE AM I?” she shouted mutely. “HOW DO I GET OUT OF HERE?! PLEASE! SOMEBODY!? ANYBODY!???”

No answer. There was always no answer. When Lana Beniko finally woke up from her dream, the previous night felt like a year ago.

The Brave New World

The fear left Lana quickly. She had been having this dream for days now, every so often. It no longer bothered her as it had those first few days; at least, not after she’d awoken. This was common fare for a resident of Korriban Academy. But daylight had a way of scaring off the mites.

It did leave her feeling unrested though. But that was fine. She’d spent most of her life with bad sleep. Nothing a little meditation couldn’t cure.

She went about her daily routine like it was any other day. Morning exercise, Lightsaber practice, a shower, breakfast, meditation, and browsing messages.

The war was going badly, but Lady Kai had dispelled some of the Eternal Empire’s mighty aura. Many Imperial farms, factories, depots, and treasuries had been replaced without the enemy realizing, which proved to Lana that their Intelligence wasn’t as omnipotent as she had feared. Without the treason of the Sith’s own god-monarch, the Eternal Empire did not have quite the same reach.

But Erisa’s defection was likely to change that. Her interrogation had been hard for Lana to hear, though for the opposite reason the Sith had feared. Lana had been stunned at how easily the Cipher had switched sides… though perhaps, she shouldn’t have been. It was only logical that a beaten beast would, one day, turn on the hand with the stick. And poor Erisa had been badly abused over the years. But now, the Eternal Empire had access to anything and everything that Agent Wisper had been privy to.

Thankfully, she had been captured before the Tiarna’s policies went into effect, and it showed. Zakuul had no idea what moves she was making.

There was an update from Theron too. There was a shadow war in the streets of major Republic worlds. Bodies were turning up every few days that could not be tied to any gangs or factions. Mark Fodorn had been spotted on several occasions, attacking groups of seven or more people in broad daylight, so Saresh believed it was nothing more than the GenoHaradan’s old mistake coming home to roost. Whatever the truth was, the Core Worlds had never seemed more unstable. More and more people were fleeing from the Republic and from Zakuul, and they would all eventually need a place to stay. For now, they lined the streets of worlds like Nar Shaddaa and Hutta. Imperials were on the run too; soldiers who were tired of the ceaseless conflict, or people running from the newly conquered worlds and wanting nothing more to do with war.

In addition, Lady Kai had made her ailment known to her closest and most trusted friends and allies, who were now discreetly looking for a new place too.

It was a good thing that Lana had an answer to their woes… if only they could hold on a little longer.

Her comm began to chime. “Hello, Chief. You’re up early!”

“Good morning, Mistress,” the chief engineer she’d hired greeted her. “Maybe I’m just getting over my spacelag? I always was a creature of habit. It is ready.”

“It is!?!”

“Aye, Mistress. We thought you should be the one to do the honors.”

“I’m on my way.” She raised her voice. “T7! IT’S FINALLY HAPPENING! COME ON, COME ON!”

The Astromech zipped out of its charging station in excitement and rushed to join her. Her speeder sat close to the ship, and she hit it in full throttle to get to their destination—atop the nearby, defensible plateau—in a record seventeen minutes.

The engineers were all out in force today, and in high spirits. They raised a hearty cheer as Lana drove in. Chief engineer Toby Dracen waited at their head, dressed in his immaculate blue uniform. He ushered his employer into the now-completed facility behind him, which was merely the control center for the real prize, hidden in a mountain a kilometer and a half away.

She confidently walked up to the control panel and hit the activation switch. Nothing happened such that her senses could detect, but T7’s excitement mounted.

<Shield = activated!> it cried, jumping from strut to strut. <Readings = incredible! Power = +1,225% Coruscant’s shield! What was advertised + 300%! Power draw = light!>

The cheers were rather louder than one might’ve expected from such a small group. Lana joined in, clapping politely. “Well done!” she said approvingly. “I never doubted you!”

The workers took a while to calm down.

“Ummm. Mistress Beniko. About our payment,” the Chief said awkwardly. “I’ve talked it over with all the boys, and we’re hoping we can set up here. In exchange for a permanent contract.”

“We don’t want to go back,” his second in command nodded. “You’ve got something nice here. Something untarnished. We’ve seen the city you’ve built with those droids. We know you’re planning on colonizing this place. And this shield proves it will be a safe haven from anyone who comes to hurt us.”

“I don’t know,” Lana said cautiously. “This world isn’t at all ready for long-term habitation. If you move here, I’ll need to find a means of shipping you food daily. And if I hand over the operations to you, there is a chance word might leak out before we’re ready.” She’d gone to great lengths to minimize the risks of the engineers figuring out where they were.

“Well… just think about it,” Dracen pleaded. “We’ll work for you exclusively from now on. We’ve proven we can work with advanced, radical designs. At great speed, too. This place is meant to be more than just a shield control center, yes? You want to erect a full-fledged fortress? Well, we can aid you in that too. You want more cities? We can help with those too. Factories? Space stations? Sign us up!”

“I’ll think about it,” Lana promised. It wasn’t a bad offer, though it came with security risks. “Excuse me. Now that we have a functioning generator and a defensive structure, I can officially launch a few satellites in space and claim this world. Anyone who comes by, will know we were here first.”

“Of course, Mistress. We hope you’ll consider our request.”

The comm satellites were aboard her ship, each in crates a cubic meter big. She and T7 had these up in geosynchronous orbit an hour later.

<Satellites = transmitting> T7 reported. <All incoming ships = will be greeted + challenged. Lana = can officially name the planet now>

“So my brave new world finally gets its name, does it?” Lana laughed. She already knew what she wanted. It was a word whose roots came from adventure and wanderlust. A story of a king aching to return home to his wife and son despite angry gods and evil monsters. “My dear, brave world,” Lana intoned. “I hereby name thee ‘Odessen.’ Bear that name with pride, in the days to come. You will either be the refuge of countless displaced peoples, the vanguard of the fight against tyranny, or both. Hearken to it!”

She would’ve felt a little silly for her speech, if it weren’t just T7 around.

“Be sure not to show that to anyone,” she warned him.

“Sure, why not? I know all of his embarrassing secrets, anyway.”

<Message = programmed!> T7 sang.

“Good. Very good. Say, Dracen gave me an idea. It sounds quite reasonable that we start opening up this world to a few enterprising associates, a little at a time. And eventually, to all who seek refuge.”

“Yes. I’ll start off with Lord Scorn and Hylo Visz. And Doctor Oggurobb too, I suppose. Maybe Theron can contact the Aygos too, and other trustworthy Republic political fugitives. We’ll need to work out a method to get everyone here without risking security, but perhaps Captain Visz can manage it. That will allow Dracen’s company to put its roots down here too.”

“Thank you. I’m going to start making the calls. It’s going to be a long week. The good kind, I hope.”

Chapter 27: Team-upon Bothawui

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Bothawui

Duke Tancred Kenshem IX, Lord of Kenshem, Star of the East, Champion of Ishtra-Nar, Descendant of Pluton the Great, the next High Dragon, soon-to-be Consort of Princess Vaylin, stood atop a low ridge, taking in the beauty of this… rodent-infested world.

Looking at this world’s inhabitants, these… ‘Bothans,’ he realized that he had used the appellation ‘rodent’ far too generously. Humans, at least, were the epitome of beauty and grace. Even if they were robbed of their wealth and rolled in the dirt, they were still Light Years better than any other species, be it the Twi’leks, with those ghastly head tentacles; the bulb-eyed Bith, Rodians, and Sullustans; the Sith Purebloods, who were cursed with not just twitchy face-tentacles, but also ridges and spurs; and so many, many others!

But it was species like the Selonians and Bothans who truly earned Tancred’s disgust. For they resembled rats the most, with their dirty fur and twitchy black noses. At least the Selonians had the decency to live like the subterranean filth they were, but the Bothans pretended to be masters of this beautiful prairie world.

It certainly is beautiful here, he mused, running his hand across the tall grasses. I hope Emperor Arcann approves my petition to receive this land soon. And my plans to develop it as well.

He laughed aloud. Perhaps he would be granted a Star Fortress of his own! It would make exterminating the local pests an easier task!

For on this world, it was not enough to put down a few nests here and there. For this world to truly achieve its potential as a center of beauty and culture, the rat-like Bothan species needed to be wiped out.

He flexed his left arm. That bitch Vigilant had destroyed his mother’s gift, a Lightsaber that had been passed down since the time of Amphytrion II of Tarvo. It had seen much glory over the centuries, and had served him well. To have it destroyed by a no-name Knight was an insult he could only cleanse himself of, with her blood.

If only he knew what she looked like. Or her name.

No matter, he thought. I will see her again soon. No doubt her previous victory has filled her head with delusions of grandeur. She will want the glory of slaying the mighty Duke of Kenshem herself. I will see her again, soon.

In Orbit,
Aboard the Firebird Quill

Senya Tirall was lucky enough to arrive at the flagship shortly before Duke Kenshem sent his grand proposal before the Eternal Throne. It was improper—not to mention illegal—to read the correspondence between the Throne and one of its premier lords, but after the acts of depravity she’d seen him perform, she took no chances. Using her still-active clearance, she accessed that message and read through its contents.

This bastard was planning to commit a horrible genocide on this world! She considered letting it go through—surely Arcann would be horrified? Surely, he would look into the kind of man Kenshem was, and punish him for his horrendous crimes—but Kenshem’s goad played in her ears. She suspected it wasn’t untrue. She hoped dearly that they were not so far gone that the Emperor would completely overlook the massacres, or at least order Kenshem to stand down.

But she couldn’t leave things to chance. She trapped the letter in a long queue—another of her old rights that hadn’t been taken from her—so she would have a few days before her target heard back.

After that, she returned to her ship and keyed in a holofrequency.

“Hello?”

“Lana. It’s me. I’ve tracked Kenshem to Bothawui, and things are more dire than I thought.”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s sent a message to Emperor Arcann, requesting permission to eradicate the Bothans.”

“No!” Lana sounded horrified, proving Senya right in trusting her. According to her intel, precious few Sith cared about this sort of crime. “How long do we have? Can you call anyone else for help?”

“I can, but I do not trust my Vigilants to hold fast against a Duke of Zakuul. And so, I need you. And anyone else you can bring as well. Your mercenary band—”

“They’re on another mission right now,” Lana said. “Another one with millions of lives in the balance, so they can’t leave.” She sounded like she was thinking fast. “I’ll see what I can get us, but it won’t be very much. What’s our timeframe?”

“No more than three days. Fewer, since I suspect he won’t wait for the Emperor’s say-so before going after stragglers and the less fortunate.”

“I’ll see what I can put together then. I’ll be there by the end of the day.”

“I already know where the Duke is, so we won’t lose time tracking him. Thank you, Lana. If you don’t mind my asking, why do you care about the Bothans so much? Most Sith I’ve ever heard of would not care. You are Sith, I’m confident of that much.”

“By training, yes. But I was stripped of all my ranks and titles, so it’s anyone’s guess, if I can still call myself one.” She thought for a moment, then sighed. “As to the other part of your question: I was on Ziost. In fact, I led the defense there. I watched a whole world get sucked dry like a fly on a spider’s web. I do not take the mass slaughter of innocents lightly.”

Something about Lana’s voice made Senya curious. “Since I have time to kill before you get here, would you mind sending me some reading material?”

“Oh? Why not.” She sounded surprised and amused. “What’s your genre of choice?”

“Normally, epic ballads and chivalric romances—”

“I see we have something in common then.”

“—but in this case, I’d like to read about Ziost. If it’s not classified, of course. Forgive me, but I could hear the dread in your voice. And I’d heard mention of it before, like it was some event of major note.”

Lana was silent for a moment. “Here’s my personal report. It contains comments and insights from some of my allies, friends, colleagues, and subordinates.”

“Thank you.”

“I should warn you. It’s grim reading.”

“Good thing I don’t plan on reading it at bedtime.”

A chuckle. “I’ll see you soon, Senya.”

“You will, indeed.” Senya opened the file as soon as the call ended. It was even bigger than she’d expected, so she started speedreading at once.

The Melan Farmstead

Hart Melan’s day began, as it always did, two hours before dawn. There was a lot to do on this farm before late morning, even with thirty farmhands and seven shepherds to help him. But in recompense, the day ended early as well. Or almost so; some work would also take place between 17:00 and sunset. Mostly checking on the animals and perimeter. Once the hard work was done by 10:00, all workers could spend the days as they wanted. Some studied or trained; some took care of their families; some sang and danced until they fell asleep around noon. Hart, meanwhile, worked on the inventory and ledgers with his family.

“Is this really necessary right now?” twelve-year-old Ariank complained. “The Zakuulans run things now, and they’ve closed off all but local markets.”

“We will always need to keep track of every little expenditure, unless we want the farm to go under,” Uncle Joar replied. “Doubly so, in times like these. Now remember; the more energy you waste on complaining, the longer this will take.”

“It never takes longer than noon,” Ilda said comfortingly. “See? We’re almost done for the day.”

“Major Melan,” a guard rushed in. Most guards were retired soldiers, of Uncle Joar’s former battalion. “I think we’ve got a problem. Our perimeter sensor has picked up an approaching speeder. Looks Zakuulan.”

“Don’t assume it’s a problem,” Uncle Joar said. “For all we know, they’re just having a look around. One speeder, you said?”

“Yes sir. A one-man speeder.”

“Sound the alert, just in case. Have our workers and the children secured in the bunker. Tell the guards to observe from cover.”

“And bring out the big guns,” Hart said. He shrugged when his uncle looked at him. “Knights are Force users too. You know what their kind are capable of.”

“I suppose so. Do as he said.”

Since Uncle Joar was a big stickler for drills, the entire farmstead was in the bunker in five minutes. Hart’s uncle, who was a much braver man than himself, stood at the gate with his hat in his hands. Unarmed. And alone.

f*ck this. If he dies, it shouldn’t be alone. Hart took his place at his uncle’s side.

“Even now, you manage to surprise me,” Uncle Joar said.

“Gotta keep you on your toes somehow. Besides. I was a soldier too.”

“One of the unlucky ones. No one would complain, if you stood back.”

“I would. In the end, that’s the only person I should worry about.”

Joar snorted, his thinning whiskers flying out for a moment. “Your Pa liked saying that.”

They both quieted down; for the speeder had appeared. It halted a meter away from them, and its occupant—a Knight in a burning green armor—disembarked.

“Greetings, my Lord,” Joar intoned. “We bid you welcome to our humble farmstead—”

“Urrrgh… disgusting,” the man said.

“Umm. Excuse me?”

“The rest of your… kind are bad enough, but you, with half your dirty rat fur fallen out… you look like you’re a dying mouse… afflicted by mange and ridden with fleas!”

“A bit rich coming from someone like you,” Hart scoffed. “Your face is pastier and less hairy than an overturned slug. Your eyes are not yellow like a fire, but like piss. Did your mommy sleep with a cave vlar?”

The man’s eyes popped. “I do not know what that is, but I know an insult, cur! I was right to mark your kind for extinction! Very well… the cleansing of this land begins with you! Feel honored, mongrel, for you are to be the first swipe of the broom, the first among many!”

Extinction?! Thankfully, the man’s blustering tongue had allowed Hart and Uncle Joar to recover from their shock. Uncle Joar circled around the Zakuulan snob as Hart closed in with his weapons. He fired with his blaster, forcing the Knight onto the defensive so he could better aim his cutlass. He would only get one strike against a Lightsaber…

“DAMMIT!”

The man had two! He cleaved off Hart’s blade with the first strike, and nearly ended his life. But Uncle Joar tackled him from behind. Warned by preternatural instincts, the Knight was able to dodge the attack, but not the kick. While that didn’t do much damage, it did toss him off-balance for a moment. Hart fired his blaster at him at point blank range.

From behind them, their snipers Tarmi and Rivin opened fire from long range, but he was able to block these attacks too. A smoke grenade landed beside them, and leaked a noxious gas that was five times worse for humans than it was to Bothans.

Coughing and gagging, Hart retreated alongside his uncle. The bigger, less precise guns opened up when everyone saw they were clear.

Senya’s speeder was quite cozy, but also well-equipped with scanners and comm systems.

Probably, Lana thought, to better serve a Vigilant. But the stereo was definitely not a standard attachment. It was high quality, and could play fifty different tracks at once. Which was useful for a composer or sound editor, splicing several different tracks together to create a sound file.

It was clear which one her temporary partner was. Senya was playing a collection of her favorite music. It was all from a genre she called epic chants. They were stories; slow, sonorous songs with highly advanced, almost flowery vocabulary. When characters spoke, they used highly artful wordplay that impressed even the voracious reader that was Lana.

“So, you like this too!” Senya smiled. “Would you like a copy of my collection?”

“I’d like that, actually. It seems I can learn a thing or two from your artists.”

“I’m glad there’s something in our culture that an enemy might find pleasing.”

“I’m not an enemy of Zakuul. Not exactly, not yet. I have one goal in mind.” Realizing the conversation was getting somewhere she didn’t want it to, she added. “It’s surprising. From what I can tell, Basic is the common language of your Empire. But you were isolated from us for centuries! In fact, Zakuul never seems to have encountered the rest of the galaxy, yet everyone speaks in Basic! To the point that even your songs are in this language.”

“It used to be Zakuulan,” Senya said. “Until three hundred years ago. When the Immortal Emperor took control of the Eternal Fleet and proclaimed himself our new Master, he informed us that we would one day come in contact with the wider galaxy. And that it would be best to learn your ways. So, we did. Now, Old Zakuulan is a language used among the most erudite of our people.”

“The Eternal Fleet… wasn’t always Zakuulan?”

“It wasn’t, no. We never found out where it came from. That kind of investigation was always discouraged. We do know it attacked us. Laid our planet to waste. That was a big reason for why Valkorion earned his place as a god among my people. It didn’t hurt that he led us into a golden age,” Senya went on. “Built a civilization of palaces and gardens. Where no one had to work anymore, since droids were around to do everything. Freed of the grind to life, our people could pursue whatever lifestyle they chose.”

Why does that sound like it’s too good to be true? Lana wondered. Peace is a lie. This kind of house of cards…

“At least, that’s the theory,” Senya went on. “In reality, most corners of Zakuul often descend into what the Republic calls ‘a never-ending frat party.’ People are decadent. Soft. Weak. I see a directionless glint in most eyes. People lack meaning or purpose. Many are joining the Eternal Army these days, as occupying and policing forces for conquered territory. But that comes from a romanticized sense of adventure. They’re all in way over their heads.”

Lana nodded, but her mind made special note. That sounded like introspection. She hadn’t expected that. “Our people once considered Vitiate a god too,” she said. “Many still believed it, until proof of his plots were laid bare for everyone to see.”

“Immortal monarchs who were worshipped for leading their people through one cataclysm,” Senya chuckled. “Another thing Vitiate and Valkorion have in common. They were killed by the same man.”

“And I imagine you hate that man.”

Senya thought carefully. “No. I do not. Not one bit. In fact, I wish he could’ve ended Valkorion twenty years ago.”

What. The. HECK!?!

“We’re almost there,” Senya said, growing serious. “That farmstead. Over there.”

“The Melan Farmstead.” Lana consulted her notes. “A lot of ex-soldiers work there, but there are a lot of civilians too.”

“Let us hope the latter still live, then.” Senya donned her helmet.

“T7, take the wheel please. Run if something goes horribly wrong.”

By the time they arrived, the killing had already begun. Six Bothans were corpses on the floor, with just five more standing.

They seemed to notice their approach, no doubt expecting that the situation had gotten worse.

Senya was the first out; she landed right on top of Kenshem, with enough force that a small crater formed at his feet. “Stand down, Kenshem!”

“You again!” Kenshem screamed. “You won’t get the better of me this time!” He attacked her with spinning dual blades. Lana dropped by in time to divert an attack intended for Senya’s throat. “Both of you? Good! I demand satisfaction for the heirloom you destroyed!”

“What did you say, you sick little glumshroom snorter?” Lana snarled. “The people you slew are the ones that deserve satisfaction!”

“You won’t escape this time, Kenshem,” Senya growled. “In fact… you will be on the wrong end of a Lightsaber by the end of the hour.”

Kenshem responded with a very powerful series of jabs with his shorter blade and sweeps with his longer one. The shoto was the primary one, something Lana hadn’t failed to notice on their first, brief duel. But his movements were a little different today; they weren’t as straightforward. He threw a lot less of his power behind them, focusing on speed and technique instead.

The difference was telling; last time, he’d gotten thrown off by Senya’s abrupt change in forms, but this time, he ran rings around both of them. Lana had to really stay on her toes to keep her head attached.

“So you’ve finally decided to stop playing, eh, Duke Kenshem?” Senya snarled. “Finally acknowledged us as worthy adversaries?”

“Hardly,” he laughed, smacking her in the face and kicking Lana’s shoulder as she tried to protect Senya. “I still think you’re pathetic dogs. But I got unlucky last time. I will not invite repeats by being complacent.” He kicked Lana’s legs out from under her, forcing the Sith to cartwheel away from the dangerous blades. Senya took another blow to the ribs, then the Duke focused down Lana, who he knew was the weaker link…

No, she thought furiously. I can’t… coming here was a mistake. If I die, here and now…

She closed her eyes. Sought the song of her Lightsaber crystal. The one her husband had given her. It led her into a dance, as it once had its former master. It gave her a better sense of the rhythm of battle, taking some of the guesswork out of the battle. It was enough, but barely. She couldn’t last much longer.

“Oh, what’s this? Were you holding out on me, wench?” the man laughed, as Lana survived the fourth exchange with nothing but a burn on her elbow. “How about we add a notch to the difficulty?”

The blade rained down faster around Lana’s defenses. Harder too, straining her aching muscles. She was forced back, but she refused to go down on one knee before this man.

Senya got back into the fight, aiming for the man’s heel as he raised a foot to kick Lana again, but he leapt over the blade. Lana ducked under his foot, but his long blade made it through a gap in Senya’s defenses, and stabbed her shoulder. Before Senya could fall, he got her in the thigh.

“Now stay there, while I take care of your little friend.” He smiled at Lana. He continued to attack her with brutal patience, willing to take the time to crack her already flagging defenses. “Now that I get a good look at you, you’ve got quite an appealing form. You will keep my bed warm for an eternity! I will enjoy raking you night after night after night; feeling those breasts tremble under my fingers! Planting my seed in your dry, desert womb—”

“Eurgh, no thanks,” Lana growled. “I suppose there’s no helping it.” She was trying to avoid overt uses of the Force, but that was the only way she could win here. Besides, her rage demanded an outlet. Lightning erupted from her fingers; somewhere between twenty and one billion million lances of purple fire strobed his pale, putrid skin. Not that the number mattered. Will was everything, and Lana willed this man suffer a tormented end.

The Duke screeched like a child, locked in place by the current pouring in and out of his body. “UAAAAGH! IT HURTS! THE PAIN! AUUUUUGH! WHY DOES IT—! I’M THE DUKE OF KENSHEM! MOTHER! MOTHER, PLEASE HELP! PLEASE HEEEEEEEEEEEELP!”

“If your mother comes… I will slay her too.” She ended the Lightning Stream and began throwing bombs of Lightning at him. Small balls of plasma the size of her fist flew towards him at great speed, becoming small explosions that melted armor and bone and skin.

No, she thought sourly. I can waste an age teaching this man manners, but I have better things to do. “Any last words?” she asked. “Actually, I don’t care.”

She ignited her Lightsaber again, and brought it in a downward chop, cutting the man in half as he had so many of his victims. His corpse—which barely resembled a human anymore after her Force attack—fell almost as lumps of flesh on two sides.

“Is he dead?” Someone asked.

“You’re free to make sure,” Lana offered. She felt drained after that outpouring, but satisfied. Still, it occurred to her that the Bothans might attack her next, so she kept her Lightsaber close.

The Bothans took her advice, shooting the mounds of charred meat repeatedly. Once satisfied, they sank to the ground chuckling.

The one who looked like the leader rose, once he had his breath back. “Thanks for the assist… erm. Madams.”

“Yes, thanks indeed,” Senya said in an ironically amused tone. “You saved my life, too. But could it have bothered you, to try that earlier?”

“I was trying to keep a low profile,” Lana apologized. “Any of your people could’ve Sensed that.”

“Ummm. No, actually. Only the Scions can Sense uses of the Force. Unless, of course, it’s Valkorion who was using it. Or Vaylin.” She turned to the Bothans. “Possession of heavy assault rifles and gatling guns by conquered peoples are a violation of Zakuulan Order #12.” She looked around. “But, I see you haven’t got any. Carry on, good citizens.”

The Bothan leader chuckled and signaled to his followers, who began carrying away the contraband. “You are both, by rights, my enemy. But you saved our lives. And that of our civilians.”

“Consider it an apology,” Senya said. “That man has been on a spree for weeks now. His rank stopped us from taking action officially.”

“If we could trouble you for some kolto,” Lana began, but a Bothan was already running up to them with a first-aid kit in her hands. She knelt down and began tending to Senya’s wounds. “Thank you,” Lana thanked her. “What about your people—”

“We lost my Uncle Joar,” he sighed. “Former Major Joar Melan, Bothan Armed Forces. I’m his nephew, retired Lieutenant Hart Melan. We also lost…” he sighed. “They were like family. We all served on the same brigade. At different times, of course.”

“Is Zakuul going to try this again?” another Bothan asked. “Exterminating us because we… look bad to you?”

“We can’t answer that,” Lana said quickly. “I’m not even Zakuulan. I’m just with her to end his miserable existence. And she’s not pleased about this either, as perhaps you can see.”

“Yes. Thank you for that.”

“But we met this man before. He implied that the leadership of Zakuul is also rotten.” Lana could Feel Senya’s inner conflict, but the older Knight didn’t speak up. “There’s a good chance this won’t be the last time they trouble you. It might be a good idea to scatter.”

Hart Melan and his guards gave her a strong look. “We’ll see to it that the word gets out.”

“Quietly,” another said.

“Good.” As Lana watched, the nurse tied the last of the bandages around Senya’s shoulder. “I guess we’ll be off, then.”

Senya rebuffed Lana’s attempt at picking her up, and only took her shoulder. “I think I need a drink.”

“Should I ask our hosts—”

“No. I have a small bottle. Champagne. Amber Globe. Best booze on Zakuul. For emergencies. I think this counts.”

“Of course.”

“So… what are you after? Really? I noticed T7 stealing aboard Kenshem’s speeder while you were talking to the Bothans. You have some other goal, after all.”

“I really am hunting a monster. I wasn’t lying when I told you that.”

“Really?” Senya’s eyebrow rose so high that they threatened to dislodge the cybernetics in her scalp. “So, I guess this means your job is done… oh, damn. The monster wasn’t Kenshem, was it? Who are you really out to kill? Not Arcann? Or Vaylin?”

“I’m not out to kill anyone; though I will crush anyone who gets in my way. Or bow down before them, if that’s what it takes. I’m trying to save my husband. He was taken prisoner at Elgrind. Many out there would call him a monster for his prowess. But a good one.”

“Is that… is that right?” Senya sounded astonished. “A husband! Yours!? And you’re searching for…” She inhaled and shook her head. “Only two were taken prisoner at Elgrind. Darth Marr, whose death you admitted to Sensing—”

“And Vajra Devarath. The Storm of the Jedi, the Crown Reaper, the Jedi Marshal. Hero of twenty worlds. Friend, brother, husband.”

“The one who killed two god emperors.”

“He killed the same one twice. Just their bodies though. The true entity is a lot harder to vanquish.”

“I see.” Senya was silent. “So that means… I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but—”

“I know the official narrative. But I believe he’s alive.”

“Then you’re looking for a way to Zakuul, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Then I can get you there,” Senya promised. “In return, you will swear not to harm the people of Zakuul until you’ve left. Not unless they threaten your life or dignity, first. And you will not give away our location.”

“I promise you,” Lana agreed. “I won’t harm any of your people, unprovoked. Nor will I reveal Zakuul.”

“What of Arcann and Vaylin?”

Lana was silent for a few seconds. “I have a Force Bond with Vajra. A powerful one. I can often feel what he feels, hear what he thinks. See what he sees. And I saw Vaylin torture him for three whole days. All because he robbed her of a kill that was ‘rightfully hers.’ His pain was so strong, it knocked me out. But despite that, my priority is Vajra. If saving his life requires making peace with her, or swearing myself into her service, then I will do so without hesitation.”

“Got it. I appreciate it, Lana. I know it’s a big favor to ask.”

“You’ve offered to take me to Zakuul, after all.”

“Yes.” She sighed. “Yes, I did. I’m convinced I can trust your promise.”

Lana helped her into her speeder. As T7 piloted them away, Lana looked for the drink and two glasses. Neither woman spoke again until their glasses clinked together.

“Your motivation,” Senya said. “It’s… sweet. Romantic. It speaks to the fan in me. It’s like a ballad come to life.”

Lana chuckled. “You have no idea how often our relationship has felt that way to me too.”

“I want to hear more. The tales of Vajra the Jedi Knight are shouted at from all rooftops and whispered in the alleyways. I would like to hear the story of Vajra the lover.”

“I can do better, if you like. I can tell you the story of the man.”

“I don’t want that, right now. I want me a good little love story. Come on, Beniko. Make my jaded, ageing heart weep!”

“You asked for it.”

Later that day

For an hour, everyone celebrated their unlikely survival and mourned the fallen. Hart had been afraid the day would end with more deaths, but the arrival of the two heroes had changed their fate. But as the Sith had said, this might not mean they were safe. That bastard’s xenophobic sentiments might have more takers among his people, even if their other savior was also Zakuulan.

There are good people to be found everywhere, he realized. The thought gave him hope. But one needed more than hope to survive bad times. Sometimes, one needed taking the initiative.

“This is Lieutenant Hart Melan, of Melan Farmsteads, calling on emergency channel 772.”

“Ahh. Good afternoon, Lieutenant. We were just about to call you. We received some troubling news from the vine. This is Beywan Aygo speaking.”

“Beywa—Admiral Aygo? Is that you?”

“Not Admiral anymore, but yes. An… a strange ally sent us an intercepted message. A Duke called Kenshem sent a petition back before the Throne. Asking for permission to wipe us all out.”

“So, he really was going to commit genocide,” Hart said, collapsing against a chair. “He said he was going to, but—”

“He attacked you? How did you survive? Did you fight him off?”

“We had help. The most unlikely help. A Sith, and a Knight of Zakuul. One who doesn’t hold such a bad world view. Even overlooked our contraband.”

“This Sith. Was it a woman? Pale, with light blonde hair, soft voice, and a blade like lava?”

“You know her?”

“Yes. That’s Lana Beniko. She’s the one who saved my father from Saresh’s prison. Several people I now work with, seem to respect her. Even many Jedi.”

“Well, we do too. All she asked in return for risking her life, was some kolto to treat the Knight she was with. She’s not to be taken lightly, however. She absolutely destroyed Kenshem. Never seen such a deadly Lightning attack.”

“She is Sith, after all. Hmmm. After all she’s done for us, we do need to find a way to thank her. Even if her help was incidental. But for now, we’ve got a bigger worry.”

“Yeah. We need to protect our people.”

“It will take time, but once the quarantine period ends, we can start smuggling out our people. A few thousand at a time. It’s slow, but the best we can do. Until then, we need to move our people into the hills and countryside. Slowly.”

“We won’t be able to hide our movements forever.”

“No. Just long enough. What did you do to Kenshem’s body?”

“Put him back in his speeder. Set it on a path to the sea. We pulled what we could from his computer first, though. It wasn’t much.”

“It’s a good start. Can you send it to us?”

“Transmitting now.”

“We will survive, Lieutenant. I swear it. Thank you for surviving today. I advise you to go about your day as best you can, for now. The exodus will begin in a few weeks.”

Chapter 28: Surprise on the First Visit

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

“Welcome aboard my ship,” Senya said. “The Firebird Quill.”

“I like it,” Lana replied, looking around. “So, you’re a writer? A composer?”

“In my spare time, yes. In fact, I have a mind to pen down a song. The story you told me deserves to be set as verse. With an orchestra too. Something with a haunting, melodic chorus, perhaps. Don’t worry, I won’t share it without your permission.”

“Thank you.”

Lana was still looking around the ship. It was smaller than hers, and more compact. But it was an expensive ship, at least by Republic and Sith Imperial standards. The walls were lined with souvenirs; mostly coins, feathers, pelts, horns, skulls, stills, and paintings. There was a particularly large liquor cabinet, but it only had one bottle.

“Something happened that left me mortally depressed, about twenty years ago,” Senya explained. “I took to drinking. Thankfully, I never got so bad you’d call me an alcoholic. I keep my intake down to one cup a day. Five, at parties. I just happen to like this cabinet.”

“It is of high quality,” Lana agreed. “Though this seems a bit—” She refrained from touching the misshapen wooden figurine attached to the front right corner. She knew when objects held sentimental value. She instead pretended she’d been looking at a crack in the top panel.

“I got drunk. But I thought it gave the piece… character?”

Lana chuckled. “It does have character.” She looked back at Senya, who was going for a chair. “May I use your kitchen? I can make us some tea and snacks.”

“No kitchen, just a stove and a cabinet. And please do.”

“How are the wounds?”

“Nearly healed. I suppose Kolto isn’t always like what you gave me the first time.”

“Yes, this one was low-grade. The galaxy was at war long before Zakuul entered the mix.”

“So Arcann only has to squeeze so much to get it to fold, doesn’t he? It almost makes him sound like an opportunist.”

“I’ll admit, that’s not my concern right now.”

“Right.” Senya raised her voice. “Droids, take us into orbit. Allow Lana’s ship—the Unsolved Mystery—to link up with us. Request clearance to go to Zakuul.” She turned back to Lana. “Well. We should be there in twelve hours. Feel free to use the bed next to mine.”

“Thank you, Senya.” Lana pulled out her comm. “Yes, T7?”

<Priority Transmission = Incoming!> the Astromech shrieked excitedly. <Sender = Erisa Wisp!>

“Erisa sent us a—patch it through.”

“Erisa?” Senya asked dangerously. “Arcann’s newest top advisor?”

Lana felt a spike in hostility, but deliberately kept her hand away from her Lightsaber. She saw that Senya was doing the same.

“What does she say?” Senya asked.

“You will not harm her.”

“What does she say!?!”

“You will not harm her!”

“Fine! I won’t out her to Arcann until you can make off with her! Now what has she sent you?”

Lana looked at it. “Coordinates. To Zakuul. And a whole lot of details.” Lana looked back at Senya, whose jaw tightened until her teeth groaned.

“I don’t want to fight you,” Lana warned her.

“My people are at risk! My world is at risk!”

“And whose fault is that?!” Lana asked. “Zakuul has been attacking us for years now! All the raids across multiple worlds before Ziost happened! Your ships attacked Marr’s fleet and took him and Vajra hostage! Your people launched a war when the rest of us were trying to deescalate!”

“Vajra killed the Immortal Emperor! I might not like the man but—”

“How do you think he broke free of his restraints? I promise you; he’s not good at escape!”

“Be careful what you insinuate.”

“Why? You’ve seen through Valkorion’s falsehoods, why do you think Arcann is any better? Or do you think this is a just war? Do you think he actually cares about his father’s death?”

Conflict reentered Senya’s countenance. “What do you mean?”

“Remember that Bond I told you about? I saw the moment when Arcann freed Vajra. Valkorion had emptied the hall so he could speak to him privately, with just his son watching. He was going to keep him locked away in the Palace of the Dragon until he accepted to serve. At that moment, Arcann destroyed the restraints. He betrayed your Emperor. And he started this war so he can feign outrage. And pretend he had nothing to do with his father’s death.”

Senya had gone white. “That… is a bold accusation.”

“One I can’t prove. Not yet, anyway. But can you honestly tell me that Vajra was an evil assassin whose sole purpose was to slay Valkorion?”

“Well… no… that would entail having to know that the Eternal Fleet would come to Elgrind. That he’d be captured there.” She closed her eyes. “I will need to think about this. I will stay silent until you get Erisa safely away. I will even stay quiet about you. But the rest—”

“That’s fine. Me, I will keep my promises to you. I won’t hurt anyone from Zakuul. I won’t divulge my findings. I’m in this for Vajra, and him alone.”

“That’s all I can ask. I’ll give you a look around Zakuul. Show you the sights. You can get started.”

“Thank you.” Lana began typing her response to Erisa. If she was in the Palace, perhaps she could help her forge a few cover identities. And grant her clearance. Assuming the spy was willing to go that far for her. And once they were done, she might need to flee. Lana was willing to help her out.

Well done, Erisa. You beat me to the punch. In such style, too! Who’d have thought someone could get inside Arcann’s inner circle in such an amazingly brief time?

It did annoy her a little. She’d been working so hard, all this time, only for the spy to outperform her by a parsec. She fought a fit of hysterical chuckles.

At this rate, she’d probably save him before me to. What use am I? No matter. This isn’t about my ego. If she is the one that saves him, she’ll earn my eternal gratitude. Knowing where Zakuul is, is not the end. I still need to find Vajra.

And there was nothing in here suggesting she knew where he was. Or that she even doubted Arcann’s story. All things in good time. First, she would need to get a feel for Zakuul. To learn its layout. And to figure out what it was blocking their connection, and if it would hamper her in any way, once she was close enough.

Focus on the letter first. The rest can come once we’re on Zakuul.

Zakuul,
Twelve Hours Later

Senya was still incredibly sullen when they got to Zakuul. She was convinced she’d added to the pile of monumental f*ck-ups she’d made in her lifetime. She… she liked Lana, and even trusted her to a certain extent. She had shown a remarkably good mix of accommodating and pragmatic. She clearly cared about people too. And she meant it when she said she bore no ill-will to the people of Zakuul.

But she would be honor-bound to report her findings back to her homeland eventually. Wouldn’t she?

She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn’t even register that the ship had dropped out of Hyperspace.

“Is that—”

“Yes. Welcome to Zakuul. I guess you are the first free outsider to see it. Congratulations.”

Senya watched Lana’s expression, hoping to see awe at the sight of all the spires of Zakuul. Especially the Eternal Throne. And then there was the Eternal Fleet itself. Five hundred thousand ships were docked on the many spires, awaiting just the Emperor’s orders to sally forth.

“It’s quite intimidating,” Lana breathed. Fear and awe were writ across her face.

“This was the fleet that Valkorion conquered,” Senya informed her. “And which kept the peace on Zakuul during our territorial expansion.”

“Did Zakuul ever stop expanding, prior to the recent outbreak of war?”

“Yes. About fifty years ago. Something seemed to capture Valkorion’s attention, something which claimed his complete attention as the years passed.”

Lana seemed to think that over. “Fifty-two years?”

Senya did the math. “Yes.”

“That was when the Great Galactic War started.”

“Figures. I—” Senya frowned. “How is this possible? The Sith can’t be here already, can they?”

“What are you picking up?”

“It’s a distress signal! It’s from the Hall of the Benevolent Guide! The Scions are under attack!”

Lana scanned the spires. “All the ships remain docked.” She looked at the scanners. “And traffic is normal too. Or it looks normal to me, at least. Only that one district has been sealed off. No flurry of communication. That could only mean…”

“What? Spit it out!”

“It’s best you see for yourself. Assuming you want to see it at all.”

“I do,” Senya insisted. “Should we make for the Hall of the Benevolent Guide?”

“Yes. I—” Lana’s face paled again. “What is that incredible power? Is that—no, it can’t be him!”

“It’s Vaylin,” Senya told her. “I wasn’t joking when I said the Knights can Sense when she flexes her powers. She is extraordinarily strong.”

“I’ve Sensed the Sith Emperor,” Lana muttered. “If he was a ten, Vaylin has to be… a thirteen, at least. She can end planets with a thought! Entire star systems!”

“Yes. And she’s using her power now. Maybe that’s why Zakuul isn’t in a tizzy. Arcann must believe she has things under control—” she caught Lana’s pitying look, quickly hidden. “No. It can’t be!”

“I’m afraid it is,” Lana confirmed. “I’d heard reports that Arcann was getting tired of waiting.”

Neither woman spoke again until they entered the ionosphere. “We should take the Mystery,” Lana suggested. “It has a stealth drive. We can approach undetected.”

“Very well. I’ll order this ship to dock near my apartment.”

“There’s no need. The cloak will cover your ship too, since we’re attached. Thank goodness it’s so small.”

Senya followed Lana into her ship. She was already informing T7 of the situation.

“I suppose you now know the way to Zakuul?” she asked the droid, who tooted out a quick answer.

“Yes,” Lana translated. “How do you plan on doing this?”

“I will only observe, for now.”

T7 was already flying them to the Scion stronghold. Undetected. It was true, Senya realized. The ship really was undetectable.

One area in which the Imps—and perhaps the Pubs—were more advanced than her people. The ship arrived very close to their destination, and though it was overflowing with run-of-the-mill Knights, no one seemed to notice the ship landing in a nearby abandoned furniture store.

Senya pulled out her binoculars and watched the carnage from outside, though it was merely visual evidence for what she already knew. The Knights were fighting and killing Scions.

And Vaylin—an obscenely delighted, cackling Vaylin—was the one leading the charge.

While Senya came to terms with what was unfolding in front of her eyes, Lana and T7 quickly approached transports on the perimeter and began slicing the computers, taking all the information they had on them.

It was likely to amount to nothing, but it was worth knowing whatever little they could find out. Lana was certain of her next immediate goal. She needed to get Senya on her side.

The Knight’s loyalty to the throne was obviously shaky. Whatever her quarrel with the Immortal Emperor was, it was clear it had not transferred over to the son. Or daughter. But it had led her to see the flaws in Zakuul; and the injustice in their war. If she could prove that the Emperor’s children were just as vile as their father, she might be persuaded to keep her mouth shut about Erisa and Lana. She might even help them both, from time to time.

In this instance, she needed to prove that Vaylin’s attack on this stronghold was unprovoked but sanctioned. As she was combing through the last ship in line, she noticed Vaylin approaching the doorway. Recalling how the powerful young woman had caught a sniper over a kilometer away on Balmorra, Lana decided to project a mouse-like harmlessness and quietly retreat. She didn’t even dare to look at her until the speeder she’d boarded was on its way out. Lana risked a look at last, and was almost hit in the gut by overwhelming fear. The beaming woman hadn’t even noticed her, but Lana caught a glint of her blazing-orange prowling-krakjya eye. No, not a krakjya. Something far more deadly. An Ibari wolverine. Small, but certain death to any who happened to cross its path when it was in a temper.

She had rated her a thirteen to Vitiate’s ten. And while that comparison was accurate in her mind, it still did not prepare her for the reality of close proximity. Not only was her power a tempestuous infinity for one such as Lana, her mind was clearly broken. Worse than she’d gleaned when seeing through Vajra’s eyes. The woman craved to mete out the destruction that had once been fed her. She was the greatest living threat to the galaxy. Their only saving grace was that Vaylin’s infernos were clearly untamed. If she’d had the same access to tomes and Holocrons as her old man, she’d have wrecked this pretty little star system by now.

As it was, she was inventive with her powers. That interesting black hole thunderbolt of hers was undoubtedly her own creation. And it had worked wonders. Her volatile shield was also dangerous. And that armor… no, that couldn’t be her work.

Lana realized with a start she was frozen to her spot seven minutes after the High Justice had departed. It was time to return to Senya.

“Senya. I’m back. Where are you… oh!”

Senya turned back to face Lana. The older woman was a mess. It was clear she’d sobbed her eyes out. Lana passed her a spare handkerchief and a water bottle, both of which she accepted.

Lana hung back awkwardly as Senya composed herself. It took her a good twenty minutes. “I’m so sorry,” she said at last.

“Don’t be,” Senya managed, her voice many octaves deeper. “I invited this upon myself. This was my fault. If only I’d… if only I’d… but it’s too late. And now, the Scions have been killed.”

“Not all,” Lana offered. “I saw about seventy Scions escape. They fell into the sewers when the floor broke.”

Senya rose. “Then it is my duty to save them.”

“I could come with you—”

“Why?” Senya looked at her. “You’re on Zakuul now, aren’t you? You’ve been working for this moment for two months now.”

“And now I can return whenever I choose. I can sneak in a detour.” She hoped she could. The rational part of her insisted, but the fearful part kept thinking about Vajra’s diced corpse being unceremoniously discarded.

“Why?” Senya asked again.

“For you,” Lana replied honestly. “It’s clear that you and I can continue to help each other. With both of our ships, we can sneak out the survivors in a single trip.”

“And take them where?”

“I have just the place. A facility I discovered in Wild Space. I sold it to a few enterprising individuals, and they’ve already started building it up as an asylum and shadow port.”

Senya looked at her for a moment, her ice-blue eyes turning to steel again. “Thank you. I accept your terms.” She offered her hand, and Lana took it without hesitation.

“I will keep my promise,” Lana reiterated. “If I have my way, no harm will come to Zakuul.”

“And I will provide whatever aid, information, or resources you require.”

“Come. We need to find the Scions.”

“As it happens, I can guess where they will be going now.”

“Where?”

“A place called the Razer, in Breaktown. Brace yourself. It’s Zakuul’s dirty secret. The part of the city we don’t like to acknowledge, since it is the farthest thing from perfect on this planet.”

“Will we run into any gangs down there?”

“There is a heretical cult that’s lately started gaining popularity.”

“The Heralds of Zildrog?”

“You’ve heard of them?”

“Yes. When I was researching the Vigilants.”

Senya chuckled. “Of course. They own much of the territory in Breaktown. Including the Razor. It’s a luxury apartment complex. The luxury complex. The subterranean connection to the Scions is a coincidence, but an unpleasant one for the survivors.”

“That means we’re on a clock.”

“Yes. Let’s go.”

Chapter 29: Saving the Scions

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Lana began sifting through the information as fast as she could. Thanks to months of fine-tuning, T7 was able to crack the modest encryption in minutes. There was little new here, certainly nothing relevant to herself or her husband, but she was kept busy.

“If I had more bad news for you…” she began.

“Then I’d say I can’t really take any more right now,” Senya said. “Send it to me marked ‘Sir Dawn’s Last Ride.’ I’ll get to it later.”

“I think that’s for the best.”

Morbid curiosity almost got the better of her, but Senya desisted. She wasn’t joking. Her worldview was being rocked to pieces. Again. She had seized on the one lifeline Lana had given her; she needed to find and save the remaining Scions as soon as possible.

“Where are we?” Lana asked, looking surprised.

“Welcome to the Old World,” Senya told her. “I see you missed Zakuul proper.”

“It couldn’t be helped. That distress signal got me focused on one task. Now I’m on another.”

“I know. You work hard. Vajra is a lucky man.”

“So he always told me, but I can assure you that I got the better end of the bargain. Now, what is the Old World?”

“This was Valkorion’s first attempt at a great society. After taking control of the Eternal Fleet, he forged a mighty and rich Empire. Moreover, he seemed to have discovered a secret trove of treasure. All of which he poured into making Zakuul his crown jewel.”

“A secret trove of treasure?” Lana looked at her skeptically.

“The official story is that it was knowledge loaded on the computers. But I’ve had years to think where it might really have come from.”

“The Sith Empire,” Lana concluded, looking incensed. “Vitiate siphoned off over 3.4 trillion credits out of our economy, over the centuries! We thought he was building fortresses and secret projects, but—”

“But he was investing in Zakuul,” Senya finished. “Yes. And it resulted in a city without peer. You didn’t see the High World, did you? Shame. You should. With me to record your reaction, if possible.”

“I will, once I’ve helped you save the Scions. I have to. I’ll have to reconnoiter the whole planet in order to plan his escape. Once I even find him.”

“Yes. For now, all you can see is this… abandoned, decaying shell.”

“‘Abandoned’?”

“Abandoned by Valkorion. He gave up on it as soon as he began planning for the High World.”

“It seems he does that to all his projects, eventually.”

Senya snorted. You have no idea, my clever new friend. She realized that Lana had noted her private joke, but didn’t ask for clarification. “Breaktown is the one that’s most decayed, and most abandoned. To my knowledge, Knights don’t go there anymore. Only Skytroopers; and fewer of those every month. Even my fellow Vigilants aren’t as keen on coming down here, despite the growing Herald presence. Crime, addiction, poverty, and homelessness been on the rise for a hundred and fifty years. And now, heretics have built up their power there. What do you know about the Heralds?”

“Just that they worship the destroyer deity, Zildrog.”

“Yes, and more. They worship the apocalypse itself. The death and destruction of our society. The descent into madness, chaos, and anarchy.”

“I’ve seen such cults before.” Senya could almost hear the Sith’s eyes roll. “They always seem to think that the time after the apocalypse will be a time of rebirth and renewal. Of cleansing. Either that, or they worship death itself.”

“The former, in this case. I wish they could spare us all the headache and just meet their hero, already.”

“They never do.”

“You sound like you’ve seen your share of them.”

“Well…” Lana looked over at her. “I worked with Intelligence for most of my career, so we encountered several. But the worst might not even be considered a cult. They were mind-controlled, broken, and reforged into what might’ve passed for one. At their head were the Dread Masters. Sith Lords who mastered manipulation of mania and fear. Their full story is… long, morbidly fascinating, and dark. But they learned how to amplify their power by working together, as one unit. Together they grew not only their power, but their understanding of fear and all its derivative emotions. Finally, they set their eyes on one of several artifacts that were too powerful for all but the Emperor to safely use. He granted them permission to study it, and was impressed when they mastered it. They used their knowledge to create a variant of battle meditation that incapacitated entire armies. For decades, they plagued the Republic, until a Knight named Jaric Kaedan managed to outsmart them. They spent the next years in a maximum-security prison, until the Emperor managed to find them, and have them released. By the time they were ready to return to his service, Vajra had slain Vitiate. Not long after, one of their own was killed on Darvannis, which sent the rest into a mentality that worshipped death. They began attempting to destroy the galaxy, to taste the same oblivion they did. And be freed by it. They were able to break a lot of wills in their last months. Formed a pseudo-cult.”

“That’s frightening,” Senya shuddered. “I take it they were stopped? By whom?”

“The one on Darvannis was killed by Tiarna Kaimeryn. I believe she squashed him like a toad in her hand. As for the others, they were killed by a Jedi strike team. I only know three of the members. Bengel Morr, Praven, and Kavi Taa. She was the one who took the brunt of the fight, and might even have slain most of the Dread Masters herself. The last time anyone checked, she was as good a swordsman as Vajra, while being quite powerful in the Force. Maybe the third or fourth strongest of the Jedi Order.”

“If that is the case, she must be a mighty warrior indeed!” Senya exclaimed. “Why haven’t we heard of her yet?”

Lana put down her datapad and stretched as she thought. “Unfortunately for her, she hit a stumbling block early in her career that left her forever… changed, though I don’t know exactly how. As a Padawan, she was shot down by Flesh Raiders on Tython, and lived among them for nearly eight months. When she returned, she barely seemed interested in her tasks and missions, no matter how critical. She could be entranced by the most random things. But she was roped in on the first mission to capture Vitiate.”

“I’ve heard of that one,” Senya said.

“Good. I can skip to the relevant part then. She was the first to accept the Emperor’s ‘invitation.’ She ran into the Dark Side’s open arms like a child to a pretty pony. And she was the one who dueled Vajra to a draw when he proved a difficult foe for Vitiate alone. The Emperor was so impressed with her, he made her the first of a group called the Emperor’s Fangs. Another death cult. She was tasked with freeing the Dread Masters in the first place; and she did, after cutting down a lot of her opposition. When the Emperor fell, she… well, I don’t know what was happening in her head. Was she happy, sad, traumatized? She returned to the Jedi Council as if she’d only been gone a few hours. The Jedi Masters were forgiving, since none of it had been her fault. But they did want her to right her own wrong. She was tasked with dealing with the Dread Masters. She took the job without complaint, though I’m told she took her sweet time with it. She needed Bengel Morr and Praven to constantly bring her back on track. For a time after defeating the Dread Masters, she was at the forefront of the Republic war effort. But she never made the name Vajra had, for the truth of the Dread Masters had been suppressed and kept top secret. That was one of the few things capable of causing her dissatisfaction, it seemed. A few months before the return of Revan, she disappeared. No one has seen or heard from her in years.”

“Perhaps she’s plotting to kill the Heralds.”

Lana chuckled.

“Here we are. Breaktown.”

“Can we really leave the speeder here?”

“There are a few safe places, yes. Luckily, we have a small outpost outside the Razor itself. But if we land there, we’ll have to discover another way to get the Scions out.”

“I thought I saw a tram station nearby—”

“That might work. But we’ll need a lot of credits. Perhaps we can seize some of the Heralds’ ill-gotten spoils.” She eyed Lana’s pale face. “I think you’ll need a mask. Not to hide—I know how well that belt works—your nose. This place smells horrible.”

Nodding, Lana pulled a mask out of her pack, and raised her hood. Senya realized that she was actually looking at her as a woman for the first time. Until now, she’d only registered her as a Sith. Or an enemy. Now, she saw her as an intelligent, driven, strong young woman. And quite pretty too.

“Thank you, Lana. Without you, I’d still be crying near the Hall of the Benevolent Guide. Thanks to you, perhaps I can—” her voice broke. The Sith patted her shoulder.

“You’re welcome. And take this cloak. Cover that breastplate.”

“Come. Let’s go.”

“T7, watch our backs, please.”

As they passed by the entrance to the building Senya had identified as the Razor, the passed a large collection of unsavory things. Aside from the usual homeless crowding over a few heated pipes, dirty children fighting over scraps, thugs trying to muscle the poor out of their last credit or two, or people dying with large, gaping wounds in the middle of the streets, they saw people squatted on large piles of trash, defecating out in the open.

“Not the first sight of Zakuul I’d like to give an outsider,” Senya muttered.

“I’ve seen worse,” Lana said blandly. “But it never fails to repulse.”

“As it should. This isn’t normal, healthy society.”

They reached the entrance to the Razor, where a large crowd was leaving with what little they could carry. People in hooded robes jeered and catcalled them.

“Please, please let me back in,” a former resident begged. “I can’t find my necklace. It’s made of fool’s silver, so it’s of no value. But it was my father’s—”

“It belongs to the Heralds now!” one of the jeering men laughed. “As does this whole place!”

“Possessions are impure,” another said. “We are doing you a favor. Embrace the simple life!”

“Like you are?”

“We own nothing here. We need this building to protect us from those who would seek to harm us. We need it as a center to spread the gospel of Zildrog!”

“We’ll need to go around,” Senya muttered.

As they rounded a corner, they passed by a man in cult robes, talking to a shifty-eyed little man.

“Tell me, Acolyte. What does the Return of the great Zildrog mean?”

“It means the death to disbelievers,” the acolyte said fervently. “It means the end of our corrupt society. It means great happiness to all.”

His whiny, overconfident certainty made Lana roll her eyes.

“You understand much,” the cultist said approvingly. “But do you know what will become of you? Of your family?”

“We give ourselves to Zildrog’s glory so that the wicked may be punished. We die, so Zakuul may live on!”

Good. You are on your way. In Zildrog’s name!”

“In Zildrog’s name!” the youth repeated.

“I do hope that was for a cheap stage performance,” Lana whispered.

Senya chuckled. “Who knows? The Stage has always been a good place for propaganda. Now here. Turn here. Now, in there.” She was pointing at a small door, hidden by a (dry waste, thank goodness) bin.

“The sewer?” Lana had crawled through a few in her time, but this one promised to be worse than most.

“Well… hopefully not. I think we’ll go to the basem*nt first. The sewage isn’t too deep or rapid, but this is the first exit in a long radius. They will be tired and exhausted from the long march. And yes, they will need a bath. I wish we could provide one for them.”

“Sounds like a health code violation. Oh, wait. It’s because you leave this work exclusively to droids.”

“It isn’t so in the Core Worlds? Well, all work is done by droids on Zakuul. Construction, repair, maintenance, sweeping, garbage disposal…”

“If you ever set foot on Coruscant or Nar Shaddaa, you’ll know how impossible that is. Zakuul is relatively small, even if it is grander.”

“I suppose. In any case, most public service droids in Breaktown have been destroyed and salvaged by the locals. There’s very little of that kind of job happening down here.”

They descended into the building, which Lana was thankful to find was tidy. For now. They entered the basem*nt to find no one there but a bunch of discarded robes which were soaked-through Large hoses had been connected to nearby faucets, and had evidently been used to hose down the clothes… and perhaps those wearing them. They were still leaking rivulets of water.

“These are not Scion robes,” Senya said worriedly.

“They were attacked in the dead of night,” Lana pointed out. “This is likely what they were wearing in their beds.”

“Ahh. That makes sense. Looks like the Heralds got to them first,” Senya said.

“But why wash them down? Were they thinking of taking the Scions in?”

“Only one way to find out. We need to find the Scions.”

Lana nodded at the floor “Follow the water tracks, then. Do you have a stealth field generator?”

“No. Nor do I know how to use one.”

“Stay in the shadows then?”

“Of course.”

They crept up the stairs as soft as mice. Lana scouted ahead at doors and intersections, but they didn’t meet anyone. Eventually, they reached a large plaza within the Razor.

There was a large crowd in cultist robes, all surrounding a group of nearly-naked, shivering, half-dead people.

At the very center was a man with tattoos on his face standing before a holoprojector. He was speaking to a familiar, white-robed figure with a faceplate that covered about two-thirds of his face.

“So after their brilliant escape into the sewers, they fell into my hands,” the cultist gloated. “I was quite interested to find out their stories.”

“Congratulations on fishing out rats from the sewers,” Arcann said tiredly. “You called me at the crack of dawn for this?”

“Actually, I thought you might want them—”

“I do not. They mean nothing to me. Their destruction was a statement; nothing more. I never saw them as a threat to my rule. Their power has been broken, both politically and in the destruction of their stronghold and symbols. They did not escape me; Vaylin let them go.”

“But even so. Perhaps it might amuse you to know they are our captives now.”

“Tell me what you want, ‘Exalted,’” Arcann sneered.

“He shouldn’t have acknowledged that title,” Senya breathed.

“I want control over Breaktown,” the Exalted replied. “It’s all but abandoned down here. No laws, no order—”

“And what do you offer in return?”

“Well, the Scions—”

“Keep them. Kill them, imprison them, abandon them, or recruit them. I care not. If you ever have something real to bargain with, call me again.”

The transmission ended, and the smile slipped off the leader’s face. “CURSE YOU FOR A STINKING, MARSH-BRAINED, PUSTULE-RIDDEN whor*FACE!” he screamed. “YOU THINK YOURSELF BETTER THAN US? YOU PRETEND YOU ARE OUR EMPEROR, BUT YOU HAVE INHERITED NONE OF YOUR FATHER’S POWER NOR MAJESTY! YOU ARE AN INSIGNIFICANT, MALFORMED CHIP OF DANDRUFF THAT FELL FROM YOUR MIGHTY FATHER’S HAIR! NOTHING MORE! YOU MAY LOOK LIKE YOUR BROTHER, BUT YOU ARE NOTHING LIKE HIM! YOU PROBABLY KILLED HIM TOO, YOU USURPING, ASSHOLE!”

“What was that about Thexan?” Senya asked herself, then shook her head. “No. There are always such rumors around a mysterious death. Ignore them.”

Lana didn’t intrude on her out-loud thinking. “Come. They’re leading the Scions away.”

It was true. Most of the Heralds had dispersed. Many left the building, while others yawned, stretched, and went for their rooms. Had they been on the nightshift?

“I hope they don’t just throw them back into the sewers,” Senya said.

“So soon? I think he might want to find some use for them. T7?”

<T7 = has layout of the Razor. Prison =/= set aside.>

“It’s fine, we can just follow them. Be prepared to play around with locks. And is there a storeroom? One with clothes? Good. The Scions will need them.”

“Medicines too,” Senya muttered.

<Storehouse = found. Clothes = found. Medicine = found.>

“I’ll find a way to deal with the Heralds,” Lana said. “Discreetly. We don’t want to show our hand just yet.”

“I’ll get the Scions and the storehouses,” Senya agreed.

The Heralds, as it turned out, took care of themselves. They each went to bed, or to rec rooms closer to the main entrance. The Exalted, still cursing, went to the penthouse with his upper echelon. It wasn’t hard for Lana to short circuit the wiring and damage the fuses, cutting power to the elevators and doors. In fact, it was so easy, she half-wondered if someone was toying with her.

No. You’ve seen this before; Zakuulans don’t have the same concept of security as other peoples. Or sense of self-preservation. Come. Let’s meet up with Senya.

Senya dumped a bunch of towels and free size robes into a basket, also slipping in a few packets of medicine for exposure, and six dozen ration packets for good measure. Anything else was for later.

“T7? Can you show me where the Scions are?” The little droid updated her map at once, and she made her way to the small cluster of apartments in the back. They had no guard, but the block had been locked from the outside. Easily broken by one with the Force. The Scions might have broken out themselves, if they had the strength.

“Who’s there?” a broken voice asked. “Please leave us be.”

“Well… I could leave if you want. But don’t you want my gifts, at least?”

Several Scions looked up after a few minutes. Senya helpfully discarded of the cloak Lana had given her. They jumped to their feet and fell.

“A Vigilant!” one of them choked.

“Calm down. I’m not with Arcann.”

“Who are you, Warrior?”

“I recognize you. Heskel, are you not?” Senya wanted to punch the man. He was responsible for… no, now was not the time. “My name is Senya Tirall. I was once Captain of Valkorion’s personal bodyguard, in addition to leader of the Palace Vigilants.”

“Lady Senya!” Heskel blurted. “It… it is you! But why? You left so abruptly—”

“I lost faith in the Emperor. Now I’ve lost my faith in another. I heard your distress signal. I thought we were under attack by the Sith. Instead, I saw—”

“Yes. We were destroyed. By that evil bitch—”

“Are you talking about Vaylin? She wasn’t that bad, until you helped Valkorion take her away. Nathema really brought out the worst in her. She is what you and your former Master made her.”

“Now is not the time for chastisem*nt,” Heskel snarled. “The Scions outrank the Vigilants, do we not? I demand that you—”

“They say clothes make the man. You don’t cut a very commanding figure right now, with your little Heskel waving about like that. Besides… didn’t you hear me? I told you I don’t serve the Emperor anymore. What makes you think I’ll take orders from you?”

Heskel quieted down, covering his privates. Senya decided it was time to stop rubbing it in.

“But we’ll get back to that another time. Here.” She dumped the basket on the floor. “It’s got towels, clothes, medicine, and food. Line up, take one set each, and prepare to get out of here.”

“Where will we go? We can’t stay here forever!”

“You won’t. I will lead you out of the Razor and onto the nearby trams. From there, we go to the next stop. My ship is parked there, and an ally’s. We can take you all off Zakuul. We’ve got a safe place all lined up for you.”

“And where will our comfortable little exile be?”

“I was thinking Nathema. No? You sent a little girl there, I thought you believed in its—”

“NOOOOOOO!” Heskel screamed, looking terribly afraid.

“What’s the hold-up?” Lana asked.

“Oh, just airing old grievances. Do you know that one—” she pointed at Heskel “—is the reason why Vaylin is such a well-adjusted, delightful, kind, compassionate individual?”

“Kill him, if it means so much to you,” Lana told her. “We can’t waste any more time here.”

“I was waiting for them to dry off and clothe themselves, at least.”

“You heard the lady,” Lana said crisply. “Quickly now, or we leave you behind. Wait… I recall there were nearly seventy of you.”

Senya turned back. It had slipped her mind. There were about fifty now.

“The rest of us died in the sewers,” one of the others said. “Some landed wrong. Others just gave up. Turned their powers on themselves.”

“We have lost everything,” Heskel lamented. “Not a stitch of clothing left to our name. All our power and influence, gone! Even the Force has abandoned us!”

Lana sighed. “Hurry up. We don’t have all day, and you’re still naked. In case you didn’t get the memo, our charity is limited.”

The Scions all looked at each other uncertainly, until one finally spoke up, a woman with short, reddish-brown hair, whose name Senya thought was Tersu. “The drought has ended,” she proclaimed. “I have had a Vision. We will go with you to this ‘Asylum,’ Lana Beniko. The galaxy isn’t done with us yet.”

“The Scions follow prophecies,” Senya began, but realized Lana looked less than impressed.

“I’ve seen Visions, in my time. You can’t beat the Voss on that front. Come along then. Now you know that you’re meant to go with us.”

New life seemed to descend upon the Scions, who got ready in minutes. Not once did they complain, as Senya led them through the filthy Old World towards the trams with Lana. T7 returned to their speeder, and took it to the ships, where he waited for them.

“Where to now?” Senya asked Lana, when they were all aboard. “What is this ‘Asylum?’”

“It was supposed to be a temporary sanctuary for all those on the run, but it’s shaping up to be a madhouse now.”

Senya snorted. “It’s still better than nothing.”

“What can we do there?” Tersu asked.

“Do you have any skills aside from the Force? No? Well, you will have to learn some. Asylum is now owned by an… entrepreneur. They intend for a large volume of ships to pass through every day. If you can provide services such as security, you will be paid for it. If you can provide healing or any other services—”

“Most of us are healers,” she said excitedly.

“The point is, you can’t be picky. Guards, cooks, cleaners, spies… take what work you can get, until you find your new paths. You are no longer proud servants of Zakuul. You are exiles and outcasts. And you can still go plenty more downhill, if you’re not careful.”

“We will survive this,” Heskel swore at last. “And we will have our vengeance on Arcann.”

“Speaking of Arcann,” Senya said. “I heard that thug’s tirade. He mentioned that Arcann—”

“That he usurped his brother and father?” Heskel interrupted. “Yes, he cut down Thexan, himself. As for Valkorion? There is no way in the seven hells that that little snake could harm our master! Devarath, on the other hand, had a track record of killing opponents far beyond him.”

“But might Arcann have freed him?” Senya asked. “And forced his hand?”

“Freed him?” Heskel looked at the others. “Well, I do not know. If we knew of such treachery, we would’ve rebelled. We would’ve laid charges at his feet. Publicly.”

“I saw the restraints on his neck and hands,” another Scion said. “We both did.” He indicated himself and Heskel. “There’s no way Devarath got out on his own. I thought the Emperor had freed him, as he did Marr.”

“Emperor Valkorion knew that Marr was too weak to defeat him,” Heskel scoffed. “But Devarath? He would never have released a known god slayer! Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”

“It—forgive me, Master. I didn’t realize—”

“It is too late, now. Arcann’s grip on his throne is unbreakable. For now. But his time will come.”

“What do you mean?” Senya asked him.

“When Valkorion died, we all had one, final vision. Arcann would rise in his place, and become a terrible tyrant, one who would turn the peoples of the galaxy against him. Against us. But it is his destiny to fall. More than that, we do not know.”

“That does not concern me,” Lana said. “What of Vajra? Where is Arcann keeping him?”

“Arcann told us he’s dead,” Heskel said.

“I say, he is not.”

The Scions looked hard at her for a moment, then each other, then back. “We do not know,” he admitted. “Nor do we know if he plays any role in Arcann’s downfall.”

Lana breathed out heavily and sat down on a seat. “Then I will continue as I always have.”

“This is our stop,” Senya said. “Come on, now. We have a long ride ahead of us.”

“And a long ride back,” Lana said. “So much work to do, so much I’ve already done… and I feel I’ve only just started.”

“An athlete’s big race does not begin at the starting line,” Senya quoted. “But years before. The effort it takes to get to the arena is immense.”

“I’m up to the challenge.”

“I know you are. How about you leave both our ships to me? I swear, I’ll bring it back to you. You begin setting up shop here.”

“I will. Thank you.”

“No, Lord Beniko,” a Scion said. “Thank you. We hope we can pay back our debt in full, someday.”

Chapter 30: Senya's Revelation

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Notes:

Given Roban Queens' importance to Zakuul, I thought it made no sense that no one is hearing or speaking about him. I decided to retroactively give him a pseudonym in Zakuul: Vanir. I'll update my older stories when I can.

Chapter Text

A Month Later

Lana Beniko had discovered early that even the highest-cleared guards rarely made it deep into the prisons. Not because of security concerns; most menial jobs, from cleaning to feeding prisoners, was done by droids. She also learned that since recorded figures were rarely trustworthy, she needed to see each prison cell for herself.

This meant that she and T7 spent a whole month locating every last maximum-security cell on the planet—and in orbit—and infiltrating it. In stealth, she visited every last cell of every last facility in person.

Today was the last prison visit. She’d been half-mad at herself for choosing the ‘right one’ last, but this wasn’t the place either.

“These prisons are filling up fast, aren’t they?” she asked T7, who agreed.

They’d been virtually empty when she’d started her raids. But more and more people were being rounded up every day, mostly on charges of sedition. For speaking out against Arcann and his policies. And his war.

Yes, they were calling it his war, for the populace had largely moved on after Valkorion’s death. They didn’t care about Vajra, let alone the Core Worlds. Only Arcann and his Knights were keen on pushing on with the war, which was not going as well as they’d hoped.

<Incoming message> T7 reported once their speeder had taken off. <Important Message = from Sith Lord: Darth Kaimeryn>

Lana hesitated before picking up her datapad to read it.

Dear Lana.
I hope you are well. Things have been getting even harder lately, if you can believe it. But alas, even that pales in comparison to what comes next.
Time’s running out. I need to speak to you. As soon as possible. Please don’t ignore me any longer. I know you don’t like hearing the truth, but someone needs to say it to your face and help you pull out.
I wish to fulfil the final request your husband made me, before my time comes as well.
I’m waiting for your call.
Lady Kai.

“Yes, I really can’t put this off any longer,” Lana said ruefully. “Get us back to the apartment quickly.”

Lana made the call as soon as she confirmed that the line was secure. “Hello? Hello, it’s Lana Beniko. I request an audience with—”

But there was no need for further explanation. She was transferred at once.

“Lana!” The Tiarna said, looking deeply relieved. “You’ve no idea how good it is to see you again. Your hair’s grown longer. And did you lose some weight?”

“It’s been a hard few months,” Lana said politely, not commenting on the Tiarna’s own appearance. She was a lot more haggard and gaunt. The fiery energy of her orange eyes had started to dwindle. But worst of all, her easy manner was gone.

“Tell me about it. I mean, really. Last time you did something like this, you had company.”

“The best. Where to begin?” Lana sat back in her sofa and took a long sip from the brandy her protocol droid gave her. “I spent two months trying to find Zakuul.”

“You were the one who anonymously sent me the locations of all those worlds, weren’t you?”

“I was indeed. Couldn’t abandon you completely.”

“Thanks for that. Now go on. Tell me everything.”

Lana launched into a summary of her adventures, going over the many ways she’d tried and failed to find her husband. The ups and downs, the people she’d met, the places she’d discovered, the fact that the galaxy had seemed to rise up just to slow her down at a crucial juncture…

“Remarkable,” she commented once Lana was done talking. “To think, you’ve accomplished so much with so few to help you out. This isn’t the first time I’ve thought that you are one scary little bitch.”

“Says the woman who has Arcann weeping in Erisa’s lap every night.”

“HAAAAAA!” she laughed. “If he couldn’t take it, he shouldn’t have dished it out.” She sobered up. “But tides are turning. There’s only so much longer we can keep up this dance. Moving our primary sector, hiding Erisa’s involvement, giving Arcann just enough that he thinks she’s on his side… and worst of all, I’ve got weeks left at best. If I wish to defeat Arcann, it’s now or never.”

“So, it’s really happening.”

“Yes. Today. I’m transferring power to Decklan, bidding farewell to my friends and family, dismissing retainers, and going to the fortress. By the end of the day. You’ve caught me at the last possible moment.”

“I won’t apologize for that,” Lana said. “I knew what you were going to say.”

“Allow me to say it anyway. Vajra is gone. You need to give up on him.”

“That’s not what I—”

“When’s the last time you even Sensed him? Shortly before you sent out that letter, I wager. The one where you told me, Jasme, Kira, and Theron that something had happened.”

“That was the last time, yes,” Lana confirmed. “But I believe he’s alive.”

“And the source of this belief is…?”

“I didn’t Sense him die. I would have if it had happened. I know it.”

“He was nowhere near as powerful as Marr, let alone the Emperor. It’s no surprise that we can’t Sense his death.”

“It would be a surprise if I couldn’t. Please don’t make me repeat myself. He is alive.”

“You’re in denial,” Lady Kai said, somewhere between frustrated and angry and sympathetic. “Your persistence is your most charming trait, but it’s working against you now.”

“Why are you so certain?” Lana barked back. “Did you also develop a Force Bond while I wasn’t looking?”

“No. But I know reality when I hear it. It makes no sense for Arcann to keep Vajra alive.”

“Why doesn’t it make sense? A captured Vajra is a threat to no one!”

“So Valkorion thought, until he broke free and killed him.”

“He didn’t break free. Arcann freed him.”

“Did he, now?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting, but all the more reason for our pretty princess (A.N. She’s talking about Arcann here) to kill Vajra. He’s a loose end.”

“Half his subjects whisper it amongst themselves. The rest do not care.”

“Lana, please. See reason. You’re hurting, and you need help. Come back home before everyone leaves—”

“Leaves?”

“Oh, that’s right. I haven’t told you. The Rooks Princedom is being emptied. I don’t trust the Sith not to leave my people alone after I’m gone. We’ve discovered a new home, many Parsecs away. You could join them. It’ll be a peaceful new life.”

“I’ve found a new home. But there can be no beginnings until I’m done.”

“What’s that about a new home?”

“I—didn’t I mention? I found a new world that I named Odessen. It called to me, and I heard it. To be honest, I half-suspected Vajra was there. I lost a lot of time finding it, but—”

“Oh, yes, you did mention something about that. And you’ve started building a new home there?”

“That’s right.”

“Then retire there. Forget about Vajra. Maybe Ray and Vette can join you there. Maybe Jasme too. It won’t be the life you were hoping for, just five months ago. But you might learn to be happy again.”

“I won’t give up. I can’t.”

“You will. You can. You are on the path to despair. Please, Lana.”

Lana was furious. She had known that Lady Kai would work hard to persuade her, but this was beyond what she was prepared for. No doubt she was pulling out all the stops, as this was her only chance.

“What will happen afterwards?” she asked her.

“You build a new life—”

“I meant the galaxy. What will happen after your little operation? Imagine you’re successful beyond your wildest dreams. You slay Arcann, you defeat Vaylin, and you destroy the Eternal Fleet. What happens next?”

“That is not for me to say—”

“Then let me say it for you. The Empire will go on to conquer Zakuul. Then they will conquer the Republic. Then they will hunt the Jedi to extinction. An Empire ruled by Aruk. Without you to keep them in line—him especially—the worst school of Sith thought shall prevail.”

“Nox—”

“And you thought I was in denial. Nox will do what Aruk wants him to. And then he will be disposed of. It might be messy, but it will happen. Nox has grown too hesitant to take decisive action.”

“Then Vowrawn—”

“That is the wager you have taken. Only, you won’t be here when it is decided. You have gambled all our futures on the possibility that defeating Arcann is the best option. What if he isn’t? What if he is the least evil, of those you leave behind?” She waited for Lady Kai to think that over. Uncertainty grew on her face. Doubt in her own clever plan. “Will that stop you from doing what you think is right? Will you stop your operation? Will you go into hiding with Jasme and your people?”

“I suppose not.”

“Good. And I will not give up on my husband.”

“It will lead to your doom.”

“You’re en route to yours.”

“It’s different.”

“It’s not.” The Muinar glowered at her. Lana held her gaze without any trouble. “You can’t deter me with words. Don’t try.”

“Fine,” she relented. “But if you ever find proof that he is dead, you will try to move on.”

“Such is the promise we made to each other,” Lana accepted. “Vajra and I, I mean.”

“What is Zakuul like?” she asked after a few moments’ silence. “Erisa has given me a briefing, but—”

“It’s got its opulent palace district, it’s got its more reasonable area, it’s got its slum, and it’s got the worlds outside of Zakuul,” Lana answered simply. “Those in the last category aren’t much different from less-important Imperial or Republic worlds. And while the High World is a shining jewel, and much of the Old World is like Nar Shaddaa, the slums on Zakuul are some of the worst I have encountered. The people don’t seem to care that much about Valkorion, despite claiming he was an Immortal god. The wealthy party aimlessly, while the lowborn scramble for life. The other worlds just live life the same they always have. Their entire civilization is carried by the Eternal Fleet alone. At the start, I wondered how taxes worked on Zakuul. But they don’t. Everything I’ve read and experienced points to people not working, but receiving a fixed stipend from the government.”

“How is that possible?”

“I’m sure some of their wealth comes from tributes from their provinces and member worlds. But I believe much of their wealth comes stolen from the Sith Empire. But that avenue was cut off after Vitiate lost his grip. It’s no wonder they ran into a war; this society can’t function without a source of credits. Once they win the war, it is my belief that Core and Prize worlds will be devoured. To answer my own, earlier question, I don’t think Arcann is that much better than Aruk or Saresh.”

“We’re right f*cked, aren’t we? I wonder what will become of… everything.”

“We fight. We hope.”

“When all else is lost, hope is all that remains.”

“Yes. That’s all I have for you… no, wait! There’s one more thing. I keep hearing about a Duke Vanir. Have you heard anything about him?”

“No. Who is he? An Exarch?”

“No. I can find no records on him. He just appeared out of thin air, some years ago. He impressed Valkorion and the Princes with some service; and to such a degree that they made him an Earl and gave him a small personal guard. Tumult was that army.”

“Was it, now?”

“It gets more interesting. A few more years go by, and the Earl stood before the Emperor for only the third time in his life. Whatever it was he did this time, it earned him the title of Duke. And I have a sneaking suspicion what that might have been; for it was right after Yavin.”

“Interesting.”

“There’s only one other record of this Duke. He put in a request for a training camp at seven different worlds all across Zakuul; a period that lasted just under a year. According to the file, he was only there for the first month or so. After that, he returned to… whatever his duty was. I suspect it was espionage. Regardless, the training camp continued as he had ordered, to the letter. At the end, Valkorion himself remarked that the soldiers were the best he’d ever seen.”

“So… this Duke Vanir was the one who created our biggest headache.”

“And he’s either in the Empire, or the Republic. I’m certain of it.”

“The Republic, then. That’s why they have so many recent military secrets from their side, but not ours.”

“That makes sense. It’s something that’s been bothering me. I asked Erisa to look into it, but all she could tell me for certain was that Princess Rovina—Prince Thexan’s widow—is Vanir’s sister. Evidently, they wanted to tie him to the house. That only makes me more intrigued about who he really is.”

“Yes. You don’t marry off the crown prince for any up-and-coming soldier.”

“All other information about him is classified, and stored in a section of the Spire she can’t reach. That’s all I have for you.”

“Thank you, Lana.” She sighed. “Time’s up. My final court starts in an hour.”

Lana’s heart filled with sorrow. “Burn bright, Lady Kai. I’ll miss you.”

“I hope you prove me wrong. I hope—for everyone’s happiness—that Vajra is alive. Farewell, Lana Devarath.”

The name thrilled her. She hadn’t officially taken his name, though she intended to, as he was the last of his tribe. She took a moment to compose herself before she received another message.

“Senya!”

“Beniko.” The older woman blinked uncertainly, catching the look in Lana’s eye. “Is this a bad time?”

“I had to say goodbye to a very good friend.”

“Ah. My sympathies. I was hoping—it’s a little late, but I read what you sent me last month.”

It took Lana a moment to work that one out. “Oh. I’m so sorry, Senya.”

“I… I really need to talk to someone. I’m sorry to put it on you, but I have no one else.”

Lana was left feeling curious. “Well, you know where to find me. I’ll have some dinner ready for us.”

“Thank you. I hope it wasn’t too presumptuous of me, but I’m already on my way. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

“I’ll be seeing you soon, then.”

Senya Tirall couldn’t help but drool slightly at the medley of aromas that wafted over her as she entered Lana’s modest apartment.

“What is that?” she asked curiously.

“Hello to you too,” Beniko snorted. She was pulling the dish out of the oven. There was a casserole full of flatbread on the dining table. “It’s Za’atar chicken.”

“Looks like it required some prep time.”

“It did. Most of it, yesterday. I was hoping it would be a celebratory dinner, but this is fine.” She pulled out a small bottle of wine next, and poured two glasses.

Senya’s face fell. “Still not found him? My sympathies.”

“Thank you. I’m starting to think he’s not in any Zakuulan prisons.”

“Zakuul has a lot of high-security prisons, though they’ve only started to find use recently.” Senya bit her lip. She would talk about this afterwards.

“Where do you suggest we start?”

She thought about that for a moment. “Kenshem. Duke Tancred’s world. Not only does it have the most impressive fortresses and castles, it has three very well-guarded prisons. And the best part? The duke’s absence has finally been noted. There’s a civil war in progress. Which means that security will be that much easier for you to penetrate.”

“Good. I’ll take it.” She sounded dissatisfied with that avenue, as if she already knew it wouldn’t lead anywhere. “Perhaps I’ll call Theron and the others. You’d like them. They’re good people. Disciplined and principled. They’d be happy to—wait, you’ve already met them! They were the ‘mercs’ I was with last time.”

Senya laughed. “Is that right? Well, I hope they don’t shoot me again.”

“They won’t,” Lana was certain. “Dinner is served. Dig in!”

Neither woman discussed business during the meal. Senya was astonished to note that the food was worthy of the royal tables!

“I haven’t eaten food this good since… ages!” she said.

“it’s lucky that Zakuulan markets are so bountiful,” Lana smiled. “And thanks to the stipend, I’m able to indulge every once in a while.”

“So you’ve put yourself in the system?” Senya laughed again. “You little rascal!”

“This is just a side perk. Having a name makes a lot of other issues are easier.”

“Very nice. I suppose it’s like you said; you were in Intelligence for most of your career.”

“I was. It had its high points.”

Senya allowed the rest of the dinner to pass in silence. It was only after they’d retreated to the veranda and both wineglasses were refilled that they broached the topic of why Senya was here.

“What has happened?” Lana asked.

“Like I said. I read your letter. I almost wish I’d read it sooner.” Senya swirled the drink around in her glass. “The Vigilants and Knights have started rounding up anyone who disagrees with Arcann’s regime. I thought they were truly saying terrible things to invoke his wrath, but it turns out, all they did was ask him to stop. Malita Tal… I knew her. We performed together, in our younger days. Back when I was a child artist. She’s a good woman.”

“I’m sorry.”

“If I’d read your report right then, I might have been able to protect her. Now she is gone. Disappeared, and Zildrog only knows where.”

“It’s not your fault. I imagine it’s tough to take in.”

“You have no idea. And it absolutely is my fault. I never should’ve abandoned them to him.”

Lana’s eyes turned to her slowly. “Abandoned… whom? And to whom?”

“The children. My children. The twins, Thexan and Arcann. And my poor daughter. Vaylin.”

Lana turned pale. Her eyes were fixed on Senya’s. But for a wonder, she didn’t reach to her Lightsaber for comfort. “You… you were Valkorion’s wife?”

“Just his partner,” Senya shook her head. “The mother of his children. There was never any bond like marriage, between us. And I was certainly not crowned Empress, or even consort. The few who knew were sworn into secrecy.”

“I think I need to hear more.”

“Easy enough. I need to speak more.” Senya took a deep draught of the wine. “This is good stuff…” She cleared her throat. “I was much more outspoken in my youth. Spoke my mind, disagreed with unwise decisions, and put my foot down whenever necessary. And I was good at my work. It got me raised all the way to the Palace Vigilants; the force selected to watch the shadows around Valkorion himself. Needless to say, I did not shy away from speaking my mind with him, either. It amused him. Soon, we fell in love.” She chuckled. “Or I did, and he indulged me. It was a good fifteen years. Then the twins came; then Vaylin.” She emptied the cup and filled it again. It was already starting to get to her, but that was alright. “Vaylin was a challenge no one is ever truly prepared for. She was so strong that her tantrums as an infant could turn iron-mahogany furniture into splinters. Worse; by the time she came, I had begun to see Valkorion for what he truly was. He had been quite suspicious of his sons at their birth. Monitored their every move. Set a regimen harsher than most children face, growing up, even though Arcann wasn’t up to the task. He pushed them harder and harder until their bones broke, and their skin was rubbed raw against the training ground dirt. All the time, he was on the lookout for sudden growth. For hints that they might challenge him, someday. I wanted to spare Vaylin that. So, at the start, I worked my hardest to teach her to suppress her powers. But she had the most dashing brothers to look up to; from her four-year-old eyes, the training and sparring sessions must’ve seemed the epitome of cool.”

Another drink.

“Before I knew it, she was eight. And I couldn’t keep her from training. Then it happened, one day. After getting frustrated at her slow pace, she crushed twenty Honor Guard Knights to a f*cking pulp. And the Emperor saw. He took her away from me, and I failed to resist. It took several nightmares—and a possible Vision—before I acted. I chose a loyal band of my men and flew to her hellish ‘school,’ where I tried to break her out. But with the end in sight, she refused to come with me. Before I could force the issue, Valkorion arrived, and my men dragged me off. I expected punishment, but none came. Not even a reprimand. When I stood before the Throne the next day, he just looked at me like nothing had happened. But I couldn’t stay there any longer. I begged at least the twins to come with me. But they laughed at me. They said I was too weak to comprehend greatness.” She sniffed. “Well, Arcann said that. I suppose he’s well on his way to ‘greatness’ now. He killed his brother, arranged for his father’s death, took the throne for himself, declared war on the galaxy, and now, he crushes his own subjects. And all the time, Vaylin stands beside him and laughs.” Senya sniffed again, wiping her eyes. “Why does she laugh?” she lamented. “She used to adore Thexan! He was her favorite person in the whole galaxy! Why does she take his killer’s side?”

“Perhaps she doesn’t know—”

“Oh, she knows, alright. That’s why I’m so distressed! How can they have turned out so… so evil? No, wait. I know exactly why. I failed them. I failed to act. I failed to see what their father was, in time. I failed to protect them from that father. No, perhaps I was never capable of doing anything, once they were born. I should’ve aborted them.” The words hit her in the chest like a metal club.

“You don’t mean that,” Lana said quickly, putting a hand on hers.

“I am so… horrified! They are going to bring the entire galaxy to its knees! The billions of lives being lost, the thousands of families being torn apart, entire planets impoverished… and the crimes against the Scions and dissenters like Malita… what is going to happen now? Will the whole galaxy become a mound of rotting cities, left for the wolves and crows? I hate to say this, but I almost wish Valkorion was still alive! At least him, I was not responsible for! This is all my fault!”

“No, it is not,” Lana insisted. “You were lied to by a very convincing con artist. Few of us exist, who catch the red flags right off the bat. And he was your god! Wasn’t he? It’s difficult to fight that! It’s a miracle you shook off his influence at all! And you are not responsible for the actions they are currently taking. They’re adults now. Capable of making their own choices.”

Senya appreciated the words, but they couldn’t help her.

She realized she was weeping uncontrollably. An ocean floor full of emotion seemed exposed to the open for the first time, and it could not be hidden any longer. Or at least this day. She sobbed harder than ever before in her life. Memories welled up alongside the tears. Visions of the many missed chances and missteps. If only she’d been stronger… if only she’d been sharper… if only she’d been a better mother…! But alas, she was just Senya. And she had f*cked up so badly that the whole galaxy should sit back in wonder of her incompetence.

It was almost midnight when Senya ran dry of tears. Lana helped her to her bed, then began tidying up.

This evening had brought her information she hadn’t been expecting to hear. It was profound, and gave her insights into the Emperor and his sister… but it was also largely irrelevant. After some thought, she decided that she would keep Senya’s confidence. The news was of little consequence to anyone but her. It couldn’t be used against Arcann, and it couldn’t hurt Vaylin. Perhaps they might resent her enough to be lured into a trap someday, but that had to be Senya’s choice.

For now, she decided to take Senya’s advice. She made a call, this one to Theron Shan.

“Ah, Lana! How is everything going?”

“Not quite well, I’m afraid. I fear Vajra might not be in any Zakuulan prisons. I’m widening my search to other Zakuulan worlds.”

“I see.” Theron deflated a little, then perked up to her next question.

“Has anything happened on your end?”

“I spoke to Ash. Well. We did. Me and Elara. He doesn’t resent her, nor does he resent more children. I guess that path is open to us now. Well, maybe not now. I want to do this right. Like you did. Find a nice time and place to marry her first. I’m thinking of a venue. Got any place in mind? Other than the Alderaanian palace.”

“That world has come under attack, so it’s not prime destination.”

“Oh? Damn! I didn’t know!”

“But how about Corfai? It will have to be a private ceremony if we go to Valla del Citron.”

“Sounds wonderful! I’ll add it to the list. So, any reason you called? Can we help you search these other worlds?”

“I was hoping you’d offer. If you can meet me at Asylum tomorrow at 12:00, we’re heading to a Zakuulan world called Kenshem. It’s got fortresses, castles, prisons… all Havoc’s specialty.”

“Done, and done,” Theron said. “The others are looking for a fight anyway. We’re starting to feel a bit… helpless.”

“Wonderful! I’d like to make an introduction too! A new comrade of mine.”

“Oh? This, I gotta see!”

“I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.”

“Alright then. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As Lana was keeping away her comm, she got one final message for the day. One that made her smile. “Just as well we’re headed to Asylum. T7, we’ve got a full house, again.”

T7 tooted happily.

Chapter 31: Prisoners of Kenshem

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Asylum Station

Lana and Senya took a table at a cafe close to the docks as they waited for their comrades to show up.

The Vigilant was silent as she stared out at the station, which was slowly filling up. Many here were Zakuulan refugees who had been helped out by Captain Hylo’s growing network of smugglers and mercenaries who had infiltrated many of the worlds of the Eternal Empire.

The capital itself remained hidden, though that might change in a few days.

This place might see a large increase in Zakuulan population over time. The people resisted working at first, crying for droids to come and feed them, but they all bowed down to the inevitable by taking up menial jobs to survive. Elsewhere, a few younger, prettier, naïve Zakuulans thought they’d discovered a smart choice by selling themselves into slavery with the Hutts—they thought, it seemed, that they could return to their old lifestyle, where they received a certain allowance each month, for doing nothing—but they would soon find out the errors of their decision.

Soon afterwards, Lana received a message from the Tiarna’s secretary, asking her to formally invite the civilians of Corvus—which included Lord Ray and Mira—to Odessen. Lana agreed, giving them a contract that allowed them to develop Odessen as they had Corvus, so long as she maintained ownership of the world, and ultimate say in how it was used and who was told how to get there.

She also requested Lord Ray to bring Darth Imperius and Kariya Tolen there. If Nox died, the Empire would no longer be safe for them. She also sent a message to her parents, asking if they were willing to join her on a sanctuary world, but they didn’t respond. Worried, Lana decided to seek them out in person later.

“Lana,” Senya said suddenly, her eyes on a family of seven—a couple, an old man, and four children, the eldest likely no older than nine. They were all weeping their eyes out. “Do you remember the promise you made me? Well… I release you from it. Do whatever you have to. Don’t hold back.”

“Senya, this isn’t you,” Lana said carefully, though the change in arrangements suited her just fine. “I understand if you don’t care about the Emperor and Vaylin anymore, but the innocents of Zakuul—”

“They will survive,” Senya said. “They won’t like it, but they will move on. And it’s not just the Emperor. The Knights should’ve rebelled against their orders—slaughtering the Scions and rounding up protesters—but they obeyed. They are complicit. There are even people like Kenshem in their midst. I’ve confirmed it. He wasn’t the only one.”

“You will find them and stop them,” Lana assured her. “And speaking of Dukes, do you know Duke Vanir?”

“Only his name. I’ve never seen him. He’s supposed to be a gifted soldier. He and his family lived in the Republic for two and a half centuries, building supply chains and connections. They are quite wealthy. I don’t know more than that. Oh. I know his sister was married to Thexan. Useless woman. From what I have heard, she spends her days bullying the servants and hiding from Vaylin and Arcann. Lamenting her lack of skill and blaming it all on Vanir. It’s no wonder she’s not respected in the Palace. But she’s still there, and her family is still favored by the new Emperor. Just goes to show how useful her brother is. I believe Arcann is trying to expand his regulars. Make more soldiers along those lines. But their training is rushed, even if it isn’t ineffective.”

<Ship: Havoc Cry = has arrived!>

“Finally! I can’t wait to introduce you to them.”

Lana felt a slight uplift in her spirits when the disguised BT-7 entered the atmosphere. She paid for their caf and walked out to meet her friends. Kanner was the first one to exit, and she offered Lana a wide smile.

“Hey there! How’s my favorite Sith doing?”

“Quite alright, thank you very much. How’s the best mercenary in the galaxy?”

“Happy to hear you call her that,” Kanner beamed. “We’ve been on a lot more jobs. Mostly pulling Republic civies out of hot zones. But we did get called to help civilians on the Imp side too! It’s nice work!”

“It’s rewarding work,” Jorgan saluted. “Not to the wallets, but definitely the soul. How you doing, Beniko? And who’s this?”

“I’m sure you all remember the Vigilant we ran into on Denon? I have since come to an understanding with her. This is Senya Tirall, a Knight Commander of the Vigilants of Zakuul. Senya, meet Havoc Squad, the most legendary unit to emerge from the Republic.”

“How do you do?” Senya asked politely, after being introduced to each member in turn. “I’m glad no one drew their weapons this time.”

“She sought my aid in killing Duke Kenshem,” Lana explained as everyone chortled. “The serial killer we encountered.”

“So he’s dead?” Elara breathed. “Thank goodness! I saw those poor, dead kids in my dreams, every night for a month.”

“Lana was the one who killed him,” Senya revealed. “On Bothawui. Outside a farmstead owned by one… the Melan family, I think they were.”

“I heard about that,” Theron exclaimed. “Admiral Aygo passed word along. And his appreciation. I heard it was you, but I don’t recall him mentioning Kenshem’s name.”

“Have they started evacuating Bothawui?” Lana asked.

“It’s slow going, but yes.”

“What’s your mission for us today?”

“Hang on. We’re waiting on one more team member—ah! There he is!”

Everyone turned to find a droid walking towards them. It had a heavy black-and-gold trimantium armor plating. It had in its arms a heavy blaster rifle—modified Zakuulan technology—and a collapsible vibrosword on its back. Its facial design was quite familiar. “Greetings: It is a pleasure to see you again, Master!
Declaration: This unit is now designated HK-55, and is eager to protect you from all manner of hostile meatbags!”

“What about hostile droids?”

“Answer: Hostile droids? There is no such thing. Only a pile of scrap metal.”

Lana laughed. “Welcome back, HK. You’re looking wonderful.”

“Answer: Thank you, Master!
Statement: My upgrade took much longer than I’d originally projected—I blame the availability of parts—but I am now back at your side.”

“And now the team is complete!” Lana said, turning around triumphantly.

“Good. Where are we going, and what is our mission?”

“We are going to Kenshem,” Senya told everyone. “The planet ruled by Duke Tancred. It is a world of forts and high walls. There are three prisons there that we need to raid.”

“Our primary objective is Vajra,” Lana told them. “Or any information pertaining to him. But our secondary objectives are the Zakuulan prisoners.”

“Zakuulans?” Elara asked.

“That’s right. Look around.” Lana indicated a few of the nearby families. “Many of the people here are Zakuulan refugees. They spoke out against the war, and requested their Emperor pursue a truce. They were hounded and imprisoned for their ‘impudence.’ We’d like to save as many of them as possible.”

“Kenshem’s high-security prisons can hold up to three thousand people each,” Senya said. “But I’m confident that the number is less than six hundred at the moment. And they’re all in the prison closest to his private residence. I would like to free as many of them as possible. Normally, it’s a fool’s errand. But Kenshem is in a state of civil war. Most of their soldiers are deployed against each other as various claimants try to take Tancred’s throne. Which gives us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“How do you intend to sneak out of the planet with six hundred prisoners?”

“Prison barges,” Lana answered. “Each prison has six barges intended to transport prisoners to and from the facilities. They can hold two hundred each.”

“And what do we do, once we save them? Bring them here?”

“That’s right. Asylum has become a hub for smuggling and underworld activities under Captain Hylo Visz. But it’s still quite safe here, for now. It will be difficult, but they can build new lives here. Or find passage to other worlds, and start there.”

“So we’re helping Zakuulan civilians now,” Elara muttered, then giggled. “If I’d known I’d be increasing the number of people I could help, I’d have defected sooner. That’s a joke.”

“Of course it is,” Theron hugged her.

“Come now. The sooner we get to Kenshem, the sooner we liberate all those poor souls.”

“What are our odds of finding Master Vajra there?” Kanner asked.

“Pretty low,” Lana admitted. “At this point, I’ve lost track of him. The only thing I can say with certainty is that he’s alive.”

“You’re the only one I’ve met who believes that,” Jorgan said. “Everyone else has given him up for dead.”

“Well, I’m not the type to believe rumors,” Lana replied, hiding her annoyance. “I trust my instincts. I believe in the Force.”

“I hope he’s still alive,” Elara said. “The Republic is unofficially on its deathbed. We need someone to shake some sense into everyone. If Vajra reappears and challenges Saresh, that alone will be a huge blow to her.”

“That still won’t stop the Sith from destroying us,” Jorgan said in frustration. “Not unless he goes on a major rampage on Dromund Kaas.”

“Focus on the near future,” Lana suggested.

“Yes. I’m eager to see my first Zakuulan world,” Theron said.

“You’re in for a treat then,” Senya smiled. “Kenshem is a world closest to the High World of Zakuul. Very wealthy, very decorated. And I know the best restaurants.”

“Now I’m excited.”

Kenshem

Lana was suitably impressed with her first view of Kenshem. As Senya had promised, its capital was nearly as grand as Zakuul’s High Worlds. It was a world of culture and poetry; its architecture composed of red stone and vine-covered spires that ended with lanterns in the shape of beautiful gold bulbs. Artificial tanks were pristine and still, and the trees were full of songbirds. And the statues were quite different and unique from those of Zakuul, featuring slim, slender bodies and large, soulful, doe-like eyes. Lana was reminded of her husband.

But one look at the eyes around told Lana that the people were just as adrift here, as on Zakuul. They lacked purpose and drive. They celebrated life at all hours of the day, as on the capital, but it was a vain attempt to forget that they had no calling in life.

One endless frat party. That was what Senya had called it, and it was an apt comparison.

While there was technically a state of civil war, the civilians were left largely unaffected, so it wasn’t as martial as one might have expected. The group spent the first day casing the prisons, under the guise of tourism. Some of the aliens in the group used holodisguises to blend in, so no one looked at them twice. By the time night fell, everyone was ready.

They entered the prison through the postern gate, just before the cliffs. This was built in the old days, when sieges were a thing, so it was unguarded. Senya—disguised in an unmarked black-and-gray outfit with a hood and mask—led the way. Kanner, Lana, Jorgan, and Torg ranged forward to take out any guards and patrols, avoiding the use of lethal force, as it was likely to draw their ire later.

Once they reached the control room, T7 and Theron hacked all the systems. T7 worked on downloading all the data, while Theron began sealing guards into their dormitories, and shutting down all droids.

Meanwhile, Lana joined the others in freeing all the prisoners.

“Let’s start here,” Senya whispered. “It’s the interrogation chamber—good lord!”

The interrogation chamber looked more like a torture room. And seven corpses already lined the walls, covered by stained sheets. A few more bodies were still shackled upright, while another trio was cuffed to iron beds. Two of these were alive.

“It’s alright,” Senya said hastily. “We’re here to free you.”

“No time for niceties, I’m afraid.”

“Agreed.”

Lana took out her Lightsaber and destroyed all restraints.

“Easy,” Senya said soothingly. “We’ve got you… Malita? Malita Tal?”

“Who… who’s there?” the prisoner asked. Fearful, weakened. Pained. Both her eyes were swollen almost shut. Seven of her front teeth had been knocked out. Her right cheekbone had caved in, and her nose had been broken in several places. There were bloody stripes all over her naked body, indicating that she’d been whipped within an inch of her life. Her nails had been pulled out, and she’d been stabbed by hundreds of tiny needles.

“My name is—I’m a friend,” Senya said. She was holding back tears. “We’re going to get you out.”

“My comrades,” Malita whispered. “The other prisoners.” (A.N. For reading simplicity, I’m not using SFX to denote her hampered speech.)

“Thinking about others in your position is admirable,” Lana commented. “Don’t worry. We’re getting out as many people as possible.”

She checked her many injuries, and immediately began treating the worst ones with kolto. She then moved to the second one; a male with light skin and hair, who had been knocked unconscious. They helped the prisoners out, making sure to move as gingerly as possible. Malita Tal bit back screams, but it was obvious she was in intense pain.

“Perhaps we can use more kolto?” Senya asked uncertainly. Lana was unwilling to, since her supply was limited. But they had little choice.

“No need,” Malita whispered. “First aid station. Over there. They might have painkillers. Junoal.”

“And they might have junoal tanks,” Lana said. “Mobile ones.”

“I’ll get them inside, and get them out.”

“I’m not leaving. I could learn a thing or two about how to use junoal. It’s different from kolto, after all.”

Lana helped Senya get their charges inside the first aid station and paid close attention to how this material was used. It seemed it needed to be mixed with another compound to work well, and introduced onto open wounds as a spray, or into tablets to be crushed and swallowed with water. Once done, she watched Senya prepare a mix of junoal, ethanol, and the third compound and inject it into a tank filled with water. She lay the two prisoners inside, and placed oxygen masks over their mouths. The tanks were on repulsorlifts, so they could be easily pulled out.

“Come on,” Senya said. “The grounds are this way. The barges should all be there too.”

They met Havoc Squad outside, guarding hundreds of frightened refugees. “Your info was a bit sunny,” Jorgan said sourly. “We only found four hundred and forty prisoners. Over a hundred and fifty dead bodies were piled in an inferno.”

“Yes,” Lana said. “We discovered a few in the torture room. Formerly, the interrogation room. It seems Kenshem’s wardens are fond of brutality. Captain, they need your help. We patched them up, but there was only so much we could do.”

“I’m on it,” Elara said. She sounded on the verge of throwing up.

“What now?” Senya asked Lana and Jorgan urgently. “Can we take the fallen with us?”

“We stick to the plan,” Jorgan said. “We start loading the live ones on the barges, then escape. Theron and Kanner can exit the way we came, and bring our ships with them.”

“Warning: Master, someone seems to have gotten suspicious,” HK cut in. “I count… twenty Knights. Regular Knights.”

“That’s it then,” Jorgan said. “Theron, Kanner, T7. Get out of the control center. Go back to the Havoc Cry.”

“Senya and I will engage the Knights,” Lana said. “HK too. The rest of you, get out of here. Remember, Hylo’s people are waiting for you at Koriatel. You can ditch the barges there. We’ll take one of the smaller shuttles out.”

“Torg, Xaban, I want you here too,” Jorgan said. “Keep back, take what shots you can.”

Senya stood alone in front of the door, as Lana hid in the shadows to the right. The soldiers hurried to the first floor and took up positions behind the railing. HK dropped in behind Lana shortly afterwards, ready to defend his master.

About a moment later, the doors opened and the Knights walked in. Lana activated her jammer and silently resealed the door once the last Knight was through.

“Good evening, Officers,” Senya greeted them politely. She sounded like she was trying not to laugh. “Does there seem to be some kind of problem?”

“Identify yourself!” the lead Knight ordered. “Where is Warden Captain Jerum? Why are the barges’ engines coming online?”

“I don’t know myself,” Senya said apologetically. “I seem to have gotten a little drunk. And lost. Perhaps you can help me out? I’m looking for my… escort.”

“Someone’s being facetious,” the Knight barked. “Agar. Knock some sense into her.”

As the designated Knight marched out and raised a hand to strike, Senya kicked him between the legs. Hard. He went down with a high-pitched squeal.

“You’ll pay for that,” the leader said. “Take her!”

The rest of the Knights converged on her, leaving the leader at the rear. Lana approached him from behind and stabbed her Lightsaber right through his atlas vertebra, her blade emerging through his mouth on the other end. She slipped forward, still unnoticed, and took down three more Knights before they realized she was there.

“WHO THE f*ck ARE YOU!?!” they shouted, and one raised his blade to hit her, only to be shot by HK. The now heavy bodyguard droid charged in, tackling another Knight to the ground and put himself between Lana and another Knight as she exchanged blows with the last one. His shields and armor took the Lightsaber blows well, until the droid closed in and smashed the Knight in the mouth. Lana dispatched her opponent and looked around before deciding that HK could take the Knight and the other one who had stepped out to back them up. She turned to help Senya, who was dealing with twelve at once. Quite well, Lana thought, though she was clearly being pushed back.

One more Knight got shot through the head, and another through the chest.

“A little help here?” Senya asked.

“Brace yourselves,” Lana warned everyone, which was code to protect their eyes. She used the Force—something these Knights seemed to forget too often—to fill the air with a dense Lightning that fried all their enemies, except for the two that managed to raise their shields in time. And one with the Lightsaber. The current only lasted a few seconds, but it was enough to leave them shocked and locked in place by arcs of electricity.

Lana and Senya cut them down one at a time like they were walking through a teahouse. HK got in front of Lana and took another blow intended for her before shooting the Knight in the face. “Query: Getting careless, Master?”

“Hardly. I knew you had that.”

“Proud Statement: Then I am pleased to have met your expectations, Master!”

“The barges are in the air,” Senya said. “Come on. Let’s board that shuttle.” She smiled at Lana. “Thank you, Lana. You did good. I know you didn’t find your husband, but—”

“My hopes weren’t too high,” Lana told her. “No matter. I’ll keep looking. Now come. I think we have people waiting for us.”

As promised, this Captain Hylo Visz’s ships were waiting at Koriatel. The crew quickly abandoned their barges and shuttles, transferred over to the medium transports they had been sent, and left the system before the enemy could respond.

Senya was pleased to discover that she’d boarded the same freighter as Malita. “Hello, Malita.”

“My savior.” Inside the medical capsule, the woman looked like she was in a lot less pain, but the damage to her face hadn’t just disappeared. At least someone—the one called Elara, probably—had wrapped towels around the capsule to cover her modesty. “It’s nice to see you again. I was hoping to thank you.”

“My name is Senya. Senya Tirall. We worked together once—”

“Oh! I remember you! You were a wonderful singer and actor! So you… became a…?”

“A Knight of Zakuul,” Senya informed her. “Specifically, a Vigilant. I protected Valkorion himself for a while, twenty years ago. But that was then. I no longer serve the throne. I’m sorry. I should’ve come sooner.”

“You were there when we needed someone,” Malita told her. “No one else was. No one.”

“The ones who could have come, were all rounded up. By Arcann’s soldiers, on his orders.”

“He’s gone mad.”

“Yes. Yes, he has.”

“None of this would’ve happened, if the Immortal Emperor was still alive.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Malita. Valkorion was preparing for an invasion for years. With or without him, it would’ve gone ahead. And I knew him better than you, or most of our people. He’s just as evil as Arcann. More so, just cold and heartless. He made Vaylin what she is today, by throwing her into a pit and having her tortured beyond insanity.”

Malita shuddered. “I do not know what to do with that.”

“Take your time with it. You need surgery. Lana—that’s the woman who was with me—Lana tells me that your face can be restored. Mostly. But it will take a few months.”

“All I need is to talk and eat,” Malita said. “Beauty is fleeting. Responsibility is forever. I started this. I need to get back in front of a camera. I need to tell everyone—”

“Think about that later,” Elara interrupted. “You need to rest, Miss Tal. The painkiller is doing its job. That doesn’t mean the muscles of your face have been healed.”

“Yes, please rest,” Senya said. “We’re taking you all to Asylum. It’s a shadow port. You will be safe as you recuperate there.”

“We don’t want to recuperate,” a prisoner growled. “We want to fight back! We want justice! All we did was speak out and we—and we—”

“So many of us lost our families!” another one shouted. “My mother was killed right in front of me! She wasn’t even one of us!”

“You will have your chance later,” Elara told them. “If you want revenge, you need to do it the right way. You can’t fight, if you don’t know how. If your bodies are too weak and malnourished. Allow us to heal you. Then you can seek training. Maybe you can join some rebel groups seeking to supplant Arcann.”

The Zakuulans seemed to like this suggestion. Nodding at each other fiercely, they all sat down, waiting to reach their destination. Senya was proud of them. Of the hundred or so refugees on this vessel, every last one had chosen to fight back. They would be fine, she thought.

Once they reached Asylum, Senya heard someone call out to her.

“Senya? May I speak with you?”

The Knight nudged her way through the crowd. “What’s up?”

Lana didn’t respond until they were aboard the Unsolved Mystery.

“I just got word from my contact in the Empire,” she told her. “Sith warships are in orbit around Zakuul.”

Chapter 32: The End of One War

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Notes:

Things have gotten bad on the mental health front. I'm sorry if that has affected my writing.

Chapter Text

Aboard the Unsolved Mystery

Senya was feeling quite agitated. She thought she was onboard with deposing her out-of-control children, but the idea of a Sith super fleet in orbit around Zakuul frightened her. The Capital of the Eternal Empire was home to nearly eighty million souls, few who weren’t civilians. If the Sith began bombing the world indiscriminately, many would be killed. Perhaps all.

“Did you know about this?” Senya asked Lana. “Did you know that Tiarna Kaimeryn was—”

“No,” the Sith answered. “I don’t approve of mass killings. Nor does the Tiarna. I assumed she was saving the fleets for the Battle at Hoth. To begin pounding them, once Arcann was on the ground. It’s what I would’ve done.”

“This is more efficient though,” Senya said. “If you destroy the Throne, you destroy the fleet. And most Skytroopers, too.”

“Yes, but you forget; that’s a fleet led by the Dark Council. The pinnacle of Sith. Most of them are nasty pieces of work. Loosing them upon Zakuul is like leaving the cages in a zoo open, just to slay a single target. The escaped beasts might take out the subject, but they’ll kill a lot of school children too. Even at my worst, I didn’t enjoy that kind of slaughter.”

“Nor did the Tiarna, you say? So, what changed? Why is she doing this?”

“She’s dying,” Lana revealed. “She was born with a congenital disease that’s made her life hell. Even without Arcann, or the Eternal Empire for that matter, she was likely going to die within the year. Now, she only has a week.”

“A WEEK!?!”

“Yes. No doubt, she wanted to win before her exit.”

“Hold on, hold on, back up.” Senya took a deep breath. “You’re telling me, that the Tiarna is on her deathbed?”

“Yes. Or would’ve been, if not for the war. I can’t imagine the pain she’s in. She must be drinking in the Dark Side on full draw, just to stay upright.”

Senya chuckled hysterically. “I suppose I understand why she’s not her most forgiving right now.”

“Yes. To make matters worse, she and Vajra came to greatly respect each other. And then Arcann told her this.” Lana played back the clip the Prince had sent her, weeks ago. Where he told her that Vajra had been killed, cut to pieces, and disposed of. “If I believed this, I would’ve been that angry too.”

“Arcann…” Senya growled.

They emerged out of Hyperspace not far from the easternmost spire that connected to the Eternal City.

“There aren’t as many as I thought,” Lana said. “I see some of the Council pulled back. But these are enough to destroy all of Zakuul’s spires in a single volley.”

“We need to save the people of Zakuul,” Senya said. “I don’t care if the Eternal Empire dies today. But the people—”

“They’re at the mercy of people like Aruk and Rictus,” Lana said bitterly. “But I believe Darths Nox, Acina, and Vowrawn are likely to demand a surrender instead. They will want to see if Valkorion had anything on this planet worth claiming.”

“That’s something, at least. So why are we here? Why are you here?”

“Erisa. I want to spirit her away before… oh, look. That changes things.”

Thousands of ships had emerged from Hyperspace. Zakuulan ships.

“I Sense Vaylin onboard,” Lana said. Senya nodded.

As the women watched, the ships collided with the Sith ones, ramming them at suicidal speeds. Within moments, most of the ships on both sides were gone, and the rest turned to flee before more ships arrived. If they’d stuck to the landing for five more minutes…

“Cowards,” Lana scoffed. “I suppose the Eternal Empire lives to fight another day. More importantly, the people won’t be harmed.”

“You don’t sound too disturbed by the Sith Empire’s loss here.”

“As I’m sure I told you, they dismissed me. I don’t work for them anymore.”

“But the people—the citizens of the Empire!”

“Yes. I feel bad for them. But I hope their fate isn’t a gruesome one.”

They were silent as the Mystery made straight for the Palace of the Eternal Dragon. They watched the rest of the battle over the sensors. More Zakuulan ships did, indeed, arrive about thirty minutes after the fight had started, by which time only a few live Sith ships were left.

“That defense was reckless, but effective,” Senya commented.

“Was she always like that?”

“No.”

“I… it looks like Darth Ravage is dead.”

“You won’t miss him?”

“He was a whiny little snot. But he was better than Aruk, at least. Still, Vowrawn and Nox still live. With luck, they’ll stop Aruk from taking over.” She checked her instruments. “I’m getting a signal. I think it’s Erisa.”

“That’s close to the basem*nt entrance,” Senya said. “There’s a docking pad nearby.” She turned to Lana. “I can’t believe you hurried up like this for just one spy.”

“After all she’s done, I will not abandon her to a painful death.”

“Good call.”

The ship landed without being challenged. They did not meet anyone as they located the spy’s beacon. They were lucky. They found her in minutes.

“No!”

“Is that her?”

“Yes. Oh, poor Erisa!” Lana had to put some force to pull the spy out of the corner she’d crawled into. She seemed at peace, despite the gut wound that must’ve been a painful death.

“Statement: I will carry her for you, Master.”

“Thank you. Be sure not to drop her to protect me.” She looked around as they emerged into the open again. “Senya… is it just my imagination, or is the Irudium Terrace missing?”

“That’s odd…” Senya squinted. “It’s not just the Terrace. There are five other towers not present out there. And the Green Torch Bridge. And the Gholam Museum. Did the Sith bomb the planet after all?”

“There would’ve been a lot more damage then. We’ll need to look into it later.”

“Yes.”

“Senya, do you know your way around the palace?”

“Intimately. Why?”

“I want to check it out,” Lana admitted. “At least a few rooms.”

“Any particular reason?”

“No. But the whole place is in an uproar. Now seems as good a time as any.”

“Very well, then.”

Senya led Lana into the palace through the basem*nt. She led her up the stairs, intending to take her to the server room, but Lana went straight for a small door instead.

“What’s in here?”

“I—I don’t know,” Senya said. “It might be a humble storage room.”

“T7? If you would be so kind.”

The Astromech obliged. A moment later, the doors opened. It was a storage after all, but by no means humble. Everything here had been neatly placed on display. Each item had a plaque beneath, detailing where and when it had been taken.

“This is a trophy room,” Senya said in disbelief. “For the twins’ conquests.”

Lana walked straight to the center of the display. Senya noted four nearly-identical Lightsabers, still on their belt, arranged around a mask of some sort. Lana stared at the display for a moment before carefully taking the items for herself.

“Are those…?”

“Yes,” Lana nodded. She took one out and activated it. A silver-turquoise blade formed in front of her, one with an unconventional, narrow blade. She deactivated it and put it back on the belt, now on her hip.

“Those are lovely,” Senya remarked.

“I’ll tell him you said so. Shall we?”

“Yes. Do you want to look around some more? Maybe check out the server room?”

“Well…”

T7 warbled a few sentences. Lana looked conflicted, but sighed.

“Alright. Do it. But take care.” She looked over at Senya. “Come on.”

“He’s staying?”

“Yes,” Lana nodded. “He said he wants to explore the palace. See what’s there to learn, that Erisa missed.”

“By himself?”

“That’s what he said. Hopefully, I’ll see him again in a few weeks. When I return to Zakuul.”

“Are you sure? He will be all alone and behind enemy lines.”

“He’s good at hiding,” Lana admitted. “And better at slicing secure systems. We’ve already proven that Zakuulan computers are no match for him.”

“I suppose.”

“But please. Do take care, T7. Vajra would be greatly distressed if anything were to happen to you.”

She followed Senya out without another word. “Where to now?”

“We’re going to Odessen,” Lana answered. “We can give Erisa a burial there. At least… at least I seem to recall she preferred burial over cremation. For the record, I prefer my remains be cremated.”

“Noted.”

Lana had left very specific instructions with Theron. After dropping off their rescues, he installed a beacon in the Havoc Cry, one which took them to a secret world.

“So this is Odessen,” Theron said. “It’s pretty.”

“Why are we here again?” Jorgan asked.

“Hell, if I know. I think Lana wanted to talk about something else.”

“I dunno, I heard Vette and Gault relocated here,” Kanner said. “Maybe that’s worth something?”

“The security is crazy though,” Jorgan said. “Requiring us to install a beacon that picks up a signal which directly inputs coordinates into our system?”

“Sounds inspired by Zakuul,” Elara said.

When the ship was low enough, they got their first look at the town Lana had built up around here. It was a large town, with wide yards and trees and artificial lakes. Many statues and fountains adorned the streets. And there were clearly structures set aside for community centers, shopping, restaurants, cinemas, gyms, and even schools.

And the best part was, the place was already seeing signs of habitation.

“I think she said she’s set some homes aside for us,” Theron said. “Which was generous of her. I believe she’s set her construction droids on building another city some hundred kilometers to the south. That’s where the Bothans are staying.”

“The Bothans are here?” Jorgan asked in amazement.

“Bothans. Balmorrans. Adumari. Alderaanians. Corellians. Kaas. Corvus. Some survivors from Ziost, even. Lana has been generous, though the terms she offered were quite strict.”

“She wants to keep this as an independent sanctuary,” Elara concluded. “For now, at least.”

“Yes. But look at that there,” Theron pointed. “It’s a military base. Or the beginnings of one. At the very least, she isn’t taking chances.”

“That’s fine, honestly. I think we should head to the base. Just in case.”

“Someone needs to lighten up a little,” Kanner gently jabbed Jorgan’s jaw. “We’re just done with a mission here! And it was… well…”

“Yeah. Still, glad we did it. There are now four hundred people who didn’t get tortured to death.”

“That’s the spirit!”

Beniko arrived about an hour later. Her droid carried a capsule out with him.

“What’s in that?” Theron asked.

“A body. Cipher Nine’s. I wish to bury her later, when we get the chance. For now, we need to talk.”

“The Empire has lost,” Senya cut in. “The Sith Empire, I mean. Their warships arrived at Zakuul while the Tiarna held Arcann at… Hoth, was it?”

“But Vaylin got back sooner than expected,” Lana said. “She smashed the Imperial fleet. Darth Ravage is dead, and I think Darth Nox is in danger.” She clutched her head, wincing in shock and surprise.

“What just happened?” Theron asked quickly. “Was it Lady Kai?”

“No. It was Darth Imperius. She’s been killed. On Dromund Kaas.”

“Who would kill her there?” Xabaan asked.

“Aruk,” Jorgan answered. “Why do we care about this Darth Imperius?”

“She’s a really good woman,” Theron answered. “Nicer than me, nicer than Lana. And next in line to Nox’s throne. But if she’s gone, that means that the Council shifts more towards evil.”

“What he said,” Lana agreed, then led them to a small control center. “We’ll need to get back to that later. Theron, I need you to hack the cameras in the Tiarna’s fortress. I can connect us to it, but only you can—”

“Got it.” Theron immediately began working on the computer. After ten minutes, they were in. Theron began cycling through the cams until they found what they were looking for.

It was Lady Kai, and she was fighting for her life.

Alone.

But she was doing spectacularly.

Under attack from dozens of Knights—and occasionally Arcann himself—she swatted her opposition down like flies. She moved faster than Theron could track. Or maybe it was the camera. And she was clearly pissed; angrier than Theron had ever seen her. Even on Yavin, she had been holding back. Here, she had willingly given in to her rage… and it had transformed her into a tornado of red lightning that destroyed team after team of Knights.

Theron and the others sat down to watch. The fight took hours, but finally, it seemed to end.

Lady Kai hit his blade so hard that they both lost their weapons for a moment, but she punched him hard enough to break his cheekbone. Her knee to his side sent him tumbling into the wall. He tried to summon a Lightsaber into his hand, but the Muinar smashed her foot into his cybernetic arm, destroying it. Her kick knocked Arcann senseless for a few moments.

“You are done!” she screamed, and her blade flew into her hand.

Theron was about to celebrate. She’d won! The tyrant was dead! But then… “What’s happening?”

“I don’t know,” Lana replied, her horrified face pale. “Is it the fatigue? The illness?”

Kairegane’s blade tried and failed to claim Arcann’s life. Multiple times. She shouted in frustration. “NOOOOOOO! GET OUT OF MY HEAD! LEAVE EM ALONE!”

“Impossible,” Lana whispered.

Before Theron could ask for clarification, more Knights entered the room. One took off her arm, another her leg, but she wouldn’t go down. Finally, she was slain by Arcann himself. A cowardly blow to her back.

“NOOOOOOOOO!” Theron screamed. He was on his feet, his hands on his face.

Lady Kai had enough life for one more burst of action. She slammed her elbow into Arcann’s face, but the chokehold that followed had no strength. Curiously, she smiled before falling. Her killer sat disbelievingly for a while, then declared in a dead voice: “We have won.”

There were no cheers from the Knights; no celebrations at having struck down their foe. Everyone fell on their knees or their butts. The war had taken its toll on them all. Theron also sank to the ground. In the corner of his vision, he noticed that Lana was softly weeping her eyes out. Havoc Squad was rooted to their seats in disbelief. (A.N. They didn’t invite Vette out of respect for her long-standing friendship with Kairegane. They thought the sight of her last stand might be too much for her.)

The war was over. Arcann had won.

It was almost two hours before everyone picked themselves up. Theron accepted a hug from Elara, while the rest of Havoc crowded around them. Outside the cordon, he noticed Lana standing all alone. Even Senya had come to his side, he realized. The Sith Lord quietly left the building, but he didn’t have the strength to follow her out. He felt hollow. Lady Kai had been a very good friend to him, and she’d made his sister very happy. She’d saved her life at the Foundry, and kept her safe from those who might’ve harmed her. He had come to respect her zest for life, her big heart, and her astonishing ability to balance responsibility and fun. Most of all, she was wonderful to all her friends, subordinates, and subjects. But she was gone now. Killed alone, her death having accomplished nothing.

About ten minutes later, Lana reentered the room. Her face was redder than usual. “I just got word,” she said. “Vaylin has defeated Darth Nox at Elgrind. She took him prisoner, rather than kill him.” She sighed. “Given Aruk’s betrayal, and Minara’s death, he will likely betray the Empire. Give away everything he knows, just so Arcann can burn Aruk.”

“So it was a complete failure then,” Theron said. “Worse than that. If only she’d managed to kill Arcann…”

“Yes. She came so damn close…” Lana’s eyes burned. The Force crackled around her. “That was no accident or mishap. Her blade didn’t miss its mark. Someone interfered.”

“Who?” Elara cried. “Who could have possibly—”

“Valkorion,” Senya answered. “He doesn’t want Arcann dead. Yet.”

“Which means, he wants the chaos that’s to come,” Lana said angrily. “But who knows? Arcann seems to have realized what happened. He hates his father. Perhaps he might grow wise. Change his course, at least a little.”

“Do you have hope for that—”

“No,” Lana replied quickly. “But it’s all we can pray for. With Saresh holding the Republic’s reins, and Aruk standing poised to take the Sith Throne, the galaxy is about to enter its darkest era in centuries. The best-case scenario for us is if Zakuul’s overlordship isn’t so bad after all.” She sighed. Squeezed one last tear out of her eyes. “I… I need to bury Erisa. Cipher Nine. I’ll start making preparations. I’ll do it at sundown, by the river. You’re all welcome to join me, if you’re willing. I know she was technically an enemy to most of you.” She stopped at the door. “She’s the one who discovered Zakuul,” she added before walking out.

“I suggest we go,” Senya said. “Whatever else she was, she was a brave woman who turned her misfortune into her finest hour. She deserves whatever sendoff we can afford her.”

“Alright,” Jorgan said. “I can’t believe Nine is gone too. She was a legend. A real boogeyman.”

“Yeah, this is a different Nine,” Theron said awkwardly. “Lana said the original died of her wounds shortly after Corellia. But designations get passed around.”

“Come on,” Elara nudged him. “Let’s get a drink.”

“Yeah,” Jorgan said. “It’s been that kind of day.”

The site Lana had chosen as a graveyard was at the foot of a hill. There, on a large, flat, grassy plain close to a stream, the Sith had dug out the grave. Herself, going by the dirt and sweat. The spy, Erisa, had been placed in a simple wooden box which had been built by a team of carpenter droids, and covered with a linen shroud.

It was an effort not to think of others during this ceremony. Chief among them, Kairegane, who had been so kind to Lana. Who had seen her talents, and appreciated them. Who had been beloved by everyone who served her, or had the distinction of being called her friend. She had defended her home to her last breath and more. Burned out in a blaze of glory that should, by all rights, never be forgotten. And then there was Minara, Darth Imperius. She had sought two things in life; to better the lives of the Empire’s lest fortunate, and to learn and grow. Both were respectable goals.

But there would be a time later to mourn kind Minara and the dynamic Kairegane. But now was time to mourn Erisa, a spy who had given everything for a government that had failed her at every turn. The least she deserved was a time for herself.

Lana said a few words of farewell, and gently lowered the casket into the hole. She knelt down before it and whispered a prayer before covering the grave. At the head, she placed a stone with the inscription ‘Here lies Erisa Wisp. The first spy to set foot on Zakuul. The first hero to be buried on Odessen. The last Cipher Nine. May she find peace at long last.’

Everyone had a few drinks at the cantina afterwards, raising a toast in her name, before turning in early. Lana stayed awake long into the night, staring into the stars. Tears began to flow down her face, as she finally began to feel all their losses. Good people had died, while Lana chased after her husband.

A man whom everyone except herself believed to be dead. And even though she was absolutely certain in this regard, she now wondered if she could’ve put off her search until after the war. Did her friends resent her for her choice? Did they wish she had helped them out, in their time of need? Perhaps she could’ve helped Kairegane bring the likes of Aruk to heel. Perhaps she could’ve helped her ambush fleet stay the course. Perhaps Minara might have survived, if Lana had returned to the Empire.

It was too late to now. All she could do was learn to live with the consequences. I couldn’t abandon Vajra, she told herself. This was the only path I could’ve taken. I’m sorry, everyone. I’m sorry… Lady Kai… you were the greatest person of our age.

“Credit for your thoughts?” Theron asked.

“I can’t believe it ended like this,” she answered. “Minara’s death was so tragic. Not to mention, preventable. And Kairegane was robbed of even a small victory. And now, Arcann will rule the galaxy. As his father wants. That’s not good at all.”

“Maybe it’s a good thing it’s him, and not his sister,” Theron said hesitantly. “Can you imagine Vaylin ruling?”

Lana shrugged. “That’s a good point, actually. What do you know about her?”

“That she’s powerful, crazy, and delights in hurting others.”

“A good summary. Vaylin—” She was interrupted by her own comm. “T7! I’m glad to hear from you.”

She listened to the droid’s report for a moment, then smiled at Theron. “Let’s check out Erisa’s last gift, shall we?”

The Republic spy grinned back, just as grimly. “Yeah. Let’s.”

08:00 the next day

Jorgan woke up later than he normally did. He felt groggy and sluggish, more so than most days. Maybe I’m starting to grow old.

“Hey, Major! You’re just in time. I made us some caf.”

“Coming,” Jorgan joined Kanner at her breakfast table. “Damn. That packs a kick.”

“Too much?” she asked, looking apologetic.

“Eh. I needed it anyway. Had too much to drink, last night. But someone needs a little extra training.”

“You offering?”

“Yeah, why not? After grub though. What’s on the menu?”

“Buttered toast, scrambled eggs with beans, fruit salad, and some bacon,” Elara replied, bringing her own plate to them. “Mmm. Not bad!”

“Where’s Theron?” Jorgan asked.

“No idea,” Elara said moodily. “He was up all night.”

“She was his sister-in-law,” Kanner said gently. “Maybe he needed time alone to mourn and process.”

“Ehhh. Wrong,” Theron said, hurrying in. He looked really stressed out. He quickly piled his plate high and got to their table. Lana arrived half a minute later. “Well. That’s how it started, but later—”

“We received a message from T7,” Lana said. “Erisa placed bugs all over the Palace. For the time being, we’re able to listen in on everything being spoken in several key rooms in the Palace. We heard some… interesting things.”

“Darth Nox has switched sides,” Theron said. “Which isn’t surprising, since he was in love with Darth Imperius. Not to mention, he was abandoned by Aruk.”

“And Ashara. Though I don’t blame her. He was a bad master.”

“But he gave up everything he knew. Arcann now knows about the relocated production centers. And he knows where the Imperial ships are hiding. It won’t be long before the Empire comes under attack again.”

“Something else happened,” Lana went on. “It looks like Arcann hasn’t been himself all these months. Perhaps he was mourning his brother,” Lana looked over at Senya for an instant. “But Vaylin had a talk with him. We didn’t hear what her words were, since she took him to the gardens. But he’s thinking like a general again. He has ordered a quick redesign of the fleet. Additional armor and shields. I fear the same tactics won’t work again.”

“He’s ordered an attack on Kouhaush Muin. But he’s in for one last surprise.”

“What do you mean?” Elara asked.

“Lady Kai’s final order to her people. They’ve gone into hiding. They’ve relocated to new worlds in the Unknown Regions. The Rooks—the last of the Ebon Princes—have abandoned the Empire. And the scorched the earth and poisoned the wells before leaving, so there’s nothing to salvage on their worlds.”

“Damn,” Jorgan said. “That’s one hell of a trick.”

“I’m glad they won’t be punished for their Prince’s actions,” Elara said. “But what does this mean for Jasme? And Ash?”

“They’re in hiding too. For now. But they will return once things have settled down.”

“There is one more bit of news from Zakuul,” Lana said. “Or at least, Zakuulan space. We received a distress signal from Elgrind. It’s transmitting on Rooks frequencies, which was why I picked it up.”

“We’re heading over to check it out. Please tell us you’ll come.”

“Why Elgrind?” Jorgan wanted to know. “It’s an unlucky world, from the looks of things. You lost Marr and Vajra there, and now you lost Nox.”

“But perhaps we can salvage something,” Lana said. “By all accounts, the battle between Nox and Vaylin was fierce. Both of them ended up using their full power. If we can find any surviving witnesses, perhaps we can discover a way to beat Vaylin, when the time comes.”

“That’s a lot of ifs,” Jorgan replied.

“I know. I think it’s worth the risk. But you don’t have to come with me.”

“Can we though?” Theron asked Jorgan. “Please?”

“It does sound like an opportunity,” Kanner said hesitantly. “We won’t get another chance to see what Vaylin really is.”

“We’re going to need that kind of intel at some point,” Elara agreed.

“Alright. When do we leave?”

“As soon as we can,” Lana answered.

“After breakfast, then. Havoc! Eat up quickly. We’ve got a new assignment!”

Chapter 33: The Beginning of the Conquest

Notes:

The first section of this chapter is a rewrite of a portion from the previous book, but I couldn't get around retelling it. But the rest is new. I hope it's not a problem for readers

Chapter Text

Elgrind

Lana took a keen look around when the Havoc Cry dropped out of Hyperspace. The last pieces of Marr’s expeditionary force had vanished; either drifting deeper into space, or fallen to the world in a shower of falling stars.

But the planet had seen further violence since then, and it was much more brutal than anything Lana had ever witnessed. With the obvious exception of Ziost’s end, of course. Through her Inner Eye alone, she could tell that the Force was in turmoil here; an aftershock of the clash that had taken place. It was like watching an ocean boil, condense, and rain so heavily upon a planet that every last rock was weathered away. Her head hurt to contemplate the rapidly changing flows.

Even to the mundane eyes, the world looked very different from when she’d seen it. It was quite gray; the few washes of green and blue lost in the fiery chain eruptions that still plagued the land. The instruments onboard were going crazy.

“We’re here,” Torg said, his bone mask covering his expression. “Elgrind.”

“Is this really it?” Jorgan asked suspiciously. “My files indicate that this planet was… well, not this gray. And what’s with those damned readings?”

“Your files are a little out of date,” Lana called, still deep in her meditation. “A terrible battle took place here. Vaylin against Nox. Two of the most powerful Force Wielders to ever live. Their battle here left its mark.”

“That’s putting it mildly, sir,” said Dengril. “This world is unstable. Readings say the electromagnetic field is in flux. Tsunamis ravage the coast. Canyons are opening up where mountains once stood, and mountains are rising up where there should be flat plains. Continental drift that should take millions of years is happening as we speak.”

“Why on earth are we coming out here then?” asked Kanner, sounding nervous.

“Information,” Lana answered, repeating a point they’d argued over several times now. “We need to know what Vaylin’s capable of, if we’re ever going to have a prayer of defeating Zakuul. Her attack patterns and weaknesses. I received a distress signal from down there. Someone is still alive, somehow. But they won’t last long.”

“I trust her,” Theron said. “With my life. If she says we should be here, then I’m all for it.”

“The signal is coming from here,” Lana told the pilot, forwarding telemetry to the computer.

“It’s so weak…” Senya commented. Her graying dark hair was in a tight bun. “I hope they’re still alive down there.”

The shuttle landed thirty minutes later, almost on top of the signal. The ground was freshly solidified lava, but Lana wasn’t too concerned.

Kneeling down, she concentrated. Placed her fingers on the rock. The ground started to shake. She grunted, her face contorting with effort. Cracks appeared, and chunks of rock were pulled out carefully, and tossed aside some distance away. She entered the hole she’d created. Jorgan and Theron followed her in.

They were looking at a small cave, inside which an armored soldier had taken refuge. The man was tall and wide, with black-and-red armor that had been peeled off at the elbow. Several vials and used injectors lay beside him.

“Colonel Pierce!” Lana exclaimed, once she’d taken off his helmet.

“Who’zair?” he asked. His eyes narrowed on the blonde. “Ahhh… Minister Beniko. Pleasure to see you again. Has your hair grown longer? We missed you, these last few months.”

“No you didn’t,” Lana Beniko said in amusem*nt. The title made her feel her bitterness again, though it had been months since she’d been held responsible for something she had had no control over. “There’s nothing I could’ve added to the war effort, had I stayed. You remember Theron, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do. Glad you escaped captivity, Spy Boy.”

“Me too, Pierce. Nice to see you alive.”

“Come on,” the Cathar said. “This world is bad for our health. We can talk on the ship.”

“Who’s this?” Pierce asked as Lana and Theron helped him out of the hole.

“Major Jorgan. And this is the reformed Havoc Squad.”

“Havoc, eh? Is Queens with you?”

“No. He’s on Denon.”

“Ah. Shame. I miss him. Can you pass that on, for me?”

“I can’t, actually. We’ve gone rogue. No contact with anyone still on the inside.”

“Can’t blame you. Saresh is a bitch.”

“You said it.”

None of them spoke until they were all on the shuttle. As the pilot began the takeoff sequence, Elara approached Pierce to take his readings.

“I suppose introductions are in order,” Lana said. “Colonel Pierce, Imperial Armed Forces. Tiarna Kaimeryn’s personal forces. Pierce, this is Captain Elara Dorn.”

“Dorn?” Pierce’s eyes narrowed on Elara’s for a moment, then he shook his head. “Wait. Don’t tell me. It’s none of my business.”

“Thank you, Colonel.”

“The nice young lady to my left is… Kanner,” Lana went on. “That’s Abbeth, Dengril, Xaban, and Torg. They’re the new Havoc Squad.”

“Charmed I’m sure… and who’s this?” Pierce’s eyes snapped onto the older woman with white armor, no doubt recognizing the design. “A Knight? You’ve got a f*cking Knight of Zakuul among you?”

“Hello, soldier,” the Knight grinned sadly. “My name is Senya. Some of us were a little… appalled by Arcann’s brutality. By how he and Vaylin destroyed the Scions and pounced on any who protested his tyranny.”

“So, we’re all of us expats and runaways, eh?” Pierce snorted. “That’s fine. I’m in wonderful company! I’m f*cking done with the Empire. Those swine on the Dark Council… they had a golden opportunity all wrapped up and handed to them on a gift platter. And they blew it. Aruk and Rictus, I can understand. They’re scheming, spice-addled bastards. And Zhorrid’s had her face pressed into the dirt far too long for independent thinking. But the others… especially Ravage, Vowrawn, and Nox…”

“I thought those three stayed the course?” Kanner asked.

“If they’d stayed the course, we’d have attacked Zakuul four days ago. Or is it five, now? Doesn’t matter. They hesitated and yammered when they should’ve acted. Now, Lady Kai is dead. And for what? Nothing!”

“I’m sorry, Pierce.”

“Thanks, Minister.”

Now she was starting to feel really annoyed, but tried not to show it. “Look, I’m not a Minister anymore. Or even a recognized Sith Lord, or an Imperial citizen. You can just call me Lana. Or Beniko.”

“As you wish. So, what’s this? Rishi Alliance 2.0?”

Lana chuckled. “Well… more like the Odessen Alliance.”

“Who, or what, is Odessen?”

“It’s the world I discovered during my search. It’s in Wild Space, but not too close to Zakuul. Or anything. Quite remote. Neutral. Beautiful, too. I’ve loaned it to certain groups on the run. Trustworthy groups, of course. From the Republic, from the Empire, and a few from Zakuul. We’re more of a loose coalition right now, rather than a legitimate company. We’re… waiting. To see where the pieces will fall. For all we know, the galaxy might become a better place once Arcann wins.”

“I can’t believe how true that is,” Jorgan muttered. “With dictators on the Republic end, and an Aruk-led Dark Council on the Empire’s…” Everyone looked gloomy at that.

“He’ll live,” Elara broke the tense silence, finishing her examination. “But his fighting days are done. There’s some permanent damage—albeit minor—to his circulatory, respiratory, and nervous systems. His back is injured, but it should be fine after a little recuperation”

“That’s fine. I’ve nothing left to fight for. What about you lot? What happens if you need to fight, after all?”

“Then we fight,” Theron answered simply. “But… we’re praying it doesn’t come to that.”

“You know that’s hoping for a lot, don’t you?”

“Yes, but we’re not taking the best outcome for granted,” Lana said brightly. “Nor turning down any opportunity to gather fighters and intel.”

“Then you’re in luck. I witnessed Nox’s duel with Vaylin. One of the most petrifying things I have ever seen. But Vaylin’s not invincible. Maybe you can see what her weaknesses are.”

“We can imagine,” Dengril cut in. “You won’t believe the readings we picked up from orbit. The world is actually breaking apart.”

“Really? I’ll need to see that data later. And speaking of data. Here. Take my body cam. And my probe data. And datapad. Between the three, we probably have a good record of the fight.”

“Thank you,” Jorgan said. His serious face lit up with satisfaction. “You were right, Beniko. This trip was definitely worth the effort. And the risk.”

“About Nox… I think he’s still alive. Got taken prisoner by Vaylin.”

“I know,” Lana sighed. “Worse… he’s enraged. Darth Imperius is dead. Killed, by Aruk. He Felt it. And he’s… he’s offered to help Arcann destroy Kaas City. So far as I can tell, they’re not accepting his proposition yet.”

Pierce was stunned by that revelation. “If you know all that… is Cipher Nine still in the Palace?”

“No. She’s dead.”

“We recovered her body,” Senya spoke up. “We arrived hours after she’d passed. We buried her on Odessen.”

“But she left bugs all over the palace. Not very many, since she had to find a batch of Zakuulan ones, and rig them to transmit on our frequencies. Their batteries won’t last more than a month, but we’re receiving them for now.”

“What a hero,” Pierce said in amazement. “To think, they used to laugh at her in the Council! And in Intelligence! Call her the Knock-off Cipher! Any chance I can pay my respects?”

“If you like. Odessen is where Lord Rrayden and Mirabelle are at, now. And Vette.”

Pierce laughed, sounding delighted. “That’s just—thanks, Beniko. That little Twi’lek is now the closest thing to family that I have left. Maybe I can settle down on this Odessen. I may be not be frontline material anymore, but I can help with a few things, if you have me.”

“Thank you.”

“Setting course for Odessen,” Dengril announced. “Entering Hyperspace in two minutes. Everyone, buckle up.”

“Drink up, Colonel,” Elara said softly, handing him a large cup of some nutrient-rich solution. “You’ve been through quite an ordeal. Take it slowly. Sleep, once you’ve drunk that. I’ll set you up with an IV. You can eat a proper meal once we make landfall.”

“How you holding up?” Theron asked Lana in an undertone as everyone got busy with their duties.

“I’m fine,” she said. “I… I just wish… I’d like to get back to the search as soon as possible.”

“I understand. Thanks for doing this, Lana. I know it can’t be easy to—”

“It’s fine,” she said. “I need this intel too. For all I know, it might come in handy when the time comes.”

“Yes. When the time comes.”

They both grew silent as the shuttle entered Hyperspace. Even the beautiful blue illusion that hadn’t failed to enthrall Lana until recently, couldn’t take her mind off her worries. She Felt for her Bond again, only to find it the same as ever.

Don’t worry, my Knave. I haven’t given up on you. I will find you, no matter what it takes.

She turned back to watch Elgrind. She knew she would not be coming here again. With a heavy heart, she realized that this world was in its death throes. In just a few more days, the changes wrought by Vaylin and Nox’s intense battle here would rip this world to shreds, from a combination of tidal, volcanic, and magnetic upheaval.

No life would walk on Elgrind again for at least fifty million years.

Dromund Kaas

“So… she’s dead then,” Darth Acina said.

“Yes, my Lord.”

“I see.”

Darth Atlas blinked. His Master, the Head of the Sphere of Tehcnology, took the news like she was being told that there was 0.0000001% of a credit less in her billion-credit bank account.

“With Ravage and Nox also lost on her ill-advised venture, I suppose this means we have a few seats to fill. Perhaps it’s your time at last, eh, Atlas?”

“My Master… are you in shock? Should I fetch your orchestra droids?”

She frowned at him. “Whatever are you on about? Why do you think I’m in shock?”

It was Moff Jela who responded. “My Lord… do you not comprehend the enormity of the situation? We have lost!”

“And not just any loss,” Lord Tamra went on. “We lost with absolute victory in our grasp! Envoys from Zakuul and Coruscant should have been groveling before the Council by now! We should be masters of the galaxy today!”

“Our fleets were there, in position!” Atlas agreed. “The Tiarna delivered on her end of the bargain!”

“It was a fool’s errand,” his Master barked, but more of her followers were rising to their feet unprompted.

“No it wasn’t!” Lord Lucia Stone cried. “The Eternal Empire acted precisely how she said they would! But you pulled us back! The Dark Council pulled back! And those that remained attacked days later than they were supposed to!”

“Some of you are barking on about matters you clearly know nothing about,” Acina said warningly.

“Sounds like something Saresh might have said,” Darth Syn growled. Acina fumed at that.

“How can we not know?” General Trevor asked in disbelief. “We’ve been following along closely, as the Tiarna had ordered! We knew everything that was going on at the front! We were all told the plan—including the timetable!”

“Sounds like she’s referring to something a little more behind the scenes,” Atlas said. “Personal grudges. Private ambitions. What’s the matter, Dark Lord? Hate that Tiarna Kaimeryn was more popular than you?”

“HOW DARE YOU SPOT SUCH INFAMY TO MY FACE?” Acina roared.

“It’s true though, isn’t it?”
“Why did you pull us back?”
“Why did the Council flee!?”
“Are you cowards?”
“TRAITORS!”
YOU BETRAYED THE EMPIRE!”

Acina rose to her feet as well, but Darths Atlas and Syn, and Lords Tamra and Lucia stood opposed to her. She hesitated, never one for direct confrontations.

“You have lost our faith, Master,” Atlas growled. He pulled out a piece of paper, penned a few words on it, crumpled it in a ball and tossed it at her face. Stunned by what she was seeing, Acina couldn’t avoid it. “If you want a more formal record of my resignation, I will send one to you. I QUIT!”

Syn, Tamra, and Lucia followed him out. On their heels were the Moffs and Generals who had once served Acina proudly. Behind him, Atlas thought he heard Acina take a deep breath; perhaps to bark an order for everyone to return to their senses.

The doors slammed shut behind them before she could quite manage it. At the door, he received a call from an unknown sender.

“Who is this?” he barked.

“Hello, Darth Atlas,” a gentle electronic voice said. “Now that you have left Darth Acina’s employ, I take it you and your fellow Sith are in need of a place to stay?”

One look at his caller, and he knew exactly how she knew, and why she was calling him. The damned Voss and their damned Visions! But perhaps there was something in it for him, this time.

He looked around. Syn, Lucia, Tamra, and the whole of the now-unemployed staff had formed a circle around him.

“I’m listening.”

Tython

Satele Shan had to drag her body out of her bed, and at the ungodly hour of 08:30. The cooks—perhaps trying to raise morale—had made Bircher muesli Breakfast, but Satele’s tastebuds did not seem to be working today. Around her, the mess was silent, even though it was 08:45.

It took all her willpower to force herself to enter the Council Chambers.

Jedi are dying out there, she seethed. Because you sent them out. To their deaths. You owe it to them to move on.

“Tiarna Kaimeryn is dead,” she announced tonelessly. “Which… her friendly character aside… is both good, and bad.”

“There was never a good end for us,” Devel said. “Whether it’s the Sith Empire or Zakuul, both spell doom for us.”

“But which one is the worse option?” Jaric asked. “Once upon a time, I thought we could never coexist with the Sith. Then, Tiarna Kaimeryn proved us wrong. And she’s not the only one. There are more out there.”

“Well, I have some more bad news on that front,” Master Gnost said. “Darth Nox was captured. And while he helped with the attack on Tython three years ago, he has otherwise proved himself willing to talk. Worse, his lover Darth Imperius, was murdered by Darth Aruk. Unlike him, she was definitely a good person. Confirmed as being charitable and kindly, gracious and wise. And with Lord Beniko’s ignoble departure from the Empire, that leaves only Vowrawn who might have treated with us. But his power has waned since the failed invasion, as has his personal charisma. It seems he was affected by his failure.”

“It was more than just a failure,” Jaric said. “The Dark Council abandoned a plan that would’ve guaranteed total victory. And they underestimated how respected Kaimeryn was. Many Sith and soldiers have resigned in protest. Including Darth Atlas, Darth Syn, Lord Lucia, and Lord Tamra. Acina’s Apprentice, and her most capable subordinates. Moff Resh committed suicide in the center of Dromund Kaas.”

“How many Sith have resigned?”

“I don’t have numbers,” Jaric shrugged. “But it was a lot. They’re going to have trouble filling those seats.”

“What’s going on?” Satele interrupted. She was feeling dizzy. At first she thought it was some health issue, but she noticed that Devel and Bela were also looking woozy. Then all of a sudden, they felt a massive retort in the Force, one which always followed the deaths of millions of people. “What just happened!?!”

It took the Council five minutes to regain their composure. The holoprojector began chiming; the note of an emergency call.

“This is the Council,” Satele said. “Who is this?”

“This is Former Admiral Beywan Aygo,” a strong, gravelly voice replied. “Masters… those bastards really did it. They went and… they went and…”

“I suppose this means the Eternal Empire won’t be any better than the Sith,” Jaric said sadly.

The Star Fortress,
Bothawui

Exarch Deyvid Sartha was meditating in his chambers when Paladin Captain Podrick Lyons entered.

“Please pardon me for the disturbance, Exarch. I bring you worrying news. Emperor Arcann was wounded on Hoth. Badly. He was nearly killed by Kaimeryn, and the fleet has lost nearly 400,000 ships.”

“400,000?” Deyvid asked incredulously “What kind of fighting did they see on Hoth? No matter. How has the galaxy responded?”

“They are disheartened, Exarch. They watched their hero fall, after all. But that’s not the end of it. Acting on a premonition, High Justice Vaylin returned to Zakuul early. She caught the Imperial fleet just before it began firing on Zakuul. We were so close to losing everything!”

“I’m sure the conquered peoples took note of that,” Deyvid said, scratching his chin. He stood and stretched. “Tell me, Pod. Did we not catch these Bothans trying to run for it?”

“Yes, Exarch.” It was the previous day. A single ship carrying seven families had been captured trying to make a run for deep space. Upon interrogation, it turned out hundreds of such runs were happening every day. Millions had already fled before they’d found out, and hundreds more since.

“Perhaps the time has come for a demonstration.” He contacted the EPHEMERIS unit that managed all operations and processes in the Star Fortress. “Droid, attend to me.”

“EPHEMERIS unit standing by.”

“Hit the black button.”

“That command requires a redundant confirmation code.”

“Here it is.” Exarch Deyvid took the cylinder out of his belt and placed it in the comm’s receptacle.

“Confirmation received. Acquiring targets. Firing extinction bombs in one minute.”

“Carry on, then.” Disconnecting from the EPHEMERIS unit, Deyvid made another call; a broadcast to the whole planet he was watching over. “Greetings, people of Bothawui. I trust you are all doing well? Was the sunrise to your liking? Did your meal satisfy? I hope it did. For you have just eaten your last morsels, and seen your last dawn. We have heard reports of disobedience brewing on your planet. Rebellion, even. We are not pleased. Well. It seems you do not want to live as our subjects? I can arrange that. This planet is just as valuable to us without any of you squatters sitting here. Goodbye.”

By the time he’d finished talking, the first wave of missiles had been fired. Large clusters of red dots converged on the many populated centers on the planet. When they reached their targets, large fireballs blossomed across the landmass, leaving not even a blade of grass or co*ckroach alive.

The Foundry

Moff Pyron sat in his cabin, completely drained of vigor.

He had spent the past few days stewing in his newfound hatred of his former ally, Darth Nox, until he realized that he couldn’t really pass the buck.

I should've just done it, he thought to himself. I should’ve just taken my flotilla to Zakuul without waiting on the fool Darths. If I’d stayed on schedule… I alone, with the Silencer fleet… but I didn’t. We have lost.

“Trios,” he called his butler. “Bring me the Kaasi gold, will you? The one I’ve been saving.”

“Now, sir?” Trios sounded surprised.

“Why not? There is no victory to be had, ever again. So, might as well drink to the end.”

Pyron didn’t tell him the whole truth. That he would put his sidearm in his mouth after consuming the liquor, and pull the trigger. He was done. He didn't want any more of this. But no sooner had he drank the last drop, than an alarm was raised. Red alert.

Startled, Pyron dropped his glass, and ran for the bridge.

“What’s going on?!” he cried.

“It’s Zakuul, Sir! They’ve found us!”

“Impossible!”

But the truth was out there for him to see. Wave upon wave of missiles fell upon unsuspecting ships, wallowing in dry dock. The crews were undoubtedly in the same depressed mood as him, so they were slow to respond to this threat. Most were probably drunk. They had to be. This was the only way so many ships were exploding from a single barrage. But for once, Moff Pyron did not blame the soldiers for being caught off-guard. He blamed their masters.

“There’s no point in fighting,” he informed his bridge. “We run.”

“Sir?”

“We run! We need to save these ships!”

“But where do we go?”

Pyron made a split-second decision. “Hail Lord Scorn. I received word that he intends to leave the Empire. Perhaps he has found a new sanctuary. Perhaps they can accommodate us, too. In the meantime… to Rekkiad!”

“Yes, sir!”

I will save my ships, at least, Moff Pyron thought. Perhaps they can come of use to someone. Perhaps not. But many lives and resources were sacrificed to keep our big ships safe. I will honor that sacrifice.

Aboard the Havoc Cry

“We need to discuss what to do with this information,” Lana told everyone. It was an open meeting, and all were free to participate.

“I’d like to share it with the galaxy,” Elara said. “Perhaps it might help someone figure out how to stop Vaylin. The Jedi maybe.”

“I wouldn’t count on it,” Lana responded. “The only Jedi who is as strong as Nox is Master Devel. And he is even less of a warrior.”

“From what I’ve been hearing, Master Satele is feeling the pressure,” Theron admitted. “And her age. She’s unable to train anymore. Every day, she sends out more Jedi to die before breakfast. If she takes the field against either Arcann or Vaylin, she will die. Quickly.”

“I’ve seen a few intel reports on her,” Senya said. “Remarkable woman. Very strong.” (A.N. Theron hasn’t shared his parentage with her yet.)

“Yeah, well I don’t think the Sith deserve to know,” Pierce grumbled. “But I’m biased here, obviously. I no longer trust them to do what’s right.”

“I hate to say it, but that’s my thought about the Republic,” Jorgan allowed. “Saresh is likely to take one look at this, and choose just one takeaway; that Vaylin isn’t invincible. Then she’ll throw an entire army at her. As for Master Satele…”

“I think you shouldn’t give them hope,” Theron said, looking really sad. “Their numbers have dropped to below 6,000. And they’re losing more, fast. I think we need to encourage the Jedi to stand down and accept defeat.”

“That isn’t likely,” Lana sighed. “Knowing them, they will fight until their last breath.”

“It’s you this time, who’s based her opinions on those she has met on the battlefield,” Theron replied. “There are many Jedi who don’t fight. Many haven’t fought ever. Scholars, diplomats, teachers, healers. Most of the Council haven’t fought in years. It takes a certain nerve to go out to your death. Especially when it’s a meaningless one. But if we give them a ray of hope, they will feel hopeful when really, they shouldn’t.”

“Theron, that’s defeatist!” Elara cried, shocked.

“Well, we are defeated,” the spy said heavily. “We need to recognize that. The Eternal Empire will reign supreme. The best we can do, is what we did after the Sacking of Coruscant. Bunker down. Build up again. Bide our time. Prepare for round two.”

“There might not be a round two,” Lana pointed out.

“Perhaps. But let’s not rule that out. We’ve got a secret planet over here. We can continue to find intel, and store it here until times are better. When there’s no Saresh to blindly throw away our forces. Or when the Empire is ruled by someone we can trust to win. And not destroy the Republic. And the Jedi…” he inhaled. “We need to convince them to surrender. They do no good to anyone dying like this.”

“What are you going to do then?” Senya asked.

“Send a message to the Council. And hope that she listens to me, for a change.”

“That’s not enough,” Lana said. “I suggest reaching out to individual Jedi. Convincing them to leave.”

“That won’t work. Jedi don’t do individualism—”

“I’ll start with Kira,” Lana went on. “Perhaps she can reach out to Bengel Morr and others. Perhaps she can bring the message to the Council more effectively than we can.”

“That might work,” Theron allowed.

“We’re making the final approach to Odessen,” Dengril said. “Everyone, prepare for reentry.”

The ship shuddered as it emerged from Hyperspace. Lana tilted her head in surprise. “I can Sense Lord Scorn! And Mirabelle too! They made it!”

“Good. Let’s set our heading to Corvus City,” Jorgan suggested. “I think Gault has a cantina up and running over there.”

“Yeah, I could use a drink,” Pierce said, looking at Elara for permission.

“Don’t overdo it,” she warned, but had a small smile on her face.

When the ship landed, they had a welcome party waiting for them.

“Welcome back, everyone!” Lord Ray cried.

“Hey, look! It’s Pierce!” Vette ran up to the tall, scarred soldier and gave him a small hug. “Welcome to Odessen, Old Man! Didn’t expect to see you again!”

“Well, here I am,” Pierce grinned. “And here’s your lil baby, I see! How is little Kaien?”

Vette allowed the soldier to hold the child, much to Havoc’s surprise.

“I have someone else I want to introduce,” Lana said. “This is Senya Tirall. Vigilant of Zakuul.”

“Welcome, my Lady,” Ray bowed to her, with nothing more than a slightly raised eyebrow. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. You remind me of her mother.” He pointed at Mirabelle, who was looking quite devoid of energy.

“Not yours?”

“Oh, mine’s a right old bitch,” Ray waved his hand. “Only women who remind me of her are loser hags who only care about the family’s prestige.”

Senya chuckled. “Lana has told me all about you. You both.” She took a startled Mirabelle’s hands. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, child. I’m sorry for what you are going through.”

“Thank you,” Mira said uncertainly. She was blushing. Something about Senya’s simple charm had gotten through to her.

“Anyway, I never got to thank you, Lana.” Ray turned somberly to the blonde Sith. “Thanks for letting us join you here. The Dark Council has already sent out feelers to Corvus. I fear my little resort will be occupied and turned into a pigsty by the end of the week.”

“If only that was the worst thing happening in the Empire,” Vette said. “We got a call from one of our buddies. The Imperial fleet at the Foundry was attacked.”

“Already?” Lana was astonished.

“Yeah. They were caught with their pants down. Really weren’t expecting Zakuulan ships there. About 75% of the fleet there was lost. I guess we’ve—I mean they’ve been reduced to the same situation the Republic is in.”

“But I did receive an interesting message,” Ray cut in. “Moff Pyron escaped with his fleet largely intact. But they are done with the Empire. They have sought sanctuary. We could bring them here, to Odessen. The ships will remain in orbit until we have proper dry dock facilities, but—”

“Can we trust them?”

“It’s not a matter of trust,” Ray shrugged. “Thanks to your security measures, they won’t know enough to betray us. And since you control the shields and planetary defenses, I don’t think they will challenge you anytime soon.”

“I know Pyron,” Mira said. “He’s an upright gentleman. And he insists on absolute integrity from those who serve under him. No one will mutiny.”

“Invite them in then,” Lana said at last. “See if Gault can begin working on getting us shipyards and docks.”

“Done, and done,” Ray smiled.

“Who’s that?” A speeder was approaching; a simple, beat-up old thing.

“Isn’t that—?” Theron asked.

A Bothan stepped off the speeder, a maneless male. “Excuse me. I hope I’m not interrupting.”

“Not at all, Admiral Aygo!” Vette welcomed him energetically. “We were just… talkin.”

“How are your people settling in?” Lana asked. “Is all well?”

“Umm. They’re fine, thank you,” he said distractedly. “The ones on Odessen, anyway. Listen. Something’s happened. Back home. I was hoping for your help. Bothawui has been attacked. Millions are dead. We have some survivors, out in the wilds, but—” He coughed. “They need transport off that world. And a place to stay.”

“We’ll get on it,” Jorgan said, looking to Ray, who nodded.

“Thank you,” Beywan said. He furiously rubbed tears out of his eyes.

“Don’t mention it,” Lord Ray said. “We’re all in this together now.”

“Yeah. I’m glad we are, my Lord. Thank you.”

It’s started, Lana realized. Faster than I anticipated. Arcann is closing in for the kill.

Denon

“Blast door has been sealed!” Sergeant Hope Jenner called.

“That’s a lot of junkers out there,” Sama’artel commented. “How many, you think? Two, three million?”

“Three thousand, you dolt.” Najilin Depree said, sounding tired out of her wits.

Colonel Roban Queens checked Lieutenant Riley Gibbons’ pulse. She was dead. That last ambush had caught her and Sergeant Abu Bakir completely unawares. The rest of his squad had fought tooth and nail to recover their bodies, but they were now stuck in a bunker.

But at least she’d succeeded in her mission. She’d retrieved a cannister full of high-yield explosives. Officially, Roban had ordered her to secure it so the Zakuulans wouldn’t get it. But truthfully, he didn’t want them falling into the resistance’s hands. This kind of bomb could kill everyone in the newly constructed Fort Dawn.

“Are we gonna use these, Sir?” Hart Jerogo asked, rubbing his horn.

“Not yet,” Roban said. “If we do, we all die. We can still get out of here.”

Their bunker was one of many all across Denon. But this was the one closest to the lab. The one where Godera’s shield prototypes had been fine-tuned. They’d failed to make it there—which secretly pleased Roban—but were now bogged down in a bunker with no way out.

He hit his long-range comm. Unbeknownst to his men, he was transmitting on a Zakuulan frequency. He was about ready to join the Eternal Empire. But there was no need for his squad to know that.

“This is Colonel Roban Queens of Meteor Squad. The enemy has us pinned down in Bunker Besh-Renth-Two-Seven- Niner. Requesting immediate support and extraction. Over.” He sighed. “Now, we wait.”

Help will come soon. And then… well, then I’ll be done with this sh*tshow.

Missiles from enemy artillery continued to fall on top of the bunker for the rest of the night.

Coruscant

Juun Stede dropped the Haradan bruiser with a single dagger to the throat. As he fell, she shot the woman standing behind him, then their partner on the other side. The last one got two shots off, but she dodged em with ease—the standards for recruitment had dropped. This one was too easy to read. Turning her gun high, she shot a hook, which dropped the crate it was holding.

The Haradan bitch cawed like a chibana chicken before he was squashed. “Scratch one mo’ Harad’n squad for the good guys!” she said happily. “This is Genos Aurek-1. Ah got the cake!”

“This is Genos Seven. We lost Besh team. But that Bounty Hunter did his job well. Haradan blackout cell is done for.”

“So, wha’ duzz tha’ bring th’ tally up to?”

“We’ve killed six hundred Haradan. And they’ve killed forty of us. But at the rate they’re going, they’ll kill us before we kill them.”

“It’s fine,” Juun shrugged. “We jus need tuh step up our game.”

“How we going to do that?”

“We find someone Saresh really wants dead. Many someones. Make it out like they’re a-getting’ ready to tes-tifai befo’ the Senate. Pretend they’re out in the open again. And we wait.”

“That’s a little desperate. We risk the fight spilling out onto the streets.”

“Bu’ id’has spilled oud’intuh th’ streets. Jus’ wasn’ us tha’ did th’ shootin’.”

“Let’s do it. At this rate, we can kill enough Haradan that the rest might surrender.”

If only things would work out so swell. Truthfully, Juun wasn’t looking to defeat the Haradan. Only distract them long enough for someone to deal with Saresh. That, she hoped, was enough to get the pendulum to swing out of the Haradan’s favor. But the Genos were a bunch that weren’t the type to sacrifice themselves. They believed in the good fight, sure, but they needed to think they were going to survive this.

But it was also Juun’s intention to see them survive. If the Haradan were destined to win, someone needed to live on. And warn… whomever… about them. And how to kill them.

Fodorn, she thought. I need to get Fodorn in on this. Getting the Bounty Hunter so heavily involved was risky, but his results spoke for themselves. And the opposition was starting to really fear him.

She began typing out a message to Mark Fodorn.

Chapter 34: Return Home

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Dromund Kaas

Lana landed some distance from Kaas City, out in the wilderness that had once been a slave camp. It had been abandoned for years now, but in its heyday, the thousands of slaves who had been brought here to build a statue of Darth Vowrawn had been whipped into a rebellion.

After months of dithering, the Council had authorized a force led by Darth Qet—the one who had inadvertently started that mess—to pacify the slaves. It had been a slaughter, one that had left this place covered in corpses. Carrion beasts and birds had descended upon the place, turning it into a gruesome banquet that lasted weeks, after which many stayed behind to create permanent nests and lairs. Now, this place too dangerous for the average passerby.

But it was close to the city, and had several sheltered places for Lana’s ship to land, so she decided to risk it.

She entered the city through a maintenance duct, wearing the guise of a communications engineer. She had all the credentials identifying her as a tech, so she anticipated no trouble getting near the gold district. Once there, she broke into an abandoned home, took a shower, and changed into her second disguise; that of a socialite named Amalie Dustin.

While passing by checkpoints to the gold district, she noted that the soldiers were no longer as alert and steady as they used to be. Gloom had begun to descend upon the capital.

As expected.

As she waited outside the Elysium Mansion for the droid door warden to vet her identity, Lana’s attention was drawn to a screen where a news anchor was delivering information that should have been breaking news.

“Earlier today, the spokesman of the Dark Council, Conan Billis, has issued a statement confirming the new arrivals to the Dark Council. Darth Gloam is now the Head of Ancient Knowledge; Darth Heina the new Head of the Sphere of Expansion and Diplomacy; Darth Argus has been given the Sphere of Intelligence; and Darth Castrum is the head of Military Command. The new Dark Lords are expected to take up their office in a ceremony at 10:00 hours tomorrow. Attendance by all high-ranking Sith and Generals is mandatory.”

Lana knew those names. Gloam and Heina were old friends of Aruk, who had proven their loyalty to him time and again. Argus was a friend of Rictus, meaning another seat taken by someone in their camp. Castrum, on the other hand, was a close friend of Mortis’, likely chosen to maintain some semblance of balance. Or perhaps, even Aruk had recognized the need for someone with tactical prowess; something lacking in his web of influence.

Lana instantly abandoned that line of thought when she was ushered into the compound. She almost forgot about everything as she set foot into her childhood again. That swing over there was exactly how she remembered it, and the flowers in the greenhouse were in full bloom. Water splashed out of the fountain and into the pool around it softly. She’d jumped into that little pool many times, despite her parents’ warnings. They had always forgiven her though. Always…

She entered the house to the smell of cooking. Something with soy sauce was being stir-fried in the kitchen, while a piano played softly in the corner. Her parents were waiting in the living room, ready to graciously greet their unexpected guest.

“Good evening, Lady Dustin,” Mama bowed. “I admit, I was a little surprised to hear that the adventurous daughter of the Dustin family was paying us a visit—”

“It’s me,” Lana grinned, dropping her disguise. Mum and Dad screamed in unison.

“Lana?”

“Here I am,” Lana said heartily, taking her parents into a tight embrace. “I’m sorry for not giving you more notice, but…” she trailed off. She looked around. “The gardens are still the same, but this hall has been redecorated!”

“Indeed, it has,” her father said, still clearly in shock. “I—Lannie… is that really you?”

“It’s me,” Lana released them long enough to give them each a kiss. “I’m sorry. I’ve not been able to stay in touch recently.”

“Vajra sent us a message,” Mum blurted out. “Right after Ziost. Assuring us that you were alright.”

“It should’ve been you,” Dad said, sounding resentful. “Do you have any idea how hard it was for us? We knew you’d been on Ziost, we heard about the horrors taking place there… and the trial! We heard about how you were taken before the Council to answer for your failure! Then—nothing! At least, not until our Son-in-Law told us you were alright.”

Mum blinked. “Lana? Sweetheart, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” The unexpected mention of Vajra had hit her hard.

“No, you’re not,” Dad insisted.

“Vajra was captured by the enemy,” Lana admitted. “I miss him dearly.”

“Oh,” her father’s face fell. They were all three of them, awkwardly silent for a moment.

“Why don’t you sit down, dear?” Mum asked, gently tugging her towards a chair. She sat down on her other side. “Sorry for the cold welcome. But we were hoping to hear from you months ago!”

“Things were going so well, and then… nothing!” Dad blurted. “A few weeks before Ziost, you just stopped contacting us! And since you were so paranoid about safety and secrecy, we couldn’t reach out to you first! Nor could we send out messages to you! And then this war started, and you were nowhere to be found! And then we heard about Elgrind… Vajra and Lord Marr…! Where have you been? What have you been doing?”

“I was searching for Vajra,” Lana answered. “Like I said, he’s been captured, and I wanted to free him as soon as possible. I raided battlefields, sneaked aboard enemy vessels, sought clarity through the Force, and charted Hyperspace myself. I discovered several Zakuulan worlds along the way. In fact, it was my intel that allowed the Tiarna to take the fight to Zakuul. I was nearly the one to discover their capital too, but Cipher Nine beat me to it. And I have searched dozens of prisons on Zakuul. I even set foot in the Palace of the Dragon. I stole his Lightsabers that Arcann had claimed as trophies and kept on display.”

“So, you were searching for your husband?” Mum asked. “That’s quite romantic.”

“How do you know he’s alive?” Dad asked, sounding reluctant. “The Force? Did the Force tell you?”

“No. The Force has been… frustratingly silent,” Lana admitted. “Even our Bond has grown silent and still. But my heart tells me he’s alive.”

“Are you sure?” Mum asked. “The heart… it’s lovely and all, but it can lead you astray.”

“It makes no sense for Arcann to keep him alive,” Dad said. “He killed his father after all.”

“Everyone keeps telling me that,” Lana said, trying to hide how cross that made her.

“I’m sorry, but you are our daughter,” Dad said gently. “And we have to think of what’s best for you. So we need to know that you’re not in denial.”

“I. Am. Not.”

“Fine, fine,” Dad said, patting her hand. “My! But you’re so cold! Here, I’ll get you some soup. Arlington! Bring out the meal, please!”

They moved to the dining room. The droid called Arlington brought out a steaming bowl of soup for everyone, followed by a few cuts of yakitori. “Never known you to delegate cooking to someone else,” Lana said after a sip. “Though that was years ago.”

“I did start the cooking,” Dad said. “But I had to change so I could greet ‘Lady Dustin.’”

“She’s not real, by the way,” Lana told him. “Nor is the Dustin family.”

“Is that right? And yet we hear about them from time to time!”

“I have a computer that’s constantly generating rumors about some of my covers. Makes them seem alive.”

“That’s… brilliant!” Mum exclaimed.

“Thank you. Wasn’t my idea though.” She sampled the appetizer, almost losing herself to nostalgia again before moving on. “Mum. Dad. How quickly can you move?”

“What?”

“I found a place. It’s nice, secret, safe. I’ve already built a few nice towns there.”

“You’ve built towns?”

“Yes. They’re very lovely, if I do say so myself. As best as I could manage them. They’re far from the wars, the Sith, the Jedi, the Zakuulans… There’s more than enough room for the both of you. You could live out the rest of your lives in peace.”

“We’re not leaving,” Dad said firmly.

“Dad—”

“I mean it!” Dad said. “We can’t abandon everything we’ve built here!”

“Our hotels are more than just brick and mortar,” Mum exclaimed. “There are people out there counting on us! Our employees and shareholders! The many kitchens, orphanages and slums we donate to! We can’t just leave them all and run!”

“Lady Kai—Tiarna Kaimeryn—is dead,” Lana said urgently. “And the Council betrayed Darth Nox and killed his lover—Darth Imperius—so he switched sides. And most of the replacements are not up to the mark. Castrum cannot do Lady Kai’s job. And Arcann is on a warpath. Since he now knows where to hit us, it won’t be long before the Empire is in the same boat as the Republic. One of the new Agriworlds just got hit, and a depot. There will be a shortfall in food by the end of the week. Prices will skyrocket. And ports will be locked down. You will be trapped here when the commoners start to riot, and diseases run rampant in the city.”

The pronouncement left both her parents looking shaken, but their resolve was undimmed. “No,” Mum said firmly.

“Please, Lannie. At least give us time to sell everything. To see to it that our people are seen to.”

“That will take forever!”

“Six months, at most!”

“No, eighteen! And even if it was six, the shortages will be here in weeks!”

“No, means no!” Dad barked.

Lana was silent for a moment. “Remember Balmorra?”

Her parents flinched.

“There is a recurring theme in history. The poor rise up in times of great famine. And their first targets are usually the people living in wealthy neighborhoods; people they perceive to be living the high life while they starve. Imagine being dragged out into the streets, as you were in Sobrik, and lynched. Mum, I’m sorry to tell you this, but you are still a very attractive woman. Remember how the Balmorran Resistance treated you? That will happen again, if you don’t leave with me. Within the next few weeks. Please!” This was a low-blow, but Lana didn’t care. She needed to get her parents to safety. She’d dawdled far too long. Truth was, she hadn’t realized how bad things might get.

Her parents looked at each other. “We might be able to shift our operations to Toprawa for a while,” Dad said reluctantly.

“Lana… this new place you mentioned. Does it have a lot of small children in it? A school? A place where a small child won’t grow up by themselves?”

“Uhh. No…?” Lana said hesitantly. “But why—” the answer hit her like a rock. She stared at her mother. “You—are you…?” She looked at her stomach. Mum was wearing loose, flowy robes, so it was difficult to tell, but—

“Yes,” Mum said. “I’m four months along. We were hoping to raise our child right here, on Dromund Kaas. In our home of over thirty years.”

Unbidden, Lana slipped out of her seat and knelt down beside her mother’s stomach. She placed her cheek on top of it. She felt something quickly press against her face, as if in response to her touch. Mum gasped.

“That was the first kick!” she said excitedly. “Jaren, come here!”

Dad hurried up to them and knelt beside his wife and daughter, his hand on her stomach. He too felt the baby’s kick and squealed. “What timing!”

“Yes! What timing. What timing indeed!” Lana wiped away a tear, then hugged her mother. Her father took them both.

Lana was quite happy in this moment. If only Vajra was there to share it with her, it would’ve been the most perfect moment ever. Without realizing it, her hand went to her own stomach and stayed there until her mother noticed.

“Lana? You’re holding your stomach. Are you pregnant too?”

“I was,” Lana admitted. “But I lost the baby. It was shortly before Ziost.”

“Oh no!” Mum hugged her again. “I’m so sorry to hear that!”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Dad asked.

“I… it was really hard for me,” she admitted. “I reacted… I reacted quite badly. Poorly. It was pathetic. I pushed everyone away. I even closed myself off from my Vajra, not realizing that he was hurting too. I was so focused on not showing my weakness, I ended up pushing everything away. And I… I also told Vajra to join Marr at Elgrind. Even though he was hesitant to. He wanted to stay behind, but I wouldn’t let him. It’s my fault he’s missing. It’s my fault…”

“Shhhhh,” her mother hushed her. “I understand. We all react differently to grief, and losing a child is… It will be alright. You will find Vajra, and all will be right in the galaxy again.”

“But what if I don’t find him?” Lana asked, suddenly feeling all of her fears. “What if Arcann gets what he wanted, and kills him before I can reach him? I promised him I’d move on if anything happened to him, but I—”

“Don’t think about it now,” Mum said sternly. “If ever that comes to pass, you know how to find us. We’ll be there for you.”

“So about this new place,” Dad said. “I’m sorry, Lannie. But unless you can guarantee there will be other children for your new sibling to grow up with, we can’t move to your sanctuary. Children need other children to grow up right.”

“There are a lot of Bothans on Odessen,” Lana blurted. “Refugees who ran before the Star Fortress fired on the world. And I intend to bring in more people. It will be a bustling world before long. I promise you that.”

“We appreciate that, Lannie. But we cannot abandon our people. We will move to Toprawa. It’s safe enough there. And populous enough that we can set down our roots. Give your sibling a proper childhood.”

“Then leave now,” Lana insisted. If this was all she was going to get, she would force it to happen at all speed. “The Trip to Yonderlands is in the private hangar, right? You can leave before dawn. No one will stop you right now.”

They looked at each other, then nodded. “Alright.”

“And if you’re wrong—if Toprawa isn’t safe enough—”

“We will come with you,” Mum agreed at last.

“How will you leave?” Dad asked. “Where is your ship?”

“It’s close by. I can reach there in an hour.”

“Good.” Dad rang the bell, and the droid called Arlington appeared again. “Alert the droids. We want our class-1 belongings packed and stored above the Trip to Yonderlands by 03:00. We are moving to Toprawa.”

“Yes, Sir.” The droid left at once.

“Class-1?”

“Those are the most precious of our possessions,” Dad answered. “Along with anything we need to move. Clothes. Money. Papers. Things like the piano don’t count.”

Lana nodded.

“Now come on. We have till 03:00 to talk. So let’s talk. Tell us everything that’s happened so far.”

Chapter 35: A Galaxy in Freefall

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Eight Months Since the Battles of Adumar and Ketaris

Munto, Commenor

Flanked by all six of his Paladins and escorted by a hundred Knights, Exarch Meegar Slenn marched up to the city hall in Munto. The war had grown stale in recent months; the Republic soldiers normally ran or surrendered before the fighting could even begin.

Today was no different, but for one fact. They’d attacked the planet while a member of the vaunted Jedi Council was present, overseeing relief efforts for the starving population. Meegar wanted to be the first Zakuulan to slay one of these august Jedi.

He was mightily disappointed by what he saw; an old man, sitting in a hoverchair. He had a blanket around his legs, and a drip attached to his arm. He had several droids in attendance; one protocol and two medical.

“How underwhelming,” Meegar gloated. “During all the years of preparation, I heard stories about the mighty Jedi Council. Their power in the Force, their experience in combat, and their wisdom and clarity. And the first one my people encounter is… this!”

“Does that mean we’ll let him live?” Paladin Adriana asked, as they had predetermined.

“Ohhh. I don’t know. What do you think, Master Jedi?” He grinned at the old cripple, who sighed.

“I see Zakuulan Force users are even less schooled than the average Sith,” the Jedi said. “It’s no wonder it typically takes twenty of you to kill one of us. No matter. Perhaps you can still learn. I will accept your surrender, and teach you all the ways of the Force, if you ask.”

Adrianna snarled at that, but only feigned attacking. Her blade stopped a millimeter in front of the Master’s neck. The man only chuckled.

“The Jedi do not fear death,” Paladin Coral said. “We’ve seen it before. The only way to get to him is by putting everyone in this city to the sword.”

“Is that what you’re going to do?” the Master asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, we are!” Meegar decided. “Knight Captain! Begin rounding up the civilians! Line them up, and slay them!”

As the Knights hastened to carry out the order (A.N. a 100% legit order, not a goad), the Master acted. His Lightsaber shot out from his belt, igniting in midair, and cut the Knights in rapid succession. As they fell, their blades were pulled out of their hands and joined in the attack, launching at others in the army.

“NOOO!” Losing so many men to an aged cripple would be really bad for Meegar’s prestige. He dashed forward, intending to take the old coot’s head off, but his blade returned to his defense.

To Meegar’s utter shock, the Jedi’s floating Lightsaber blocked his blade with expert proficiency. Attack after attack after attack was quietly turned aside as if they were nothing, even though Meegar resorted to more and more complex forms. Behind him, his Knights had formed up in a shield wall to defend themselves, but continued to die as blades shot in and out of their ranks. And still more blades joined the fray!

It was impossible to use the Force in such a precise manner… wasn’t it? Surely, even the Emperor or Vaylin couldn’t do so! Not even Valkorion!

“OOOF!” He had been struck right between the shoulder blades by no fewer than five rocks. The armor took the worst of it, but it still knocked him to his face.

“Surrender,” the Master said, sounding amused.

The Paladins roared as they charged but the Lightsaber moved even faster in the air, holding them back with ease even when the Exarch joined in. Eventually, they were Picked off the ground and slammed into each other repeatedly until the fight got knocked out of them. Meegar tried to use the Force as well, but the cripple blocked all three pushes; the heavy boulder Meegar tried to drop on his head slid off like there was an invisible ramp above them.

“You’re weak,” the Master barked. He brought his hands together, crushing all surviving Paladins, Knights, and the Exarch like he was molding clay into a ball. They were ground into each other until their armor twisted and broke at the joints.

“I… surrender!” Meegar moaned before throwing up. The others voiced the same plea for quarter. They were all dropped to the floor in ignominious defeat.

“This is something we were all taught as children,” the Knight went on. “And many Sith learn it too. We are not our flesh—this crude matter. We are beings of light and power, luminous such as even stars cannot hope to be.” He chuckled. “I think I’m missing Jasme too much, to be quoting her like this.” He went on. “If you wish, you can be taught the true ways of the Force. Not just how to use it in this… inadequate manner that you do. You use it merely to strengthen your limbs and throw a few Pushes and Chokes. There are worlds beyond what your masters have seen fit to share with you.”

“That’s what I keep telling them,” a hated voice rang out. “But they don’t want to listen.”

Meegar turned painfully. It was him. Vaylin’s new toy. Arch Duke Hekaten, High Magister of Zakuul. His surprise defection into the Zakuulan ranks had been a major factor in their overwhelming reversal of fortunes against the Sith Empire, second only to Darth Kaimeryn’s defeat.

“So,” the Master said, turning to him. “The former Darth Nox. We meet again.”

“Yes, we do,” the Arch Duke grinned. “Master Jaric Kaedan. Did your health decline recently? I could’ve sworn you weren’t this bad.”

“I don’t suppose you’ve come to surrender too?” the Master called Kaedan asked. “You’ve made a habit of that recently.”

“I didn’t surrender, Vaylin beat me outright,” the alien explained patiently. “I only switched sides afterwards. And don’t think you could replicate either of her feats. Unlike her, you don’t have power. And my knowledge far outstrips your own. You are either my prisoner, or my victim.”

“Let’s not waste any more of each other’s time then.” The Master painfully rose from his hoverchair, disconnecting his IV drip as he did so. His Lightsaber sprang into his hand. For a moment, he trembled. He looked to be in pain. Then he steadied. He looked like he had shed decades of age and sickness and injury.

“That will only last a little while,” the Arch Duke observed.

“You’re thinking of a young Knight. I am a Master. I can do this for hours.”

The Master disappeared from Meegar’s sight for a moment as he rushed the ex-Sith, who raised his hand. A bubble appeared around him, repulsing all of the Master’s attacks. He fired a stream of Lightning that the Jedi avoided, and a spear that he smashed with his blade. More Lightning emerged from the air around them, zeroing in on the Jedi, who had to move at a rapid pace to stay ahead.

He approached the High Prince from behind, attacking his ankles and lower torso. The bubble faltered for a moment, and the Arch Duke dodged in case the next blow damaged it further. He thrust his palm out. The Force Push broke over his shield the first two times, but the third knocked him off his feet. He cried when his back hit the ground, and when he rose, his movements were noticeably slower.

“You defeated the Dread Masters once,” Arch Duke Hekaten said. “Back when you were young. Now, you’re an old man.”

“Happens to everyone,” the Master gasped. “Happened to your Master, happened to your Emperor, happened to him again as Valkorion, and it will happen to you and the precious bitch you call Vaylin.”

That got through the Arch Duke’s skin. “Alright then. I was going to take you back to Zakuul, but now I’m pissed. Goodbye, Kaedan.” He attacked with the Force again, this time Pushes that were more like the fall of fifty ten-ton hammers. They smashed against the Jedi’s weakened defenses again and again, squashing him into the ground. But he didn’t give up. He extended his hand, and a Lightsaber leapt out of Meegar’s hand and at Duke Hekaten—

Who screamed, barely avoiding the blade. The Master was weak, but the rain of Force Pushes he tossed in Arch Duke Hekaten’s way were powerful enough to make Meegar’s teeth hurt.

All lightsabers on the field lit up and pecked at Duke Hekaten, who was pressed into a fetal position. But he screamed; exploding his shield. Everyone within a hundred meters was hurled backwards. Meegar felt his spine shatter, but he landed in a position to see the ex-Sith stumble up to the Jedi.

“Power isn’t everything,” the Master snorted. “Nor, it seems, is knowledge like yours. This will be Vaylin, someday.”

“Shut the f*ck up.”

The Arch Duke fired Red Lightning at point blank range. The Master did not scream or beg. He did not twitch. He merely accepted his fate as he was burned alive.

His charred corpse fell to the floor, the thick scent of smoke and melted flesh heavy in the air. Duke Hekaten walked up to Meegar. “And this is why your Order needs to go back to school,” he said angrily. “I hope you enjoyed your little lesson. You are not a match for a Master of the Force; none of you is.”

Meegar felt a pressure build up somewhere behind his nose. He almost didn’t feel his head explode.

Coruscant

Tau Idair stood stoically behind the Supreme Chancellor. Her arms were crossed, and her chin raised. She was poised as if she was staring straight ahead, right past the Senators and advisors. Like neither they nor their words had any affect on her.

But that was just a façade. Truthfully, she was reeling under the onslaught of the bad news, which had only sped up since the death of Tiarna Kaimeryn, five months ago. On the Chancellor’s other side, Bengel Morr was just as calm on the outside, but worse under the surface. Tau still remembered the magnificent, glorious sight of the Ebon Prince standing alone against dozens upon dozens of Zakuulan Knights. Skill and power that only came out a few times in every generation. Or less.

Unlike the pricks in this room, who were a dime a million.

Tau pretended not to know any names here, just nicknames. It was the easiest way to maintain her emotional distance from this escaped congress of circus baboons.

“The fleet we sent to relieve Denon has been routed,” Supreme Commander Cheese said.

I don’t know what you were expecting from seven Thrantas, Tau thought. Also, ‘routed’ was now code for ‘completely and utterly destroyed.’

“That leaves our ship count at…” Cheese consulted his notes. “Three thousand, six hundred and eight ships. Most of them Thrantas.”

“Have we heard back from Admiral Rosh?” the Chancellor asked. Tau had to give her credit. She certainly did not look defeated yet… though she was affected in different ways. Angrier, paranoid, more prone to shouting and throwing things, looking noticeably older—though not so badly as Master Satele.

“No. His ships never reached Alderaan.”

“I believe they’ve defected,” SIS chief Nosering said. “Twelve capital ships don’t just disappear from existence.”

Actually, they do. And they have done. Hyperspace can be dangerous, though it’s one in fifty million.

“That makes defections… up to how many?”

“Nine hundred,” Nosering answered. “We can account for about two hundred of them; most went rogue, began acting as pirates and local warlords. Or sold out to the Hutts. But the remaining seven? Gone!”

Those ships were probably hiding out in the remotest of Outer Rim systems. Tau knew for a fact that the remains of the Seswenna Sector Defense Fleet had been spotted at Aeten II a week prior, where it had been for nearly three weeks. It might still be there, for all she knew.

“What does ex-Supreme Commander Malcom say?” Saresh asked, surprising Tau. The Chancellor didn’t like talking about the former High Command’s opinions and suggestions.

“He says we should surrender,” Senator Whiney-voice said immediately. “That the Republic Armed Forces can do no more.”

“People are starving, Chancellor,” Senator Handlebar-mustache said. “The days when our ships could somewhat protect the shipping Hyperlanes are gone. Even common pirates could block them off, these days.”

“The death tolls of last week are in,” Senator Brown-beard said. “Eighty-seven million people starved to death in the lower levels of Coruscant, and thirty million from lack of basic medicines. Ninety-nine million starved on Corellia, Eriadu, and Denon, and sixty million dead from shortage of medicine.”

“We believe that forty million Imperials have died from lack of food and medicine too,” SIS Director said. “They still have more resources than us.”

“Then we need to take it from them,” Saresh declared. “We need to send out raids into the Empire, seizing their food, fuel, medicine, and perhaps ships.”

I had no idea we had the resources for such an undertaking.

Still, it wasn’t the worst idea in the world. Zakuul had burned or stolen billions of tons of supplies. And it wasn’t easily regrown. Stealing from the enemy was just as good a way to alleviate the problems as anything else. If only such a measure didn’t hurt Imperial civilians—innocents—rather than their dark masters. And that wasn’t the only problem.

“You’d need a lot of such raids to alleviate our people’s suffering,” Police Chief Red Nose said. “And a lot of ships. Big ships, if possible.”

“And whom can we send out on such missions?”

“Meteor Squad—” Saresh began.

“They were lost on Denon,” Supreme Commander Cheese said regretfully. “We haven’t heard from them in months.”

Saresh sat back. “Back in the day, I’d have chosen Havoc Squad. But they betrayed us.”

To save one of their own, Tau thought. And they haven’t yet harmed anyone from the Republic. Not that can be proven, but I’m certain they haven’t.

“We can ask… Orion Squad,” Cheese suggested. “And grant them a bigger ship. Maybe a heavy transport.”

“We’ll need a lot more than one squad and one heavy transport,” Red Nose pointed out.

“We need to start somewhere,” Senator Dreadlocks said. “Don’t lose sight of the true threat.”

Senator Whiney-voice spoke up. “Chancellor… I have a suggestion. Perhaps if we surrender to Zakuul, they might be willing to aid us a little against the Empire.”

“Or back off enough for us to breathe a little,” Nosering said.

Saresh shook her head. “Morale hangs on by a thread. If we lose this war, people lose their faith in me. We’ll all be out on our ears.”

That’s debatable. Few people had ever thought Saresh was a capable war master. What they once did have faith in, was that she cared about the Republic and its people. Like she often claimed she did.

“Perhaps we can ask the Jedi for aid in this,” Cheese said. “What say you, my dear Jedi? Will your Order help us in this time of need?”

Tau and Bengel remained silent. Nadia Grell spoke up, as she always did. “I’m sorry, Supreme Commander. But we cannot speak for the Council. You will have to send a message to Tython to answer your question.”

“But surely you have an opinion,” Cheese pressed.

“Our opinion is that the first people to suffer would be innocent Imperial civilians,” Nadia answered. “The slaves and the poor, who already scrape by no better than our own less fortunate. We also believe that attacking them at this juncture might invite… reprisals.” Her eyes flitted to Saresh for a moment. “And a reopening of a theater that has been silent for months. Both sides might launch a raiding war. More resources will be lost.”

Saresh fumed at the reminder. She had lost hundreds of ships, billions of credits, and a lot of prestige in that incident. But she rarely ever lashed out at Jedi anymore. Her last, disastrous meeting with the Jedi Council—during her attempted takeover—had left her fully aware that they were not going to be bullied any longer. And she needed them. For now, at least.

“But the Empire has to be thinking along this line too,” Nadia went on. “Perhaps it’s a matter of who casts the first stone. But I do reiterate that you need to talk to the Council. The dictum ‘better to ask forgiveness than permission,’ only works when they’ve forgiven you a hundred times, and you’ve only gotten worse with each repeat.”

There was no rebuke in her voice, but Saresh screamed in fury. “WHAT DID YOU SAY, YOU GHOST-FACED LITTLE c*nt?”

“I said that they won’t forgive you. You have lied, cheated, manipulated, bullied, and even killed to have your way.”

Saresh responded by hurling a vase at an unconcerned Nadia. It stopped just shy of her nose and floated to Tau, who deliberately ignited her Lightsaber and cut it in half. “Have a care, Chancellor,” she said coolly, as she holstered her weapon. “The only reason you’ve survived yesterday’s bombing, or last week’s snipers, or the poisoning two days before that, or the rigged podium on the 32^nd of last month, or the full-out attack a month ago, or the dozens of other attempts I don’t feel like going into right now, was because of us. You’ve crapped on a lot of people, and your Green Guards or your GenoHaradan are no longer enough to keep you safe from them all. What do you think will happen when you’re gone? People will finally be free to speak again. And the first thing they will say is ‘Huzzah! The witch is gone!’”

“Even people in this very room are likely to say that,” Bengel added. “If only so they can escape the trainwreck that awaits the end of your career.”

The people around her flinched, then raised a hue and cry.

“History will be kind to me,” Saresh hissed. “For I intend to write it!”

“On a scale of zero to ten, how likely do you think that is?” Tau asked. “You need to wake up, Chancellor. To see the current situation as it really is, instead of what you want it to be. We don’t have the strength to fight the Sith while also fighting Zakuul.”

“There are fewer than nine hundred Jedi out there today,” Bengel said. “With more dying every day. Master Kaedan fell to Hekaten. Masters Ida, Nikil, and Giffis were overrun by endless legions of Skytroopers. Master Bela Kiwiiks is dying of her old wounds. We do not have anyone to replace the lost Masters. Only Masters Satele, Gnost-Dural, and Devel remain. Tython is all but empty.”

“But there are fewer Sith!” Nosering said. “Fewer than six hundred!”

“That’s not counting the ones who went rogue. But they are still dangerous. Under the wrong circ*mstances, that difference in numbers is nothing.”

“Please, Supreme Chancellor,” Nadia whispered. “Jedi are not the only ones dying. Soldiers die by the thousands every day. Our citizens starve as they are bereft of crucial supplies. You are the only one who can stop this. Even if it means letting go your pride.”

“The Republic will not fall,” Saresh growled. “Never! And certainly not on my watch! I think we’ve had enough of the Jedi’s input. Let’s move onto less depressing talk. Such as any ideas on how to turn the tide.”

Cheese looked at his chiming datapad. “Onderon, Ord Mantel, Dantooine, Falleen, and seventy other worlds have negotiated their own, independent surrenders. They are lost.”

Saresh screeched in fury.

Vinsoth

Darth Achlys, the seventh Head of Imperial Military Command since the death of Tiarna Kaimeryn, stood right before the bridge viewport. Just beyond, ships of the Zakuulan navy fired volley after volley at her few remaining ships.

It had been a bad idea to head to Vinsoth after all. She had thought that her small fleet would be able to swoop in, attack the rear, and flee before the enemy could retaliate. It wasn’t much, but her brief tenure as a member of the Dark Council had seen nearly three hundred (mostly minor, but cumulatively large) losses in just a week.

She had hoped that destroying thirty or forty ships would salvage her reputation. At least a little bit. Unfortunately for her, her ships were in bad states of repair, and her crews lacking in morale. The few, crucial minutes they lost allowed the Zakuulan rearguard to reorient itself to face them. They’d only taken thirty ships before the missiles began to slam against the Star Destroyers.

The Imperial fleet didn’t stand a chance. In less than two minutes, most of the ships had been disabled, including her own. She wondered if someone might board her ship. Attempt to take her head. But no one came. And she was forced to die helplessly; standing in front of the window as the ship around her disintegrated.

I should’ve joined the Tiarna’s expedition on Hoth, she thought bitterly, as a missile approached her vantage point. At least I’d have had a more interesting death.

Korriban

Darth Acina sat on her throne. She was alone here today, her colleagues putting out fires in different parts of the Empire. She didn’t like being alone on this world. And in this place, formerly the Emperor’s residence on the sacred world. But Korriban needed a Dark Councilor present at all times to defend it.

She stirred as another report appeared on her screen. “So… Darth Mammon is dead, then.” Ironically, a reaction just like this was what had caused her to lose her inner circle, following the death of Tiarna Kaimeryn. Time had made her realize just how big a fool she’d been. Atlas was right. They had been given a precious present, and kicked it away out of misguided spite. Now, they were on a losing streak far worse than ever before. Membership of the once feared and respected Dark Council had become a joke. Mammon was the fourth head of Expansion and Diplomacy to be killed since Zhorrid’s disappearance.

Who’d have thought replacing that weak, snot-nosed little mouse would be such a difficult chore?

The doors opened unexpectedly, breaking her focus. “Who goes there—Darth Aruk! I thought you were at Sluis Van?”

But it wasn’t just him. Behind him came Rictus, and behind them walked thirty of their allies, apprentices, assassins, warriors and subordinates.

Acina sighed. “Oh. So that’s how it is.”

Rictus chuckled. “That was quick. As expected, the head of Technology sure is smart.”

“But the heads of Sith Doctrine and Mystery are cowards,” Acina spat. “You weren’t strong enough to take the throne, so you weakened the Sith Empire instead. Brought us down to your level. Fine then. Have your little day at the center of the parade. By your own hand, the cake will be bitter and filled with dung beetles.”

“That will do,” Aruk said. He was the first to attack, with a salvo of blue Lightning that Acina deflected. Rictus caught her throat in his grip, forcing her to split her mind between two powerful Force Wielders. Acina Screamed, loud enough that the floor around her spiderwebbed with cracks. She broke the Emperor’s throne out of its fixture and hurled it at the two belligerent Sith at tremendous speed, and flanked them as they attempted to stop the massive stone chair from flattening them.

Her Lightsaber bore down upon Aruk’s unprotected skull, but she was Pulled back by one of his retainers. Her blade spun in her hands, deflecting those of his Marauders. She slew one, then another, then another before unleashing an omnidirectional Force Lightning Storm.

But she was against far too many experienced Sith this day. They created a Force Bubble, but around her instead of themselves. As a result, she was struck by her own, reflected, all-out attack. With her nervous system was short-circuited by her Lightning, she could do nothing as Aruk approached, and smacked her repeatedly in the face. His cybernetic arm made the blow that much harder. She felt teeth shooting out of her lips, and her cheekbone shattering.

“I think we’ll keep you alive for now,” Aruk said. “Perhaps, with a little persuasion, you might serve us. Bite down now. This will hurt.” He trapped her in a thick web of blue Lightning, which crept all across her body, burning her hair and skin as it travelled. She was locked in a rigid pose, trembling as the current coursed into her veins. Every iota of her being felt like it was burning. It was thirty long minutes before she fell back on the ground.

Barely conscious, she lay on the ground babbling as Rictus and Aruk ascended the now-empty dais and stood like they’d won some great victory.

“Henceforth, we are Emperor Aruk and Emperor Rictus, co-Emperors of the Sith Empire,” Aruk proclaimed. “And we shall bring order and chaos to the galaxy in equal measure! Let all who hear of our ascension tremble in despair! Look out, Arcann. Your reign is about to end.”

Despite being in pain and near-crazed, Acina remembered to snort.

Denon

Colonel Roban Queens had stopped counting the days after the first two months. He’d been trapped in this bunker for so long, he was starting to think he was in his tomb. The rescue he’d expected—or the ‘capture’—never came. Instead, he was forced to watch as his squad went stir crazy from the nonstop shelling. Sama’artel ran out screaming like a maniac and got killed. A rocket had burst in through the open door, whose explosion had destroyed a support column, which led to an avalanche of debris that buried everyone.

By the time he pulled out their bodies, they were already dead. It was purest chance that had seen him survive. Chance… or providence.

Maybe the Immortal Emperor is still watching over me! Maybe he wants me to live!

That thought had kept him going, even when his comrades’ bodies had started to rot and his thoughts turned dark. He still had access to the water line—and the fresher—but his rations ran dangerously low after the first few weeks. He considered turning to the only food source still available to him, but he refused to give up his dignity.

Instead, he received a better prize. Rats made their way into the bunker, as they did most places with a free meal. He killed a few with his sidearm, and consumed them in lieu of his limited rations. He slept in his armor to stay safe from their ravenous mouth, complete with helmet.

Several times, he considered digging his way out. Of braving the outside. Perhaps he could reach friendly lines. It didn’t matter which, he was in good standing either way. Wasn’t he? No. The more he thought about it, the more he began to doubt that statement. Saresh hated him for turning down her offer, and suspicion that he’d helped Theron and Elara escape her clutches. And Arcann seemed to ignore his pleas for aid. His messages had to be getting through! Had he taken offense to Roban’s letters, begging him to be merciful? If so, he had misjudged the man.

But he held out to hope for months, until his mental and physical health finally began to flag. He tried one last time. He sent out a message on an open frequency.

“This is Colonel Roban Queens,” he croaked. “Republic Special Forces. I’ve been trapped in a bunker for… I don’t know how long. Someone, please come and get me. Anyone.” He began weeping at the last sentence. A long, raw fit of tears such as he’d never known. There was no answer. “Please,” he begged again. The channel was still open. Anyone listening had no doubt heard him break down. But it didn’t matter. “I… I’m all out of options. Please, anyone!”

After about an hour, he started to lose his last shreds of hope. He dried his eyes and propped himself up against the wall, then took out his blaster pistol and checked if it was still in good order. He wrote a quick farewell message on the wall with his knife, then raised his blaster to his mouth. Sobs began racking his body again.

But before he could pull the trigger, his comm crackled. “General? General, Sir! This is Captain Koth Vortena. Please hold on, sir. Help is on the way.”

Roban nearly broke down again, but held it together. About twenty minutes later, they arrived. He could hear the scrape of stone and gravel being shifted. The doorway was uncovered, and light poured into the bunker for the first time in months.

“General, Sir!” Koth exclaimed. He’d burst in first, followed by Lem Pardex.

“Blessed Esne!” the big soldier blurted out. He looked around at the skeletons in the bunker. They’d been picked clean by now.

“That wasn’t me,” Roban said defensively. “Rats. I did eat the rats though.”

“We’re not judging you, Sir,” Koth said quickly. He rushed to Roban and helped him out of the small room he’d been confined to for months. “We’re really sorry. We were going to come and get you five months ago. Right after we heard that first broadcast. But Emperor Arcann forbade us from helping you out. He was really angry with you for… well, I don’t know why.”

“What changed his mind?”

“He didn’t change his mind,” Lem said somberly. “We’re goin’ rogue.”

“There’s a riot out there,” Koth explained. “There’s been a food shortage for two months now. People are starving. The death toll just officially crossed ten million, and us soldiers were still getting daily shipments of food. In plain sight. People were angry. They demanded some for themselves. Arcann ordered us to open fire. Like hell we’d do such a heartless thing!”

“Where will you go?” Roban asked.

“I… I don’t know,” Koth admitted. “Do you have any ideas?”

“I… I can’t say. I’ve been down there for… so long now. I don’t know what the galaxy’s like. For all I know, Coruscant and the rest of the Republic worlds are wastelands.”

“They’ll get there eventually,” Beric Lugar said in his whiny voice. “Arcann is toying with them. He could have ended the war three months ago, but he’s changed tactics since the Battle of Hoth.”

“How do you mean?”

“He’s not taking pitched battles like he used to,” Koth explained. “He’s focusing on hit-and-run tactics. Mostly hitting Hyperlanes. Trade and shipping have all but disintegrated. There’s not a single world out there which isn’t suffering. And many worlds which surrendered to us, continue to starve.”

“Bothawui was all but destroyed,” Wilt said. “The Exarch wanted to make an example of them. They were caught running away, and the Emperor had lost nearly 400,000 ships at Hoth and Zakuul—”

“We lost ships at Zakuul? And… the Bothans are gone?”

His men looked at each other. “Looks like we have a lot to tell you, Sir,” Koth said.

“But we need to find a place to live first,” Roban sat back in thought. “Well, I can’t go back to Zakuul. And I can’t go back to the Republic. I guess neither side has a use for an outspoken hero anymore. But I need you all to do me a favor. From now on, you are only to think of me as Roban Queens. Or Colonel, at best. No ‘Duke,’ no ‘General.’ If anyone finds out that I am Duke Vanir of Zakuul, a lot of doors close in our faces. For that matter, it’s best none of you are associated with Tumult anymore. Some might think to use you, but many will hate and shun you. I know a soldier who had to deal with both.” He thought about Elara for a moment.

“Yes, Sir.”

“When’s the next food shipment due?”

Koth checked his chrono. “In an hour.”

“Good. Let’s steal it, and take every morsel left in the fort. If there’s a shortage, we’ll need all we can get.”

“Yes, Sir!”

“And speaking of food…” Roban cleared his throat. His stomach growled. “Do you… do you have anything I can eat?”

Chapter 36: Encounter on Ketaris

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Notes:

TW: Nonconsensual kiss

Chapter Text

Harringal, Ketaris

Harringal was a beautiful town. The architecture was simple, but it was full of coniferous trees. And the views around were gorgeous. Sunlight sparked on the water’s surface most hours of the day, but night had fallen on this part of Ketaris five hours ago. Many of the townsfolk had already left the streets, though the curfew had been revoked last month. The few that were out and about were keeping their heads low.

Which made Sergeant Lugar Beric stick out all the more. He was trying to move fast without making it look like he was moving fast. He had six Zakuulan Knights on his tail, and he didn’t think they were in the mood for drinks. Knights rarely dallied with Force-blind such as himself, even back in the days when he was considered a hero of Zakuul.

Now, he was on the run. And wanted for abandoning his post. The only thing in his favor was that these people were mere Knights, and not Vigilants.

This sweet, cold beach town would become his grave if he didn’t find a way to lose his tail. But the good thing about this place was that it had a lot more cantinas than most towns its size. Many of them were still reasonably crowded. Like, thirty or so occupants in each.

He heaved a sigh of relief when he ducked into one of these, but quickly realized it was a mistake. This cute little place was called Peeta’s Smores; and it had private booths instead of an open diner. No blending in with crowds here.

He cursed himself for a fool. No time to pick a different place. The Knights had just turned the corner, though they hadn’t spotted him yet. Feeling the walls closing in around him, he ducked into the fifth booth.

It was occupied. Sort of.

A young woman with pale skin and blonde hair was dozing within. Something about her disheveled appearance made him suspect quite strongly that she was beyond exhausted. That she hadn’t intended to fall asleep here.

If he could just slip in beside her, and make it appear they’d both been here for an hour…

Thinking quickly, he turned his jacket inside out, bringing its black inside to the fore instead of the blue outside. He also dropped his bandana and goggles, and messed up his hair. He closed the transparent door and engaged the soundproofing. He then sat down beside her, gently as he could.

But he wasn’t soft enough; she woke up with a start, though she was far from alert and quite disoriented. “Wha—?”

Dammit!

Thinking fast, he pressed his mouth against hers in a very messy kiss, pulling out his blaster and poking it into her ribs to keep her compliant. Through the silver jug at his side, he saw the Knights pass by, giving them only a brief look and deciding they weren’t their quarry.

It was not a moment too soon. The woman regained her senses and tossed him off. He hit the wall with a loud grunt, surprised by her unexpected strength. The woman gave him an affronted, disgusted look for a moment. Then poked her head out the window and barfed.

“Now that’s just rude!” Beric exclaimed. “What, never been kissed before?”

She turned her blazing eyes back on him, wiping her mouth on a napkin and drinking a shot of whatever was in the glass. “Of all the people who forced a kiss on me, it had to be a man who’s never heard of mouthwash. And you dare complain? I ought to cut off your limbs and leave you for the sewer rats.”

“Now look here,” Beric said, getting angry. “You may not have liked it, but I’m a really tough soldier who was betrayed by his homeland, and is now on the run from Zakuulan Knights. It’s a matter of life and death! Not just for me, but my unit too! You should feel honored to have helped out a fugitive like me in need! But if you’re going to be a bad sport about it—” he raised his pistol to her face threateningly.

Only for it to be pulled out of his hands. And into hers. It was only now that he realized that her blazing eyes were orange-yellow. The woman stood, exuding danger in clouds so thick Lugar nearly sh*t his pants. She pulled something out of her poncho, and a lightsaber the color of lava burst into flame in front of his eyes.

“N-n-n-n-n-nooooo!” he screamed, bravado evaporating in an instant. “Let’s not be hasty here!” He was raised into the air. His airways tightened unexpectedly, halting his breathing. Speaking required effort.

“You are a dead man,” the woman growled.

“Sith,” he gasped.

“Yes. Do you know what Sith do to those fools who humiliate us?”

“I didn’t know!”

“Now you do. Goodbye.”

“Wait! Maybe I can offer penance! Please! Is there anything I can do for you!?”

He felt the pressure on his throat ease up a bit. He was dropped to the floor, but his hands and knees felt glued to the ground now. He coughed heavily for a few minutes, threw up, and coughed some more.

“Alright then,” the Sith said. “Convince me. What service can you—a stinking piece of swine who assaulted me and told me to be grateful—offer as recompense? Who are you, and why are you on the run from Knights?”

“I’m a deserter,” he whined. “I—my unit and I, I mean—we were stationed on Denon. They ordered us to massacre the civilians. I didn’t sign up for that! I was protecting Zakuul! Not… whatever it is that Arcann’s doing!”

“So, you’re from the Eternal Empire, are you?”

“Ummm. Yes.” He felt sick. This woman was Sith. Maybe admitting he was Zakuulan was the wrong move here.

“Were you born and raised on Zakuul?”

“No, kind madam,” he replied. To his horror, he was unable to lie. Was it something the Sith was doing, or his own fear? “I’m from Armall.”

“The desert world. The one where Zakuul mined all its iron and bauxite ores.”

“Yes. My parents were miners.”

“Were they rapists? Was sexual assault normalized there?’

“No…” he whined. He’d really screwed up big time.

“In any case… I’m looking for someone. And hunting as an outsider is taking far too long. I need guides with contacts and knowledge.”

“Me and the guys can help you out!” he said eagerly. “The Colonel isn’t from the Empire—the Eternal Empire—but the rest of us—the Captain is from Zakuul, Lem is from Kendall—”

“Is there anyone from Gaharian?”

“I… I think so. But the Captain stayed there for a few years. He knows his way around. I swear!”

“If you help me, I will consider our debt repaid in full. But if you cross me, or fail me, I will force you to cook your own testicl*s. Got it?”

Unable to bear the malice in her glare, Lugar broke down.

Lana Beniko was feeling… unclean. The man who called himself Sergeant Lugar did not just press his lips into hers, he engaged with his tongue too. Not only did she feel violated, she felt deeply ashamed, despite her rational mind reminding her that she was not at fault. Having only slept eight hours the past week and a half, she’d nodded off after ordering her meal. It was only the worst luck that had seen him get within five meters of her when she was so vulnerable. And she felt so disgusted about it. Like she had betrayed herself. Like she’d jumped into a puddle so malodorous that she could never wash the smell away.

She had to fight a sobbing fit. She didn’t want anyone to see her as a woman right now, but as a Sith Lord. As someone whom you should never, ever cross. Perhaps that’s what she needed to do, going forward. To embrace her Sith heritage.

No. That’s not me. That’s not me! I refuse to change for someone like this dirty little weasel! She took a deep breath. She willed herself to go through the motions, to accept that this was not her fault, and that it wouldn’t happen again. Ever. She was strong; strong enough to briefly surprise Revan himself. Strong enough to confound the feared Darth Nox. She would not allow one mistake to turn her into a frightened, reactive girl, projecting anger to hide her fear.

It only half-worked.

She felt better about herself, but she dearly ached to rip this man to shreds; to vent not only her rage at being assaulted, but also her frustration in general. But this man could offer her a vital edge in the days to come.

I will kill him when we’re done, she decided. This one time, I will break my promise. He deserves no mercy.

Beric seemed to understand her rage, which was why he quivered like a frightened calf.

“Excuse me,” the server droid said. “You ordered one stekt fish with mashed potatoes. And a spiked hot chocolate?”

“Thank you. Would you mind cleaning up? This… poor gentleman suffered a mishap. No, he won’t be having anything.”

“Of course, gentle patron.”

“Who are you?” the deserter asked at last. “What is it you need me—us—for?”

“What’s this? Are you getting cold feet?”

“N-no. I just… I need to know.”

“Hmm. I’ll be telling your officers, soon enough. No sense in telling the same story twice.”

“Okay.” He shuddered again. “You know, the Knights are out there right now. Still looking for me. If they come back—”

Lana silenced him with a hot glare and resumed her meal. In addition to not having slept for a good while, this was her first meal in two days. Her trip to Bilbringi had nearly ended in disaster. A tank droid had glitched out and attacked her, forcing her to reveal herself as a Sith. That had brought down the whole garrison on top of her, led by a visiting duch*ess called Grasha Warwick. The fight had damaged HK-55, which was why she didn’t have her only backup with her right now.

If only he’d been with me.

Her stomach churned again at the thought of the unwanted kiss, and she had to take a deep breath to avoid losing precious sustenance. The food was mild to the taste and full of calories, which was something she was in desperate need of. Once she was done, she paid the bill and turned to her prisoner.

“Get up. We’re leaving.” She dug an old cloak out of her pack and tossed it at him. “This might help you. Ditch the jacket.”

“Thanks.”

“Do not die until I’m done with you. Now lead the way. Take me to your unit.”

“At once, my Lord.”

Lana kept her mundane eyes on the deserter, and her inner one on her surroundings. Which was why it came as no surprise to her that the cretin hadn’t given the Knights the slip, after all. They had realized they’d lost him in the block somewhere, and were doing a sweep of the area. They might’ve gotten past them unnoticed, but her prisoner drew the eye like few others did despite being blandly average. Some people were just that shifty.

Lana activated her stealth field generator right before they turned the corner which brought them face-to-face with six Knights.

“Oi! Stemar! Is this him?” one of the Knights called. He wasn’t very loud, but the night was silent enough that it sounded like he was.

“So… we found ourselves a little deserter,” another Knight gloated. “You’re going to tell us where Vortena and the others are—eh?”

All six Knights were raised into the air, gasping for breath as Beric had been fifteen minutes ago. Lana clenched her fist, and all of them found their tracheas crushed. For a few seconds, they clawed at their throats, desperate for air. Lana approached them casually, and put them out of their misery with her Lightsaber.

“That was incredible!” Beric gasped. “You killed those Knights like they were nothing at all!”

“That’s because they were just Knights,” Lana responded. “And they lost their best on Hoth. Now what shall we do with these bodies?”

“I… maybe you could toss them into the sewers?” the prisoner suggested. “There’s a hatch right over here. Under this wall.”

“Do it.”

“Me?” the prisoner flinched. “But—but you can do it easy! With the Force!”

“I don’t feel like it. Now hurry up.”

The prisoner did as he was told without any further complaints. It took him no longer than five minutes, but it was enough to get him nervous. No doubt he was worried more Knights would find them. But Lana could tell that there were no more Knights for several kilometers.

“Are all Sith as powerful as yourself?” he asked nervously.

“Many aren’t,” Lana admitted. “But many of us could’ve killed those Knights just as easily as I did.”

“Okay,” Beric stammered. “What have I gotten myself into this time?” he whined.

He led her to a collection of warehouses a kilometer away, in the middle of the town. And into one of the back alleys, where he knocked the doors of a large one after a quick look around to see that the coast was clear. “It’s me,” he whispered.

“You sound nervous,” the answering voice said.

“I am. But it’s all good. Let me in.”

From further inside, a smooth, deep voice called out “It’s okay, Wilt.”

The door had an impressive array of locks, going by all the clicks and slides. It took thirty seconds for the door to open. Once they did, they were greeted by a pair of large men with heavy, muscular torsos. One of them was pale and bald, the other tan with light brown hair. Right behind them was a short, dark-skinned man with dreadlocks and a goatee. There were about thirty people in the large common room, and everyone’s attention was fixed on the newcomers. If they really wanted to try, they just might be able to switch her fortunes. Make her the prisoner.

Lana wondered if she’d made a mistake.

“Hello, Captain,” the scumbag saluted.

“At ease. Who’s this?”

“Sir… I’m sorry about this. But if I may… she’s our new employer.”

The captain’s brown eyes studied Lana carefully. His brow tightened.

sh*t.

Chapter 37: A Bargain is Struck

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

For nearly two minutes, everyone stared quietly at Lana, who stared back with equal intensity.

“Our new employer, eh?” the captain asked at last. “Garr, have you lost your mind? This woman is obviously a Sith Lord.”

“Tell me about it, she crushed six Knights like they were made of straw.”

“Really?” the tough, bald man asked, sounding eager. Many of his comrades were also impressed, but their leader much less so.

“Beric, remember what the Colonel said? Except for the best Paladins, Vigilants, Dragoons, Honor Guards, and Scions, Sith and Jedi can easily overpower our Knights. By their standards, it’s not exactly a great feat.”

“Which is what I told him,” Lana said, tilting her head slightly.

“But that’s not the point,” the captain went on. “You’ve heard all the stories about the Sith. You’ve seen them in action. They’re murderous, ravaging, horrendous monsters with no conscience or ethics.”

“Funny,” Lana retorted. “That’s exactly how I’d describe Zakuulans, given how you attacked us out of nowhere, using tactics that have led to the starvation of innocent billions.”

The dark-skinned captain’s face grew stormy. He loosed the strap around his sidearm, perhaps as a threat, but he couldn’t know that Lana was ready to bring down the whole warehouse at a moment’s notice.

“Careful, Sith,” the man warned her. “You do not get to lump us in with you.”

“Considering that your man laid hands on me, then told me to feel grateful, I’ll lump you in with week-old garbage if I see fit.”

“Laid hands on you—” the captain turned to Beric. “Alright, Sergeant. Explain.”

The cretin in question whimpered and shrank to the ground, but it looked like he wasn’t fit to carry out this order.

“Allow me,” Lana said icily. “I was minding my own business, resting in the Peeta’s Smores. I admit, I was so tired that I’d just nodded off. I was rudely awoken by your man slipping into the booth beside me. Evidently, he was on the run from the six Knights I later killed. When I woke, he poked me with his blaster and forced a kiss on me. I was ready to kill him then and there, but he made me a very interesting offer.”

“And what offer did he make you?”

“I’m looking for someone, and I lost his trail. I may have found a potential witness, but he’s been exiled to Gaharian. I need someone to help me around on that planet. Someone who knows the way around, and knows the locals. Perhaps you could even help me on other worlds. In exchange, I will forgive this pig’s actions.” She pressed her toe against the man’s side. “And I can protect you from the Knights, to a degree. You seem to be on the run, after all.”

Everyone was silent for a while. “Is this true?” the captain asked Beric, who squirmed.

“I’m sorry, Captain! I was being chased, and I was growing desperate!”

“And so, you sexually assaulted a bystander.”

“I wasn’t thinking,” he pleaded. “They were right behind me! I had seconds to do something!”

“Then why didn’t you apologize after?” Lana countered. “Why did you point your blaster at me? Insist that I should be honored? You only showed signs of guilt when I revealed I was no helpless civilian.”

“She’s right, Sergeant,” the leader said gravely. “In case you’ve forgotten, we have rules about such things. Kissing this lady against her will was bad enough. Enough to earn you a severe punishment. Threatening her to accept it, trying to downplay the incident? I’m afraid there’s no coming back for you.”

“You can’t mean that, Captain!” Beric looked at his face, then that of the others, then wept. “No! Noooo! Please! We’re comrades! Aren’t we?”

Lana realized that the mood had grown dark. Everyone looked at the captain with conflicted expressions. The man himself looked upset, like his heart and his head were at war. She tried to gauge the mood, and thought that perhaps they didn’t want to see him kill one of their own. That made sense to her. Perhaps this was the first time they’d had to discipline one of their own; at least, for such a big crime. But the fact that he was willing to go through with such a difficult task earned him a measure of her respect. And her consideration.

“So his sentence is death?” she asked.

“I’m afraid so,” the captain nodded.

“Then you won’t mind if someone else carries it out?” she asked. Everyone stared at her uncomprehendingly, except the leader, who nodded after a moment. Lana drew her Lightsaber and killed the condemned man with a Lightsaber through his head. A quick, clean death, despite what her affronted part wanted. “There.”

“Thank you,” the captain said. He looked relieved and grateful. “I suppose we should start over. I’m Captain Koth Vortena.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Captain. My name is Lana Beniko.”

“The tall guy is Sergeant Lem Pardex.” He indicated the bald man. “And this is Sergeant Wilt Jericho. It seems we owe you a debt. What Beric did was…” he exhaled forcefully. “Look, I’ll just take you to the Colonel. I’ll even support your proposal. But ultimately, the decision is his.”

“Alright.” I know how ranks work.

“Word of warning. He’s… not like us. He’s not Zakuulan.”

“Oh? Ah, yes, I think Beric mentioned something to that effect.”

“He shouldn’t have.”

“I put the fear of a god into him.”

“Hmmm. No sense in getting angry with a dead guy, I suppose. Point is, he don’t like Sith very much.”

Captain Vortena led her to a door in the darker section of the warehouse and knocked thrice. “Colonel? It’s Koth. We have a visitor.”

There was a loud groan. “Come in. Not like I’m doing anything.”

“Just to be clear, you are dressed, right?”

There was a shuffling of cloth. “I am now.”

Satisfied, Koth opened the door. Lana stopped dead in her tracks.

The Zabrak in the chair frowned. “Lana? Lana Beniko?”

“Colonel Roban Queens!”

It was him. Different from how she remembered him. His hair had started to grow out, and his muscular frame—something he’d maintained for nearly twenty years—had lost some of its definition. His eyes were a little dull too. He was dressed only in dull shorts. His armor lay in a corner, hastily painted a light, durasteel gray to hide the Republic colors. It looked in a terrible state, as did his weapons.

Vortena looked between the two, clearly surprised that they were acquainted. But what remained of his hostility leeched out of his bearing.

“How are you?” Lana continued. “What happened to you? Why are you here, on Ketaris? How did you join up with Zakuulan deserters?”

“It’s a sad story,” Queens sighed. “Meteor Squad was sent to Denon to retrieve an advanced shield generator prototype. But we landed in a hot zone, and were hit from all sides. We made it to a bunker. And we were abandoned there.”

“I heard you’d been dispatched to Denon,” Lana recalled. “But that was months and months ago! Before the Battle of Hoth, even!”

“Your knowledge of Republic movements is impressive. Saresh tried to keep it quiet. Anyway. Yeah, I was there for…”

“Five months,” Vortena offered.

Queens nodded. “We were abandoned. I can sort of understand that the Republic didn’t have the resources to save us, but not even the Denon resistance came. It was just me and the squad for a long time. After weeks of shelling and isolation, they went crazy. One of them opened the door, ran out to meet her death. She was shot, and a rocket entered through the opening, killing everyone but me. You won’t believe how bad things got down there. It was just me, in a 16 square meter room with the corpses of my fallen comrades. Food ran low. The place began to stink so bad, I needed my helmet on at all times. I began to lose all hope. But after five months, Koth came for me.”

“We’d heard his transmissions,” Vortena explained. “We’d been assigned to Denon since the occupation. We were just there to maintain order. But when the people rose up in revolt, Arcann ordered us to massacre them.”

“Not what you signed up for.”

“You got it. And since we were abandoning our posts anyway, we figured we’d free the poor schmuck trapped in that caved-in bunker. Turned out to be the best decision we could’ve made. Our disobedience was discovered, and we were attacked by a platoon of Skytroopers. Colonel Queens took charge and got us out of there without a single loss. We’ve been together ever since.”

“That was well done,” Lana said, impressed. “But tell me. Why didn’t you try reaching out to Jorgan and Dorn? Havoc Squad would’ve been at your side in the blink of an eye!”

“Well, maybe I didn’t want them at my side,” Queens countered. “Maybe I thought I wasn’t worth the risk. Both of them were high on Saresh’s sh*t list after defying her and breaking out with Theron. Besides. My time in solitary wasn’t good for my soul. I’m…” he hesitated. “I’m damaged goods. No use to anyone. Take Koth’s unit, for instance. I’m just slowing them down.”

“Nah, you’re not,” Vortena said gently. “You’ve saved us from Knights and Skytroopers four times already. Sure, we lost a few men, but we’d have been killed or captured without you.”

“You are in terrible need for therapy,” Lana told him. “Though of course, such services are rare these days. Maybe what you need is action. Sitting around in this warehouse all cooped up like this is not going to help.”

“Good thing you have us a job lined up,” Queens grunted. “So, what is it? What is it you want from us?”

“I’m searching for someone. He was taken prisoner by Zakuul. And I’m running out of ideas. I began by searching for Zakuul itself. And when I found it, I started raiding prisons and databases. But I’ve had no luck. So, I’ve expanded my search. I’m looking at prisons all across Zakuul now, and searching for people who might have information about him. My next port of call is Gaharian.”

“Who is this prisoner?” Queens asked. “And why are you searching for him so doggedly?”

“Because he’s my husband,” Lana began, but trailed off when Queen’s expression seemed to sour… though it was just for a moment.

“You had a husband?”

“I have one,” she corrected him coolly.

“Of course,” he sighed. “You mentioned that you haven’t found any trace of him. How do you know he’s alive?”

“I would’ve Sensed his death,” Lana answered simply, trying to hide how much the question annoyed her. It just came back to her that Vajra and Queens did not much like each other. The Iridonian hated Vajra for failing to apprehend a defector over ten years ago, even though he’d had no way of knowing. An unreasonable grudge. And Vajra had, rarely for him, returned the dislike. They had worked together many times over the years. On Balmorra, on Corellia, on Dromund Kaas, on Rishi, and finally, Yavin IV. But they had maintained their distance from each other.

Given that it was Queens who had started and maintained the irrational dislike, Lana suddenly felt her interest in this option disappear.

“Sir, we owe her,” Vortena said. “Lugar… he… he kissed her. He was running from Knights, and thought SAing a random woman would be a great idea. Without her permission, of course. Then he threatened her with his weapon. It’s a stain on us that our brother-in-arms did something so despicable—”

“Where is he now?” Queens asked. He suddenly sounded dangerous.

“Dead. I was going to execute him, but the Sith did it. Lem should be… disposing of his body.”

“Hmmm.” Queens stood. “You want our help? Well, you got it. Not all of us, of course. The few population centers on Gaharian are supposed to be overcrowded. A group of seventy armed totally-not-soldiers would catch anyone’s attention. We’ll need a safe place for the rest of us.”

“That’s easy enough,” Lana replied. “There’s a bustling shadow port in Wild Space. It’s got refugees from all corners, including Zakuul itself, so you won’t raise any eyebrows. It’s safe and hidden from all factions too, so your crew can find semipermanent lodgings there. But you’ll have to find work in order to pay for everything. Basic amenities are getting expensive throughout the galaxy.”

“We have… a hundred and eighty thousand credits in the bank,” Vortena ventured.

Lana thought about it. “That should be enough to secure quarters for everyone for a year, and put food on the table for about a month,” she replied. “But work is easily found for an armed group. Escort, acquisition, security details, investigation, search and rescue… so long as your soldiers aren’t completely helpless without you, they should be able to get by.”

“I like that,” Queens said. “That takes care of our biggest headache right off the bat.”

“Do you have a ship?”

“Yeah. But it’s a heavy transport. A bit big for us, but we had to make do.”

“We needed the food it was carrying,” Queens explained. “It’s all gone now.”

“I’m sure your people can sell it at Asylum for a tidy profit.”

“Asylum? That’s what the port is called?”

“Yes.”

“Who runs things there?” Queens asked.

“Ever heard of Hylo Visz?”

Queens whistled in response.

“We gotta decide who goes with us,” Vortena said.

“Do we have anyone from Gaharian?” Queens asked.

“Moby and Pasha,” Koth replied. “And I’ve been there too. I was there from my nineteenth birthday to my twenty-fourth.”

“I also have a bodyguard droid with me,” Lana said. “But he’s undergoing some repairs right now.” She wished she had T7 with her too, but they’d been unable to link up. And the droid was busy with all the data he’d acquired, most of which was irrelevant to her right now, but highly important to anyone fighting Zakuul.

“That makes six,” Queens said. “A reasonable number. We can leave at dawn.”

“May I suggest a little later?” Vortena asked. “The lady here looks beat.”

“True. Have you had supper?”

“I have, thank you.”

“Then pick a hammock. Any hammock. Don’t worry, no one will touch you again. You have my word. I’d offer you my room, but it’s a mess.”

“She can have mine—” Vortena said.

“No, it’s fine.

“Alright. Follow me.” Vortena took her outside and called a female soldier over. “Hey Donna! Show our new benefactor to the women’s hammocks, would you? See to it she’s comfortable.”

“You got it, Cap’n.”

“And Riella—”

“I’ll stay back,” the other woman said defensively. “I’m not blind. I can’t believe he did that. He deserved what he got.”

The small, redheaded human didn’t really engage Lana in conversation. She just took her to a side room with about twenty-five hammocks, half of which were occupied, and gestured around. “Which one do you fancy?”

Lana noted that three of these did not have any gear stowed near them. One was beside a window, one near the door, the other in the middle. She looked outside the window, and sat down in the hammock after confirming that the view outside wasn’t horrible. Donna tossed her a blanket, which Lana unfurled before it even reached her, and draped it around herself.

The deserter whistled. “Didn’t know the Force could be used like that.”

Lana was already drifting off again.

Koth Vortena saw to it that the night shift began burying Lugar in a corner before returning to the colonel’s room.

“Sir,” he saluted.

“Sit down, Koth.”

“I didn’t think you knew this Sith. You seem to hate their kind, so it’s quite a shock you both seemed to get along so well. For most of the conversation at least.”

Colonel Queens seemed to only be half-listening. His eyes were in the past. “We worked together on Rishi and Yavin,” he said at last. “During the Revanite incident.”

“Oh.” Koth knew that one. His boss had sent word of it back to Zakuul, and it had seemed important enough that the Immortal Emperor had gratned them an audience without delay. On the great Emperor’s orders, Koth had sent a few of his best soldiers under Jonah Leeron and Asa Bessen to escort his Knights and Scions. They had performed so poorly that Queens had returned to Zakuul to personally retrain Tumult, which had been the reason why they’d done so well. Right until Hoth, where they got cut down with ease.

“She’s a remarkable woman,” Roban went on. “With just a few others for company, she went underground and chipped away at the mighty Revanites’ power and plots until we were able to expose them. I was only there for the final two worlds, but she’d spent over a year underground by that point. She made a few hard calls which nearly got her ostracized from the rest of the group, but she’s less Sith than most. I had no idea she was married. But then, it’s been years since I last saw her.”

“Who d’you reckon her husband is?”

“I don’t know.”

Koth definitely noticed it this time. The slight tightening of his eyes and mouth. “What if she’s lying, Sir?” he asked. “What if this ‘husband’ is just an excuse to damage Zakuul?”

“Then why go to Gaharian? There’s nothing she can do there that will hurt the Eternal Empire. She already knows where Zakuul is. Everyone does now. If she wanted to hurt Arcann, she’d be working there.”

“I suppose so.”

“Go to sleep, Koth. If it’s anything like the time with the Revanites, working with her will keep us on our toes. But remember to pack light unless she tells you otherwise.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Chapter 38: First Run

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Notes:

There's a lot of talking in this one. Some of which retreads old ground. Let me know if it's a chore to get through.

Chapter Text

Nirkuul

Senya Tirall found she had a message from a friend waiting for her after her evening workout.

“What does Lana Beniko have for me today?” she sang to herself. “Another mystery? Or jailbreak? Or do we get to catch a serial?” If she’d found her husband, she would’ve called. A thousand times.

‘Dear Senya.

I hope you’re in good health.

I’ve come across a unit of Zakuulan deserters. They claim to have abandoned their posts on Denon after Arcann ordered to kill civilians. They’ve agreed to work for me, in exchange for protection from Knights. Can you verify their story? And, if possible, find a way to help them stay out of the Eternal Throne’s reach without showing your hand? Here are their names.’

A list of around seventy names followed, along with brief descriptions.

‘In addition. I’m working with three of them right now, but the others have made their way to Asylum. If you have need of any hired guns to help out on mercy missions, you can reach out to them. I’m transferring a sum of credits for you to pay them with, should you have such a job.

I hope to see you again soon.

Love,

Lana Beniko’

Senya chuckled. “You never cease to surprise me, Beniko. Don’t worry. I’ll make good use of your new friends.”

She immediately got to work typing out a message for the Asylum Freelancer’s Guild to post. There was a refugee camp on Mirsa that needed help.

Aboard the Unsolved Mystery

The ship was slightly cramped for the six of them, but at least there was food. Koth hadn’t gotten a chance to sample Imperial cuisine much, so he fixed himself a seafood noodle bowl after receiving Beniko’s permission. It was instant food, just toss in boiling water, so it wouldn’t compare to a proper meal in a home or restaurant. But it was far better than Zakuulan cuisine. Something about the spice mix.

“f*ck me, but that tastes good,” he commented with a mouthful of food. “And this is just instant food too! Gotta say this about the Empire; you guys know how to cook!”

“Yes, I noticed that Zakuulans don’t seem to have a lot of flavors,” Beniko smiled slightly. Koth actually thought she looked pretty cute when she smiled. “But this isn’t the height of good food. Best I’ve ever tasted was food prepared by my parents. But… so far as local cuisines go, I’d have to say Chandrila.”

“You’ve been to Chandrila?” Queens asked incredulously.

“I’ve been on many major Republic worlds. Chandrila, Corellia, Alderaan, Coruscant, Duro, Selonia, Mon Cala. Working in Intelligence requires a lot of ‘holidays’ behind enemy lines.”

“Sir, I’d like to try Chandrilan food sometime,” Koth said at once.

“I’ll see what I can do,” the Colonel chuckled. “And speaking of the Republic. Do you know what’s happening there?”

“I haven’t paid too close attention lately,” Beniko admitted. “I know that the Jedi Order is approaching extinction, just like the Sith. Masters Satele, Gnost-Dural, Devel, and Kiwiiks are the only Councilors still alive. And Kiwiiks is dying. The military is losing ships and sailors fast… though not all of them are lost to the enemy. Many deserted rather than continue.”

“I don’t blame them. Zakuul seems indestructible.”

“Well, it’s not. Lady Kai proved that, though Arcann has certainly adapted since then. I don’t think her tactics will work today. But it’s not impossible. The bigger problem is leadership. In the Republic and the Empire both”

The colonel snorted. “I heard that you’ve been hemorrhaging Councilors. Hasn’t Acina been killed too?”

“No, she’s quite alive,” Beniko said. “But Aruk has her locked up. He wants to turn her to his side, but he’s not finding the time. Ruling an Empire in collapse was harder than he thought it would be. And Arcann is not the stupid child he once assumed. Watching Tiarna Kaimeryn handle him like a lost calf really made him overconfident.”

“What about Zakuul?” Koth asked. “You mentioned you’ve been there. Was it recently?”

“As you know, Zakuul’s location was revealed to the galaxy,” Beniko replied. “That led to… a lot of people fleeing there. Applying for citizenship. Arcann was troubled at first, but his municipal division has adapted. Now, some of those who fled from Republic, Imperial, and Hutt space are on Zakuul. In the Old World, specifically. Helping breathe some life into it. They’ve set up shops, restaurants, gardens, schools, banks, and a variety of services. On the downside, they’ve brought things like bloodsports. Not so violent as Huttball, but it’ll get there soon. And the starved Zakuulans make for an eager market. But the real problem is the burgeoning criminal element. Black Sun, the Hutt Cartels, Czerka, and several other syndicates have found footholds in the seedier part of the Old World. Especially the Undercity and Breaktown.”

“Breaktown? Dammit! That’s where I grew up!”

“I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, then.”

“Please. I need to know. Can you tell me more?”

The Sith sighed. “Arcann’s police departments couldn’t keep up with the new organized crime gangs. So he has abandoned parts of it. The Heralds of Zildrog offered to keep some semblance of order in Breaktown—something they’ve been offering for years now—and Arcann finally accepted. I wonder if the Exalted started singing. They got to work at once. Breaktown, for all its problems, does not have to worry about spice and narcotics yet. But the rest of Zakuul, even the High World, is opening markets for them.”

“Well, I’m glad someone’s looking out for the little guy,” Koth said. “Call them what you want, but the Heralds tried to keep things running in Breaktown. They may be a cult, but they’re just what the streets need.”

“In the short term, maybe,” Beniko shrugged. “But don’t forget. They’re a cult focused on worshipping the apocalypse. Those are never good news. And they’ve been gaining traction recently, what with Valkorion’s death and Arcann’s tyranny. The whole ‘our society is corrupt and rotting, and needs to be cleansed’ argument is really starting to look appealing to more people every day.”

“f*cking hells!” Koth cursed. “None of this would’ve happened if the Immortal Emperor were still alive.”

“Actually, the decline in Breaktown started at least twenty years ago. When I visited for the first time, a month before the Battle of Hoth, I could tell that it wasn’t recent problems I was looking at. A Knight I crossed paths with admitted the same.”

“You’ve consorted with Knights?”

“Consorted. Fought. Killed. I slew this Dragoon called Duke Tancred Kenshem. He was a serial killer; attacking refugees who had been driven to live in caves, maintenance tunnels and sewers.”

“I know that guy,” Koth crowed. Behind him, Moby and Pasha looked even more delighted than he thought they’d be. “Celebrated when I heard he was dead. And you’re the one that got him? Good on you!”

“Wait, are you saying he was like that before the invasion of the Republic? And people knew?”

“Long before,” Vortena replied. “He was infamous for occasional purges on Gaharaian.”

“Then why didn’t anyone do something about him?”

“Umm. Good question. Maybe because he was a Duke?”

“That’s not an answer,” Beniko said stubbornly. “I discovered that Duke Vanir was declared a traitor for merely asking Arcann to be merciful to the conquered peoples. Surely someone who’s an unrepentant serial killer—”

“Yeah, but Vanir was new blood,” Koth said, trying his best to hide his reaction to the name. “Not to mention, didn’t live in the Eternal Empire.” Was it a mistake to admit that? No, that was fairly common knowledge. “On the other hand, Kenshem is a legendary house. Full of old exploits. His ancestors were kings long before Valkorion conquered them. After which, they were made Dukes. They have influence and connections. Ties to other nobles, who would’ve gotten uneasy if one of their own was so easily punished.”

“You seem to know a lot about Vanir,” Beniko said.

“There were a few squads of Tumult soldiers at Fort Dawn for a while. They liked to talk about him. He was their hero. The only reason commoners were afforded the same respect as Dragoons and Paladins.”

“Is he still alive? Where is he?”

“You’d probably have to ask one of his soldiers. If any still live.”

“What’s your interest in Vanir?” Colonel Queens asked.

“Several things. Since he was a Zakuulan spy in the Republic, he must be behind Tumult’s use of tactics similar to Republic Special Forces. I wondered if he was still passing information along, not knowing he’s marked for death. Besides, he could be useful to us.”

“‘Us’?”

“Yes. Us.”

“I’ll let you know if I hear anything,” Koth said. “Personally, I think he’s dead.”

“The bounty on his head is still up.”

“I mean, dead because the Republic is tossing away its best soldiers fast. His body is probably out there lying in one of the many battlefields the Republic shouldn’t have entered.” As was very nearly the case.

“Oh. Yes, that makes… far too much sense.”

I hope she never brings up this topic again. Koth was certain Beniko was a very shrewd woman. He was sure that it was only because she had her guard down, that his half-truths had flown under her radar.

Perhaps the colonel also didn’t want her to talk about Tumult or ‘Vanir’ again. “So…” he said. “This husband of yours. What’s he like? Is he a Sith? Is he… someone like you?”

She chuckled. “And just what do you mean by ‘someone like me?’”

“Well, you know…” the colonel fumbled. “Logical. Pragmatic. Open to reason. Someone most Republic soldiers and even Jedi could have a workable relationship with.”

“I suppose he is that,” she reflected. An odd, vulnerable look descended on her face as she seemed to think about him. Sad. Lonely. Frightened. Wistful. “He’s kind, sweet, and romantic rather than pragmatic though,” she continued. “He’s also quite strong. And wise, too. Wiser and stronger by far, than he believes. A dangerous warrior. And no, he’s not Sith.”

“He’s not? What is he then?”

“That would be telling, wouldn’t it?”

“Not going to give me a hint?”

“Maybe later.”

“It’s not Theron, is it?” That sounded more like a playful jab.

“Theron’s quite safe, remember? Besides. He’s dating Captain Dorn.”

The colonel’s questioning was neatly derailed by this piece of news. “Wait, really?”

“Yes. Apparently, Saresh’s prison brought them together.”

“Best thing she ever did,” Colonel Queens applauded. “I hope Elara is happy. She deserves it. What else has changed? Is Jorgan with someone too?”

“Not exactly,” Beniko answered. “But he has been growing close to a new hire. A merc called Kanner, who’s attached herself to Havoc for the time being. But neither of them is very comfortable opening up to people, so they’re just dancing around for now. Getting to know each other.”

“Makes sense to me. Jorgan was always a hardass.”

“You could meet them after our mission.”

“We’ll see.”

“What about you? You seeing anyone?”

“Nope. Maybe I’ll find one soon.”

“Maybe. We’re making our final approach now. Everyone, strap yourselves in.”

Koth buckled in. He hadn’t been to Gaharian in twenty-six years. It was even worse than he remembered. The moment they dropped out of Hyperspace, they were treated to the sight of a planet that looked like a ball of literal sh*t. The whole place was a harakia mine, which was one of several places where Zakuul obtained a component that could be refined into reactor fuel. And of the fourteen worlds that produced a variant of the compounds, Gaharian was the only place which stank to high heaven. This world was a hellhole such as no other that he’d found. Only reason it hadn’t been abandoned already was because this compound was the easiest and cheapest to refine into fuel, and its byproducts could be used in the creation of medicine.

But that didn’t stop the people of Zakuul proper from looking down on the poor fools sent to work here, most of who were slaves or convicts.

“Let me take the wheel,” Koth requested. “I know a place we can land close to the capital’s western edge.”

“Very well.”

“Who is it we’re looking for again?” the colonel asked.

“Two men by the name of Martun Saug and Becrin Sevkith. They were Knights in charge of guarding a certain wing of the Palace of the Dragon, until the Battle of Zakuul. It came to light that Cipher Nine had been playing Arcann the whole time, and had tricked him into rushing headfirst into Hoth. Once that happened, she took Princess Vina to a bunker for interrogation. And then she disappeared. Saug and Sevkith were two of twelve Knights held responsible, but because of their long years of service, Arcann merely exiled them to Gaharian.”

“Did this Cipher Nine kill Princess Vina?” Koth asked, knowing the colonel would want to hear that answer.

“No. She didn’t kill unless ordered to. Or pressed.”

“Rather restrained for a Cipher,” Colonel Queens commented.

“Yes, standards changed after Corellia. Zhorrid didn’t want a new Cipher Nine, she wanted people to think she the old one was still around. Which meant human women of a particular height and build. That limited candidates.”

“I see. That’s what saved this Princess Vina, I guess. I’ve never heard of her before. Who is she?” He did a good impression of unconcerned curiosity.

“‘Was,’” Beniko corrected. “She’s no more. She committed suicide last month.” She got busy pulling out enviro-suits for everyone, which was why she failed to see the horrified look on the colonel’s face.

“Real shame,” Koth said sadly. “She was Duke Vanir’s sister. Prince Thexan married her a week after Vanir was made a peer of the realm. Almost definitely to tie Vanir to Zakuul. The man was a sleeper agent, after all. We’ve seen people like him get tempted by the allure of the Core Worlds. Though they never betrayed Zakuul, thank Esne. But Princess Vina… didn’t fit in.”

“By all accounts, she was alone and friendless,” Beniko said. “I heard she even alienated her brother. Thexan rarely even spoke to her. Vaylin loved to torment her. And Arcann ignored her even more than Thexan did. But my sources claimed that she did little to help her own situation out. Yelled at all the servants, stayed shut up in her room and parlor all day, didn’t even try to make herself useful. Better get suited up. The stench out there is known to knock people out.”

“Miss Beniko, could you hang back while the Colonel and I scout out the surroundings, and enter the capital? Pasha, Moby, stay back and keep watch. Colonel, sir?”

The Zabrak nodded and followed Koth out.

Gaharian

The world was the same dank mess Koth remembered. The air was thick with stinky fumes which limited visibility. Thankfully, Beniko had known to provide them with goggles that would help them see further. And the enviro-suit was good enough to keep the stench out. The land was soft, like sticky wet clay, and the atmosphere was breathable thanks to a type of floating, migratory plants that grew in the high atmosphere.

“How are you doing, Sir?”

“I—I dunno,” he said, his voice a little muffled over the short-ranged radio. “Rovina was my sister. But she and the rest of the family were a bunch of gluttonous, grasping, greedy, petty-minded barrel of sh*t-covered little monkey-lizards. They were so jealous when I earned the Immortal Emperor’s favor that they disowned me rather than share the spotlight as a family. Maybe not legally, but in essence. And when I found out they bullied the mother of my child into running away, I did the same to them. Put the fear of Zildrog into them. Knocked out my father and brother and cut everyone off. Threatened to bury them if they tried to hurt Juniper or Adam. Used my new status as Duke to hurt their finances and position. Take away a ton of their precious wealth. Arranged it so they couldn’t even contact Rovina, or anyone else on Zakuul. They were crying when I was done. But now that she’s gone… my little sister committed suicide. Because she was all alone.”

“I’m sorry, Sir. What do you make of what Beniko said? That she didn’t help out, that she yelled at the servants—”

“That sounds like her,” the colonel confirmed. “She started complaining about not being trained as a noble right after Prince Thexan proposed. That she didn’t know how she could be of help. She was never one for things like adapting. Growing. Changing. They were all that type of people.”

“Sound like your complete opposite, Sir.”

“Now you know why I left home. Walked away from the family business. The ranch wasn’t for me.” He sighed. “And for f*ck’s sake, can you stop calling me ‘Sir,’ already? Please? I’m gonna forget my own name at this rate!”

“Okay.”

“Now about the mission—”

“This planet is filled with mining towns. There are fifty-six of them. Twenty-three of them are prison colonies. Urlaca has the dubious distinction of being Gaharian’s capital. That means they have a planet-wide central computer. If we’re lucky, we can find a complete registry of all living here. But somehow, I don’t think it’ll be a problem. I can’t imagine there are many ex-Knights here. Especially not ones that pissed off the big man himself.”

“Arcann… I used to think he was a good man. He used to be so welcoming and charming.”

“Maybe it was Thexan’s death that changed him,” Koth ventured. “Or the Immortal Emperor’s.”

Queens seemed to think about it for a moment. “You might be onto something. My old CO once told me about the dangers of the Dark Side. For Force users, especially.”

“What did she say?”

“Well…” Queens seemed to struggle to remember. “She met a lot of Jedi over the years, both as a frontline soldier and a commander. She said that Jedi have to fight while maintaining a calm unnatural and near-impossible for the battlefield, which was why many of them seemed like they were fighting with an arm behind their backs. The Sith on the other hand, fought without those restraints. Going berserk when needed, making choices without worrying about principles—which could often be the logical decision to make, the sort even you or I might. But a Jedi doing the same is a red flag. Because when they fall, they become a caricature of themselves. Something that deliberately parody and break their former values. I used to believe that as gospel, until I worked with Lana and Tiarna Kaimeryn. And Nox, of course. That last guy was scary when he had to be, and a little… off. But he wasn’t the monster I’d once believed. But I’ve also seen the psychotic madmen, itching to kill people in the most painful and gory ways.”

“I dunno about you, but being killed by a cold, dispassionate monk doesn’t feel much better than being killed by a raging lunatic to me.”

“It is, actually. Take it from someone who’s seen the best of both sides fight. A Jedi would back off when you surrendered. Even get you food and medical attention, and see to it you have good lodgings. A Sith might kill you just for fun.”

“How can you defend the Jedi? Our Emperor was killed by one of them! The Outlander!”

“Yes. But he’s just one Jedi. I hate him too. But the others—Satele Shan, Gnost-Dural, Devel Nirol, Oteg… even Revan, before he went off the deep end.”

“I see. I’ll try to keep an open mind.”

“That’s always wise. Look at Lana. I bet you were ready to shoot her when she first stepped into our hideout.”

“Yeah. And then she cared enough to keep me from executing one of my own men. Offered us a place to live. Now I’m only mildly suspicious of her.”

“Since we’re on the run from Arcann and Zakuul, we’re bound to run into more Jedi and Sith.”

“Yeah. Hey, I think the town’s ahead.”

“Time to see if Lana’s IDs are any good.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. No one comes to Gaharian on purpose, and locals don’t any money at all. They are all served food in their workplaces and daycares. No resources, so no organized crime. All you have are crimes of passion. Or the odd serial killer. As a result, the security is lax, unless a manhunt is in progress.”

“That’s… interesting.”

“Come on. I’ll show you the sights.”

“I can’t wait.”

Lana was starting to feel herself again. A good night’s sleep had done wonders for her shaken equilibrium. She was no longer feeling like she needed to excise a portion of her brain to get rid of the memories from two nights ago—

“DON’T TOUCH ME!” she roared, smacking away a hand that had landed on her shoulder. She darted away, Lightsaber jumping into her hand. She was breathing hard, eyes wildly glaring at the soldier who had dared to—

She blinked. “I’m sorry,” she said. She extinguished her blade and returned it to her belt.

“No, no… Ah’m so’ry,” the soldier called Moby said in a high-pitched voice. Or at least, that’s what she thought he said. His accent was the heaviest she’d ever heard in a while. The soldier was clearly frightened by her reaction. He was young, Lana thought. Perhaps in his early twenties. His short hair was blue.

“Did you need something?” she asked him, trying to get past the awkward silence.

It was Pasha who answered. The girl was about the same age as Moby, but with lighter skin and green hair.

Lana frowned heavily, not comprehending. “I’m sorry. I don’t follow.”

“We woz jus’ wunderen’,” Pasha tried again. “Iffee cou’ tell us abou’ tha’ bastar. Dook Kenshim.” (Translation: We were just wondering if you could tell us about that bastard. Duke Kenshim.)

“E keeld ah neighbuh, y’see,” Moby explained. “Nice lil gal she woz. Sang like an anjil. E killed’er and an ‘undre’ twen’y o’ers!” (He killed our neighbor, you see. Nice little gal she was. Sang like an angel. He killed her and a hundred twenty others!”

“That degenerate… Well, it was quite a story,” Lana began. “It started on a world called Adumar—” she went on to tell them a quick summary of the events, avoiding mentioning names. Especially Senya’s. “I was a little surprised when he went down that easily,” she concluded. “I suppose he just was a swordsman more than a true adept in the Force. One who hadn’t met more Sith or Jedi. As a result, his Force Shield was very flimsy. Easy to break. It’s a mistake many trainees make. We learn to maintain our shields early.”

The two young adults had been listening with rapt attention. Tears were streaming down their cheeks. Their wide eyes shone with admiration and respect.

“Miss Beniko,” Pasha said, bowing low. “You haz ar etern’l gra’i’ude,” she said. (You have our eternal gratitude.)

Moby also bowed, nodding furiously. “We though’ no un woulddeveh stoap tha ma’man.” (We thought no one would ever stop that madman.)

“No un looks ou for folk li’e us,” Pasha said sadly. “Spesh’ly childr’no Gaharian.” (No one looks out for folk like us. Especially children of Gaharian.)

“We eere ah the lowest uf th’ low. We yorz now. We’ll look ou’ feh yoo like yoo our own big seestah.” (We here are the lowest of the low. We’re yours now. We’ll look out for you like you’re our own big sister.)

“That won’t be necessary—”

“We din reelize jus ow ba’ wee ad it till Koth got us off-world.” (We didn’t realize just how bad we had it toll Koth got us off-world.)

“Your Captain took you away?” Lana asked. “Why you specifically?”

“Well, we knew each othe’ damn good, seein’ ezz ‘e woz smashin’ both ah mumz. And muh dad. ‘E was always showen up at’ar ‘ouse. Played wi’ us. Taught us sums.” (Well, we knew each other damn good, seeing as he was smashing both our mums. And my dad. He was always showing up at our house.)

“I see. He’s not your father, I take it?”

“Oh, nooo!” Pasha laughed. “‘Ow old’ya think ‘e is?”

“Umm. Forty-five?”

“A lil bid younga,” Moby chuckled. “He’s for’y. Muh da’s fiff’y. And Pasha’s is fiff’y-two.”

“Captain Vortena could still be your father, if my math is correct. Wasn’t he on Gaharian when he was nineteen?”

“Yeh. ‘E stole a rifle. Killed the people who killed iz first swee’haah. In case yoo wuz wundren’, ‘e was only chah’ged with theft of a deadly weapon.”

“Five years in this mudhole just for stealing a blaster?”

“Yeh.”

If there was one thing Lana had learned early about Zakuul, it was that the law did not see everyone equally. But she was still constantly blindsided by just how similar it was to the Sith Empire and Republic. Everything Zakuulans liked to say about how utopian and enlightened their society was just propaganda.

Which was why she felt her respect for Captain Vortena grow. He had not taken any time at all to punish Beric for what he did—even if he was relieved to let her take it out of his hands. The intent was what she appreciated. And like he’d said before, his only prior interactions with Sith were not positive ones. It was no wonder she was able to trust him. To a degree.

Her comm crackled. “Hey, Beniko,” Vortena said. “We’re on our way back. Nothing suspicious spotted. I don’t think anyone saw us land.”

“Good. We can meet you outside the ship. Enter the city together.”

“Sounds good. See you in five.”

“HK, why aren’t you in your enviro-suit?”

“Answer: Master, as you may recall, I have no need to breathe. Things like olfactory do not affect me in the slightest. Nor do poisons.”

“But the smell will cling to you. Anything we take outside will need to be fumigated for several days once we return. Even my Lightsaber, which is why I’m using the one I took from Lord Avernale. You don’t want to spend three whole days in an oil bath, do you?”

“Answer: I see your point, Master.
Request: Can you help me?
Reluctant Admission: I have never worn any clothes before.”

Urlaca

This world was even worse than Koth or Lana had described. Though the enviro-suit theoretically The mining town was a crowded collection of huts with barely any space or planning. Even the streets were narrow; a Hutt or Houk might get stuck in a few alleys and stairwells. At least the buildings were properly isolated from the outside. When he and Lana broke into the admin building, he finally realized how bad the smell really was.

The building had two sets of doors, an inner and an outer one, both with very strong blowers that kept the smells out. You had to leave your suit in the cabinets outside. But the second he took his off, he got the full smell of not just his and Lana’s, but every single one in the room.

“URGH!”

“I told you to brace yourself,” Lana choked. They both hurriedly stripped off the protective gear and leapt through the inner door.

“Thank goodness!” Roban whispered. “That was horrible!”

“Yes. Yes, it was. I admit, the reports cannot stand up to the real deal. I would’ve avoided this place, but…” she sighed.

“At least there’s no one inside.”

“This whole place is automated, remember? And HK hacked the security.”

“Ah. Right. That was smooth. You’re good.”

“We’ve had practice. Years of it. Now come. We need to access the computers.”

They both activated their stealth field generators and crept into the basem*nt. The infiltration was underwhelmingly simple, for the security on this planet was nonexistent. They just walked into the room and he watched her back as she sliced the system.

“You’re… you’re actually quite good at slicing, aren’t you?”

“I wasn’t, back during my days as Arkous’ assistant. But I had to learn fast while chasing Revanites.”

“Incredible. Until today, I thought you were more of a planner and coordinator. What else are you good at?”

“I’ve gotten a bit better with the Lightsaber recently,” she said. “I had to. We ran into this Vigilant on Denon who—”

“You were on Denon? Why?”

“We were on a rescue mission. Havoc Squad and I, I mean. It was a little before you were also dispatched there.”

“Another rescue mission?”

“Yes. Lots of people seem to need rescuing. And again, Havoc would’ve come for you, if you’d called.”

“But not you?”

“Only if my presence was absolutely necessary. Those soldiers aren’t children who require a Sith babysitter.”

“True.” But she came for this… other person. Who were they? Did she think it was her husband? Or was he even missing at that point? “You were talking about your other skills—”

“One of which is not my ability to multitask while slicing,” she said in a mostly neutral voice. Roban piped down. After about thirty minutes, she stood up again. “I’m still too slow,” she muttered. “Theron would’ve done that in five minutes. T7 in six, and found exactly what I was looking for.”

“But well done nonetheless,” Roban applauded. “Where are we headed?”

“Sevkith is at Kilratij,” she answered. “As for Saug… damn. Committed suicide.”

As they hurried out, they ran smack into a sleepy tech.

“You saw no one,” Lana said.

“I saw no one,” the tech repeated blandly.

“Go to that chair. Sleep.”

The tech complied, settling down awkwardly with her head on the armrest. Her snores were loud.

“That was close,” Lana said.

“We should’ve been warned. Why didn’t they?”

“I think she was here the entire time. But sleeping.”

“Ah. That makes sense.”

Getting back out was an unpleasant experience. Getting out of the suit had taken thirty seconds. Getting back in took three hundred. Roban nearly threw up dozens of times, though Lana somehow managed to stay unruffled. “I’ll remember to pack masks next time,” she said at last.

“Sounds like a plan,” Roban agreed.

Chapter 39: Lana's Misstep

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Kilratij, Gaharian
Four days later

They were inside a packed cantina. It was just Koth and Beniko this time. Roban had fallen ill after accidental overexposure to the fumes. He was currently in Moby’s home now, recovering. The cousins themselves were staying with him, eager to catch up with their families. HK was standing guard outside the establishment, as droids were not allowed in here.

The booze here was alright. Just as Koth remembered, it was a dull high point of living on Gaharian. The people were given good ale. All they could drink. And thanks to the climate, almost every building was cleaner than most alehouses.

“… and that’s when I, the mighty Captain Becrin, hurled him against the wall and ran him through with my pike!” the drunken ex-Knight declared, thrusting a small stirrer into the imaginary enemy before him. “And as he fell, having failed to comprehend his defeat, I told him, ‘Dark tricks shall not avail you, you mangy villain! For the Knights of Zakuul shall always triumph!’ So fell the ‘great’ and ‘terrible’ Outlander!”

He bowed before the bored crowd. No one applauded. It was common knowledge at this point, that the man was an incorrigible liar. An attention seeker. Especially after he’d downed a few drinks. Embarrassed, he descended from the stairwell he had used as his impromptu stage and sat back in his seat. He would do this again tomorrow. And tomorrow. He drank more than most, to drown his sorrows, and that always drove him to try again.

Beniko had to be so frustrated right now… they’d been tailing him for days without the opportunity to interrogate him. There were always many someones around. The town was cramped, with little to no privacy.

“What do we do?” Koth asked her. “At this rate, we’re never going to get him alone.”

“I think it’s time for a calculated risk,” Beniko whispered back. “I’m going to approach him right now. I’ll promise him a little of that respect he craves, and maybe a bit more.”

“That sounds...”

“Don’t worry. A little goes a long way with people like him.” Koth watched her as she approached him. She was wearing a disguise, of course. A wig of black hair. Blue contact lenses. Makeup that made her look sexy instead of intimidating. Even her walk and the way she held her shoulders and head were different. He realized then, that she was good at acting. (A.N. They’re indoors, so they’re not wearing their enviro-suits.)

The way she approached him, she had his attention at once. His mouth opened, allowing the mouthful of liquor to spill out.

Twenty seconds or so. That was all the time it took for her to convince him to follow her. Like an eager puppy. You could almost see a tail wagging.

With a grin—and feeling a little envious of the man—he followed them at a distance. She seemed to be leading him to the freshers, but about halfway there, she stopped and looked at him with a cold, contemptuous glare. “You will follow us without question or fuss.”

“I will follow you without question or fuss,” the man repeated, sounding suddenly airheaded.

“Good.”

Koth was stunned. He didn’t know what was going on here. She’d dropped the cutesy act, and the man had become more pliant than a droid. He followed the two through the inner door, where Beniko had to order the man to put on his suit, and out into the night.

She led them into the empty admin building and locked the door behind them.

“Sit,” she commanded, and this time, Koth heard the power in her voice. She was using the Force… you could do things like this with the Force?

The ex-Knight complied.

“Now. Tell us everything you know about Vajra Devarath.”

Vajra Devarath. Why does that name sound so familiar?

“The Immortal Emperor had been working toward his capture for years,” Sevkith said. Unnaturally calm. As if drugged. “He… he… he was brought… before Valkorion… in chains. The Emperor ordered the room… emptied. So he could speak to him. Alone. With just the Prince watching. Then the… the… the… the prisoner broke free. And he—”

“Yes, I know this part,” Beniko said angrily. “But where is he now? Tell me.”

“Dead,” the man replied. “Emperor Arcann ordered his execution.”

“But did you see it for yourself?”

“No.”

“Did you see the body?”

“No.”

“Do you know anyone else who did?”

“Fifty Honor Guards accompanied Emperor Arcann, who carried out the sentence himself.”

“Tell me their names,” Beniko hissed. “All of them.”

The man took nearly three minutes to list them all out. By the time he got to the forty-ninth name, it finally hit Koth.

Oh… oh… oh, holy CRAP! Devarath… isn’t that—? It’s… it’s HIM!

Beniko’s husband—! No way! NO WAY!

Lana was frustrated. She’d been hoping to hear definitive proof that her husband still lived, and perhaps a clue where to search. But all she got were the same lies Arcann had told everyone else. At least she had names now. The Honor Guard witnesses. They would have the answers she needed.

But there was another problem. Not a big one, but still. This little pig-droppings-for-brains had asserted, on several occasions now, that he had beaten Vajra in combat. No one believed him, of course. Lana had heard several muttering that ‘the Outlander’ had not just bested Valkorion, he’d done so with Arcann present. No way this lowly Knight could take him. Not that that was what happened, but it very well could’ve. Vajra was quite capable of taking them both, if pressed. Or so she fervently believed.

Perhaps I should see if I can disprove Arcann’s tale someday soon. It will shake confidence in him.

Either way, she now wanted to punish Sevkith for his lies.

Let it go, she thought. That’s what Vajra would want. Besides. I can’t think of a better punishment than this. If I hurt him, he might get shipped back to Zakuul.

“Sleep now, little worm,” she told him. The man complied so quickly, he might have already had one foot in the realm of Hypnos. “Come on,” she prompted Vortena, and led him out of the room. Or tried to. “What’s the matter?” she asked, when she realized he was clearly upset.

“‘What’s the matter?’ she asks,” he snarled. “I’ll tell you what’s the matter!” He drew his blaster and pointed it at Lana’s head. “Your husband! The karking OUTLANDER is your husband! The man who murdered my Emperor!”

“Put your blaster away,” she snapped. “That toy wasn’t a threat to me when you had me outnumbered seventy-to-one.”

“You think I care if you kill me right now? You’re the Outlander’s whor*!”

“What did you just say?”

“No less than you deserve! How the f*ck can you be so loyal to a monster like the Outlander? He killed the greatest man to have ever lived! A bona fide god! Struck him down in cold blood!”

“I’ll have you know, there are people all over the Republic and Empire who see Vajra as the god!” Lana retorted. “And unlike with Valkorion, it rose up without his knowledge. It was founded by people whom he’d fought tooth and nail to save. By all the refugees he served and lived beside. To us, your Valkorion is the monster! He invaded us without any reason at all!”

“Don’t be stupid!” Vortena retorted. “Arcann invaded you!”

“Who is it being stupid?” Lana scoffed disparagingly. “The first strikes happened long before Valkorion’s death! I should know, because I spent two years trying to find out more about Zakuul, after they—you, I mean—attacked several major worlds, including Korriban!”

“Well—” Vortena sputtered. “He must’ve had good reason to! He knew what a hive of—”

“Hogwash,” Lana snarled. “You know nothing, so you’re making up whatever you like, in order to avoid seeing your hero for what he really is. Here are the facts; Vajra was aboard a fleet—a very small fleet—that went to Elgrind to investigate the presence of the Emperor. The fleet was attacked unprovoked, and the flagship destroyed. Marr and Vajra were taken before your Throne, and the former was killed. Neither of them sought out Zakuul, or your Emperor. They weren’t the aggressors, Zakuul was. Valkorion.”

“I don’t care!” Vortena said. “They should’ve known better than to kill an Emperor—”

“Why?”

“Because—”

“Because you worship him? The man who invented a system so unfair that it got you sent six years to this charming little place for merely stealing a blaster? Not even for using it? I’ve seen Zakuul, including Breaktown. Your birthplace, right?”

“Do not bring up—”

Lana did not like how his trigger finger was itching, so she immobilized it and Pulled it out of his hand. “I’ll give this back when there’s no danger of unintended discharges,” she informed him.

Vortena glowered dangerously at her. “You know what? Fine. But you do not get to bring up Breaktown or Gaharian.”

“Why not? There are no places like it in the Empire or Republic. Only the Hutt worlds, or criminal ones. How is it I can’t criticize your Emperor, when he was doing worse than the blasted Dark Council?! And you still haven’t answered me; why should people like Marr and Vajra just stand there and accept death, when they hadn’t done anything to the one dealing it out?”

“One does not question gods,” Vortena offered.

“Valkorion was no god. Just a man with a propaganda machine. And a Brobdingnagian fleet.”

“Don’t you dare say that!”

“Why? Am I hurting your precious feelings? Give me a proper reason. Why should I care about Valkorion, when he was the one who ordered my husband’s capture? And yes, he ordered it specifically. In case Sevkith’s words weren’t enough, I can show you proof.”

“I—” Vortena pondered for a moment.

“Please don’t say ‘a god works in mysterious ways.’”

“Your husband was dangerous.”

“To a god like Valkorion?” Lana feigned astonishment. “Really?”

“Well, no one else could’ve killed him.”

“You’re not wrong there,” Lana admitted. “But so what? Vajra was never a threat to Valkorion until he brought him to Zakuul!”

“He would’ve made it there eventually.”

“If that is true, it is only because Valkorion was fool enough to expose Zakuul’s existence. If he’d kept the Eternal Empire in the shadows, we would never have known it existed. Or is your god a fool twice over?”

“He! Is! The! Greatest! Haven’t you seen the Upper World? Sure, his Empire had Breaktown and Gaharian, but it also had the most cultured, wealthy, grand palaces in the galaxy!”

“Alderaan did those better,” Lana replied. “At least, back before the Great War. Chandrila is more beautiful too. I’ve seen a lot of rich worlds. They only serve to disgust me, for the people living in them are quick to ignore the less fortunate.”

“You got a point there,” Vortena allowed. “I hate the ultra-wealthy. But that’s not on Valkorion!”

“Really? Wasn’t he the one who created the system on Zakuul? Which paid the Upper World citizens an obscene amount every month just for existing? While giving nothing to the people of Breaktown?”

“That was money that got lost in the system.”

“I have yet to see anything resembling proof for that statement. By all accounts—” Including those of Arcann’s mother, “—Breaktown and the Old World were not priorities to the Immortal Emperor.”

“He was still our god! Our savior! Do you have any idea how empty we felt after his death? How hurt?”

“After spending a month in the Old and Upper Worlds, I concluded that no one in the latter really cared. They mourned him for about a minute before returning to their parties and orgies. The only ones really torn up about his passing were people who didn’t already have everything. People like yourself, or even less fortunate. The beggars and vagrants of Breaktown prayed to him every day, as they had for decades. But when has he ever answered, even when alive?”

“Yeah? Well, how was the Outlander’s loss felt?”

“Good question. I don’t really care. I heard there were vigils held for him in many different worlds, including ones occupied by Zakuul. Or Imperial ones. Dozens of billions mourned for his passing, and try to live by his example. But they don’t really concern me. It doesn’t matter to me if the whole galaxy loves him, or turns against him. And me. I will find him, or die trying. For us, not the galaxy.”

“The galaxy will hate him. He was a malicious, vain, and prideful man who thought only about himself and his own glory! Evil incarnate!”

“And do you know that for a fact? Ever met him? I did. He was kind, gentle, sweet, and compassionate. Have you forgotten what I told you about how he served refugees for two years? He hated war. He lost so much to the fighting… he was tortured and broken again and again. Most of the galaxy knew about some of it. They know that he stood before Vitiate when he should’ve been recovering in a hospital. That’s one of the reasons why he’s so beloved.”

Vortena was silent for a while. “Your husband is dead. And he belongs in hell for what he did.”

“Is that right? Well, if my husband is put in hell for killing a genocidal maniac, I’d rather join him there than enter a heaven that worships your self-proclaimed god! Half the galaxy will, and will overthrow the pantheon that presumes to hold such an unjust view!”

Vortena snarled again, and turned on his heel to walk out.

“Is that it?” Lana goaded him. “Is that the best defense your ‘great Immortal god-Emperor’ is worth?”

“Shut your goddamned mouth!” Vortena shot back. “I’ll stick with you since I made you a promise. And because you helped my crew. But I won’t ever be your friend.”

“Fine by me.”

Before leaving, Vortena had one last question. “Why didn’t you tell us before? Why hide this from us?”

“Because I don’t trust you. I still haven’t heard back from my sources whether or not you deserted for the reasons you told me. Besides, Queens has nursed an irrational hatred for Vajra since the latter was fifteen. I didn’t want to get into an argument with him.”

“Irrational?”

“What does it matter to you? You’re just going take what I say, and turn it into another reason to hate my Vajra. I’m done. Be off with you!”

Once he’d gone, Lana sat down, feeling suddenly tired. She realized that in her haste, she’d made a big mistake. Vortena, Queens, and the rest of their crew were no longer resources she could rely on. She should’ve interrogated this man in private.

It doesn’t matter. I doubt they can be of much help, anyway.

DAMMIT! Koth restrained his anger with difficulty. Bad enough that that bitch’s husband killed his Emperor, but the woman herself was happy to attack Valkorion’s memory without any signs of regret!

And worst of all, he’d been woefully unprepared for that fight! Everything Beniko had said about Valkorion and his Empire were true—from the state of Breaktown to his attacks on Republic and Imperial space, but also the fact that he—Koth—hadn’t personally witnessed his greatness. Nor had anyone, in living memory. Valkorion’s great deeds had passed down as legends. Beniko, on the other hand, knew the man she was defending quite well. He couldn’t tell her she was lying, as that was a reflexive claim without teeth. And she’d learned quite a bit about Valkorion and Zakuul.

What was he going to do? Beniko had treated him and his crew fairly, even earning Moby and Pasha’s trust by slaying their boogeyman for the right reasons. As for Roban… from what Koth could tell, the Zabrak had a soft spot for Beniko, but a sore one for the Outlander.

If I tell him… I wonder how this will play out. Do I even want to know?

That aside, he didn’t want to completely break away from the Sith. The current status quo benefited the people he cared about. He sighed. He typed out a quick message for Lana.

I’ll keep your secret and continue to help, in exchange for your help. For now.

He decided he needed a drink before getting back to Moby’s place.

Chapter 40: New Recruits

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Aboard the Tawny Mare

“How’s the new ship, Cap’n?” Lem asked delightedly.

“It’ll do,” Captain Vortena commented. “Who sold it to you again?”

“It was this nice little dealer on Asylum,” Donna said.

Lana remembered her; the woman who showed her to the ladies’ bunks on Ketaris. About as tall as Vortena, but now wearing an armor that looked Mandalorian-inspired. She had been the one to sell the crew’s previous ship, and acquire this one instead. They were in the middle of tests now, before their next mission.

With a pang of pain, she recalled the day she and Vajra had tested the Azure Phoenix. It was an astonishingly good ship, and all four of them—her then-boyfriend, T7, HK, and herself—had been eager to test it out. Compared to that, the Mare handled like a drunk Rancor.

And speaking of tests, she was out on one of her own. She wanted to see what these rogues were capable of for herself. She had only picked them out because they were Zakuulan, but they had one of the most competent soldiers in the galaxy—battered though he was—as their leader. And her gut told her that a few of Vortena’s best were also good. Many had traded in their badly camouflaged Zakuulan armor for a more varied range of looks. Some wore heavy, others light. They had also chosen a variety of weapons for themselves, from assault rifles, machine guns, heavy cannons, miniguns, blasters, shotguns, and melee weapons. Five soldiers, including Riella—Beric’s former lover—carried field surgeon kits.

A well-equipped little army this was. It would be interesting to see if they fought as one.

“I think that’s enough,” Queens called. “Rowan. Status report.”

“It’s not ideal,” the engineer reported. “Not up to Zakuulan military standards. But as good as a lot of civilian ships I’ve seen. No systems in need of repair, though we might want to upgrade the main engine as soon as we can.”

“Well, how about we test the Hyperdrive next?” Vortena asked. “To Dosuun!”

“Aye, aye Cap’n!”

Lana left her seat in the corner to return to her cabin. She’d chosen a smaller one closer to the computer, so she and HK could cross-reference their data to figure out where her next targets were. Senya was on duty for the next few weeks, so she couldn’t ask her.

She was at her station for an hour before she was interrupted.

“Hey,” Queens said.

“Good afternoon, Colonel. Do you always enter others’ rooms without knocking?”

“What? Oh, sorry. I noticed you slipped away.”

“I had work to do.”

“Need any help?”

“Maybe later. I’m just searching databases for the Honor Guards Sevkith named. It will take time. If I need help storming an enemy fortress, I’ll ask.”

Queens sat down on a chair. “I had a request for you.”

“What is it?”

“I was taking a look at the crew’s expenditures since landing on Asylum. The boys and girls were quite reckless in their spending. Every single one of them bought new arms and armor instead of sticking with their old ones. They had themselves quite a feast too. And lots of Zakuulan rum. Thankfully, no one bought anything too expensive. But it’s still worrying. I was hoping you’d look deeper into it. Maybe even take over our finances. Help us with budgets and accounts.”

“Are you joking? I have my own work to do, you know! I may be helping you today, I may join you from time to time, but that doesn’t mean I’m one of your new crew!”

“I get that,” Queens said quickly. “But… could you do us this favor? I don’t have anyone who’s good at it. And we can’t afford a droid.”

Lana nearly rolled her eyes. “Colonel—”

“How about ‘Roban?’”

“I can’t be a permanent part of your new team. I have my own priorities.”

“I understand that. But if you could help us, we’d be able to help you better. Imagine if we were kicked off Asylum just because Koth’s crew put us too deep in the red. What if you need us again?”

“Then I’ll just call you, same way I call Havoc when I need them.”

Lana was starting to lose her patience. She thought she knew what Queens was doing. He was trying to tie her down to his new outfit. Make her one of theirs. She’d seen signs as far back as Yavin that he was interested in her. She didn’t think she’d ever have reciprocated that interest, even if Vajra hadn’t been in the picture.

Unfortunately, she was in no position to confront him. Or set him straight. Truth was, it was very likely she’d need their help again. Vortena, Moby, and Pasha had really helped her cut her time on Gaharian to less than a quarter of what she was expecting by their knowledge of the towns and people. And she’d already made an enemy of Vortena.

“Just think about it, alright?” Queens asked. “Please? And could you please call me Roban? We worked together before, after all.”

“Alright.” It seemed there was no escaping getting on a first-name basis with him. It was, hopefully, a small price to pay.

Not long after, Vortena entered her room. He, at least, remembered to knock.

“Lunch is ready,” was all he said.

Lana ignored him. She didn’t feel like eating with this… these devotees of a being like Valkorion. She’d heard their prayers before, the earnest request for peace and prosperity made to Valkorion. An avatar of the Sith Emperor. It had made her blood boil. She had packed her own rations. She could keep to herself.

Another knock, ten minutes later.

“Come in,” she said.

“Ello!”

“Ah, Pasha and Moby. Can I help you with something?”

“We tho’ you be worken,” Pasha said with a wide, bright smile. “Wee d’soided t’brin’ya fooud heya!” (We thought you’d be working. We decided to bring your food here!)

“That’s very kind of you,” Lana said gratefully.

“Moin’ iff’e stay?” Moby asked. “We wann’ed a shawnce t’ know yooo be’e.” (Mind if we stay? We wanted a chance to know you better.)

“Us too,” Lem said, walking in with Donna and three others she didn’t know.

“This cabin is a little small for so many of us,” Lana said, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

“Then why don’t you join us outside?” Lem asked. “In the mess!”

“Shez woa’ken’ y’bloondren lizar’pig!” (She’s working, you blundering lizard-pig!)

“Sea’chin’ fo’eh ‘usband, she is!” (Searching for her husband, she is!)

“I’ll be sure to socialize at the next meal,” Lana interrupted. She was starting to feel quite nervous. The room was a little too packed for her. Too many people. Too loud… “That’s why I’m along for this ride, after all. To get to know you all.”

“It’s a promise!” Lem said, grabbing her hand and wrapping his little finger around hers.

He barged out again before she could say anything. She stared at Donna in askance. The woman giggled.

“Pinkie swears,” she explained with a chuckle. “He’s a bit of a child.”

“I see. Pass around a message for me, would you? I don’t like being grabbed out of the blue like that.”

“Gotcha,” Pasha grinned. “See ya!”

Once they were gone, Lana felt a mixture of relief and anxiety. She released the Force, which she’d seized the moment Lem had done that… thing. The man hadn’t realized how close he’d come to getting zapped by his blissful geniality that bordered on impertinence.

She sat down—shivering from head to toe, breathing out of control, gray creeping into her eyes—intent on calming herself down.

But it was no good; the panic attack only worsened. Closing her eyes, she imagined herself in Vajra’s four-armed embrace.

She imagined the sanctuary his presence always brought with it, and even imagined her Bond alive and whole again, love and comfort pouring in from his side. She could picture their shared world, the place where their combined souls dwelt.

She imagined him gently shushing her, telling her he loved her; that he would always be there for her.

It was all a lie, of course. For the Bond was just as frozen as it had been for the past eight months. But even the memory of her love—her Knave—was enough to send her dragons packing.

I love you, Vajra. I will find you. I promise.

Dosuun

Lana hung back as she watched Vortena’s crew run up against an army of Crimson Haze. The gang of slavers worked for the Hutt Cartel, and were among the more disciplined of thugs, made up of dishonorable discharges, traitors, and deserters. People who knew the value of formations and tactics. The refugee town on Dosuun was an inviting target, a settlement with just a wall, a shield, and a few entrenched cannons to keep them safe.

The Crimson Haze seemed to have chosen the siege option, blocking off all paths out of the town and waiting for the shield to lose power.

Colonel Queens divided his army into three parts. One, the diversion, he led himself. These were a small group with assault cannons, miniguns, and rocket launchers. These began a flashy attack that immediately got the Haze to reinforce that portion of the siege.

Vortena led the second division of about forty soldiers. Under cover of the darkness, they sneaked into the camp and began rigging tents and weapons to explode. Once done, they triggered the explosives and fled, leading the angry, pursuing throng into an ambush by Lem and the third division.

And they initiated jamming signals at just the right time, causing the slavers’ communication to break down at a crucial moment when they realized they were under attack by a dangerous enemy,

It was very well executed.

Unfortunately for them, the slavers outnumbered Vortena’s crew three to one. Looking at the carnage, Lana felt confident that her allies could win despite the numerical disadvantage. But not without losing some of their members.

Deciding that it would be in her interest to ensure that as few died as possible, Lana decided to enter the fray. She mounted a tall rock and drew her Lightsaber, holding it aloft for the slavers to see. Nothing drew enemy fire quite like a Lightsaber.

She stood in her perch for several seconds. And when she was certain that the slavers’ eyes were fixed on her, she charged. It was quick, simple, almost routine work. For though they weren’t unused to fighting, they had clearly never fought a Force user before. People who survived such encounters were rare.

Deflecting wave after wave of enemy fire, Lana cut them all down. She Crushed a few, Tossed some into their comrades with enough power to severely cripple them, and fired gouts of Lightning that left them stunned, blinded, in agony, and rooted to the spot.

From the edge of her senses, she noted that the refugees were even less helpless than she had thought they were. About twenty of them burst out, carrying blaster rifles that spat fire at the enemy.

She hoped they would see that she was on their side.

Not in this darkness, she thought. She extinguished her Lightsaber as suddenly as she’d lit it, and retreated into the shadows. Her allies had this in the bag at this point. All she had to do was throw the occasional Force attack.

And just like that, they were done. The crew raised a hearty cheer as dawn rose on a battlefield which revealed the full extent of their victory.

Lana stayed back, content to return to being a mute spectator. She watched as Vortena met with the leader of the refugee guards, and got closer when Lem beckoned her over. From the other side, Queens approached too, his assault cannon secured to his backpack.

“Miss Beniko! Colonel Queens!” Vortena called. “Meet our new friend—”

“I think I’ve met you before,” Lana interrupted. “You were on Darth Marr’s ship, weren’t you? At Elgrind?”

“I’m honored you remember me, Miss Beniko!” the Corporal said proudly. He bowed. “You saved us all that day. Me and my brothers and sisters changed our minds about Sith thanks to you.”

“I’m pleased to hear that.”

“And I know you too, Sir,” the Corporal said, turning to Queens. “Every soldier in the Republic has heard about the great Colonel Roban Queens of Havoc Squad!” He saluted, as did his men. “My name is Ralo. Corporal in the Marines.”

“Republic Marines, eh?” Queens smiled. “All of you? At ease.”

“All or us,” Ralo confirmed. “Though that’s ex-Marines now. Our ship, the Red Stork, was sent to reinforce Cerea. Just us, against a thousand Eternal ships. The crew deserted. We were soldiers. We know that we could die at any given moment. But we’d been sent out to die. In a heartbeat. We figured if the Republic didn’t need us anymore, we could at least keep our lives. We abandoned the ship—she was a beat-up old piece of junk anyway—and boarded our shuttles.”

“And you made it to Dosuun?” Lana asked, surprised.

“Oh, yeah! Apparently, we’ve known the way to Dosuun for centuries now. But they refused attempts at joining the Republic. We never figured they were part of something like the Eternal Empire. Well, when we got here, we kept going until we reached this town. They were refugees who had little to offer us, but we had weapons and training. We said we’d be happy to protect them and help them hunt in exchange for shelter. They accepted. We’ve been here for four months now.”

“That’s a cool story,” Vortena said. “We’re deserters too. From Zakuul. Well, all of us except Beniko and the Colonel.”

“The Republic abandoned me on Denon,” Queens said. “Koth and this crew dug me out. Out of mercy. I joined up with them out of gratitude.”

Ralo’s face fell “If they abandoned someone like you…” He shook his head. “The Republic has got nothing to do with us anymore. Whatever it once was, whatever it was meant to be, it’s a failing state now. A breeding ground of corrupt and stupid politicians. It makes sense that they’re abandoning their greatest soldiers.” He turned to Lana. “What about you? You given up on—”

“No,” Lana said forcefully. She didn’t offer more explanation.

“We need to get out of here,” Queens said into the silence. “The Haze called it in. More of their goons will be here soon. We can fight them if we have to, but—”

“Hey, you don’t have to tell me.”

“The refugees wanted out anyway,” another soldier said. “They want to go to Nar Shaddaa.”

“Nar Shaddaa?” Lana asked disbelievingly. “Under the noses of the ones who were trying to enslave them? Do they know what they’d be getting themselves into?”

“No,” the soldier said. “But we’ll be there for them.”

“We have an alternative for them,” Lana began.

“Sorry, Miss Beniko. Their minds are made up.”

“Alright.” It’s not really my business anyway. And I suppose no one wants to be a refugee forever.

“We have ships,” Ralo said. “But they’re slow and unshielded. Otherwise, we’d have left hours ago.”

“Now’s the best time to run, then,” Queens said. “Our ship has shields and guns, but it’s not a combat vessel.”

“All ships have been loaded anyway,” Ralo said. “Murron! Tell em it’s okay to take off!”

“We’ll escort you till Nar Shaddaa,” Queens told him. “After that, you’re on your own.”

“About that,” Ralo said. “I hate Hutts. Nar Shaddaa is tolerable for a few days at a time, but I can’t stay on that blasted city-world. Is it okay if I join up with you guys?”

“That’s fine,” Queens said at once. “Welcome aboard, Corporal.”

“Thank you, Sir. Let’s have fun together!”

Nar Shaddaa

Lana had reflected on the day in her bunk, realizing that she had only seen the results of the battle, not the action itself. But she was still impressed; they’d managed to pull off several complex maneuvers in the dark without losing a single soldier, or their heads. Their discipline alone was noteworthy.

She would keep her other promise to the crew, she decided. She joined their celebration, and get to know them better. They were a cheerful bunch, but since this was the first time she was pressed in with them in close quarters, she realized quickly that many of them clearly did not believe in the concept of hygiene. She’d had worse, but the discovery was enough to make her want to maintain some distance.

She did her best to engage with the crew, answering their questions, laughing at their jokes and anecdotes, listening to their stories, and offering advice when necessary. It was about two hours into the party that she was thankfully given a reason to leave, without having to go to the smelly fresher.

“Hey, Beniko, would you mind joining us for a bit?”

Lana left her seat and wordlessly walked out to where Vortena was standing.

“This woman,” Vortena said shortly, pointing to a grumpy looking girl with electric-blue hair. “She’s a mechanic. A damn good one. I was looking for someone to fix our speeders. She repaired them—all five of them—in just thirty minutes. They’re better than ever, now. Trouble is, she’s on the run. A gang of swoop racers have it out for her.”

“I’m looking for a way off this rock,” the woman said in a rude, gruff voice. “I’m willing to join your little tea party for that.”

“Trouble is, the Hutts have approved this hit,” Vortena said. “That means every bounty hunter in the district is looking for her. If you could post her bounty, we’ll have them off her back. And ours too, since we’re helping her. It’s twenty thousand credits. If you’d pay it off for me, I’d be deeper in your debt.”

“Very well,” Lana said. “We can pay it off in the restaurant. I thought I saw a bounty terminal in there.”

“Thank you,” the woman said grudgingly.

“You got a name?” Lana asked her.

“Tora. The name’s Tora. Guess you’re going to be seeing a lot of me.”

“Less than you think. It’s nice to meet you though. Come with me. I don’t know how this works right now. Rules seem to change every few months.”

“Don’t I know it.”

Chapter 41: Crossed Paths

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Chapter Text

Nar Shaddaa

It was nearly 02:00 when Vortena’s crew finally left the restaurant. They’d blown off nearly twenty thousand credits. That was a little over three-quarters of the pay they were to receive for this job. Lana could see why Queens was worried about their out-of-control spending habits.

It’s really none of my business. That kind of bookkeeping will take days out of every month. I have other things to do over here! I still need to get back to Zakuul and link up with T7 again!

The droid was still lurking in the bowels of the Palace of the Dragon, getting a better grip of the changing situation. He occasionally sent out data packets to her and Theron, and some to the Senya too. These were little more than routine updates, intel on Zakuul’s movements that Theron and Lana only used as windows for their other activities, and knowledge of the changing landscape on Zakuul.

Lana half-felt like the droid had abandoned not only her, but Vajra too, on whom he’d found nothing. She wondered where they would be today, if the little Astromech hadn’t chosen to leave her side.

Around her, many of Vortena’s men were among the large number of drunks lining the roads, doing typical drunk things like getting into slurred, barely comprehensible arguments, singing loudly, staggering around, and puking their guts out. Some had passed out, and were being carried to the speeders by the designated drivers.

Unwilling to get crammed in with a bunch of sloshed drunks, Lana and the more sober members of Vortena’s crew—including the dark-skinned captain himself, but not including Queens, who was unconscious in the back of a speeder—chose to walk the short distance to the landing pad.

It was only four blocks away, even if it was four blocks in one of the seedier portions of Nar Shaddaa.

She suddenly felt a shift in the winds. Something was wrong. She waved Koth over. The Zakuulan approached her reluctantly. “What do you want?” he asked shortly.

“Danger is approaching,” she told him. “Get everyone into a defensive formation behind us. Quietly.”

To his credit, Vortena took her warning quite seriously. Lana didn’t know what kind of signals he used, but in less than six footsteps, the group of ten had tightly knit itself into a unit behind her, hands on their weapons.

When they reached the next alley, she wanted to curse her luck.

Why him? Why now and here, of all times and places?

And worse, the other group of Sith—all hiding their auras, just like she was—had noticed her too. Perhaps she should’ve stayed in the center of the crew’s formation.

“Look who we have here,” the Sith in the lead said, looking proud of himself. “Master, I told you I Sensed some unsavory Sith masking her presence!”

“I never doubted you for a second, Orthrus,” the leader said, stepping out into the shadows. “And it just so happened to be one I’ve been hoping to meet for a long time now.”

“Darth Mortis,” Lana greeted him stonily.

“Lana Beniko. Marr’s biggest failure. Did you know, he lost quite a lot of prestige thanks to the debacle on Ziost?”

“We’re not in the Dark Council today, so let’s not pretend that was my failure. No one could’ve done better than I. And you know it. You merely shifted the blame on me, so you and Nox could escape the fallout unscathed. And speaking of failures, why are you here on Nar Shaddaa? I thought you’d died valiantly fighting Zakuul, but did you bravely run away?”

The old man’s sneer widened. “Hardly. Rictus and Aruk’s hostile takeover came at the worst possible moment. I got cut off from my support, and assassins from Rictus’ employ started jumping out of every shadow. The only reason I stayed alive were Orthrus and Rachnus.”

“Your lookout to find those on your trail before they find you, and your trapper to avoid having to fight them. How underwhelming. And here I thought a Sith of your standing could watch his own back. Need I recount the Vowrawn’s fifty encounters with Baras’ assassins?”

Mortis sighed. “I understand why you’re angry with me, little woman. But that anger is misplaced.”

“You understand nothing. You are the biggest reason why the Empire lost the war with Zakuul.”

That got Mortis angry. “And what does that mean?”

“Everyone knew Aruk, Rictus, and Zhorrid would abandon Lady Kai. But you… you were supposed to be one of the greater ones. If you had not pulled back, her plan would’ve ended in the biggest success in history. A few dozen more ships were all that was needed for victory at Zakuul, not counting the time Vowrawn and Ravage lost dithering after you ran away. A trend you maintain to this day, I see. You are a coward and a fool.”

“You had better retract that vile statement, woman,” Mortis said coldly. “I am Darth Mortis, Dark Lord of the Sith! The Highest Magistrate of the Empire, the Lord of Law and Order! It is I who will pry our state from those two desiccated worms’ slimy fingers, and return us into an era of prosperity and strength! And you, lowly tick though you are, can yet be of use to me. You had some skill as Arkous’ adjutant. You were a passable Minister of Intelligence as well. Serve me, and you will be my right hand. And the first of my new harem of wives; my most exalted bride. Your children will sit on the throne once I am gone.”

“I’m already married,” Lana scoffed. “And even if I wasn’t, I’m not joining hands with you. And I have no interest in the throne.”

“If you will not fight for me as my agent, you will serve me as my slave. Take her—”

“I demand a duel,” Lana interrupted. “You and me. Single combat. I’m going to show your deluded little cabal what a weakling you are.”

Mortis’ eyes widened in a mixture of mild surprise and amusem*nt. “You really wish to fight a Darth? And a Dark Councilor at that?”

“Ex-Councilor. Aruk sacked you, remember? And before you start whining, it was as legal as my own dismissal.”

“I will crush you,” Mortis promised. “And then, I will squeeze you dry of all your usefulness. Decades from now, when you are spent and broken, and mocked by your children, I will kill you.”

As he turned to begin his preparation, Lana turned urgently to Vortena. “The first chance you get, run.”

“You wanna face these bastards alone?”

“There’s no choice,” she shot back. “I can’t escape with Orthrus there. He’s the best tracker in the Sith Empire! And it’s not like you’re going to sacrifice yourselves for me if I ask! Just promise me you’ll find Vajra for me.”

“You want me to find your husband on your behalf?” Vortena asked incredulously. “ME!?”

“Why not?”

“You know why not! The Outlander!”

“Vortena, we have no time for this now. There is a good chance I will die today. I can’t believe I walked into this, of all groups. And the only thing I can salvage is you and your crew. Get them away, get them off-world, and continue my mission. Please. Whatever you think of Vajra, he can stop Arcann. If you don’t want this, at least send a message to Theron. HK, it’s your job to protect Captain Vortena now.”

The droid, whose vocabulator was still not repaired, merely nodded. He looked distressed.

“You really think you can’t take that old man?” Vortena whispered, looking worried.

“He’s not the problem. Not alone. But he does have seven Sith with him.”

“You think they’ll interfere, if they realize you’re winning?”

“Yes. If their Master dies, they lose all legitimacy. They become easy pickings for not just Aruk, but any Sith.”

“Sith life sure is tough.”

“It’s survival of the fittest all around. Now get ready. You’ll only get one chance to run.”

Lana approached the line of Sith. They were still taking instructions from Mortis, helping him prepare by inspecting his arms and armor.

Finally, Mortis stepped forward, his Lightsaber in his hand.

“Very well. Let’s begin this farce.” He gave her a crisp Lightsaber salute before taking up a standard Makashi guard.

Lana took that as her cue to attack. Seeking her crystal’s tune for guidance, as Vajra had taught her, she closed the gap between them and struck hard. She attacked to the rhythm of the music, aiming for speed and economy. Mortis withstood her attack, looking a little nervous at having to work, then tried to sweep her legs out from under her. She took a step back, then dodged a backfist to the face. She saw her opportunity and unleashed four blows; three aimed at his chest, the fourth at his knee.

“URGH!” Mortis sounded more shocked than pained by Lana’s successful attack. He Reached for the Force, and attempted to seize her throat in a Force Choke. Lana withstood it, and aimed a Force Push at his already injured knee. The move was a complete surprise for him, and he fell onto his backside, hard. Lana nearly stumbled herself, taken aback by her easy dominance in this fight. But this was probably bad news…

Here it comes.

Koth watched Beniko in awe as she defeated what appeared to be one of the top Sith in less than thirty seconds.

But as she’d predicted, this fight didn’t stay one-on-one once her victory was close. The other Sith attacked her, several from behind.

She leapt into the air just in time to avoid a Lightsaber to her shapely ass. Another Sith threw his Lightsaber at her when she was still in the air, and she swatted it aside, but nearly got hit by the Lightning streaming out of another Sith’s fingers. The blue energy broke around a perfectly spherical bubble around her, but distracted her enough that she almost got stabbed by three Sith working in tandem. The Council guy was up too, throwing little orbs of Lightning at her, forcing her to dilute her concentration even further… all eight Sith were attacking her. He and his crew were completely forgotten.

Now. Now was the moment Beniko had told him to look out for. This was the chance for him and his crew to run. And why wouldn’t he? This woman was… Beniko was… the Outlander’s who—no. After everything she’d done for his people, he didn’t have the right to cuss her out. Besides, she’d been very honest and fair with them.

I can’t do this. I can’t abandon her.

He turned to his crew. “Run,” he said. “I can’t leave her to die alone. Take this message to the Colonel. Beniko’s last wish was that we continue to search for her husband in her stead—the Outlander.”

“The OUTLANDER!?!”
“He’s her husband?”

“Wait a minute,” their newcomer said. Ralo, that was his name. “Isn’t that what you guys call Vajra? She’s his wife? For real?”

“Seems like it.”

“I owe Vajra,” Ralo said immediately. “He’s not just saved me, he’s saved the whole galaxy several times, without even asking for anything in return. I’ll die to protect his wife.”

“We ain’ leaven eitha,” Pasha cried.

Koth nodded. There was no more time to talk. Beniko was tiring. She’d taken several minor hits. She had seconds at best. He raised his blaster and fired at the closest Sith. He hit the man in the unprotected bottom—right where he’d tried to stab Beniko, the perverted bastard—making him drop his saber leap into the air, hands on his butt.

HK tackled the man to the ground and forced his dagger up the man’s chin, a smooth move that shocked Koth. Pasha and Riella were blasting at the other Sith, who were deflecting the shots away with their Lightsabers with ease… though they had to forget about Beniko to do it. The blonde didn’t let them realize their mistake. She used a heavy Force attack that hurled all three of them into the wall, knocking them unconscious… but Koth noticed she was favoring a leg. Had someone kicked her when he wasn’t looking?

The other Sith were back in control of the situation. Two of them had engaged Beniko, while Councilor-man and another attacked Pasha and Keven.

Dammit!

Koth knocked them out of the way, dropping a smoke grenade at his feet to create some cover. But it did nothing; blasted Sith easily spotted him in the clouds. One of them gestured, and the smoke cleared at once. The other—the important guy—caught Koth in a web of lightning.

It was a pain that Koth had never known in his life. Every nerve fiber in his body screamed in protest as he was treated to a heavy shower of the blue plasma. His voice got caught in his throat, leaving him unable to scream. To beg for help. Or mercy.

The old Sith closed in on him, Lightsaber drawn. He raised it, ready to decapitate Koth as his wingman kept him safe from the blaster bolts.

But he was saved. Lana landed in front of him at the last second. She was able to redirect the Sith boss’ attack, but his gauntleted fist struck her in the stomach. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, she batted his blade aside and fired her own Lightning bolt at him. Her bad leg crumpled beneath her, but she didn’t scream. She did vomit a little more blood, however. The Sith Councilor managed to trap her in a pillar of Lightning while she was distracted, but her shield took the worst of it. The rest was enough to burn her clothes. She had to tear off her burning cape. His blade stabbed at her heart. She moved aside slightly, and took it on the outside edge of her shoulder before unleashing the most impressive storm of Lightning at all seven Sith at once. Most of them were caught off-guard, though the old man managed to ungainly roll out of the way. “You are mine you pasty, pustule-brained, piss-breath pig!” Damn, she was angry.

She stumbled back onto her feet and thrust her arms out. Every Sith still alive was hurled back. She threw more Lightning around at everyone, a rapid-fire round of violet energy darts that knocked the fight out of them.

“Didn’t you hear what we decided earlier?” she asked them. “This is a one-on-one battle. Stay out of this, and I might let you go. Interfere again, and I’ll lop off your limbs and put you on a ship back to Dromund Kaas!” She turned back to the old Sith and flourished her blade. “Are you finally willing to die like a Sith?”

“The only one dying today, are those dirt-covered peasants behind you!” the old man roared. “And you, youngster; your suffering will be epic!”

“Funny! That was among the last fits of bravado to burst forth from Baras’ lips. Remember?”

“Silence! The time for words is past.”

“Yes. Let’s see who is the better Sith.”

Lana’s foot shook beneath her. Her shin hurt so bad, she fancied it was broken… though that was unlikely. She needed better greaves after this. The burn wound on her shoulder made her head spin. Her cape was gone, but she should’ve gotten rid of that years ago. Her clothes were burned, and a strong smell of ash wafted up her nose, adding to her sense of nausea.

She’d also been kicked and punched in the stomach. Thankfully, her defenses had stopped her from being critically wounded. But she needed to be in a hospital. And soon.

But for now, she used the pain she was feeling. Gathered it all up like a child on a scavenger hunt. She then went for her most potent source of emotion: Vajra. It started with her rage at their separation; her months-long yearning to be reunited with her heart-mate. Her hatred of Arcann for using and maligning him, and Vaylin for the torture. And her indignation that nothing seemed to be going her way. Her allies were never there when she needed them, her health was still not the best, and worst of all, the Force itself seemed to sidetrack her at every turn.

With rage coursing through her veins, she sought an even stronger passion: love. She called forth every shared moment with Vajra from the depths of her memory, and basked in all the pleasure, joy, comfort, and happiness that came with them until her heart was over flowing. She opened her eyes. She was ready for this bitch, who was even now whining, demanding that his retainers join him in subduing her. But they had been cowed… for now.

Unable to fight with her weapons, Lana used the Force. She opened with a condensed blast of Force Lightning. Mortis attempted to roll out of the way—the craven was good at running from danger—but the penumbra of the attack was enough to scorch his armor and set his hair and clothes on fire.

Lana steered the Lightning with her hands, and it struck his hand, melting it off close to the elbow. A loud, chilling scream pierced through the air. Mortis was on the ground, clutching his melted stump. The Lightning had returned to Lana’s side—it was far too much energy to easily dissipate—so she fired it again. This time, it was like a steady beam of energy.

But she deliberately tuned it down, so it only shocked and burned Mortis rather than kill him. For she had remembered something. A little detail she needed him to know she still was mad about. He had been the one responsible for one of the greatest crimes against her.

She approached him laboriously; wincing as he sparked and flashed from the Lightning pouring through his body. She let go the attack when she was three meters away from him.

“What was that you were going to do to me?” She asked. “Enslave me, suck me dry of all my energy and use?”

“I—I—I… I’m sorry, Lady Beniko… I had no idea… you were… this powerful…”

“Why not? Didn’t Nox tell you I beat him once? Why do you think he hated me so badly? He didn’t like losing to me. I wish I could’ve killed him then.”

“Please…” he whispered. “Mercy…”

Lana threw back her head and laughed. “‘Mercy?’ Of all the words you had to utter, it was ‘mercy?’”

Mortis was unnerved. “Why? What is so funny?”

“I think I’ll answer that with the second most hilarious thing you could’ve said today.” She leaned in to whisper into his ear.

Darth Mortis strained to hear the words she had for him. It was the last thing he’d expected to hear today, least of all, from this woman.

“‘Keyword: Onomatophobia.’” She straightened back, and watched as horror and comprehension dawned on his face.

“Impossible,” he breathed. “Impossible! How! Why! When? But…”

“Now you know. There was never going to be peace between us.”

She placed her fingers on his throat and injected Force Lightning directly into his skin. His own circulatory system helped carry the energy attack through every micron of his body. He felt it blackening his organs; his heart, lungs, stomach, guts, kidneys, and even muscles. Everything below the face, since she clearly didn’t want to burn his brain too soon.

From the immense, unfathomable pain he now experienced, he wondered if he was being consumed by Black Lightning.

It didn’t matter. Lana Beniko—or whatever her real name was—had marked him for death. And death was exactly what he got. It was painful, slow, humiliating, and inescapable.

I should’ve never crossed her path. I should’ve never betrayed Tiarna Kaimeryn. I should’ve never taken my seat on the Council. I should’ve never set foot in the Academy. I should… I wish I’d never been born. My whole life… my whole life… damn you, Aruk. My only comfort now, is imagining the look on your face when this wo—this Sith comes for you.

Lana gave a huge gasp and sat back on her haunches. She was dead tired after that outpouring. It felt great.

“Well done.”

She turned to see the Sith who had spoken. Six of them had survived the fighting. They were wounded and weaponless, but alive. And they were frightened sh*tless.

“Please, Dark Lord… spare us. We have nobody to protect us now. Aruk’s Sith hate us. And Rictus’. We’re no threat to anyone. We won’t get in your way ever again. Just let us go.”

“Fine. Now go.”

“Beniko!” Vortena was at her side. “You took quite a beating.”

“How is everyone?”

“Some took a few ricochets. But no one died. Thanks to you.”

“Good. Then we can get back to the ship. This battle frightened all the locals, but they’ll come out of hiding soon enough. We should be gone before they get here.”

“Consider it done.”

The dizziness was really getting to Lana now. Pasha caught her before her head hit the ground.

“I go’yoo!” she cried. “Ste’still. We a’getten yous some elp. You’labee awrite. Roi, Cep’n?” (I got you! Stay still. We are getting you some help. You’ll be alright. Right, Captain?)

“Right you are, Pasha,” Vortena agreed. “Let’s go. Double time!”

Lord Rachnus sank to the floor once he got the last of his comrades into their hideout. He’d had no idea things were about to go so wrong…

“What do we do now?” Miza asked. The poor woman was trembling.

“I—I don’t know,” Mardun admitted. Everyone else nodded.

Rachnus’ commlink began to ring. “Who is this?”

“Hello, Lord Rachnus,” a gentle electronic voice said. “Now that Darth Mortis is gone, I take it you and your fellow Sith are in need of a place to stay?”

He looked around. The others were as confused as he was. A Voss had reached out to them? That could only mean—

A Vision?

“We’re listening.”

Chapter 42: Mending Bridges

Chapter by Anchanted_One

Notes:

I don’t know if this long-form conversational kind of chapter is fun to read.

Chapter Text

Aboard the Tawny Mare

The sight of Beniko’s eyes fluttering open was the most beautiful thing Koth had ever seen.

“Beniko!” he cried. It was an effort not to hug her—from what Donna had told everyone, the Sith did not like it when people just grabbed her.

“Where am I?” she moaned, hand flying to her stomach.

“Back on the ship,” Koth answered. “You remember what happened, don’t you? That Sith Council guy. On Nar Shaddaa. You killed him. That was five hours ago.”

Beniko took a moment to think, then sighed. “So, I really did get my revenge, after all. Not that I was so keen on seeking it out. Better things to do.”

“We used some of our newly-acquired kolto to treat you. We didn’t know how, of course. But HK did. It’s amazing. Better than what we use.”

“I still need to repair him.”

“Tora will do it. Once she’s sober.”

“Thank you.”

“So who was that guy?”

“Darth Mortis. The head of Imperial Laws and Justice. He’d been on his seat for… twenty years when I killed him.”

Koth whistled. “I guess that means his loss will be felt. Right?”

“I wonder. The Empire has lost allies, champions, institutions, and units a lot more important than him. The Ebon Princes. Tiarna Kaimeryn. The Dracogriffs. Darth Marr. Nox. Even Vitiate. That was one loss which shook the galaxy. Not to mention their months-long losing streak. Compared to all that, no one will even bat an eyelid for Mortis.”

“Hmmm.” The Sith Emperor. That made Koth think of… no. That was for later. “Hey, listen. About what you did back there… you fought to protect my crew. You could’ve thrown away our lives—used us as shields—but your instinct was to send us away. And you saved my own life too. Mortis had me dead to rights. And you even got wounded defending me.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Don’t treat it like it’s nothing,” Koth said. “You saved my life! You saved my crew! Not just on Nar Shaddaa, but Dosuun too! We didn’t lose a single soldier thanks to you!”

“You’re welcome,” she said again. No tone or life in her voice. She looked and sounded quite down.

“What’s up?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Is… were your injuries not fully healed?”

She rubbed her stomach again, flexed her shoulder, touched a few places on her face that had been burned, and tried moving her leg. “They’re fine.”

Maybe she’s still angry with me. Not that I blame her.

“Hey. Beniko. I’m sorry about what I said. And for calling you his whor*. After giving us a new home and purpose, I really should’ve known better.”

“Alright,” she said.

“Can we start over? My name is Koth Vortena. You can just call me Koth from now on.”

“Hmmm.”

“Listen. If something’s wrong, maybe I can help you. Talk to me.”

Beniko didn’t answer for a long while, and Koth thought she wasn’t going to. But he stayed anyway. She clearly needed someone. It struck him again how alone she was.

After about fifteen minutes, she answered him. “I nearly died today. For something as stupid as randomly running into Darth Mortis, of all people.”

“Oh.”

“I’m not afraid of dying. But only in the right time and place. Going out like this… when Vajra remains captive… if I die, no one will look for him. He’ll remain imprisoned forever. Or until Arcann decides to kill him at last.”

“But didn’t you say you have allies? Like Agent Theron and Havoc Squad.”

“If I could count on them, they’d have been at my side already. I asked Theron, especially, to join me, and he chose to stay with Elara Dorn. They decided to protect civilians over helping me save a man who can stop this bloodshed. Admirable though that is, it’s like throwing tiny cans of water on a blazing, thirty-kilometer-wide forest fire. They will not seek out Vajra until it’s clear there is no other way to save the galaxy. It might be too late, by then.” She sighed heavily. “Not that I care about the galaxy. What has it ever done for me? I have my priorities too.” She coughed and reached for a glass of water. “Don’t get me wrong. I respect their decision. Their right to choose. I understand that Theron wanted to stay with the first girl he’s tried having a relationship with in over a decade. But they’re not going to help me.”

“Well, then how about this? If ever anything happens to you, I will find him for you. And when he’s out, I will tell him how hard you fought. How dedicated you were, so much that you forged ahead even when friendless and alone.”

“Thank you.”

She went silent again.

“Can you tell me one thing?” Koth asked. “Why do you fight so hard for him? I understand you love him, and that he’s your husband. But I’ve never heard of someone throwing everything aside like this for a spouse.”

She was silent again for a while. “I don’t think I can answer that in a way you’d understand. Zakuulans seem to have even less of an understanding of the Force than the average Force-blind in the Republic and Empire. Even most of your Knights don’t seem to understand what the Force is, and what it can do. Except for the Scions.”

“Is it okay if you tell me, anyway? I’ll try to understand.”

She nodded and sat up, going for another glass of water.

“It’s always been just me. I entered a Sith Academy at the ripe old age of ten. The whole ‘survival of the fittest’ ideology started before I was even at the door. By the end of my first hour, I knew I had to be highly self-reliant and paranoid about the other students in order to survive.”

“Oh my god!” Koth exclaimed. “At age ten?”

“Yes. Not that I always stuck to that code myself. I made a few friends over the course of my career. Allowed myself to fall in love a few times, before running into Vajra. But he was the first time I had a true partner. Someone whom I could talk to, and share my true self with, and who shared his innermost thoughts with me. Someone who watched my back no matter how bad things got. He accepted me for who I truly was. Even when he discovered things about me that most Jedi might not approve of, he still accepted it. He never wanted me to be any different from who I am. He loved me for me. I don’t think I can express just how huge that is, for a Sith. We laughed and joked all the time too. I hadn’t laughed like that in years. I’d lost hope that I could. That was what he gave me. Hope, that I could have an ordinary love life no matter how extraordinary my day job was. But the greatest thing he gave me was his heart.”

“His heart?”

“We call it a Force Bond. It’s a psychic link that connected our hearts and minds together. At any given time, we could share thoughts and even stimuli. We could always feel each other’s emotions. From across the galaxy. And sometimes, our emotions amplified themselves, bouncing back and forth between us. It was overwhelming, but in a good way. Happiness and satisfaction so profound that you can never feel it in the ordinary way.”

“Careful, Beniko. That sounds an awful lot like addiction.”

She chuckled unexpectedly. “It does, doesn’t it? I don’t care. That amplified happiness is not what I’m hoping to bring back into my life. It’s even alright if the connection between us was severed from the outside. What matters to me is the other things we had together. The acceptance. The mundane, everyday marital life. The occasional lazy mornings. The romantic dates. The heart-to-heart chats. The couple’s cooking sessions. The walks in parks and gardens. The warmth.” She chuckled again. “The hugs and cuddles. It’s strange, but a four-armed hug is a lot cozier than you’d expect.” She hugged herself, seemingly subconsciously, as if trying to feel a bit of that warmth. It almost hurt Koth to see.

“Four arms?”

“You didn’t know? Vajra’s people have four arms and three eyes. Though his third eye was blinded in his childhood.”

“Interesting.” Come to think of it, he didn’t know anything about the Outlander, other than his name, affiliation, and his one big deed.

“So there you have it,” she concluded. “He and I created something spectacular and beautiful together. And it only works if we’re both here. That’s why I fight.”

“And he’d fight this hard for you too, right?”

She actually laughed at that. “If our situations were reversed, he might have found me sooner.”

“What? How? Is he a better detective than you?”

“No! But he’s a far better warrior, so he doesn’t need to worry about things us regular mortals do. Like caution. When he was seventeen, he fought an army of fifty thousand to protect his friends—”

“WHAT!?”

“Not all at once, of course. This was over the course of several weeks. Nonstop, back-to-back battles. And right after, he defeated two of the strongest Darths in the Empire. Marr and Malgus. So you see, he could do what I consider too risky. I think he’d have stowed away aboard a Zakuulan ship, and followed it to Zakuul. Once there, he’d have cut his way through the entire army of Knights, cut down Vaylin herself, and forced the truth out of Arcann. It must be nice, being a god of war.”

That happy description left Koth feeling chills dragging down his spine.

“Not that he likes killing. He only goes all-out like that when someone he cares about is at risk. Me. His best friend, Jasme. His Jedi partner, Kira. Perhaps Grand Master Satele. Under normal circ*mstances, he’d have run from that army I mentioned earlier. Kept them chasing their own tails around until he got reinforcements. Or was forced to run away. And he’d never hurt civilians. In fact, he has gone out of his way to end Republic plans that threatened Imperial citizens. You can be rest assured that he’d never attack a bystander of Zakuul. In any case, he is strong enough to take the direct approach. Arcann is indeed fortunate that he was forced to contend with Lady Kai—who was sick, dying, and fighting him as a state head—rather than an individual. She was just as capable of using the method I described earlier. Though she was…”

“Dying? What do you mean by that?”

“A disease. She’d been sick since birth. When Arcann killed her, she was already mere days from a natural death. And that speaks more about her than him.”

“Damn!” Koth blurted. “He really was lucky to survive, wasn’t he?”

“Yes. Lucky. But that luck wouldn’t have worked against Vajra.”

“He was better than Lady Kai?”

“Only her close friends had her invitation to call her that,” Beniko admonished.

“Sorry.”

“To answer your question, Vajra wasn’t dying. And the only time they fought for real, he defeated not just her, but hers and Darth Nox’s apprentices too. He can handle Arcann like a newborn lamb.”

“What about Vaylin?”

Beniko wrinkled her nose. “Vaylin is astonishingly powerful, no arguments there. Stronger than Valkorion or any of the other avatars by far. But Vajra learned how to fight power. He can kill her in a quick fight.”

Vaylin is stronger than her old man? I’d never heard of that before. Koth didn’t realize he’d said that out loud until Beniko nodded.

“Yes. From what I understand, Valkorion was so alarmed that he packed her away to an institution on a world dead to the Force. Had her tortured until she broke. That’s why she is who she is.”

Koth fought to roll his eyes. The Immortal Emperor would never do that to his kids! “And what’s your source on this?”

“I heard it from her mother.”

WHAT!!!!??? Koth nearly fell off his seat. He had no idea who Vaylin and the twins’ mother was. Or if they were the same woman. In fact, until this moment, he thought they’d spawned out of the ether on their father’s command.

“And several surviving Scions. They were the ones who took her there in the first place, on Valkorion’s orders.” Her eyes widened as if a thought had occurred to her, and she went silent. She didn’t answer any more of Koth’s questions. Eventually, he left her so he could have his breakfast. He’d learned plenty about her today, and it had only solidified his conviction that she was a good woman to follow. And a good friend to have.

Perhaps Ralo and Tora might have more stories about the Outlander for us. I should remember to tell the crew not to steer clear of Valkorion though.

“Koth? Perhaps you can call me Lana from now on.”

Koth grinned. “Got it.”

Asylum

Senya Tirall sat in her ship, sipping a cup of hot tea. It was brewed the way Lana had taught her to, and it was like a piece of heaven in a cup. And the cookies she’d purchased from the general store went well with it. She was starting to love food again. Perhaps she’d be a chubby old woman in her elder years, a traveler who toured the galaxy and tried out good foods. Not a bad existence, if she did say so herself.

She heard a beep-beep from her datapad, and was unsurprised that her message was from Lana. No one else seemed eager to talk to her these days.

We should plan a girls’ night out soon.

“Dear Senya.
I just had a thought. What if the reason why I can’t Sense Vajra, is because he’s locked in a place where the Force is dead?
I’d like to check out Nathema next. I was hoping you could tell me how to get there.
Love,
Lana.”

“I want a girls’ night out, and this is where you want to go?” Senya asked incredulously. “Still, it’s better than nothing.”

“My Dear Friend
You have to be sure you want this. Nathema is a world dead to the Force. It hits us in ways you’d never expect. But if you still want to step into perdition, you really think I’ll let you do so alone? I’m coming with you. I know my way around, anyway. And trust me, you don’t want to spend too much time around there. Or get lost.
As it happens, I’m on Asylum right now. I’ll see you at my ship when you arrive.
Love,
Senya.”

Senya stood and stretched. “Such interesting times we live in.”

05. Book of Ciphers: Limbo - Anchanted_One, Jaymiddle (2024)

Chapter 1: Day of Loss

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Chapter 2: Preparing for the Haul

Chapter by Anchanted_One

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Chapter 3: Priorities

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Chapter 4: A Gathering on Dantooine

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Chapter 5: Journey Into the Unknown

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Chapter 6: The Rescue

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Chapter 7: End of Communication

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Chapter 8: Escape from Coruscant

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Chapter 9: New Directions

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Chapter 10: Twin Shocks

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Chapter 11: First Resort

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Chapter 12: Taking the Big Risks

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Chapter 13: Taking the Big Risks 2

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Chapter 14: Giradda's Gauntlet

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Chapter 15: Giradda's Fall

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Chapter 16: The Afterparty

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Chapter 17

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Chapter 18: The First Breakthrough

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Chapter 19: On Enemy Soil

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Chapter 20: Brave New World

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Chapter 21: New Endeavor

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Chapter 22: Some Surprises

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Chapter 23: Encounter on Denon

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Chapter 24: A Good Ally, but the Worst News

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Chapter 25: Kindling Hope

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Chapter 26: The Brave New World

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Chapter 27: Team-upon Bothawui

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Chapter 28: Surprise on the First Visit