HOME | DD

Description

SWTOR: Sith Science
Chapter: Five
swtorramblings.tumblr.com/

-----

The balance of power had shifted, she could feel it. She couldn't help but smile. The Empress was alive again, concealed and safe. Nox only knew because she had arranged it and could recognize the signs.

Senya might also have noticed. She hoped she would not have to do anything about that. The Knight and her son had been useful, in their own ways. She didn't care to kill them, but she would.

She wished she could have been there, but the Alliance needed to see her. Otherwise, she put everything at risk, her position, her goals, Vaylin herself. She knew it made Malora think of her as a coward, but that was acceptable. That mistake could give her an advantage, after all.

She activated her heavily encrypted communications to Asylum, and two tiny figures materialized. Malora seemed very comfortable, considering how much danger she was in. As much as Nox wanted her back, she had no illusions about what Vaylin was capable of.

And there she was, healed, arrogant, glaring up at her. Nox imagined she could feel the hatred and power, and considering who it was, was that really so far fetched?

"Darth Malora. Empress Vaylin. It's good to see you both."

"What do you want from me, Outlander?"

Straight to the point. "Just that you live."

Vaylin rubbed at where the injury had been, then waved at Malora. "That's what she told me, too. And you had a strange way of showing it."

"What did you expect? You were destroying my plans, were going to kill my allies."

"And you were serving my father."

"That's what you think? I thought you were clever."

Malora put in, "She has her moments. This isn't one of them."

"What are you talking about?"

"Valkorion was in my mind, watching my thoughts. Goading us both. I had to let him think he was winning. But, after all that, where are you, and where is he?"

Vaylin stared up from the holo, then at Malora again. "You can't expect me to believe that you planned this?"

Nox just smiled. Let Vaylin think that it was some perfect scheme instead of a bit of luck and a lot of improvisation. Sometimes, it was good to be underestimated. With Vaylin, it would be better to be overestimated.

"But, why? Malora's reasons are clear enough, what about you?"

Nothing wrong with telling her. It might even help. "Because we've both been used. Both made weapons. Both abandoned. What Senya told me was bad enough." At that point, Vaylin spat on the floor. They'd work on that. "Then Nathema. I felt some of your pain. I wanted him to die screaming, and was happy you were there to help. Mostly, though, I just wanted to give you a choice. So, here you are. I just wish I could have made Valkorion's screams last forever, just for you."

Vaylin grinned, thinking of it. "Yes, I think I would have liked that."

"His destruction will have to do."

"It will. What now?"

"Nothing. I'll meet you later. We have to keep your return a secret for now. Let Malora make sure you're healthy. Test your power. Think about who you want to be. You have time."

"I'm still not going to thank you."

Nox chuckled. "I wouldn't want you to."

　

The holo dissolved, leaving Malora watching her charge. So much more interesting than the bugs. She sat, took a deep breath, and held to her promise.

"Ziost."

Vaylin looked confused. "What about it?"

She continued, uncharacteristically quiet and calm. "It's where I'm from, originally. You wanted to know more about me, I thought I'd start at the beginning."

"The world Father destroyed."

"I'm surprised you know of that."

"Catching lightsabers isn't all I learned in Nox's mind."

"Ah, yes. Still, I have no sentiment about my childhood or birthworld. It was a hard enough life. But it was also the place I first encountered Rakata science, slight as it was. It's all dust, now."

"It's all he does. Did."

"Such a waste. In any event, it's where I was found, tested, and then shipped to Korriban. To train and die."

"What is this? Some attempt to get my sympathy? I can feel your power, you're hardly defenseless."

"I was not defenseless. I was also not powerful. It was my mind that saved me, and only that. I was chosen an apprentice because I could hold a test tube without breaking it by a fool that never gave me enough credit. There was pain, but it finally worked out, and I had the freedom to make some improvements."

"What kinds of improvements?"

"The kinds that came with my studies. The kinds that allowed me to bring you back as anything other than a Force blind husk. Perhaps I'll tell you more later."

"Oh, you will."

"For now, I think it's time to begin your tests."

-----

Part 4: Previous Chapter
Part 6: Next Chapter

Description

SWTOR: Sith Science
Chapter: Five
swtorramblings.tumblr.com/

-----

The balance of power had shifted, she could feel it. She couldn't help but smile. The Empress was alive again, concealed and safe. Nox only knew because she had arranged it and could recognize the signs.

Senya might also have noticed. She hoped she would not have to do anything about that. The Knight and her son had been useful, in their own ways. She didn't care to kill them, but she would.

She wished she could have been there, but the Alliance needed to see her. Otherwise, she put everything at risk, her position, her goals, Vaylin herself. She knew it made Malora think of her as a coward, but that was acceptable. That mistake could give her an advantage, after all.

She activated her heavily encrypted communications to Asylum, and two tiny figures materialized. Malora seemed very comfortable, considering how much danger she was in. As much as Nox wanted her back, she had no illusions about what Vaylin was capable of.

And there she was, healed, arrogant, glaring up at her. Nox imagined she could feel the hatred and power, and considering who it was, was that really so far fetched?

"Darth Malora. Empress Vaylin. It's good to see you both."

"What do you want from me, Outlander?"

Straight to the point. "Just that you live."

Vaylin rubbed at where the injury had been, then waved at Malora. "That's what she told me, too. And you had a strange way of showing it."

"What did you expect? You were destroying my plans, were going to kill my allies."

"And you were serving my father."

"That's what you think? I thought you were clever."

Malora put in, "She has her moments. This isn't one of them."

"What are you talking about?"

"Valkorion was in my mind, watching my thoughts. Goading us both. I had to let him think he was winning. But, after all that, where are you, and where is he?"

Vaylin stared up from the holo, then at Malora again. "You can't expect me to believe that you planned this?"

Nox just smiled. Let Vaylin think that it was some perfect scheme instead of a bit of luck and a lot of improvisation. Sometimes, it was good to be underestimated. With Vaylin, it would be better to be overestimated.

"But, why? Malora's reasons are clear enough, what about you?"

Nothing wrong with telling her. It might even help. "Because we've both been used. Both made weapons. Both abandoned. What Senya told me was bad enough." At that point, Vaylin spat on the floor. They'd work on that. "Then Nathema. I felt some of your pain. I wanted him to die screaming, and was happy you were there to help. Mostly, though, I just wanted to give you a choice. So, here you are. I just wish I could have made Valkorion's screams last forever, just for you."

Vaylin grinned, thinking of it. "Yes, I think I would have liked that."

"His destruction will have to do."

"It will. What now?"

"Nothing. I'll meet you later. We have to keep your return a secret for now. Let Malora make sure you're healthy. Test your power. Think about who you want to be. You have time."

"I'm still not going to thank you."

Nox chuckled. "I wouldn't want you to."

　

The holo dissolved, leaving Malora watching her charge. So much more interesting than the bugs. She sat, took a deep breath, and held to her promise.

"Ziost."

Vaylin looked confused. "What about it?"

She continued, uncharacteristically quiet and calm. "It's where I'm from, originally. You wanted to know more about me, I thought I'd start at the beginning."

"The world Father destroyed."

"I'm surprised you know of that."

"Catching lightsabers isn't all I learned in Nox's mind."

"Ah, yes. Still, I have no sentiment about my childhood or birthworld. It was a hard enough life. But it was also the place I first encountered Rakata science, slight as it was. It's all dust, now."

"It's all he does. Did."

"Such a waste. In any event, it's where I was found, tested, and then shipped to Korriban. To train and die."

"What is this? Some attempt to get my sympathy? I can feel your power, you're hardly defenseless."

"I was not defenseless. I was also not powerful. It was my mind that saved me, and only that. I was chosen an apprentice because I could hold a test tube without breaking it by a fool that never gave me enough credit. There was pain, but it finally worked out, and I had the freedom to make some improvements."

"What kinds of improvements?"

"The kinds that came with my studies. The kinds that allowed me to bring you back as anything other than a Force blind husk. Perhaps I'll tell you more later."

"Oh, you will."

"For now, I think it's time to begin your tests."

-----

Part 4: Previous Chapter
Part 6: Next Chapter