Chapter Text
“Darth Nema,” a soft voice asked behind Edenye.
Sighing she turned around and saw Olyara, Barsenthor of the Jedi Order standing with her entourage behind her. Curious, she tucked the datapad she had been examining from an Imperial Officer under her arm and nodded for Olyara to continue. Formalities were no longer necessary, if they had even existed to begin with.
“A few Jedi have voiced their concern,” Olyara sounded like she was weighing her words carefully, “about the Wrath.”
This was going to be a tedious conversation. Waving the Imperial Officer away who bowed out hastily, she asked, “What are the concerns?”
Olyara shifted on her feet awkwardly, the veil over her eyes fluttering at the movement. Probably regretting becoming one of the chief diplomats of her order right now.
“They wonder if she is going to betray us all,” she finally pressed out.
A good thing Temare was not around to hear the insult leveled towards her.
“Then take it from me that she won’t,” Edenye stated cooly.
Olyara sighed at the response. Not the one she had been hoping for apparently. Too bad. It was all she can get.
“You know they won’t be satisfied with that,” Olyara hissed quietly.
Edenye could only shrug. It was not her place to tell another Sith who was not directly under her what and where they could be.
“It will have to do,” she answered exasperated.
Jedi and their concerns…. She wanted to shake her head. One concern she really did not have to deal with right now.
“I tried to tell them that she has a lot to lose too,” Olyara said helplessly sounding as if she wanted to tear her hair out.
A motion Edenye understood too well. Well, she could be merciful and offer an answer that would get the Jedi of Olyara’s back. She better appreciate it.
“I can talk to her,” Edenye said emphasizing the word ‘talk’.
Olyara would know what she meant between the lines. Once she found Temare, she’d tell her about the sentiments, but would not restrict her movements and general presence. Hopefully it would silence those concerns for a while. Long enough to establish a few lines that cannot be crossed.
The grateful nod she received told her that the meaning had been heard loud and clearly.
“Good,” she said taking the datapad back out from underneath her arms, “Anything else?”
“There is actually,” Olyara said.
Please no… She cocked her head to the side to show she was still listening.
“Grandmaster Shan extends her wish to speak to you.”
Shocked, she stood there for several moments not reacting. Her? What did Satele want with her?!
“Darth Marr is the one she will most likely want to talk to about any…,” she started to talk and stopped when Olyara shook her head.
“She specifically stated that she wanted to talk to you,” she shrugged.
So even Olyara did not know what this was all about.
Before she could retort anything about being too busy or whatever, a ripple in the Force ran through them all. Not a ripple. A wave crashing into them more like. Both her and Olyara twitched at the strength of it. Confused she looked up, trying to sense where it come from.
Not Revan. No, this was dark, far too dark…
The Emperor….
Her feet carried her as if they had a separate mind. The surroundings melting into one blur as she rushed past Imperial and Republic troops alike. What she was consciously aware of next was her barreling towards Marr in a place she did not recognize. They must be alone, for in the next second she was in his arms. Both of them clutching on the other.
“Can you feel this?” she asked breathlessly.
Marr’s arms steadying her shoulders had tightened noticeably. He must have. Their emperor was getting stronger with each moment.
“There is no mistaking it,” he replied quietly drawing her closer.
If the former Emperor was regaining strength… Then Force have mercy on them all. Her cheek was pressed against Marr’s armour and her arms were slung around his middle. The cool metal numbed her skin on her cheek and through the cloth on her arms. Not that she cared. At this moment they both were steadying the other. Both of them needed it. Alone on this plateau on some cliff that were strewn all across Yavin. She looked up at him, masks hiding their faces, but she could feel his lost stare fixed on the tree tops below them. Lost in thought. Sighing, she looked down as well at the swaying trees.
What was Revan thinking?
What had the Jedi been thinking?
Messing with the Emperor only ever ended in disaster and now everyone was paying the price for it. And for what? A misguided belief it would defeat him? How foolish could one be? No. How could that many be that foolish? Yelling would not help either. Unfortunately. It was tempting to just rage against them. Though, it would no longer help if they even listened to her to begin with. So she stayed quiet. At least she was with Marr on a planet crawling with enemies in every corner. The only thing keeping her sanity intact at this moment.
The air had grown colder as the sun had set on the horizon painting the sky in a deep pink and orange. Her lungs expanded in the evening breeze rustling her cloak and his hood. For the moment it was the only sound between them. Enough for her.
“Do you think it will ever stop?” she asked quietly into the silence.
Her voice was almost lost in the sudden breeze that blew past them. But he had heard her, would always no matter what due to their bond.
“We cannot rest until it stops,” he replied, a determined edge in his tone.
“For Alathea,” he added in his thoughts and she heard it loudly and clearly.
Her heart clenched when a sense of longing washed over her briefly. They had to leave her behind on Dromund Kaas in their haste to get to Rishi. There had been no time to think about any arrangement other than Tolun watching over her either. Though, she’d rather not have her here. Not with the Emperor here.
“She is safe,” she felt herself saying.
More for the both of them than just for him. His gloved fingers stroked her cheek slightly as if to comfort her. Hiding anything from his was futile, he’d always know straight away. Just like she knew deep down that he’d rather hide the two of them away.
“He’ll go after you again,” he muttered.
“Not if we can prevent it,” she whispered back even with her gut tightening at the statement.
Who was she kidding at this point? Just her. Now she felt his eyes on her.
“He is too strong for the both of us alone. But if this alliance works…,” he trailed off and she caught the hopeful note floating in his head.
Daring to hope. She wanted to laugh. Maybe that was what will get them through this. Despair was unbecoming of a Sith… What she’d give to have Malgus here with them still. He’d have liked what they had accomplished already. If only he had been more patient. Speaking of other Sith…
“Vowrawn sent a message,” she spoke up and she felt Marr shift on his feet, “he has sent additional troops. The vetting process is over now.”
“Good,” he replied relief colouring the word, “Maybe we can sleep easier tonight on that issue.”
Sleep… they’d both need it. After two days of cleaning out two bases of operations. The two abandoned temples were situated strategic enough to be of value, but staking them out and the space between them to set up a strategy table so they could meet the Republic halfway, quite literally. There was too little trust between them to be able to afford a shared base. Something they could never fix or even attempt to. Sleep was good.
Only they both made no move to go.
“Can we stay here?” she asked,” just…”
There was no need to say anything further. He had understood immediately. After tonight, they’d barely have any time alone for a long while. It was a delusion to think that this mission will take a few weeks. Months were more realistic. Who knew how long it will be in the end. Far too long to be away from Alathea for them.
His embrace tightened, his mask coming to a rest on the top of her braids just as she pushed her nose into his chest armour. It’d have to do for now. Too many unfriendly eyes at their base and shedding one piece of armour would only ask for trouble. Would give too much away should someone find their way to their relatively hidden spot.
“Once this is over,” Marr whispered into her hair, “you and I will stay on Dromund Kaas with Alathea for a while.”
She pushed her head into the space between his hood and mask. One thing her height was good for. It was as far she would go here, but she felt instinctively that he welcomed the closeness they could afford right now. He chuckled lifting her slightly so she stood on her toes.
“And we stay there for at least a week,” she insisted, “Pretending to be just your right hand is tiring.”
Now he was shaking with silent laughter. Her chest felt lighter at the reaction and she hummed in content. Maybe they could just pretend they were not close to where Revan was trying to wake their Emperor.
I will return…
She froze, just as Marr stiffened. The air had dropped several degrees and coldness broke through her armour and she felt herself shivering. They had heard it and… she let go of Marr, eyes glued to the temple structure off to the distance. Where they all had felt him reside.
“No….,” she whispered and Marr’s hand on her shoulder felt heavy now.
The Emperor had gained far too much strength already. Enough to seek them out specifically. Force… she would be hunted down again. There was no way he’d let it slide that they had diminished his hold on the Empire.
Laughter filled her head.
Dust blew past her nose…
Ash weighed down her eyes and filled her mouth. Choking her.
Blinking she stumbled into Marr’s side, just as her knees buckled under the weight of her body. What had she just seen?! She felt Marr’s arm under her shoulders keeping her upright and standing with her right hand was grasping at his belt. Her shaking grew, rattling the clasps of her armour loudly now. There were no words for what had just happened. Not that she needed to voice them if they existed. He had sensed it, seen it too. Quiet horror filled their bond as she opened her mouth behind her mask in a silent scream.
That had been a threat. Aimed at just the two of them.
Their former Emperor was coming and with came death.